NOVEL NEXT Chapter 61: The Man Who Reached for the Stars
Deron Williams sighed deeply, shaking his head.
In the 2005 NBA Draft, Deron Williams was selected third overall by the Utah Jazz.
His brightest days were undoubtedly during his time with the Jazz.
In the 2010-2011 season, Deron's conflict with legendary coach Jerry Sloan became widely publicized, ultimately leading to his trade to the Nets.
Even after the trade, Deron remained an All-Star caliber point guard. That season, in 15 games with the Nets, he averaged 15 points, 12.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
Despite the change in scenery, his brilliance persisted.
In 2012, Deron scored a career-high 57 points while playing for the Nets.
During that offseason, the Nets worked hard to retain him, acquiring Joe Johnson and re-signing Gerald Wallace.
At that time, Deron was the undisputed leader of the team, treated as the franchise cornerstone.
Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction until injuries derailed his career.
The ankle issues began and eventually developed into synovitis, requiring injections for treatment.
By 2013, Deron's prime had ended.
In the current 2014-15 season, his numbers had plummeted to 13.0 points, 6.6 assists per game, and a dismal 38.7% shooting percentage.
Not only had his stats declined, but his efficiency had also taken a significant hit.
A once-dominant All-Star guard had faded into a shadow of his former self.
If nothing unexpected happens, Deron's fate would soon be sealed—benched, replaced by Jarrett Jack, and eventually cast aside by the Nets.
Such a fall from grace was nothing short of lamentable.
Jay Sun, however, had no intention of showing mercy.
Respect the elders? Play nice?
This was competitive sports, where the strong thrived, and the weak were left behind.
The Nets inbounded the ball, starting their possession.
Deron took it up the court, once again facing Jay's relentless defense.
"Deron, you're not the player you used to be," Jay said, employing both his Clamps badge and some trash talk.
Deron glanced at Jay, staying silent as he prepared to attack.
He drove hard, switching gears and attempting to blow past Jay.
But after a few bursts of effort and a crossover, he still couldn't shake the determined rookie.
"Slower than I expected, Deron."
"Come on, are you even trying?"
"Is that all you've got, skinny boy?"
Deron's eyes widened in anger. Trash talk about being slow was one thing, but calling him "skinny" crossed the line.
Skinny? Don't you know I was the guy who used to dominate Chris Paul?
Deron motioned for his teammates to clear out, signaling an isolation play.
He dribbled deliberately, rocking back and forth to create separation.
Suddenly, Deron exploded to his right, and Jay stayed close.
Not panicking, Deron chained together a crossover into a behind-the-back dribble, reversing direction.
Jay adjusted, sliding to cut off the new angle, but Deron had anticipated this.
With a smile tugging at his lips, he unleashed a high-speed, wide-reaching crossover.
Pain surged through his ankle as he performed the move, but he clenched his teeth and drove forward, gaining the slightest advantage.
Stopping on a dime, Deron pulled up for a mid-range jumper.
Swish!
The shot was good.
Jay had been beaten.
It wasn't often that someone got the better of him defensively, and he couldn't help but replay Deron's sequence of moves in his mind.
That wasn't just skill; that was art. Even better than some of the league's flashiest players.
Deron's face was stern as he jogged back on defense, but inside, he was worried. The sharp pain in his ankle reminded him of the cost of his flashy move.
The very moves that had once made him great were now a painful burden.
On the next possession, Jay decided to return the favor.
Facing Deron at the top of the key, he called for Kevin Love to set a screen.
Using the Pick & Roll Maestro badge, Jay darted around the pick and drove into the lane.
Thaddeus Young rotated to contest, but Jay executed a smooth Euro step, sending Young into the air.
Finishing with a finger roll, Jay scored easily.
The scoreboard showed Cavaliers 35, Nets 20.
There was something strangely compelling about facing Deron for Jay.
Perhaps it was the feeling of going up against a player who had once been a part of the Utah Jazz's iconic duo—an era now gone.
When the Nets had possession again, Deron passed on the chance to isolate. His ankle wasn't up for it.
Instead, he called for Brook Lopez to set a screen.
Using the pick, Deron tried to drive but felt a sudden tug on his jersey—Jay had subtly grabbed it, disrupting his rhythm.
The slight delay allowed Jay to recover, closing the gap.
Deron tried to protect the ball with his body, but Jay's defensive pressure was unrelenting.
Desperate to avoid a turnover, Deron passed to Lopez with a sneaky bounce pass.
The ball was a bit too low, forcing Lopez to bend down to collect it.
At that moment, Jay lunged forward, swiping at the ball just as Lopez touched it.
Smack!
The ball popped loose!
Seeing the loose ball, Deron dove to the floor, desperately grabbing it and shielding it with his body.
Jay stood up, watching Deron scramble on the ground.
Once, you reached for the stars. Now, you're fighting for scraps.
With Deron clutching the ball, the Nets retained possession and managed to score through Lopez in the post.
On the other end, Jay faced off against Deron again.
While he respected Deron's legacy, Jay understood one thing clearly:
This was his time now.