Training Camp by Kobe Bryant & Wesley King

Author:Kobe Bryant & Wesley King [Bryant, Kobe & King, Wesley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Granity Studios
Published: 2019-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

DEVON CLUTCHED THE ball to his chest, his fingers splayed across the pebbling. He could feel the shift of rubber beneath them as he prepared himself. Then he spun around, lowering his shoulder and driving toward the rim for a layup. An imaginary defender missed. An imaginary crowd cheered. He grabbed the rebound and hurried to the other side of the key, ready to go again.

Devon had been working on his shot for nearly half an hour now. He had arrived especially early and still not been the first one in the gym. Devon wondered if Reggie ever left. He gripped the ball, preparing to attack again, but a voice split the air.

“Gather around. Put the balls away.”

He glanced back and saw that the whole team had arrived, and Rolabi was standing at half-court. Devon quickly put his ball away and hurried over with the others, noticing obvious tension around Rain—angry looks and mutters.

“Today we are going to work on offense,” Rolabi said. “We’ll start with passing: the foundation of all offense. What do all the great passers have?”

Devon tried to think. The only passing he did was to his dad when they shot around in the street, and that probably didn’t count.

“Vision,” Peño said.

“Very good. A great passer must be quick and agile and bold. But mostly, they must have vision. Both of what is and what will soon come. They must see everything on the floor.”

“So, we just have to practice seeing more—” Lab said.

“Yes,” Rolabi said. “And the best way to start is by seeing nothing at all.”

The gym was enveloped in darkness. Not even sunlight crept in around the doors. Devon closed his eyes, and it made no difference. He realized he was trembling. He didn’t like the dark. He’d spent too many nights lying awake in it, watching bad memories play across the shadowy ceiling.

“Hey, watch it,” Peño said. “That’s my toe!”

“Well, how do you want me to avoid it when I can’t see anything?” Big John said.

Devon felt himself relax. He wasn’t alone here. This was different.

“What do you hide down in the dark?”

Devon flinched. “Professor Rolabi?”

He no longer heard the others—no shifting or breathing or quiet conversations. He suddenly felt alone again, though he could sense Rolabi and smell the faint tinge of salt water.

“What did you hide there?” the deep voice repeated.

“I don’t know what you mean—”

“Are you ready to face it?”

His voice was terribly loud in the darkness. It made the floors vibrate beneath Devon’s feet.

“Face what?” Devon asked.

“The heart of the cage.”

“I . . . want it to go away.”

“Then you are ready,” Rolabi said. “Start by finding your own center.”

Devon took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and kept them shut. He imagined he could open them at any time and find light. When it felt like his choice, darkness lost some of its threat.

Now he could hear the noises around him again. Feet shifting. Breath. Whispers.

The team was back.

“Starters versus last year’s bench,” Rolabi said. “Starters will go first.

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