Opening Scene – National SpotlightTwo games after the Grizzlies win, Kyle Wilson was on fire.

SportsCenter couldn't get enough of him:

12 points off the bench vs. the Knicks

4 blocks in the fourth quarter against the Heat

Lockdown defense on Jimmy Butler

The media crowned him "the Defensive Rookie of the Month."

Endorsements rolled in:

Forge Athletics stock surged

Puma flirted with offering a deal

Spotify offered a podcast collab: "From Rim to Reaper"

He was in interviews.

Billboards.

NBA Reddit threads.

The hype was real.

But so was the pressure.

Training Room – New PainKyle winced as the team physio rubbed ice over his right knee.

"It's just tight," he said, brushing it off.

The trainer gave him a look.

"This is your third game in four nights. Body's telling you something."

"Nah. Body's just whining."

"You sure it's not warning you?"

Kyle didn't respond.

Ari's ConcernAri met him for dinner that night. She noticed the limp before he even sat down.

"Kyle, your knee…"

"It's nothing."

"Stop saying that. Your 'nothing' almost cost you your future once."

He looked at her, tight-jawed.

"I can't stop now. I sit, someone else steps in. You know the league."

"You're not built like a regular rookie. But even Reapers bleed."

Next Game – Celtics vs. Hornets (LaMelo Ball Matchup)TD Garden was packed.

Cameras panned to Kyle and LaMelo during warm-ups.

The storyline wrote itself:

"Raw Rookie vs. Flashy Star."

"Defense vs. Showtime."

Melo smirked as they lined up.

"I heard the G-League made you a man."

Kyle nodded, jaw clenched.

"Time to see if you still play like a boy."

The game tipped off.

First Quarter – Melo DominatesLaMelo came out dancing.

Behind-the-back pass.

Half-court alley-oop.

No-look dime.

Kyle bit on a pump fake and fouled him on a deep three.

Melo laughed at the line.

"This ain't Maine, rookie."

Kyle's mind was racing.

Everything felt fast. Slippery.

His knee barked with every slide.

Second Quarter – Kyle's SlumpIme sat Kyle midway through the second.

Statline:

0 points

0 rebounds

3 fouls

-11 +/- in 6 minutes

In the locker room, Kyle slammed a towel against the bench.

He stared at his hands.

"What the hell's wrong with me…"

He looked down at his knee. It was swelling.

Halftime – Ime's ChallengeIme knelt beside him.

"We all hit the wall. Question is—do you go around it? Or smash through it?"

Kyle was quiet.

"They crowned you too early," Ime continued.

"You know what makes legends? They get knocked down and learn how to walk again."

Third Quarter – Another BlowKyle checked back in.

Melo immediately targeted him.

Pick-and-roll.

Pull-up.

Three-pointer in his face.

Then a drive, spin, reverse layup.

Crowd gasped.

Ime yanked Kyle out early.

"That's it for tonight."

Kyle didn't argue.

He just sat.

Head down.

Alone.

Postgame – Media StormThe media had their knives ready.

"Kyle Wilson exposed tonight by LaMelo Ball!"

"Was the Reaper just a G-League Mirage?"

"Flashes or flames? Wilson's consistency questioned after Hornets rout."

On Twitter, a clip of Melo crossing Kyle over hit 2.4 million views in hours.

The comments cut deep.

"Dude got baptized by Melo 😭"

"Trade bait?"

"I thought the Reaper don't die?"

Ari Tries to ReassureBack at Kyle's place, Ari made tea and sat with him on the couch.

"They're loud now because you made noise first."

"They cheered me three games ago."

"Exactly. And they'll cheer you again in three more. If you let them."

Kyle took a sip.

"What if my body don't hold up?"

"Then we adapt. You're not a highlight machine. You're a survivor. That's the difference."

Phone Call – Anthony EdwardsKyle's phone buzzed.

ANT:

"Yo, you good?"

"Barely."

"Welcome to the show, bro. We all get cooked. Remember my first game against LeBron? He fried me like plantains."

Kyle chuckled.

"You ain't Jamaican."

"Nah, but you are. And Jamaicans don't fold."

Closing Montage – Rebuilding the ReaperKyle stretching alone in the gym

Extra physio appointments

Watching film on Melo

Calling his old coach in Jamaica

Texting Ari late at night about pain management

He wasn't panicking.

He was plotting.

Final Scene – Reaper JournalKyle opened a notebook he hadn't touched in months.

At the top, the heading read:

"Reasons I Can't Lose."

He flipped to a blank page and wrote:

Nichola Campbell

Jamaica

Ari

The kid who couldn't dunk in slippers

Because f* folding**

He closed the book.

Eyes sharp.

Heart steady.

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