Prove You Belong.

The Cavaliers secured a hard-fought 119-108 victory over the Spurs at Quicken Loans Arena, kicking off December with a statement win.

This victory mattered. After an up-and-down November, the Cavs had faced growing skepticism. But more than the win itself, what stood out was the emergence of a reliable starting center.

Nikola Jokić's stat line spoke for itself: 32 minutes, 8-of-13 shooting, 1-of-1 from three, 6-of-6 from the line, 23 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

Even Han, who had encouraged Jokić before the game, hadn't expected this kind of breakout performance.

Back in the locker room, the celebration was on.

As soon as Jokić walked in, his teammates ambushed him with a barrage of water bottles.

"Welcome to the big leagues, Joker!" TT shouted, grinning as he emptied a bottle over Nikola's head.

"Joker?" Jokić froze, water dripping from his hair. "Wait… me? Why Joker?"

"Shaq gave you that nickname during the broadcast," Kyrie explained, tossing a towel at Nikola. "Said you've always got a trick up your sleeve."

Nikola's expression shifted from confusion to amusement. "Wait… Shaq?"

"Yeah, man! You've got a nickname from the Diesel himself!" Tucker laughed, patting Jokić on the back. "That's like Hall of Fame validation right there."

Jokić chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I'm not sure I deserve it."

Han leaned over, smirking. "It's not about whether you deserve it. It's about whether you live up to it."

Nikola's smile widened as he nodded. "Okay. Joker it is."

The room erupted in cheers once more.

Han chuckled as he watched the rookie bask in the moment. Jokić wasn't just fitting in — he was thriving.

Unlike his stoic demeanor on the court, the drenched Jokić joined in the loud cheers and laughter, shouting along with the rest of the team.

For him, this moment probably mattered more than his stat line.

"Alright, Joker," Kyrie teased. "Time to get serious. You're going to the presser."

Nikola's eyes widened. "Me?"

Han clapped him on the back. "You earned it this time."

---

At the press conference, Han and Jokić sat side by side. Han wasted no time shifting the spotlight to Nikola.

"Go ahead," Han said, sliding the microphone toward Jokić. "He's the star tonight."

The first question came from a reporter from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"Nikola, can you rate your own performance tonight? You finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks."

Jokić blinked. "I scored 23 points? That many?"

Even if you don't check the box score mid-game, shouldn't you at least glance at it afterward?

After receiving confirmation from the reporter, Jokić scratched his head sheepishly.

"I knew I scored a lot… just not that much," he mumbled, sneaking a glance at Han.

Laughter rippled through the room.

"You didn't check your stats?" the reporter asked, amused.

Jokić shook his head. "No. I knew I had some points, but I didn't know it was that much."

Han grinned, leaning into his mic. "For context, my first career start? I only scored 20."

The room erupted in laughter again, while Nikola's hand shot up to scratch his head faster.

"I need to thank my teammates," Jokić said, his voice softening. "Kyrie, Han, KG… and Coach Malone. I'm just a rookie. They're the ones who keep passing me the ball and telling me what to do. Not every rookie gets that kind of support."

It was a perfect answer, showcasing Jokić's humility and gratitude.

When asked about the home crowd, Nikola's honesty shone through again.

"The atmosphere tonight was amazing. We have the best fans in the league. And playing at home? No long trips, no jet lag… I wish we could play all our games here."

His charm had the reporters eating out of his hand.

Another reporter chimed in. "Nikola, how do you feel about the nickname 'Joker' that Shaquille O'Neal gave you?"

Jokić chuckled, shaking his head as if he still couldn't believe it. "Honestly… at first, I didn't know how to feel about it. I thought, Why Joker?" He glanced at Han, who grinned at him. "But then I found out it was Shaq who said it."

Nikola paused, scratching the back of his head in that familiar, bashful way.

"And I mean, it's Shaq," he added with a wide grin. "If Shaq gives you a nickname… you keep it. You don't argue with Shaq."

The room burst into laughter.

"But," Jokić continued, a playful glint in his eye, "I'm not sure if he meant it because I have tricks… or because I look funny."

Han chimed in, laughing as he leaned into the mic. "Definitely the tricks."

Nikola gave a small shrug. "I'll take that."

The crowd laughed again, appreciating Jokić's self-deprecating humor.

Then, with a more serious expression, he added, "It's an honor. Really. It means a lot."

The sincerity in his voice was evident, and the reporters quickly scribbled down their notes. In that moment, Nikola's humility and charm won over everyone in the room.

Han couldn't help but grin as he watched Nikola handle himself with ease.

When the spotlight turned to Han, the questions shifted to the Cavs' outlook.

"Han, you've been vocal about Jokić's potential before. Tonight, he really delivered. What do you think this means for the team moving forward?"

Han nodded thoughtfully. "A month ago, I stood here and said Nikola would be an All-Star. I think most people thought I was joking." He paused, letting the pun land. "But after tonight, I believe more people will agree. He's a gem. And gems don't stay hidden forever."

---

After the press conference, Han didn't lead Jokić back to the locker room. Instead, he guided him toward the practice court.

"Where are we going?" Nikola asked, confused.

"You'll see," Han replied with a grin.

Waiting on the court was a towering figure — Shaquille O'Neal himself.

Jokić's eyes widened, his usually calm demeanor cracking as disbelief spread across his face. This wasn't just any postgame chat—this was Shaq, the man he'd grown up idolizing.

"Go on," Han said, nudging him forward. "Say hi to your idol."

Nikola looked back at Han, disbelief written all over his face. "You remembered?"

"Of course," Han replied. "You mentioned it at the mall that day."

Shaq stepped forward, a wide grin on his face. "Nikola! The Joker! I like what I'm seeing, big fella."

For a moment, Nikola reverted to a shy kid, scratching his head nervously. But Shaq wasn't having it.

"C'mere," Shaq said, pulling him into a bear hug. "You've got skills, man. Big men like us? We gotta stick together."

Nikola beamed as they posed for photos, his nervousness melting away.

After the pictures, Han spoke up again.

"Shaq, I've got a favor to ask."

"Anything for you, Han."

"Work with him a little. Give him some pointers."

Shaq's grin widened. "Oh, you want me to coach him?"

"Just for tonight."

Shaq clapped his massive hands together. "Let's do it."

Jokić's jaw dropped. "Really?"

Han patted him on the back. "Yeah. And don't worry — this is one overtime shift you'll actually enjoy."

Nikola laughed. "Okay. Let's go."

As they started working on post moves, Han leaned back against the wall, watching with a satisfied smile.

---

Jokić's breakout game against the Spurs had fans buzzing.

Some even claimed the Cavs now had a 'Big Three.'

However, reality soon struck.

It only took a few games for Nikola to hit the dreaded 'rookie wall.'

Unlike Han's early days, where his first start came with limited scouting, Jokić now had a target on his back.

Opponents quickly zeroed in on his weaknesses.

They attacked him mercilessly on defense, exploiting his lack of lateral quickness. Trying to overcompensate, Nikola found himself in foul trouble, which disrupted his offensive rhythm.

After a few rocky games, Malone had no choice but to move him back to the bench.

The highs and lows of NBA life had hit Nikola hard.

Fortunately, his steady demeanor helped him weather the storm.

Returning to a bench role, he found his groove again.

Against the Timberwolves, he posted 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 25 minutes — despite picking up five fouls.

As Shaq said, defense was Jokić's biggest hurdle.

But with time and gradual improvement, success was inevitable.

The Cavs weren't in a rush.

Their core was still Han and Kyrie.

And with Kyrie continuing to develop, the Cavs were already in a position to challenge the Heat and Lakers for supremacy.

Nikola Jokić was just the icing on the cake.

A very promising icing.

---

As December drew to a close, the much-anticipated Christmas Day showdown between the Cavaliers and the Lakers was fast approaching.

For the past month, the league had been running an all-out promotional campaign for the game.

Aside from the appeal of a marquee Christmas matchup, one factor drove interest through the roof — the Warriors' jaw-dropping start to the season.

Since losing to the Cavs on opening night, Golden State had gone on an incredible 21-game winning streak, which included a victory over the Lakers.

Now sitting at 24-2, the Warriors had the best record in the league, and talk of a potential 70-win season — and even a challenge to the Bulls' legendary 72-10 record — was heating up.

It was impossible for fans and media to ignore such a dominant performance.

Adam Silver, who had been clearly favoring the Lakers this season, leaned into the Christmas matchup promotion even harder.

If David Stern had once built up the 23 vs. 24 narrative with LeBron and Kobe, Silver was pushing for 77 vs. 23+24 this season.

The Christmas Day game was set to take place at the Lakers' home court.

With favorable weather in Cleveland, the Cavs didn't fly to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, unlike the Lakers last year. Instead, the team planned to fly out on Christmas morning, allowing players to spend Christmas Eve with their families.

While most of the players didn't have family in Cleveland, as long as they made it to L.A. for the morning practice session, it wasn't an issue.

Of course, not every player celebrated Christmas.

For instance, Nikola Jokić, being from Serbia, didn't grow up celebrating Christmas in December. His family followed Orthodox Christian traditions, observing Christmas on January 7, according to the Julian calendar.

---

On Christmas Eve morning, the Cavs held their final practice before the big game.

After practice, the locker room buzzed with cheerful chatter. Christmas was a time for family and celebration — much like Lunar New Year in East Asia or Diwali in India — and the players were excited to reunite with their loved ones.

However, amid the festive atmosphere, Han Sen noticed Norman Powell sitting quietly in a corner, looking unusually downcast.

It wasn't like him.

Powell was a California native, and he should've been thrilled to be heading back home for Christmas before the game.

Curious, Han turned to Dante Cunningham. "What's up with Norm?"

Dante shook his head. "Tough break. They sent him down to the G League this morning."

Han frowned.

Powell had received the notification that morning — he was being sent to the G League for a game the next day, and he had to report by the afternoon.

It wasn't surprising. Powell hadn't been getting much playing time with the Cavs, and a stint in the G League would give him more minutes to develop.

But the timing? That was brutal.

The assignment meant Powell would miss the chance to spend Christmas with his family.

As the locker room gradually emptied out, Han noticed that Powell remained seated, head bowed.

The image reminded Han of their summer camp days.

Han vividly recalled how Powell had struggled at camp, often overlooked because he didn't have the flashiest skill set or the loudest personality.

But he also remembered Powell's resilience — the way he kept showing up, putting in the work, determined to earn his spot. Han had admired that about him.

It was a feeling Han knew all too well.

In his past life, Han had been a skilled trainer, but no matter how hard he worked, his dreams of playing in the NBA had been crushed by one simple, unchangeable fact: his height.

No matter what he did, the system was stacked against him.

Seeing Powell now — dejected, questioning his own worth — brought those memories rushing back.

Han approached him quietly.

Norman looked up, his eyes red.

When he saw Han, he exhaled shakily, as though relieved to have someone to talk to.

"Why today?" Norman asked hoarsely. "Why did they have to send me down today?"

The frustration and hurt in his voice were evident. He had worked so hard to make it to the NBA, yet here he was — missing Christmas with his family, sent to the G League. It felt like all his effort was for nothing.

In that moment, Han didn't know how to console him.

Because this was the harsh reality for fringe players.

No one was going to schedule things around their feelings.

Han placed a hand on Norman's shoulder and said softly, "Norman, if you don't think you belong there, prove it to them."

It was a simple statement, but it hit home.

Norman blinked, staring at Han, as if weighing the words.

Han could see the gears turning in his head. The anger and despair were still there, but now there was something else — a flicker of determination.

For a moment, Norman sat in silence, processing Han's words.

Tears still glistened in his eyes, but clarity replaced his frustration.

Han was right.

Anger and despair wouldn't change anything. He was a second-round pick — disposable in the eyes of the league.

The only thing he could do was prove that he didn't belong in the G League.

Norman took a deep breath and wiped his face.

"Thanks, Boss."

Han hadn't expected his words to have such a profound effect, but perhaps he had seen something in Powell during the summer — a spark that just needed a little encouragement.

As Norman stood to leave, Han watched him quietly.

In that moment, Han was reminded of something important.

He had been given a second chance in this life. But there were plenty of players — like Powell — who wouldn't get that kind of grace.

Han clapped Norman on the back once more and offered a small smile. "Good luck."

Because in the end, luck had nothing to do with it.

The real battle was always proving that you belonged.

---

Later that evening, Han invited Jokić over to his house to celebrate Christmas.

It wasn't favoritism — just Han's way of repaying Jokić for the Bengal cat gift suggestion, which had turned out to be a massive success.

Han had found a beautiful Bengal kitten as a Christmas present for Anjali, and let's just say… that night, she wasn't the only wildcat in the house.

But the invitation wasn't just for Nikola.

To be precise, Han had invited both Nikola and his longtime girlfriend, Natalija Mačešić.

Natalija, a sophomore at Seminole State College, had moved to the U.S. before Nikola and was a major reason behind his decision to pursue the NBA.

In a way, his basketball journey was never just about chasing a dream — it was about staying close to her.

When Nikola arrived at Han's estate — or, more accurately, Han's compound — his eyes widened in disbelief.

The towering gates alone featured two massive iron emblems of Han's jersey number: #77.

Beyond the gates were seven sprawling buildings. There was an outdoor pool, a tennis court, a basketball court, a golf course, and even a helipad.

Nikola couldn't stop gawking.

His eyes darted around like a kid seeing Disneyland for the first time.

Han, noticing his awe, chuckled. He remembered having a similar reaction when he first visited Shaq's mansion.

"Don't worry," Han said, smirking. "You'll get used to it."

Nikola shook his head, still looking around. "This isn't a house… it's a village."

---

After a sumptuous Christmas dinner, Anjali led Natalija to the yoga room, leaving Han and Nikola at the table, sipping wine.

Nikola glanced around the dining room — the grand chandelier, the sleek marble floors, the artwork lining the walls — before exhaling deeply.

"Boss, your life…" Nikola began, shaking his head. "It's something to envy."

Jokić wasn't one to sugarcoat things.

A max contract. A luxury estate. The face of the league. A beautiful, talented girlfriend from a wealthy family. Han had it all.

Even if Anjali wasn't the wealthiest heiress, Han's life was still in a league of its own.

Han chuckled, swirling his wine glass. "One day, you'll have it too."

And he meant it.

Even if Nikola had joined the Nuggets instead of the Cavs, he was destined to become the league's best player. That part of history wouldn't change.

But Nikola shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"No," he said quietly. "I don't want this."

Han raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

Nikola leaned back in his chair, glancing toward the window, where the lights from Han's estate sparkled in the night.

"I just want to earn enough money to go back home," Nikola said. "Live a quiet life with Natalia. Maybe have a ranch. And… maybe do some horse racing."

Han stared at him, surprised by the simplicity of the dream.

For a moment, he couldn't help but reflect on his own journey. He'd fought for recognition, for success, for greatness. It was never enough — he always wanted more.

But Nikola?

Nikola was different.

His dream wasn't about fame or fortune. It wasn't about dominating the league or building a legacy.

It was about peace.

Han swirled his wine glass, lost in thought.

"You know," he finally said, breaking the silence, "that sounds… nice."

Nikola smiled. "It is."

And in that moment, Han realized something important.

Greatness didn't look the same to everyone.

Some chased it through championships and accolades.

Others?

They just wanted a quiet life.

Han raised his glass toward Nikola.

"To peace," he said with a grin.

Nikola chuckled, clinking his glass against Han's.

"To peace."

And for once, it felt like the perfect toast.

-End of Chapter-

TL/n: This chapter is probably the most edited so far. Might as well be different altogether lol.