Chapter 45: Second game with Clippers

After the game against the Celtics, the Kings boarded their plane to Los Angeles the next day.

"Brother, why do you look so worn out after just one night?" Ben McCollum asked, sitting beside Jae Crowder on the Kings' private plane. Crowder, looking as though all the life had been drained from him, hesitated before replying, "Do you guys always train this hard?"

Ben couldn't help but laugh, nearly spitting out the water he was drinking. "Brother, you don't get it. The team has chosen you, and with that comes 'special care.' Look at that guy over there," he said, pointing to Jokic, who was catching up on sleep in the front. "When he first got here last year, he was like a mountain of meat. But that didn't stop the higher-ups from believing in him. Divac personally trained him all summer. He lost a ton of weight—his skin was practically sagging at the start of the season."

"And now look at him," Ben continued. "A second-round pick, and he's starting games."

Hearing this, Crowder's exhausted expression suddenly shifted to one of hope. "I knew it! They wouldn't just mess with me for no reason. They must have seen my talent!" His confidence began to build. "I have what it takes to become great!"

Watching Crowder's transformation, Ben hid his smile behind a magazine. No, Ben thought, wasn't I a pure and kind-hearted young man before? How did I turn into this? It must have started when Jake joined the team. He's been a bad influence!

Later that night in Los Angeles, the Kings took on the Clippers. As the game progressed, the Clippers' offense struggled to get going. Paul found some space after a pick-and-roll with DeAndre Jordan, but his shot bounced off the rim. Oden boxed out Griffin, grabbing the rebound with authority.

"Zach!" Oden shouted, launching the ball to the backcourt. LaVine sprinted across half-court, catching the pass in stride. Turkoglu chased after him in a desperate attempt to stop the fast break, but LaVine fired a pass to the corner where Ben was waiting. Ben caught it, took his time to aim, and drained the three-pointer.

"Swish!"

"The Kings are becoming harder and harder to handle," Clippers coach Doc Rivers muttered, scratching his head. With the Clippers aiming for a championship, Rivers took note of every team that could threaten their path. "We need to organize a seminar and analyze the Kings' tactics. I want a full report before April," he whispered to his assistant.

As the Kings continued to gain momentum in the West, teams like the Clippers began seeing them as a legitimate threat. Only eight playoff spots were available, and the Kings were making it clear that they were hungry for one.

Tonight, the Kings dominated the game. With Mozgov gone, Jokic and Oden had stepped up to fill the void, especially on defense. Even physical forces like Griffin and Jordan struggled to score against Oden in the paint.

The Clippers' alley-oop-heavy offense was stifled. The game slowed to a pace that favored the Kings, with Oden holding down the paint and asking for the ball. CJ passed it in, and Oden prepared to go one-on-one with Jordan. As the two clashed in the paint, Oden suddenly stopped and pulled up for a mid-range shot. The ball swished through the net.

"No matter how many times I see that, it always feels unfair," Charles Barkley commented in the studio. "Isn't Oden like 27 now?"

"Exactly 27 years and 29 days old," Kenny Smith chimed in.

"At 19, he came into the league as the chosen one. And now, after everyone else had written him off, he's starting to show his talent," Barkley added, still in disbelief.

"At 27… there shouldn't be any talent left to unlock, right?" Barkley mused.

"Maybe it's not about unlocking talent," Kenny replied, "but about managing his health. Oden is playing like someone who's figured out how to stay on the court."

Oden's performance was a perfect reflection of the game. The Kings executed on all fronts, securing a 105–99 victory on the road.

Later that night, back at the hotel, Ben was drying off after his shower when he noticed Crowder on the phone.

"Who are you talking to?" Ben asked casually.

"My mentor," Crowder replied, hanging up. "He just confirmed the time with me."

Ben paused. "Wait, are you talking to Peja?"

"Yeah," Crowder nodded. "He wants me back in Sacramento tomorrow so we can get in some extra practice."

"No way!" Ben exclaimed, jumping up. "Brother, we just finished a game today, we have team training the day after tomorrow, and you're doing extra practice tomorrow?"

"Yes!" Crowder's eyes were determined. "The team believes in me, and they don't want to waste any time."

Ben shook his head in disbelief. "Good luck, man. You're gonna need it."