Donut22

Zoran Vukic wasn’t supposed to make it.

A 6'2" wing with no flashy highlights, no viral clips, and no agent connections, he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft. Just another overlooked name in a league obsessed with size, hype, and marketability. But Zoran wasn’t here to entertain—he was built to calculate.

When the injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks extend him a five-day hardship trial, they aren’t looking for a star. They need someone efficient. Someone reliable. Someone who won’t turn the ball over when everything’s falling apart.

What they find instead is a silent technician.

Backed by a mysterious internal system that tracks, optimizes, and enhances every decision he makes on the floor, Zoran doesn’t play with emotion. He plays with precision. No trash talk. No drama. Just elite reads, clean execution, and surgical efficiency.

While the league sleeps on him, the Mavericks start winning. Quietly. Consistently. And as one injury after another sidelines the stars, Zoran keeps showing up—outscoring veterans, locking down scorers, and controlling the pace without wasting a single motion.

He’s not chasing a story.

He’s building one.

(AI is used as a editor as i don't have the time to check over them and edit them myself due to GCSE'S, so if you don't like AI being used in the story then idk don't read it) also i would like to add that the first 10 or so chapter will have the mc average very few points or assists

NBA:The Rise Of Zoran Vranes (RE)

The practice gym was quiet except for the echo of sneakers and the mechanical whir of a rebounding machine spitting balls back to the wing.

Zoran was the only one on the court.

Two full hours before anyone else showed up.

He wasn't shooting for the highlight reels. Just repetitions. Form shooting from the elbows. Curl shots off imaginary pin-downs. Corner threes. Elbow drives into one-legged floaters.

The system kicked in with its daily update:

[SYSTEM NOTICE – Efficiency Enhancement Active]

The air was cool but dry. His shirt clung to his back as the first wave of heat spread through his arms and shoulders. He didn't need a coach to tell him what to work on. The Nets had long, switchy defenders: Mikal Bridges. Cam Johnson. Even Ben Simmons, if he played.

Kidd stood at the front with a remote in hand. The coaching staff played clips of the Nets' defensive sets.

"They trap high. Especially when you show the handle too long," Sean Sweeney said, clicking through clips of Bridges picking off lazy crossovers.

"You get downhill, you better know where the help is coming from," added God Shammgod from the back of the room.

Everyone turned as Zoran raised his hand.

"They ice ball screens on the right side and weakside tag late. The dunker spot's open for about 0.7 seconds after the help comes. That's where the skip needs to hit."

Then Kidd smirked. "Didn't think anyone was actually watching those 3 a.m. Nets games."

Zoran didn't flinch. "They play like they're up 20, even when they're down."

Klay whispered to Dinwiddie, "Kid's got a brain like Rondo."

Dallas local radio started buzzing. One segment brought up Zoran's name in a "Top 5 Mavericks Surprises" segment.

"He's not flashy, but man, he plays like he's allergic to mistakes," one analyst said.

ESPN didn't feature him, but one article mentioned him offhand:

"With so many injuries, Dallas has leaned on little-known Zoran Vranes, who leads the team in plus-minus through two games."

Still no big-time sponsorships. No blue check journalists tweeting about him.

Chapter 17: Quiet Target (RE)