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)

📅 November 15, 2024 – Amway Center, Orlando, FL🆚 Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers

The fourth quarter opened with a thud.

Joel Embiid bullied his way to two early buckets, each one sealed with a foul that left Wendell shaking his head and the crowd groaning. A lazy closeout gave Maxey room for a step-back jumper. Net.

The score swung.Sixers 81 – Magic 758:40 left.

Orlando's bench stiffened. Fans leaned forward in their seats. It felt like the beginning of a fall.

No high-five. No bounce. Just a glance at the clock and a subtle nod to Mosley.

Next play, Zoran drove baseline, drew two defenders, and snapped a pass to AB in the corner. Splash.

On defense, he slid into a help spot just early enough to tip a lazy entry pass. Orlando recovered, and Zoran took it the other way, never speeding up. Two dribbles. Step-floater from the short corner. Soft touch, clean drop.

With 5:00 to go, it was 83–82, Philly.

Zoran called for a double drag screen, didn't use it, stepped into the open space, and drilled a fading mid-range jumper off one leg.

Next play, Paolo caught a rebound, turned, and went coast to coast for a dunk. The Amway Center exploded.

Maxey responded with a cold-blooded three from well behind the line. Tie game again.

Coach Mosley shouted a set from the sideline — Zoran waved it off.

Instead, he motioned Franz to set a ghost screen, then jab-stepped right and faked a flare. The defense hesitated — he slipped baseline behind the confusion. Suggs saw it, dropped the bounce pass, and Zoran finished with a reverse layup off the glass.

Embiid caught it mid-post and spun baseline.

Wendell slid with him, but Embiid was too strong. He dipped a shoulder, ready to rise—

—Zoran rotated from weak side on the catch, not the move.

Hand in, clean strip. Franz dived on it, and the Magic pushed the ball down the court.

The noise inside the arena was a wall.

Philly came out of the timeout looking for a quick score. Melton took the inbound, drove hard baseline.

He slid over, set his feet, and braced—

Zoran didn't flex. Didn't shout. He simply stood up, wiped his hands on his shorts, and walked to the line for the inbound.

Final Score:Orlando Magic 96 – Philadelphia 90

In the postgame locker room, the cameras circled Paolo first.

"He's our anchor," Paolo said. "The Constant."

Someone repeated the nickname under their breath. "Stoneface." The team laughed.

But when Franz nudged him and asked, "You gonna tell us what that ghost screen play was?"

Zoran replied with the faintest smirk.

Chapter 55 – Shut the Door