Date: November 11, 2024
Zoran stepped onto the hardwood of the Kia Center as a member of the Orlando Magic.
The building hummed—not with the crushing weight of legacy or titles, but with the raw energy of a young team craving relevance. The Magic were 4–4, caught in that uncertain place between rebuilding and contending. Tonight, they were facing the Milwaukee Bucks—Giannis, Lillard, and the league's most physical front line.
It was a baptism by fire.
And Zoran didn't flinch.
He'd gone through a short shootaround that morning, then ran through sets with the second unit. Coach Mosley had kept things simple.
"Don't do more than you have to. Just do what you always do—read, react, deliver."
Zoran had nodded.
In the locker room pregame, Paolo stood up and addressed the squad.
"No letdowns tonight. We just brought in a guy the league tried to erase. If that doesn't get you playing sharp, nothing will."
That drew a small chorus of claps.
Zoran didn't speak. He didn't need to.
The court would handle that.
The crowd buzzed louder than usual. Part of it was the opponent. Part of it was Zoran.
There were homemade signs in the lower bowl:
"Vranes Revenge Tour Begins""#LetHimPlay""Free Zoran—Now Unleashed"
He didn't acknowledge them. Just tightened his laces and stared straight ahead during warmups.
Tip-off came. Orlando started with their core five: Paolo, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz, and Jalen Suggs.
Zoran sat third from the end.
The game opened brutal. Giannis bullied through traffic. Lillard hit two quick pull-ups. Milwaukee jumped to a 12–4 lead in just under four minutes.
Coach Mosley didn't panic. He waited until the six-minute mark.
Then he turned.
"Zoran."
Zoran stood.
He peeled off his warmup, jogged to the scorer's table, and heard the crowd rise in a way he hadn't expected. Not like Dallas. Not confused. Not cautious.
Excited.
When he checked in, the scoreboard read 18–10, Bucks.
His first touch came off a swing from Franz. One dribble, kick-out to the weak corner. Isaac hit the three.
Next possession: trail in transition, sudden hesitation dribble, no-look feed to a cutting Wagner.
Then a steal.
He jumped a passing lane on a lazy skip to Beasley, took it the other way, and finished with a gliding layup.
The arena erupted.
Timeout Milwaukee.
In less than two minutes, the game had gone from 18–10 to 18–17.
And the fans were chanting his name.
"ZO-RAN! ZO-RAN! ZO-RAN!"
He didn't show emotion. Not on the surface.
But inside, he felt something new.
Not relief.
Permission.
The Bucks responded. Giannis came back in and punished mismatches. Ingles hit a deep three. The second quarter tightened into a grind. At halftime, the scoreboard read 55–53, Milwaukee.
Zoran had 7 points, 4 assists, and a +11 in his 9 minutes.
In the locker room, Mosley kept it short.
"Match their focus. They're banking on us to fade."
Then he looked at Zoran.
"You ready for more?"
Zoran nodded once.
"Good. You're starting the third."
When the team walked back onto the floor, the crowd was electric.
Zoran stood beside Paolo at the jump circle. The Bucks had switched up, bringing in Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton to spread the floor. Lillard still lurked behind the arc.
Possession one: Zoran sliced through the defense, faked the pass to Franz, and hit a runner off glass.
Possession two: backpedaled into a defensive switch, forced a wild three from Dame.
Possession three: crossover, stepback, pump—foul drawn.
He hit both free throws.
Suddenly, Orlando led 59–55.
And then the run started.
Midway through the third quarter, Zoran found himself isolated on the wing against Lillard.
The whole arena rose to its feet.
Damian sized him up.
Cross. Stepback. Shot.
Zoran leapt—and tipped it.
The ball bounced off the back iron. Paolo secured the board.
Fast break. Zoran sprinted down the left side.
Franz pushed ahead—bounce pass—Zoran took off.
And as he rose toward the rim—
The lights flickered.
The arena gasped.
Contact midair.
Bodies collided.
Zoran landed—
To be continued.
Next: Chapter 46 – The Drop or the Rise?
Score: Magic 63, Bucks 55.
Date: November 11, 2024 – 3rd Quarter