Undrafted: Underrated x Underestimated

[chosenone58]

Damn, Clint! That's dirty, Twice over.

I wasn't ready for this twist, fam!

[The JZA]

Messy story for the reigning MVP of the NBA.

Money can’t buy happiness

Not everyday will be life on a beach.

When does it ever buy happiness

Damn, Clint! That's dirty, Twice over.

I wasn't ready for this twist, fam!

It becomes apparent that Khyri isn't the only one that belongs to the streets.

Recks in for a ru when or if he finds out what's going on.

[The JZA]

[The JZA]

MOMENT OF CLARITY

It was already September and the NBA off-season was coming to a close with the 2022-2023 season rearing it's head. A lot of the spots on teams were filled, if not filling up bench spots to make their 15-Man roster. Big signings over the summer seemed to played out as expected, James Harden and Kyrie Irving staying in Brooklyn, Ayton in Phoenix, most notably, Bradley Beal and Zach Lavine moved onto newer teams. Among those that was not signed with a team at the time was the reigning MVP and 2022 Finals MVP, Recks Black...

With a knock on the door, Recks entered his agent's office, "Hellooooo, anybody home?"

Danielle Cantor signals Recks to take a seat as she wraps up a phone call. It goes on for another 5-7 minutes with Danielle giving Recks facial expressions of wanting to hang up already, when finally she was able a few moments later.

"Ugh!! Finally!" Danielle takes a moment to clear her head before addressing Recks.

"Recks! Where on earth have you been?! I've been calling, texting, e-mailing you, couldn't get a hold of you. Nobody has heard from you, nobody has seen you, where you've been hiding young man? You best have a good excuse for me."

Recks cautiously answered Danielle's stern barrage of questions, "Went to Disney Land with my son?"

"Okay, you best have TWO good reasons you've been avoiding me."

"I haven't been avoiding you, I'm sorry it looked that way, but I just been going through a lot. After the season, my supposed girlfriend dropped a bomb on me on top of the bomb she dropped prior, telling me she was pregnant. Thinking it was mine, she tells me it may not be. On top of that, I've been getting swarmed with details, interviews and stuff, I've just been turning it all down. I wanted to get away from the noise, so I took my son, went to Orlando, very long trip by the way, and spent some father-son time with my boy, which was much needed. I go back home, only to find out that I am a father of not one, not two, but three brand new babies."

"Okay, okay, slow down, I see what you mean. First off.." Danielle maneuver around her office and bring out two glasses, filling them with champagne, handing off one of the glasses to Recks. "Congratulations on the new babies!"

"Thank you so much", Recks tapped Danielle's glass for their mini-celebration. "Wooo, I feel like I needed that."

"I think we both did. And secondly, what did you guys have?"

"A boy and two girls" Recks responded.

"I see you're already at work of putting your own little league basketball team together."

"When there's championships to be won, we want it."

"Well, congratulations. I know you will be an even more splendid Dad than you already are."

"It's going to be a lot of work."

"Of course, but having two girls of my own, I can tell you, each and every day you see them smile, you know it's worth it."

"Absolutely. I may have three additional kids, but my oldest born, Kairos, that's my pride and joy. They all are, no doubt, but he's the reason why I'm here in your office."

"Then I definitely owe it to Mr. Kairos Black, he earned himself some honorary credit with me. And now that you're here. We can get down to business."

"Yes m'am. What you got for me?"

"Well, the Sixers wanted to re-sign you, with such success, it's a no-brainer why they wanted to. But since you were M.I.A., they went elsewhere."

"Man, I'm sorry. I feel like I dropped the ball on this."

"It's your first year, so I'll cut you some slack. But when you hear my number calling, you pick up. I'm here to help you make the most money possible sweety. No more sorries, this is business, and I make sure all my guys are taken well cared of."

"I got you, 100%."

"Alright, so, to be frank with you. There's still a lot of teams with some cap left, and the world is your oasis. But take in consideration where you want to go. Be the best fit for a team where you can set up your next big contract."

"So basically, make my-self essential to the team."

"Naturally."

Recks mulls over a spreadsheet of team rosters Danielle had binded. Seeing the recap of team's signings, Recks had a slew of places he like to go.

"Man, these some tough choices. Problem is, so many teams got a star or a great duo, big three. I don't wanna be in a place where I get KD'd."

"KD'd?" Danielle questioned.

"Yeah, you know, Durant leaving OKC to chase a ring with Golden State."

"Oh, okay, I get you, but don't you want more rings? If it meant signing with the Warriors, in humor, you'd rake in success. That success creates cash. More teams will desire you no matter what."

"Yeah, I hear that, but I'm all earn, not given. Losing Embiid in the playoffs showed me the pressure I was left to deal with. It was crazy, but thankfully, I had help getting through it."

"And now that you have experienced it?"

"I feel like my old self to be honest. Like, back when I was in USC, I was the leader. I was that guy. Philly opened their arms to me when it matter most and I delivered for them."

"And now, it's time to deliver for you. You've gone undrafted, you worked a very small one-year contract, and made the most of it. Now, it's time to cash in."

Recks takes a moment, still mulling over it before making his decision in his mind.

"You're right, it is time..."

[The JZA]

[The JZA]

BLACK ICE

Life was on the move for Recks. With his new contract leading him to Houston, Texas, and a bigger salary to not live out in a hotel, Recks was able to settle down a bit. And by that, he didn't waste any time relocating Kairos, Khyri, and his new set of triplets. After all, it was his family. Though Recks was still not seeing eye to eye with Khyri and her promiscuity, he wanted to still do right by their kids and keep them together for the sake of parenting.

The night grew late as another day passes with the NBA season days away. Khyri had finally put all three of the kids to sleep, where Kairos shared the room with. Pouring her a glass of white wine, she approaches Recks from behind, who stared out the big window of their new condo, looking over the city of Downtown Houston.

"Hey..."

"The kids are asleep?"

"Yeah..." Khyri took a slow sip of her glass, wanting to press against Recks' back and embrace him, but she decided against it. Thought he wasn't completely cold to her, he had kept his distant.

"Thank you, Recks."

"For what?"

"This... Bringing our family together. This, this feels right."

"Don't mention it", Recks says nonchalantly. "I'd never let you raise our kids alone, they're my responsibility just as much."

"... What about us?" quietly she asked. "When are we going to feel right?"

"You really think I want to talk about that right now, Khyri?"

"About us. We're gonna have to eventually..." Khyri steps around Recks, staring out the window along with him. "You know, I honestly never meant for it to happen. It just did, it happened."

"Khyri... Everyday people wake up to their consciousness. As long as you are conscious, everything we do as human beings is a choice."

"How can you say that?"

"Is it not true? You talked to that other man, was it not a choice? You hooked up with him, was it not a choice? You dropped your clothes and spread your legs for him, was it not a choice?"

Khyri stood there quiet, loss for words to combat. "... I have needs you know, I'm human, Recks. Why can't you let that go and focus on us in the now."

"... Because you had no problems coming all the way to Philly to fulfill those needs before."

Khyri knew he was right. She tried to convinced herself that night with Recks was spontaneous, but she the truth. Once more, she knew if the truth ever got out that it was Clinton, Recks' world would crash.

"I'm not holding it against you. I understand. But you did it when you knew we had something, that's the trifling part."

"I'm sorry... I didn't know we were a couple at the time."

"That what bothers me the most. You casually sleeping around and including me on that list of bodies."

"Recks, please tell me you're really not feeding me this Kevin Samuels bullshit."

Recks cut his eyes towards her before looking back out to the view, letting out a smug smirk.

"Nah, it ain't even that type of party. I just know my worth as a man who don't want to be riddled with any STDs. You did your own thing, fine, but you raw dogging with everyone is crossing the line."

Silence fell among the two. Just as Recks began to exit out of the conversation, Khyri kept her optimism to question Recks once more.

"What do I have to do to make this right with you Recks? I mean, we've been doing this on and off thing for a long time, for years now. I love you... I've always loved you. We had our differences, but you've always been the man I wanted, the man I've always came back to..."

Tears started to run down the cheeks of Khyri as her eyes overflowed. Normally, Recks has a 6th sense for bullshit, but he knew this wasn't no act, she was sincere.

"... I don't want to do this life without you by my side, Recks. I don't want to just be co-parents, I want us to be a family. I need you..."

Khyri's emotions began to override her attempts to hold them back. Recks looks her way silently, taking his left hand and wiping her tears, then confiscating her glass of white wine.

"Go to bed, and get some rest. I just need to be alone with my thoughts.."

Without saying another word, Khyri comply. She takes a few moments after a few steps, hoping Recks would come to her and consume her into his arms, but Recks stood firm, isolated in thoughts. With no reaction, she heads off to bed. As Recks remained quiet in the spacious living room of their condo, staring over the city, Recks' mind was filled with questions that he was not ready to have answers for. It was a big deal for him since Khyri was the woman he admired, cherished, and loved the most, even more than Kairos' mother when she was alive. The two had a lot of history pre-romance and his heart never felt like this before, crippled at the notions of her liberties. But he knew something was off as she was not all telling tonight, and things were to get worse, before they get better...

[The JZA]

[The JZA]

[The JZA]

[Agent]

Ah shit him & KPJ it’s over

I thought about running with Houston this year for that reason alone.