The crowd at Alfonso Wells Memorial Playground was electric. The Ballislife crew had pulled in basketball fans from all over Detroit. High school coaches, content creators, and even some NBA players attended, eager to witness the much-anticipated faceoff. The recent end of the NBA training camp meant they had time to enjoy the local talent.
The host of the event took the mic, his voice booming over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome our players for today's faceoff! From the Ballislife crew, standing at a height of 6 feet 4 inches, weighing in at 210 pounds, known for his crazy handles and explosive scoring, please welcome Nasir Core, aka Nas!"
Nas stepped up, the crowd erupting in cheers. He soaked it in, a confident smile on his face.
"And his opponent, standing at 6 feet 2 inches, weighing 190 pounds, Detroit's own sensation, Jamar Carter, aka Phantom J!"
Jamar walked onto the court with both hands raised, the cheers washing over him. Among the loudest was his sister Anne, her voice ringing out with pride.
Nas approached Jamar, sizing him up. "How old are you?" he asked.
"Sixteen years by tomorrow," Jamar replied.
Nas smirked. "Oh, so your birthday is coming up. Nice. That means I'm not going to be playing you at full intensity, so let's make it quick."
'Damn, how quick does his mood swing?' Jamar pondered, noting Nas's sudden shift from friendly to fierce.
"Hey, this ain't the time to be lost in thought, my boy," Nas said, tossing the ball to Jamar.
The referee stepped in, calling out the rules. "We want to see a clean game, no altercations, and try not to harm your opponent. This game is to 21 points, where a 3-point shot counts as 2 points and your 2-point shots count as one. If you got that, shake hands and let's begin."
They shook hands, and the ball was given to Jamar to start.
"Okay, let's see what you got," Nas said, guarding Jamar nonchalantly. "Take the first shot."
"Really?" Jamar asked, then took a step back and shot the ball from the 3-point range.
**Swish**
The ball sailed cleanly through the hoop, the manual scoreboard updating.
**Phantom J: 2**
**Nas: 0**
The crowd applauded, with Anne's cheer the loudest. Despite Jamar's reassurances, she still believed that if her brother lost, they would break his legs.
"Good shot," Nas said, checking the ball back to Jamar. "Again."
Jamar proceeded to score two more shots. As the score reached 6-0, Nas's demeanor shifted. "Playtime is over."
As Jamar received the ball, Nas rushed at him with intense defense. Shocked by the sudden change, Jamar attempted a hesitation move between the legs to create space, but Nas was on it.
Jamar slid the ball to the right and crossed back to the left, trying to create an opening. Nas moved slightly slower but still managed to stay in front, denying Jamar any breathing room.
Jamar then performed a shamgod, hitting the ball with his elbow mid-bounce, followed by a snatch-back to create a bit of space. As he jumped to take the shot, Nas's hand blocked his vision.
**Clang**
The ball hit the rim and bounced out of bounds.
"I'm all on that, homie," Nas said, swaggering and flexing. "Check up."
'I'm in for a long night,' Jamar thought.
---
**Mission: Face off against the Ballislife crew**
- **Reward:** 60 skill points, 4 level ups
- **Failure:** System shuts down, you lose your attained height and regress to what you were prior
**Sub-Mission: Win against a Ballislife player**
- **Reward:** 60 skill points, 2 level ups.
---
### Status Window
**Shooting:** Level 6
- **Three-Point Shooting:** Level 2
- **Mid-Range Game:** Level 2
- **Free Throw Accuracy:** Level 2
**Ball Handling:** Level 5
**Physicality:** Level 5
**Rebounding:** Level 4
**Basketball IQ:** Level 5
**Skill Points:** 0
---
Jamar focused, determined to rise to the challenge. The pressure was immense, but he knew that this was his moment to prove himself, not just to the crowd, but to everyone watching—especially Anne.