April 21st, U.S. Time—The Final Day of the 1995-96 NBA Regular Season
At the invitation of the Washington Bullets, the Georgetown Hoyas were in attendance for the team's final regular season game at U.S. Airways Arena.
The visiting team? None other than the legendary Chicago Bulls, who had already secured an astonishing 71-10 record.
Seated courtside, Alex Mo and Allen Iverson watched intently.
"Mo, next season, we'll be facing Michael Jordan," Iverson said, adjusting his cap with an excited grin. "I wonder how many points I can drop on him."
Alex raised an eyebrow, amused. "How many do you think you can score if he's locked in on you?"
Without hesitation, Iverson replied, "Maybe 25, maybe 30. He's almost 35. I can beat him with my speed, get to my spots, and knock down mid-range shots."
Alex glanced at his teammate's confident expression, suppressing a chuckle.
Typical Iverson. Fearless. Always ready to challenge the greatest.
Bulls Dominate, Eyes on the Future
On the court, Jordan and the Bulls gave the Bullets no breathing room. The final score: 103-93, with Jordan putting up an effortless 46 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals, despite only playing 24 minutes.
With this victory, the Bulls officially concluded the regular season at 72-10, setting a new NBA record.
As the final buzzer sounded, the cameras shifted from the court to the audience, zooming in on Alex Mo and Allen Iverson.
The Georgetown duo represented the future of the league, while Michael Jordan stood as its past and present.
Jordan, catching sight of the cameras panning to the young stars, smirked.
He had seen many up-and-comers before.
"Looks like I have two more kids to teach a lesson next season," Jordan mused internally.
The Flight Back—Eyes on the Prize
On the way back to campus, Jerome Williams and Al Harrington reflected on Jordan's performance.
"He's still got it," Jerome muttered. "Five steals in 24 minutes? If I were facing him, I probably wouldn't even be able to dribble."
Harrington sighed. "Yeah, it's hard to imagine anyone scoring on him."
Iverson, however, remained unshaken.
"Man, if it were me," AI said, mimicking a crossover, "I'd change my pace, fake a drive, make him bite, and boom—step back, bucket."
Jerome and Harrington exchanged skeptical looks.
If anyone could pull that off, it was Iverson.
Then their eyes drifted toward Alex Mo.
With his height, length, and athleticism, he might not just challenge Jordan in scoring—but dominate him in the air.
The thought left them both feeling the vast difference in talent.
End of an Era, Start of Another
As the NBA regular season came to a close, so did Alex Mo's freshman year at Georgetown.
Iverson invited Mo to stay at his place until the draft. "First paycheck comes in, I'm buying a new crib," AI laughed.
Packing up his dorm room, Alex Mo opened his system interface for a quick check.
In addition to his previously unlocked Enhanced Antetokounmpo Physical Attributes, a new ability had appeared:
"Enhanced Peak Kevin Durant Offensive Skills."
This upgrade granted him not only KD's lethal shooting touch but also his silky ball-handling and insane body control.
During Durant's MVP season, his scoring versatility was unparalleled—and now Alex Mo had it at his disposal, alongside Antetokounmpo's physical gifts.
But that wasn't all.
A new mission had appeared:
"Traditional Mission: Win an NBA Championship."
Reward: Enhanced Magic Johnson Passing Ability.
Alex smirked.
If having the best scoring and physical attributes wasn't enough, he now had the chance to unlock the legendary playmaking vision of Magic Johnson.
The NBA wasn't ready for him.
The Race for the Number One Pick Begins
With the regular season over, the standings were finalized, and the tanking efforts of several teams had yielded drastic results.
The Boston Celtics, having intentionally bottomed out, posted their worst record in franchise history—13 wins, 69 losses.
Despite their shameful performance, the Vancouver Grizzlies weren't far behind, finishing 15-67.
Philadelphia, who had shown glimpses of promise, ended with a 18-64 record, effectively removing themselves from the No. 1 pick race.
And then there were the Toronto Raptors.
Had the Celtics not thrown their final games, the Raptors wouldn't have finished with 21 wins and 61 losses, leaving them bitterly outside the top three picks.
So, who would win the coveted number one pick?
Behind Closed Doors—The NBA's Secret Decision
Meanwhile, Commissioner David Stern and his executives huddled over the draft lottery process inside the NBA offices.
One thing was clear:
The Celtics could not get the first pick.
Their blatant tanking had been seen as a direct challenge to the league's integrity.
Stern sighed. "So who gets it? Vancouver, Philly, or Toronto?"
"Forget Philadelphia," an executive said. "They've had their shot with Stackhouse."
"Toronto's an international market, but Mo belongs in the U.S.," another suggested.
The final consensus was reached—the Vancouver Grizzlies would receive the No. 1 pick.
And with it, Alex Mo.
The Draft Lottery—A Twist of Fate
May 28th, the Hilton Hotel, New York.
The Celtics, Grizzlies, 76ers, and Raptors all sent their representatives to the draft lottery.
Red Auerbach, full of confidence, puffed his cigar as he watched the selections unfold.
One by one, the picks were revealed:
No. 14: Sacramento Kings.No. 13: Charlotte Hornets.No. 6: Minnesota Timberwolves.No. 4: Toronto Raptors.
As the tension in the room grew, the Celtics' name still hadn't been called. Auerbach smirked, convinced their plan had succeeded.
But then—
"The No. 2 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft belongs to... the Boston Celtics!"
Auerbach's cigar nearly fell from his mouth.
The Vancouver Grizzlies had stolen the No. 1 pick right from under their noses.
Aftermath and New Plans
Leaving the Hilton Hotel in a daze, Auerbach wasted no time.
He called Celtics coach M.L. Carr immediately.
"We didn't get the No. 1 pick. It's time for Plan B."
Carr sighed. "You mean... the trade?"
"Yes," Auerbach muttered. "We're getting Alex Mo to Boston, no matter what it takes."
A New NBA Era Beckons
With the draft order set and Alex Mo poised as the likely top pick, the basketball world braced itself for a seismic shift.
Would he transform the struggling Grizzlies into a contender?
Or would the Celtics pull off an unlikely trade to bring him to Boston?
One thing was certain—the NBA would never be the same.