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Chapter 6: First game Part 2
🕑 Added 2025-04-20 10:47:11 +0000 UTCThis fast-paced battle between the Davidson Wildcats and Oklahoma Sooners has drawn significant attention. Before the game, the media were eager to interview both Blake Griffin and Stephen Curry, knowing that these two would be the focal points of the matchup.
Curry had delivered a stellar performance in March, cementing his status as one of college basketball's brightest stars, while Griffin was widely regarded as the most dominant prospect in this rookie class.
During an interview, Curry spoke candidly about the team's goals for the season and his plans for the future. As the session wrapped up, a curious reporter, Javier Stanford, posed an unexpected question:
"There's a seven-footer on your team. Is he Chinese?"
Curry nodded. He had initially wanted to promote his teammate but hesitated, remembering Coach McKillop's insistence on keeping Lin Yi as a secret weapon. Reluctantly, he kept his response brief:
"He's my pick-and-roll partner."
Javier Stanford chuckled. China had produced its share of towering athletes, but not everyone could be Yao Ming. Judging by Lin Yi's stiff pre-game drills, could he truly be an effective pick-and-roll player? Then again, Stanford reconsidered—the Wildcats didn't have any other reliable screen-setters. Their frontcourt players were undersized and average at best. Not just NBA-level, but even the NBDL might not show interest.
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Coach McKillop, a seasoned strategist with a career-winning percentage above 60%, addressed the team before tipoff.
"Today, our main offensive weapon remains Stephen," he declared.
The Wildcats nodded in unison.
"Lin, you'll start off the bench. Anthony set solid screens for Stephen. McMillan and Donald, be ready to shoot."
The Wildcats were a pass-heavy team, thriving on ball movement—perhaps one reason Curry had later flourished in the Warriors' system. It was a style he had started mastering since college.
Lin Yi acknowledged the instructions while Curry shot him a knowing glance.
The night before, Curry had given Lin Yi advice on handling his debut. Ironically, Curry's own NCAA debut had been a disaster, but that only made his guidance more valuable.
McKillop was pleased with Lin Yi's composure—it exceeded expectations.
"There are a lot of scouts here today," assistant coach Jennings observed. "All eyes are on Blake and Stephen."
McKillop smirked. "No, most of them are here for Blake."
That thought sparked a bit of selfishness in McKillop. He called Lin Yi over.
"If they start guarding you tightly, I want you to use your guard skills," he said.
Lin Yi's eyes lit up. Weren't they supposed to keep him a secret weapon?
McKillop's reasoning was simple: even with Lin Yi and Curry, the Wildcats weren't championship contenders. But with so many scouts watching, a strong performance could boost Lin Yi's draft stock.
Plus McKillop had designed many of Davidson's plays to showcase Curry—maximizing his stats to improve his NBA prospects.
A truly selfless coach.
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[Davidson Wildcats Jersey]
[Oklahoma Sooners Jersey]
The highly anticipated game got underway with the sound of the opening buzzer.
Blake Griffin leaped effortlessly higher than Davidson's center, Anthony Beasley, winning the tip-off with raw athleticism for his team. His explosive power was on full display as he sprinted down the court like a freight train. The Wildcats played aggressive defense, but Griffin still managed to get open, receiving a pass from his teammate and slamming down the first points of the game.
"Blake! Blake! Blake!"
The crowd erupted.
"Oh my God, I love this guy!" Russell Westbrook cheered from the stands. He couldn't help but imagine how many assists he'd rack up playing alongside Griffin.
Kevin Durant, watching from a distance, nodded in approval. Even with NBA experience, he was impressed. Griffin's combination of size, strength, and explosiveness was simply unfair at the college level.
Meanwhile, back on the court, the Wildcats answered with a quick basket of their own. Curry snuck into the paint, finishing a layup with finesse.
While most people focused on Curry's three-point shooting, they often overlooked his elite finishing ability. His touch around the rim was lethal, and his ability to manipulate space allowed him to avoid heavy contact while still scoring efficiently.
Davidson took an early 7-4 lead, using crisp ball movement and off-ball cuts to find open looks.
Frustrated, Griffin demanded the ball. His teammate, small forward Valders, fed him in the post. Griffin faked left, spun right, and elevated—soaring above Beasley before hammering down a thunderous dunk.
BOOM!
The rim shook violently. Griffin roared at the Wildcats' defense.
Westbrook practically jumped out of his seat.
"Kevin, his head was nearly at the rim!"
Durant remained calm. "Yeah. That kind of vertical leap is rare—even in the NBA."
Oklahoma capitalized on Griffin's momentum. He scored six straight points, pushing the lead to 7-12. McKillop called out to Curry, urging his teammates to set stronger screens.
Curry took his first three-point attempt of the game—but Anthony Beasley failed to set a proper pick, allowing the defense to close in. Oklahoma pushed the tempo, and Griffin ran the break.
In front of a sea of stunned scouts, he threw down yet another vicious dunk.
Ten points already.
"Oh my God! His athleticism is unreal!" Reggie Miller marveled from the commentary booth. "And look at that ball-handling! He brought it up himself—great fundamentals for a big man!"
Oklahoma led 7-14, but McKillop didn't call a timeout.
Just when it seemed like Griffin was unstoppable, Stephen Curry reminded everyone why he was one of the biggest names on the court.
He dribbled up, stepped back, and—without hesitation—launched a deep three.
Swish.
10-14
An unreasonable shot? Maybe.
But Stephen Curry had never played by conventional rules.
Even in college, he had already started mastering the art of the impossible.
