NBA: Rise in a Parallel World

Nathan Cole stood in stunned silence.

The system's voice echoed in his mind, each notification more unbelievable than the last.

Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining all the arenas and ancillary facilities of the 30 NBA teams!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for winning the top ten NBA superstars from the 1960s!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 500 NBA players and coaches from the 1960s!

Nathan's breath caught in his throat. Did he hear that correctly?

In an instant, he owned every NBA arena. Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, TD Garden, the United Center—they were all his.

That alone was worth billions.

But that wasn't even the most shocking part.

He had just been gifted some of the greatest players of the 1960s—the pioneers of basketball.

His mind raced through the names:

Wilt Chamberlain, the Basketball Emperor – The man who once dropped 100 points in a single game.

Bill Russell, the Lord of the Rings – 11-time NBA champion. The ultimate defensive leader.

Oscar Robertson, the Triple-Double King – The first player to average a triple-double for an entire season.

Jerry West, the Logo Man – The clutch shooter and brilliant scorer who became the face of the NBA.

Elgin Baylor, the Lord of Flight – One of the greatest scorers and innovators of modern basketball.

John Havlicek, the Thief – The man who could do it all, offense and defense alike.

And these were just a few of the legends at his disposal.

Then there were the coaches.

Red Auerbach, The Cardinal – The mastermind behind the Boston Celtics' eight consecutive championships.

Alex Hannum – The only coach to break the Celtics' dynasty, winning championships with two different teams.

Nathan clenched his fists. This was insane.

A fully established league needed three major things:

1. Arenas – ✔ Acquired.

2. Talent – ✔ Secured with 500 legendary players and coaches.

3. Viewership & Marketing – ❌ Not yet established.

He had the foundation. Now, he needed to bring the game to the world.

But before he could even begin to strategize—

Ding!

A new system notification appeared.

[Would you like to officially activate the NBA League?]

Nathan took a deep breath.

This was it.

The moment where history would be rewritten.

His lips curled into a determined smile.

"Activate the NBA."

All the major hurdles of launching the NBA were easily solved.

With 30 fully equipped arenas, 500 legendary players, and elite coaches, the only missing piece was a strong management team to run the league.

Nathan wasted no time.

The first order of business was assembling a team of experienced executives who could handle league operations, marketing, and finances.

Just as he was strategizing, the system's voice rang in his head again.

Ding! Main task released: Successfully complete the first season of the NBA!

Nathan took a deep breath.

He knew from his past life that the NBA season traditionally started in late October and ended in mid-June.

It was already late July, which meant he had only three months to:

1. Hire team executives and staff.

2. Establish the NBA headquarters.

3. Sign broadcasting deals with major networks.

4. Finalize the structure of the first NBA season.

Time was of the essence.

---

New York, Fifth Avenue – NBA Headquarters

The Olympic Building, Manhattan.

The 20th floor, now serving as the NBA headquarters, had been transformed into a bustling workplace.

Nathan sat in his newly furnished office, reviewing potential candidates for top executive positions.

Sitting across from him was Louis Carter, a seasoned executive who had previously worked as the President of Operations for Major League Soccer (MLS).

Nathan glanced at the resume and asked, "You were an executive in Major League Soccer?"

Louis nodded. "Yes. I handled expansion, sponsorships, and overall league operations."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you resign?"

Louis adjusted his glasses and said frankly, "Soccer doesn't have a future in America. Compared to the NFL, MLB, and NHL, it simply isn't growing fast enough. I didn't want to be part of a stagnant league."

Nathan smirked. Smart answer.

"And yet, you're here interviewing for a position in the NBA, a league that hasn't even played a single game. Aren't you afraid it might not take off?"

Louis smiled. "That's exactly why I want in. A new league means endless possibilities. If we build the NBA right, it could become the dominant force in American sports."

Nathan studied him carefully.

Louis was a Harvard Law graduate, an expert in sports business, and experienced in league operations.

More importantly, he had the ambition and vision needed to make the NBA succeed.

Nathan extended his hand. "Welcome aboard. You're the new Vice President of the NBA."

Louis shook his hand firmly. "Let's build something great."

---

The NBA Headquarters

After finalizing the deal, Nathan gave Louis a tour of the NBA headquarters.

The Olympic Building was located in one of the most prestigious commercial districts in Manhattan.

The NBA now occupied the 14th to 20th floors, covering multiple office spaces, conference rooms, and media studios.

The annual rent alone was tens of millions of dollars.

As Louis looked around the sleek, modern offices, he was genuinely impressed.

"This is serious money," he muttered.

Nathan smirked. "Did you think I was playing around?"

Louis chuckled. "No, but I wasn't expecting this level of investment. If we do this right, the NBA could be the biggest league in the world."

Nathan nodded. "Then let's make it happen."

---

What's Next?

With Louis Carter onboard, the next challenge was securing TV broadcast deals and launching the first NBA season.

Would the media take a risk on a brand-new basketball league?

Would fans embrace a sport that had never existed at this level before?

Nathan was about to find out.