NBA: Rise in a Parallel World

October 2, 7:00 PM – Downtown Los Angeles, Outside Staples Center

Two young men, both nearly 6'6", stood outside the newly renamed Staples Center, staring up at its towering structure with excitement and nervousness.

One of them, Quick, nudged his friend. "Hansen, do you really think these free Lakers tickets from that website are legit?"

Hansen glanced down at the tickets in his hand. "Well... I saw on the NBA's official site that all preseason games are free this year. You just have to claim tickets from the team's website. So... yeah, they should be real."

Quick still looked unsure.

Hansen shrugged. "Look, the only way to find out is to go in. If they're fake, we just head home."

With that, they walked toward the entrance.

Moments later, they passed through the ticket scanners without a problem.

Quick and Hansen exchanged glances—this was real.

Then they stepped inside and froze.

The inside of Staples Center was breathtaking.

The arena was divided into hundreds of brand-new seating sections, each filled with thousands of fans.

Luxury suites lined the upper levels, each glowing with sleek technology and polished interiors.

Above the court, a six-sided LCD screen hung from the rafters, its crystal-clear display showing player highlights and live warmups.

On the court, Lakers and Kings players moved through their shooting drills and pregame stretches.

Quick and Hansen quickly found their seats.

But before the game even began, the entire arena was alive with energy.

---

All around them, fans engaged in heated discussions.

"Tonight is the preseason game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. I hope it's exciting."

"Who cares? Just sitting in this insane stadium is already worth it!"

"Finally, something other than the ABA's three-on-three games. I was getting so bored!"

"Don't get too excited. What if the NBA games suck?"

"Dude, the tickets were free. Just enjoy the damn game!"

"Who are you supporting tonight?"

"Are you serious? It's the Los Angeles Lakers! Why would I cheer for an out-of-town team?"

As the clock ticked down to game time, the number of fans inside Staples Center kept growing.

By 7:20 PM, the 19,000-seat arena was at full capacity.

But not everyone in attendance was just a fan.

Some came out of curiosity—wanting to see if this NBA league was truly worth the hype.

Others came for entertainment—after all, the tickets were free.

Some were corporate sponsors, looking to evaluate the NBA's business potential firsthand.

And some… were high-level executives from the ABA League, watching their new competitor closely.

---

Inside a Luxurious Suite in Staples Center

Seated inside a high-end private suite were two important figures:

Nathan Cole, President of the NBA.

Ron Segent, President of Staples Corporation.

Just a few days ago, Staples had finalized a $166 million, 10-year deal for the naming rights of the arena.

Now, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers would be known as Staples Center.

Staples Corporation was one of the largest office supply companies in the world, ranked among the Fortune 500.

To them, this $166 million investment was nothing.

Nathan leaned back in his seat. "Mr. Segent, the game is about to start. I think you'll find it quite enjoyable."

Ron Segent smiled. "I'm a basketball fan myself. I hope your league delivers."

They both turned toward the court as the pre-game show began.

---

The First Preseason Game in NBA History Begins

The arena lights dimmed, casting the crowd into darkness.

Then, suddenly—a spectacular light show erupted.

The court was illuminated with lasers and flashing spotlights, as the Lakers' home DJ's voice roared through the speakers.

"AND NOW... LET'S MEET YOUR LOS ANGELES LAKERS!"

One by one, the starting five were announced:

"Elgin Baylor!"

"Dick Barnett!"

"Rudy LaRusso!"

"Frank Selvy!"

"JERRY WEST!"

The crowd erupted in deafening cheers.

Even though many fans didn't know these players before tonight, it didn't matter.

They were wearing the gold-and-purple Lakers jerseys.

They represented Los Angeles.

That was enough.

Nathan watched from his suite, feeling a deep sense of nostalgia.

These were names he had read about in old basketball history books.

But never before had he seen them play in person.

The Lakers' roster featured two legends—Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.

The Kings, on the other hand, had their own superstar—Oscar Robertson, the "Big O."

In the previous world, the Sacramento Kings didn't exist in the 1960s.

Back then, they were known as the Cincinnati Royals.

But now, in this timeline, the team names had changed—but the players remained the same.

---

Tipoff – The NBA's First Game Begins

With the final player introductions complete, the referee stepped to center court.

The Lakers and Kings lined up.

At exactly 7:30 PM, the referee tossed the ball into the air.

The first NBA game in this world officially began.

A hush fell over the crowd as the two centers leaped into the air for the opening tip.

The ball was tipped toward the Lakers.

Immediately, Jerry West grabbed it and pushed forward with speed.

The first play in NBA history was underway.

West drove past his defender, weaving through traffic.

As he reached the top of the key, he suddenly fired a no-look pass to Baylor on the wing.

Baylor faked a shot, drove baseline, and soared into the air—hammering down a two-handed dunk!

The crowd exploded in cheers!

This wasn't just basketball—this was something new.

Something faster, smoother, and more exciting than the three-on-three games they had seen before.

The Kings quickly inbounded the ball, and Oscar Robertson took control.

With unmatched poise, he orchestrated his team's offense, calling for a high screen at the top of the arc.

Then, in one swift motion, he pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

Swish!

The crowd gasped—not because of the shot itself, but because of the sheer skill on display.

Within just two possessions, the NBA had already won over its audience.

---

The World Watches the Birth of the NBA

Inside the luxury suite, Ron Segent leaned forward. "Nathan... this is incredible."

Nathan simply smiled.

All across the country, fans were watching this historic first game—broadcast live on ESPN, CBS, ABC, TNT, and NBC.

Basketball, as the world knew it, had just changed forever.

And as the first quarter continued, one thing became clear—the NBA was here to stay.