The lights inside the Smoothie King Center buzzed overhead, casting a sharp gleam on the hardwood. This wasn't just another arena. This was the last checkpoint before the real season.
Zoran sat on the bench with his hoodie draped over his head, earbuds in, nodding along to a beat only he could hear. The Mavericks' staff had been more active than usual this morning—clipboard talk, whispers, quiet glances that lingered too long.
He knew why.
This was it.
The final preseason game.
The Pelicans were without Zion and Ingram tonight, but CJ McCollum and Herb Jones were starting. Their defense wasn't going to give anyone a free look. It wasn't just a game anymore. This was the real audition.
Zoran's eyes locked onto the court.
[SYSTEM BOOTING…]
BOOSTS AVAILABLE:
Fast-Twitch Response: +2% On-Ball Reaction
Off-Ball Awareness: +4% Positioning IQ
Pull-Up Precision: +2.5% Shot Release Control
He activated all three. The familiar chill rolled through his core. Not a surge of adrenaline—more like his body shifting into the highest gear it had.
Coach Kidd looked over from the sideline. "You ready, Vranes?"
Zoran slid off the bench. "Always."
No flex. No bravado. Just business.
Third quarter – Pelicans 58, Mavericks 54
Zoran checked in.
First touch: high screen from Powell. He kept the dribble tight, let Herb Jones fight through the pick, then snapped into a midrange pull-up.
Splash.
Next possession: ghost screen action. Zoran popped out, caught the pass from Max Christie, and buried the catch-and-shoot corner three.
Bang.
McCollum answered with a floater, but Zoran stayed stone-faced. On the next play, he isolated Naji Marshall, jabbed twice, faked baseline, then faded into a one-legged jumper off glass.
Silence. Then the Mavericks bench erupted.
"Z, you might need your own segment on SportsCenter!" Gortman shouted.
Zoran just jogged back on defense.
Efficient. Composed. Focused.
Late fourth – Mavericks 91, Pelicans 88
Zoran was still in.
Pelicans trapped at half court. Zoran read it instantly, slung a skip pass to Caleb Martin in the weak-side corner.
Three. Net.
Next trip down, McCollum switched onto him again. Zoran hesitated just long enough, then took one hard dribble left, stepped back, and hit a deep two over the closeout.
Clutch.
Final possession, Pelicans tried to trap again. Zoran slipped through, drew a help defender, and dished to Jamarion Sharp for the slam.
Buzzer. 98–92, Mavericks win.
No confetti. No celebration. But Zoran had done exactly what he needed.
Zoran Vranes – Final Preseason Box Score
Minutes: 18
Points: 17
FG: 7/9
3PT: 2/2
Assists: 3
Rebounds: 2
Steals: 1
Plus/Minus: +12
He walked off the court without much expression, but he could feel it in the air.
This wasn't just a trial anymore. This was momentum.
He'd shown what he could do. Now, it was time to see if the Mavericks would give him more than just another short window.
Because the regular season was next—and with it, the real proving ground.