Chapter One: The Man Left Behind

Lu taped his split knuckle. For the first time that night, he smiled. “It’s fine.” The next morning, the Harbor City Thunder held a last-minute tryout. Injuries had taken two centers, but the team offered only a ten-day contract. Head coach Chen Ye tossed Lu the ball. “Three-on-three. Defend five possessions. Give up two baskets and you leave.” Lu forced misses on the first three possessions, absorbed a difficult floater on the fourth, then faced star guard Zhou Yan on the fifth. Zhou accelerated off a screen, expecting the slow center to lunge. Lu waited until Zhou’s final step, slid across, and raised both arms without jumping. Forced into a contorted layup, Zhou hit the rim. Chen stopped the clock. “Why didn’t you try to block it?”