"Hoops Across Horizons"

Chapter 1 - 13

Chapter 1: The Call of Destiny

The basketball court at the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur was a world unto itself. It was here that Ariff Raziuddin spent his afternoons, dribbling past imaginary defenders, perfecting his jump shot beneath the heat of the Malaysian sun. With every shot, he dreamed of something bigger, far beyond his small town and the local league games that had become routine. At 6’6”, Ariff was a towering figure in the local basketball scene, known for his agility and sharp court vision. But in Malaysia, basketball wasn't a ticket to the world stage.

His friends teased him about his obsession with the NBA, saying things like, “Ariff, you might as well be aiming to be an astronaut!” But Ariff wasn’t one to let go of dreams easily.

One night, after dominating another game in the ASEAN Basketball League, Ariff was enjoying late-night nasi lemak with his best friends when his phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, and Ariff almost ignored it, thinking it was spam. But something made him pick up.

“Hello, am I speaking to Ariff Raziuddin?” The voice on the other end was deep, authoritative, and unmistakably American.

“This is David Mitchell, head scout for the Golden State Warriors.”

Ariff froze, his hand shaking. This had to be a prank, right? But Mitchell continued.

“We’ve been watching your games, and we think you’ve got the potential to play in the NBA. How would you feel about coming to San Francisco to try out for the Warriors’ development team?”

For a moment, the world around Ariff disappeared. The bustling restaurant noise faded, his friends’ laughter became distant, and all he could hear was his own heartbeat.

“Yes, sir. I’m in.”

And just like that, everything changed.

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Chapter 2: A Stranger in a Strange Land

The flight to San Francisco felt like a dream. Ariff had never been outside Southeast Asia, let alone the United States. The sprawling city stretched out below him as the plane descended, its famous skyline dominated by the Golden Gate Bridge and the endless Pacific Ocean beyond. This was the land of opportunity, the place where legends were made—and now, his chance to be part of that history.

When he arrived at the Warriors’ state-of-the-art training facility, Ariff was awestruck. He’d watched it on TV countless times, but seeing it in person was another thing entirely. The gleaming hardwood floors, the massive screens showcasing highlight reels, the weight room filled with athletes training like their lives depended on it—it was both overwhelming and exhilarating.

On his first day, he was introduced to the coaching staff, the team’s executives, and then… the players. Steph Curry, the reigning superstar, walked up to him, his trademark smile welcoming Ariff to the court.

“Hey, man. Welcome to the team.”

Klay Thompson, calm and laid-back as always, gave him a nod. But not all the players were as welcoming. Jordan, the team’s hot-headed young guard, barely acknowledged him, and Ariff could feel the icy stares from some of the others. He wasn’t just an outsider; he was a kid from Malaysia, an unknown quantity in a league dominated by American and European players.

His first few practices were brutal. The speed, the intensity—it was nothing like he had ever experienced. The drills were relentless, the players sharper and faster than anything he had faced in the ASEAN league. Ariff struggled to keep up. His shots clanged off the rim, his passes lacked precision, and the coaching staff noticed. His confidence, which had been sky-high when he arrived, began to waver.