The day after my record-breaking game, I was on the couch when my phone lit up. Cee-Cee.
"You calling to congratulate me on the record?" I said with a smirk.
"Frank… when were you gonna tell me?" she said, cutting straight to it.
"Ah, so that's what this is about," I said, already knowing where this was headed.
"You're my brother, Frank. And you weren't even gonna tell me you're having a baby?" she said.
"I knew how you'd react." I said, letting out a deep breath.
"You think that's normal? What if she's lying? What if the baby's not even yours?" she fired back.
"I don't think she is. But I'm doing a DNA test regardless. You can count on that." I said firmly.
"You better. 'Cause if you're really about to be a dad… you need to know for sure." she said, voice softer but still serious.
"I know. I just needed time to process everything. It's a lot, Cee." I said.
"Just don't leave me out like that again." she said.
"Alright… alright. You right. My bad for not saying something sooner." I said to Cee-Cee.
"Damn right I'm right. And congrats on the record, by the way." she added, finally cracking a smile through the phone.
"Too late." I said, laughing.
A few weeks passed. We're now February 1st.
I had just wrapped up a new commercial shoot for the latest colorway of the FL1s. I was mid-conversation with Dom, my agent.
We were sitting in a lounge area next to the set, sipping on bottled water, when he leaned in.
"So, you thinking about moving this summer or what?" he asked, trying to play it casual.
"Nah. I'm not moving, Dom. We're going for the max deal."
Dom nodded, a knowing grin spreading across his face.
"That's exactly what I figured. But hey, it's my job to make sure we're aligned," he said.
"I feel you."
"You'll get every dollar you're worth, Frank. Trust that." he replied, checking something on his tablet. "They'd be crazy not to."
I leaned back, relaxed. Things were moving how I wanted. The brand, the game, the numbers, everything.
I stood up, grabbing my jacket off the chair. Reached out to shake Dom's hand.
"Alright, I gotta bounce, Dom. I'll catch you later, you handle things here."
He smirked, dapping me up.
"Don't worry, Pres."
One hour later...
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Yo, I'm home." I said as I dropped my keys on the counter.
"Everything went well?" a voice called out from the living room — Parker Mckenna's voice. She was staying at my place for the moment.
"Yeah, smooth. You good here?" I asked as I walked toward her.
"Yeah… I'm just tired. And sometimes I get super hungry outta nowhere, but I'm alright."
"You got the number for my private chef, Loukas Lumos. Don't hesitate to hit him up if you need anything, especially European dishes." I told her.
She nodded, giving me a small smile as she curled deeper into the couch.
"Thanks, Franklin… for letting me stay here."
I shrugged, sitting on the armrest beside her.
"Least I can do."
-February 4th, 2016
We walked out of the locker room, the squad locked in. You could feel the buzz in the building. The Amway Center was alive — not just because we were 39-9, but because tonight, Kevin Durant and OKC were in town.
Durant was on the Thunder. He and Russ still running in the West.
I adjusted my elbow pad as we passed through the tunnel, the crowd roaring as the lights dimmed for introductions.
Tip-Off.
Russ brought the ball up, eyes full of fire like always.
I picked up Durant on the wing.
He hit a mid-range pull-up in my face on the first possession. I nodded.
"Aight. Let's dance then."
-First Quarter
We traded buckets. KD was cooking early — fadeaways, one-dribble pull-ups, that long-ass wingspan making every jumper look easy. But I wasn't backing down. Came down the other end, hit a stepback three in transition. Crowd erupted.
"Get used to that view, KD." I said on the way back. "Lotta net tonight."
Russ was being Russ — charging downhill like a locomotive. Rose took the challenge, though. It was physical, fast-paced, no breathing room. OKC led by 3 after one.
-Second Quarter
Bench units rolled in. I stayed on for a few extra minutes — Coach letting me anchor the second group. I went to work. Hit back-to-back threes off down screens, then found Vucevic on a pick and pop for the easy two.
Timeout Thunder.
We jogged back to the bench. Crowd on their feet.
"Keep feeding me." I told Derrick as he sat next to me.
"You already know Frank."
-Halftime Score: ORL 53 - OKC 54
-Third Quarter
Back at it with KD. He started forcing a few. I was getting under his skin — some light bumping, some hand-checking. Whispered trash talk.
Came off a double screen, buried a corner three in his face. That was my sixth triple.
-Fourth Quarter
The game was close 116 to 116, 6 seconds to play, I have the ball in my hands.
I'm at the top of the key, I dribble, then jump "Move!"
Someone tries to block me. But I dunk on him from the free throw line.
I look at him on the ground.
"KD I made you dirty." I say laughingly.
The buzzer sounded. Final score, ORL 118 - OKC 116
I threw my arms up to the crowd, soaked in the love.
That night, the highlight was everywhere.
SportsCenter. Bleacher Report. Twitter. Instagram.
I was sitting on the couch at home, phone in hand. Parker was next to me, curled up with a blanket, half-watching, half-scrolling through her own phone.
"Naaaaah, did you see how I dunked on him." I said, rewinding the clip again and holding it up to her face.
She laughed. "Franklin, you've shown me this three times already."
"Yeah, and you gon' see it three more! Look at his face after!"
She shook her head, smiling. "You're such a show-off."