NBA: Built to Dominate

"There will always be someone who becomes MVP.

Why can't that person be me?"

Alex Mo's words left the reporters stunned.

This statement was bold.

If almost anyone else had said it, they would have been laughed at—or worse, ruthlessly criticized.

But this was Alex Mo.

Look at his current résumé:

Three consecutive Player of the Week awards.Three straight games with 45+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 7 blocks.The Lakers are still undefeated.

So, tell me—was Alex Mo wrong to believe in himself?

Not at all.

He had every reason to compete for MVP. In fact, he had a very real chance of winning it.

And Mo's rivals knew it.

Tim Duncan Feels the PressureWake Forest University, North Carolina

At Wake Forest University, Tim Duncan was reviewing an article from the Los Angeles Times, handed to him by Coach Dave Odom.

Reading Alex Mo's interview, a rare expression flickered across Duncan's usually calm face—disbelief.

"Tim, Mo is improving way too fast."

Coach Odom shook his head.

"Back in the NCAA, he didn't have this kind of accuracy from mid-to-long range."

Tim Duncan nodded. He had watched every one of Mo's recent games.

"And I know he wasn't hiding his skills in college," Odom continued.

Some media speculated that Mo had held back during his time in the NCAA, but Odom didn't buy it.

The NCAA's single-elimination format meant that hiding your abilities was suicidal.

"If he had that kind of mid-range and long-range shot back then, we would've lost by an even bigger margin."

That meant only one thing:

Mo had leveled up.

He had taken his mid-range shooting from a 60 to a 90—or even a 95— in just one summer.

That kind of improvement was unreal.

"Coach, he's a real-life superhero," Duncan sighed.

And it wasn't just his shooting.

Mo's ball-handling had improved dramatically too.

Duncan had personally defended Mo in college and had firsthand experience of his moves.

Back then, Mo's dribbling was simple—purely reliant on strength and athleticism.

But now?

His speed, control, and movement were at an elite NBA point guard's level.

Duncan couldn't believe it.

The gap that had once barely existed between them?

Mo was expanding it.

Tim clenched his fists.

"Coach, I need to work harder."

"Don't worry, Tim," Odom reassured him.

"There's more than just Alex Mo in this league. You can be great too."

Odom was genuinely excited.

If Duncan, fueled by Mo's dominance, worked even harder—what kind of future battles awaited between these two young giants?

Kevin Garnett Takes NoticeMinneapolis, Minnesota

Kevin Garnett, who had just recovered from a nose injury, sat with Ray Allen, listening as his teammate read out Mo's interview.

Garnett gritted his teeth.

"Man, this dude…"

He rubbed his nose and looked at Allen.

"I want to win MVP before he does!"

Ray Allen laughed.

"Kevin, let's be real—Mo just won his third straight Player of the Week. Even Michael Jordan isn't guaranteed MVP this season."

Allen wasn't exaggerating.

Mo's dominance was borderline ridiculous.

He wasn't just in the MVP race—he was at the very top.

Garnett wasn't used to playing second fiddle to anyone.

"Allen, do you really think Mo can win MVP?"

"You mean this season? Or in the future?"

"This season."

Allen thought for a moment.

"In the future, for sure. As for this season… it depends on how he plays down the stretch."

Garnett sighed.

At the start of the season, he thought he was on the same level as Mo.

Now?

It felt like he was being left behind.

Shaq's Frustration: No Help, No MVP

Meanwhile, Shaquille O'Neal had a different mindset.

He wasn't even thinking about MVP.

To him, the issue wasn't Alex Mo—it was the Lakers.

"I don't have the right teammates," Shaq grumbled to himself.

If the Magic didn't build a championship roster around him, he was ready to leave.

After the season, he planned to sit down with management.

And if they didn't make changes?

Shaq would be out.

Kobe Bryant's Reality CheckBoston, Massachusetts – Celtics Practice Facility

In Boston, after team practice, one player remained in the gym—Kobe Bryant.

Kobe had always believed that the gap between him, Mo, and Iverson wasn't that big.

After all, they were all rookies.

Mo was the No. 1 pick.Iverson was the No. 2 pick.Kobe was a lottery pick.

And all three had landed on legendary franchises—the Lakers and the Celtics.

But now?

Iverson was already the Lakers' clear second star.Mo was skyrocketing to MVP-level status.And Kobe?

Five starts in twelve games.

His best game so far? 18 points and 4 rebounds.

Not exactly legendary numbers.

Kobe had never felt this far behind before.

"Damn it…"

He couldn't accept it.

There was only one solution:

Train.

Train harder than ever before.

The Celtics' Master Plan

As Kobe continued working, Celtics legend Red Auerbach entered the gym.

"Still practicing?" Auerbach asked.

Kobe nodded.

"Good. You're exactly what I thought you were."

Kobe didn't stop shooting.

"I'm still too weak."

Auerbach chuckled.

"Basketball isn't a one-man sport, kid."

"I know."

Auerbach had big plans for the Celtics.

They had already traded Allen Iverson for Jason Kidd—an elite playmaker.

Now, he was planning for the next piece.

The Celtics were losing games on purpose to land the No. 1 pick in the draft.

And that pick?

Would be Tim Duncan.

With Kidd + Kobe + Duncan, the Celtics would dominate the future.

And the Lakers?

They'd be nothing.

To make sure of this, Auerbach called in a special mentor for Kobe—NBA legend John Havlicek.

One of the greatest scorers and toughest players in Celtics history.

Havlicek was about to personally train Kobe.

And if there was one thing Havlicek believed in?

"Never be afraid to shoot."

Kobe nodded.

He wasn't afraid.

But he knew—he still had a long way to go.

The Final Showdown Before Iverson ReturnsNovember 26 – Los Angeles, CA

The Lakers were about to play their final game before Thanksgiving.

It was also Alex Mo's last game as the lone star before Iverson's return.

Even though Iverson had enjoyed his time off, watching Mo dominate was making him itch to return.

So much so that he canceled his plans with his nightclub crew…

…Just to watch Mo's next game.

The Lakers vs. Clippers—The Los Angeles Derby.

And Alex Mo's final solo showcase.