Draft Night

“With the first pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select...”

The atmosphere shifts as people brace for who will become a part of draft history.

“Y/N Choi, from Seoul, South Korea!”

Cheers and applause fill the arena as people around you congratulate this year's number one rookie. Audiences tuning in from all over the world are excited to see what you will bring to the league, but one place in particular is absolutely ecstatic: South Korea. Another South Korean has entered the world stage, joining greats like Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min, representing the country with pride.

“...Y/N Choi, from Seoul, South Korea!” Commissioner Adam Silver's voice echoes as you stand up from your table and walk toward the stage. The atmosphere is intense, to say the least. As you near the steps, you fondly recall your mother’s words from back home: “I will always be proud of you. Picked or not, I will always be here supporting you.”

You walk up to the commissioner and take the purple-seamed hat, the emblem of your new home for the foreseeable future.

"Congratulations," he says, shaking your hand before turning to face the front for a picture. You do the same, smiling for the flashing cameras, showing the world your face.

Los Angeles, the City of Angels. It's where your new team presides, a franchise that boasts some of the greatest names in basketball history: Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba. Shaquille O’Neal, the Diesel. And, of course, your new teammate, the one and only LeBron James.

After the photo op, you sit back down at your table. Emotions hit you one after another. Happiness, of course. But something else rises in your mind—the pressure. The insurmountable weight of not just being the number one draft pick, but being one of the few Koreans to ever make it to the league. Ha Seung-jin was one of the only Koreans to make it to the NBA, all the way back in 2004, if you recall correctly. Yet, the pressure only fuels you. It's motivation to prove they made the right choice in picking you first overall.

“Things just got a whole lot more interesting,” you mumble to yourself as the night continues and other rookies are called to their new teams.

Suddenly, you feel a tap on your shoulder. You turn around and your eyes meet a woman's. She has long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, looking at you with a clear purpose.

“Hello, excuse me. Y/N Choi, right?” she asks, taking a seat next to you.

“Yes, that’s me. Can I help you with something, miss?” you reply, waiting for her pitch.

“Sonia Adams, ESPN reporter. Could we bother you for a minute? It’s for an interview. You know, being the first pick, people are curious about you and all,” she explains.

“Oh, sure. But could you please wait for a bit? I was just about to head to the bathroom,” you request.

She nods. “Oh, of course! We’ll be waiting for you on the second floor, then,” she replies, leaving you to collect yourself.

Walking to the bathroom is more exhausting than you expected. People all around are congratulating you. From fellow draftees shaking your hand to some already playfully challenging you for Rookie of the Year, you manage to keep a smile on your face and reply to every single one of them.

Finally reaching the bathroom, you lock the door and bask in the contrasting atmosphere. While the arena outside is full of deafening cheers, in here, it is completely quiet—a comforting, brief escape. You walk toward the sink and splash cold water on your face.

Looking in the mirror, you study your reflection. Still wearing the Lakers hat, the sheer weight of being drafted first settles heavy on your shoulders. What are you gonna do? What’s the next step?

“Get it together, Choi Y/N,” you whisper to yourself. “Just focus on the present. We’ll get to the future when we get there,” you say, convincing yourself as you wipe the remaining water from your face and step back out into the chaos.

Climbing the stairs to the second floor, you find Sonia with an ESPN TV crew waiting.

“Hi, sorry for taking a while,” you apologize.

“No problem at all. Shall we start?” she asks as you take a seat facing her.

“Yeah,” you simply reply. The camera crew finalizes the lighting and gives a signal that everything is ready.

“All right. We’ll start in... three,” the cameraman says. You brace yourself. “Two...” “One. Action.”

The camera focuses on both you and Sonia. “Good evening, everyone!” Sonia greets the lens with a bright, professional smile. “Sonia Adams here, reporting live on ESPN. Tonight, I am here with this year’s number one rookie. Please meet Y/N Choi,” she announces, turning to you. “Could you please introduce yourself, Y/N?”

“Of course. Hello everyone, I am Y/N Choi, the newest player for the Los Angeles Lakers. Nineteen years old, from Seoul, South Korea,” you say smoothly. “And to those watching me at home... 안녕하세요 여러분, 제 게임 플레이를 즐겁게 시청해 주시고 앞으로도 많은 응원 부탁드립니다,” you add with a warm smile, speaking directly to your fans in Korea.

“Wow, I didn’t understand a word of that!” Sonia jokes, stifling a laugh. “Can we get a translation for the non-Korean speakers out there?”

“Of course. I just said that I hope they’ll enjoy watching me play and continue supporting me,” you reply, to which she nods in satisfaction.

“Alright, we have a few questions for you now, if you don’t mind,” she says.

“Sure, fire away.”

“Since you’ve been drafted to LA—specifically the Lakers, a franchise with seventeen championship banners hanging in the rafters—you’re going to be teaming up with some of the biggest names in the NBA, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis,” you listen intently, waiting for the hook. “As a nineteen-year-old rookie coming from Korea, how do you handle that level of expectation?”

“Well, first off, I’m honored to be drafted by the Lakers. It's a legendary franchise to be playing for. As for the pressure, it’s a lot, but doubting myself now isn’t going to help. I got drafted first because they know my game. With LeBron and AD on the team, I’m here to help them win a ring and earn my place as a great,” you reply coolly.

“Confident, I see. Thank you for that,” she says. “Moving on to the second question. We just heard you shout out your fans back home, meaning you are carrying the hopes of an entire country on your shoulders tonight. What does it mean to you to represent South Korea on the biggest basketball stage in the world?”

“I'm definitely stoked to be representing Korea in the NBA right now. Ha Seung-jin did a great job representing the country back then, and now it's my turn,” you reply, your voice carrying a quiet confidence. “Having the honor of playing here, I hope I can inspire the next generation of Asian players aspiring to be where I am right now.” You finish your thought, looking back at Sonia, who is clearly pleased with the soundbite.

“Alright, I think that’s all we have for tonight. Thank you, Y/N, for the lovely interview. Once again, I am Sonia Adams from ESPN, signing off,” she says, offering a final wave to the camera. “And... that’s a wrap! Thanks again, Y/N,” she smiles as the recording light clicks off.

“Not a problem,” you reply. She nods and packs up with the TV crew.

Left alone in the chair for a split second, it suddenly hits you—you completely abandoned your mother at the table before getting called up to the stage.

“젠장...” you curse under your breath—a word your uncle would’ve approved of, but one your mother certainly wouldn't. You hurriedly make your way back downstairs, pushing through waves upon waves of agents and fellow draftees.

Seeing your table from a distance, with your mother still patiently waiting, a pang of guilt hits you for leaving her so abruptly. She spots you walking over, and you mentally brace yourself for a stern lecture about running off without saying a word.

She stands up and walks toward you. Preparing for the worst, you stop in your tracks—but instead of the expected scolding, warm arms wrap tightly around you. Instinctively, you melt into the hug, wrapping your arms around her as well.

“I’m so proud of you, 아들,” she whispers, a warm feeling blooming in your chest.

“I made it, 엄마... I made it,” you reply, your voice cracking. The emotions finally spill over, tears pricking at your eyes as you hold onto her. In the middle of the chaotic arena, happiness completely envelops you both.