Chapter 6: The Physical Tests Shock the League
Chicago, UnitedStates
Under the massive dome of the UnitedCenter, bright spotlights flooded the hardwood floor.
Along the sidelines sat general managers, head coaches, and scouts from teams across the NationalBasketballAssociation.
Tablet screens glowed in the dim arena light as executives scrolled through scouting reports on this year's prospects.
Then the noise suddenly died down.
A tall figure stepped out of the player tunnel.
"Who is that?"
MitchKupchak, general manager of the LosAngelesLakers, adjusted his glasses while swiping through his tablet.
"Wait… he's listed at 7'1''?"
Standing at center court, AdrianCross rolled his shoulders as he warmed up.
Even under loose training gear, his physique was impossible to ignore.
His shoulders were incredibly broad.
His arms nearly reached his knees.
Every muscle looked carved from granite.
When he breathed, his chest expanded like a steel wall.
He didn't look like a normal basketball player.
He looked like a gladiatorsteppingout ofanancientarena.
Nearby, SteveKerr, head coach of the GoldenStateWarriors, lowered his coffee cup.
"That guy looks like Captain America," Kerr muttered.
"Are we sure he's here for the combine and not WWE?"
Around the arena, murmurs spread quickly.
A scout from the DetroitPistons began snapping photos rapidly.
DannyAinge of the BostonCeltics stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Even the famously stoic GreggPopovich leaned toward his assistant.
"That kid's built like a tank," Popovich murmured.
"Look at the length in those arms…"
Across the court, top prospect Karl-AnthonyTowns had been chatting with his agent.
Now he had stopped talking.
He watched Adrian casually jump and tap the rim during warmups—as easily as someone reaching for a glass on a table.
Towns clenched his fist slightly.
He had always believed his size and skill made him the best center in this draft class.
But this… was something different.
"Relax," his agent whispered.
"He's probably just a raw athlete."
Still, the agent's eyes never left Adrian.
At 10AMsharp, the official measurements began.
When the staff called Adrian's name, every scout in the arena looked up.
The first test was the benchpress.
Standard combine weight: 225pounds(102kg).
Towns had just completed 8reps, which already earned some nods of approval.
For a modern stretch center, it was solid.
Adrian stepped forward.
He looked at the barbell.
Then calmly spoke to the staff.
"Add more weight."
The staff member blinked.
"How much?"
"Add two more plates."
The bar was quickly adjusted.
Adrian lay down on the bench.
He gripped the bar.
Then lifted.
The bar moved smoothly.
One rep.
Two.
Three.
Five.
Ten.
He racked the bar without even breathing heavily.
A loud clang echoed through the arena.
Several scouts stared at their tablets in disbelief.
"Good lord…"
One assistant coach whispered.
Towns' mouth hung open.
Everyone realized the same thing.
If Adrian had used the standard weight test…
He might have been pressing all afternoon.
Next came the vertical leap.
Adrian took a few steps back.
Then exploded upward.
For a brief moment—
It looked like he was floating.
The measuring device flashed a number.
The staff member stared at it.
"Is… this thing broken?"
44inches.
That was higher than many guards.
And Adrian was 7'1''.
The entire arena buzzed.
"Did you see that?"
DocRivers, head coach of the LosAngelesClippers, jumped to his feet.
"With that reach and vertical he could block everything in the paint!"
Many NBA legends had elite vertical jumps.
Players like VinceCarter and AllenIverson.
But they weren't sevenfeettall.
For someone Adrian's size…
This was almost unbelievable.
Next came the shuttle run.
Adrian crouched at the starting line.
When the timer beeped—
He exploded forward.
He crossed the finish line in 11.9seconds.
Even faster than the time posted by D'AngeloRussell earlier that day.
Russell blinked.
"Wait… what?"
Russell was a 6'5'' guard.
Adrian was nearly sevenfeettall.
And yet…
He had just beaten him in a speed drill.
The executives courtside erupted into chatter.
Pens scratched furiously.
Tablets filled with notes.
Every scout in the building suddenly had the same thought.
This was top-pick level talent.
Rare.
Maybe even unprecedented.
Kupchak nearly snapped his pen.
He stood up immediately—
Only to see half the league's executives already walking toward the player tunnel.
A Monster Prospect
Strength like ShaquilleO'Neal.
Vertical athleticism like VinceCarter.
Speed closer to DerrickRose.
The players participating in the combine looked equally stunned.
"Man…" muttered LarryNanceJr..
"That guy's an atomic bomb."
Almost everyone's eyes slowly drifted toward one person.
Karl-Anthony Towns.
Both he and Adrian were centers.
But they represented two completely different styles.
Towns was the modern stretch big.
Shooting.
Passing.
Spacing the floor.
Adrian?
He looked like the ultimate powercenter.
A walking force of nature.
Towns noticed the stares and forced a calm expression.
"The league's changing," he said quietly.
"Strength alone isn't enough anymore."
Still…
His clenched fist told another story.
In the players' rest area, Larry Nance Jr. walked up to Adrian holding a bottle of sports drink.
"Hey… big man."
He handed it over.
"Tomorrow's scrimmage… we should work together."
According to combine rules, the first day was for physical tests.
The next day would feature the 5-on-5scrimmages.
And Larry had already heard the team assignments.
He and Adrian were on the same side.
Adrian took the bottle and drank calmly.
"You're a smart guy," he said with a faint smile.
Across the arena, executives were still whispering excitedly.
Adrian glanced toward them.
A small smirk appeared on his face.
The physical tests were only the beginning.
Tomorrow's scrimmage…
That would be the realstage.