[indent][indent][indent][h1][color=#10100f]█   Jalen Daniels[/color][/h1][/indent][table][row][color=#2e2c2c][sup][h3][b]
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[center][color=#cecece][b]   [color=10100f]█ ███ ██ █[/color]   S U M M A R Y  [color=10100f] █ ██ ███ █ [/color][/b][/color][/center][/sub]
[indent][sub][color=#10100f][b]Jalen Roscoe "J.R" Daniels[/b][/color]
[color=#10100f][b]AGE[/b][/color] [color=dcdcdc]Twenty eight[/color]
[color=#10100f][b]GENDER[/b][/color] [color=dcdcdc]Male[/color]
[color=#10100f][b]ETHNICITY/RACE[/b][/color] [color=dcdcdc]African-American[/color]
[color=#10100f][b]MARTIAL STATUS[/b][/color] [color=dcdcdc]Single[/color]
[color=#10100f][b]SEXUALITY[/b][/color] [color=dcdcdc]Heterosexual[/color]
[/sub][/indent][sub][color=#2e2c2c]▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔[/color][/sub][/cell][cell][color=#10100f][b]▅[/b][/color][color=cecece][sub][b]BIOGRAPHY[/b][/sub][/color][color=#10100f][b]▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅[/b][/color][indent][color=dcdcdc][justify][sub]As a young buck, Jalen Daniels could often be found walking the mile and a half to 16th and Susquehanna busting out a seemingly endless stream of dribble moves with his off-hand.

He had given verbal intent to go to Cheney… but that was before the HS State Championships.  Where his stock skyrocketed, as smaller point guards often could, where the measurables didn’t see them targeted as heavily, and college letters were more contingent on form.

Drawing interest from the Kentucky Wildcats, “Point Guard U”, he was left with the decision between staying with the small school, or somewhere in-state like Temple, or going all in on ball as a career.

It was barely a decision.

He took his “roaddog” Dio Dantley with him to Kentucky University, in a trend where colleges would frequently also take close compatriots of scholarship athletes ‘to ease the transition’ of being far away from family and most friends.

He had an easy time in college though.  Kentucky was very much a “basketball” college, and he was one of three All-Americans each of his years there.  He took to the lifestyle and campus stardom readily.

…which was why the Utah Jazz felt he would be able to cope with the move across the country in a professional manner, when their sixth overall pick came around.

But what most didn’t see was that Jalen had a more difficult time away from campus and ball.

When he went home, he often had his “blackness” brought into question for his decision to bail on HBCU Cheney University, by local critics who had followed his career from his youth.

And that was before he was drafted by Utah Jazz…

He also had close friends at him about every decision he made – “what’s up with taking Dio, man?  I though you and me was cool?  What you couldn’t get me in too?”

One of whom was indeed one of his very closest friends, from back in the day:  Casper Hamilton.

And in honesty, Jalen had been torn about his decision at the time.  Because whilst Dio was indeed his best friend, and closest – maybe ONLY true confidante – Casper was a close friend too… and was a much better student and more likely to actually be able to handle the academics of going to College and keeping pace (without the additional help athletes often get) with Jalen for the duration of his time at Kentucky.

So the pair made a pact.  And a plan.

And that was how Casper became the first of his friends to know that Jalen Daniels would be declaring for the 2016 Draft.  Under the provision that he never tell a soul.  If he could do that, when his ticket came up, Jalen was going to do something that would change his life.

It never came to light.  Even Dio hadn’t known.  And that was how Casper came to join the inner circle.

…and how Jalen came to start paying for Casper’s college education as he earned a degree in Sports Management at Temple.

NBA Rookie Contracts are all at scale.  Jalen found himself the cheapest representation possible and the clock started as Casper got to work.  Rookie contracts last four years.  At an accelerated path, a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management can be achieved in three.

Jalen assisted him with startup costs for his own agency as the played “beat the clock” to prepare Casper to represent him in time for his first contract extension.

Casper was a hard worker, and smart.  They managed to beat the clock and kept the money “in house”.

But not all things were smooth sailing.

Dio Dantley was shot as an innocent bystander in an incident in mid-season 2020-2021.

Jalen got him the best of care, and flew out immediately to PA to be at his side.  Leaving the Jazz to explain his absence to the press.

Whilst his best friend still clung to life, Jalen swore he’d take care of his family (a mother and Dio’s younger sister Gail), his medical bills, whatever he needed.

But money still has limits.  He died after a thirty hour struggle.

With Dio's passing, the coldness which had started to grip Jalen since he turned pro began to solidify.  It;s not that there weren't signs of it before, but with his death the last relationship in his life where the power dynamics weren't completely screwed was gone.

The things he most lived for now no longer had value beyond himself.  And his goals were all of self-interest.

He can now see "the bag" well within his grasp.  If he can get that, it will all be worth it.  He can change up everything and let loose and lead the exact lifestyle he'd always wanted.

Everything and everyone else.  The fake smiles.  The restrained 'behaviour' standards he'd put on himself temporarily to assure the big payday.

If he can ride out a month and a week... at the end of the season, he can finally let loose and get the fuck out.


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[color=#10100f][b]▅[/b][/color][color=cecece][sub][b]CAREER[/b][/sub][/color][color=#10100f][b]▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅[/b][/color][indent][color=dcdcdc][justify][sub]Jalen Daniels was drafted sixth overall to the Utah Jazz in 2016.

He made the All-Rookie team with solid numbers, but it wasn’t until later when he found his feet, that he really established himself as a name in the league.

His fourth season in the league, his breakout year, he scraped into the All-NBA Third team.

He proved that was not an aberration by making it again two seasons later.

The last two seasons he has made the All-NBA Second team, followed by another All-NBA Third team.

As he now enters his contract season, those last two All-NBA selections, combined with the fact that he has remained on the Utah Jazz team which drafted him, make him eligible for “the bag” -  the NBA “Supermax” Designated Veteran Player Extension this off-season.

His initial rookie contract saw him earn a total of just under sixteen million dollars over his whole first four years.

If he can remain on the Jazz past February 6, the “Supermax” extension will see him earn just under fifty million dollars next season alone, and progressively more each season (eleven percent annual raises) until his final “player option” season will see him earn just under seventy million.

NBA contracts are fully guaranteed.

He has been RICH since he came into the league.

If he can remain on the Jazz for just over a month he will be WEALTHY.

He hates Salt Lake City.  And despises Utah.

February the 6th is circled on his refrigerator.

He finds himself in New York during an away swing now circulating, making connections, possible investment opportunities and putting his face out there for when “the bag” comes.  And also possibly acting the big shot for ‘Rook’, and showing Gail a roomful of bigshots to get her out of his business.
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[/cell][cell][indent][color=dcdcdc][justify][sub][b]CASPER HAMILTON[/b]
Jalen's agent and now closest friend.

Jalen paid to put him through school, and lent him the money to start up his own agency.  Facts he very frequently reminds Casper of.

His slowly growing agency, 'Downtown... CasH!' currently has eight clients.All on Jalen's recommendation.  Another fact that he's not backwards in reminding Casper of.  Whilst he never collected or requested a 'finder's fee' (another fact he reminds him of) for any of them.

Now why he has never requested or collected a 'finder's fee', is a reason he will never tell Casper...[/sub][/justify][/color][/indent][cell][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019bf554-0f2b-7536-88fa-454a4bbe8609.webp[/img]
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[/cell][cell][indent][color=dcdcdc][justify][sub][b]GAIL DANTLEY[/b]
His late best friend Dio's little sister.  One of the two people he swore on Dio's death bed that he'd take care of.

Which, probably wasn't mutually understood as 'will sleep with a bunch of times and sling her money when she needs it' but life has a funny way of happening.

It's not like he wanted it to happen.  He's just... trying to be on his best behaviour, and not hitting up the clubs.  And she's around.  And sometimes she looks...

Look, he's a hungry dog sometimes, alright?  And she keeps hanging around.  It's her fault for keeping on hanging around.  She'll figure out 'take care of' ain't no til death do us part thing, right?

'Specially when he gets the Hell out of Salt Lake City and gets back on that night life...

Didn't invite her.  Jalen, Casper and Rook 'coincidentally ran into her'... in New York... on the way to the party, and Jalen had an additional plus-one he had no initial intention of using and figured maybe she'd be wowed by someone at the party and it might do the hard job of extricating himself from the situationship he has with her for him, painlessly and with no involvement on his end.
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[cell][indent][color=dcdcdc][justify][sub][b]'ROOK'[/b]
Jalen's first-year teammate who was curious about New York City nightlife, who he has 'taken under his wing' to show him the 'Big City' being trusted by the team, that if he's with the well behaved veteran it should at least keep him out of trouble.

His name is Lewis Ward, but Jalen refuses to acknowledge first year player's even have a name.

His teammates also tease him and call him 'rookie', but Jalen said "he has no intention of wasting two syllables on him".

Very wide eyed about the whole night.[/sub][/justify][/color][/indent][/cell][cell][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019bf578-42e7-74d9-899c-5c8989a3bb85.webp[/img]
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[cell][indent][color=dcdcdc][justify][sub][b]BRIAN  -  (not present at the party)[/b]
Brian is Jalen's Financial Adviser/Accountant/Legal Adviser.  Not to be confused with his agent.

Brian isn't particularly close to Jalen.  Jalen isn't particularly close to Brian.  Their relationship is purely business, and maintaining their mutually beneficial situation.

Attending the party was Brian's idea, he's also the one who was able to secure entry passes.

Laying the groundwork for Jalen Daniels being 'someone to know' in the lead-up to his next contract extension.[/sub][/justify][/color][/indent][/cell][/row][/table]