Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness and gender discrimination.

Tamika’s reunion with Austinberg is awkward. She speaks with Charlene Bailey, her former best friend, for the first time in months. She doesn’t feel like she can tell Charlene about her father’s Parkinson’s disease. She didn’t even want to contact the Austinberg coach to arrange the game: She had Principal Kim do it. Austinberg wins by 18 points, but Hoop Group competes hard, and Dex makes two free throws “granny-style.” Jayden stops by and watches. He wanted to play and help lead a comeback.

Jayden practices cleaning the pizza place as fast as he can. While wiping up ranch dressing, Tamika, Anthony, Chris, and Dex enter, and Jayden tells them that his mother lost her job. Tamika is understanding, and Jayden is on the verge of tears. In the kitchen, Roddy advises Jayden not to let present problems nullify his future.

Roddy shares his life story. He had full scholarships to schools like UCLA and Duke University. While playing college basketball, he planned to study architecture. After making the NBA, he planned to use some of his money to build decent housing for people without affluence.