Nathan's father, Dan, and Lucas' mother, Karen Roe, were high school sweethearts. When Karen became pregnant during their senior year, she was devastated by Dan's decision to go to college leaving Karen behind to raise their son, Lucas, alone. When Dan's dream of a basketball career didn't work out, he returned to town with the wife he met in college and his new son, Nathan. Now a wealthy businessman, Dan lives his basketball dreams through Nathan. While Karen raised Lucas without a father, she remained friends with Dan's older brother who has served as Lucas' surrogate father. Dan and Keith clash over Dan's disowning of Lucas. Nathan challenges Lucas to a basketball game. If Nathan wins, Lucas must not join the team; if Lucas wins, Nathan will quit. He then reveals to Peyton that he changed his end of the bargain--Lucas bets that if he won, Nathan would not be allowed to quit the team. The two estranged half-brothers are now teammates.