In the NBA, competition is incredibly fierce. For example, the Thunder's backup guards and forwards saw their playing time drastically reduced due to Kayce's arrival.
Basketball sometimes involves personal connections, but Kayce's talent was overwhelming, and he dominated them in team practices, naturally sidelining them. So, when the game's lead widened, the players on the bench were pleased.
"Good job, guys! Menor, maintain the offensive rhythm when you're on the court and pay attention to defensive rotations!"
Coach Brooks was very satisfied with the starters' performance, so he made extensive rotations in the second quarter to evaluate players.
"I feel like my touch is particularly good today. Maybe I should take a few more three-pointers." Russell shot 4-for-6 in the first quarter, with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, playing exceptionally efficiently.
"That's because the opponent's rookie is guarding you. Billups' defense was better last game," Durant quipped mercilessly while chugging a drink.
Durant shot 4-for-5 in the first quarter, with 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. He completely dominated his matchup against Brewer, likely giving his opponent a psychological complex.
"I also think the Minnesota Timberwolves' defense is too weak. Their big men move too slowly." Jeff Green also hit two three-pointers and grabbed 4 rebounds, playing very easily.
"This game is about to end. The lead seems to have widened again," Kayce motioned for everyone to check the score.
Just over 3 minutes into the second quarter, the Thunder led the opponent 42-27 by 15 points. The Minnesota Timberwolves' bench was indeed struggling; there were too many isolation plays, and rookie Ellington couldn't even touch the ball.
It wasn't until 3 minutes remained in the second quarter that both teams brought back their starting lineups, but the lead was quite large, and everyone's enthusiasm had waned.
The Thunder kept feeding Kostić, while the Minnesota Timberwolves had Jefferson playing in the low post and Love shooting three-pointers.
Finally, the first half ended with the Thunder leading the Minnesota Timberwolves 65-50 by 15 points.
"I think the team should move the ball more. Our bench played too chaotically. I hope the team can perform well in the second half."
The home commentator was also helpless; what kind of play was this? The opponent hadn't even exerted themselves, and they were already falling apart.
The audience's mood was still good, as they were used to losing frequently. The atmosphere livened up again during the halftime show.
In the Thunder's locker room, teammates were laughing and chatting. Kayce looked at these fair-weather warriors with some helplessness; his playing time was significantly reduced today.
Durant sat nearby, scrolling on his phone, smiling as he watched. Kayce, seeing this, couldn't help but be curious.
"Kevin, what news did you see again? You've been smiling ever since!" Kayce walked over to Durant.
"Nothing, just some comments praising me. I've noticed that fans are starting to recognize me recently."
Durant handed his phone to Kayce, signaling him to take a look. Kayce scrutinized it, then shrugged helplessly and whispered,
"Bro, if they ask you out, remember to bring protection, or you might end up with a child asking for child support."
Durant gave Kayce an 'I understand' look and said flirtatiously,
"When we go back to Oklahoma City tomorrow, I'll meet them. Don't worry, Bro, I'll definitely introduce you to some hot chicks!"
"Hot chicks? What hot chicks? Are we going out to party after the game?" Jeff Green had incredibly sharp ears. Now, the topic in the locker room became even more heated.
Their daily lives revolved around hot chicks and training. For energetic and wealthy players, life was that simple and monotonous.
When the second half began, both teams sent out their starting lineups again, but both sides played lukewarmly. Kayce also entered 'idle' mode, with a drive and a three-pointer, bringing his score to double digits.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' defense wasn't even bothering to reach out. Jefferson started tanking on the court. Head Coach Kurt Rambis saw this situation and immediately called a timeout, substituting his starting players.
Coach Brooks, seeing the opponent put in their bench players, immediately substituted all his starters as well. After all, the game had turned into a practice session.
Kayce sat on the bench, a bit speechless, complaining inwardly.
"Minnesota Timberwolves, why don't you play a bit harder? You're really hindering my scoring spree."
Both teams' bench players were happy; over a quarter of game time! If they performed well and caught the coach's eye, they could take off next season.
The rest of the game was also intense, with fast offensive and defensive paces. At least the audience felt their tickets were worth it.
Ultimately, the Thunder easily defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-108. Coach Brooks was in a great mood!
After the game, players bid each other farewell. Kayce went up to Love and whispered in his ear,
"Don't forget to practice your three-pointers more. Strive for a big double-double next season!"
"Thanks, Bro. Call me directly if you need anything. Say hi to Britney for me." Love patted Kayce's shoulder, indicating he understood his intentions.
Upon returning to the hotel that night, he first sent texts to Britney and Anne, telling them he would be back in Oklahoma City tomorrow. Then, he took a quick bath and prepared for bed. He had been a bit lax in the game today, so he needed to check his badge experience.
At midnight, Kayce entered the Dream Training Space, directly called out the control panel, and entered the achievement room.
After checking the experience status of his achievement badges, his face darkened. Only a few badges with less than 25 experience points had gained 2 points; the others hadn't moved at all.
"If this happens in the regular season, I'll be at a huge loss. I hope every team plays harder, otherwise, the badge upgrade speed will definitely decrease significantly!"
Kayce shook his head helplessly, then looked at the newly generated bronze achievement badge, stepping forward to touch it and view its attributes.
Achievement Badge [First Pass Master]: 2/50
Enhances the player's ability to throw high-quality long passes after grabbing a rebound.
With this badge, Kayce's current offensive buffs are essentially fully sufficient.
[Organization Core] + [Dribble Handler] + [Control Master] + [Ball Control Master] + [Bullet Passer] + [First Pass Master]
These passive buffs are very effective. The only drawback is that the badge levels are not high, but this is unavoidable and can only be slowly grinded during the regular season.
"A beautiful tomorrow, starting with basic training!" Kayce immediately immersed himself in basic training within the space.
The entire Thunder team returned to Oklahoma City the next day. They had one last preseason game to play on their home court, against the Portland Trail Blazers, also from the Northwest Division.
The Portland Trail Blazers are also a Playoffs team. Kayce estimated the game wouldn't be a blowout, as the Thunder's fair-weather warriors couldn't go all out.
Kayce was sipping juice and engrossed in Reddit posts when his phone suddenly rang. He checked the caller ID; it was his agent, Chapman.
"Kayce, have you seen the Billboard? Your single has already reached sixth place, and the MV's views on YouTube are about to break 100 million!" Chapman's slightly excited voice came through the phone.
Kayce was surprised. Is "We Don't Talk Anymore" really that popular?
"How much money did you spend to get on the charts? Don't lose money."
"Come on! You should have some confidence in your single! Of course, for this song to be popular, you should thank Britney and Anne."
On the other end of the phone, Chapman's expression was also a bit strange, as he truly hadn't expected this situation.
Kayce found the MV on YouTube, saw the comments below, and immediately said indignantly,
"The power of simps is truly infinite."