As a purely commercial league, the NBA's biggest fear during All-Star Weekend is star players getting injured and being unable to participate.
Fans have been complaining for years that All-Star Weekend has become increasingly boring. The Dunk Contest always features the same old moves with no innovation, and the All-Star Game itself is no fun, with players showing no competitiveness once they're on the court.
So, when the Lakers informed the league that Kobe had decided to withdraw from the All-Star Game due to ankle, finger, and wrist injuries, the league's operations staff was in a panic.
More than half the tickets were already sold, and many fans came specifically to see Kobe. Now, the biggest star in the All-Star Game has withdrawn due to injury. The viewership ratings might plummet by several percentage points!
The original script was LeBron James from the East against Kobe Bryant from the West. Now, with one of the protagonists missing, the show can't go on.
To make matters worse, on February 10th, the Bulls also informed the league that their star player, Derrick Rose, had sustained a hip injury after colliding with Dwight Howard during a layup attempt in a game against the Orlando Magic.
The Bulls stated that Derrick Rose would continue to play in the All-Star Game despite his injury, but would be unable to participate in the Rookie Challenge and Skills Challenge.
On the morning of the 11th, NBA Commissioner David Stern sat in his office, rubbing his tired brow as he read the injury reports sent by his staff.
During this All-Star Weekend, in addition to managing the events, David Stern was also scheduled to negotiate with the Players' Association, as both sides still hadn't reached a consensus on the collective bargaining agreement.
Derek Fisher, as the president of the Players' Association, was very firm, stating that players needed more protection. The team owners, however, were equally clear: with the current economic downturn, players' salaries were too high.
The collective bargaining agreement was set to expire in 2011, and David Stern was already overwhelmed. If an agreement couldn't be reached soon, the NBA would face another lockout, a situation the NBA did not want to see.
"Is it confirmed that Kobe will not play in this All-Star Game? And what exactly is the situation with Derrick Rose's injury?"
David Stern gathered his thoughts before asking the staff for the details.
"Kobe Bryant was likely injured in early February. In the last few games, the Lakers have placed Kobe on the injured list."
"Rose was injured in a collision during last night's game, but he insisted on finishing the game. The Bulls probably don't want Rose to exert himself too much during All-Star Weekend."
The staff briefly reiterated the injury situations of both players to David Stern.
"Does Coach George Karl have any requirements for the replacement players? Do the coaches of other teams have any suggestions for these replacements?"
David Stern asked another crucial question. Previously, after Brandon Roy's injury, Western Conference All-Star Head Coach George Karl strongly recommended Chauncey Billups, his team's core guard.
The veteran coach's wishes had to be respected. Furthermore, Chauncey Billups was also a championship guard, and other coaches had no objections to such a veteran, so David Stern nodded in agreement.
"At 9 AM, the team operations staff contacted the coaches of all the teams. They believe that you can make The Decision yourself this time, and no one will have any objections."
Hearing the staff's reply, David Stern showed an expression of understanding. Respect is mutual; last time he didn't object to replacing Chauncey Billups, and this time the coaches returned the favor.
"Very good. I've looked at the operations staff's suggestions, and I completely agree. Notify Russell Westbrook and Anthony Morrow early to get them ready. As for the All-Star replacement..."
"Let Kayce enter the All-Star reserves. I remember this young man is very popular. And while we're at it, let Dirk Nowitzki return to the starting lineup. We also need to show some respect to the host team's star player."
"Also, inform everyone that during this All-Star Weekend, we must strive for both sides to reach a consensus and complete the next phase of the collective bargaining agreement. I don't want to wait any longer. This afternoon, we will continue to meet to discuss related matters."
David Stern thought that since Kobe couldn't play, they should add a popular player to attract viewers. The personnel issue was easy to solve, but the collective bargaining agreement was a big problem. Thinking about having to endure frustration during the weekend, Stern sighed helplessly:
"If there really is a lockout, it won't just be the NBA that suffers losses."
On the afternoon of the 11th, Kayce was at home doing flexibility training with his trainer, Meg, when he suddenly received a call from Coach Brooks.
"Kayce, congratulations! You've successfully made the All-Star team. You absolutely deserve this, and all of us are proud of you!"
"Uh, thank you, Coach. Did the league really give this opportunity to a first-year rookie like me? That's so cool!"
Although Kayce had been somewhat prepared, hearing the definite news still filled him with immense surprise.
"That's right, it was Commissioner Stern's decision. Personally, I am very satisfied, and this is also a sign of respect for the Thunder. We are the number one team in the West, with two All-Star players. This is a well-deserved honor."
"Enjoy this All-Star Weekend. I still need to notify Russell; he needs to prepare for the Skills Challenge. I hope he doesn't lose too badly."
Coach Brooks was in a joyful mood. Although he wouldn't be coaching the All-Star team, having two All-Star players under his guidance was a testament to his coaching abilities.
"Thank you for the notification, I will do my best!"
Trainer Meg saw Kayce's happy expression and immediately knew that her big client had made the All-Star team. She quickly showered him with praise:
"The NBA finally knows who the best player is! Congratulations, Kayce, you'll be busy this All-Star Weekend, but I'm sure you'll really enjoy the process."
"Are you sure you don't need to add some extra training for the Skills Challenge? We can just buy some simple equipment."
"Absolutely not needed. You know my fundamentals. The dribbling and passing drills are no challenge for me. We can just continue with our previous training."
"The compression suit you prepared for me is great. Maybe I can wear them in games from now on."
Kayce's black compression suit was exceptionally form-fitting and breathable. As a player who didn't usually wear flashy gear, Kayce was genuinely impressed this time.
"This is a custom-made style we refined based on your physique. I'll talk to the Thunder's equipment manager. If you like it, we can prepare some other gear for you too."
Trainer Meg seized the opportunity to promote her equipment.
"No problem, but I always feel that wearing too much gear isn't really useful; it can even restrict flexibility. Russell wears arm sleeves more for showing off; we all know that in the team."
"..."
On February 12th, Kayce had to fly to Dallas. During the day, he had to cooperate with the league for official photos, fan carnivals, and community outreach. In the evening, he had to join the main group to watch the All-Star Wheelchair Basketball Game live.
After a day of activities, Kayce was a bit dazed, running from venue to venue, signing autographs until his hand was sore, and continuous photo ops made his cheeks ache from smiling too much.
While watching the game in the evening, Kayce finally got to sit down and rest. Looking at Durant beside him, wearing red casual pants, a black suit, a grey shirt underneath, and a pair of full-rim black glasses on his nose, he felt a bit speechless.
"Kevin, we have the same stylist, why is your color scheme so excellent?"
"Have you finally noticed, Kayce? I carefully selected all the color combinations myself. Look at these glasses; I think they completely enhance my aura!"
Durant wore a smug expression on his face, but inwardly, he was consumed by jealousy. Ever since he learned that Kayce had made the All-Star team, the sour feeling in his heart had lingered.
This was an achievement he hadn't even managed in his rookie season. The thought of future media and critics discussing All-Stars and placing Kayce alongside historical legends made Durant's heart ache with envy.
Hearing Durant's self-praise, Kayce's mouth twitched slightly. This damned aura, even the stylist couldn't change it. Today, he was still wearing high-top sneakers with dark blue jeans, and a simple white T-shirt with a black casual suit jacket.
Kayce's attire stood out among the players, simple and casual, though the large gold chain was a bit thick. But it was a gift from Jeff Green, and he was used to wearing it.
"It's really good, it suits your aura. I haven't seen Russell today, where did that guy go?"
Russell and Nina left on the 11th, but after arriving in Dallas, Kayce couldn't find him, and Jeff Green was also missing.
"Russell dragged Green to practice for the Skills Challenge. Maybe he doesn't want to finish last. Green has been practicing with him all day."
Durant said with a smirk. When everyone heard that Russell was a replacement for the Skills Challenge, their unanimous reaction was that he would definitely finish last.
Not for bread, but for pride, Russell was also cramming at the last minute. After arriving in Dallas, he didn't even bother to accompany his girlfriend.
"Nina is definitely going to be angry. You know what to do for tomorrow's Rookie Challenge, it's up to you, Bro!"
Kayce winked at Durant, signaling to stick to the plan. The first-year rookie team was coached by Nuggets assistant coach Dantley, while the second-year team was led by Magic assistant coach Ewing. Additionally, Durant and Bosh would make guest appearances as members of the Coach Ben.
According to the agreed-upon plan, Kayce would try to play alongside Harden and Curry as much as possible, thus avoiding the troublemakers Evans and Brandon Jennings. With more shot attempts, the stats would naturally pile up, and the MVP would be a given!
"Don't worry, with a simple personnel arrangement, the assistant coach still has some power. As for whether we can win, that's up to you. If Russell loses the Rookie Challenge twice in a row, he'll definitely be depressed to death."
Thinking of the possibility that Russell might be defeated by the first-year team, Durant began to gloat.
"He's not that easy to give up. Love told me that Russell promised if he won the Rookie Challenge MVP, he'd take him on an all-expenses-paid trip to Spain during the offseason. I really can't bear to see my brother spend so much, so I naturally have to save him some money!"
Kayce said this with righteous indignation, then burst out laughing himself.
"Haha, I'm already looking forward to tomorrow's game!"
.....
This All-Star Weekend event was co-hosted by the Dallas Mavericks, the Cowboys, and the city of Dallas. The 1.1 billion dollar Cowboys Stadium could accommodate 100,000 spectators.
However, the Rookie Challenge was still held at the Dallas Mavericks' home arena, the American Airlines Arena. Tomorrow's All-Star Game would be moved to the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
The attendance tonight was excellent, and many Chinese fans also came. Although it was the Rookie Challenge, as long as they could see Kayce play, everyone would buy tickets to support him.
In the First-Year team's locker room, Kayce was striking a pose like a big shot, receiving blessings from many fair-weather friends.
"Congratulations, Kayce! Making the All-Star team in your rookie season, that's incredibly enviable!"
Taj Gibson of the Bulls spoke his true feelings; he was already bursting with envy. Everyone was still a rookie, but Kayce had already become an All-Star player. The gap was too wide.
"Kayce's selection is absolutely well-deserved. The Thunder's record, Kayce's individual stats, everything is impeccable. Congratulations!"
Tyreke Evans put on a sincere expression, but in his heart, he was screaming: The NBA is absolutely blind! I will definitely not pass him the ball in this game!
"I'm genuinely happy for you, Bro. Those old guys in the league should make way for us! You absolutely deserve an All-Star spot!"
Brandon Jennings highly recognized Kayce's ability, but at this moment, he only had one thought: win the Rookie Challenge MVP, and surpass Kayce. Passing? That was simply out of the question.
"Congratulations, Kayce, the first All-Star player from the 2009 draft class!"
Stephen Curry, though a bit envious, knew that Kayce's strength truly deserved the title of an All-Star player.
"Kayce should also be the first post-90s All-Star player in the league, that's so cool, Bro!"
Although James Harden felt a pang of envy, he was still very happy for his good brother achieving such a feat. Among everyone, he and Kayce had the deepest friendship, and his blessings were the most sincere.
"Thanks for the blessings, brothers. In this Rookie Challenge, I believe we can create history together and beat the Second-Year team again. I'm already a bit impatient, and it's truly great to play with everyone!"
Kayce showed a sincere smile, showering them with compliments. His fair-weather friends all felt happy. Seeing everyone changed into their jerseys, Kayce suddenly stood up and said loudly:
"Let's give a warm welcome to our legendary coach, Mr. Dantley! Tonight, he will lead us to create history and win the game!"
"Thank you for the welcome, Kayce. I also look forward to everyone beating the Second-Year team tonight. That guy Ewing's trash talk before the game has bothered me for a long time. I hope everyone performs well and gives their all."
Dantley was also very satisfied with Kayce's arrangement; he was shown absolute respect. This young man really knows how to handle things.
Kayce saw Durant wearing a plaid shirt, the same large black-rimmed glasses from yesterday, holding a tactical board, and with a serious and earnest expression, and almost burst out laughing. What a bizarre outfit!
Durant put on a cool and aloof demeanor, secretly giving Kayce a look, signaling that the game should proceed as planned.
Kayce immediately felt relieved. As long as he had the ball, he could show everyone what a scoring machine truly was. An exhibition game was his paradise.
In the Second-Year team's locker room, Russell had been heavily complained about by his girlfriend Nina these past two days. They had planned to go out and have fun together, but he left his girlfriend at the hotel and went to practice. Is that how you play?
"Love, this game is all on you. UCLA connection, it's time to show our chemistry. I don't want to lose to Kayce. You must grab more rebounds."
Russell was currently whispering to Love. He had spent a fortune to win this game.
"Don't worry, Russell, with me here, all the rebounds are mine. You just need to boldly go on fast breaks, but you can't back out of our Spain trip during the off-season!"
Chubby Love was also quite confident now. After all, he was the league's double-double machine, so dominating the rookie big men would definitely be a piece of cake.
"No problem. It's good that Rose isn't playing this time, so I can take the opportunity to score more points and try to break Kevin's Rookie Challenge scoring record too!"
Although he didn't have a chance to get revenge on Durant, Russell was very happy to be able to torment Kayce.
O.J. Mayo noticed Russell and Love whispering and immediately guessed their intentions. He immediately said to his teammate Marc Gasol next to him:
"Marc, after you get a rebound, pass me the ball more. When we get back to Memphis, you can pick any restaurant you want!"
"No problem, just focus on the receiving end!"
Normally, the Rookie Challenge games were played without much intensity, but ever since Kayce made the All-Star team, everyone on the Second-Year team wanted to steal Kayce's Thunder. Head Coach Ewing came into the locker room and immediately said:
"I won't talk about tactics. You are already second-year players. Winning is a normal thing. You don't want to be looked down upon by the opposing rookie All-Star, do you? Give it your all and win the game!"
The game was about to start. During the pre-game warm-up, Kayce saw everyone wearing their respective team jerseys, haphazardly moving around and warming up on the court, and couldn't help but feel a bit speechless.
If the players from the Rookie team and the Second-Year team were on the same team, they would wear different colored home and away jerseys. For example, Russell was wearing the white home jersey, and Kayce was wearing the blue away jersey.
Seeing the somewhat chaotic scene, Kayce couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"Don't pass to the wrong person later, these colorful jerseys are really uncomfortable to look at."
Russell received the ball, quickly brought it across half-court, and facing loose defense, executed a right-hand in-and-out dribble followed by a pull-up jumper from near the free-throw line.
"Swish!" The mid-range shot went in steadily.
Kayce saw Russell's serious expression and chuckled to himself. Scoring with two-point shots, brother, you're outdated!
Kayce cunningly went to the baseline to inbound the ball, quickly passed it to Steph Curry, and then immediately ran towards the frontcourt. Harden received the pass from Curry, and with a crossover dribble and an in-and-out move, easily shook off Danilo Gallinari.
Noticing Beasley coming to help defend, he quickly passed the ball to the wide-open Kayce in the right corner. Kayce caught the ball and shot without adjusting, a three-pointer from beyond the arc.
"Swish!" The open three-pointer went in steadily.
Kayce high-fived Harden in celebration as they retreated on defense. In an exhibition game like this, the combined effect of [Hot Zone Hunter] and [Catch and Shoot] became even more prominent. As long as he was in a shooting hot zone, Kayce felt his shooting percentage could exceed 50%.
This time, the Sophomore team directly brought the ball over half-court with O.J. Mayo, who played a simple pick-and-roll with Lopez, then Mayo immediately pulled up for a three-pointer from beyond the arc.
"Bang!" It was a brick.
The long rebound was quickly snatched by Kayce, who immediately initiated a fast break, dribbling quickly past half-court. Dribbling with his left hand while in motion, he faced Beasley's defense, made a sudden crossover, then a wide behind-the-back dribble with his right hand, before stepping back and shooting a three-pointer.
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly.
"Whoa! It actually went in! Kayce clearly showed off his dribbling skills on that play, shaking off the defender and pulling up for a three-pointer. The move was truly beautiful."
"Ha-ah!!"
The fans in the arena erupted in a warm cheer. Everyone loved to see players show off their fancy moves, and Kayce's shot was incredibly flashy.
Beasley was a bit stunned. He had actually interfered from the side, but he didn't expect Kayce to casually toss the ball into the hoop like a trick shot.
Kayce smiled and quickly got back on defense. The effects of [Hot Zone Hunter] + [Circus Threes]
+ [Tough Shooter] were no joke! If Coach Ben hadn't forbidden Kayce from taking such shots in regular season games, Kayce would have been showing off like crazy long ago!
Russell didn't want to see Kayce get hot, but in this exhibition game, there wasn't much defensive pressure, so there wasn't much he could do but keep working hard.
This time, Russell dribbled past half-court, stopped and started abruptly, and instantly drove straight to the basket. Blair didn't defend with full effort, watching Russell make a low-hand layup.
Stephen Curry quickly inbounded the ball from the baseline. After Harden received the ball, he immediately dribbled past half-court. This time, he didn't choose to pass, but rather shook off his defender and drove into the paint, scoring with a left-handed floater.
After more than three minutes of play, both teams traded blows with incredibly high shooting percentages. After hitting two three-pointers, Kayce started to coast on the court, while also racking up assists.
After receiving a pass from Harden at the 45-degree angle beyond the three-point line, Kayce, holding the ball with his left hand, drove with a crossover step, pulled the ball back between his legs while in motion, and then executed a flashy spin move with his right hand, easily shaking off Danilo Gallinari. He noticed Lopez had come over to help on defense.
With a flick of his left wrist, he delivered a bounce pass that easily split the defense. Blair, after receiving the ball, immediately threw down a two-handed dunk!
"Clang!" A dunk under the basket.
"Kayce's playing style is truly beautiful! His two crossover moves were fluid, and his pass was perfectly timed, allowing Blair to easily dunk after receiving the ball. This is how the All-Star game should be played!"
Brandon Jennings on the court quickly realized he was rarely getting the ball. After more than three minutes, he had only taken two shots, both of which were bricks. Most of the time, the ball was in the hands of Curry and Harden, plus Kayce would occasionally bring the ball up, so his touches were almost nonexistent.
What was even more frustrating was that every time Kayce passed him the ball, he would face Russell's defense. Russell was the only one on the court playing seriously, which made Brandon Jennings extremely frustrated.
O.J. Mayo was also very frustrated after the game started. He saw Kayce swish three-pointers and wanted to respond, but his first two shots were bricks. Then he realized he rarely had a chance to shoot, as everyone else on the court was just taking the ball and going for it.
This time, the Sophomore team was on offense, and O.J. Mayo finally got the ball again. Facing Brandon Jennings's defense beyond the three-point line, he dribbled continuously between his legs before stepping back and shooting a jump shot.
"Bang!" Another brick.
The long rebound was again collected by Kayce. After passing it to Curry, he immediately sprinted across the opponent's half-court. Noticing that Russell's defense had caught up, Curry passed the ball back to Kayce.
Kayce, after receiving the ball at the right 45-degree angle beyond the three-point line, didn't hesitate, pulling up for a jump shot.
"Swish!" The pull-up three went in.
"Oh!!"
The fans in the arena let out a gasp of amazement. He was still a step away from the three-point line, a long-range pull-up jump shot, this was a bit too accurate!
Coach Ewing of the Sophomore team felt something was wrong and immediately called a timeout, trying to break Kayce's rhythm.
But unfortunately, after the timeout, the Sophomore team's own offense started to falter. Perhaps influenced by Kayce's three-pointers, Beasley also started firing from beyond the arc, resulting in a series of bricks.
After Harden collected the long rebound, he shook off O.J. Mayo with a behind-the-back dribble and quickly passed the ball to Kayce.
Kayce received the ball and quickly dribbled past half-court. He paused briefly at the top of the arc beyond the three-point line, then executed a right-handed In and Out move, pushing off with his feet, instantly blowing past the recovering Danilo Gallinari. He took three long strides and, after spinning the ball in the air, slammed it into the basket with one hand!
"Clang!" A windmill dunk on the fast break.
"Great pass, Bro!"
Kayce, on his way back on defense, immediately fist-bumped Harden in greeting. In this game, he was going for a completely 'Moreyball' style of play. Mid-range? Absolutely not needed. Besides three-pointers, it was all dunks at the rim. He had to show Russell what a ruthless scoring machine looked like.
When Beasley of the Sophomore team bricked another shot from the perimeter, Kayce, who collected the long rebound, immediately passed the ball to a streaking Harden. The latter, upon receiving the ball, chose not to accelerate and drive, but instead pulled up for a jump shot at the top of the arc beyond the three-point line.
"Swish!" The transition three-pointer swished through the net.
Russell's bad feeling on the court grew stronger. If the Freshman team kept shooting threes like this, the game would truly be over.
Coach Ewing also quickly brought Love onto the court. They couldn't just watch the opponent launch threes; they also needed to increase their three-point production.
When Kayce saw Love come onto the court, he started to reduce his outside shots and increase his drives. He knew Love wouldn't really defend him; with his brother on the court, it was the perfect time to rack up points.
In the next few minutes, the audience was completely captivated by Kayce's flashy drives. Kayce continuously dribbled between his legs on the perimeter, then executed a sudden 'prayer' fake-out, sending Beasley flying.
After driving into the paint, facing Love's feigned defense, he executed a nimble Euro step layup, easily putting the ball in. After scoring, Kayce smiled and gave Love a look, and Love returned a wink.
Brandon Jennings noticed their little interaction and was completely numb. He felt like everyone on the court was Kayce's person. Could this game even be played?
When the first half reached almost 10 minutes, both teams started making substitutions. The score was 40 to 32, with the Freshman team leading by 8 points, and Kayce was also subbed out to rest.
Sitting on the bench, Durant handed him water and said in a low voice:
"You and Harden will be back on for about three more minutes later. Pay attention to offensive opportunities, good luck, Bro!"
Kayce blinked, indicating he understood. As long as his teammates were on the court, scoring opportunities would not be lacking, and scoring would not be a problem.
By the end of the first half, Kayce had thrown in 3 more three-pointers. Durant on the sidelines was also dumbfounded; his accuracy was a bit scary.
72:60, the Rookie team, relying on Kayce's excellent touch, led by 12 points at halftime.
During halftime, in the Freshman team's locker room, Harden and Curry were the most excited. They had a blast shooting threes in the first half! Playing with Kayce was truly awesome!
"Incredible performance, Kayce, 100% shooting, you're on fire tonight!"
James Harden shouted loudly in the locker room.
"That was so cool! 6 three-pointers, some of those shots were really difficult, but you made all of them. Unbelievable, Kayce, every time you touched the ball, the crowd cheered, it's so enviable!"
Although Stephen Curry also made 3 three-pointers in the first half, seeing Kayce's performance, he couldn't help but feel a bit jealous.
"Haha, it's all thanks to everyone's support! Let's keep it up in the second half, we can definitely win!"
Hearing Kayce's words, Brandon Jennings and Evans secretly pouted. These two were completely restricted by Kayce's 'brotherhood basketball' in the first half, with no chance to make things happen.
In the Sophomore's locker room, Russell was a bit anxious. Kayce's touch was explosive in the first half, and if he could maintain it in the second half, his two-point shots wouldn't be enough to catch up.
"Love, you need to shoot more threes, otherwise it will be difficult for us to catch up. My three-point touch is too bad!"
Love looked at a serious Russell and said with a relaxed expression:
"Kayce's touch will only get better and better, you know, with this intensity of the game, his three-point shooting is terrifyingly accurate. At UCLA, he was our number one shooter, Russell, get ready to lose!"
"..."
When the second half began, the Sophomore team witnessed Kayce's three-point performance. Catch-and-shoot, step-back jump shots, pull-up threes after crossovers—defense had completely lost its effectiveness. Kayce was on a rampage.
When Kayce sank his 5th three-pointer of the second half, the fans in the arena also erupted, starting to roar and cheer!
Durant on the sidelines jumped and cheered loudly, but in his heart, he kept muttering: Don't make it! Don't make it! Don't make it!
If Kayce made another three-pointer, his score for this game would reach 48 points, which would also break his highest scoring record in the Rookie Challenge.
The players on the court also knew Kayce was about to break the record. The inbound pass from the baseline went directly to Kayce.
Kayce, holding the ball with his left hand, slowly dribbled past half-court. As soon as he reached the logo, he immediately pulled up for a jump shot, and at the same time, instantly turned around, raising both hands high, signaling the audience to get hyped!
"Swish!" The super-long three went in.
"Ah!!"
"Wow!!"
Kayce's showmanship was absolutely on point. The audience, seeing Kayce's arrogant celebration, immediately screamed with excitement.
"That's so f***ing cool, Bro! A logo three! How did you make that?!"
James Harden rushed over and hugged Kayce, shouting loudly. Other teammates also quickly surrounded Kayce, constantly punching his chest with small fists. That shot was too explosive!
Dantley also called a timeout at the opportune moment, allowing Kayce to receive the cheers of the entire arena.
"Well done, Kayce! Do you still need to play? You've already broken Kevin's scoring record. I suggest you push the record to over 50 points, so it will be very difficult for anyone to surpass you later!"
"Haha, thank you for your suggestion. I'll leave the opportunities for everyone else. Records aren't important; what's important is that we're really going to defeat the Sophomore team!"
Kayce was also tactful, knowing when to quit while he was ahead. It was time to make a graceful exit.
"I'm already looking forward to Ewing's expression after we lose. Get some good rest, Kayce!"
Kayce sat on the bench, slowly rehydrating, and thought proudly to himself:
"I'm going to take the Rookie Challenge MVP, and break the three-point record and the highest scoring record! What do you call a super rookie in the league?!"