Chapter 77: All-Star MVP! Boosting Endurance to Tackle Weaknesses

With Harden's deep three bouncing off the rim, the intense All-Star game, which had gone into overtime, finally came to an end. The stadium erupted with cheers, while fans back in China exploded with excitement on Tencent's livestream, pouring out their emotions after witnessing such a thrilling finish.

The livestream chat was on fire:

"OMG, I'm drenched in sweat from the excitement!"

"Amazing! Our Thunder King steals the ball and drains the crucial three to clinch the game!"

"First All-Star appearance, and he wins both fan voting and MVP! Thunder King is making history!"

"With no major injuries, he's bound to reach superstar status!"

"At this point, Thunder King is already at a superstar level!"

On the court, the screen shifted to showcase the West's victory celebration. With Tang Lei leading in points for his team, there was no surprise when he was crowned All-Star MVP. His final stats were a remarkable 34 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks—a complete and impressive line.

In his post-game interview, Tang Lei thanked his teammates for their support and acknowledged the intense competition from the opposing side, which, he said, had pushed him to his limits and driven him to improve. After his words, Tang Lei lifted the MVP trophy with a beaming smile as the camera lights flashed nonstop.

Turning away from the reporters, Tang Lei looked up toward the stands, where a crowd of loyal Chinese fans remained, cheering in unison. His eyes found Caroline among them, her face radiant with excitement. He waved at the crowd, gestured a "call me" sign to Caroline, and then headed toward the locker room, ready to catch up later.

Once inside the locker room, Tang Lei was pleasantly surprised to see several fellow All-Stars waiting with their shoes in hand, asking for his autograph. The fact that players like Jokic and Vucevic were lining up for his signature drove home how much respect he had earned. Tang Lei took time to sign each one, recalling his own disappointment as a young fan when some idols had brushed off his requests. He had promised himself that, if he ever became someone's idol, he would always take the time for fans.

After signing, Tang Lei headed to shower, where he had barely been under the warm water for a few minutes when he heard the familiar sound of the system's voice echoing in his mind:

[Congratulations, Host, on securing the All-Star game victory: Reward: +2 attribute points, +4 system coins.]

[Congratulations, Host, on earning the All-Star MVP: Reward: +4 attribute points, +8 system coins.]

Tang Lei chuckled to himself. "System, why do you always appear when I'm in the shower? You spying on me?" He was already used to checking his stats mid-shower, so he quickly called up his attribute panel to view his rewards.

Host: Tang Lei

Position: Golden State Warriors Player (300 million USD contract for this season)

Age: 19 years, 82 days

Height: 2.02 m+ (1 cm increase per attribute point, up to +15 cm max)

Wingspan: 2.19 m (maxed)

Weight: 97.5 kg

Attributes:

 • Driving: 100

 • Mid-range: 92+

 • Three-point: 100

 • Vertical: 100

 • Speed: 92+

 • Defense: 90+

 • Blocks: 100

 • Ball handling: 91+

 • Endurance: 84+

 • Charisma: 100

Available Attribute Points: 6

Without hesitation, Tang Lei allocated all 6 attribute points to endurance, pushing it past the critical 90-point mark.

Looking back on the All-Star game, Tang Lei realized his endurance was nearly his downfall. In the final two minutes, he had nearly run out of gas, missing two key shots badly. Up until now, his playing time with the Warriors had been carefully managed, rarely exceeding 30 minutes per game. However, the unexpectedly intense All-Star game—and an extra period—pushed his endurance to the edge.

Fortunately, Tang Lei had adapted just in time, reducing his ball-handling to preserve energy and controlling his breathing, which allowed him to pull through in the critical final moments.

With his endurance now boosted, Tang Lei knew he was even better prepared for the battles that lay ahead.