Who dares to take me on?

When Arjun first arrived at UCLA, he wasn't exactly thrilled by everything Los Angeles had to offer.

Having lived in the U.S. in a past life, he didn't find the country had changed much over the years.

Arjun was majoring in Economics at UCLA. After a quick hello to his two Asian roommates in the dorm, he grabbed his basketball and headed straight to the court.

You see, Arjun wasn't at UCLA just for the academics,he was there to lay the groundwork for his NBA dreams.

Over time, he had gotten to know his system better.

Without any games or targeted training, Arjun hadn't made much progress lately.

Most of his attributes were still at the level they were when he first arrived.

As he walked, Arjun checked his personal stats:

Basic Info:

Name: Arjun Singh.

Gender: Male.

Age: 18.

Occupation: Student

Annual Salary: Negative $800.

Height: 6 feet 8 inches

Weight: 220.46 pounds

Wingspan: 7 feet 3.31 inches

Standing Jump: 2 feet 9.46 inches

Running Jump: 3 feet 1.39 inches

Layups: 88, +

Mid-range: 86, +

Three-pointers: 90, +

Driving: 78, +

Speed: 78, +

Ball Handling: 88, +

Strength: 78, +

Rebounding: 65, +

Passing: 74, +

Steals: 74, +

Blocks: 68, +

Stamina: 80, +

Mentality: 74, +

Charisma: 88, +

Current Skills: [Three-point Shooter], [Robust Body] (Passive), [Taekwondo]

Overall Rating: 78

Evaluation: Elite Rookie Level

Victory Points: 0.

The [Taekwondo] skill was a lifestyle reward he got from completing a lifestyle task.

The system issued both lifestyle and professional tasks.

After arriving in the U.S., the system had given Arjun a professional task: "Join the Bruins within a week."

He could choose to accept or decline the task.

Tasks weren't mandatory.

But completing them would earn him 1 Victory Point.

Victory Points were crucial for getting stronger, and Arjun was all about that.

Arjun was hustling for his first Victory Point.

"System, are Victory Points really that hard to get?"

Three months into his journey, Arjun had tried many ways to earn Victory Points.

The system said he could earn them by playing matches, so he played a lot of streetball, but still no Victory Points.

"For you at this stage, yes, they're hard to get."

"You said playing matches would earn Victory Points."

"You're not exactly picking the right matches, playing streetball with middle school kids. It's kind of embarrassing."

"Hey, I just graduated from high school, okay? I bet I'm doing better than another system's host. I scored 100 points in that middle school game!"

"You... you're not really on the same level as him, I'm embarrassed to even mention it. Just focus on making the Bruins, will you?"

"Who's this other system's host you mentioned?"

Arjun found this system pretty smart,sometimes, it even made for good conversation.

...

UCLA, nestled in the upscale western part of Los Angeles just south of Sunset Boulevard, might be the second smallest campus in the University of California system, but it's world-renowned for its striking architecture and beautiful landscapes.

Surrounded by three of the wealthiest areas in Los Angeles, the campus boasts top-notch security.

The campus is informally divided into two halves, north and south, both located on the eastern side of the grounds.

The North Campus, the original heart of the university, features older architectural styles with buildings clad in imported Italian brick, serving as the hub for arts, humanities, social sciences, law, and economics.

The South Campus, where Arjun lived, showcased newer buildings with a style distinctly different from that of the North Campus.

The basketball court wasn't far from Arjun's dorm, and it was already bustling with activity when he arrived.

Arjun, an international student, had delayed his registration and arrived after the local students had already settled in a couple of days earlier.

Reaching the courts, the scene was a mix of races, sweat, and the sounds of shouting and bodies clashing in athletic competition.

Arjun didn't waste time on the public courts,instead, he headed straight for the exclusive training area used by the school team, which boasted the best outdoor facilities. There, a crowd was already training.

Ben Howland, the coach, was in the midst of addressing a group of new five-star and four-star high school recruits.

In the U.S. basketball system, talented young players typically enter the sports media rankings before their sophomore year based on their performances at major tournaments, with each class producing about 25 to 30 five-star recruits, dozens of four-stars, and hundreds of three-stars.

Being rated five-star not only makes a player nationally known but also marks them for attention from college and even NBA scouts.

UCLA, a prestigious basketball powerhouse in Los Angeles, had attracted several top recruits this year, including one five-star and several four-star players, all on full or partial scholarships.

Ben Howland, with his graying hair, glasses, and portly figure, held a stern expression as he clutched a stack of papers—the profiles of these high school athletes.

With some team members graduating or entering the draft last year, and others being cut, Howland was using scout reports to select new elite talents to replenish the Bruins.

After indoor physical tests and an outdoor scrimmage, Howland felt a profound disappointment. These so-called top recruits didn't even compare to Westbrook, who was only ranked 151st in high school.

None of them matched the caliber of past players like Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, or Michael Beasley.

The only player Howland saw potential in was the unassuming Russell Westbrook, who could fill in for Farmar, who had gone to the draft, especially at point guard. Westbrook had talent but poor stats,he had potential but needed time to develop.

As Howland wrapped up his speech and was about to discuss the outcomes with his assistant coach, Arjun approached him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Howland, how can I try out for the Bruins?"

Arjun's question caught everyone's attention. In a crowd of predominantly Black and White players, Arjun's Asian descent stood out starkly.

"What's your name? Which high school did you graduate from?"

Seeing Arjun as a new face, Howland flipped through his papers, thinking Arjun was late.

"Arjun, from The Greenfield School, I'm from India," Arjun replied, waiting patiently for Howland's response.

After searching and confirming with his assistant that Arjun wasn't on the list of recruited athletes, Howland looked up.

"Sorry, I can't find your name."

"Of course, you can't. I'm not a recruited athlete."

"Hey, rookie, this isn't your scene. Basketball is about physicality. Do you even have that?" one of the Black players shouted at Arjun, prompting laughter from the crowd.

"Yeah, Indians should stick to studying, go back to your books, future valedictorian, haha!"

"You want to join the Bruins? Haha."

In the U.S., it's not uncommon for Asian players to face such skepticism and ridicule on the basketball court.

Howland didn't stop the trash talk directed at Arjun.

"Why not see if I've got the physicality? Who's up for one-on-one? Any takers?"

Arjun took off his sports jacket, challenging not just one but all the players present!