Chapter 64: Another One! Breaking the Three-Point Contest Record

"Is Tang Lei really undrafted? NBA scouts must be blind!" New fans tuning in to the stream, captivated by Tang Lei's performance, couldn't help but question his journey.

"Thunder King's an Asian player, a Chinese player. You get it, right?"

"Opportunity and luck are the keys; the NBA has always had its share of underdog stories."

"True. Thunder King had the talent; he just needed the right position and moment to shine."

…

After a five-minute break, the three-point contest finals began. This round's shooting order was based on scores from the previous round, with higher scorers going last. As a result, Tang Lei was up first.

The eliminated players watched Tang Lei with a mix of curiosity and amazement. Although they had all heard of him recently, seeing his skills in action was still astonishing.

Tang Lei took his spot, and with a signal from the referee, he began his round. The first two shots rimmed out, but from the third ball onward, he found his rhythm, sinking three in a row, including the money ball.

At his favorite left-wing position, where he'd set up the money balls, he went 5-for-5, scoring a perfect 10 points. At the top of the arc, he scored 4 out of 5, missing the money ball. But from there, it was as if he entered a flawless shooting mode, draining every shot from the right wing and the corner.

When the final tally came in, Tang Lei had racked up 30 points, breaking the all-time three-point contest record with only three misses. The crowd erupted in amazement, unable to believe that a rookie in his first contest had shattered such an epic record.

Next up was Buddy Hield, his face visibly tense from the pressure. To beat Tang Lei, he would have to miss no more than three shots—an enormous task. Overwhelmed, Hield missed all five shots from the top of the arc. Although he recovered with four money balls, he scored only 19 points, far below his first-round performance.

Last to go was Curry. Unlike Hield, Curry appeared calm and collected. Having won the three-point contest before, Curry's experience in high-pressure situations helped him brush off the crowd. He started strong, sinking his first nine shots. But as he progressed, his shooting rhythm faltered, finishing with 24 points.

Although Curry didn't claim the title, he graciously congratulated Tang Lei with a heartfelt embrace. Other contestants followed suit, acknowledging Tang Lei's incredible performance with admiration. Scoring 30 and breaking the contest record, Tang Lei had earned their respect.

Soon after, Tang Lei lifted the three-point contest trophy. Back in the Tencent live chat, fans were ecstatic:

"Thunder King, unstoppable! Breaking records on his first try!"

"Warriors management better make Thunder King the future face of the franchise! He's the real deal!"

"Curry's attitude is amazing, genuinely happy for Tang Lei. You've got to love Curry."

"One night, two championships! Perfect scores in the dunk contest, a record-breaking 30 in the three-point contest! Thunder King is flying high, touching the sun!"

"Let's shout it loud: Thunder King, undefeated!"

…

The Skills Challenge followed, but it was no longer Tang Lei's moment. As he took a seat, the system chimed in:

 System Notification:

[Congratulations on winning the dunk contest! Reward: +2 attribute points, +4 system coins.]

[Congratulations on winning the three-point contest and breaking the historical record! Reward: +3 attribute points, +6 system coins.]

"Nice! Five more attribute points and 10 system coins," Tang Lei thought with a grin, before commanding the system to open his attribute panel.

Player Profile:

 • Name: Tang Lei

 • Team: Golden State Warriors (Contract: $3 million, expires end of season)

 • Age: 19 years, 81 days

 • Height: 2.02 meters (Upgradable by 1 cm per attribute point, max +15 cm)

 • Wingspan: 2.19 meters (Maxed out)

 • Weight: 97 kg

 • Attributes:

 • Driving: 100

 • Mid-Range: 92+

 • Three-Point: 100

 • Vertical: 100

 • Speed: 92+

 • Defense: 85+

 • Block: 100

 • Ball Handling: 91+

 • Stamina: 84+

 • Charisma: 100

 • Available Points: 5