Stamina Crisis

Michigan State wasn't a team to be taken lightly. This year, all five of their starters were projected to be drafted:

Nik Stauskas (8th pick, first round)

Adreian Payne (15th pick, first round)

Gary Harris (19th pick, first round)

Mitch McGary (21st pick, first round)

Glenn Robinson III (second round).

Their draft positions alone showed they were no slouches. These players were bursting with talent—at least by NCAA standards. In the NBA, they hadn't caused much of a stir yet.

Jay, a self-proclaimed casual basketball fan, had no idea who these guys were. To him, they were just a bunch of nobodies, not worth worrying about. Besides, with the system on his side, why shouldn't he talk big? Of course, he kept those thoughts to himself. No need to provoke anyone unnecessarily.

Chris Cooper, a veteran scout for the Golden State Warriors, was facing a dilemma. He had been with the Warriors for years, and his scouting reports were highly valued by GM Bob Myers. But now, he wasn't sure whether to submit the latest report sitting in his hand.

Name: Jay Sun

Age: 19

Height: 195 cm

Wingspan: 203 cm

Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard

Skills: Accurate three-point shooting, excellent court vision, standout passing ability, and high-level off-ball movement.

Weaknesses: Lacks physicality and struggles with contact. Adaptability to NBA-level physicality is questionable.

Comparison: Ray Allen / Kyle Korver

Cooper liked this young prospect from China but had doubts about his physicality. Most importantly, the Warriors didn't even have a draft pick this year! Picking Jay would require a trade, which might not be worth it. Besides, the current Warriors roster was nearly complete, and they weren't particularly in need of a rookie like him.

"Sigh… what do I do? Maybe I should just let this go. The Warriors are focused on winning this year—no room for long-term projects. Let's stick with players who can contribute immediately," Cooper muttered, setting Jay's report aside and turning his attention to other prospects.

Unaware of the interest he was generating, Jay remained focused on basketball.

He had seen ESPN's mock draft rankings. Initially, his name wasn't even on the list, but after his last game, he had climbed into the second round—top 10 of the second round, to be exact. Not bad, all things considered.

With his physical limitations, no team could be sure he'd survive in the NBA.

Jay had preferences, of course. Ideally, he wanted to go to a big-market team, where exposure would boost his commercial value. As a Chinese player, he could secure more endorsements than his peers. But at this point, he didn't have much say in where he might end up.

To Jay, the team was far more important than draft position. High picks only guaranteed bigger rookie contracts. What mattered more was landing in the right situation.

He thought back to the 6th pick for the Bucks years ago. If that player had been drafted by a team better suited to his style, his career might have turned out very differently.

Reflecting on Yi Jianlian's struggles, Jay silently prayed for a team that fit his needs. A lower draft position wouldn't bother him as long as it set him up for long-term success.

As Jay poured his energy into training and hopeful prayers, the Elite Eight matchup loomed closer.

The arena was buzzing with excitement, louder and livelier than ever before. The increased crowd size and intensity made some of the more timid players visibly nervous, their hands trembling as they warmed up.

It was also Jay's first time playing in such a high-stakes atmosphere. Seeing the live commentators and broadcast equipment only added to the gravity of the moment. Despite this, Jay wasn't nervous—he was exhilarated.

He was so excited that his body trembled slightly. His Ray Allen template was nearly maxed out, with only one stat—three-point shooting—stuck at 79. Jay had a feeling that today's game might be the breakthrough he needed.

Meanwhile, Michigan's players were ready to go, their eyes brimming with determination, practically shooting sparks.

Kentucky center Stern prepared for the jump ball. As the ball reached its peak, Stern leapt high, tipping it toward Kentucky.

Jay caught the ball and slowly dribbled it up the court. The NCAA's longer shot clock required more strategic plays and team coordination compared to the NBA, so there was no need to rush.

As he approached the arc, the Harrison twins executed a cross-screen. Andrew Harrison briefly found himself open, and Jay passed him the ball immediately.

As soon as the pass left his hands, Jay darted into off-ball movement, pulling two defenders' attention with him.

Aaron Harrison cut to the basket at the perfect moment, while Randle sealed off his man. Andrew Harrison delivered a crisp pass inside, and Aaron finished with a layup.

The play was perfectly executed, and Coach Calipari nodded in approval, though he kept his expression serious. The game had only just begun, and both teams were still feeling each other out.

On Michigan's next possession, Nik Stauskas brought the ball up and matched up against Jay. Stauskas smirked and muttered, "Kid, you should be back in elementary school. College ball's too much for you."

Before Jay could respond, Stauskas blew past him with an explosive first step, gaining a full step of separation.

"Whoa! What the hell?! That's so cheap. You call that trash talk?" Jay thought as he scrambled to recover, managing only a half-hearted contest. Seeing Jay's struggles, Andrew Harrison rotated over to help.

Seizing the moment, Stauskas kicked the ball out to Glenn Robinson III on the perimeter. Robinson caught it in rhythm and sank a clean three-pointer.

Watching Stauskas smugly jog back on defense, Jay fumed silently. Cheap shot! And where's all the trash talk like in the novels?

Jay had always assumed trash talk meant trading barbs, but real games didn't have time for that. Most trash talk was quick and efficient, with players exploiting any lapse in focus.

Jay caught the inbound and pushed the ball upcourt, resolving to ignore Stauskas this time.

Crossing half-court, he passed to Randle at the high post before weaving through Michigan's defense. His unpredictable movement left Stauskas chasing shadows, struggling to keep up.

From the left corner to the right corner, up to the arc, and suddenly cutting to the basket—Jay caught a pass from Andrew Harrison and scored an easy layup.

Stauskas glared at Jay in frustration. "What's with this guy's pace? He's not even that fast, but he's impossible to guard," he muttered.

Jay celebrated the bucket with a high-five from Harrison.

The game continued with both sides battling fiercely, each countering the other's strategies. The crowd roared as the intensity ramped up.

At halftime, the score was 42–40, with Kentucky clinging to a narrow lead.

The good news? Kentucky was ahead. The bad news? Jay had already logged 20 minutes and was nearing his physical limit.