The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!

Su Wan had never imagined that something like this would happen:

Just a second ago, he was at the company, working overtime on the computer to revise a project for their demanding client;

The next second, he found himself sitting on the bench, having become a member of the Cavaliers' 2004 battle team for the Las Vegas Summer League.

The original Su Wan, who bore the same name, had led the SH Sharks this summer to defeat the GD team and clinch the CBA Championship Trophy as the core player, and after being crowned the Finals MVP, he announced his participation in the 2004 draft.

Yao had just finished his second professional season and was gradually becoming a top NBA center, his single-handed effort significantly boosted the value of the CBA Finals MVP in the eyes of NBA scouts. Moreover, since the original owner was only 19 years old, he was successfully drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the tenth pick in the first round, becoming the second Huaxia player to be a top 10 first-round pick in the NBA.

He was spirited and intended to make the Summer League a stage to make his name known before participating in the Olympics this summer, aiming to plant his flag in the United States first.

However, in the first game of the Summer League, he was harshly rebutted. In the first half, facing Sasha Vujacic, the "Golden Boy" from Slovenia, he struggled in both offense and defense, and to make matters worse, Vujacic was a "relentless" kind of guy, his trash-talk was fragrant, leaving the newcomer dizzy and bewildered as if sleepwalking on the court.

Cavaliers' Summer League head coach Brandon Malone had no choice but to sub him out to let him catch his breath.

Then, it was Su Wan's soul that traversed and replaced the original Su Wan.

"Su, are you OK? Can you go back in?"

Just after sorting out the "brainstorm" of causes and consequences, Brandon Malone's shout came, with more than half of the second half remaining. Although Su Wan had a poor first half, Malone hadn't given up and was ready to send Su Wan back into the game.

Su Wan carefully got up, his imbalance making him stagger.

It's like how a man "waking from a vegetative state" would behave.

Scared, are we?

What a waste!

Malone witnessed the whole scene, spat silently, and his tone grew impatient. "Hurry up, hurry up, you should know we're still in a game, right?"

He had high hopes for Su Wan.

But whatever the anticipation was, the disappointment was just as profound.

Being dominated by Vujacic on both ends of the court was one thing, but now he didn't seem to have the confidence to even enter the game; how could such a player grow and succeed in the NBA?

But watching Su Wan walk past him, Malone softened; after all, he was a rookie and a 19-year-old young man who had traveled to a foreign land: "Remember how you played in the CBA, just bring that form here, I believe in you, Su!"

In the foreigner's mouth, this "Su" sounded a bit like a leaky-toothed "uncle." Su Wan, who accidentally gained a benefit, was pleased, but at this moment, not even "aunt" could help him!

He couldn't even control his body, how could he perform on the court?

Let alone the fact that Su Wan, before the time travel, was a social livestock, inept at any sport and without any experience. If he went on like this, he would simply become Vujacic's "background board" for tricks.

But what he understood even clearer was that if he refused to continue, the post-game news would be explosive—like "Huaxia rookie crushed, his confidence shattered, he refuses to play again," or "The first deserter of the Summer League, a newbie from Huaxia actually 'cowards out'."

This was not just about losing his face but tarnishing the entire Huaxia basketball community as well.

This was something Su Wan absolutely couldn't allow.

His motto was: Better to die standing than live kneeling. If his head hit the southern wall, he would blast it open with the "Italian Cannon"!

Just humiliation?

Bring it on!

After all, this is sports, where the weak are humiliated by the strong.

But just you wait, once I adjust, during our next encounter, I'll show you what they call "the freaking Great Wall Cannon"!

"I've already tested him for you, congratulations, you chose a bust with the tenth pick of the first round, get someone else, this guy doesn't need another chance!" Vujacic, seeing Su Wan taking the court, even dared to run up to Brandon Malone to jabber.

His honey-coated mouth made Su Wan wonder:

How did Sharapova, the "flower of the tennis world," fall for this guy?

Could she really be into this kind of thing?

"No offense, Huaxia man, the basketball is too big, you can't handle it; better go back and play table tennis instead, it suits you more!"

The first offensive belonged to the Cavaliers; Vujacic provocatively gestured for Su Wan to take the ball and go one-on-one with him.

His mouth, unceasingly fragrant.

No wonder he was later dubbed "the NBA player with the most trash talk."

And at that moment, Su Wan's eyes lit up because suddenly, a system voice echoed in his mind:

"Ding, trash talk detected, system activated, 'The zone' mode is engaged!"

Oh, "My Deep Blue," here it comes!

Zone mode?

Huh?

This term, Su Wan was familiar with.

Although he hadn't played much basketball before the time travel, he was a dedicated basketball fan; he had seen Jordan and Kobe talk about "the zone" and had watched "Kuroko's Basketball."

It was a mystical state, according to Jordan, where in that state, one could switch their offensive form at will, and the opponent's actions seemed to slow down before his eyes.