32 Points

Dee!!!

As the final buzzer sounded, the game came to an end. In the end, the Thunder relied on Westbrook's consecutive mid-range jumpers in the last minute to maintain a 3-point lead. With Lowry's last-second three-pointer missing, the Thunder narrowly defeated the Raptors 120-117 to claim victory.

After hurriedly shaking hands and hugging his opponents, Chen Xi couldn't wait to rush back to the locker room.

"System! System! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

[Detected host completing achievement: First regular season game scoring 30 points. Reward now issued.]

[Congratulations on receiving reward: 3 Random Bronze Badges, Badge Upgrader (Bronze)*1]

"Open the box! Open the box!!!"

[Now drawing random badges.]

[Congratulations, host has obtained badge: Dribbling Expert (Bronze)]

[Congratulations, host has obtained badge: Volume Shooter (Bronze)]

[Congratulations, host has obtained badge: Dodge Finisher (Bronze)]

"Good, good, good. Not bad at all. The core badges for layups and three-pointers are both here. This daddy is awesome again!!"

Chen Xi looked at the three new badges with a delighted expression.

"Use the Badge Upgrader."

[Please select a designated Bronze Badge to upgrade.]

"Upgrade First Step Master." Considering his pathetic Breakthrough Attribute and the inability to raise it to a high level in a short time, Chen decided to compensate with badge level.

[Confirmed upgrade: First Step Master (Bronze)]

[Upgrade complete. Congratulations, host has obtained badge: First Step Master (Silver)]

Nice!

"System, pull up the attribute panel. Let me take a good look."

[Now displaying Attribute Panel.]

[Chen Xi: Physical Talent: Height 196; Wingspan 208; Weight 88kg Attribute Panel: Mid-range 78 (+2); Three-point 100; Free Throw 84 (+3); Ball Handling 60 (+2); Passing 62 (+2); Breakthrough 50 (+5) On-ball Defense 78 (+1); Help Defense 56 (+1); Rebounding 45 Strength 53 (+5); Speed 62 (+4); Stamina 67 (+5) Block 30; Steal 43 (+2); Layup 48 (+3) Vertical 72 (+2) Physique: 70]

[The numbers in parentheses are gains from training.]

[Badges: Catch and Shoot (Silver), Quick Draw (Silver), Corner Three Specialist (Bronze), Off-Ball Pest (Silver), Death Coil (Bronze), Spot Shooter (Silver), Lockdown Defender (Bronze), First Step Master (Silver), Dribbling Expert (Bronze), Volume Shooter (Bronze), Dodge Finisher (Bronze)]

[Evaluation: A first-rate shooter, a second-rate primary defender, a third-rate slasher. This Tongue is willing to admit you have the qualifications to stay in the league.]

"Hahaha! Tmd! The hard training during this period wasn't for nothing. Most of the lower attributes are pretty quick to improve."

If you can't find the book by searching the title, try searching the author. Maybe it just changed names!

Chen Xi looked happily at the brand new version of the panel, his imperial countenance greatly pleased, and turned to walk toward the shower room.

On the other side, Westbrook was accepting an interview with reporters.

"Russell, congratulations on another near triple-double with 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists. Did you ever think about grabbing two more rebounds on the court to chase a triple-double?"

"Of course not. The Raptors are a strong team. We have to be fully focused when playing them. I don't have time to care about stats on the court."

"Besides you, Chris Chen also scored 32 points in this game, and he was very efficient, taking only 15 shots and making 8 three-pointers. What do you think about that?"

"Chris is an outstanding shooter. I've never seen anyone more accurate than him. I think that's the reward of hard work. He and Victor are the hardest-working players on our team in practice. They're always the first to arrive and the last to leave. Even on rest days, they go for extra practice. I think God has no reason not to care for people who work so hard."

"So, compared to Victor, do you think Chris is already qualified to be a starter?"

"We are a team. Our eyes are only on the desire to win. No one cares about that. Everything is up to the coach's arrangements. If it means winning, I can come off the bench too."

Facing the reporter's instigation, Westbrook pulled out the classic team rhetoric. In short, official statements must be righteous and proper!!

"Russell, Chris is currently averaging 20.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, with a 46% field goal percentage and 57% three-point percentage. Do you think Chris is the Rookie of the Year for this draft class?"

"Of course. No one is better than my teammate. Chris is definitely the Rookie of the Year for this class. I said it!"

For a moment, the entire room was in an uproar. After all, Chen Xi was just a second-round pick, and the 26th pick in the second round at that.

As for this year's rookies, aside from the number one pick Ben Simmons who wasn't playing due to injury, the one taking his place was Joel Embiid, who was only playing in his third year but possessed excellent maturity. Moreover, behind him were Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray, Buddy Hield, Malcolm Brogdon, and a host of other outstanding rookies. Westbrook's remarks had basically offended all of them. Of course, he probably didn't care at all.

The next day, Chen Xi was blocked at the entrance to the arena by several reporters.

"Chris, we'd like to ask you a few questions!"

"What the hell? Where did you guys pop out from?" Chen Xi was startled. Are you crazy? Staking me out in a place like this first thing in the morning?

"What question? I don't have much free time today, I've got training later."

"How do you feel about Russell saying you're this year's Rookie of the Year?"

"How do I feel? Sitting down, I guess. I unconditionally support our team's leader. Whatever my leader says is right."

"So you admit you think so too?"

"Since Russell thinks I can do it, I'll reluctantly give it my best shot." Chen shrugged.

"After yesterday's interview, Joel Embiid posted online saying he's never heard of Chris Chen and thinks Westbrook is just grandstanding. What do you think about that?"

"Embiid? Who's that? I don't know him. Is he an NBA player too?"

A few reporters perked up immediately—this was what they wanted. Worth all the trouble of tracking down Chen Xi's schedule and staking him out early in the morning. Take this line back, "polish it up" a bit, and it'd spark a war of words in no time!

"The 76ers' starting center."

"Starting center? A rookie?"

"Embiid missed his first two seasons due to injury, so this is technically his rookie year."

"All right, then I wish him good health this year."

No harm in being a little cocky. Rookie of the Year—that's a whole 15 attribute points! As stats got higher, relying on training alone to improve got harder. There was something called a ceiling, and attribute points could ignore that ceiling to boost Chen Xi's abilities. The value went without saying.

Emperor wants to fight, Ingram wants to join the fun? Then let's fight!!!

With a light jab—Big Butt was in his third year now—Chen shrugged, stopped answering the reporters' questions, turned, and walked into the arena. He had to make good use of today, get used to the boosts from his new badges.

"Damn! Victor! You're earlier than me again!!!"

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