"James Harden drives with the ball. Harden is in complete control, and every inch of him is a fake."
Oh, my God!
Harden steps back for another three-pointer, rises over Wilson Chandler's defense, and sinks a drifting three.
The lead is 20 points.
There are only five minutes left, and the game is already over.
The Knicks are about to suffer their 11th straight loss!
"One of the Thunder's Big Three, this year's Third Pick, James Harden, has put up 30 points tonight, setting a new career high.
When I look at him,
I see a glimpse of a future superstar!!!"
Madison Square Garden.
At the commentators' table.
Reggie Miller spoke excitedly.
Wait.
Just one 30-point game, and you can already see a future superstar in him?
What about Kevin, who's averaging 30-plus a game this season?
Maybe you just love James Harden's sexy beard and are singing his praises for that.
"Flying Pig" Barkley shot Reggie Miller a look, then broke into a grin like a master of disguise.
"Kevin, the Second Pick in 2007; Russell, the fourth pick in 2008; and... this year's Third Pick, James Harden.
Three young stars in three years.
With the Thunder's Big Three assembled, the Thunder have officially completed their rebuild.
This year, they're aiming for the playoffs—and even bigger things!
I'm already looking forward to it!"
"Beep! Beep!"
The Knicks' head coach,
Mike D'Antoni called a timeout, planning to put in five substitutes and surrender.
Five minutes left, down by 20.
Harden, a rookie and the team's third option, was having a breakout game, so there really wasn't much point in fighting it.
On the bench,
not sitting in the usual spot by the water cooler, Su Yan looked around the vast arena and at Durant on the court, wearing No. 35.
"Thunder Durant?!!!"
Su Yan blurted out.
What was going on?
After putting together the Suns' Big Three only to get swept in the first round, Durant had failed to find a path to a championship and returned to Oklahoma.
Was he following in LeBron's footsteps?
No way.
You couldn't put a broken mirror back together.
But... now that he thought about it, the Thunder really were strong.
Alexander, Holmgren, Jalen Williams—all young, talented, and full of potential.
Their first-place record in the Western Conference was proof enough.
If Durant went there now, well... the Thunder really might contend for a championship next season.
Wait? Hold on.
Something wasn't right.
Forget Durant—what were Westbrook and Harden doing here? Had they come back too?!
Harden hadn't grown the thick beard that could draw a foul just by brushing against someone.
And sitting beside him was "T-Mac," McGrady. Hadn't his CBA stint ended ages ago? Why was he still playing here?
Something was off.
Very off.
This didn't look like 2024 at all. It looked more like the era of the Thunder's Big Three.
So... had he traveled through time?!
Time travel.
Su Yan knew the drill.
He might never have eaten pork, but he'd seen pigs run, hadn't he?!
In novels, ten out of every ten protagonists traveled through time—and then one more.
Su Yan thought it through. He was pretty sure he'd traveled through time, but decided to make one final check.
He nudged McGrady beside him and asked hesitantly, "Tracy, what year is it?!"
???
Dude, are you an idiot?
Do you hear yourself?
Out of politeness, he swallowed his urge to mock him and answered, "What do you mean, what year? It's 2009, of course.
How much did you drink at the bar last night? You still haven't sobered up?!"
"I didn't drink that much."
Su Yan smiled, rubbing his lower back as he joked, "I'm just exhausted. My head's still a little foggy."
"Oh?"
McGrady's eyes lit up, and he smiled. "It's great to be young! Unlike me—I'm getting old."
Then he sighed, as if hinting at something.
Thirty was old?
That was just right.
It was just that... injuries had ruined him.
Su Yan knew what he meant. He glanced at McGrady with a trace of regret and said, "Tracy, you've already achieved greatness!
Even if you retired right now,
you'd still be a Hall of Fame-caliber player someday."
And that was the truth.
Su Yan wasn't lying or flattering him.
"Haha~"
Who wouldn't be happy to hear praise like that, about making the Hall of Fame?
McGrady laughed and patted Su Yan on the shoulder. "You're Su Yan, right? You're from Dragon Country, a compatriot of Yao Ming's.
You've made a strong impression on me.
Keep it up. I hope you become as good a player as Yao Ming someday!!!"
"Thanks."
Su Yan thanked him modestly. "I'll work hard."
After just a few words,
McGrady had a pretty good impression of Su Yan.
Turning back,
Su Yan couldn't help grumbling to himself: First of all, I don't actually like basketball that much, so I'm not thrilled about this time travel.
Second, become a player as good as Yao Ming?!
Are you kidding me?
There are more than a billion people in all of Dragon Country, and only one Yao Ming. What makes you think an ordinary time-traveler like me could do that?!
What I mean is, why don't I have a cheat?!
This sucks!!!
[ Ding! ]
Just as he was thinking that, the system notification rang in Su Yan's mind.
He had one?!
So this freaking thing... wouldn't show up unless I complained, huh?
[Crazy Money-Making System is merging... Merging... Merge complete. Congratulations, Host. You are now bound to the Crazy Money-Making System.]
What was this?
What was going on?
The system explained: [The Host can earn money by doing anything related to a basketball game on the court!
The Host will earn more as their level rises.
This money is not virtual currency and can be used in the real world.
The Host is currently Lv1 and has the following privileges: Dribbling, running, passing, scoring, rebounding, stealing, and blocking can all earn money.
Dribbling: Earn 1 USD for every dribble.
Running: Earn 1 USD for every step you run.
Dribble and run, and you'll be having fun. Keep dribbling, keep running, and the fun never ends!!!]
Rebounding: Earn 200 USD for every rebound.
Assists: Earn 300 USD for every beautiful assist.
Steals: Earn 500 USD for every steal.
Blocks: Earn 500 USD for every block.
Free Throws: Earn 1,000 USD for every successful free throw.
Two-pointers: Earn 2,000 USD for every 2 points scored.
Three-pointers: Earn 3,000 USD for every successful three-pointer.
[!!]
Level-up EXP: 0/10,000 (Experience can only be earned by spending money. Spend more, earn more.)
System Shop: Locked.
Items: [LV1 Privilege Gift Pack] *1, [Novice Gift Pack] *1.
Missions: None.
Skills: None.
Balance: 0.]
He could earn money just by dribbling and running?!
Su Yan's eyes lit up.
This freaking thing... was amazing.
Basketball was exhausting and highly physical, and it wasn't the kind of sport Su Yan liked.
In his previous life,
after failing at business several times, he'd decided to coast through life from the moment he entered public service.
It wasn't that he didn't want to make money. He just didn't have what it took.
So... as long as he had enough to eat and didn't starve, he figured he'd just let life happen.
When he confirmed he'd traveled through time and learned he was a basketball player, Su Yan's first reaction was indifference.
But.
If playing basketball could earn money—and let him earn a fortune without too much effort—that was a whole different story.
Uh...
Su Yan rubbed his chin, calculating in his head. "If I scored 30 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out five assists, made two steals, and blocked two shots in one game,
how much would I make?!"
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