Volume One: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered!

Volume One: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered! Chapter 50: Would You Play for Me?

After Leslie left the court, he was still fuming, but he soon calmed down and quietly pulled free of Butler's hand.

"Jim doesn't need to try out?" Leslie murmured in confusion beside him.

Butler had been kicked out by his mother and spent a long time homeless before moving in with Leslie's family a year ago.

Leslie's family wasn't well-off, and their home was just an ordinary American street-front house.

Though they lived in Tomball, they kept to themselves and didn't dare cross the local gang members.

Although Butler wasn't her son, Michelle Lambert had treated him like one ever since taking him in a year ago. Lately, she'd been very worried about his chances of getting into college.

After repeatedly confirming why Zhang Yu and Matthew Graves had come, Butler and Leslie hurriedly invited them inside.

"Hello. Are you Jimmy Butler from Tomball High School?" one of the young Asian men asked politely.

"Yes. What can I do for you two?"

"These are our credentials. Please take a look." Zhang Yu continued.

Matthew Graves immediately pulled some documents from his briefcase and handed them to Michelle Lambert.

She took them, gave them a cursory glance, then returned them to Matthew Graves with a smile.

"You're Coach Z?" Leslie examined the Asian man in front of him several times, astonished.

"I don't really follow the NCAA, but Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"I'm very high on Jimmy. That's all that matters. I'm the one who calls the shots at Butler."

Everyone laughed, but Butler and Michelle Lambert looked at Zhang Yu with questioning expressions.

"Are you saying you can offer Jimmy a full scholarship?" she asked excitedly.

"Jimmy, I can offer you a full scholarship. You know Stephen Curry, right? Before he joined the Bulldogs, a lot of schools had turned him down. But after he joined, he became the NCAA's leading scorer."

Butler nodded repeatedly. Florida had defended its NCAA title, but Curry had been the most popular player of the past year. His inspiring story was widely known, and Butler had looked up to him as motivation.

"I know what you've been through. I've faced a lot since I was a kid. During those dark days, I had no friends or family. Basketball was all I had. It's become part of who I am. Without it, I honestly don't know what meaning my life would have."

Leslie fell silent. Unlike him, Butler truly loved basketball from the bottom of his heart.

"Leslie, Banks was right. No school is willing to give me a scholarship," Jimmy Butler sighed.

"Don't worry. There's always a way..." Leslie reassured him.

"I'll go back and confront him right now!" Anger surged through him.

He knew his friend had done the right thing. If he'd thrown a punch earlier, the consequences would have been serious.

His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet room, it stood out. Everyone looked at him, and he quickly waved his hands.

"Jim, about earlier..."

Leslie had been fuming when he left the court, but he soon calmed down and quietly pulled free of Butler's hand.

"Jim, about earlier..."

Leslie turned and saw Butler walking with his head down, staring at the ground, his expression dejected.

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

"I've made up my mind. I can start at a junior college. If I play well enough, maybe I'll catch the attention of a Division I school. Then I can transfer and play in a Division I conference."

"That could work, but it'll be tough. Your grades are pretty good. Why not apply to a college? Basketball isn't the only path in life," Leslie urged him.

"Leslie, I know I'm no worse than anyone else. You should believe in me. My goal is the NBA, and I'm sure I can handle the NCAA!"

"Jimmy, I can offer you a full scholarship. You know Stephen Curry, right? Before he joined the Bulldogs, a lot of schools had turned him down. But after he joined, he became the NCAA's leading scorer."

Butler nodded repeatedly. Florida had defended its NCAA title, but Curry had been the most popular player of the past year. His inspiring story was widely known, and Butler had looked up to him as motivation.

Leslie had seen Butler's passion and dedication to basketball firsthand.

Aside from eating, sleeping, and studying, his friend spent all his time training. He had almost no other hobbies.

In Leslie's eyes, there might not have been a harder-working player in the world—not even among NBA stars.

But Butler's talent was ultimately unremarkable. He'd received only a two-star rating in scouting reports, ranked outside the top 1,200 high school players nationwide, and failed to crack the top 50 in Texas.

Though Butler's high school coach, Brad Ball, had called more than sixty schools and even used personal connections to contact college coaches, not one school was willing to offer him a scholarship.

"I'll go back and confront him right now!" Anger surged through him.

He knew his friend had done the right thing. If he'd thrown a punch earlier, the consequences would have been serious.

"Jim, about earlier..."

"Jim, about earlier..."

Leslie had been fuming when he left the court, but he soon calmed down and quietly pulled free of Butler's hand.

Butler's mother had kicked him out, and he'd spent a long time homeless before moving in with Leslie's family a year ago.

Though Butler's talent was ultimately unremarkable, he'd received only a two-star rating in scouting reports, ranked outside the top 1,200 high school players nationwide, and failed to crack the top 50 in Texas.

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

Butler nodded repeatedly. Florida had defended its NCAA title, but Curry had been the most popular player of the past year. His inspiring story was widely known, and Butler had looked up to him as motivation.

"I've made up my mind. I can start at a junior college. If I play well enough, maybe I'll catch the attention of a Division I school. Then I can transfer and play in a Division I conference."

"That could work, but it'll be tough. Your grades are pretty good. Why not apply to a college? Basketball isn't the only path in life," Leslie urged him.

"Leslie, Banks was right. No school is willing to give me a scholarship," Jimmy Butler sighed.

"Don't worry. There's always a way..." Leslie reassured him.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

Leslie had been fuming when he left the court, but he soon calmed down and quietly pulled free of Butler's hand.

Butler turned and saw Leslie walking with his head down, staring at the ground, his expression dejected.

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

"Jimmy, I can offer you a full scholarship. You know Stephen Curry, right? Before he joined the Bulldogs, a lot of schools had turned him down. But after he joined, he became the NCAA's leading scorer."

Butler nodded repeatedly. Florida had defended its NCAA title, but Curry had been the most popular player of the past year. His inspiring story was widely known, and Butler had looked up to him as motivation.

"Jim, about earlier..."

"Don't mind me..."

Butler paused, then broke into a brilliant smile.

"No. There's always a way..."

"Welcome to the Bulldogs!"

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"I'll go back and confront him right now!" Anger surged through him.

Butler covered his chest, then punched Leslie back. They both burst out laughing, as if every hardship had vanished.

"Good. Whatever you decide, I'll support you!" Leslie thumped Butler on the chest.

"I'm willing! I've never been afraid of competition—only of not getting a chance. I'm not very smart, and I'm only good at one thing: working on my game. If you give me a chance, I promise I won't let you down!"

Zhang Yu looked him straight in the eye, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

"But you know the Bulldogs lost to Florida in the Elite Eight. We're aiming for the championship next season, and I need you to help the team with your defense. If you don't meet my expectations, you'll have to come off the bench until you're good enough."

"I won't need to try out?"

Leslie murmured in confusion beside him.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

Butler's voice wasn't loud, but to him, it sounded like a thunderclap.

"Full scholarship? Is it for me?" He stared in disbelief and murmured.

"I'm very high on Jimmy. That's all that matters. I'm the one who calls the shots at Butler."

"You're Coach Z?"

"Would you play for me?"

"Full scholarship? Is it for me?" He stared in disbelief and murmured.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Don't mind me..."

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

Leslie had been fuming when he left the court, but he soon calmed down and quietly pulled free of Butler's hand.

"I'll go back and confront him right now!" Anger surged through him.

"Don't worry. There's always a way..." Leslie reassured him.

"Though Butler isn't her son, she'd treated him like one ever since taking him in a year ago. Lately, she'd been very worried about his chances of getting into college."

"These are our credentials. Please take a look."

He glanced at Matthew Graves. Matthew immediately pulled some documents from his briefcase and handed them to Michelle Lambert.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

"Full scholarship? Is it for me?" He stared in disbelief and murmured.

Leslie examined the Asian man in front of him several times, astonished.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Welcome to the Bulldogs!"

"Jimmy, I can offer you a full scholarship. You know Stephen Curry, right? Before he joined the Bulldogs, a lot of schools had turned him down. But after he joined, he became the NCAA's leading scorer."

Butler nodded repeatedly. Florida had defended its NCAA title, but Curry had been the most popular player of the past year. His inspiring story was widely known, and Butler had looked up to him as motivation.

"But you know the Bulldogs lost to Florida in the Elite Eight. We're aiming for the championship next season, and I need you to help the team with your defense. If you don't meet my expectations, you'll have to come off the bench until you're good enough."

Leslie turned and saw Butler walking with his head down, staring at the ground, his expression dejected.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Hello. Are you Jimmy Butler from Tomball High School?" one of the young Asian men asked politely.

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

"I've made up my mind. I can start at a junior college. If I play well enough, maybe I'll catch the attention of a Division I school. Then I can transfer and play in a Division I conference."

"I'll go back and confront him right now!" Anger surged through him.

"Would you play for me?"

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Are you Coach Z?"

Leslie examined the Asian man in front of him several times, astonished.

"You know I've been through a lot since I was a kid. During those dark days, I had no friends or family. Basketball was all I had. It's become part of who I am. Without it, I honestly don't know what meaning my life would have."

"Full scholarship? Is it for me?" He stared in disbelief and murmured.

"Though Butler isn't her son, she'd treated him like one ever since taking him in a year ago. Lately, she'd been very worried about his chances of getting into college."

"I'm very high on Jimmy. That's all that matters. I'm the one who calls the shots at Butler."

"Jim, about earlier..."

"Don't worry. There's always a way..." Leslie reassured him.

Zhang Yu nodded to show he understood, then turned to Butler and spoke slowly:

"But you know the Bulldogs lost to Florida in the Elite Eight. We're aiming for the championship next season, and I need you to help the team with your defense. If you don't meet my expectations, you'll have to come off the bench until you're good enough."

"Would you play for me?"

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

Butler paused, then broke into a brilliant smile.

"No. There's always a way..."

"Good. Whatever you decide, I'll support you!" Leslie thumped Butler on the chest.

"I'll go back and confront him right now!" Anger surged through him.

"Jim, about earlier..."

"I'm very high on Jimmy. That's all that matters. I'm the one who calls the shots at Butler."

"I'm willing! I've never been afraid of competition—only of not getting a chance. I'm not very smart, and I'm only good at one thing: working on my game. If you give me a chance, I promise I won't let you down!"

Leslie's family wasn't well-off, and their home was just an ordinary American street-front house.

Butler's mother had kicked him out, and he'd spent a long time homeless before moving in with Leslie's family a year ago.

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"Jim, about earlier..."

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Full scholarship? Is it for me?" He stared in disbelief and murmured.

Zhang Yu looked him straight in the eye, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

"Though Butler isn't her son, she'd treated him like one ever since taking him in a year ago. Lately, she'd been very worried about his chances of getting into college."

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

Leslie turned and saw Butler walking with his head down, staring at the ground, his expression dejected.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

Leslie had been fuming when he left the court, but he soon calmed down and quietly pulled free of Butler's hand.

Butler had been kicked out by his mother and spent a long time homeless before moving in with Leslie's family a year ago.

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"Don't worry. There's always a way..." Leslie reassured him.

"Jimmy, I can offer you a full scholarship. You know Stephen Curry, right? Before he joined the Bulldogs, a lot of schools had turned him down. But after he joined, he became the NCAA's leading scorer."

Butler nodded repeatedly. Florida had defended its NCAA title, but Curry had been the most popular player of the past year. His inspiring story was widely known, and Butler had looked up to him as motivation.

"You know I've been through a lot since I was a kid. During those dark days, I had no friends or family. Basketball was all I had. It's become part of who I am. Without it, I honestly don't know what meaning my life would have."

"Full scholarship? Is it for me?" He stared in disbelief and murmured.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

Leslie had been fuming when he left the court, but he soon calmed down and quietly pulled free of Butler's hand.

Leslie turned and saw Butler walking with his head down, staring at the ground, his expression dejected.

The two walked in silence for a while. Then Butler suddenly spoke.

"Butler nodded repeatedly. Florida had defended its NCAA title, but Curry had been the most popular player of the past year. His inspiring story was widely known, and Butler had looked up to him as motivation."

Butler paused, then broke into a brilliant smile.

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"Good. Whatever you decide, I'll support you!" Leslie thumped Butler on the chest.

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Are you Coach Z?"

"Would you play for me?"

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Welcome to the Bulldogs!"

"Don't worry. There's always a way..." Leslie reassured him.

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"Full scholarship? Is it for me?" He stared in disbelief and murmured.

"Would you play for me?"

"Are you Coach Z?"

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"Jimmy, about earlier..."

"Welcome to the Bulldogs!"

"Don't worry. There's always a way..." Leslie reassured him.

Zhang Yu nodded to show he understood, then turned to Butler and spoke slowly:

"Jimmy, I can offer you a full scholarship. You know Stephen Curry, right? Before he joined the Bulldogs, a lot of schools had turned him down. But after he joined, he became the NCAA's leading scorer."

"Though I don't really follow the NCAA, Jimmy and Jordan are huge fans. They talk about you all the time... Thank you so much for recognizing Jimmy, but it's up to him. I can't make the decision for him."

"Would you play for me?"