A Rookie Challenge Without Suspense

"Quickly, hold that pose!"

Click, click...

After the training session concluded, NBA staff came over to take photos of the rookies in preparation for tomorrow's Rookie Challenge.

Goodwin was constantly being repositioned by the photographer.

Help! Why isn't this over yet?

A full half-hour—do you have any idea how I spent this half-hour?

Goodwin would honestly rather train for two hours than spend half an hour taking photos; it was just too difficult.

When it finally ended, a smile couldn't help but bloom on Goodwin's face. It was finally over!

"Thank you!" Goodwin politely thanked the staff member.

"You're welcome, Goodwin. If you hadn't told me you were a basketball player, I would have thought you were a model or even a Hollywood actor," the photographer praised.

In the photographer's eyes, with Goodwin's incredibly high-tier looks, he could put on any suit and not lose out to popular models or Hollywood actors.

Goodwin quickly waved his hand and said, "Everyone has their own specialty. I'm just an amateur in this regard; I can't compare to them."

Never compare your amateur self to someone else's profession!

After the shoot, Goodwin felt his stomach rumble and grabbed a quick bite at a nearby restaurant. Although LeBron James had invited all the rookies to a dinner, Goodwin declined.

"Sorry, James, I still have training to finish today."

Goodwin had originally wanted to go, but looking at his training schedule, he decided against it.

"Oh, that's a shame." LeBron James didn't force him; in the eyes of basketball players, training and games were more important than anything else.

When Carmelo Anthony heard that Goodwin wasn't going because of training, he almost rushed off to train himself—how could he lose to Goodwin?

He was pulled away by LeBron James and Wade the next second.

"Anthony, how could you be absent from this gathering?"

"Anthony, we can't do this without you."

Fine!

The loyal Carmelo Anthony stayed behind.

After eating his fill, Goodwin returned to the training facility. After resting for half an hour, he began his workout.

He picked up the ball, jumped, hung in the air, and released!

The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air. "Swish."

Daily training plan updated: Three-pointers (703/1000)

The number in front represents the amount completed today, and the number behind represents the total required for the day.

The revolution is not yet successful; one must still persist!

Keep going, keep going!

Time passed slowly, and the sound of the ball hitting the floor in the training facility never stopped. When it reached 12:32 AM, the facility finally fell silent. Shortly after, the lights dimmed and were turned off, plunging the room into pitch-black darkness.

A hazy figure slowly walked out of the training facility entrance, moving very slowly, as if completely drained. Looking closely, his clothes were as soaked as if they had been dipped in water.

He slowly raised his head to look at the dark night sky, and the corners of Goodwin's mouth curled up slightly. "Another beautiful day!"

Goodwin dragged his exhausted body back to the hotel to shower and sleep.

He slept without dreams.

The next day, Goodwin woke up full of energy. Yesterday's fatigue had been swept away—in a word: refreshing!

Goodwin didn't know if other athletes were the same, but as long as he got a night's sleep, all his fatigue would vanish.

He brushed his teeth, washed his face, got dressed, and headed out for morning training.

Upon arriving at the gym, Goodwin was stunned; he wasn't the first one there.

However, the figure's back looked somewhat familiar.

Goodwin walked closer and saw that it was actually Carmelo Anthony.

"Morning, Anthony."

Hearing the familiar voice, Carmelo Anthony turned his head and laughed, "Hahaha, Goodwin, I trained earlier than you today."

Goodwin: "..." Is this really becoming a competition?

Uh... fine! I guess you win.

Goodwin gave Carmelo Anthony a thumbs up and said, "Impressive." I just wonder how many days you can keep this up.

Goodwin's training was nothing short of demonic to other players.

Aside from sleeping, eating, and using the bathroom, Goodwin spent all his remaining time training. He would train for long stretches at a time; other players might not be able to handle it. They might manage for a day or two, but long-term? It was a fantasy.

Carmelo Anthony's smile stopped abruptly. "Goodwin, that remark makes me a bit unhappy. It sounds like something an elder would say to me." Carmelo Anthony felt a strange sense of being suppressed by a superior.

Goodwin looked helpless. Who's your elder? Get lost.

"I can't be bothered to talk to you, I'm going to train."

Goodwin walked straight onto the treadmill and began to run.

Carmelo Anthony also came over to a treadmill and started running as well.

The two of them seemed to be competing against each other, neither one willing to stop before the other.

An hour later, Goodwin finally slowed to a stop.

His running task was finished.

Watching Goodwin stop, Carmelo Anthony wore a bright smile on his face and said, "I won again, Goodwin."

"Anthony, who's competing with you? I was just finishing my daily running routine," Goodwin replied, speechless. While it looked like they were locked in a contest, Goodwin was actually just doing his standard training.

Carmelo Anthony widened his eyes, his mouth hanging open in a daze.

A daily running routine? For an hour?

This, this, this...

A few seconds later, Carmelo Anthony asked, "Then how long do you usually train for?"

"Until I finish my daily training plan," Goodwin replied calmly.

"And what is your daily training plan?" Carmelo Anthony continued to ask.

"I'm not telling you!"

"Tell me, come on."

Just like that, Goodwin found himself pestered by Carmelo Anthony. Even when they reached the Rookie Challenge, Carmelo Anthony wouldn't stop pestering him with questions.

Help me!

In the end, a helpless Goodwin told him his daily training plan.

Carmelo Anthony even took out a pen and paper to write it down.

Goodwin: "..."

"Is this really necessary?"

"Of course, I can't lose to you," Carmelo Anthony replied without hesitation.

"Fine, but if you're going to follow my daily routine, you should check with your training staff first. After all, every basketball player's physical condition is different." Carmelo Anthony nodded.

While other rookies were desperately trying to show off during the Rookie Challenge, these two were on the bench chattering away about training, and even when they got on the court, they just coasted.

Carmelo Anthony wanted to keep asking Goodwin questions, and Goodwin had no interest in the All-Star Rookie Challenge anyway; in his eyes, the Rookie Challenge wasn't even as good as a training session.

(Rookie Challenge: Are you being polite?)

A worm on the court, a dragon off the court.

Even so, neither of them lacked screen time, especially Goodwin. Every time he was shown on the big screen, the arena would erupt in cheers.

In the end, there was no suspense in the Rookie Challenge. The sophomores crushed the freshmen, and behind an outstanding performance from Stoudemire, the sophomores won in a 142-118 blowout.

Stoudemire shot 17-of-23 from the field and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line, finishing with a game-high 36 points and 11 rebounds. He set a new All-Star Rookie Challenge scoring record and was named the game's MVP afterward.

For the freshmen, LeBron James lived up to expectations, putting up 33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.

Goodwin had a mediocre performance, playing 11 minutes and shooting 3-of-5 from the field, including 2-of-4 from three-point range, for 8 points and 2 rebounds.

After finishing his post-game interviews, Goodwin headed toward the player tunnel, wanting to go back and continue his training.

But just then, a voice called out: "Goodwin!"