Link

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Link (林克)
Alias(es)	Tom Lin; “New Truth” 1 466
Species/Race	Human; Chinese-American 1
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Fort Wayne Mad Ants; Memphis Grizzlies 17 47
Occupation/Role	Professional basketball player; Grizzlies team leader 837 1028
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Initial system state — aged Grant Hill abilities	8	Awakens with Grant Hill’s abilities and a rudimentary progress-bar system that improves through training.
Grant Hill 2009–10 abilities stacked	37	Completes the first documented progress bar; the system confirms that abilities are stacked, rather than replaced.
Grant Hill 2008–09 abilities stacked	167	Gains a further layer of Hill’s abilities after solitary training.
Grant Hill 2005–06 abilities reached	374	Has progressed close to Hill’s early-career athletic peak and prepares to accelerate his offseason development.
Grant Hill’s 2004 abilities surpassed	384	His combined abilities and personal development surpass Hill’s corresponding 2004 level; gains broad improvements in speed, lateral movement, finishing, and defense.
Grant Hill 2002–03 abilities	485	Feels markedly lighter and quicker, with guard-like acceleration, changes of direction, and driving ability.
Maximum level — Grant Hill 1994–95 abilities stacked	1314	Reaches the system’s stated maximum level after nearly ten years of progression.
Consistency Specialization	1315 1316	Final reward after breaking the level cap; minimizes external effects on his performance and lets him sustain exceptional efficiency despite fatigue.

Background / History

Link was originally a struggling Chinese college graduate. He travels nine years into the past, awakening in a U.S. hospital in 2010 inside the body of Chinese-American NBDL player Tom Lin, who is universally called “Link.” The original body’s memories merge with his own, giving him a new family and a precarious professional basketball career. 1

Tom Lin’s parents had supported his basketball dream despite their tight finances: his father worked as a gardener and his mother was a homemaker. Although they were not Link’s biological parents, their concern and encouragement become deeply meaningful to him. 1 14

At the outset, Link’s 2.03-meter body had been signed for its length and defensive attitude, but the former player lacked physicality and shooting. Link’s arrival changes that trajectory: he gains the Reverse Growth System and begins stacking the abilities of Grant Hill’s career in reverse chronological order through intensive training. 6 8 37

Appearance

Link is a tall, athletic Chinese-American player with jet-black hair, black eyes, and a physique that becomes increasingly sculpted through his training.

• Stands 2.03 meters tall and weighs 94 kilograms upon awakening in Tom Lin’s body. 1
• Has a 2.18-meter wingspan, a major foundation of his defensive potential. 6
• Possesses black hair and yellow skin; his surname appears as Lin on his jersey. 1 172
• Eliminates his excess body fat through Chris Brickley’s diet and conditioning program. 227
• Wears jersey number 0. 388 513

Personality

Link is relentlessly disciplined. Even after recognition, awards, and major performances, he consistently chooses extra workouts over nightlife or celebrations because he believes every successful game will make future opponents prepare harder for him. 82 167 227

He is cautious in professional matters. His disappointing experience with Carl Jones makes him wary of Jeff Austin’s initial approach, and he refuses to rush into an agency agreement despite Austin’s stature and NBA connections. 37 38

On the court, Link is fiercely competitive, self-assured, and an effective trash-talker. He enjoys dismantling opponents’ confidence, but his aggression is usually purposeful: provoking Bogut into a technical foul, trading verbal blows with Draymond Green, and using confrontations to sharpen his focus. 396 677 884

Away from basketball, he remains conscious of his ordinary beginnings and treats fans warmly rather than acting like an untouchable superstar. He is notably more awkward and restrained in romance than in competition. 305 468 730

Abilities & Skills

Reverse Growth System

Link’s system uses a visible progress bar that fills through training. Each completed stage adds a version of Grant Hill’s abilities rather than overwriting prior gains.

• Retains skills gained from earlier stages, including shooting abilities that younger versions of Hill did not possess. 53 746
• Also preserves skills Link develops independently, such as the defensive techniques he learns from Tony Allen. 53 54
• Progress becomes slower as he advances, making later upgrades increasingly difficult to obtain. 466 484
• Reaches its level cap at the 1994–95 Grant Hill stage before granting one final specialization. 1314 1315

All-Around Offense

Link develops into a perimeter centerpiece capable of scoring at all three levels, creating for teammates, and taking over late-game possessions.

• Combines reliable shooting, drives, passing, transition finishing, and clutch scoring. 320
• His stacked abilities allow him to retain veteran Hill’s shooting while gaining younger Hill’s explosiveness. 53 746
• Scores 48 points to set the All-Star Game single-game scoring record. 951
• Leads a 21-point comeback against the Warriors with 53 points, including a game-winner with 1.8 seconds remaining. 965
• Scores 51 points against LeBron James and the Cavaliers, including 21 points in the fourth quarter. 1017

Defense

Link’s length, improved lateral quickness, and lessons from Tony Allen turn him into an elite two-way player.

• Uses his 2.18-meter wingspan to contest, disrupt passing lanes, and protect the rim from the wing. 6
• Learns directly from Tony Allen by experiencing and studying Allen’s one-on-one defense. 53 54
• Adjusts against the Warriors without relying on scoring, contributing steals, blocks, rebounds, and transition creation. 396
• Produces a decisive chase-down snatch block on Kyrie Irving in a critical game situation. 1104
• Records a quadruple-double with 10 steals in a single game. 1114

Athleticism and Endurance

Link’s reverse progression transforms him from a player who initially felt cumbersome into an explosive, balanced athlete.

• Gains coast-to-coast finishing ability, faster off-ball movement, and improved agility despite adding strength. 233
• Develops immediate acceleration, smooth changes of direction, and exceptional hang time. 745 852
• Maintains elite output while other players fatigue; his Consistency Specialization further reduces performance fluctuations. 812 1316
• Records a first-half triple-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists—the first 20-point triple-double in a half. 890

Leadership

Link becomes the Grizzlies’ central leader and a respected influence on teammates and younger players.

• Teammates and former teammates credit him with helping players improve after joining him. 837
• Personally contacts drafted prospects Montrezl Harrell and Josh Richardson to make them feel respected and valued. 1028
• Builds high-level offseason training camps that attract established stars and comeback-minded players. 632 1217
• Leads by example during the final season, viewing the team’s sacrifices as a responsibility he must repay with victories. 1328

Equipment / Items

• Customized masks — Uses specially designed masks that become a viral trend; the league permits them through a loophole. 677
• Kobe 6 Link Special Edition — Dark-blue Nike shoes featuring his number, signature, and custom sole engraving. 388
• Link signature shoes — Nike announces his first signature shoe for release on an NBA season’s opening day. 636
• Championship ring — His ring uniquely bears the inscription “The Ring That Witnesses Happiness.” 1030

Relationships

• Rachel DeMita — Initially meets Link by defeating him in an arcade basketball contest. Their friendship grows through interviews and shared basketball ambitions, then becomes public as a romantic relationship; Link proposes to her in Venice, and they later marry and become parents. 17 234 468 825 1030 1089 1217
• Zach Randolph — Early Grizzlies mentor and “big brother” figure. Their partnership becomes central to the team, and they remain lifelong friends after Randolph’s retirement. 47 106 108 1223
• Tony Allen — Teammate, defensive mentor, and close friend. Allen teaches Link through one-on-one defense and later considers him one of the hardest players in the league to guard. 53 54 745 1223
• Jeff Austin — Super-agent who approaches Link after his rise from the Development League. Link initially distrusts him, but Austin later manages his endorsements and Nike negotiations. 37 38 384
• Jon Brockman — Begins as a practice rival whom Link humiliates, then becomes a trusted training partner and on-court defensive support. 7 37
• Kobe Bryant — Training partner and respected senior. Kobe invites Link to train in Los Angeles, later seeks Link’s help teaching Gianna Chinese, and regrets that they never competed in the same era. 227 946 951
• LeBron James — Major on-court rival. Their relationship remains cold but professional off the court, while both view defeating the other as central to their legacies. 1017 1023 1328
• Kevin Durant — Long-running rival whose hostility toward Link intensifies after Link defeats him at Rucker Park and repeatedly outplays him. 636 745
• Grant Hill — The source of Link’s system-stacked abilities. Link admires Hill deeply but regrets never having properly known him as a fellow NBA player. 37 542

Career Highlights

Accomplishment	Details
Rookie Game MVP	Wins Rookie Game MVP, bringing him major early attention. 130
Early major honors	Earns Most Improved Player, All-NBA Second Team, and All-Defensive Second Team in his second season. 371
All-Star starter	Secures a Western Conference starting spot after winning Western Conference Player of the Month. 466
Historic 2013–14 season	Wins the championship, NBA Finals MVP, regular-season MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year as Memphis claims its second consecutive title. 825
All-Star Game record	Scores 48 points and becomes the first unanimous All-Star Game MVP under the new voting system. 951
League-wide dominance	Wins eight NBA Awards in one ceremony, including MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. 1216
Two dynasties	By 2019, has won six championships, five MVPs, and six Finals MVPs; his two three-peats are separated by only one year. 1219

Story Role / Major Arcs

Development League to NBA Breakthrough

After awakening in Tom Lin’s body, Link enters the NBDL as a player in danger of losing his place. His new abilities allow him to stand out in practice and games, beginning with his victory over Jon Brockman and growing recognition from coaches and teammates. 1 7 37

Rise as Memphis’s Core

Link grows from an NBA newcomer into the Grizzlies’ offensive centerpiece, solving the team’s need for an efficient perimeter scorer while retaining elite defensive value. His partnership with Randolph and Allen helps establish Memphis as a contender. 106 108 320

Superstar and Dynasty Builder

Successive upgrades, obsessive offseason training, and high-pressure performances elevate Link into a league-defining superstar. He leads Memphis to consecutive championships, then eventually to two three-peat dynasties, becoming the player most frequently compared with Michael Jordan. 384 825 1219

Final Season and Greatest-of-All-Time Pursuit

Having reached the system’s maximum level, Link selects Consistency Specialization for his final season. His remaining ambition is to win again, protect the dynasty built with his teammates, and surpass Jordan as basketball’s greatest player. 1114 1315 1328

Notable Quotes

“The game is important, but so are you.” — Link to Rachel 1089

“You and the child.” — Link, describing the future he sees with Rachel 1114

Trivia

• Link’s English name is Tom Lin, but “Tom” is considered too ordinary, leading everyone to call him Link instead. 1
• He can speak Chinese and bonds with a Chinese driver during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. 730
• He requests “Rest in peace, Zeke” to be engraved on the soles of his Nike special-edition shoes. 384
• His name and custom mask design become so recognizable that fans and other players begin wearing similar masks. 677
• Link’s daughter is named Lin Ling. 1223