Gummy Bears? This is Tank Curry!

"Everyone, quiet down." Faced with the endlessly chattering Lakers management, the team's head coach, Zen Master Phil Jackson, finally spoke after a long silence.

The executives immediately fell silent.

As the head coach of the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the '90s and the OK Dynasty, Phil Jackson's standing within the team was self-evident.

"Zhou, this nineteen-year-old kid, has considerable potential."

"As for his fiercely competitive personality, if it can be properly controlled, he might become the next Dennis."

The Zen Master smiled as he spoke, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Zhou Ze's unruly personality really was somewhat similar to Dennis Rodman's.

However, the two were not the same type of player.

Dennis Rodman was an undersized rebounding monster, possessing elite instincts for the ball, anticipation, and top-tier leaping explosiveness.

But Zhou Ze's rebounding ability was merely barely above average even in the NCAA, where the physicality was lower, the pace slower, and the average height shorter. It could not be called outstanding, much less dominant.

"I know what you're thinking. Zhou and Dennis are indeed different, but if Zhou can develop according to my plan, he will become an important piece in our team's rebuild." Zen Master Phil Jackson overruled the opposition and protected Zhou Ze, who had elbowed Kobe.

As the team's general manager, Mitch Kupchak naturally stood with the Zen Master as well.

With that, the executives calling for Zhou Ze's punishment could only drop the matter.

In the Zen Master's eyes, Zhou Ze was strong, had a decent three-point shot, and possessed outstanding basketball IQ when calm. If properly reshaped, he might become a slightly weaker-rebounding Dennis Rodman—or perhaps a bodyguard version of Robert Horry.

He dared to fight tough battles!

And he dared to throw down in real fights!

This type of player was indispensable to every dynasty team.

Very soon, the Lakers officially stated on social media that Zhou Ze had only accidentally injured Kobe. Their player was merely a little clumsy and had not acted intentionally; Zhou Ze himself was also deeply remorseful over the incident.

Meanwhile.

Newport Coast, Los Angeles.

Zhou Ze, the man responsible for elbowing Kobe, was inside the detached villa he rented.

Standing 206 centimeters tall and weighing 113 kilograms, Zhou Ze wore a neat buzz cut. His facial contours were sharply defined, his features resolute. Bare-chested, his muscles seemed forged from steel—powerful and well-developed, with every line distinct.

A burly physique that looked bulky in clothes and imposing without them.

Yet this musclebound beast was relentlessly firing three-pointers.

Swish!

Swish!

Swish!

Clang!

His shooting form from beyond the arc was identical to Ray Allen's, textbook-perfect.

His shooting percentage was decent.

After a long while, Zhou Ze finally stopped, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

"Damn system!"

"Are you trying to turn me into a tank-build Curry?"

"I'm a freaking powerhouse with monstrous strength, and you want me to develop in the direction of a gummy bear!!!"

Zhou Ze complained to the [Basketball Peak System] that had activated yesterday—well, after he elbowed Kobe.

In his previous life, Zhou Ze had been a five-star hotel chef who loved playing basketball.

After being reborn, Zhou Ze was selected by the Lakers with a second-round pick. Then, thanks to his performances in the Summer League and preseason, the Lakers signed him to a three-year, $2.5 million rookie contract with a 2+1 structure.

However, during the Lakers' internal scrimmage yesterday, he had faced the idolized player from his past life—the Black Mamba, Kobe.

When Kobe tried to drive past him and posterize him with a dunk, Zhou Ze responded forcefully with an elbow.

Of course...

Before that possession, Kobe had elbowed Zhou Ze as well.

This immediately drew gasps from everyone present, while the [Basketball Peak System], an essential perk for any transmigrated reborn protagonist, activated.

Zhou Ze received a beginner's gift pack.

[Peak Blake Griffin Template] and the [Three-Point Agent (Bronze)] badge.

[Host]: Zhou Ze

[Basic Information]: Barefoot Height 206 cm; Wingspan 211 cm; Shoulder Width 66 cm; Weight 113 kg

[Player Attributes]:

Driving Layup 70 (97); Post Hook 80 (96); Standing Close Shot 68 (101); Post Fade 80 (97); Mid-Range Shot 70 (103); Three-Point Shot 94 (94); Free Throw 60 (94);

Pass Vision 70 (86); Pass Accuracy 70 (86); Ball Handling 60 (91);

Defensive Rebound 70 (112); Offensive Rebound 70 (101); Steal 50 (70); Perimeter Defense 30 (46); Interior Defense 60 (96); Lateral Quickness 96 (96);

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Vertical Leap 115 (115); Jump Speed 70 (115); Speed 110 (110); Explosiveness 60 (85); Strength 118 (118); Stamina 90 (110); Injury Resistance 70 (80)

[Badges]:

1) [Three-Point Agent (Bronze)] (310/5000).

[Life Skills]: None

[Peak Points]: 0/0. (Loading another player template requires a total of 5,000 Peak Points.)

Peak Blake Griffin ranked third on the MVP ladder, an all-around forward.

But his shortcomings were his inability to perform in tough games and his significant injury risks.

Also, peak Griffin had been overly molded by Moreyball. Although he had developed a jumper, his shooting could not put games away.

His three-point ability at his peak was exactly the same as Zhou Ze's now, while he was still a rookie.

Other than that, Zhou Ze's vertical leap, speed, and strength had all caught up to peak Griffin's.

In terms of physical gifts, what he lacked were "jump speed" and "explosive acceleration."

But when it came to skill and basketball fundamentals, the gap was truly enormous. Rookie Griffin's two-handed ball handling had been as smooth as Dove chocolate.

His attacks on the rim, finishing under the basket, footwork, and everything else were also on an entirely different level.

Zhou Ze had thought the Basketball Peak System would turn him into a beastly interior player who could soar through the skies like those in Lob City, but unexpectedly...

The [Three-Point Agent (Bronze)] badge in the beginner's gift pack left Zhou Ze dumbfounded.

[Three-Point Agent (Bronze)] Function Description:

1. When taking a pull-up jumper or turnaround shot from three-point range, Three-Point Shot +5.

2. To upgrade to the next stage, you must make a cumulative total of 5,000 three-pointers in games or training.

In order to grow stronger as quickly as possible and establish himself on the Los Angeles Lakers, Zhou Ze stopped practicing dunks and began brutal three-point training.

But making 5,000 three-pointers was no easy task.

At a rate of 800 made shots a day, it would take at least five days.

"Tomato!"

"Fucking system!"

"It claims it wants to turn me into a tank-build Curry, but actually..."

As Zhou Ze wrestled with the system, he did not spare a single thought for Kobe, whose mouth he had elbowed and who had needed eight stitches at the corner of his lips.

Nor did he feel the slightest bit remorseful about it.

However, the Los Angeles Lakers' general manager, coaching staff, and Zhou Ze's agent's PR team had already called countless times, hoping that Zhou Ze would take the initiative to find Kobe and resolve the matter face-to-face.

His player agent, Rich Paul, in particular, knew that Zhou Ze was a good cook and hoped Zhou Ze would personally visit Kobe and make him a lavish meal.

But Zhou Ze refused.

Even if Kobe was his basketball idol.

Idols were not meant to be worshipped...

Challenging him, surpassing him, taking him head-on, elbowing him...

That was the proper way to treat a basketball idol.

However...

Just then, a string of cold, mechanical electronic notifications rang out in Zhou Ze's mind.

[Ding. The Basketball Peak System has issued a daily task: Become ordinary friends with Kobe.]

"Heh heh!"

"What do you take me, Zhou, for?"

A trace of disdain appeared at the corner of Zhou Ze's mouth.

[Become ordinary friends with Kobe: Reward 200 Peak Points]

With 200 Peak Points, he could enter a random draw once.

The Basketball Peak System store had many miraculous items.

Such as attribute points, potions that increased height and wingspan, badges, as well as everyday life skills like Wing Chun, driving, rock climbing, diving, bondage, and more.

"Just this..." Zhou Ze's grin was harder to suppress than an AK's recoil.

An hour later.

Carrying several large and small bags, Zhou Ze appeared outside a mansion on Newport Coast.

That's right.

This was Kobe's home.

Built in 1997, the mansion covered 2,020 square meters. Kobe had bought it for $1.7 million in 2001, and of course, he had carried out extensive renovations afterward.

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