Some people, and some events, even if a thousand years pass, will still leave you with an unfulfilled feeling when you look back on them.
Charles Barkley, the great loser, the tragic hero of the NBA.
Although in some years after retirement, Barkley thought he had long forgotten that heart-wrenching pain, that revolting hatred...
But the truth is, no matter how many years pass, as long as someone brings up his career, Barkley will clutch his thigh tightly and fall into an endless regret only he can understand.
"Thinking of my achievements in basketball, I sleep well at night."
Shortly after retiring, Barkley once commented on his career this way.
Outwardly, Barkley always tried to portray himself as a hero who doesn't let success or failure define him after retirement.
But for competitive sports, if success or failure truly doesn't define a hero, how could Barkley have confidently said that line, "Take me out when I'm dead" back then?
The drive to win is always the key to motivating a professional athlete to push forward.
In the TNT TV Station studio, when the topic happened to be about "Principal Duke" during the "Christmas Special," Barkley firmly said, "This kid reminds me of myself."
Upon hearing this, his old partner Smith quickly asked, "How so?"
Following this, Barkley humorously talked about many similarities between Qin Yue and himself.
For example, Qin Yue's strong arms, just like his own.
For example, Qin Yue's broad back and thick waist that exude a sense of security, just like his own.
For example, Qin Yue's athletic ability to soar through the air with a heavy frame, just like his own.
"But his rear end doesn't look as big as yours used to," Smith retorted.
Barkley countered, "He's still developing; he has the potential in that department."
"But I heard he's been losing weight lately, trying to maintain a more reasonable range," Smith reminded.
Barkley dismissed it, saying, "When I was a professional player, I was losing weight every year."
Then, Barkley talked about Qin Yue's technical skills.
"As a power forward, he can break through with the ball and open up the game for his team under the basket with his physicality.
His shooting range extends beyond the three-point line. Those taller can't keep up with him, and those shorter are not as strong as him.
Although his skills still need polishing, I already see the shadow of my former self in him."
After pondering for a while, Smith said, "Charles, why not talk about his defense? Is it because he looks more talented than you were back in the day on the defensive end?"
At this, after a seamless series of shrugging, spreading hands, and shaking his head, Barkley said, "The student surpasses the master. I am not like some people who are jealous of the young talent.
I like this kid. If he truly surpasses me in the future, I would only congratulate him."
In fact, more than the aforementioned strengths, Barkley admires Qin Yue's indomitable spirit.
Barkley, who has lost weight more than once in his career, knows very well that without an indomitable spirit, Qin Yue couldn't possibly have lost dozens of kilos within a few months as his records show.
Because the pain endured during weight loss can only be truly understood by those who have experienced it.
People never admire another without reason.
In college basketball, there are many players more favored in the draft than Qin Yue.
But compared to other talents, it was Qin Yue's story that resonated with Barkley.
In the future, during his appearance on the "Conan Show," Barkley, who had relived the path of weight loss after lacking long-term body management, said, "The secret to losing weight is to spit out all the good food."
Yes, even after many years of retirement, Charles Barkley is still someone who doesn't give up.
And in the studio, perhaps feeling at some moment that Barkley wasn't joking with him, Smith suddenly said seriously, shedding his usual playfulness, "Charles, do you really think this kid can take over your mantle in the future?"
Barkley candidly said, "I don't know."
But after a pause, Barkley immediately added, "But I just feel he's like me, whether it's his playing style or his physique.
He's practically Charles Barkley II."
...
In December, as Qin Yue, who had gained a lot of ball-handling experience over nearly a month, was officially welcoming his Christmas holiday, he noted that his birthday was exactly 9 days different from LeBron James'... (Note①)
Previously planning to celebrate his 20th birthday and Christmas together, Qin Yue suddenly shivered on Christmas day.
Having developed a habit of not watching TV in his past life, Qin Yue had no idea that on the TNT TV station's "Christmas Special," he had already been recognized by the world as Barkley's successor.
Yes.
At that moment, the reason Qin Yue shivered wasn't because he found out about Barkley's evaluation of him through the TV.
But because...
"Legendary quest [That Unextinguished Dream] has been triggered. The host can freely choose whether to accept this quest.
[That Unextinguished Dream]: Recalling the past, Charles Barkley still finds it hard to let go of his career.
But fortunately, your appearance made him see another possibility in you.
By choosing to accept this quest, the host must identify as 'Charles Barkley's successor' in the upcoming public occasions.
Note that upon accepting this quest, the activation condition for the [Mountain Peak] system will automatically change to the host successfully controlling weight below 125 kilograms.
Meanwhile, when activating the [Mountain Peak] system, the host will still receive the original reward, meaning the 12 attribute boosts as originally intended, will remain unchanged due to changed activation conditions.
[That Unextinguished Dream] quest completion criteria: The host needs to increase attributes like strength, agility, jumping, dribbling, finishing under the basket, post moves, mid-range shooting, three-point shooting, vision, and passing to 85, 70, 75, 70, 80, 75, 75, 70, 65, and 65, respectively, during college.
Quest completion reward: [Flying Pig] badge.
[Flying Pig]: This badge grants the host knee endurance far beyond ordinary people and somewhat mitigates the related attribute loss due to increased weight.
Additionally, after completing this quest, the system will automatically unlock the [Charles Barkley's Gift] series of quests for the host.
Through these series of quests, the host can receive generous rewards and elevate the potential level corresponding to some badges to the Hall of Fame.
In the dormitory, just about to cut his birthday cake, Qin Yue quickly put down the knife and, after calming down, began to seriously contemplate this task that suddenly appeared in his mind.
Even though Qin Yue didn't know why his presence made Barkley see another possibility,
Upon closely reviewing the quest contents and completion conditions, Qin Yue had to admit...
He was indeed tempted.
Because, in Qin Yue's eyes, the [Flying Pig] badge awarded by this quest is extremely powerful.
It is well known that for NBA players, when deciding whether to gain weight, they often struggle with whether their knees can handle the extra weight and if the weight gain will affect their other attributes.
In the NBA, some benefit from gaining weight, but some suffer.
Overall, with weight gain, its downsides are inevitable no matter the benefits.
But now, if Qin Yue chooses to accept this task, it means he will have the capital to fly with a heavier weight in the future.
Moreover, the system never said he must gain weight to enjoy the badge's benefits.
Therefore, in a way, after acquiring this badge, having stronger knee endurance can help avoid many unnecessary injuries.
"It's just about acting as Barkley's successor; what's so hard about that?
Besides, why have such a slim figure to play basketball? I'm not trying to debut as a star or model."
After examining his handsome face that perfectly matched his current well-built body in the mirror, Qin Yue, who knew very well the benefits this badge would bring him, roughly made up his mind.
Additionally, in this newly released task, Qin Yue also noticed a line.
That is, the badges given by the [Mountain Peak] system have potential levels.
Simply put, some badges, if you don't have the corresponding potential, cannot continue to be upgraded after reaching a certain level.
To Qin Yue, this is fair and reasonable.
But on this day, even after racking his brains, Qin Yue couldn't figure out why he suddenly triggered this task.
Moreover, he didn't know the impact that Barkley's open support on the TNT TV station's "Christmas Special" would have on his path to fame and fortune...
...
Note①: In the book's setting, Qin Yue's birthday is December 21, exactly 9 days different from James, as mentioned in the character card below the introduction.
PS: The new book begs for collections, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets!