In the training gym, Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were at it again, looking like they were ready to throw down at any moment. Zack couldn't shake the feeling that they didn't come to see him; they came to argue. Even though their friendship hadn't hit the rocks yet (like it would when Barkley later criticized the Bobcats), their wildly different views on Zack's future ignited a fiery exchange.
"Come on, man, why do you always fantasize about every 6-foot-9 guy who can shoot being Larry Bird? Do you have some kind of delusion? Do you need a shrink? I know a great one."
"Shut your mouth, Charles, and stop showing off your pathetic basketball knowledge. You don't understand how winners think. You say Zack is a 6-foot-11 Charles Barkley? By your logic, why don't you say Kobe Bryant is a miniature version of you?"
"You're the one who should shut up! Remember what you said about Kwame Brown? I think you said he'd surpass Chris Webber, despite being young. And then what? I heard you almost made him cry in practice."
"First off, I need to correct you: I didn't almost make him cry; he did cry. Second, Kwame and Zack are completely different. Zack is a college player who made the smart decision to hone his skills after seeing his weaknesses. That alone makes him far more mature than Kwame."
"I agree with that point, but I still believe Zack is a taller version of Charles Barkley."
"Enough, Charles, stop flattering yourself. Zack's game, his offense, his defense, his skills... can't you see he's an athletically enhanced Larry Bird?"
"Sorry, I can't."
"Figures. If you could, you wouldn't be ringless."
...
Hidden Missions and Unlikely Mentors
Watching the two NBA legends bicker, Zack sighed, "So, according to them, should I just go to the NBA tomorrow and dominate Shaq O'Neal?" At one point, with Jordan and Barkley hyping themselves up to ridiculous levels, Zack even thought he should be talking to reporters, not practicing, to start building his GOAT narrative.
"Don't mind their bickering. Charles and Michael are always like this; they never stop arguing when they're together," Grover said, looking at Zack with a shrug.
"When will this endless argument end?" Zack asked.
"I think soon, because after Michael pulled out the ring card, you see... Charles is deflated," Grover replied, pointing to a suddenly downcast Barkley.
Barkley knew he couldn't beat Jordan on the court, and he certainly couldn't win an argument against that scumbag Jordan. It was a tough pill to swallow, but that was just Charles Barkley's life. But seeing Jordan about to steal his protégé, Barkley got angrier and angrier. He refused to back down an inch today.
"You're right about everything, Michael, but you seem to forget that kid has always been proud to be my successor," Barkley said to Jordan, having regained his composure.
This time, it was Jordan's turn to be speechless.
At that moment, the "Summit" system's notification popped up in Zack's mind.
"Hidden Quest: Zack's Double Life is now available for preview.
This quest has three completion paths: Charles Barkley's path, Michael Jordan's path, and the perfect path.
Note: Since the rewards for the first two paths differ, if the host chooses the Charles Barkley path, they will not receive the Michael Jordan path reward.
If the host wishes to receive both the Charles Barkley path and Michael Jordan path rewards, they must undertake this quest via the perfect path.
Additionally, if the host chooses the perfect path, the quest difficulty will automatically upgrade to Nightmare.
Please select the quest path according to your needs and abilities.
Finally, this quest will only activate once the host enters the NBA."
"Seriously? You two arguing just unlocked a hidden quest for me?" Zack thought, looking at the "Zack's Double Life" quest. Maybe Jordan and Barkley arguing wasn't such a bad thing after all, even if it messed with his training. It seemed like it could lead to some serious upgrades!
The Bet: 165 Club
After about two hours of arguing, Jordan and Barkley paused their "friendly" discussion about Zack's future. Not because they found a resolution, but because they were tired and needed a break.
"We'll never get anywhere arguing like this. How about this, Michael, let's make a bet!"
"Oh?"
A bet? Barkley had just hit Jordan's sensitive spot, and Jordan was immediately energized.
"What's the bet?"
"Since Larry Bird founded the NBA's '180 Club,' let's bet on whether this kid can join the '180 Club' in the NCAA next season." (Note ①)
"Hey, Charles, Zack plays in the ACC. That's not a fair bet."
"I agree, your proposal is reasonable. So, we can lower the requirements a bit."
"How low?"
"We don't need Zack's individual shooting percentages to reach specific values. If his three main shooting percentages (field goal, three-point, and free throw) add up to over 165, you win. How's that?"
Instead of the strict "180 Club" rules, just needing the sum of his shooting percentages to exceed 165? Jordan's lips curled into a smile, and he suddenly reverted to his old, chummy self with Barkley. Holding the ball with one hand, he asked, "Alright, what's the penalty for the loser?"
Barkley slapped Jordan's hand away from his chest and replied, "If I win, no matter what you think, you have to admit he's a taller version of me whenever you're around me." (Note ②)
Jordan shrugged. "If I win, you have to admit he's Larry Bird's ideal successor when you're around me?"
Barkley nodded.
And just as they struck their deal, another notification popped up:
"Hidden Quest: Bet on Zack has been triggered. Bet on Zack: From their playing days, Barkley and Jordan have been a pair of lovable rivals. Now, to end their argument about you, they've made you the stake. Quest Completion Condition One: Host's three main shooting percentages in the 04/05 regular season add up to over 165. Quest Completion Condition Two: Failed to meet Condition One. If the host meets Quest Completion Condition One, the reward for this quest is: One Legendary Random Technical Attribute Potential Pack. If the host meets Quest Completion Condition Two, the reward for this quest is: One Legendary Random Physical Attribute Potential Pack."
"Keep arguing, you two! Keep arguing until my potential is maxed out and my talent keeps upgrading! I'll just have to thank you both profusely when I become the GOAT of basketball!"
"Others boost their talent through genetic mutations, but I boost mine through old legends arguing?" Zack thought to himself, looking at the finally quiet Jordan and Barkley, a wry smile on his face.
The Savage Growth
The meeting with Jordan and Barkley in June didn't mess with Zack's training schedule. Barkley initially wanted Zack to participate in some high-level streetball games this summer to gain more practical experience. But Jordan brushed it off, "He doesn't need to go anywhere right now. I trust Tim and his team."
Barkley didn't argue. He had seen Grover's training plan for Zack, and it was clear Grover was training Zack like an NBA superstar. So, Barkley wasn't sure if streetball experience would even be better than Grover's meticulous plan. But he was sure of one thing: if Zack kept up his current training progress... "Then in the NCAA next season, he will completely wipe out all his opponents. No one will escape."
Time flew by, and it was July. After successfully completing the new phase of his special training, Zack's dribbling ability had increased to 70, making it the second attribute, after agility, to meet the ten requirements of the "Unextinguished Dream" quest. During the special training, Zack's dribbling potential also grew to 76.
Grover had taught Zack many ways to improve his ball feel, like the two-hand dribbling drill that Kobe once disliked. Despite this, Zack's evolution speed still exceeded Grover's expectations. Grover knew that dribbling, as a crucial fundamental skill in basketball, not only required consistent practice but also depended heavily on natural talent. However, during the special training, Zack's flexibility, coordination, and stability with the ball all broke through their respective plateaus, leading to continuous breakthroughs in his dribbling. This was certainly not something a certain Klay Thompson in the future would be able to learn.
Additionally, in the sweat-soaked month of July, Zack's strength ability became the third attribute to meet the "Unextinguished Dream" quest's ten requirements. His strength ability value in the "Summit" system's visualization data had already reached 85. On the court, when Zack broke through and charged, Grover's most direct feeling was that he was a human tank.
Then, Zack's jumping attribute also met the "Unextinguished Dream" quest's requirements after July. In the training gym, looking at Zack's 6-foot-11 height with shoes on and his 7-foot-6 wingspan, coupled with his current jumping ability... Jordan and Barkley might not be happy to hear it, but in Grover's eyes, the current Zack, in terms of dynamic and static talent, really looked like the child of Jordan and Barkley.
He could soar with a body of steel. He was unstoppable when he charged on the court. Even when shooting jump shots, he had incredibly powerful core and back strength.
As August arrived, with Zack's other attributes continuously meeting the "Unextinguished Dream" quest's requirements, Grover watched Zack, whose potential seemed endless, and who was constantly pushing himself forward with astonishing willpower. Through their daily interactions, Grover became convinced. Zack had to be Jordan and Barkley's secret love child!
Last year, a Zack who had just activated his dynamic talent was like a beast in the eyes of old Mr. Proscher. This year, Tim Grover believed that he had quietly unleashed a mythical beast into American college basketball.
"He relentlessly pushes himself forward with astonishing willpower; he understands his desires and can harness them. I want to use the following words to express my respect for Zack and to warn future generations: Passives try to fight their inner desires and ultimately fail. Controllers understand their inner desires but cannot control themselves. Rulers harness their inner desires and transform them into powerful energy." — Tim S. Grover, Savage Evolution, Chapter 2: That Summer's Savage Growth.
Notes:
① As widely known, the "180 Club" requires a player's overall field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and free throw percentage to add up to 180. However, there are strict requirements, such as each of the three percentages needing to be at least 50%, 40%, and 90% respectively to qualify for the 180 Club. This means even if your total is 180, but your three-point percentage is only 39%, you don't qualify. Additionally, the 180 Club also requires a minimum of 300 field goals, 82 three-pointers (since the 13/14 season), and 125 free throws made in a single season. (These rules are to prevent people from exploiting loopholes to achieve this accomplishment, for example, by playing only one game and coincidentally hitting the 180 Club, then not playing anymore, which would dilute the prestige of the 180 Club.)
② This isn't how I wanted to write it, but you can search for interview videos of Jordan and Barkley; Jordan was indeed holding the "ball" like that when he spoke.