Of course, I have to participate! Participating adds 15 more days to my life, and getting a perfect score adds another month! Whether or not it's perfect doesn't matter, but extending my life by half a month is very important.
This golden opportunity—Zhang Hao's initial thought was that since he could build his own team, he should save some money, gather a group of people, and participate in various street tournaments. Like going to Pierce, finding a junior, and having him act as the "coach" of this small team. This way, they wouldn't require him to pay wages, and any prize money they won could be split among them, since it wouldn't be too high anyway. The main thing was being able to practice basketball.
In theory, Zhang Hao thought it was feasible, and he believed that this might be one of the best ways to keep himself alive under normal circumstances.
However, with this suddenly triggered task, Zhang Hao wasn't sure if signing himself with this glitch made him a "special contract player" different from the usual ones... Since it's a special contract, it must be different.
"Special Contract Player: Zhang Hao"—Seeing this line listed separately in the subtitles, it was indeed different.
Being his own contracted player, whenever he encountered something basketball-career-related, a golden task would be triggered. As his own "coach," he needed to help himself complete the tasks to receive rewards... Zhang Hao felt a bit overwhelmed, but this was a good thing! So he decisively chose to execute this task!
There were two options, one was to go the streetball route. If he couldn't make it to the college basketball team, he could just find a college with suitable tuition fees and play in lower-level leagues in his spare time. If he managed to get recognition from a team through dunk contests, although unlikely, he could at least look forward to it a bit. At the very least, he should make a name for himself with good dunks, and even if he skips college to play streetball, more people would know him.
Thinking this way, Zhang Hao felt that surviving wasn't that difficult.
Perhaps what he pursued—to survive, with future memories—had already been achieved. At least he could live for a year, and an active life at that, which for his future self was a dream come true. At that time, lying on the hospital bed, he just wanted to get up and live like a normal person for just one day, even if just for a day, he would be willing to die. Recalling the feeling of lying in bed, having even lost the sense of pain, he felt like he had lived through an endlessly long nightmare.
But now, Zhang Hao's dreams in this era hadn't even had the time to set sail, and fulfilling his dream of becoming a world-class basketball player and leading the national team to glory... was immensely challenging!
However, Zhang Hao really wanted to try! He didn't have the chance before, but now he wants to continue his previous efforts, and even work harder to become an outstanding basketball player!
If it doesn't work out, then he'll play streetball or in lower-level leagues, enduring until he can become a coach and keep living—although he says living for even just one normal day would be satisfying, why not work hard to live longer?
Moreover, playing in lower-level leagues isn't something to be ashamed of; it's about using your skills and hard work to earn a living.
With memories of the future, Zhang Hao's perspective and viewpoint have dramatically changed from before, but ultimately, he's still an 18-year-old teenager.
A young heart is driven to forge ahead, so even though the past three years in the United States were spent in an unsatisfying and difficult-to-adapt-to environment, with communication hurdles, Zhang Hao was always striving.
And the memories from the future have brought... even more courage and ambition!
Having finally gained a second chance to continue living and a chance to start over, what's there to fear? Of course, I'm going to live this life freely!
Participate! Definitely participate.
For now, Zhang Hao noted this event down, and after Pierce went to guide the juniors, he found an empty half-court to practice Mid-range shots. He wanted to test the effect of the "Growth Card."
Zhang Hao always felt that his Mid-range shooting was impressive, but when translated to the NBA stage, it turned out to be just a good level of 75! And it was only mid-level good. Keep in mind, back in his senior year, he wasn't scoring through cuts and finishes most of the time; he was scoring through Mid-range shots. Because Pierce often played close-range face-up attacks, Zhang Hao's ability to space the floor was crucial, and the Mid-range shot was his strongest offensive weapon.
"This is probably the qualitative difference between high school games and the NBA! I can't even imagine how strong Garnett, James, and Howard were in high school. Geniuses like Kobe and Little O'Neal took at least a year to adapt when they first entered the NBA..."
Although he has a 60 grade as an NBA bench player, Zhang Hao had no complacency in his mind. According to his judgment, even if he really got a chance to enter the NBA right now, he wouldn't likely shine. Compared to other bench players, he had no strengths! His overall skill wasn't great, and he lacked distinct characteristics.
But then, a timely rain fell just in time! He found the glitch in the golden opportunity. If he could get 90 in Mid-range shooting, that shouldn't be bad, right?
Zhang Hao analyzed that players with a 90-94 rating are of a top level; therefore, reaching 90 in Mid-range shooting would also make it top level! It certainly wouldn't be bad!
Whether smoothly entering the NCAA or making a name in lower-level professional leagues, having top-notch Mid-range shooting wouldn't hurt.
As Zhang Hao's Mid-range training began, a line of subtitles floated in front of his eyes...
"Growth Card: Mid-range Jump Shot Expert, activated Mid-range training muscle memory bonus, activated Mid-range training comprehension ability..."