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"...We all know that different social classes within a city have distinct modes of interaction, often determined by the average income level of that class..."
In a spacious classroom, an elderly professor with white hair lectured rhythmically at the podium. Most students were attentive, but one was sprawled across his desk in the back row, snoring loudly.
The professor scanned the room and noticed the sleeping student. He raised his voice:
"Stephen, please stand up and answer this question. On what basis are social classes divided? Stephen?"
A student sitting next to the sleeper nudged him awake. He jolted up, wiped some drool from the corner of his mouth, and mumbled sleepily:
"Huh? What's going on?"
The classroom erupted in laughter. The professor chuckled as well:
"Stephen, on what basis are social classes divided?"
"Well, um... I think it's like this..." The awakened student, Stephen Curry, stammered, unable to answer.
"It seems our star player is too exhausted from training," the professor joked, smiling.
The class laughed again, filling the room with a lighthearted atmosphere. Curry, scratching his head, smiled awkwardly.
After yesterday's team training, Curry practiced until eight in the evening and only left the gym when he was utterly exhausted. He hadn't fully recovered and fell asleep during class, getting caught by the professor.
Instead of reprimanding Curry further, the professor put his book down, pulled two tickets from his briefcase, waved them around, and said with a smile:
"The day after tomorrow is the first regular season game. I've already got my tickets. If you don't perform well, I'll give you a D!"
The students burst into laughter again, and Curry quickly responded:
"I'll do my best!"
"Stephen, you must beat those guys from Indiana University!" a boy shouted.
"If you score 20 points, I'll go on a date with you," a blonde girl winked at Curry playfully.
"We have to win..."
The entire class cheered for Curry.
"Alright, quiet down. Class is still in session. Stephen, make sure you win!" The professor smiled and gave Curry a thumbs-up.
Curry opened his mouth to speak but said nothing. He simply nodded, his eyes filled with determination.
"Okay, turn to page 97, 'Changes in Social Classes...'" The professor's rhythmic voice resumed.
After class, Curry packed his things and left the building with his roommate, Louis Young, heading east.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Louis asked.
Curry and Louis shared a dorm room and were good friends. Due to Curry's intense training schedule, he often had no time to finish his homework and relied on Louis for help.
"It's still early. I'm going to the gym to practice a bit more. You go ahead and eat," Curry replied, waving him off without turning around.
Louis shrugged and went on his way. He was used to it by now—Curry often spent an extra hour or two practicing in the gym. His work ethic was admirable, though it left him tired enough to fall asleep in class.
Despite being a basketball student, Curry took his studies seriously, thanks to his mother, Sonya's strict upbringing.
After parting with Louis, Curry headed to Hinkle Fieldhouse. He dug out a key from his bag and unlocked the gym door.
Curry had borrowed the key from the security guard. In the first few days after the semester started, he had to ask the guard to unlock the gym every time he wanted to do extra practice. After seeing his dedication, the guard eventually gave him a spare key.
Inside, Curry turned on a spotlight and changed into his practice clothes on the sidelines.
With their first game just two days away, Coach Liam had given the team a two-day break. Since there was no practice during the day, Curry planned to work out until 9 PM before heading back to the dorm.
Swish!
He picked up a basketball from the rack in the corner, dribbled it twice, and launched a long shot from his chest. The ball soared through the air and swished through the net.
"Yes!"
Curry shouted with excitement, ran to retrieve the ball, and began his repetitive practice routine.
The spotlight hanging high above cast a bright beam that not only illuminated Curry's solitary figure but also projected his shadow onto the ground and out through the gym's windows.
"This burger is pretty good. I might get another tomorrow..." Liam muttered to himself as he walked toward his office, munching on a burger. Suddenly, he noticed the faint light coming from Hinkle Fieldhouse.
A thought crossed his mind, and he changed direction, heading toward the gym. He quickly finished his burger in a few big bites.
Entering the gym and turning a couple of corners, Liam heard the rhythmic sound of a bouncing basketball. He stopped in the shadows of the players' tunnel, watching Curry shoot, retrieve the ball, shoot again, and repeat.
Liam observed for a moment, a smile forming on his lips. Without stepping forward to greet him, he turned and left quietly.
Curry, completely unaware of Liam 's presence, continued his three-point drills, shooting tirelessly. Whether the ball went in or not, his expression remained unchanged, and his movements were as precise as a machine.
Liam left the gym, opened a bottle of Coke, took a big gulp, exhaled contentedly, and, with a playful shooting gesture, tossed the empty bottle into a trash can before heading back to his office.
There, he unlocked his computer and saw a frozen video of an Indiana University game on the screen. He hit the spacebar and resumed his meticulous analysis.
Next door, Stevens was similarly immersed in his work, analyzing the Indiana State players' skills frame by frame and scribbling notes.
At that moment, the sky outside was a deep blue, and the streetlights were still off. The offices of Liam and Stevens were the only illuminated spots in the building, along with the faint glow from Hinkle Fieldhouse, casting the only light in this corner of Butler University's east campus.
...
Two days later, on Friday, November 10th, the Butler University Bulldogs were set to face the Indiana State Sycamores at home. The campus was electrified with anticipation, and even the mild autumn sun seemed to burn hotter. Almost every student, upon crossing paths, would shout, "Go, Bulldogs!" before eagerly discussing the upcoming game.
This kind of scene was not unusual in Indiana. Though football might be America's number one sport, basketball was undoubtedly the favorite in the Hoosier state.
Indiana is the headquarters of the NCAA and the hometown of legendary superstar Larry Bird. Although the Pacers have never won an NBA championship, Indiana boasts the most passionate basketball culture in the country.
That morning, Liam woke up early, as usual, and made his way to his office.
Along the way, everyone greeted him enthusiastically, cheering for the team.
Regardless of their previous doubts about the young head coach, in this moment, they were all unified as fervent fans, standing behind the team.
Liam smiled back at each one, and by the time he reached his office, his facial muscles were stiff from smiling so much.
Stevens arrived from next door, knocked on the half-open door, and walked in:
"So, Liam, have you felt the enthusiasm from the faculty and students?"
"I think I finally understand what Coach Lickliter felt," Liam said with a wry smile. "Everyone is placing their hopes on you. It makes your blood boil, but it's also a lot of pressure."
"Are you nervous?" Stevens asked.
"Of course not!" Liam replied, his tone resolute.
But under Stevens' teasing gaze, he relented and sighed:
"How could I not be nervous? I can't imagine what they'd do to me if I mess up tonight... They weren't exactly thrilled when I became head coach."
Over the past few months, news of Liam taking over as head coach of the Bulldogs had made the sports pages of nearly every local newspaper in Indiana. He was now a recognizable figure in the state.
When teachers and students at Butler University found out that the new head coach was a 23-year-old, they protested loudly to the school's basketball department.
They didn't care how well Liam had performed as an assistant coach. All they knew was that someone so young—and foreign—couldn't possibly be a good head coach.
But McCash Rewsbury kept his promise, suppressing all the opposition and creating a supportive environment for Liam .
Seeing that Liam 's position was rock-solid, his critics could only accept reality. However, Liam knew very well that if the team lost, he'd be the first to be blamed.
"We're well-prepared; there shouldn't be any issues. And we have Stephen. He hasn't shown his full strength in the preseason. He'll definitely surprise Indiana State," Stevens reassured him.
Liam nodded slowly. The die was cast; he had to face the first challenge of his coaching career head-on.
The day passed quickly. The sun dipped low, the sky faded from a light blue to azure, then to dark blue, and eventually, night fell.
But Butler University's campus was ablaze with light. After classes, countless students and faculty donned light blue Bulldogs jerseys. Some even painted their faces, transforming from polite academics to frenzied fans.
They swarmed toward Hinkle Fieldhouse, chanting and cheering at a deafening volume, turning the usually quiet campus into a loud, vibrant arena.
However, in this frenzied atmosphere, a few discordant voices emerged. A group of juniors gathered outside Hinkle Fieldhouse, discussing the Bulldogs.
A tall, strong, white student expressed his concern:
"Do you think our young head coach can really lead the team to victory?
End of this chapter
Note: Hi if you really like NBA novels, you can support me either in this website with stones, reviews etc, or in patreon since the niche of sports and specially NBA is very small is Webnovel since people prefer to read Naruto, Pokemon, comics etc.
On patreon they have a members-only poll about the possible new novel.
Hi guys this is Chuga. If you read this far and liked it you can leave comments, stones and reviews which is very important for a new translator / author.
Love you.
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"To be honest, I doubt his ability. He's only a few years older than us, and he's Colombian. Colombia is like a desert for basketball. Apart from a few exceptions, I don't believe anyone there truly understands the game," said another Black student with dreadlocks.
"Man, I don't think so. Since the school chose him to be the head coach, there must be a reason. It's said that he took over the head coaching position because Coach Lickliter strongly recommended him. Coach Lickliter led the team into March Madness four years ago," a thin white boy expressed a different opinion.
"Hmph, if the team loses to those guys from Indiana University today, I'm going to beat up that Colombian guy!" the Black boy waved his fist and shouted loudly.
"Okay, it's our turn; let's go in first..." the white boy reminded.
Such voices were not uncommon, but they were drowned out by the fans' frenzied cheers. In the NCAA, no one publicly questions the head coach before the game, but if the Bulldogs lose, it will be a different situation.
Liam was naturally unaware of the fans' doubts about him. At this moment, he was giving a speech in the locker room, making a final call to the team:
"...Guys, the preseason games don't count. This is our first game of the entire season. Play according to the arranged tactics and bring out your best. We will definitely win! Those Indiana guys are just paper tigers! Let me repeat it again: Stephen will control the ball, and everyone else will do their job. Drew and Pete will set screens; Mike and AJ, always look for offensive opportunities through off-ball movements. Julian, be ready; you will be our surprise weapon. Okay, come on, one, two, three, Bulldogs, charge!" Liam shouted loudly, speaking at an incredibly fast pace.
After he finished speaking, he felt his neck tightening a little, so he loosened his tie, and sweat was faintly visible on his forehead.
The players sat on the benches, looking at each other. Mike Green whispered to Julian Beko beside him:
"Is the coach a little nervous?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was very obvious in the quiet locker room and was heard by Liam.
"Okay, it seems you all have noticed that I am indeed a little nervous," Liam let out a long sigh.
He paused and continued:
"Since I took over as head coach, I have received a lot of criticism. I believe you have all heard more or less that 'Liam is too young,' 'Liam doesn't know anything,' 'Liam is Colombian'... I just want to say, screw them!"
Liam suddenly waved his hand fiercely, and the expression on his face became very intense:
"Those guys don't know how much I've worked to become a head coach! I've read countless tactical books and watched hundreds or even thousands of game videos! The notes I've taken alone could pile up into a mountain! But these people just look at my skin color and age and then say condescendingly that I don't understand basketball! I've had enough; I want to prove to them that I deserve this position!"
It was the first time everyone had seen Liam lose his composure like this. They were all stunned, looking at their head coach in surprise.
"It's not just me. Stephen, do you remember what happened before this summer? How many schools rejected you?" Liam suddenly looked at Curry.
Curry said word by word:
"Duke, UNC, VT… they all thought I couldn't play in the NCAA!"
"What about you guys? Do you remember how those guys from Indiana State mocked you after they won last year?" Liam looked at the other players.
"I'll never forget the contemptuous look that bastard Tonell gave me!" Drew said, gritting his teeth.
Tonell is Indiana State's starting center and Drew's opponent.
"They almost pointed at my nose and called me a loser!" Even the usually calm AJ Graves became indignant.
"Did you see that? We are all losers!" Liam clenched his right fist and swung it vigorously. "There are countless people who want to laugh at us. They are just waiting for us to fail so they can come over and step on us hard! Only by winning can we avoid all this. Only by winning can we hold our heads high and not disappoint the fans who support us!"
He suddenly stopped, glanced at everyone's eyes, and asked, word by word:
"Are you willing to be losers forever?"
"No!" Everyone roared in unison, the sound even spreading out of the locker room and echoing faintly in the players' tunnel.
"Since we are unwilling to fail, then let's win. Starting from this game, keep winning. As long as we win, we can get everything! Glory, spotlight, flowers, applause... Let's win the game and win everything!" Liam took off his suit jacket, threw it heavily to the ground, and shouted loudly.
His face was fierce, and his eyes were red, like an angry bull.
The emotions that he had been suppressing finally burst out.
He didn't know which god sent him back to 2006, but he never wanted to see those reports questioning him in the newspapers again.
He no longer wanted to be talked about behind his back while walking on the street.
He no longer wanted to see people looking at him strangely after learning that he was the head coach of the Bulldogs.
He wants to win; he wants to prove that he is an excellent head coach!
Liam's words reminded the players of being looked down upon, and anger rose in their hearts. After hearing this, they responded loudly:
"We want to win!"
Although the voices were not uniform, the momentum was amazing.
Liam walked to the door of the locker room, kicked it open with a bang, and waved his hand:
"Go, kill them!"
The players responded loudly and walked out the door aggressively.
Liam stood at the door and hugged every player when they passed by.
The last one to leave was Curry. Liam hugged him and whispered in his ear:
"Stephen, go ahead, this is the beginning of our legendary journey!"
Curry nodded heavily and said in a firm voice:
"Coach, we will definitely win!"
After he left, only the coaching staff remained in the locker room. Liam let out a long sigh, walked to his seat, picked up the suit jacket on the ground, and carefully brushed off the dust.
After pretending to be cool, you still have to wear a suit.
Fortunately, the players did not see their head coach blowing air and shaking his clothes; otherwise, the momentum that had just been built up would have been immediately lost by half.
Stevens walked up to Liam and looked him up and down several times, as if he had just met him.
Liam put on the cleaned suit and looked at Stevens strangely:
"What's wrong, Brad? Is there anything I didn't clean?"
"No, I'm just a little surprised," Stevens shook his head and said, "I've never seen you so excited. I thought you never took these things to heart."
"Ha, how is that possible? I was just enduring it before," Liam shook his head and laughed, "Because I know that no matter what I say, I can't dispel other people's doubts about me. Only victory can be the most powerful response."
"What if we lose today?" Stevens asked.
"Then I'll just treat it as a last-ditch effort before I die," Liam straightened his clothes and strode out the door. "Besides, I have a season to prove myself. Even if I lose this game, the worst that can happen is that I'll be scolded for a few more days. I don't believe that my team can lose a whole season!"
Stevens looked at Liam leaving and suddenly felt that his back looked so wanton and unruly.
He suddenly smiled and followed.
Stevens was now certain that Coach Lickliter's decision was correct and that Liam is an extremely outstanding head coach.
He was able to fully mobilize the emotions of the players with just a few words, which made Stevens admire him very much.
At this time, the Hinkle Fieldhouse was filled with noise. Fans waved their hands rhythmically and cheered for the team under the guidance of the live DJ.
The Bulldogs players came out of the tunnel one by one, causing cheers.
Liam then walked out, and the cheers in the stadium suddenly became much quieter.
He didn't care. He smiled and waved to both sides, then walked to the technical desk.
Indiana University head coach Kevin McKenna also came over and shook hands with Liam.
McKenna looked at Liam curiously and said with emotion,
"I was very surprised to hear that Coach Lickliter was injured. Is he feeling better now?"
"He has been discharged from the hospital," Liam said.
"Don't feel pressured; just take it as an opportunity to gain experience. I hope both sides can present a wonderful game to the fans," McKenna said in a connoisseur's tone, as if he were instructing Liam as a senior.
"I'm just worried that you'll lose too quickly. You'd better give it your all," Liam was not to be outdone.
McKenna chuckled and returned to his coaching seat.
He picked up the tactical board and said to his players:
"Did you see that? The head coach on the other side is the same age as you guys. He's a young kid. I even doubt if he can tell the difference between zone defense and man-to-man defense."
The Indiana players burst into laughter and looked over to the Bulldogs' coaching booth.
There is only one Colombian head coach in the NCAA, and he is so young. They looked at Liam as if he were a monkey in a zoo.
"Butler changed their starting point guard. I don't know what that Colombian guy was thinking. He replaced the experienced Ben Slayton with a freshly graduated high school student as the starting point guard. And that Stephen Curry used to play as a shooting guard!" McKenna shook his head and looked at Moore, the team's top scorer. "Gabriel, Curry is very weak. He is in your hands. Look for more opportunities to single him out. Do you understand?"
As a bitter rival, McKenna also has a deep understanding of the Bulldogs.
"Understood, coach!" Moore responded decisively and confidently.
He couldn't wait to tear that baby face to pieces!
Finally, both sides were ready and stood on the court. Drew and Tonell stood at the center line, staring at each other fiercely.
The Bulldogs' starting lineup is point guard Stephen Curry, shooting guard A.J. Graves, small forward Mike Green, power forward Pete Campbell, and center Drew Streicher.
Indiana State's starting lineup was point guard Gabriel Moore, shooting guard Cole Holmstrom, small forward Adam Arnold, power forward Trent Watts, and center Jay Tonell.
"Beep——"
The referee blew the whistle, and the game officially began!
End of this chapter
Note: Hi if you really like NBA novels, you can support me either in this pg with stones, reviews etc, or in patreon since the niche of sports and specially NBA is very small is Webnovel since people prefer to read Naruto, Pokemon, comics etc.
On patreon they have a members-only poll about the possible new novel.
Hi guys this is Chuga. If you read this far and liked it you can leave comments, stones and reviews which is very important for a new translator / author.
Love you.
patreon.com/Chuga320
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