Gift Bag
Lian Dao reviewed his attributes, finding them as anticipated. Even without the system, his physique had the potential to make it into the NBA with focused training.
His wingspan and ball handling skills ranked at the NBA Hall of Fame level, while his vision skills approached superstar status. His three-point shooting potential was on par with emerging NBA stars. Skills such as lateral movement, physical fitness, ball control, passing, mid-range shooting, and defense were at the level of an NBA substitute player. However, other aspects fell short of NBA bench player standards, though they met high minor league expectations.
Overall, with targeted training, he could reach the level of an NBA substitute player and potentially start for weaker teams. Yet, his injury evaluation showed he didn't meet NBA standards and fell short even for secondary leagues, currently aligning more with amateur league levels.
Before his rebirth, Lian Dao had to leave the NCAA basketball league due to injuries. Now, looking at the data provided by the system, it became clear that injuries remained his greatest hurdle in this new life.
This realization left Lian Dao deeply frustrated, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his ambitions. However, his thoughts turned to the "golden finger" he had just acquired, believing the system held the key to changing his circumstances.
"System, is there a way to improve my injury resilience?" Lian Dao eagerly pressed the system for answers, hoping for a solution.
[Talent templates can be obtained through task rewards and other methods, but your current level is not sufficient to access them], the system replied.
Hearing that there was a potential path to change his injury susceptibility, Lian Dao felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Open the gift bag," Lian Dao exclaimed without hesitation, recalling the two unopened gift bags he still possessed. With a quick request to the system, he awaited eagerly.
[The novice gift package has been opened. Congratulations to the host for obtaining Stephen Curry's S+ level three-point skills and upper limit, an S-level strength increase card, 20 defensive strength skill points, a 4x bonus card for strength training effects (24 hours), and a 2x bonus card for all skills training effects (one month). The compensation gift package has been opened. Congratulations to the host for obtaining Andre Miller's S-level anti-injury skill: Long Standby. All gift packages have been opened].
A series of notifications rang out, and Lian Dao couldn't contain his excitement as he reviewed the skills he had just acquired. His recent concern about his injury vulnerability was swiftly addressed by the system's reward of Andre Miller's remarkable anti-injury abilities. While not as widely recognized as some NBA stars, Andre Miller's enduring career, including a record of 632 consecutive games played, earned him the nickname "NBA Miracle." At 34 years old, he even scored 51 points on 22 of 31 shots in a single game, drawing comparisons to a popular singer in his home country. Andre's anti-injury skills were exactly what Lian Dao needed at this crucial stage of his journey.
Stephen Curry's prowess with the three-pointer reshaped NBA history, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. By the time of Lian Dao's rebirth, Curry's career shooting percentage had soared to 43.2%, with a record-breaking 2974 made three-pointers, surpassing the legendary Ray Allen.
Strength remained Lian Dao's primary weakness, impacting his ability to compete physically and affecting his defensive capabilities, shot-blocking, and more, despite obtaining an upper limit S-level strength card.
After using the upper limit card, Lian Dao noticed improvements across various skills, with defense seeing the most significant enhancement. The heightened strength threshold enabled him to leverage his height and wingspan more effectively, directly boosting his defensive capabilities.
Eager to capitalize on these gains, Lian Dao promptly allocated the 20 defensive skill points he had acquired.
Thinking about this, Lian Dao couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The strategic use of the strength training effect 4 times bonus card, albeit limited to 24 hours and pauseable, could effectively compensate for his current strength deficiencies. Moreover, combining it with the full skill training 2 times bonus card, which spanned a month and couldn't be paused but allowed for overlapping effects, would amplify his strength training efforts to six times the usual rate.
The prospect of such accelerated growth left Lian Dao feeling both determined and optimistic about his journey ahead. So, he eagerly sent a request to the system without delay, "Absorb all available skills".
"Status".
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Host: Lian Dao "Sickle"
Position: Small Forward
Currently included jerseys: 0
Birthday: 1990.12.15
Height: 203cm (205cm)
Wingspan: 223cm
Weight: 82kg
Bounce: 46 (62)
Strength: 41 (63 → 94)
Sprint speed: 42 (54)
Lateral speed: 65 (72)
Dexterity: 53 (73)
Stamina: 52 (64)
Field of view: 86 (93)
Basketball IQ: 98
Skill Evaluation:
Ball handling: 73 (78)
Passing: 64 (79)
Breakthroughs: 47 (62)
Finishing: 51 (69→74)
Mid-range shooting: 50 (73)
Three-point shooting: 74→90 (81→97)
Rebounding: 52 (64 → 73)
Defense: 54→74 (72→89)
Injury Resistance: 40→93
PS: The upper limit of talent can be increased by completing tasks within the NBA Talent Inheritance System, while physical attributes can reach the current talent rating through rigorous training—represented by the bracket score.
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I noticed that the upper limits of strength and anti-injury talents have been elevated to the level of NBA superstars, while the upper limits for scoring near the basket and rebounding have reached NBA substitute level. Additionally, defensive talent has risen to the level of NBA starting stars.
"Huh?" Lian Dao was puzzled as he examined the three-point talent. "Is there an issue with the system? Shouldn't the three-point skill reach S+ in both strength and talent? Why is the strength only at S level?"
[The system does not make errors. Currently, it only unlocks talent skills and templates of NBA players before 2012. Stephen Curry's three-point strength in 2012 was rated at 90, with an upper limit of three-point talent at 97. Please refrain from questioning the system].
As the authoritative voice of the system concluded, Lian Dao grasped the situation. Curry's peak in three-point shooting occurred during the 2015-16 season when he attempted 886 shots and made an incredible 402, boasting a remarkable 45.4% accuracy. However, it was also the season the Warriors narrowly lost the Finals to the Cavaliers, falling short of defending their title.
In contrast, during the 2011-12 season, Curry attempted 272 three-pointers and made 55 of them, with a shooting percentage of 45.5%. This period marked the highest shooting efficiency of his career before Lian Dao's rebirth. Yet, it was evident that Curry had not yet reached his full potential at that time.
Although Lian Dao couldn't boost his three-point strength to 97, achieving a rating of 90 was more than sufficient for his current needs. Considering the NBA's limited emphasis on three-point shooting back in the 2008-09 season, even in the NCAA college basketball league, this enhancement felt like a significant leap forward.
Furthermore, I've also acquired two training bonus cards, which will help me improve my strength significantly through rigorous training.
With these thoughts, Lian Dao stopped fretting over the system's details.
"Hey, buddy, why so quiet? It's almost warm-up time. Ready for a 1v1? Or are you scared?" DeRozan's taunt snapped Lian Dao out of his system-induced focus, prompting him to exit the system interface.
"Scared of a little challenge?" Lian Dao assessed his physical readiness and felt a surge of confidence.
Although currently proficient in three-point shooting and possessing solid dribbling skills, Lian Dao believed it should be sufficient against DeRozan for now. Despite the potential for strength improvement, it remained at a basic level, requiring extensive training to reach S-level proficiency.
"Hey, are you sure your brain isn't fried if you think you can take me on?" DeRozan flexed his muscles like a bodybuilder, emphasizing the importance of sheer physical power.
Lian Dao glanced at his slender physique, nicknamed "Gada meat," and swallowed hard, feeling somewhat envious. Despite his towering height of 203cm, he only weighed 82kg—like a stick compared to DeRozan's bulk.
Considering his strength rating of E, which fell below NCAA standards, Lian Dao knew that bulking up and building strength were now his top priorities.
[System novice mission: Win the upcoming 1V1 duel! Rewards include: +10 sprint speed limit, 20 training stamina recovery potions, and no penalties for mission failure. Do you accept the mission?]
"Yes," Lian Dao affirmed, his focus intensifying as he acknowledged the system's prompt and the challenge ahead. He knew winning this 1V1 duel was not just about proving himself to DeRozan but also about earning valuable rewards that could enhance his skills.
If Lian Dao had been courteous to DeRozan before, that demeanor changed once he accepted the task. He knew that gaining the first serve would give him a slight edge. Dribbling the ball to a spot just a meter away from the three-point line, Lian Dao noticed the ample space afforded to him by DeRozan's defensive stance inside the arc.
At that moment, DeRozan stood nearly two meters away from Lian Dao, calculating his opponent's previous shooting patterns. While aware of Lian Dao's accuracy with three-pointers near the line, he had yet to witness him attempt a deep-range shot.
Lian Dao's eyes focused on the basket as he squared up. With a smooth release, the ball left his fingertips, spinning through the air towards the hoop. DeRozan, caught off guard by the sudden shot from deep, scrambled to contest it, but he was a step too late.
Swish! The ball sailed cleanly through the net, eliciting a satisfying sound that echoed across the court. Lian Dao, feeling a surge of confidence from his successful shot, turned to DeRozan with a grin.
"One-zero," Lian Dao remarked, his voice carrying a hint of competitive edge.
DeRozan, visibly surprised by the shot, nodded with a smirk. "Not bad. Let's see what else you've got."
With that, he retrieved the ball, ready to respond to Lian Dao's challenge.