Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

Chapter 322 Yin Yang Knights vs. Shizi Dogs (6)

The third quarter began, and the crowd chattered out of confusion and curiosity."Why is Kai not playing?"

"Kai's sitting this one out?"

"Well, he does look pretty tired."

Suzy looked at their bench with concern, wondering why Kai sat the crucial quarter out. To make matters worse, Max was still going to play!

Nina gazed around the court as she heard a singular name being thrown around.

"Kai?" Nina asked. "They're all talking about Kai. Seems like he's a popular player."

Rolan nodded. "He is—very much. Actually, he wasn't popular because of his basketball skills, to begin with. However, he established his name as a good player in just a few months." Read latest chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

"It's amazing," Rolan said out of admiration. Despite Kai being younger than him, he couldn't help but admire the player. "He changed the public's opinions about him so quickly that I barely felt it. Before I was aware of it, nearly everyone acknowledged him as a good player."

"Why are they making such a big fuss with him not playing, though?" Nina asked.

"He's known for his stamina and ability to play all four quarters without breaking a sweat," Rolan answered.

The Shizi Dogs' fans whispered among themselves, trying to make sense of the situation. Some speculated he must be tired, while others thought it might be a strategic move.

Lina, sitting next to Kai on the bench, was just as puzzled. She leaned over and asked, "Kai, why aren't you playing? Are you really tired?"

Kai nodded, wiping his face with a towel. "Yeah, a bit. I didn't get much rest, except for the time-outs and fouls."

Lina raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to it. Kai hesitated, then continued, "But that's not the only reason. Max... he's a different kind of player. He gets better when he's under pressure. I noticed that whenever I scored, he seemed to respond immediately, almost like a call and response.

He thrives on the challenge."

He glanced back at the court, where the game had resumed. "And if my theory is right," he muttered, leaving the sentence hanging.

On the court, Max seemed to be

"However, a steady, predictable player will be his kryptonite," Lina muttered, finally puzzling the pieces together.

Coach Muchen listened quietly to their conclusion.

"Goodness, these kids are smart," he muttered. "What am I even doing here?"

Then, Lina quickly turned to Kun, who was sitting quietly, lost in thought.

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Kun," she called, catching the player's attention. "You're going in."

Kun's eyes widened in surprise.

"What?" he exclaimed. "Why are you saying this so suddenly?"

"You just need to," Lina said. "This is one of our strategies."

He shook his head vigorously, panic in his voice. "I'm not good enough. I'll mess up."

Kai smiled reassuringly. "That's exactly why you need to go in."

Kun scratched the back of his head. "I don't know if that's supposed to be a compliment."

"We don't need a superstar right now. We need someone steady. Max won't know how to react to you. You're the mid-ground—unpredictably stable."

Kun looked unconvinced, but Kai placed a hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, Kun. Max is used to going up against aggressive, high-pressure players. But someone who plays it safe, who doesn't do anything flashy... it might just throw him off."

Coach Muchen nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Kun. Just play your game. Don't worry about being perfect."

Kun pursed his lips. "Do I have a choice regarding this?"

"Nope," Lina said. "You don't. Besides, it's time for you to come out of your shell. You may have made some mistakes in the past games, but you're still a part of the team."

Kun glanced around at his teammates, seeing the encouragement in their faces. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The idea of going up against Max was terrifying, but the trust his team had in him gave him a sliver of confidence.

The clock was ticking down, and Coach Muchen called for a substitution. Kun stood up, still shaky but resolute.

He was about to step into one of the most intense moments of his high school basketball career.