"Link!"
"Link!"
"Link!"
As Link returned to the bench, thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena.
The fans were more than just satisfied with Link's performance.
While Link smiled and waved to the fans, his calves were trembling slightly.
It wasn't that Link was injured; he was simply exhausted...
His playing time was the third highest in the game at 36 minutes, trailing only Jordan's 37 minutes and Sprewell the Madman's 38 minutes. Although Link had played 36 minutes in high school leagues, the NBA Summer League, and the NBA Preseason, the physical exertion then couldn't compare to now.
Especially after Sprewell the Madman started defending him, that guy would tug at his jersey from time to time and frequently initiate physical contact.
"Sigh... it seems my Stamina value of 78 still isn't enough," Link thought to himself.
But soon...
As the final buzzer sounded, the red light on the timer lit up.
The system's voice echoed in Link's mind once again.
"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for becoming the second player in NBA history to record a triple-double in their debut game!"
"Ding! Awarding the Host 500 GOAT points."
"Ding! Post-game reward settlement in progress..."
[GOAT Points: 625/24,450]
His previous three thousand-plus GOAT points had all been spent on sparring partner cards.
Currently, he was less than a certain value away from drawing the next player template.
"System, no other rewards? If I remember correctly, I should have the highest score among players with a debut triple-double... Also, I'm the youngest NBA player ever? Doesn't that deserve a celebration?" Seeing the unperceptive system, Link couldn't help but remind it.
The first player in NBA history to record a triple-double in a debut was Oscar Robertson, who recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists on October 20, 1960.
To this...
The system paid no heed.
...
...
After Link finished being interviewed by N reporters and returned to the locker room...
Splash!
Splash!
Splash!
Three buckets of ice water were poured over Link all at once.
"WTF!"
"You bunch of bastards!"
Link laughed in spite of himself.
"Link, great job! A triple-double in your first game!"
"Link... you're definitely going to be on the front page of every major sports news outlet today!"
His teammates congratulated him excitedly, especially fellow rookie Brendan Haywood.
"It was alright..." Link said calmly.
"True... Link, you were already on the cover of Sports Illustrated back in high school." The seemingly simple-minded Haywood had a flash of insight and added.
Link was extremely satisfied with this emotional validation; if he played with him in the next game, he'd have to pass him the ball a few more times no matter what.
...
...
[The Much-Anticipated Chosen One: His First NBA Points Actually Came via a Dunk!]
[Following Oscar Robertson, Link is the Second Player to Record a triple-double in an NBA Debut!]
[After the game, The Madman remained defiant, stating that Link was just lucky to hit those difficult shots. Link's luck won't last long.]
[Link's explosive 28 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds, and 2 Steals made Charles Barkley lose his bet with Kenny Smith; he will fulfill his promise on the live broadcast this weekend.]
[Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy praised Link's performance after the game but also mentioned that the team wasn't fully prepared beforehand.]
[The Airman's Second Comeback—Michael Jordan, despite scoring a game-high second of 26 points, truly looked a bit old.]
The number one draft pick Link's triple-double in his NBA Regular Season debut even overshadowed the hype of the god of basketball Michael Jordan's comeback game.
Because of this, during the next day's team practice, Jordan challenged Link to several one-on-ones. Though he reclaimed some dignity, it wasn't much.
Link's perfect debut significantly reduced the outside world's doubts about him, though they still existed.
First, everyone has their lucky days, and a sample size of one explains nothing. Second, his athletic ability indeed lagged behind elite Point Guards, with only 6 points scored at the rim. Finally, a shot of Link looking physically spent after the game was captured by media reporters; they believed Link's body would struggle to produce great performances in away games and back-to-backs. To put it bluntly, they called him a 'road bum' or 'home-court hero'.
...
...
Two days later, the Washington Wizards traveled to Atlanta to challenge the Hawks.
This was the Wizards' first road trip of the season.
Before the game, the system's mechanical, cold electronic voice rang in Link's head again.
"Ding! Host has triggered a Main Quest—Screw the road bum!"
"Quest Description: Lead the team to victory and score 20+ points individually."
"Quest Reward: 200 GOAT points; [Super Physique Athletic Sprint Card (3 Days)]."
Uh...
Although the GOAT points for this quest reward were a bit low, it included Link's favorite Super Physique Athletic Sprint Card. He had to go for it.
The Hawks, as a bottom-tier team in the East, liked to play fast, but their efficiency was very low.
The team's starting Point Guard was the Jet, Jason Terry...
After Link took the court, he scored three consecutive times on him, all through hand-off plays with Laettner.
The 188cm Jet, Jason Terry, was also speechless facing Link, who was nearly 20cm taller than him.