Chapter 14

"Back then, we were warming up on the court, taking turns to shoot. Rodman just stood there, dumbfounded, watching everyone shoot. I went up to him and said, 'Come on, you need to join in the shooting. Everyone is practicing layups, and you need to do it too.'"

In the NBA, there was once a story about the legendary Detroit Pistons player, "The Smiling Assassin" Isiah Thomas, and his first encounter with Dennis Rodman on the training ground.

"Then he told me, 'I'm observing the spin of the ball after it's shot.' I asked, 'What are you talking about?'"

If you can find the video of this interview, you'll notice that when Isiah Thomas recounts this story, his expression is very complex, a mix of admiration, surprise, astonishment, and unparalleled shock.

"He continued, 'When you shoot, the ball spins three times in the air. For example, when Jordan shoots, it spins three and a half or four times.'"

At this point, Isiah Thomas's expression changed, a look of disbelief appearing on his face, and he shook his head slightly, as if even he found it hard to believe what he was saying.

This was the level of expertise Dennis Rodman had in rebounding, reaching a realm that was unprecedented. He knew the spin of every teammate's shot. If the ball had a side spin, where would it land? What were the probabilities of it landing on the left or right side? If the shot was short or long, which part of the rim would it hit? How would the landing point change with different players' shots?

Dennis Rodman, the seven-time NBA rebounding champion, was known for his dedication to rebounding.

"He has elevated rebounding to a science. I've never seen anyone think or talk about rebounding and defense in such a groundbreaking way," Thomas continued. "When you talk about rebounding IQ, I would place Rodman on the same level as Einstein."

This is how Rodman earned his famous nickname, "The Rebounding Einstein."

In 2005, another rebounding prodigy emerged in the NBA, capturing the attention of the entire league.

"The Rebounding Da Vinci!"

The day after Chen Mu's first NBA game, this nickname, coined by the Suns' core point guard Steve Nash, quickly became a sensation across the United States.

"Another Eastern frontliner after Yao!"

"A different form of the Steel Great Wall!"

"Unprecedented! The Rebounding Commander shines for the Suns!"

The media and websites were flooded with news about Chen Mu. Despite being a rookie who had only played one NBA game, Chen Mu's impressive debut sparked heated discussions among fans.

During the game, everyone noticed that after Chen Mu came on the court, the Suns' focus and intensity in rebounding increased, and all the rebounds seemed to have eyes, always flying into the hands of the Suns' players.

After the game, a media outlet released a close-up video of the game. In an era without player microphones, it was unclear what Chen Mu was shouting. However, a lip-reading expert deciphered Chen Mu's words, and the results were astonishing.

"30 degrees to the left, near the paint, high rebound!"

"Middle of the key, low ball!"

"Top of the key, long rebound!"

On the court, every time a teammate or opponent shot, Chen Mu would immediately shout loudly, alerting his teammates to the rebound.

If the rebound was close to him, Chen Mu would not shout but would go for it himself.

At first, the Nets' players didn't react, thinking Chen Mu was just shouting to encourage his teammates. But later, they realized that every time Chen Mu shouted, he almost perfectly predicted the ball's landing point.

The experienced Jason Kidd was the first to react, starting to contest the rebounds based on Chen Mu's calls. The Nets' players gradually woke up, and a peculiar scene unfolded on the court:

A Chinese big man, who seemed to be casually strolling, would shout a sentence, and the remaining nine players on both teams would rush to the location he mentioned as if controlled by a remote.

Realizing this, Chen Mu began to control his volume, either rushing for the rebound himself or whispering to his teammates to contest the rebound.

This strategy gave the Suns a significant rebounding advantage, leading to their victory.

"Never seen before." In the post-game interview, the Nets' All-Star point guard Jason Kidd, shaking his head with a bitter smile, said, "I've played in the NBA for over a decade, and I've never seen any player judge all the rebounding points like the Chinese kid. Even Dennis couldn't do that."

The MVP Steve Nash and the top star Jason Kidd's praise made Chen Mu's name spread rapidly. Through the internet, fans worldwide learned about this magical Chinese player's impressive debut.

However, Chen Mu himself was not very happy.

"Rookie Rebounding Frontliner"

This was the system's evaluation of Chen Mu's current abilities.

"Strength 49, Stamina 51, Speed 60, Agility 61, Jump 72..."

In terms of physical attributes, Chen Mu's main strength was mobility, but the core data for an interior player, such as strength and stamina, were pitifully low.

Apart from a backcourt rebound of 70 and an offensive rebound of 66, Chen Mu's other interior ratings were poor, not resembling an NBA-level player.

On the offensive end, the situation was even worse.

"Close-range shooting 35, mid-range shooting 20, three-point shooting 0, free throw 33, standing layup 41..."

Unlike the game system in the original timeline, in this system, individual attributes could be as low as 0. Given Chen Mu's poor skills, the system's ratings were alarming, which is why even the simplest "close-range layup" was difficult for him.

"Either work hard to save SP points to increase physical attributes and offensive skills, enhancing my overall role on the court, or focus all the attribute points on rebounding, starting as a rebounding specialist..."

After careful consideration, Chen Mu realized that a significant overall improvement in the short term was unlikely. It was better to focus on his specialty and max out his rebounding skills first.

As a rookie, Chen Mu wouldn't get many opportunities to handle the ball or take shots. To establish himself in the NBA, he needed to excel in one area, becoming a player who could fill a specific team need.

Based on Chen Mu's memory, in the original game, besides using SP points to exchange for abilities, he could also improve his attributes through off-season training, in-season training, and training camps.

Even if Chen Mu didn't invest any SP points in other areas, at 17 years old, he could still improve comprehensively. Becoming a versatile rebounding specialist, in addition to rebounding, was just a matter of time.

First, become a top rebounder, gain some attention, and then gradually improve other attributes!

"All SP points to increase offensive rebounding!"

In the exchange space, Chen Mu increased his offensive rebounding attribute from 66 to 68, spending almost all his SP points.

"Backcourt rebounds can be contested by the whole team. With veteran players on the team, it's best to let them grab the backcourt rebounds and quickly push the counterattack. My passing skills are too poor, and if I grab the rebound and pass to Nash, there's a risk of a turnover, especially if there's interference. Even if I pass, it might delay the attack."

Chen Mu's eyes sparkled with a unique light. With years of watching games and playing, he had a decent understanding of basketball tactics and could analyze basic strategies.

"Offensive rebounds are different. I don't have offensive skills, so the defense will shift their attention away from me. I can use this opportunity to position myself and grab the rebound, providing the team with a second-chance opportunity!"

"If I can grab as many offensive rebounds as possible in my limited playing time, ensuring the team's second-chance opportunities... I can secure my position on the Suns and might even get a contract to the end of the season after the ten-day contract!"

Chen Mu could already see the path he was about to take.

However, the path ahead was not as straightforward as Chen Mu imagined. Where he would end up, how he would improve and develop, and how he would eventually become a dominant force, ruling the basketball world with his teammates, were all unknowns at this moment.

But that's a story for another time.

December 10, 2005, the City of Angels, Los Angeles.

After a series of home games, the injury-riddled Suns traveled to the Staples Center, the home of the Lakers, for a highly anticipated match.

This was a clash of titans, with the Suns, the most offensively potent team in the league, facing off against the Lakers, led by the league's most dominant offensive player, Kobe Bryant, who was at the peak of his scoring ability.

"Thud, thud, thud"

Inside the Staples Center, both teams were warming up. Chen Mu was reviewing the offensive footwork he had learned during his training in the United States while observing the other side of the court.

"Thud, thud... huff!"

A player in the Lakers' training gear exuded a powerful presence. The other Lakers players, except for the coach, instinctively gave him some space, allowing him to practice alone.

He performed a series of unpredictable dribbles, the ball moving as if it were part of his body, and then rose to a high point. With a powerful leap, he leaned back and shot the ball with a beautiful form.

"Swish!"

The ball went through the hoop without touching the rim, but the player's face showed no joy. Instead, he frowned slightly, adjusted his footwork, and tried the shot again. After the ball went through the hoop again, he nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with the shot.

"Kobe..."

Chen Mu's eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and complexity as he watched the league's most fearsome scoring machine, his heart racing, almost ready to burst out of his chest.

"Finally, I have the chance to compete against you on the same court...!"