If I can make the shot, then it's simple.
Zeng Xingyang didn't attempt another three-pointer. Instead, he moved to a spot a little outside the right three-second area, just about a meter from the hoop, and continued shooting.
Is close-range shooting still shooting?
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
After hitting three shots in a row, Zeng Xingyang discovered that his shooting experience did not increase at all.
He was slightly disappointed that he couldn't exploit any glitch.
Next, he continued with a few more shooting tests.
Eventually, he found out that making around fifteen shots from close range would increase the experience by 1 point, while making five from the free throw line to inside the three-point line would also add 1 point.
If it's from beyond the three-point line, making one would increase it by 1 point.
Shooting threes is still the most cost-effective.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Continuously shooting, as his experience increased, Zeng Xingyang's confidence grew stronger.
The appearance of the system showed him the direction of his efforts.
This was his opportunity, possibly changing his basketball career.
As long as he continued to work hard and push through, making it to the NBA was possible.
People are strange this way; knowing the stage at which your efforts will pay off gives immense motivation.
After nearly a hundred more shots, Zeng Xingyang opened his attributes panel again.
[Shooting: Level 1]
[Experience: 143/500]
[Note: Level 10 is the highest, reference: a bit more accurate than Stephen Curry]
"Indeed, improving this way is fast."
Full of confidence, Zeng Xingyang believed that if he continued at this speed, he'd soon level up.
Zeng Xingyang was eager to see what changes would come with reaching Level 2, and whether his shooting would become more stable then.
Currently, Zeng Xingyang's shooting accuracy was quite unstable. If he could stabilize it, he had a chance to stay.
Besides shooting, are there any other attributes? Zeng Xingyang was also curious about when those attributes would appear.
However, Zeng Xingyang also understood the principle of not biting off more than he could chew.
Shooting was the most important for him at the moment, and he needed to perfect it first.
Zeng Xingyang didn't stop his practice shots.
He didn't know how long he had been practicing.
Zeng Xingyang's legs felt heavy, and he could barely lift his arms.
His training volume had exceeded his physical endurance.
Zeng Xingyang once again collapsed on the floor, panting heavily and taking a break, utterly exhausted.
After a while, Zeng Xingyang stood up, grabbed his basketball, and walked towards the gym's exit.
When Zeng Xingyang stepped out of the gym, the sky had already darkened; however, there was a gleam in his eyes.
Zeng Xingyang's stride was more determined.
He thought, once he entered the NBA, he could earn big money.
Then, he'd buy a luxury car, purchase several houses back home, and date a busty, leggy actress.
The houses must be paid in full; he no longer wanted to live the life of a wage slave, struggling with mortgage and car loans.
Zeng Xingyang's experience had risen to 302 points.
"With a bit more effort tomorrow, I should level up."
"Let's give it a good push."
Despite the immense physical exhaustion, Zeng Xingyang still felt great, humming "Small Town Summer" on his way back to the dormitory.
The dormitory assigned at Kentucky was quite nice, a standard room with carpet, built-in closets, movable furniture, and air conditioning—of course, all for a fee.
After showering back at the dorm, he went to the school cafeteria for dinner.
After eating, Zeng Xingyang also received a call from his dad.
"Yangyang, is there hope of making the school team?" came his dad's slightly weathered voice over the phone.
His dad was once a volleyball player on a provincial team, but his career hadn't been remarkable, and he retired with injuries.
After retirement, he was placed in a relatively marginal unit for work, with no formal post, low income, and occasionally took on odd jobs.
"There's hope; it's just that the competition is very fierce," Zeng Xingyang replied.
His dad neither encouraged nor opposed Zeng Xingyang playing basketball; he chose to respect his decision.
But the family was under significant pressure. Zeng Xingyang also had a younger brother in high school, and sending Zeng Xingyang abroad had stretched his father's capability to the limit. He couldn't support Zeng Xingyang any further.
"Don't worry, if you can't stay, then study hard. After graduation, return and take the civil service exam..." His father's views were still very traditional.
If pursuing dreams failed, then taking the most reliable path was best.
The path of a professional athlete was too grueling; only the very best enjoyed the glory....
"Let's skip the chit-chat. Yangyang, do you have enough money?" his mom's voice came through.
"Yes, it's enough." Zeng Xingyang's expenses were mainly for living; he wasn't extravagant, so it was sufficient.
"You're living out there alone; your dad and I aren't by your side. Take good care of yourself."
"Our family may not be wealthy, but spend on what you need."
"Listen to your teachers and coaches."
"If you meet a suitable girl, go ahead and date...."
After his parents chatted with him for a while, Zeng Xingyang hung up the phone.
A while after hanging up, Zeng Xingyang saw a message reminder; his parents had sent him 522 US Dollars.
It wasn't a round number like 500, but exactly 522....
At this moment, Zeng Xingyang felt a bit strange.
Converted to RMB, this was almost everything his parents had saved from living frugally each month.
Having experienced two lives, Zeng Xingyang felt even more the love his parents had for him.
He silently clenched his fist.
He must make a name for himself here!
.....
The next day was very sunny.
Although it was summer, the climate here was pleasant, with the temperature around 20 degrees at six in the morning.
After getting up, Zeng Xingyang felt that his whole body was sore; the training volume yesterday far exceeded his usual.
After breakfast at the school cafeteria, Zeng Xingyang headed to the basketball gym.
At that time, the gym hadn't opened yet. Zeng Xingyang knocked on the door of the office next door, which held the keys to the gym, and woke the old white man.
The old white man was clearly just waking up, in a grumpy mood: "Rookie, you don't have to come this early next time. I've watched you play, you can't make the school team, no matter how hard you try."
"If you have time to watch me play, you'd be better off finding an old lady to date, to improve your mood."
Zeng Xingyang didn't mind the old man's discouragement; he wasn't the first to try to bring him down. He wanted to respond with actions.
"I don't have an old lady to date."
"Then you need to work harder on your skills and become famous...."
"Get lost!"
The old white man opened the door for Zeng Xingyang, and Zeng Xingyang took a basketball from the training room to start his shooting practice.
The Kentucky Wildcats hadn't been fully formed yet, and Coach Calipari was still on vacation, so the coaching team hadn't started official training.
This gave Zeng Xingyang plenty of time to grind for experience.
Zeng Xingyang first practiced three-point jump shots from the top of the arc, making the first three shots. He could feel that with the increase in experience, his shot stability was improving.
This feeling motivated him even further.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Zeng Xingyang felt each three-point shot piercing the net, and his accuracy was higher than the previous day, with greater efficiency.