score maniac

Chapter 15: I Just Don’t Get You

“You really are a bit of a knight, kid…” “Damn, that really hurts!” Just as Cousins had started to develop a tiny bit of goodwill toward Gu Yu—thinking his actions were quite chivalrous and wanting to make the first move— Gu Yu did a somersault to his feet, completely ignoring Cousins’ outstretched hand, and headed straight for the basketball. “I…” Cousins’ face fell. This slick-haired guy… he really was a bit of a mystery! Although he hadn’t made it to the NBA yet, many seasoned fans had already heard of Cousins by this point. This exceptionally talented big man stood 6 feet 11 inches tall, with an astonishing wingspan and impressive shoulder width—in this era of small-ball basketball, he was considered a truly massive center. At the same time, however, Cousins possessed an agility that seemed completely at odds with his massive frame. It was truly difficult to describe this exceptionally talented big man using just a few simple words. Cousins’ potential is truly vast; he is undeniably talented, but he has consistently been plagued by personal issues and supported by underperforming teams, so no one knows for certain whether he will ever be able to realize his full potential. In college, Cousins displayed impressive scoring ability and was quite solid on the boards. Although his passing skills were outstanding, his playmaking abilities left much to be desired. Turnovers were the root of the problem, as Cousins would often make reckless passes from the high post without regard for whether his target was open. On offense, Cousins frequently set illegal screens and handled the ball as carelessly as if he were about to drop it. However, at certain moments, he was truly capable of making passes out of double-teams in the high post, and his court vision on fast breaks was also quite good. On defense, Cousins’ hot temper and occasional childish outbursts keep his foul rate sky-high. His excessive obsession with blocking shots often causes him to lose his position. While he occasionally uses his wingspan and ball-handling instincts to knock the ball away, more often than not, Cousins gets frustrated and ends up committing a foul the very next play. The reason the Kings selected such a contradictory package with a high draft pick was primarily because they saw his boundless potential. In the eyes of analysts and fans, Cousins is like a genius whose mind hasn’t quite matured yet—most of the time he’s dominant, but at other times he commits such baffling, even brain-dead moves that people can’t help but scratch their heads in disbelief. All of this has led people to describe Cousins with just one word: Unpredictable. Cousins himself, however, didn’t pay much attention to this assessment. For a player with such a distinctive personality, it would be a shame to let others’ idle gossip completely change who he is—especially given his outrageously bold playing style. Carrying these mixed reviews with him, Cousins made his way to the NBA, ready to make his mark. At this pivotal moment, however, he encountered a man who would shape the rest of his life. A powder keg even more unpredictable than he was. “You… why did you help me up?” Cousins was the type who couldn’t hold his tongue. Watching Gu Yu begin to dribble toward the basket with a deadpan expression, the big man couldn’t help but ask, “In that situation just now, if you’d been a little careless, I could’ve pinned you to the floor—you might even have broken a bone!” Why? Cousins didn’t understand. Just a second ago, the two of them had been locked in a tense standoff, facing each other like sworn enemies with irreconcilable hatred. But a second later, how could this Asian guy with the retro slicked-back hair suddenly pull off such a heroic move? “Damn, you actually have the nerve to ask that!” From the top of the key, Gu Yu ran a hand through his hair and rolled his eyes at Cousins: “You’re my son. A dad saving his son—that’s only natural!” “…You’re dead, Slick.” Cousins’ good impression of Gu Yu vanished in an instant. “Damn it, I’ll say it again—this is a slicked-back hairstyle!” Gu Yu wouldn’t let the matter drop. “…That’s exactly what I’m saying! 2K is way too stingy with the stats they give rookies!” While the two hotheads continued their one-on-one showdown, the training facility doors swung open. “I know, I know it’s a tradition in this game to give rookies low scores, but look at me—I averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds a game in my freshman year of college, and I blocked 5. 35 shots per game. With stats like that, you’re giving me a 60 for blocking ability?? Are you kidding me??” Two Black men walked onto the court. One was tall with unusually long arms; he looked like he’d been modeled in a video game—so unreal. The other was short but stocky, with a body built of pure muscle—you could tell at a glance he was a high-flyer. “I’m telling you, once I become a star, I’m definitely going to @2K on Twitter every day to see when they’ll finally bump up my stats!” Long-Armed Liu Bei kept ranting nonstop, while the short sprinter immediately took in the situation on the court. He nudged his teammate with his elbow and said, “Shh! Quit talking! Look at them…” “Huh…?” Liu Bei turned his head and saw Cousins and Gu Yu going head-to-head in a one-on-one matchup. His eyebrows shot up instantly: “Wait… a center going one-on-one against a guard?? Does De Marcus even have the nerve?!!” “…Thud!” On the court, Cousins spun around under the basket once more. As he steamrolled past Gu Yu—as if he were crushing a wad of snot—he scored another two-handed slam dunk with ease. “ROAR—!!!” After scoring, Cousins was brimming with confidence. He roared toward the sky, his eyes fixed intently on Gu Yu as he snarled, “Did you see that? Did you see the gap in our skills?? That’ll teach you to be so damn cocky!!” “Hmm…” Gu Yu’s eyes were also blazing with fury. Just as he was about to hurl an insult, his eyes darted suddenly, and he changed his tone: “Mm-hmm, my son’s making progress. As his father, I’m truly pleased!” “…You son of a bitch!!” This… Watching the two men on the court—swearing at each other viciously yet holding back their tempers and refusing to resort to physical violence, letting the game speak for itself—the two newcomers who’d just arrived at the practice court were completely baffled. “Hey… who’s that guy going one-on-one with De Marcus? I’ve never seen him before??” “Long-Armed Liu Bei” Hassan Whiteside was completely baffled. Although Gu Yu was getting dominated on the court, his presence was in no way inferior to Cousins’s. As someone who had faced Cousins on the NCAA court, Hassan Whiteside—nicknamed “Big White Edge”—knew the Kentucky center’s temperament all too well. If anyone else had talked back to Cousins like that, they’d have been beaten up within three seconds. Yet this Asian guy not only avoided getting punched but actually seemed to have a slight edge in intensity—which left “Big White Edge” a bit unsure of what to make of it. Who on earth is this guy?? “No idea.” Standing nearby, the short “Flying Man”—Eugene Jeter, who had also just joined the Kings this year—shook his head and frowned. “I don’t know who this slick-haired guy is, but I do know his temper is probably even more explosive than De Marcus’s…!” The Spurs? The Warriors? Who’ll take the top spot in the West??