Worth it!
Jerry West made his decision easily.
The Warriors weren't the Lakers—they didn't have that kind of star appeal. If they wanted championships, they'd need to develop their own talent.
Yuuto was undoubtedly someone who could reshape the entire franchise's future.
As it happened, they had a player named Stephen Curry who also needed time to develop.
If they could get Yuuto, the Warriors could form a devastating backcourt duo of Yuuto and Curry.
If everything went smoothly, within three years at most, the Warriors could realistically compete for a championship.
On the court.
The game had devolved into a physical war.
The Bruins ran everything through Yuuto on offense, and he delivered spectacularly.
Scoring inside and out, he maintained a remarkable 54% shooting clip, making him stand out like a beacon.
As the Spartans' spiritual leader, Green stepped up when his team needed him most.
He kept attacking the Bruins' paint, either finishing himself or finding teammates, keeping the Spartans within striking distance.
"ARGH!"
Draymond Green caught the ball with a primal scream, barreling toward the basket like a rusty tractor before slamming it home with his right hand.
Norman Powell's chest ached from the collision, his eyes burning with even more intensity.
"You can't guard me, scrub!"
Green had shifted his focus. He figured the Spartans were probably going to lose this one.
In times like these, putting up impressive personal numbers seemed more beneficial for his future.
He had to make the NBA—had to become a millionaire, maybe even a multi-millionaire.
This scene had Michael Jordan absolutely riveted in his seat.
He couldn't help but imagine snagging this guy with a second-round pick.
A warrior with that kind of fighting spirit? Couldn't go wrong.
Yuuto continued his individual assault.
No matter who was guarding him—tall or short, big or small—if they dared to challenge him, he'd make them pay.
Yuuto blew past Appling with pure acceleration, his elite speed leaving his opponent gasping.
The sheer talent gap left Appling feeling helpless, but he still fought to recover.
Just as he was chasing back, Yuuto suddenly stopped on a dime. His fadeaway had an impossibly high arc, and the moment the ball swished through, Appling's outstretched hand finally reached where Yuuto had been standing.
Tweet!
The referee's whistle was sharp and piercing.
Swish!
And-one!
The Spartans' head coach threw up his hands in surrender, slumping back into his seat on the bench.
They had absolutely no answer for this kid. All they could do was hope he went cold in the second half.
Yuuto converted the free throw, and halftime arrived soon after.
Both teams had emptied their bags of tricks in the first half, holding nothing back.
Their paths to victory were laid bare for all to see—it came down to who could execute better.
The Bruins' advantage lay in their star power—they had Yuuto, the most talented player in college basketball this year.
The teams hoping to land Yuuto were already calculating whether their trade assets would be enough.
In this physical battle, Yuuto had put up 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in the first half alone.
Putting up those numbers at this intensity meant his chances of busting in the NBA were virtually nil.
Factor in the league's intense interest in the Chinese market, and Yuuto was essentially a lock for All-Star caliber.
Jordan told his GM as much.
If they landed the number-one pick, and Yuuto had even a passable workout with the Bobcats, they should select him without hesitation.
"Yu, you're the only reason we're still standing here." Steve walked up to Yuuto in the locker room. "Now I need you to tell me—can we continue to believe in you? When they come at you with everything they've got in the second half, can you still lead this team forward?"
Steve didn't really have any other option besides relying on Yuuto.
This was simply his way of motivating the team.
Yuuto could feel his teammates' eyes shifting toward him.
If he nodded, they would throw themselves into their roles without hesitation in the second half.
"Of course. You can believe in me 100%. If I screw this up, I'll stay at UCLA next year!"
"If you really think that way, then we're finished."
Steve's voice suddenly rose.
"Listen up. The Spartans might not have any new tricks, but they're not stupid. They'll throw two, three, even four defenders at you, because they know better than anyone—if you go down, we all go down with you."
"So? What do you want me to do?"
"Distribute. When they collapse on you, find the open teammate who can score."
"How do I know my pass will turn into points?"
"That's your problem to figure out."
"Coach, I'm not a genie. You can't just wish for things and have them come true."
"No—in this building, you're better than a genie, because I know you have that kind of ability."
Steve's absolute trust left the entire team moved.
"So basically, our second-half strategy is still to let me freestyle? Whether I score or pass is entirely up to me? Everything you just said was just buildup?"
"Yes, we need you. Everything I said before was buildup—preamble. Like I said, you're the reason we're still here. But I don't want you to become just a scoring machine, because the energy contained in your body is more than even you realize."
Yuuto was genuinely moved this time.
Having a coach who believed in you this much was truly a blessing.
And Yuuto had been fortunate—every team he'd played for had coaches like this.
He was a lucky person.
Then the second half began.
Just as Steve predicted, the moment Yuuto touched the ball, the Spartans swarmed him.
The instant Yuuto received a pass, Appling and nearby teammates immediately converged.
Meanwhile, Draymond Green lurked nearby, ready to help at any moment.
And Yuuto?
Prepared for this, he dished the ball to an open teammate before the trap could fully form.
In his years playing in America, he'd faced countless double teams, made countless adjustments, and accumulated a wealth of experience being trapped.
The Spartans believed in limiting talent because they'd once had Magic Johnson.
So when an opponent's roster featured a talent like Yuuto, they had to do everything to contain him.
If Yuuto stopped scoring, the Bruins would slowly bleed out.
Mosely stepped up and knocked down the first three-pointer.
Green posted up and muscled against Norman Powell before kicking it out to Harris.
His intention wasn't obvious, but Yuuto read it anyway. He covered several meters in a flash, leaping to contest, and Harris's shot clanked off the rim.
...
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