Better ask the system! Ethan Brooks didn’t know how to call the system, so he just asked in his mind: “Boss System, what’s the difference between the Superstar Lottery and the Hooligan Lottery?”

Then there was an immediate response, much faster than any online customer service in later generations.

“The Superstar Points Lottery template draws items related to the host’s chosen profession, which will assist the host in becoming a top talent in the current profession, or even a superstar in that field.”

The system answered quickly, but Ethan Brooks was unsettled: “Damn, Boss System, you know everything I’m thinking? That’s way too creepy!”

“If the host doesn’t think about creepy things, then it won’t be creepy.”

“……” Ethan Brooks felt like he had no human rights, no privacy. Suddenly, he sensed something was off, and instantly snapped to attention: “Wait, Boss System, the Superstar Lottery helps me become a superstar, but what about the Hooligan Lottery? Don’t tell me it’s to make me a hooligan!”

Ethan Brooks felt a pang in his heart. Even though his name was Ethan Brooks, he wasn’t a hooligan and didn’t want to become one!

From the first time he chatted with this system, he could feel just how shady it was. It always picked the good things to say and left out the bad. He figured the system’s name had no other meaning—it was just to say the system itself was a hooligan!

“If the host wants to be a hooligan, this system has no objections. Whether or not to be a hooligan is the host’s personal choice.”

Uh, fine, Ethan Brooks knew that, but he still couldn’t get over the word “hooligan,” because his old nickname among classmates was a pun on his name.

Ethan Brooks didn’t want to think about it anymore. The most important thing now was to draw something! Hopefully another player card, then he could have another blast: “Boss System, I want to draw a prize.”

“Lottery template activated, please choose: Hooligan Points Lottery (Beginner), 100 Hooligan Points per draw (newbie benefit, first time only 10 points); Basketball Superstar Lottery (Beginner), 100 Superstar Points per draw, with one free draw opportunity.”

Ethan Brooks was slowly merging with the extra memories of his new identity, and now understood why Coach Kruger took such good care of him. During his two years in the NCAA at Georgia Tech, Coach Kruger was the head coach there. The Hawks picked him because of Coach Kruger; otherwise, he might not have been drafted at all. That’s why, before he transmigrated, he was so out of it during games that he could even fall asleep. The Ethan Brooks of this world was really full of himself, thinking he could get into the first round in a weak draft year, but almost fell out of the second round. Luckily, he was a somewhat well-known local school team member in Atlanta and a “trusted aide” of the Hawks’ head coach.

When these memories fused, Ethan Brooks was thrilled! He had someone backing him!

But then he remembered what Coach Kruger said about not always giving him chances, and it was like a bucket of cold water poured over him.

Not everyone has a dad named Rivers. In the end, he could only rely on himself. He just had one more chance to prove himself than other second-round picks.

Tomorrow, they’d be playing a back-to-back home game against the 76ers—that’s Iverson’s team, last season’s Finals runner-up!

Even though Ethan Brooks knew that Finals run was the peak of Iverson’s career, and the 76ers would never make it to the Finals or even the Eastern Conference Finals again—sometimes not even the playoffs—right now, Iverson was at the absolute peak of his abilities, no doubt about it. And unfortunately, Ethan Brooks played point guard. Even if Iverson played shooting guard, most teams still used their point guard to defend him, since Iverson’s height was what it was, and many shooting guards just couldn’t keep up with him.

“Boss System, I’ll use the Superstar Points for the lottery first—one free draw, and one with Superstar Points.”

“Host has chosen the Basketball Superstar Lottery template for two draws…”

As soon as the system finished speaking, two boxes appeared floating in front of Ethan Brooks, of course virtually. The boxes started spinning, and as Brian Brooks silently chanted “player card, player card,” with a bang and a puff of blue smoke…

“Congratulations, host, you have obtained a Skill Card: Bench Mobster Level 1, and received 3 Skill Upgrade Cards. Player cards are rare items; the odds of getting one in the beginner lottery are about the same as winning the lottery.”

“……” Ethan Brooks didn’t want to deal with this system that always put him down, and went to check the items he’d received.

Bench Mobster Level 1: When coming off the bench, you will receive a significant personal ability boost. Trait: The higher your ability value, the lower the boost percentage. When your ability value reaches 80, this skill becomes invalid. If the skill is at level 5 when it becomes invalid, you will be compensated with one intermediate Superstar Points lottery draw.

Skill Upgrade Card: Five Skill Upgrade Cards can raise a designated skill by 1 level (no profession restriction).

The reward descriptions were very clear, and honestly, super useful! Just what he needed right now!

“If I come off the bench now, how much will my ability value increase? Significant boost—should be a lot, right?”

“That’s right. Congratulations to the host for drawing a rare skill card. Bench Mobster is a skill card that can single-handedly win an NBA award, and the odds of drawing it are very low. However, based on the host’s current level, you can only boost your ability value to 60 when coming off the bench, which is the NBA average.”

“…Could you not be so blunt?”

“Since you asked so sincerely, of course I have to answer honestly.”