Vivian Carter nodded and also replied softly, “His son is Mike Bibby from the Grizzlies. Didn’t you say before that he dressed flamboyantly? That’s because he’s a Black man who looks too white, so he’s ostracized by other Black people, but he can’t fit in with the white crowd either. That’s why he deliberately dresses even more extravagantly than those middle-aged Black men, just to blend in. He also played in the NBA and even won a championship…”

Mike Bibby—this Edward Thompson knew. He would become one of the Kings’ Five Tigers in the future, known as the most underrated among them.

The other four Tigers all had impressive individual honors: Divac was an All-Star, Christie made multiple All-Defensive Teams, Webber was a First Team big shot, and Peja almost won MVP… Only Mike Bibby never received any individual awards.

It wasn’t until Bibby retired that experts and veterans spoke up for him, saying he was the stabilizing force of the Kings’ Five Tigers. Before he joined the Kings, the team had decent records, but they were swept by the Shaq-Kobe duo in the playoffs. After he replaced White Chocolate, the Kings immediately had the strength to beat the Shaq-Kobe duo in a series.

Edward Thompson didn’t continue to ask about this. Henry Bibby started roll call.

There were 243 people who actually showed up for the men’s and women’s team tryouts. A dozen or so names were called with no response—either late, or registered and invited but didn’t come.

After roll call, Henry Bibby began assigning assistant coaches to lead group training.

Vivian Carter took Edward Thompson over to say hello. When Henry Bibby saw Edward Thompson, he just said, “I’m looking forward to your performance,” and assigned him to an assistant coach just like the other tryout participants.

All the companions like Vivian Carter and Liam Pike left. Edward Thompson and the other members of his group followed the assistant coach to a training field for pre-tryout physical measurements and warm-up.

There didn’t seem to be any special treatment, which was within Edward Thompson’s expectations.

That day, Henry Bibby had shown some interest in him, but clearly not much. In the end, ‘forcing’ him to attend the tryout was just said in the heat of the moment.

But this was an opportunity!

Edward Thompson focused intently on warming up with the trainer’s help, but once the official tryout began, his passionate heart started to cool.

There were people faster than him, people who could jump higher, people who were stronger…

When it came to the skills test, his heart was completely chilled.

Out of the twenty-some people in his group, he was at the bottom.

After the test, seven people from their group were called by name to participate in a second round in the afternoon—his name wasn’t among them.

The assistant coach told him to go home and wait for further notice. He knew this was just a polite way of saying he’d been rejected from the tryout.

…

After showering and changing clothes, Edward Thompson went to the café inside the stadium and saw Liam Pike chatting animatedly with a store clerk who, though clearly older, was still quite charming.

To be fair, Liam Pike was quite the looker—Edward Thompson thought he was just a little less attractive than himself. Plus, he always wore some ridiculously expensive watch or ring, so he attracted attention wherever he went.

When Edward Thompson arrived, Liam Pike apologized to the clerk and came over to ask, “So, how did it go, Leo?”

Edward Thompson asked, “Where’s Aunt Vivian Carter?”

“She left early. You know she doesn’t like me… In your eyes, it’s all about your advisor aunt. I was bored here waiting for you all morning, okay! So, tell me, how did it go?” As Liam Pike spoke, he started to get annoyed [○·｀Д′·○].

Edward Thompson shook his head. “I don’t think it’s going to work out. Anyone who showed up could shoot better than me, and there was even a guy shorter than you who could jump so high his head was level with the rim.”

“Just talk, why the personal attack? And how am I short? I’m 180 centimeters, the standard height for a handsome guy. You’re the one who’s out of line—grew a whole head taller in a year. Are you still growing?”

“Don’t! It’s already hard enough for me to buy clothes. I can’t afford custom tailoring.”

“So, you really can’t make the school team?”

“Forget it, I’ll just focus on my studies and find a job after graduation.”

“That’s a shame. I tried out for the team when I first started college too, but I got cut. I thought with your height you’d make it… Let’s go get lunch, and play CS this afternoon?”

“Let’s go!”

At the mention of games, Edward Thompson instantly perked up.

Before leaving, Liam Pike turned and blew a kiss to the clerk who’d been watching them, and she responded with a double-handed flying kiss.

Edward Thompson teased, “So this time your target is this lady? You really have a wide range of tastes.”

Liam Pike replied roguishly, “I’m just like you—I don’t really know what type I like, so I try different things. Who knows, maybe this time it’ll work out?”

“If your dad, who’s hoping for grandkids, finds out you’re dating someone almost his age, won’t he beat you with his shoe?”

“You don’t get it. Older women have their own charm…”

…

Failing the tryout left Edward Thompson a bit dejected.

His passion for his basketball dream had pretty much been shattered.

It was just a pity about that system he’d waited four years for. But his original goal wasn’t to become a basketball star anyway. Having lived a second life, he could take things in stride.