“Why not? You’re still young and have so many possibilities, Vince. You’re a natural attacker, but I don’t want you to be just a pure scorer. I hope you can become an all-around core player like Hill and Pippen,” Eric Turner continued.

“Maybe you don’t quite understand, but I still have to say it: in the future NBA, the small forward position isn’t just about outstanding scoring. You’ll also need some playmaking ability, and even be strong on both offense and defense—the more versatile, the better.” Traditionally, the small forward’s role was defined by scoring, but as someone who traveled back from 2012, the small forward had already been given a new definition in that era. Scoring is important, but being all-around is even better. In fact, Pippen and Hill are already starting to change the definition of the small forward.

“So you want me to learn point guard skills so I can be more versatile—not only score myself, but also set up my teammates?” Carter asked uncertainly.

“That’s right. That’s how I see your role, and it’s what I hope you can achieve,” Eric Turner smiled, then continued, “Any more questions?”

Carter shook his head, then nodded, and said with some confusion, “Why do you have so much confidence in me? Honestly, I’m not even sure I can successfully make the transition, but you always seem so sure of yourself.”

“Haha, that’s a secret. The food’s here—try it and see how it tastes.”

“Wow, is this Chinese food? There are red grains on top of the white blocks—it looks beautiful.” Carter picked up a spoon and took a bite.

“Whoa, that’s so spicy! What is this?” After just one bite, Carter hurriedly grabbed the water glass in front of him and gulped down all the water in one go.

“This is a very famous Chinese dish called Mapo Tofu.” In this Chinese restaurant, this was the only dish Eric Turner found acceptable. Eric Turner liked it, but Carter was in tears—he’d never eaten anything so spicy before. But in the end, Carter still finished it, sweating all over.

“Feeling much more refreshed now, right?” Eric Turner said with a smile. After eating Mapo Tofu, Carter was clearly in much better spirits.

“Yeah, thank you, coach,” Carter said gratefully.

By the time the two finished eating, it was almost half past nine. Both had to get up early the next day, so after dinner, they went their separate ways.

“Vince, what did that crazy Chinese guy want you to do?” As soon as Carter returned to the dorm, he was caught by James Posey.

The two were in the same major, the same class, and even the same dorm room.

“Nothing much, he just treated me to a meal. Also, please don’t call Mr. Turner a pervert—he’s a perfectly normal person.” Carter lightly punched Posey in the stomach.

“Ow, that hurts! Vince, since when did you get so close with that perv—ah, I mean, since when did you get so close with the coach? Usually, you never cared when I said stuff like that.”

“Don’t ask me. I need to shower. Aren’t you tired? Why aren’t you going to bed? Planning to sleep through class again tomorrow?”

“Shower again? Hey, Vince, did that coach do something weird to you?” James Posey put extra emphasis on the word “weird.”

“You’re asking for it.”

“Hey, I’m sorry, okay? Hey, Vince, my stomach really hurts—don’t hit me anymore, I surrender!”

Chapter 9: What You Need to Do

“Miss Nice, the principal wants to see me?” Early the next morning, after supervising the players’ training, Eric Turner was stopped by a young, beautiful white woman in her twenties.

Nice was the administrative secretary at Wake Forest University, as well as the official team leader and manager of the Demon Deacons. She was only 24 this year. Besides these roles, she was also the assistant to the president of Wake Forest University. However, as far as Eric Turner knew, this top secretary at Wake Forest actually didn’t understand basketball at all—she just held a nominal position on the basketball team and rarely showed up, only responsible for relaying the president’s instructions.

“Yes, the president would like to see you right away,” Miss Nice replied with a businesslike smile.

“All right, I’ll go now.”

This was the first time the president of Wake Forest University wanted to meet Eric Turner—at least since Eric Turner had traveled here. He didn’t know if they’d met before.

The administrative building where the president’s office was located wasn’t far from the gym. American universities are different from Chinese ones—in the US, a university president’s power is unimaginable. American universities are more like institutions independent of the national education system. If necessary, they can ignore the Department of Education, even the White House. Not to mention, Wake Forest is a private school. Eric Turner’s coaching career depended entirely on the president.

“What could be so important that the president wants to see me in person? Is he going to fire me?” Eric Turner wondered to himself. In recent months, rumors about this president and famous coaches from other universities had been flying everywhere. Honestly, Eric Turner didn’t have a good impression of this president.

Who’s that? As soon as Eric Turner entered the president’s office, he was drawn to a huge black-and-white photograph directly in front of him.