Because they lost the game, the three-point contest the two had agreed on today—with the winner getting a Coke—was canceled. However, another competition quickly began in the dorm room.

The NBA2K9 showdown—unfortunately, Curry once again suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of Eric Bennett.

After all, anyone who’s played as Yao Ming in 2K9 knows how overpowered he is!

“This doesn’t make sense! The three-point shooting in this game is way too inaccurate.” Curry’s baby face was still shrouded in frustration and gloom.

Eric Bennett nodded in agreement. It really doesn’t make sense—after all, in the future, many players would say you’re even more accurate in real life than in 2K...

“Nice, five beef burgers and two bottles of Gatorade.” After snapping a picture of his victory with the latest Apple 3G phone, Eric Bennett said this to Curry.

“How do you eat even more than I do!” It’s a well-known fact that athletes eat a lot, but over the past six months, Curry had discovered that this much skinnier Chinese teenager could out-eat him any day.

“I’m in special training lately, special training. Plus, I think I can still grow taller,” Eric Bennett told Curry.

A bet is a bet—Curry, feeling the sting, glanced sadly at the little piggy wallet Ayesha had bought for him.

After a dinner that disappeared in a flash, it was time for another round of 2K. Of course, Curry had never beaten Eric Bennett.

“Lin, if you can grow 10 centimeters taller, I’ll definitely get Coach McKillop to let you join the team. I really need a teammate,” Curry repeated once again before bed.

Eric Bennett considered the question seriously. “Listen, Stephen, what you really need is someone who can set screens for you.”

That was a nearly unsolvable problem, because at Davidson College, the only player over two meters tall left was Anthony Beasley—a 2.01-meter center who couldn’t shoot...

In college, Curry’s three-point range and off-the-dribble shooting hadn’t yet reached their peak. The main reason Curry was staying another year in college was that his father, Dell Curry, believed his slight frame wasn’t ready for the NBA shooting guard position, and hoped he could further hone his ball-handling and passing skills in college. This season in the NCAA, Curry was averaging nearly 8 assists per game.

Height, huh? Hey, buddy, I’m not going to tell you about March Madness in the NCAA...

This is exactly why I came to America. After all, I just can’t let go of basketball. Soon, Eric Bennett drifted off to sleep...

Chapter 002: A Sudden Growth Spurt

Generally speaking, a boy’s height keeps increasing until about age 22. Many NBA stars have experienced a late growth spurt in high school or college that changed their future position. For example, the famous NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal played point guard all the way up until high school.

Something big had recently happened in Room 4001 of the Davidson College boys’ dormitory.

Stephen Curry was pacing back and forth in the room, the anxious, nervous “elementary schooler” muttering to himself from time to time: “Oh no, oh no, could it be gigantism... Eric Bennett, you better not die, you still have to watch me play in the NBA!”

Over the past month, Eric Bennett’s height had started shooting up like crazy.

In the first week, he grew 10 centimeters, almost catching up to Stephen Curry. Curry excitedly ran to tell the basketball team’s coach, McKillop, and hoped Eric Bennett could join the team.

In the second week, Eric Bennett’s height was already close to 195 centimeters. McKillop and the basketball team members all came over to watch...

In the third week, Eric Bennett’s height broke 205 centimeters. Now, instead of excitement, everyone felt shock and concern...

By the fourth week, Eric Bennett’s height had surpassed seven feet! Oh my God, Curry swore sincerely that he had never seen anything so bizarre in his life! He had always prayed devoutly, hoping God would send him a screener or a rebounder, but he definitely didn’t want his own greed to cause his friend to get some weird disease like gigantism. Oh, almighty God, please have mercy on poor little Stephen—I really don’t want to hurt my friend.

“Everything’s normal! He’s very healthy, and all his indicators are normal.” To confirm whether Eric Bennett had the legendary gigantism, McKillop and his assistant Jennings took Eric Bennett to North Carolina State Hospital for a checkup. However, the results were exactly the same as those from the local Davidson hospital.

All his physical indicators were perfectly normal.

“Doctor, he’s grown nearly 40 centimeters in the past month!” McKillop emphasized again, the old coach’s hair looking even whiter these past few days.

The doctor shot McKillop a look. “Listen, sir, please trust modern medicine. I’ve never seen anything like this either, but according to our bone age test, your student should reach about 221 centimeters before he stops growing.”

221 centimeters?

McKillop swallowed hard.

Eric Bennett was much calmer than McKillop, as if he already knew he would reach that height.

McKillop took Eric Bennett back to Davidson College, told him to rest for two days, and suggested he spend some time on the basketball court getting used to his new height. After all, with such a sudden growth spurt, Eric Bennett needed to adapt to his new body.