Back at the hotel, a notification popped up: "U19 Dark Horse? Chinese Guard Lin Mo Stymies Spain." The short article featured a photo of his assist.
Exiting, a DM alert stopped him—sender: LeBron James' official account.
"Caught your game against Spain. Smart passes. Keep that aggression. Don't let anyone box you in."
Lin Mo froze, fingers hovering. He typed: "Thank you. This means everything."
LeBron replied with a 🔥 emoji.
[System Alert: Idol endorsement received. Compatibility surge! Current: 11%]
[Unlocked "LeBron's Signature Crossover"]
[Global Rank: 45,683 → 42,905]
Next game against Australia, 7'1" center Hogan welcomed Lin Mo with a thunderous block, sending the ball flying. "Welcome to the real world."
Lin Mo retrieved it, recalling LeBron's words. On the next play, he drove the lane again, drawing Hogan's jump before slipping the ball under his arm to a teammate for a layup.
All game, he used the "Signature Crossover" to dart past Hogan, dishing 8 assists. Final line: 11 points, 8 assists. China won 90-82.
Coach Wang burst into the locker room, phone in hand: "Look who's talking about you."
On screen: LeBron's tweet. "Keep an eye on @LinMo. Basketball IQ's off the charts."