Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 624: Neglected to Notorious

Marcus high-fived Caleb as the latter went to the court to substitute him. Marcus sat on the bench, catching his breath and wiping his sweat with an already damp towel.

He didn't realize he had worked so hard for this game. It was because the gap had been in their favor until now, so it felt like an easy game. However, that wasn't the case.

They were still doing their best.

His eyes then fixed on Kai as he played like a veteran on the court.

Marcus leaned back slightly, his arms crossed over his chest. There was something undeniable about him. Not just his skill—though it was extraordinary—but the way he carried himself. The determination in his eyes and the fire in his movements.

"He's different," Marcus muttered, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

He was different from Zhu. He was different from him. That thought in itself was scary because they were called 'prodigies' back then. If that was the case, then what was Kai?

Chinese basketball has always been overlooked on the world stage. But this kid…he might be the one to change that. To make it mainstream.

Johnny Wang, who was fully immersed in the game, shook his head in disbelief.

"He's unlike anyone we've seen before in this country," Ashley said beside him.

"You think so?" Johnny asked, placing his hand under his chin.

"I'm certain," Ashley responded, her eyes not leaving the game.

On the court, Kai continued to the best of his ability. The German team was struggling to keep up, their once-confident expressions replaced by frustration and fatigue.

But as the fourth quarter was halved, Coach Xu Wei called for a timeout, signaling for Kai to come to the bench.

Kai jogged over, wiping sweat from his brow.

"What's the plan, Coach?" he asked.

Xu Wei crossed his arms. "The plan is for you to sit out the rest of the game."

Kai's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? No, I can still do it. I'm fine."

He was actually having a lot of fun! He realized he could easily copy the skills of those who had a lower level than him.

"You've done enough," Xu Wei said firmly. "More than enough. You've proven your point, Kai. Now, you need to rest and get ready for the next game. It's going to be our toughest yet."

Max nodded, placing his hands on Kai's shoulder. "Yeah, sit. You're sweating like crazy. We can handle it without you."

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"Yeah," Jian said. "Before you snatched the title, I was still the number one Elite!"

Kai chuckled. "Go ahead," he said. "Don't let them catch up."

Jaw-Long smirked. "Of course, we won't."

As the fourth quarter resumed, it was clear that the Chinese team had learned a lot from Kai's performance. The older players, inspired by the younger ones, played with a renewed sense of fearlessness.

Jian, taking on a more prominent role, drove to the basket with an aggression that left the German defense scrambling. Max, despite his usual laid-back demeanor, hit back-to-back three-pointers, each shot met with thunderous applause from the crowd.

Even Jimmy, who had always struggled to find his own playing style, felt like an entirely different person! He was actually having fun while playing. Now that he wasn't glancing at his dad at every shot, he realized he could contribute a lot more to the game.

Meanwhile, the German team was doing everything they could to close the gap, but the momentum was firmly in the Chinese team's favor.

Brandt attempted a block, but Caleb's quick footwork left him off-balance. The ball soared through the air and sank cleanly into the net.

Jonas Meier tried to break through the defense with his signature crossover, but Max anticipated the move, stealing the ball and passing it to Jian, who finished with a smooth layup.

"I see," Gina said, her voice filled with respect. "I have been mistaken. I thought it was only Kai Guo who had stood out in this game. However, the entire team had drastically improved. Even without Kai on the court, they're dominating their opponents."

David nodded, his tone equally enthusiastic. "It's incredible to see how much this team has grown throughout the tournament. From one of the most overlooked to the team running for gold."

As the clock wound down, the gap between the two teams widened. The Germans fought hard, but their coach was right. The game was over.

On the bench, Kai watched his teammates with a proud expression. He wanted to be out there with them, contributing to the win. But he also knew that this was an important moment for the team—a chance for them to prove that they could stand on their own.

And they were doing just that.

When the final buzzer sounded, the score was 98-81. A 17-point victory.

The arena was filled with deafening screams. Fans jumped to their feet, waving flags and clapping wildly.

It was chaos, but the beautiful kind. The heart-stopping chaos that marked a historic moment.

The women's basketball team was on their feet, feeling excited despite their initial prejudice of the men's basketball team.

Johnny Wang rose from his seat and squealed. Ashley turned to him with wide eyes. Meanwhile, he cleared his throat and brushed it off, clapping formally.

However, it was too late. Ashley already knew he was capable of squealing like a fangirl.

On the sidelines, Coach Xu Wei stood frozen, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes glistened as he watched his players celebrate. He blinked rapidly, but the tears wouldn't stop.

"They've done it," he whispered to no one in particular.

In the commentator's booth, Gina was already shouting. "This is incredible! China has secured a medal! It's either silver or gold now!"

David was just as loud. "They've made history today. This team, these players, this coach! They made he country proud."

The players embraced on the court, tears streaming down some of their faces.

They had a medal.

They had a chance for gold.