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Chapter 69: Surprise level up
🕑 Added 2025-04-23 14:09:43 +0000 UTCEver since Lin Yi came to the U.S., he had a simple goal in mind — just get drafted by one NBA team in 2009. Honestly? He’s already blown past that goal.
The way he’s leveled up with the Wildcats is kinda ridiculous. (
But after linking up with Stephen Curry and becoming tight with him, Lin Yi quietly set a second goal for himself:
Beat the 2009 North Carolina squad — arguably the most stacked college team of the decade.
The more Lin played, the more he realized how much he loved the grind — that rush of adrenaline, the high of making a big play, the thrill of a hard-fought win. Basketball wasn’t just a sport for him anymore — it was life.
So ever since he first suited up for the Wildcats, he has started planning long-term. He trained hard, followed the coaches' routines to the letter, and went the extra mile on his weaknesses. Dude was obsessed with getting better.
And now, after taking down Syracuse, Lin hit a major milestone.
Ding
Congrats, host. Your Center (Post scorer and Defending), Power forward (Elite rebounder), Small forward ( Playmaker), Shooting guard (Dribble shooter), and Point guard (Sharpshooter) roles have all been promoted to Bronze Pro level.
TN: These are different from the badges. If confused, refer to ch.13.
In an instant, all the knowledge and technique for those five positions clicked into place like he’d been training them forever.
But here’s the catch — he has to build up the muscle memory and hit Silver level? He’s gotta play at least 50 NBA games. No shortcuts there.
If his five roles are the foundation, and the role-specific badges are his skill set, then Lin Yi’s current level is NBA-ready. Not bad.
Of course, that doesn’t even count his physical tools — speed, bounce, strength, or the three-pointer he’s been grinding on his own.
The system sets his floor — the ceiling? That’s all on him.
The scariest part? Lin’s toolkit is deep. He’s got a little something for every position. And with that speed? He’s damn near unguardable at the NCAA level.
Honestly, there’s nobody in college ball right now who can truly match up with him.
According to Lin’s system 2K-style scale, Bronze Pro puts him in the 75 — but when you add his badges and physical gifts? He’s playing at some levels above that.
And the timing couldn’t be better.
Because North Carolina? Man, they’re a problem.
If you count backup center Ed Davis, they’ve got five legit NBA-caliber players. That’s not hype. That’s just facts.
Sure, Lin and Steph are killing it right now, but UNC isn’t Syracuse or Oklahoma. These guys are disciplined, unselfish, and play the kind of textbook basketball coaches dream about.
Davidson’s biggest weakness? The supporting cast. If Lin or Steph don’t go absolutely nuclear, it’s tough to pull off an upset.
And yeah, don’t sleep on role players — ask the Yao-McGrady Rockets. Yao and T-Mac didn’t get clamped — it was the others that lost them games.
Basketball is a five-man game.
Before this upgrade, trying to beat UNC was going to be very difficult. Maybe they could hang for a half?
But come the second half, Lin and Steph would be running on fumes like Harden in the playoffs, and the whole thing would fall apart.
Now though? Lin feels like there’s at least a chance.
See, in the NBA, the talent spread is more balanced. Even the best teams aren’t that far ahead of the worst. But in college? It can be brutal. UNC’s got five future pros. Outside of Lin and Steph, Davidson’s guys are still figuring things out.
Beating that squad is like trying to solo a raid boss — even Jordan needed a Pippen and Rodman.
Luckily, March Madness is one-and-done. If this were a best-of-7? Lin wouldn’t even entertain the thought of winning.
The Elite Eight matchup is locked in — March 29th. Two days to go.
So, Lin’s plan? Spend the next 48 hours dialing into his upgraded skill set. Because this time, his leap wasn’t earned over months — it dropped on him too soon. He’s gotta adjust, fast.
...
Indianapolis, Wildcats Practice Facility
“Yo... did Lin just transform overnight?” Anthony Beasley, the Wildcats’ power forward, looked like he’d seen a ghost after getting cooked in a scrimmage.
Lin’s game just looked... different. Sharper. Smoother. Every move was cleaner. Whether it was 3v3 half-court or full 5v5, he was getting to his spots at will.
The problem is, his teammates couldn’t keep up. Lin felt like he was dominating too easily.
Coach McKillop just shook his head. “This kid, man... always full of surprises.”
The thing is, Lin hadn’t gotten taller or faster overnight. But his decisions — his shot selection, footwork, dribble combos, passing reads — all leveled up. His backdowns, his positioning for boards — everything just clicked.
That’s what makes a star. The little things, done better than anyone else.
North Carolina doesn’t play like your average college team. Their physicality? Next level. Lin could dominate weaker teams, but against UNC? Whole different ball game.
If he can’t stay consistent and efficient, there’s no way Davidson beats UNC with just Curry.
That’s what made Curry special to Lin — it wasn’t just the shooting. It was how he kept shooting, even under insane pressure. Steph? He came in firing.
Playing alongside him, Lin realized just how hard it is to shoot in real, top-tier intensity. For an average Joe? The rim might as well be a keyhole.
