After the Bucks lost on a last-second shot, their players didn't bother with post-game handshakes. Frustrated and disappointed, they headed straight to the locker room. Meanwhile, the Warriors surrounded Tang Lei in celebration for several minutes before slowly dispersing.
Once the crowd thinned out, a black-haired female reporter who had been waiting patiently approached. Tang Lei wasn't surprised by the post-game interview. After all, with his performance and game-winning shot, he was the obvious MVP.
What did surprise him, however, was that the reporter was none other than Coral, a Chinese correspondent stationed in the NBA, affectionately known as "BBQ Sister" among fans back home.
Typically, Coral didn't get the chance to interview the MVPs of games, as bigger outlets like TNT or ESPN usually monopolized those spots. But tonight, because of Tang Lei's pivotal role and the game-winner, Coral was granted the opportunity.
"Hi, Tang Lei! I'm so thrilled to be speaking with you tonight. Congratulations on your amazing performance, especially that unbelievable buzzer-beater shot! This is the first time a Chinese player has ever hit a game-winning shot in the NBA. How are you feeling right now?" Coral's sweet voice, speaking in fluent Mandarin, was a comforting sound in this foreign land.
Hearing his native language, Tang Lei felt a wave of nostalgia. He paused for a moment, just about to answer, when Curry and Draymond suddenly appeared, each with a bottle of water. They gleefully dumped it over his head before running off, laughing.
"Ah!" Tang Lei instinctively shouted, dodging most of the water. The playful moment, of course, was perfectly captured by the cameras.
Coral chuckled, "It seems like you've really bonded with Steph and Draymond, huh?" she teased. she continued, "So, how does it feel to hit that game-winner and seal the victory?"
"Of course, it's an incredible feeling. It's always exhilarating to hit a shot like that. But at the same time, I'm worried about KD's injury. I hope he's okay," Tang Lei responded, his voice calm but sincere.
Coral was visibly impressed. His answer wasn't just about celebrating the win—it reflected his awareness of the bigger picture. This level of maturity and emotional intelligence was rare, especially for a young player in such a pivotal moment.
After a short pause, Coral asked her next question. "At that last moment, everyone thought Steph would take the final shot. Did you expect the ball to come to you?"
"I wasn't thinking about whether the ball would come to me or not. My focus was on doing my job—whether that meant setting a screen or cutting to the right spot. I was prepared for whatever happened," Tang Lei replied confidently.
"Great mindset. Opportunities always come to those who are prepared. Last question: Do you have anything to say to your fans back in China who have been supporting you all this way?"
"I will give my all in every game, and I am committed to restoring the pride of Chinese basketball," Tang Lei declared with conviction.
"Thank you for your time, Tang Lei. Have a great night, and we're all looking forward to seeing what you do next!"
"Thank you," Tang Lei said, smiling before heading back to the locker room.
The cold water from earlier had left him feeling refreshed, though chilled to the bone. After a quick shower, he joined Steph for the post-game press conference—a perfect opportunity for even more exposure.
Despite this being his first press conference, Tang Lei handled the questions with poise. His responses were thoughtful, occasionally sprinkled with a touch of his own humor, drawing smiles and laughter from the media.
…
Because Durant had been taken to the hospital for further evaluation, the team decided to stay in Milwaukee rather than head back to Golden State. After a grueling road trip, they were finally getting a much-needed three-day break.
Back at the hotel, the familiar voice of the system chimed in Tang Lei's mind:
[Congratulations, Host. You've earned 1 attribute point and 2 system coins for the regular-season victory.]
[Congratulations, Host. You've made history as the first Chinese player to hit a game-winner in the NBA. Critical bonus: +8 attribute points and 15 system coins!]
[Congratulations, Host. Your game-winning shot has dramatically increased your influence, earning you +10 charm points.]
Tang Lei nodded as he absorbed the information.
"As I thought, the charm points are linked to off-court influence," he mused, feeling pleased.
He pulled up his stats screen and looked over his updated attributes:
• Player: Tang Lei
• Team: Golden State Warriors (Two-Way Non-Guaranteed Contract)
• Age: 19 years, 40 days
• Height: 202cm+ (Each attribute point can increase height by 1cm, up to a max of 15cm)
• Wingspan: 204cm+
• Weight: 93.5kg
• Breakthrough: 80+
• Mid-Range: 92+
• Three-Point: 97+
• Vertical Leap: 93+
• Speed: 83+
• Defense: 85+
• Shot Blocking: 86+
• Ball Handling: 82+
• Stamina: 84+
• Charm: 87+
• Attribute Points: 9
Without hesitation, Tang Lei used three points to max out his three-point attribute. However, he knew better than to assume that a 100 rating meant a 100% shooting accuracy.
After all, when his three-point stat was at 97, his shooting percentage wasn't 97%. He figured that a maxed-out attribute simply meant his three-point ability was ranked first in the entire NBA.
And who had the highest three-point shooting percentage in the league?
Of course, it was Curry.
Statistically, Steph Curry had an NBA career three-point shooting percentage of 43.6%. That figure included a ton of tough shots—ones that were highly contested, off-balance, or desperation heaves. If you took those away, Curry's percentage would likely be over 50%.
Tang Lei wasn't sure what his actual three-point percentage was, but knowing it could surpass Curry's was all the confidence boost