Chapter 5: Larry Bird’s Right Vote
Xu Ling originally hoped to use his performance in the team’s scrimmage to fight for a starting position.
Nothing can prove a player’s level better than a game.
However, the team held a freshman scrimmage at the beginning of the school year, and after that, they day after day immersed themselves in extremely boring high-intensity training, never organizing any form of scrimmage again.
Someone raised a question, thinking that blindly burying one’s head in training could not produce results.
This sentence provoked Knight’s fury.
Knight was in the stands at the time, and he roared at the freshmen: “My methods are not for you to question! Either grit your teeth and stick it out, or be like Larry Bird and countless softies! Can’t stick it out? Then get the hell out of here! TTU doesn’t lack transfer failures!”
In his previous life as a post-00s, Xu Ling had some knowledge of the NBA.
He knew Larry Bird, but many times, Bird was just a name to him, with the only title being ‘the small forward GOAT before LeBron James’. However, this was nothing remarkable. In the year before Xu Ling transmigrated, GOAT had long been dissected into all sorts of things: life’s GOAT, fashion’s GOAT, load management’s GOAT, offseason’s GOAT, and even young players with cognitive issues like Brandon Miller thinking Paul George was basketball’s GOAT. It was absurd to that extent—who knows how many niche GOATs there were?
But that said, from the meaning of Knight’s words, Bird not only once played under him but also transferred because he couldn’t stand his training?
Was it that exaggerated?
No, wasn’t this a stain? What was this old man so proud of?
Xu Ling just listened quietly, feeling there was no need to provoke the old man. The one who raised the question was named Jay Mitchell, a older freshman from community college. For TTU, junior college recruits were either supplements as immediate combat power or just the team’s practice partners, never making the active roster.
America’s community colleges are like our junior colleges, but not exactly, because community colleges are an important talent pool for the NCAA, and many make it to the NBA, but you’d hardly see junior college players making it to CUBA, let alone the CBA.
To be fair, if Xu Ling were in Mitchell’s position, he might have had a similar reaction.
Because Mitchell was already set to redshirt in the new season, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t become a formal player.
So, he really needed to know the meaning of busting his ass like a dog every day without being able to scrimmage with the formal players.
Knight’s roar silenced all doubts, and no one spoke nonsense anymore.
Burying one’s head in hard training was the only way out.
For a full month and a half, Xu Ling’s weight dropped from 99 kg to 95 kg, which would be considered robust even in professional games.
TTU’s training was grueling, but it gradually accustomed Xu Ling to Division I intensity, which was greatly beneficial to him. During this period, they also cultivated friendships amid the harsh training.
Xu Ling had three friends he got along well with on the team: besides roommate Craig, there was fellow freshman Charlie Burgess (PG), a point guard from community college. And sophomore Allen Worskur, whose playing style reminded Xu Ling of those short shooting guards from the small-ball era.
In the blink of an eye, the date arrived at October 15, 2006.
In college basketball, no date is more important than October 15. Starting from this day, teams across the country are allowed to conduct official, coach-led preseason training. Players may have already been battling fiercely in private, but October 15 marks the true beginning of everything. Head coaches will descend from the stands—though merely sitting in the stands to observe is itself a commonly ignored NCAA rule—and personally step onto the court for teaching, guidance, and endless roaring.
Bob Knight solemnly arrived at the center of Wembley Training Hall, with all the players standing before him, the air filled with an unusual heaviness.
His expression was extremely serious.
“I think you’ve all noticed,” Knight said slowly, “our captain, the great Julius Jackson, is not here today.”
Indeed, some had noticed, but no one cared.
In everyone’s view, unless the sky fell, Jackson’s starting and core status was unshakable.
“Now, forget him! Because he abandoned us!” Knight suddenly raised his voice, his thunderous anger showing no mercy to this favored disciple. “He looks smart! Plays damn smart on the court too! But don’t be fooled! He’s a complete fraud! He fooled me and let every one of you down! From this moment on, we can’t fucking count on him anymore!”
As the players exchanged glances, wondering what unforgivable sin Jackson had committed, Knight revealed the answer himself, leaving everyone stunned: “Your captain! The great J.J.! Is indefinitely off the team starting today! Until his godawful academic grades are no longer a pile of toxic dog shit!”
Academics?
Xu Ling was dumbfounded.
“I’m very disappointed in J.J.!” Knight said loudly. “He took a makeup exam a few days ago, but he bombed it! That stupid test paper nearly dropped TTU’s overall IQ by 10 points! God save his soul!”
The captain missing team activities due to academic issues reminded Xu Ling of an old acquaintance.
To be precise, not his acquaintance, but an opponent from his previous life’s growth—Pang Qingfang, a stranger to those not following the Chinese Men’s National Basketball Team. But at ages 13 and 14, he was the most spotlighted genius basketball player in the country. At that time, 16-year-old Xu Ling met 14-year-old Pang Qingfang in youth competitions and watched him dominate with physique far beyond youth level, scoring 40+ and crushing him. Back then, Pang Qingfang looked like China’s next NBA player, then he went to the United States, and there was little news after that. The last Xu Ling heard was that he couldn’t play D1 due to academic issues.
However, Xu Ling believed Jackson would return sooner or later; he absolutely couldn’t miss his entire senior season over academics.
But until his return, TTU’s absolute core spot was vacant.
And this was actually the purpose of Knight’s outburst.
TTU’s coaching staff didn’t like using intra-team scrimmages to test players’ levels; Knight only found the players he needed through brutal training.
But players spend every day together, so who has strength gradually becomes clear through trials.
No freshman was Xu Ling’s opponent, and Xu Ling’s goal was to prove he was one of the best five in Wembley Training Hall. Jackson’s absence left them one short, giving him a chance to seize the spot.
This was also the opportunity his friend, the sophomore guard Allen Worskur who was favored by the coaching staff, had been waiting for.
From this day on, Xu Ling competed with Worskur in almost every aspect.
Unfortunately, as a shooting guard whose talent would be excellent even in the NBA, Xu Ling was better than Worskur in almost every aspect.
His dribbling threat was greater, his passing vision broader, his wingspan longer, and his athleticism plus long-term inside experience even allowed him to temporarily hold down the inside on the college court.
In a way, Xu Ling should thank Worskur.
Worskur seemed like a backcourt player above the NCAA average.
Completely dominating him on the training court was a strong boost for Xu Ling.
Worskur felt deeply frustrated. He believed his strength was no less than the arrogant Martin Zeno; without Xu Ling, he was confident in challenging for the starting shooting guard spot.
But now, all his shine was completely overshadowed by this freshman.
Resentment and anxiety finally erupted on November 10—after the last training before the NCAA season opener. Worskur immediately called for a mixed scrimmage between freshmen and sophomores.
“Will the coach agree?” Sophomore forward Michael Prince asked worriedly.
“Just play 16 minutes,” Worskur said. “8 minutes per half, just mess around. What do you think, Eli?”
Xu Ling knew that unless he completely defeated Worskur in a game, the other wouldn’t give up.
So, he tossed his towel aside and said nonchalantly: “I’ve wanted to kick your ass for a while.”
TTU’s freshmen and sophomores totaled exactly ten players, and teams formed quickly. The only senior Daryl Dora jumped out laughing, appointing himself referee.
The game began.
Xu Ling’s team won the tip-off, and on the first possession, the ball quickly reached him.
Worskur immediately pounced, rated by Knight in training as a “defensive black hole even my grandma could score on,” but now he unleashed every defensive skill he knew.
However, the gap was despairing. He lacked height, speed, explosiveness; in front of Xu Ling, all his defense was like slow-motion replay.
Xu Ling’s defense wasn’t top-tier yet, but those long arms were like sharks smelling blood, always precisely blocking Worskur’s vision and passing lanes.
One possession stalled, and Worskur impatiently called for a pick and roll. Thinking he’d finally shaken half a body length with the screen, he pulled up for a jump shot.
The next second, a shadow arrived first from behind, leaping into the air!
“Pa!”
Xu Ling swatted a solid chase-down block, sending the ball flying!
Possession switched, and Worskur played more and more anxiously.
Xu Ling didn’t choose a power drive with his physique but repaid the favor, calling for the same pick and roll tactic. At the moment the screen formed, he used a massive step-back Worskur had never seen, instantly creating two meters of space, and calmly hit a jump shot.
“Swish!”
Pure swish.
“Allen,” Xu Ling said flatly, “surrender and lose half.”
Worskur shouted: “Impossible!”
Xu Ling began sticking close to defend Worskur.
He gave Worskur no space to receive the ball or move freely; aggressive over plays made even touching the ball a luxury for Worskur.
When Worskur finally got the ball via off-ball screen and was about to attack, Xu Ling spotted the flaw and stripped it away.
The half wasn’t even over, but the matchup between Xu Ling and Worskur could already be called settled.
Before the words landed, Xu Ling shot forward like an arrow off the string, caught a teammate’s pass mid-air, and unleashed an exaggerated, powerful tomahawk dunk, slamming the ball through the rim!
However, before the basketball could bounce, a roar exploded from the sidelines: “What the fuck are you doing?!!!”
Bob Knight stormed over in a rage, bellowing: “Who told you to play a game?”
Xu Ling stood still, saying nothing.
Knight’s fury poured out like high-pressure steam, all onto Worskur.
“Allen! You’d rather piss me off than skip this farce, just to prove to the world you can’t even beat a rookie? Great! You’ve perfectly proven your incompetence! If this is the answer after two years of training at TTU, then pack your shit and get out now! Disappear from my sight and never let me see your face again!”
“You destroyed your last chance with your own hands! Loser! Utter loser! I fucking want to crack open your skull and see what’s inside! Get out! Get out now! Get the hell out of my gym! Out!!!”
If Xu Ling had known this would be the outcome, he definitely wouldn’t have played.
Moreover, Knight’s overreaction caused him huge disgust.
He really didn’t think there was anything wrong with players scrimmaging on their own after training.
Just as he was about to speak, Knight didn’t even look at the ashen-faced Worskur anymore, turning directly to the assistant coach and roaring even more excitedly: “Fuck Allen Worskur! We don’t need him! Stop wasting time on this loser! We gave him two years, and this is the dogshit he repays us with! I’m done!”
Then, Knight finally noticed the standout freshman staring at him with an expression he’d never seen in a player’s eyes: a mix of coldness, scrutiny, and undisguised contempt.
“Rookie!” Knight shouted, “Don’t think beating Allen Worskur that piece of trash proves anything! You’re still fucking far off! Worskur is nothing in college basketball! He’s just a pile of shit! If you’re smug about this, get out with him right now!”
In the NCAA, the head coach holds absolute authority.
Any college player aspiring to pro basketball doesn’t want to ruin their relationship with the coach, and Xu Ling told himself the same, but deep down, he was still that independent post-00s from the future, nearly college-graduated, not one of the timid, obedient student-athletes Knight was used to.
That long-pent-up extreme disgust for this coaching style that disregarded players’ dignity and maximized humiliation finally overwhelmed reason.
Indifferently from Xu Ling’s mouth came words that could freeze the entire Wembley Training Hall: “Now I finally get it. This is why Larry Bird absolutely refused to play for you no matter what. He cast a vote against you with his transfer back then—why did we wait thirty years to confirm he cast the right vote?”
Redshirt is a strategy that allows a player not to participate in official games in a certain season to preserve eligibility. NCAA rules give college athletes four years of eligibility, while redshirting allows five years on campus, using one year without playing to train, recover from injury, or adapt to college level.
Pang Qingfang was a legend too; among all domestic athletes born in 2005, he was the first to stand out, averaging 30 points per game at 80% shooting in U14 in 2019, looking very promising. Then he went to the United States in 2019, studied abroad for five years, got a bunch of full scholarships, and finally went to community college due to grades.
Waveheart, Little Mo classmate, reader20180915143254434, reader20250901193317014, reader20250901193317014, Tao Chenggong, King Supreme Supreme Jade Emperor Haotian Seven Days, Minced Meat Eggplant—thanks Egg Bro for the pledges.
