Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

This was the type of game that most people would pay to watch. Unfortunately, it was a private game.

[Gamble the game?]

Kai pursed his lips as he looked at the new message from his system. He glanced at his teammates, who looked more determined than ever.

However, he felt hesitant. He knew just how talented they were were. They were the players he tried hard to beat for the past year. However, as he caught sight of the pro players on the side, he heard a voice telling him not to take the gamble.

With that, he shook his head.

The professional team stood tall and relaxed, their years of experience obvious in the way they carried themselves.

Dong 'Diesel' Chen, the towering center, stepped into the circle for the tip-off. His frame was an immediate reminder of the skill gap between the two groups.

"Jian, you do it," Zheng said, making Jian frown. However, seeing that he was the tallest among their team, he merely nodded.

Jian had always looked big in the high school league. So, it was ridiculous to see him appear miniscule right next to Dong.

Bam tossed the ball into the air, and Dominic effortlessly tipped it back to Jaw-Long, who caught it without any struggle.

"Alright, let's see what they've got," Caleb muttered to Muyang as he dribbled past half-court, surveying the disorganized cluster of younger players.

The game started slow, with the professionals moving across the court. Jaw-Long flicked a quick pass to Muyang, who caught it near the three-point line. Muyang glanced at his defender, Max, and smirked.

"You think you can stop me?" he taunted, taking a step back. Max tried to stay close, but Muyang was faster. A sharp feint left Max stumbling as Muyang fired off a three-pointer that swished cleanly through the net.

"Too easy," Muyang called, jogging back on defense.

On the other side, Zheng tried to rally his team. "Spread out! Find your positions!" he shouted. But it was chaos.

Jimmy dribbled furiously down the court, determined to take control. He darted left, trying to evade Caleb Wu, the youngest pro. Caleb stayed close, mirroring Jimmy's every move with quick, sharp movements.

"Not bad," Caleb said, grinning as he reached for the ball. Jimmy hesitated for a split second, and with that, Caleb swiped the ball cleanly and passed it down the court to Marcus Han.

Marcus didn't even slow down, barreling toward the basket. Jian tried to plant himself in Marcus's path, but the veteran forward plowed through him like he wasn't even there, finishing with a powerful layup.

"Welcome to the big leagues," Marcus said as he jogged back, leaving Jian stunned on the floor.

Meanwhile, Zheng grabbed the inbound pass and sprinted up the court, desperate to make something happen. He glanced at Jian, who was just getting back into position but chose to drive alone. Dong stepped up to meet him, anticipating Zheng's movements with effortless precision.

"You're too predictable, kid," Dong said, poking the ball loose and sending it bouncing into Jaw-Long's waiting hands.

"Got it," Jaw-Long called, speeding toward the basket.

"Someone stop him!" Zheng yelled, trying to direct traffic. But his teammates couldn't hear him.

Max wanted to prove himself, lunging toward Jaw-Long in a desperate attempt to block the shot. Jaw-Long, seeing the incoming pressure, shifted mid-air and dished the ball to Dong, who slammed it home with a ferocious dunk.

The rim rattled as the ball fell through the net, the sound echoing through the massive court.

"Still think you're ready for this?" Dong asked, smirking as he jogged back.

Kai grabbed the ball and brought it up the court, frustration etched across his face.

"Set up the offense!" he shouted, but his teammates weren't paying attention.

Kai called for the ball from the corner, but Jimmy ignored him, opting to take a contested jumper instead. The ball clanged off the rim, and Marcus easily secured the rebound.

"You're not the only one on the team, Jimmy!" Kai snapped, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Jimmy glared back. "Maybe if you actually moved, I wouldn't have to take the shot!"

While they bickered, Dong passed the ball downcourt to Caleb, who scored another easy layup.

The high schoolers regrouped, their frustration boiling over. Zheng took the ball up again, trying to regain control. He passed to Kai, who immediately faced pressure from Caleb.

"The number one Elite, right?" Caleb said, his quick hands forcing Kai to retreat.

Kai looked for an opening, but Jimmy wasn't making himself available. Jimmy stood planted on the wing, arms crossed, daring Kai to pass to anyone but him.

Kai gritted his teeth and drove toward the basket, trying to make something out of nothing. He took a hard step into the lane and went up for a layup, but Dong was already there.

"Not today," Dong said, swatting the ball out of the air.

The rejection sent the younger players into disarray, their fragile teamwork crumbling further. The ball went into Marcus' hands, and he sprinted down the court for a powerful dunk.

The sound resonated in the entire area, and it was then that the Elite Five felt utterly defeated.

"I think that's enough," Marcus said with a smirk. "We don't need to see anymore."

The Elite Five breathed heavily as they looked at the glowering faces of the pro players.

"This isn't working," Zheng said, his hands on his hips. "We're playing like we've never been on a court before."

"Maybe because we haven't played together before. We also play the same position, so someone keeps wanting to show off," Jian shot back, glancing at Max.

"Stop blaming me!" Max retorted. "At least I'm trying to make something happen!"

Jimmy shook his head, his arms still crossed. "What's the point? We're getting crushed anyway."

Kai, still catching his breath from the blocked shot, spoke up. "The point is to show them we belong here. But we're not going to do that unless we start playing as a team."

"Now, that's impossible," Jimmy scoffed, turning to the side.

"We're not a team."