"Believe me, even for Michael Jordan or Peyton Manning, the pressure is always there in the world of competitive sports. At least, that's what I'd like to believe." With that, Lu Ke made a self-deprecating remark out of the blue, and the serious conversation instantly became cheerful, making Curry laugh.

"What I mean is that victory is the key to covering up everything, and failure is the source of everything. That's just how competitive sports are," Lu Ke said with a relaxed tone and a smile. "So, put the pressure aside for a moment, be yourself, stick to what you do, believe in yourself, and then face the challenges head-on. That's the only way to survive in professional sports."

Lu Ke turned around and saw a pensive Curry, his brow furrowed with deep distress.

Originally, this was just a casual chat between two people, and Lu Ke was just expressing his views in a relaxed tone. Unexpectedly, the conversation became more serious and seemed to have touched a nerve with Curry.

"How do you do it?" Curry asked in a low voice, slowing down his pace.

Lu Ke was slightly stunned. He hadn't given much thought to his words just now. Now that the conversation was suddenly getting serious, his tired brain couldn't keep up. But Lu Ke still thought about it carefully before answering, "When I'm on the field, whether it's for practice or a game, as long as my feet are on that field, I never think about making history or being a rookie. I only think about my game tasks."

"I'm a quarterback. I have to complete passes and lead the team to keep moving forward. Mistakes are inevitable, but you shouldn't hesitate because you're afraid of making them. Because when the quarterback gives up, the team surrenders. Pressure is always there and walks with me, but it shouldn't be a part of the game."

After listening to Lu Ke, Curry still frowned and looked at Lu Ke intently. "I mean, how do you do it?" He repeated the same question but then clarified, "Everyone knows the theory, but in practice, not everyone can do it. Otherwise, professional athletes wouldn't have bad games, would they?"

"From the day I chose football, pressure has been a part of my life. Maybe I'm just used to it." It was a heavy statement, but Lu Ke showed no fear or hesitation. Instead, he gave a confident smile and faced it calmly.

Everyone knows the half-full glass theory. A pessimist sees a half-empty glass, as if hope is fading. An optimist sees a half-full glass, which is the beginning of hope.

Similarly, being of Chinese descent was the same. For Lu Ke, pressure and motivation coexisted. The key was how he viewed and faced them.

If he were to feel sorry for himself and complain about all the injustices in this immigrant country, blaming society for everything, then nothing would ever change. On the contrary, if he actively chose to attack and embrace change, he could at least fight for a glimmer of hope.

Curry simply stopped walking and stood there, his face clouded and thoughtful, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

Curry's career was also full of doubts and challenges. As the son of Dell Curry, his father's aura always loomed over him, and people always had higher expectations for him. However, after graduating from high school, Curry suffered a major setback.

Curry attended a camp at the prestigious Duke University, hoping to join their basketball team and play in the NCAA. But the Duke coaching staff at the time believed that Curry was too skinny and too short to handle the intensity of NCAA games, and they ultimately rejected his application. This forced Curry to go to Davidson College, which had an average basketball program, where he spent his college career.

This was a heavy blow for Curry, who had aspired to join the NBA since he was a child.

Because on the path to becoming a professional, playing for an excellent college team, competing in the NCAA, building a solid foundation, gaining enough experience, and getting enough exposure to prepare for the draft was an important first step. Missing out on Duke seemed to have foreshadowed a bleak future in the draft.

Throughout his college career, Curry carried the weight of his father's fame and the pressure of being rejected by Duke, constantly trying to prove himself. In his junior season, after switching from a shooting guard to a point guard, Curry finally started to shine. With his impressive stats, he was drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.

However, after only two seasons, Curry's career was once again hit with a major setback.

At the end of last season, Curry's right ankle injury became serious. After undergoing surgery in May, he was never able to fully recover, and the injury kept coming back, causing his training to be intermittent.

Whether it was lucky or unlucky, the NBA was in a lockout this season. The labor dispute between the league and the players' union triggered a domino effect. Starting from July 1st, all teams in the league entered the first phase of the lockout, and they still hadn't reached an agreement. The opening day of the season was still a long way off.

This meant that Curry had more time to rest. But at the same time, it also meant that the future was full of countless uncertainties.

This year, Curry was about to enter the final year of his rookie contract, and the Golden State Warriors' attitude towards a contract extension was always ambiguous. Especially after Curry's surgery, the team's manager and head coach were always vague. Injuries are always the biggest obstacle for professional athletes.

Curry knew he was too impatient and that a new contract might only be possible after the season started and his recovery was verified. But during the long wait, Curry couldn't help but feel frustrated. On one hand, he wanted the new season to start quickly, but on the other hand, he wanted it to be delayed to give him more time to recover.

In this agonizing wait, Curry's confidence began to slowly dwindle. He became anxious and restless.

But now, looking at Lu Ke, Curry suddenly realized that compared to Lu Ke, his pressure didn't seem so terrifying.

As he said, he couldn't imagine how crazy the pressure was to be the most unique player in the entire league. But Lu Ke had done it. He not only stood on the field and led the team as a starting quarterback but also won one game after another, earning his place in San Francisco and the NFL with his own two hands.

Curry opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say. The overwhelming information in his mind needed some time to digest. Finally, Curry said again, "How do you do it?" After saying it, Curry noticed Lu Ke's dumbfounded expression, and he was slightly stunned himself. Then he realized:

This was the third time he had asked the same question, as if he was stuck in a loop.

"No... no..." Curry tried to explain, but he found it absurd and funny. He chuckled. "I mean, how did you do it in the last game against the Detroit Lions? Short passes, long passes, and even a running touchdown in a critical moment. God, you were on a killing spree on that field. Your performance was incredible. How did you do it?"

"I see." Lu Ke looked like he finally understood. "I'm being serious, professional basketball player is the best career path for you. If you ever want to become a reporter or a commentator in the future, I suggest you think twice." His serious and sincere expression made Curry burst into laughter.

The two started walking again and returned to the rest area. Curry continued to ask eagerly, "My question just now was serious. I watched the recording of the 49ers' game against the Lions, and your performance was truly impressive..."

"Are we in compliment mode now? I thought we skipped this part," Lu Ke joked again, interrupting Curry.

"Ha... haha." Curry tried to control himself but couldn't help but laugh. However, he didn't give up and continued relentlessly, "Your overall control of the game, your timing for passes, your offensive play-calling, and your ability to bring the team together. The most important thing is the decisive blow in crucial moments. I could really feel it during the game. I've always known that football plays are incredibly complex, and the demands on a quarterback are even more rigorous. Do you have any special techniques during practice?"

"Are you sure you're Stephen Curry? And not Alex Smith or Cam Newton, right?" Lu Ke teased.

Curry burst into laughter, then played along. He raised his right hand and pretended to tear off a mask, mimicking a scene from "Mission: Impossible," striking a cool pose that made the conversation even more comical.

Lu Ke also laughed heartily, then returned to the main topic. "Reading the defense is, without a doubt, the most important part of the entire play-calling process. For many rookie quarterbacks, memorizing the playbook is incredibly difficult, so they don't have the time and energy to read the defense. Inevitably, they're more prone to making mistakes..."

"So what about you? How do you learn?"

"Time. You have to spend enough time watching the opponent's game tapes and your own game tapes, then study them one by one, combining them with the playbook. There are no shortcuts." Lu Ke's words were a little less than truthful.

The rookie cheat he got from the system, though only four hours a day, truly became Lu Ke's biggest helper.

Beyond that, Lu Ke still spent a lot of time studying game tapes. "After fully understanding it, during the game, a correct read of the defense can often lead to unexpected results."

Curry looked like he finally understood. "But we also watch game tapes every week. Is there a difference?"

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