American Football: King of the Bay Area

Chapter 379: Chapter 376: Career Low Point

“Trust me, even for Michael Jordan or Peyton Manning, the pressure is a constant in the world of competitive sports. At least, that’s my wishful thinking.” Lu Ke suddenly threw in a self-deprecating remark, and the serious tone of their conversation immediately brightened. Curry couldn’t help but smile.

“What I mean is, victory is the key that covers up everything, while failure is the source that brings everything to light. That’s just how competitive sports are,” Lu Ke said with a relaxed tone and a smile. “So, you have to temporarily set the pressure aside. Focus on yourself, stick to your guns, believe in yourself, and then face the challenges head-on. That’s the only way to make it on the professional stage.”

When Lu Ke turned his head, he saw Curry looking thoughtful, his brow furrowed with deep worry.

It had started as just some casual, off-the-cuff chatter. Lu Ke had shared his thoughts in a lighthearted tone, but he never expected the conversation to take a more earnest turn and seemingly touch a nerve with Curry.

“How do you do it?” Curry slowed his pace, his voice low as he asked.

Lu Ke paused, a bit taken aback. He hadn’t really put much thought into what he’d just said, and now they were suddenly diving into a deep conversation. His tired brain was struggling to keep up, but Lu Ke still gave it some serious thought before answering. “When I’m on the field, whether it’s for practice or a game, as soon as my feet touch the turf, I never think about making history or being a rookie. I only think about my job in the game.”

“I’m a quarterback. I have to complete passes and lead the team down the field. Mistakes and errors are inevitable, but you can’t let the fear of ‘paying your dues’ hold you back. Because when the quarterback gives up, the whole team lays down their arms. The pressure is always there, it walks with me, but it shouldn’t be a part of what happens on the field.”

After listening intently to Lu Ke, Curry’s brow remained furrowed. He stared at Lu Ke. “I mean, how do you actually *do* it?” He repeated the same question, but this time he elaborated. “Everyone knows the theory, but not everyone can actually put it into practice. Otherwise, pro athletes would never have an off day, right?”

“From the day I chose football, pressure has been a part of my life. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to it.” The words were heavy, but Lu Ke showed no sign of fear or hesitation. On the contrary, he broke into a confident smile, facing the topic head-on.

Everyone knows the half-glass-of-water theory. A pessimist sees a half-empty glass, as if hope is fading away. An optimist sees a half-full glass, the start of new hope.

The same applied to his identity as a person of Chinese descent. For Lu Ke, pressure and motivation coexisted. The key was in how he chose to view it and how he chose to face it.

If he chose to wallow in self-pity, merely complaining about the injustices in this nation of immigrants and shifting all the blame onto society, then nothing would ever change. Conversely, if he proactively chose to take the offensive and embrace change, he could at least fight for a glimmer of hope.

Curry stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting and uncertain as he stood there, seemingly lost in thought.

Curry’s own career had been filled with doubt and challenges. As Dale Curry’s son, he was always living under the shadow of his father’s Aura. People always had higher expectations for him, but after high school, Curry suffered a major setback.

Curry had attended a training camp at the prestigious basketball school, Duke University, hoping to join their team and compete in the NCAA. At the time, however, the Duke coaching staff felt Curry was too skinny and too small to handle the intensity of NCAA competition, and they ultimately rejected his application. This forced Curry to attend Davidson College, a school with a far less prominent basketball program, where he spent his entire college career.

For Curry, who had dreamed of making it to the NBA since he was a child, this was a devastating blow.

On the path to a professional career, playing for a top college team, competing in the NCAA, building a solid foundation, gaining enough experience, and getting enough exposure to prepare for the draft is a crucial first step. Missing out on Duke University seemed to portend a grim outlook for his draft prospects.

Throughout his college career, Curry carried the weight of his father’s Aura and the pressure of being rejected by Duke, constantly striving to prove himself. In his junior year, after switching from shooting guard to point guard, Curry finally began to shine. After posting impressive numbers, he joined the Golden State Warriors as a first-round draft pick.

But just two seasons later, Curry’s career suffered another severe blow.

At the end of last season, his right ankle injury worsened. He underwent surgery in May but was never able to return to peak condition. The injury kept flaring up, and his training became sporadic.

For better or worse, the NBA was mired in a lockout that season. Labor negotiations between the Alliance and the Players’ Union triggered a chain reaction. Starting July 1st, all teams in the league entered the first phase of the lockout, and with no agreement in sight, the start of the season remained a distant prospect.

This meant Curry had more time to recuperate. At the same time, however, it also meant his future was filled with countless uncertainties.

This year, Curry was about to enter the final year of his rookie contract, and the Golden State Warriors’ stance on an extension was ambiguous at best. The team’s general manager and head coach had been especially evasive ever since Curry’s surgery. Injuries are always the biggest roadblock for a professional athlete.

Curry knew he was being too impatient. He had to at least wait for the season to start, to prove his recovery status, before there could be any progress on a new contract. But during the long wait, he couldn’t stop himself from growing anxious. On one hand, he wanted the new season to start as soon as possible. On the other, he hoped it would be delayed to buy him more time to heal.

During this draining wait, Curry’s confidence began to erode, bit by bit. He became restless and irritable.

But now, looking at Lu Ke standing before him, Curry suddenly realized that compared to what Lu Ke faced, his own pressure seemed far less terrifying.

Just as Lu Ke had said, Curry couldn’t imagine the insane pressure of being the most unique player in the entire Alliance. Yet Lu Ke had done it. He hadn’t just stood on the field and led his team as the starting quarterback; he had also chalked up victory after victory, carving out a place for himself in San Francisco and in the NFL with his own two hands.

Curry opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. The flood of information swirling in his mind needed time to digest. Finally, he asked again, “How do you do it?” The moment the words left his mouth, Curry noticed Lu Ke’s what-the-hell expression. He froze for a second, and then it hit him:

He had asked the same question for the third time, like he was stuck in a loop.

“No… it’s not…” Curry tried to explain, but he found the situation so ridiculous that he started to chuckle. “What I mean is, last game, the one against the Detroit Lions, how in the world did you do that? The short pass schemes, the deep-ball strikes, and even that crucial rushing Touchdown… God, you were on a rampage out there. It was an incredible performance. How did you do it?”

“Oh, so that’s what you meant.” Lu Ke’s face showed his sudden understanding. “I sincerely recommend that you stick to professional basketball as a career. If you ever think about switching to become a reporter or commentator, I’d advise you to think twice.” The deadpan, earnest look on Lu Ke’s face made Curry burst out laughing and clap his hands.

The two started walking again, heading back to the rest area. Curry, however, was persistent. “I was serious about my question just now. I watched the game film of the 49ers against the Lions Team, and your performance was seriously impressive…”

“Are we in mutual-admiration-society mode now? I thought we’d already moved past that stage,” Lu Ke joked, cutting Curry off.

“Ha… haha.” Curry tried to stifle his laughter but failed. Still, he didn’t back down and pressed on tenaciously. “Your command of the overall game, your timing on the passes, the offensive play-calling, your ability to rally the team’s spirit, and most importantly, that killer instinct at crucial moments—you can really feel it during the game. I’ve always known that football strategy is incredibly complex and that the demands on a quarterback are even more rigorous. Do you have any special techniques you use in practice?”

“You’re sure you’re Stephen Curry, right? Not Alex Smith or Cam Newton?” Lu Ke quipped.

Curry clapped his hands and roared with laughter. He played along, raising his right hand and mimicking the motion of tearing off a mask. Then, imitating a scene from “Mission: Impossible,” he struck a cool pose, making the conversation even more comical.

Lu Ke laughed heartily as well before getting back to the topic. “Reading the defense. That’s without a doubt the most important part of the whole strategic process. For a lot of rookie quarterbacks, just memorizing the playbook is an incredibly difficult task, so they don’t have the time or energy to read the defense. Inevitably, they’re prone to making mistakes…”

“So what about you? How do you study?”

“Time. Spending enough time watching your opponent’s game film, watching your own game film, and then studying it all in conjunction with the playbook. There are no shortcuts.” As Lu Ke said this, he fudged the truth a little.

‘The beginner’s cheat rewarded by the system, despite only being four hours a day, has truly become my biggest asset.’

Outside of that, Lu Ke still put in the hard work, spending hours studying game film. “After you understand them thoroughly, making the right read on a defense during a game can often lead to unexpected results.”

Curry’s expression was one of dawning realization. “But we watch game film every week too. What’s the difference?”