Chapitre 123: Chapter 123: The Wade Dong Era
The NBA is essentially a commercial league.
It's normal for players to come and go, especially for the Suns, who won the championship last season. Many players increased their value and might have to take pay cuts to stay with the Suns, which isn't the best option.
Even NBA stars need to make a living and eat.
Although Wade Dong is the team's leader, he doesn't interfere with the team's operations. However, he does pay attention to the players' comings and goings.
For example, Lopez and Reed were traded by the Suns this summer. Before leaving, they both sent Wade Dong messages expressing their feelings.
By the end of August, the Suns' roster for the new season was basically finalized.
Hill and Iverson had confirmed their retirements. The championship-winning roster was left with Wade Dong, Nash, Dudley, Gortat, Varick, Morris, and Frye.
Out of the 15-player championship roster, only 7 remained with the Suns.
The roster changes were significant, but this was inevitable. Wade Dong's contract was for three years at $1.15 billion. After signing this contract, the Suns' salary cap space became tight. Some players could get bigger contracts elsewhere, so it was normal for them to leave.
However, due to the retirements of Hill and Iverson, the Suns still strengthened their roster.
McGrady confirmed his addition to the Suns for the new season.
A three-team trade brought Dragic and Tucker to the Suns, and Bynum also joined the team. Additionally, the Suns drafted two rookies, Green and Middleton.
Tucker is a defensive powerhouse.
Signing him was to reduce Wade Dong's defensive pressure, allowing Wade Dong to focus more on offense.
As for Bynum's addition, it allowed Wade Dong to return to his familiar shooting guard position. Bynum and Gortat formed a formidable frontcourt duo, capable of defending the Suns' interior.
Moreover, only Wade Dong knew that Green and Middleton would definitely prove their worth.
So, the Suns' roster for the new season was not weak. Compared to the championship-winning roster, the only difference was the retirements of Iverson and Hill. Therefore, the key players who could step up in crucial moments were now only Wade Dong and Nash.
McGrady had suffered major injuries, and no one knew if he could still perform at a high level.
...
As the preseason approached, the Suns' schedule for the new season was released.
Regular season schedule:
11.1 Suns vs 76ers
11.3 Heat vs Suns
11.5 Suns vs Magic
11.6 Suns vs Heat
11.8 Warriors vs Suns
...
4.6 Warriors vs Suns
4.8 Pacers vs Suns
4.10 Suns vs Rockets
...
The league was quite considerate. Since the first game of the new season would involve the presentation of the championship rings, the Suns' first game was scheduled against the 76ers. This was the team Iverson joined when he first entered the league and one of the teams he had the deepest feelings for.
Wade Dong returned to the US after the National Day holiday.
This time, he brought with him the "Wade Dong Era."
The "Wade Dong Era" was a low-top basketball shoe that incorporated many Chinese elements. On the heel, there was a small number "90" to commemorate Wade Dong's 90-point performance in the Olympic final.
The overall design of the shoe was lighter, lower, and more stable, pushing the limits of basketball shoe performance.
Wade Dong had not signed with Nike or Adidas, which puzzled many people. However, when Wade Dong brought the "Wade Dong Era" to the US, everyone finally understood.
This shoe, in terms of design and performance, was on par with popular shoes from Adidas and Nike. Moreover, the pricing was reasonable. In China, it was priced at 399 yuan, and in the US, it was priced at 2000 yuan. A pair of shoes in the US was only 1600 yuan more expensive than in China, which was acceptable to everyone.
No one knew what kind of backing Wade Dong had, but after the release of the "Wade Dong Era," it seemed that overnight, hundreds of Wade Dong Sports flagship stores appeared in China and the US. The stores were more luxurious than Nike and Adidas flagship stores.
Moreover, the "Wade Dong Era" sold out immediately upon release.
...
Wade Dong arrived at the US Airways Center. This was the first time the Suns had gathered as a complete team since winning the championship.
Everyone was already training, preparing for the new season.
Wade Dong saw McGrady practicing his jump shots and went over to greet him, "Idol, hello~"
The word "idol" caught everyone's attention. Nash, Gortat, and Dudley all stopped what they were doing and looked at Wade Dong and McGrady.
"Hello," McGrady said, putting down the basketball. "I've watched your game footage. You're stronger than any player I've ever encountered."
"You're too kind," Wade Dong said modestly. "How about a one-on-one?"
"Sure," McGrady agreed, tossing the ball to Wade Dong.
"Damn!" Dudley exclaimed, shaking his head. Dong Ge was about to bully the new teammate.
There was no denying that McGrady, at his peak, was unstoppable with his signature fadeaway jump shot.
So, before the one-on-one, Wade Dong casually exchanged a skill pack: McGrady's fadeaway jump shot skill pack!
"Let's go!" Wade Dong said, taking the ball and performing a simple crossover before executing a fadeaway jump shot.
"Swish!!!"
The ball went straight through the net.
"This...," McGrady was stunned. This move was identical to his own. If it weren't for Wade Dong's more handsome face, McGrady would have thought he had just made the shot himself.
"Your turn, idol~" Wade Dong picked up the ball and tossed it to McGrady.
If it were peak McGrady, no one could beat him in a one-on-one, not even Kobe. But the current McGrady was past his prime, and he was facing Wade Dong.
So...
Three minutes later.
[Talent Point +1...]
Wade Dong defeated McGrady 11-4.
"Is this a show of force?" McGrady muttered, feeling a bit down.
Wade Dong smiled and said, "This isn't a show of force. It's our team culture. Every new member of the team has to play a one-on-one with me."
"Is that so?" McGrady looked at Nash skeptically.
Nash nodded solemnly, "Yes, we've all played one-on-ones with Wade Dong. Of course, no one has ever beaten him in a one-on-one."
Besides McGrady, there were a few other new players on the Suns: Dragic, Tucker, Bynum, and the rookies Green and Middleton.
When they heard Nash say this, they couldn't help but shrink back, hoping Dong Ge wouldn't look their way.
Especially Dragic, Tucker, and Bynum, who had encountered Wade Dong last season and knew how terrifying he was. They thought, "Do we really need to do this one-on-one?"
However, Green was quite brave. He stepped forward and said to Wade Dong, "Since this is the team culture, I also want to challenge you to a one-on-one."
"Oh ho~?" Wade Dong looked at Green with a smile.
A voluntary one-on-one challenge was worth 5 talent points!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone