章 11: We definitely will
The physical fitness tests weren't done just anywhere,they took place in the Bruins' indoor gym.
The setting was professional all the way: bright lights, wooden floors, massive seating, digital displays, and all sorts of training equipment you could think of.
Arjun looked around curiously as he entered. The facilities at Greenfield School couldn't hold a candle to this place.
"Why didn't we just have the training camp here?" Arjun asked Matt.
"They did the fitness tests and then headed out,the coach thought it'd be cooler outside," Matt replied.
Talk about a coach doing whatever he wants.
Matt led Arjun onto the court and said, "Arjun, I need all your physical stats and info now. That one-on-one with Arron was impressive, but it's not enough."
Arjun nodded, "No problem."
...
"Barefoot height 6 feet 8 inches, with shoes 6 feet 8.5 inches, weight 220.46 pounds, wingspan 7 feet 3.31 inches..."
Matt wasn't the only one helping Arjun with his physicals,there were other staff members jotting down his stats.
"This physical talent is incredible—your height, your wingspan," Matt remarked as he looked over Arjun's static talents.
"3/4 court sprint in 3.05 seconds."
"Bench press 419 pounds."
These stats left Matt speechless.
Both were top of the charts for the Bruins, with Arjun's sprint even beating Russell Westbrook's recent 3.08 seconds.
And the bench press? LeBron James also lifts 419 pounds, and Arjun was right there with him...
With these stats combined with his height, Matt felt Arjun's physical condition was top-tier in the NCAA.
Of course, Arjun wasn't without flaws,his vertical jump was just over 2.62 feet. Matt figured the powerful dunks he saw on the court were more about the visual impact of his height and reach.
Arjun knew his vertical wasn't great, but what could he do?
Just like Curry is known for his sharp three-point shooting with the Golden State Warriors, and Simmons is famous for his all-around gameplay and passing skills despite not being a top dunker. Each has their strengths, and you can't just blend them to create a top dunker.
After all the physical tests, it was time for the 2-minute intense shooting drill!
This meant making as many shots as possible from designated spots in 2 minutes.
The requirement was to shoot 5 balls from each of the 5 three-point spots, totaling 25 shots.
During the drill, Arjun had to rebound his own shots and shoot within 5 seconds.
Arjun made 24 out of 25 shots—a breeze for him.
Thankfully, it seemed Curry's shooting touch dominated in this blend, not Simmons'. Otherwise, Arjun would have had some choice words—Simmons is notorious for missing mid-range shots.
...
...
The physical tests wrapped up without a hitch.
Arjun made the freshman team roster.
Ben Howland, who usually didn't recruit non-athletic students, had made an exception for Arjun.
Arjun had one request for Ben Howland concerning his living situation,he wanted to switch dorms.
Given that athletes have different schedules, Arjun planned to start training at 3 AM.
So, smoothly, Arjun and Westbrook ended up as roommates.
Ben Howland thought they'd be a good fit together.
"Ding, joined the Bruins successfully, earned 1 Victory Point."
As he moved his stuff back to the dorm, the system's notification pumped Arjun up.
Even though 1 Victory Point was a minor boost, Arjun was confident about getting stronger.
Rome wasn't built in a day. He knew he had to keep his feet on the ground and keep pushing.
...
A week flew by, and with each passing day, Ben Howland's excitement about Arjun's performance grew.
Arjun was rock solid in the practice games.
After wrapping up for the weekend, Howland spent time reviewing Arjun's week on the court.
Initially, Howland thought Arjun was cut out to be a shooting guard or a small forward in 5-on-5 games.
But soon, Arjun showed potential as a point guard, taking the initiative to handle the ball.
Driving from the backcourt for fast breaks, he displayed a cool head, a strategic mind, and solid organizational skills.
Compared to LeBron's style, Arjun seemed more like Magic Johnson.
He could drive, shoot, pass, and defend.
And that physical talent was just outstanding.
Howland kept watching Arjun's training videos from the week.
The basketball seemed alive in Arjun's hands—it was rare to see such a tall guy with such great touch.
Of course, Arjun wasn't without flaws.
For instance, many of his technical moves were unpolished, remnants of street basketball, and his game experience was lacking. Sometimes, he could have used his talent to finish plays but chose to pass instead.
These flaws, Coach Howland believed, could be ironed out with training and more game time.
One NCAA season should be enough to turn Arjun into a professional player.
Besides Arjun, Westbrook was also showing promise, a formidable defender.
With these two rookies in the backcourt, along with Afflalo and Collison, Howland felt confident about UCLA's backcourt this year.
...
"Russell, time to get up for training."
"Arjun, are you crazy? It's only 3 AM."
"You promised yesterday we'd train together at three."
"I meant 3 PM."
"Well, I don't care. A real man keeps his word. Can't you handle it?"
"Watch your tone, who can't handle it?"
"Then stop whining, let's go!"
It took a week to sort out the dorm transfer, and just yesterday they moved into a shared room with bunk beds.
The day they moved into the new dorm, Arjun had already roped Westbrook into starting special training sessions.
Westbrook had agreed to train at 3 PM...
At 3 AM.
Walking out of the dorm, they headed straight for the outdoor court since the indoor gym wasn't open yet.
On their way, Arjun and Westbrook got a real feel for what Los Angeles was like at 3 AM in September—really chilly.
Even Westbrook, tough as nails, shivered a bit in the cold breeze.
Arjun felt the chill too.
"Should we go back and sleep some more?" Arjun tentatively asked.
"We're already out here, let's just train," Westbrook said resignedly.
"OK!!"
On the court, under the streetlights and the faint moonlight, they started their workout.
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
They had been at it for ten minutes when several flashlight beams hit them, and a few hefty security guards approached.
"Hey, hey, what department are you guys from?"
"Who plays ball in the middle of the night? Someone complained you're causing a disturbance..."
Before the guards could finish, Westbrook and Arjun grabbed their basketball and ran...
Naturally, the guards couldn't keep up with their speed.
Their first 3 AM training session ended in a bust.
Back at the dorm, Westbrook and Arjun couldn't help but laugh at each other.
It was a memorable experience.
Arjun said, "Kobe must have been bluffing. You can't play ball in LA at 4 AM either."
Westbrook replied, "I think he did strength or other kinds of training, not like us."
Arjun speculated, "Maybe he had his own training facility at home."
Westbrook agreed, "True. We've got to work hard to make it to the NBA. Then we can earn enough to buy a big house with its own court."
Arjun affirmed, "We definitely will."
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