บท 23: Milk, Bread, and Love Will Come
Is it really impatience?
Or is it just a stubborn mindset of the coach?
Jiang Lin's abilities were evident, and RC Buford, the Spurs GM, and others recognized his unparalleled offensive skills. Such a player just needed the highest platform to develop.
If Jiang Lin had been a top 10 pick, would Popovich have given him a chance immediately?
Why have so many young coaches been performing well in recent years? It indicates something.
The saying "Good horses are common, but good scouts are rare" in the NBA is nonsense. In the NBA, a truly talented player is rare and when found, countless scouts jump on him…
The NBA is a league that values talent and effort. A capable player will shine without needing a scout to discover him.
Popovich's decision led to Budenholzer parting ways with the Spurs coaching staff. Years later, Budenholzer's philosophy nurtured MVP-level player Giannis Antetokounmpo…
Meanwhile, Mavericks owner Cuban and coach Carlisle mocked Wallace's recklessness at the training ground…
Regardless of what others thought, Jiang Lin signing with the Grizzlies was a done deal. Neither he nor the team was affected, unlike the intense media pressure in Los Angeles. The local fans didn't care much, as they were mainly fans of the Gasol brothers.
As for everyone else? They didn't follow or care!
After signing, Jiang Lin followed the staff to the locker room to receive his locker and essential items. He could choose from all the Nike-sponsored shoes, and of course, he could wear any brand now.
"Alright." Jiang Lin decided to replace his Lakers-colored Kobe 8s. Since he was no longer with the Lakers, he wouldn't wear their colors.
He changed into a clean white Nike tracksuit, instantly looking sharp. They measured him for his jersey, which would be ready by tomorrow for his official photos. The current image on the team's website was just Photoshopped.
"Very handsome." The Grizzlies' primary colors of sky blue and white looked fresh and comfortable, with one of the best logos in the league.
The staff joked, "If we had a superstar, these jerseys would sell out."
Lastly, they gave him a schedule, which was crucial. Jiang Lin took a picture of it.
With the season already started, everything was tight. Players had to follow the team's schedule strictly. Any tardiness could result in hefty fines.
Jiang Lin had seen this once with the Lakers. The schedule included game times, training sessions, team gatherings, and community service activities.
Tomorrow afternoon, they would host the Chicago Bulls.
Then, a day later, they'd play the Dallas Mavericks away, facing them twice in a week. This was the Wild West.
The third game after Jiang Lin's arrival was interesting. What was meant to happen would happen sooner than expected.
In five days, they'd play the Lakers away…
This meant he would return to Los Angeles a week after leaving, this time as an opponent. Revisiting the old place, now as a rival, suddenly made his blood boil.
He couldn't wait to train with the team, but he didn't even have a place to stay yet, so he had to find a rental.
After completing all the procedures, Jiang Lin advanced a month's salary from Wallace to rent a place. He quickly chose a nearby studio apartment, enough for an athlete. He organized his belongings and settled in.
"Work hard and you'll buy a house and live in a villa. The villas here are beautiful," Wallace encouraged.
"For me, not having to stay in a hotel is already the happiest thing," Jiang Lin smiled.
Wallace, a straightforward man, said, "You'll still have to stay in hotels for away games..."
"I meant not having to look for a new team anymore."
"True, true. Haha."
…
To the Grizzlies' players' surprise, Jiang Lin returned to the gym at 6 p.m., after they finished their training, in a white tank top, practicing three-pointers intensely.
This was a professional attitude!
This wasn't a show; there were no media, and the owner wasn't around.
Gay and others, seeing Jiang Lin shirtless and repeatedly shooting threes after their showers, nodded in approval.
Randolph said, "He moved this afternoon and still didn't forget to train."
Tony Allen added, "He's getting the Grizzlies' spirit. We all went through this. Rookies have to train harder to outperform the veterans."
Conley laughed, "He taught the three of us a good lesson today."
Gay laughed, "Don't worry, he'll hit hard both internally and externally!"
Jiang Lin received a spare key to the FedEx Forum arena on his first day because he stayed until 9 p.m. Training for two hours on threes and another two hours in the gym before leaving, the security suggested, "Here, take the spare key. Just don't let anyone in and remember to lock up."
"Sure, thanks." Jiang Lin enjoyed sweating it out alone in the top-tier gym.
At midnight, lying alone in his rental, Jiang Lin looked at the exploding comments online. All the Chinese fans were cheering him on, and he saw the article by Teacher Su Qun, smiling.
These didn't benefit him personally, as he hadn't done anything significant yet. It was like the later over-praise of Zhou Qi.
But it did spark some hope.
This was just the beginning. At his age, he should be dating, flirting, and having fun with women, but he wasn't in a hurry.
Starting tomorrow, he'd be playing for the Grizzlies. This was the world's top NBA stage. As long as he performed well, milk, bread, and love would all come. Mastering one thing would bring everything else!
At that time, whether it's celebrities, models, internet personalities, or schoolmates, he could have his pick.
Let's do this!
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