Chương 87: Celebration and Reflection
The award ceremony concluded, but the celebrations for USC were far from over. The field was crowded with talents and supporters eager to greet the victorious USC players.
Nick Young, who had yet to become a popular meme, last season's core player O.J. Mayo, and Gabby Pruitt all made their way to the court. Nick, ever the familiar face, approached Lian Dao with a hug.
"Great, you did what I've always wanted to do but couldn't! Well done, man. Not only did you win the championship, but you also got our revenge!"
Nick Young's excitement was palpable. In the 2007 season, the University of Southern California was defeated by North Carolina. The key aspect was that North Carolina had largely retained their starting lineup, except for Brandon Wright, making this victory feel like indirect revenge.
"Hey, Nick, I avenged myself!" Gibson chimed in as he joined them.
The two old friends reunited, sharing a heartfelt hug.
"Damn it, it was your luck to meet Sickle and DeMar," Nick teased, making both him and Gibson laugh.
Though the championship wasn't won during his time, Nick Young was genuinely happy for his alma mater, seeing these juniors elevate USC to the pinnacle of college basketball.
OJ Mayo also greeted Lian Dao warmly. The Memphis Grizzlies were very interested in Lian Dao, planning to use their first-round pick to draft him as a key player for the team.
Chris Wallace, the Grizzlies' general manager, had inquired about Lian Dao, and Mayo had little knowledge of this junior.
Seeing Lian Dao's incredible performance in the finals, especially his remarkable three-point shooting, left OJ Mayo impressed. Looking at a potential future teammate, Mayo wanted to establish a connection early. Even if they didn't end up on the same team, maintaining good relations in the NBA would be beneficial.
Lian Dao, easy-going as ever, greeted OJ Mayo warmly. Despite Mayo's future reputation for fighting and banned substances, he was currently a friendly presence.
After exchanging pleasantries, Lian Dao accepted an interview with Mr. Zhang Lili.
Through the camera, he greeted his fans back home, discussing topics that resonated with the domestic audience and expressing his gratitude for their unwavering support.
When the celebration was over and they returned to the locker room, they saw that it was filled with champagne bottles. Daniel rushed forward first, opened a bottle, put his thumb on the nozzle, and shook it vigorously. Then he aimed and fired the champagne at the crowd.
Lian Dao and Gibson quickly joined the battlefield, everyone targeting Daniel, the instigator of the champagne war. Daniel, blinded by the champagne, tried to hide in a corner, blindly spraying everyone around him.
Lian Dao noticed Tim, their coach, moving cautiously, trying to slip away from the chaos. But Lian Dao couldn't let the old man escape unscathed. He grabbed Tim and dragged him into the battlefield, prompting everyone to direct their champagne attacks on their coach.
Tim ended up enjoying an impromptu champagne bath. He finally took off his mask and laughed heartily, joining in the celebration.
The locker room was a mess, filled with laughter and the smell of champagne as the team reveled in their victory.
After the wild celebration, the players all headed to the bathroom to wash off the champagne. When they emerged, they started to get busy again.
The University of Southern California had five players participating in the draft this year. Daniel and Dwight also planned to test the waters in the draft. Being juniors and having just won the championship, they received the most attention this year. This might be their closest chance to making it to the NBA.
Lian Dao and DeMar benefited the most from USC's championship victory, followed closely by Gibson. The "Southern California Trident" had become a household name among NCAA fans.
On social media, the calls for Lian Dao to be selected as the top pick in the draft had surpassed those for Griffin. Fans and some teams recognized his excellent scoring ability and his composure under pressure. Lian Dao's ability to score in crucial moments, whether it was his three-second buzzer-beater against Michigan State University or his 3+1 against the University of North Carolina that dismantled their strategy, earned him the nickname "Big Game Player."
DeMar's contributions were also significant. As the second offensive option for USC, his role in the game was indispensable. Especially when Lian Dao was double-teamed in the second half, it was DeMar who carried the offensive load for Southern California. For the first time, DeMar surpassed Thabeet in social media rankings, currently holding the third spot.
When Lian Dao emerged from the locker room, a crowd of scouts was already waiting for him. These scouts represented teams with a high probability of securing one of the top five picks. Even the Clippers had sent their scouts.
After chatting with these scouts, Lian Dao agreed to several new trial sessions. Although the NCAA Tournament was over, there were still more than two months before the draft.
The lottery meeting in mid-May had yet to take place, and once it was done, the players participating in the draft would truly start getting busy.
After wrapping up everything, they headed back to the hotel to rest.
After returning to the hotel, everyone couldn't sleep.
Lian Dao walked out onto the balcony, feeling the breeze. Despite setting their season goals on winning the championship, the reality of achieving it felt surreal to him at this moment.
In his previous life, his greatest desire was to become an NBA player, and now that dream was on the verge of realization. Despite uncertainty about which team would draft him, entering the NBA was nearly certain now.
Reflecting on the past year, he recalled the intense training regimen he had maintained, dedicating almost every waking moment to improving his skills. While the system played a significant role in his rapid growth, it was his relentless effort that made it possible.
Thinking about the system, Lian Dao remembered that he had completed the task it had set for him: winning the NCAA championship. The reward promised at that time was a mysterious gift bag.
"Open…"
"Sickle, you can't sleep either?" DeMar joined him on the balcony, interrupting Lian Dao's thoughts of checking the rewards.
"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit overexcited. Why didn't you go out with Gibson today?" Lian Dao asked, curious.
DeMar scratched his head awkwardly.
"I just thought you might be bored alone in the room," he replied defensively. He couldn't tell Lian Dao that the reason he didn't leave with Gibson was because his mom was staying in the same hotel as them to watch their game earlier.
Lian Dao shook his head, amused by DeMar's awkwardness.
"We finally fulfilled our promise from back then!" DeMar said wistfully, changing the subject.
"What promise?" Lian Dao asked, puzzled by DeMar's sudden nostalgia.
"The promise to bring a championship to USC," DeMar clarified, sensing Lian Dao's confusion. "I mean, you know, my orientation is completely normal!"
Lian Dao stared at him with mock suspicion.
"Normal is normal. Why are you getting defensive? Could it be…" Lian Dao teased, giving DeMar a mischievous look.
DeMar squirmed uncomfortably under Lian Dao's gaze and quickly redirected the conversation.
"So, any plans for the next couple of months?" he asked, eager to shift the focus away from himself.
"Continuing training at USC, catching the Lakers' finals live, and heading back home," Lian Dao replied.
"Do you really think the Lakers are going to win the championship?" DeMar asked, eager to discuss basketball again.
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