Chương 88: Commitments and Conversations
After mentioning the Lakers, DeMar's excitement was palpable. Despite being born in Compton, California, a place known for its chaos, he never considered leaving. The Lakers were his team through and through.
"Of course, they're going to crush the Magics and take the championship!" Lian Dao blurted out, caught up in the moment.
"The Magics? I'm leaning more towards the Cavaliers. If Garnett's injury hadn't derailed their season, I might even favor the Celtics. But as a Lakers fan, it's hard to root for the Celtics," DeMar replied, ending with a shrug.
Indeed, the rivalry between yellow and green was deeply rooted. From the days of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson facing off against Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, to the ancient times of the NBA with Wilt Chamberlain, these teams had a storied history of animosity.
When Lian Dao nodded in agreement about the Celtics, he acknowledged that this was a golden era for them. If Garnett hadn't been injured and everyone was at their peak, the Lakers' path to the championship would be much tougher.
"Injuries are truly the bane of athletes," Lian Dao remarked solemnly.
With still plenty of time until the draft, aside from trial workouts and brief trips home, Lian Dao had about two months dedicated solely to training. He knew that making the most of this time could lead to further improvements.
"Everyone else might be on vacation during the offseason, but not us. Training now could give us a serious edge," Lian Dao added with determination.
"I'm going to practice my three-pointer. What are you focusing on? I still need your help with three-pointers!" DeMar scratched his head in embarrassment.
Lian Dao was surprised to hear this. Hadn't DeMar always avoided practicing three-pointers before? He used to argue that success rates were higher closer to the basket.
Why the change now?
In truth, DeMar's decision was influenced by Lian Dao. Watching Lian Dao consistently break defenses with his three-pointers, especially using the "elevator door" tactic, made DeMar realize the importance of having a versatile offensive arsenal.
"If you're willing to teach, I'm eager to learn. I've come to understand that having a tactical system is crucial for elite players. Without your three-point threat, we wouldn't have been able to counter North Carolina's defense so effectively," DeMar explained earnestly.
Encouraged by DeMar's initiative, Lian Dao nodded. "Sure, I'll share what I know. It's all about finding the shot that feels most natural to you."
Seeing his friend's determination to grow, Lian Dao felt a surge of pride for DeMar.
"I'm planning to work on my low-post skills and mid-range shooting," Lian Dao added, ready to expand his own offensive repertoire alongside DeMar's improvement in three-point shooting.
After winning the championships, Lian Dao became acutely aware of several weaknesses.
In particular, his lack of low-post offensive skills and rough footwork stood out. His mid-range shot was also inconsistent, which could be a significant liability once he faced tougher NBA defenses.
DeMar nodded in agreement, contemplating their next steps. "We'll need to find an agent, and maybe a trainer if necessary."
Lian Dao realized that despite the season ending, they still had a lot to organize. Transitioning to the NBA meant they needed professional support.
"Almost every NBA player has an agent, except for Nowitzki," Lian Dao remarked, referencing the legendary player who found a rare exception in Mark Cuban. "Not everyone can be as fortunate."
Lost in conversation, they talked late into the night until exhaustion finally caught up with them.
Heading back to their rooms, Lian Dao once again forgot about the mysterious gift bag, his mind occupied with the challenges and opportunities ahead in his basketball career.
...
The next day, Lian Dao didn't wake up until 11 o'clock.
It was the first time since his rebirth that Lian Dao had slept in, and he felt refreshingly rested.
Later that afternoon, they were scheduled to fly back to USC for another round of celebrations.
Lian Dao hesitated for a moment, then instinctively reached for his phone.
However, the battery had drained overnight and the phone had powered off.
He plugged in the charger and powered it back on.
Upon seeing the flood of congratulatory text messages and missed calls, Lian Dao sighed with dismay.
He had overslept and forgotten to charge his phone the previous night.
There were missed calls from his parents and messages of congratulations from friends.
Lian Dao started calling everyone back, sending text messages as it was late in China. He knew it was midnight there and didn't want to disturb anyone's rest.
Among the messages, there was one from Yao Ming.
Before Yao Ming found Su Qun and obtained Lian Dao's contact information, Lian Dao vividly recalled mistaking Yao Ming's initial call for a scam, only recognizing it was genuine upon hearing Yao Ming's familiar Mandarin and voice.
This time, the University of Southern California had surpassed all expectations by winning the championship. The Southern California Gaming, previously acquired by Yao Ming, also turned a small profit this time.
In the Rockets' locker room, everyone knew that Yao Ming was the sole owner of Southern California, prompting admiration for his luck. Yao Ming graciously used this windfall to treat everyone to dinner.
Yao Ming's congratulatory message to Lian Dao not only celebrated his championship win and Most Outstanding Player award, but also included a proposal for them to meet and chat, as agreed upon previously.
Despite frequent text and phone conversations, Lian Dao and Yao Ming had never met in person due to Lian Dao's busy schedule during March Madness and Yao Ming's commitments leading the Rockets.
With Lian Dao yet to commence his training plan, they had ample time for their meeting. They settled on April 12, a day when the Rockets had no game scheduled, conveniently followed by a home game against the Hornets on the 13th.
After ending the call, Lian Dao felt genuinely happy. Compared to others, he considered himself fortunate. His schooling in the United States from high school through university had made him familiar with American culture and communication, eliminating any potential language barriers upon entering the NBA.
Furthermore, with Yao Ming as his mentor, Lian Dao believed he could sidestep many pitfalls. Yao Ming's guidance extended beyond basketball skills; he also provided invaluable advice, such as sharing instructional videos from his own training with Hakeem Olajuwon on low-post offense and footwork.
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