章節 23: Chapter 22: Starting Lineup for the New Season
Su Wan hadn't expected to fall out with LeBron on the first day of the closed training camp. After all, there hadn't been any real conflicts between them. If he started biting like "Brother Pingtou" right off the bat, unprovoked, it might easily make him seem like a "locker room cancer."
Generally, such players have a rough path in the NBA.
But LeBron had walked in with a feigned enthusiasm that disgusted him, and naturally, he had to push back appropriately.
Otherwise, who would it hurt if he kept it all bottled up inside?
If someone always has to hold their breath, so be it, but it definitely couldn't be Su Wan.
After LeBron changed into his clothes, they headed to the training court together; Cavaliers head coach Paul Silas and his assistants were already waiting.
Among the assistants, Su Wan spotted Brandon Malone, the head coach for the summer league. Their eyes met, and Su Wan saw surprise in his.
Another person shocked by his transformation this summer had appeared.
Su Wan thoroughly enjoyed these moments, these surprised expressions; they filled him with a sense of accomplishment.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the past two years for the Cavaliers have been tumultuous, but now, without a doubt, we are about to begin a new era. We have some talented young people, and now, it's up to you young folks to show what you can do. The stage is yours, as is the future of Cleveland. I believe in all of you, and I ask that you believe in my arrangements for you. Let's create something big together!"
As a player, Paul Silas had a perfect career, having won three Championship Trophies, made two All-Star appearances, and earned two First Team and three Second Team honors.
However, as a head coach, his record was much less impressive compared to his playing days.
At the very least, he hadn't managed to accomplish the "right man for the right job" ideal he spoke of.
He hadn't even finished coaching this season before he was fired by the Cavaliers for poor performance, and Brandon Malone became the "interim head coach". Then, next summer, the better-known Mike Brown would take over the Cavs' "helm".
As he said, the players' turmoil had ended, but the coaches' turmoil was just beginning.
Nevertheless, his speech successfully motivated the players present.
The first day of the new season was the same for most teams:
Basically, it involved restorative training.
The players had just enjoyed a leisurely holiday and needed to gradually increase their activity level.
Otherwise, injuries were likely to occur.
Before training began, the team conducted physical assessments of each player to better understand their current states.
Silas first looked at LeBron James' measurements: height 2.04.5m, weight 109 kg, wingspan 2.14m, body fat rate 6.7%, standing reach 2.70m, maximum jumping height around 1.20m, maximum reach around 3.90m, 100m speed 10.4s, three-quarter court sprint 2.89s, maximum deadlift 198kg.
Monster!
Then, he opened Su Wan's physical data.
Since the new season started, Brandon Malone hadn't stopped talking about this Huaxia rookie in front of him; he practically had calluses on his ears from hearing about him. Now he could finally see what this "most flamboyant rookie in recent years" was really made of:
"Name: Su Wan; Age: 19 years and 100 days; Nationality: Huaxia; Barefoot height: 197.45cm; Weight: 96.34kg; Wingspan: 211.76cm; Body fat percentage: 9.5%, standing reach: 2.72m, maximum jumping height: 84cm, maximum reach approximately 3.56m. Hundred-yard speed: 10.8s; three-quarters-court sprint speed: 2.98s; Maximum deadlift: 145kg."
Even after reviewing LeBron James' physical data, Paul Silas still felt that Su Wan's report was decent, and he could see Su's distinct attributes:
His age, five months younger than LeBron James; his wingspan, impressive even among black players.
Additionally, his explosive power marked him as remarkable, a rarity among Asian players for both his jumping and explosive power.
According to this static and dynamic report, Su Wan's physical fitness was at least top-tier in the League.
As far as Paul Silas knew, players often didn't take physical tests too seriously, so perhaps Su Wan was still holding back.
If Su Wan knew what Paul was thinking, he would most likely nod furiously:
Yes, sir, please keep thinking that.
Otherwise, just releasing this data would make it hard to explain the extreme movements he made while in "The Zone."
Just like Jordan's "change-hand layup during a dunk," or "Dr. J's" "one-handed big loop lagging shot from behind the board." They themselves probably couldn't replicate those iconic scenes.
Some movements aren't feasible under normal conditions.
But in "The Zone," Su Wan indeed could pull off many extreme motions. However, because it was so physically demanding, he wouldn't attempt these extreme moves every time.
The recovery training lasted about three to four days, during which Vallejo officially joined the team, completing the Cavaliers' official roster. The team's "old birds" finally had someone to pick on—after establishing his dominance, they dared not trouble Su Wan, unsure of what this eccentric might do; often, such personalities are the most fearsome. They shifted their target to Calderon, but Calderon stuck so closely to Su Wan, they never got their chance.
Vallejo, very cleverly, "paid tribute" by moving his locker next to LeBron's.
"King" had long envied having someone like Calderon by Su Wan's side, constantly following. It was a cool feeling. Vallejo's gesture was reciprocated. And so, despite the presence of many rookies, Cleveland's "old birds" found themselves without any rookies they could bully.
"Kid, you'll definitely be one of the most dazzling rookies this season. God doesn't neglect children like you!"
Another day of training ended and there was Brandon Malone, unable to help but praise Su Wan as he watched him continue extra practice as usual. Praising Su Wan had become as natural to him as if he were taking off his own mother's trousers. And highly proficient at it, he boasted in many poses.
This was another reason why veterans didn't dare provoke him:
No one casually messed with a rookie who had immense potential and such a solid approach to training.
Such a player was bound to be favored by the head coach; at any minute, he could secure a tactical position that others could not shake.
Those who offended him would need to think about where their next stop might be.
This wasn't something intelligent "old birds" would do!
And that day arrived quite quickly.
A week before the preseason was about to start, Paul Silas announced the Cavaliers' starting lineup for the new season:
"Point Guard LeBron James, two Su Wan, small forward Ira Newell, power forward Drew Gooden, five Big Z;"
Su Wan made it to the starting lineup, taking Jeff McInnis's place.
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