Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 160 gives these teams a little shock.

Yao Ming's schedule is very full.

His flight will arrive in Chicago on the evening of April 29th, local time in the United States.

Then the next day he started participating in various activities, and that afternoon he also had a separate tryout with the Knicks.

"Tang, I think the media's speculation is true. The league may really want to send Yao to Chicago and New York because there are many Chinese people there, and the league wants to expand its market."

In the business class of the plane, Gabriel sat next to Tang Sen and said indignantly.

Tang Sen originally went to Chicago alone.

Then Gabriel found out.

This guy approached Tang Sen and said he wanted to go with Tang Sen.

He also wants to join in the fun at this joint trial training.

They also said they would help Tang Sen arrange his itinerary, including booking hotels and flights.

Tang Sen naturally wouldn't refuse if someone offered to pay him.

As soon as he boarded the plane, Tang Sen noticed that this guy was a bit of a chatterbox.

"Who knows?" Tang Sen was working on next week's training plan, his attention focused on his laptop, and gave a casual reply.

It's no wonder Gabriel had such thoughts.

For this joint tryout, all 29 teams in the league participated.

One does not fall.

However, only Chicago and New York were granted special permission by the league to conduct separate tryouts for Yao Ming.

The media naturally speculated that the league was trying to match Yao Ming up with someone in Chicago or New York.

Because these two cities have a larger Chinese population, they can be used to develop a football market.

But Tang Sen wants to say that if there really is a conspiracy in the draft, then how come the Magic won the number one pick two years in a row? The probability of winning the number one pick the following year was only 1.5%.

That year, when Tang Sen watched the draft lottery, he really felt that the league had cheated.

Gabriel started rambling on again.

Tang Sen even regretted coming with him.

Moreover, Tang Sen couldn't understand why he had come.

You had the best record in the Eastern Conference, but in 02, your first-round pick was traded to the Hornets in a deal involving PJ Brown.

Even the 02 first-round pick they acquired from the Suns was returned to the Suns in the Buchler trade.

You don't even have a first-round pick, yet you're trying to get the number one pick? Isn't that a bit of wishful thinking?

If the Magic want to acquire Yao Ming, they would have to give up Brown or McGrady in exchange for the number one draft pick.

The plane arrived in Chicago.

Because of league rules, teams cannot contact players eligible for the draft in advance, so Townsend was finally able to part ways with Gabriel.

The Hilton Hotel in the city center.

"Don!"

Duffy waited for Tang Sen in the lobby and gave him a warm hug as soon as they met.

Yao Ming hasn't arrived yet.

On the way upstairs, Duffy mentioned Lenny Cook.

"That arrogant kid actually said you're not worth $100,000 a month. It's laughable. He has no idea what he's missing out on," Duffy said with disdain.

Let's set aside the question of whether $10 a month is appropriate for Tang Sen.

In the agent industry, everyone knows the significance of Brown's success.

It's an honor for Cook to be able to train with Tangsen.

He actually refused outright.

Because of this incident, all the well-known agents realized that this kid was just a self-righteous idiot.

Now, apart from those shady agents, nobody's contacting Cook anymore.

"By the way, did the Goodwin brothers contact you? What do you think of that kid named LeBron?" Duffy asked curiously.

He knew that Tangsen must have met with LeBron James.

Although the Goodwin brothers made a lot of efforts to get closer to James.

But Duffy had been following this kid and knew he was very pragmatic.

So before James officially signs with Goodwin, everyone still has a chance.

If Townsend has a good opinion of James, then Duffy will want to try and snatch James away next year.

"Him?"

Tang Sen thought for a moment and said, "Very talented."

There's no need to look up James' game footage; just by meeting him, Tang Sen knows how talented this kid is.

Duffy noted it down.

However, he can't worry about James right now.

"Tang, please help Yao and make him prepare," Duffy pleaded.

This joint trial training is very important.

Prior to this, Yao Ming was already considered a top pick for the number one draft pick.

Actually, he was like that last year, even more popular than Kwame Brown.

But if he performs well in this joint tryout, then he will be the only true top pick.

Having the title of top scholar is still very important.

Duffy knew that Brown had been running around trying out for jobs last year, and Townsend had followed him the whole time. The tryouts went very well, and Townsend's help was indispensable.

That's why he specifically invited Tang Sen over.

"Don't worry, I'll help him prepare." Tang Sen nodded.

Putting aside the warm-up before the trial, it's crucial that he adjusts to the time difference and gets into good shape after his long journey.

Since I'm paying for this myself, I definitely need to make sure Yao Ming is well-prepared.

Moreover, deep down, Tang Sen also had some small expectations.

I want Yao Ming, a Chinese man, to give these NBA teams a little shock.

Let everyone know that China also has giants and the best basketball players.

Yao Ming's plane arrived in Chicago at around 10 p.m. that night.

By the time we arrived at the hotel, it was already past 11 p.m.

The leaders of the Eastern team were also present.

That is, Li Yaoming.

He noticed that Tang Sen's expression was still a bit unnatural.

Not only because he was tricked by Tang Sen, but also because in his mind, it was Tang Sen who instigated Yao Ming to go against the team.

Of course, Yao Ming kept his promise and helped the Eastern team win the championship.

So that matter is over.

Even after meeting, Li Yaoming still didn't want to talk to Tang Sen.

Tang Sen wouldn't pay him any attention.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tang Sen pulled Yao Ming aside and told him to go and rest.

"Give."

Tang Sen also handed over a bottle of medicine.

"Sleeping pills."

Seeing Yao Ming's puzzled expression, Tang Sen explained, "You need to adjust to the time difference, so you must get a good rest tonight."

Yao Ming simply said "oh" and didn't ask any more questions.

Two sleeping pills helped Yao Ming get a good night's sleep.

Tang Sen didn't wake him up until seven in the morning.

But he is still not in good condition.

Jet lag is caused by a disruption of the biological clock, and you have to adapt to it gradually.

So after a quick meal, Tang Sen took Yao Ming to the hotel gym for some training.

After the league ended, he didn't receive formal training for a while.

"How's English?"

Tang Sen asked casually.

"I can understand quite a bit now, and I can speak some, but I'm not fluent." Learning English was part of Yao Ming's preparation plan.

He put in a lot of effort, but he wouldn't dare say he was proficient.

Tang Sen said, "It's okay. Normal spoken communication isn't as complicated as you think. Just keep saying one word at a time, and trust me, they'll understand."

There is a significant difference between English taught in schools and spoken English.

Yao Ming nodded, his attention finally drawn to the warm-up.

After completing each warm-up exercise, Yao Ming not only didn't feel tired, but actually felt more and more energetic.

My heart rate picked up, and my slightly dazed mind became clearer as I started sweating.

The heaviness in my body gradually disappeared.

Yao Ming found it somewhat unbelievable.

This was actually his first time training with Tang Sen. "Brother Sen, why does your warm-up seem a bit different from the ones I've done before?" Yao Ming couldn't help but ask.

Tang Sen speaks fluent Chinese, so the two communicated in Chinese.

"What do you think? Do you think I'm just getting tens of thousands of dollars a month for free?"

It seems Yao Ming has already experienced the boost from easily breaking 100 points.

Tang Sen spent an hour and a half using low-intensity training to activate Yao Ming's physical condition.

"How are you feeling?" Tang Sen asked.

"Comfortable."

Yao Ming stretched his body and didn't feel tired; he felt as if his body had come back to life.

"Go back and take a shower, then rest for a while. If you can't sleep, use the breathing method I taught you."

His most important task now is to recover his energy.

The breathing techniques I taught him also helped him sleep.

That afternoon.

The Knicks' general manager, Scott Layden, and head coach, Don Cheney, arrived at the Moody's Institute of Chicago.

A large number of reporters and students from the school had already gathered outside the stadium.

When the group arrived, they were immediately surrounded by reporters.

"We've actually been paying attention to Yao for a long time, hoping he can enter the NBA."

Leiden was not just being polite.

He himself had been to Shanghai twice, and Cheney had been there as well.

Not to mention scouts and such.

"We need a center." Facing reporters, Ryden made no attempt to hide his true feelings.

"The great Willis Reed is an eternal legend of Madison. He forged the glory of our Knicks with his impenetrable and iron-clad defense."

"Patrick was unfortunate, but without him, we were even further from the playoffs."

"So we need a giant to make Madison Square Garden boil again, and I believe Yao is the one we need."

Leiden's heartfelt words drew applause and cheers from the New York Times reporters in the press corps.

Just as Ryden said, New York needs a giant to restore its glory.

This individual training session lasted only 25 minutes.

It is, of course, closed off.

Time was too short, and Layden and Cheney knew they couldn't get a full understanding of Yao Ming, but even a brief glimpse was a stroke of luck.

Other teams in the league don't even have this opportunity.

"The key is flexibility!"

After entering the stadium, Leiden once again gave Cheney special instructions.

Physical contact, dribbling, post moves, shooting—none of that matters compared to Yao Ming's 7'5" height.

As long as Yao Ming is agile enough and has a certain level of athleticism, that's enough.

The rest can be practiced gradually.

Cheney nodded. He had visited China to observe Yao Ming and knew how agile Yao Ming was.

“I heard Tang is here too,” Cheney added.

Leiden nodded, crossed his arms, and said, "I want to have a good talk with Tang later and see if we can poach him to New York."

“That’s not an easy task,” Cheney said.

Some media outlets have reported that the Lakers once offered Tangsen a long-term contract.

The exact amount is unknown, but the whistleblower claims it is very high.

But Tang Sen still refused.

This is also why many teams backed out and did not invite Tang Sen again.

Layden, on the other hand, was full of confidence: "We're the Knicks."

Being based in New York, and being the team with the most money in the league, when has money ever mattered? As long as they can win, James Dolan wouldn't care how much money is spent.

Look at the Magic, a bottom-feeder, they've risen up and are now aiming for the championship.

Just then, Yao Ming and his entourage arrived.

Upon seeing the towering Yao Ming, Leiden's eyes lit up, and he quickly went to greet him.

"Yao, you must come tonight."

Leiden extended an invitation.

To recruit Yao Ming, the Knicks threw him a party that night.

They filmed a promotional video, invited local Chinese people in New York, and expressed their desire to invite them to join their New York franchise.

Leiden even specially invited Ang Lee, the famous Chinese director, to act as a lobbyist on the spot.

After the small talk, let's get down to business.

Tang Sen led Yao Ming in warm-up exercises.

We used the same comparative training method as last year, which improved athletic performance in a short period of time through high-intensity weight training.

"Don't be nervous. This is the NBA. Everything depends on your skills. If you are good enough, everyone will go crazy for you."

Seeing that Yao Ming was a little reserved, Tang Sen reminded him.

In the NBA, skill reigns supreme, and star players enjoy special privileges.

Even if you're just a trainer, as long as you're good enough, you can be sought after by all teams.

Yao Ming was clearly not used to this jungle-like environment, so he just nodded and focused on training.

With numerous badges hanging around his neck, Tang Sen appeared much more relaxed than last year.

After warming up, Yao Ming was in top form.

So when Duffy asked him how he felt, Yao Ming thought for a moment and said, "Very good, just like the feeling before the Finals."

Before the first game of the finals, Yao Ming, who felt incredibly close to his dream, truly felt that he had entered a very special state.

The kind that is invincible.

So in the first game, he made all 21 of his shots and scored a whopping 49 points.

Duffy nodded, then turned and gave Tang Sen a thumbs-up.

This is the effect he wants.

Time was limited, and the Knicks didn't have many projects planned.

The first thing they did was run a test.

From afar, Tang Sen observed that Yao Ming, who now weighs only 121 kilograms and has lost a significant amount of weight, is indeed much more agile.

So when he sprints between the two rims with his legs spread apart, the impact is still very strong.

He was, after all, a 7-foot-5-inch giant.

This agility made the eyes of Layden and Cheney on the sidelines light up.

"terrible."

Cheney felt a chill run down his spine.

At that height, some players walk with a stoop, but Yao Ming runs freely and at a considerable speed, which is simply amazing.

"Don't get excited."

Leiden was incredibly excited, but he couldn't help but grab Cheney's arm to calm him down, and then said, "Once he enters the league, he'll definitely have to gain weight, and by then, it might not be as fast."

He said that, but his eyes never left Yao Ming.

Even though the weight gain reduced the speed somewhat, it's still amazing.

I've never seen a giant over 2.2 meters tall be so agile.

And this is just the beginning.

As Yao Ming moved around the basket, receiving the ball and completing various offensive plays, Layden's eyes were glued to him.

While running itself was impressive in Leiden's view, it wasn't the most important thing.

Once on the court, no one would expect Yao Ming to sprint at full speed or launch fast breaks.

With such a giant, who the hell would play fast break?

Therefore, what truly determines Yao Ming's performance on the court is his agility both inside and outside the paint.

This refers to short lateral movements, turns in various positions, and the speed of connecting footwork.

These are the key factors in determining whether a tall player is agile.

This was also a decisive factor in whether Yao Ming could succeed in the NBA.

So when Yao Ming started showcasing his skillful low-post footwork, hook shots covering any position on either side of the basket, and low-post jump shots, Layden went completely crazy.

“Don, I want to send Rattle away,” Redden suddenly said.

Cheney, who was standing next to him, was startled.

Leiden's determined gaze seemed to say that he wasn't joking.

Anyway, Leiden had long disliked Sprewell's unruly personality.

If we really don't get the top scholar's pick in the future, we can just send him away and get a top scholar's pick in return.

Inside play is king.

Just like the Magic and the Lakers, it's easy to find perimeter players who can score 20+ points, but it's not so easy to find centers who can score 20+ points.

(End of this chapter)