Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 195 Inspection
The Marriott Hotel in downtown Auckland.

Not only is this location very close to the Warriors' home arena, Oakland Stadium, but the basketball court on the fifth floor of the hotel is also the Warriors' training ground, so the men's basketball team can train here conveniently.

In the hotel lobby, Raeden was being interviewed by a reporter from The New York Times.

“Alex, you have to trust Don’s abilities! He took over Kwame’s training last May.”

The same goes for Yao Ming; as soon as the Chicago Combine ended in May, he started training with Tang Sen.

“Kwame trained for more than two months and was able to score 40 points in the Summer League. By the start of the new season, in five months, he was already able to go toe-to-toe with Mourning.”

“Kwame is just a high school student, while Yao has five years of professional gaming experience. He is more experienced and his skills are very comprehensive.”

Both were number one draft picks, but in Layden's view, Brown and Yao Ming were not the same thing at all.

Choosing Brown is choosing his talent.

Yao Ming, on the other hand, is already mature enough.

Leiden continued, "And Yao has been training with Tang for almost four months. You can imagine how strong he will become."

The reporter nods repeatedly during the interview.

This is also the sentiment of all New York fans. With the same trainer and similar training time, Yao Ming can't possibly be worse than Kwame Brown, right?

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's game. Believe me, Yao will surprise everyone."

Leiden was beaming with excitement.

He called Tang Sen, who said Yao Ming was ready.

He asked Allan Houston, who said Yao Ming was incredibly strong, and that he could even do a skyhook.

Skyhook!
Leiden was so excited he almost did *that*.

The media are saying that Yao Ming has the potential to become the next Hakeem Olajuwon.

But their imagination is so lacking.

Yao Ming will become a combination of Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!
Even Leiden couldn't imagine how powerful such a player could be.

He became more and more excited as he thought about it, but then a reporter's words dampened his enthusiasm.

When asked why he traded Kurt Thomas for Swift, whose stats were even worse than Thomas's, and even gave up a 05 first-round pick, he was asked why.

Leiden's smile froze on his face.

The matter of trading is now a taboo subject for him; he doesn't even dare to mention it.

At this point, even if he were to reveal his grand ambitions, New York fans wouldn't buy it.

Angry fans went to his house and threw stones at his living room.

"Then what..."

Leiden quickly got up, made an excuse that the Chinese team was about to arrive, and fled the scene.

Finding Cheney leisurely sipping coffee in the rest area, Leiden grumbled indignantly, "These damn reporters and fans, just wait, just wait until my plan succeeds, they'll regret it!"

Cheney knew without a doubt that the reporters were going to ask about the deal.

Just then, the Chinese team arrived.

A large number of waiting reporters rushed over immediately, both domestic and American, all with one target: Yao Ming.

Yao Ming was forced to stop and, together with Wang Fei, answered several questions.

All the other players were pushed to the outside and ignored.

Li Nan and Batel stood together.

"What a magnificent sight!"

Watching Yao Ming switch between Chinese and English, Li Nan pursed his lips and muttered something under his breath.

Bartel didn't speak, he just watched.

Suddenly, I recalled the scene when I joined the Nuggets.

That's why there are always reporters wherever I go.

Look at now.

At this point, Li Nan added, "Speaking of which, the coach treats him as the offensive core and requires all of us to pass the ball to him. Is he capable of doing that?"

"He said he was training with an American trainer, but he was very secretive about it and wouldn't tell us anything when we asked."

Yao Ming trained alone for two days in Denver. When asked privately what amazing training methods he had learned from the American trainer, he wouldn't say.

"Don't stand out in the end."

Li Nan recalled the team's joint training sessions and felt that they were impressive, but nothing special.

Bartel thought for a moment and said, "It shouldn't be conspicuous; he's just gotten stronger."

During team training, Battier had a clear feeling that Yao Ming was holding back and not going all out.

"Let's go."

Batel took one last look, took the room key, and turned to leave.

After dealing with the reporters, Yao Ming was then pulled aside by Redden and Cheney for a long chat.

"Yao, believe in yourself. You are the strongest. All the fans in New York are looking forward to your performance," Leiden said, patting Yao Ming on the arm.

As far as he knew, Spike Lee had even rushed to San Francisco, insisting on seeing for himself just how strong Yao Ming really was.

Cheney poured some cold water on Yao Ming's enthusiasm, pulling him aside and whispering, "I know you're under a lot of pressure right now; everyone's watching you."

There are 40 Chinese people in San Francisco.

Their enthusiasm is very high.

Tickets for a warm-up match sold out instantly, with tickets in high demand.

Yao Ming was the first foreign player to be drafted number one in NBA history, and he was selected by a major market like New York, making him truly famous throughout the United States.

Not to mention New York fans, fans all over the United States were wide-eyed, eager to see just how good this number one draft pick really was.

Even on the Dream Team V side, some players had already said they wanted to test Yao Ming's abilities.

For example, Jay Williams, the second overall pick, was very unhappy that Yao Ming became the first overall pick.

Under these circumstances, Cheney could imagine the immense psychological pressure Yao Ming must be under.

“If I told you not to care about these pressures, you definitely wouldn’t be able to do it.”

Are there some things that you can simply ignore?

"But you can treat it as a test."

Cheney maintained a smile. After all, Yao Ming had gone to New York, a big market, so the attention would definitely be high. Yao Ming would continue to experience these things.

“I can sense that you have ambition, which is a good thing. Keep it up, overcome all difficulties, and you will succeed.”

He patted Yao Ming on the back and reminded him.

Although he didn't have much contact with him, he could sense that Yao Ming had ideas and ambitions.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with it; how could one succeed in a certain field without ambition?

"Keep going, trust Tang, he's already prepared everything for you," Cheney said finally.

Even if you don't believe in yourself, you have to believe in Tang Sen.

The actual battle record is verifiable.

Yao Ming clearly took it to heart and thanked him.

"By the way, take care of yourself."

As they parted, Cheney reminded him again.

Yao Ming is now an asset to the Knicks.

I rushed to the room.

Since it was a two-person room, Yao Ming naturally stayed with Liu Wei.

It was almost noon when they arrived at the hotel. After putting down their luggage and settling in, Liu Wei asked Yao Ming if he wanted to go out for lunch together.

"No need, Lao Zhang will bring it to me in a bit."

Even after leaving Tang Sen's training camp, Yao Ming has been strictly adhering to the diet plan he had taken at the camp.

Zhang Mingji was tasked with finding someone to make it.

Liu Wei pursed his lips. Yao Ming ate that stuff, not to mention the bland taste, but mainly because it had no oil. He tried a few bites and almost threw up.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Wei said, "Actually, it's not mainly about what we eat. What I mean is, we should eat together. Like the day before yesterday in Denver, after our training, we went to that restaurant to eat, and you just sat there without eating. I saw that Li Nan and the others looked a little uneasy." The day before yesterday was their first joint training session, and Hess was training Yao Ming alone.

After practice, Battier and the others dragged Yao Ming to a dinner party to welcome him to the team.

Right next to the Ambassador Hotel is Denver’s busiest commercial district, where there’s a Chinese restaurant called PF Chen.

Battier ordered a table full of dishes, but when Yao Ming arrived, he didn't eat a single bite, only drinking some juice.

He explained that there was a diet plan at the training camp that had to be strictly followed.

But in Liu Wei's view, plans can be adapted, and face must be given.

After all, they're on the same team.

"I know, that's why I'm not going, so as not to upset them." Yao Ming forced a smile and gestured for Liu Wei to go by himself.

Liu Wei sighed and had no choice but to go out.

Soon, Zhang Mingji brought over some food.

The taste was so-so, but Yao Ming was used to it. He stayed in his room and ate slowly.

He could sense that the players on the team were a bit...

It's not accurate to call it exclusion.

Maybe it's just that I don't like what I see, or I feel like I'm being pretentious.

But Yao Ming didn't have that thought; he just worked hard to become stronger.

He had also considered that he could compromise a little and just go through the motions.

But then I thought, if you compromise on principles, can they still be called principles?

As for their opinions and attitudes towards him, he has no control over them.

All we can do is focus on one thing: strength is the foundation.

Having experienced what happened with the Eastern team, Yao Ming understands this very clearly.

Instead of going to great lengths to please and cater to others, you should focus on improving yourself and becoming stronger.

Perhaps at that point, it will be time to switch roles and let others cater to us.

Thinking of this, Yao Ming silently gripped his chopsticks tighter.

Everyone expects to perform well, and so do we.

Having lived in the United States for several months, he had become aware of the harsh realities of the NBA.

Those with real talent are showered with attention, receive huge contracts, and reap enormous rewards.

If you have no ability, who will care whether you live or die?

Some people may not have the opportunity.

But I have it all. I became the top scorer, and I can train with Tang Sen. My starting point is very high.

But the higher you're lifted, the harder you'll fall; you can't afford to fail.

After a day of rest, the warm-up matches began the following evening.

The stadium was packed with 20,000 spectators.

George Karl stood on the sidelines, watching his players warm up while keeping his attention on the other side of the court.

Spike Lee actually arrived at the scene and is currently standing on the sidelines, looking up and talking to Yao Ming.

At that moment, his chief assistant coach, Popovich, walked over.

"He's really tall."

Popovich remarked.

George Carr nodded and said, "When I saw him in Chicago before, I was really shocked. He's so tall, yet he's so agile."

During the Chicago Combine, the Bucks' head coach was also present and was deeply impressed by Yao Ming.

Seeing Yao Ming again now feels even more unbelievable.

Because Yao Ming has changed so much.

Those once stick-like arms have become thick and strong, with the deltoid muscles connecting to the biceps, forming a smooth and natural full curve.

With that physique, you can tell he's quite strong.

Popovich's gaze deepened, and he said, "I just wonder how much stronger he has become after a few months of training with Tang."

When Tang Sen was mentioned, Popovich's tone couldn't help but sound a little sour.

Ultimately, he didn't get the chance to train with Townsend.

George Carr also wanted to know.

“I hope he succeeds, but if he becomes the next Kwame Brown now, we’re in for a headache.”

Under FIBA ​​rules, the dominance of a center giant would be amplified. If Yao Ming had followed the path of Kwame Brown and relied on his physicality to play basketball from the beginning, the Dream Team V would have been in serious trouble.

It's worth noting that the tallest center on the Dream Team V was LaFrentz, who was 2.11 meters tall.

Popovich grinned but didn't say anything.

At 7:30 p.m., the game kicked off amid cheers from most of the Chinese fans in the stadium.

Even at the very last moment, Wang Fei still rallied everyone, urging them to run and try to get the ball to Yao Ming first.

The Chinese team fielded a starting lineup of Yao Ming, Liu Yudong, Hu Weidong, Li Nan, and Guo Shiqiang.

On the American team's side.

Although this Dream Team V was led by Reggie Miller, he mostly sat on the sidelines like a mascot.

Team USA fielded a starting lineup of Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Paul Pierce, Finley, and Baron Davis.

Yao Ming jumped lightly and easily deflected the basketball.

Then immediately start running towards the front field.

Ben Wallace ditched Liu Yudong and went straight for Yao Ming, then the two battled it out near the basket.

Before the game, like Jay Williams, he didn't make any pronouncements about testing Yao Ming's abilities and level as the newly crowned number one draft pick.

He was indeed short, but his strength was astonishing. He pushed against Yao Ming's back and squeezed outwards.

But... it didn't budge?

Yao Ming was like a nail, firmly planted on the edge of the low post.

Cursing under his breath, Da Ben gritted his teeth and exerted his strength.

He knew this was not a safe distance.

Just then, the ball was passed in.

Yao Ming has long since corrected his bad habit of receiving the ball in the low post, controlling it first, or dribbling it a bit to find his rhythm before making a move.

Now, he even starts exerting force when he's about to receive the ball, preparing for the next move.

Therefore, when he saw the ball coming, Yao Ming had already taken the initiative to push backward, and his left foot also began to move, trying to block Ben Wallace's left side.

The moment Yao Ming reached out and received the ball, he had already established a favorable position to launch an attack.

Using the left foot as a pivot, the ball is spun directly.

Having gained weight to 136 kilograms, his strength was astonishing. Da Ben felt as if a giant wave had swept over him in a swimming pool, and he would have been submerged.

With a loud thud, it was the sound of Yao Ming slamming his one-handed dunk.

Ben, who had been rudely pushed to the side, looked completely bewildered.

Before I could even put up any effort, I was pushed aside?
And that turning speed, seriously?

"Pretty!"

Leiden, who was sitting in the stands, roared and excitedly stood up and waved his fist.

There was competition, and the movements were clean and efficient.

No wonder he was trained by Tang Sen; he has the same playing style as Brown last year.

How did Brown play at the beginning of last season?
They rely on their strong physique to gain position.

Once in position, there are no fancy moves; it's straightforward and simple, using the most basic footwork and techniques to complete the attack.

But it is precisely the most efficient, and also the most difficult, offensive method to defend.

(End of this chapter)