Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 468 Durant's Leveling-Up Journey
In the first year of the million-dollar training camp, each team had a clear objective: to acquire star players.

Things changed the following year, especially for the strong teams. They realized that having star players alone wasn't enough, and they started to focus on defense.

This year's million-dollar training camp has brought a change in the aspirations of each team.

It's time to organize.

Of the 60 players sent over, nearly a quarter are point guards.

We need star players for offense.

Now that we have the offense, it's time to defend.

With offense and defense both in place, the general managers of each team "calculated" and realized they had everything except a championship-winning point guard.

It just so happens that Tang Sen once developed a unique training method for point guards.

The beneficiaries of this training have become some of the league's top point guards, even the best point guards in the league.

Looking at the wish lists of various teams, many are exactly the same: they all want a point guard like Billups.

He can organize the offense, defend, and shoot from the outside, especially his three-pointers, which are incredibly accurate.

He also has a big heart in crucial moments, can keep the team in check, and relieve pressure on the team's core players.

Tang Sen accepted all comers.

It's nothing more than finding a few elementary school teams.

These kids are thrilled to be able to play with NBA stars.

Tang Sen's training focus remains on Durant.

He made a boastful claim.

Durant has now become the number one draft pick.

The skyscrapers have been built, but they can't collapse in the end.

Tang Sen didn't seem to care about the collapsed building.

My reputation is as good as gold, and if Durant is deemed a flop, everyone will just think he lacks talent and doesn't meet Tang Sen's requirements.

Instead of questioning their own abilities.

Tang Sen had high hopes for him.

From last December until now, Durant has been practicing his skills for a full eight months.

You're already skilled enough; the next step is to refine your skills.

At this stage, Tang Sen was well aware that simply practicing hard might not be effective.

The best option is real-world practice.

The technology itself is still the same, but to master it, one must proactively pay attention to the details of its application—this is a matter of experience.

Aside from matches, it's difficult to find players of the same level to gain experience.

This is why many star players organize private training camps during the offseason, inviting several NBA players to train together.

I just want to compete with players of the same level, accumulate experience, and hone my skills.

Even when Jordan planned his comeback, he had to organize a training camp to play against current players.

Today's million-dollar training camp is the best opportunity.

This year's training camp has a limited number of star players, especially top-tier ones; looking around, there's only one Kobe.

But that's enough.

If Durant could play against Kobe, he would be able to establish himself in the league.

During the training camp, Townsend plans to arrange one-on-one practice for Durant and Kobe.

Kobe won't have any objections.

He has always dreamed of following in Jordan's footsteps and becoming the next Jordan.

To everyone's surprise, Tang Sen skipped over his own pick and went straight for Durant.

This move made the so-called "Big Four" shooting guards a laughing stock.

So Kobe wanted to go toe-to-toe with Durant and see what this so-called next Jordan was really made of.

At the same time, Tang Sen also picked out an opponent for Durant.

That's LeBron James.

Like Kobe, James also comes every year.

Matching up against Kobe was like playing against a standard shooting guard who was also a super scorer.

But sometimes, Durant's height allows him to play as a forward.

It's a pity McGrady didn't come.

In the East, McGrady was suppressed by the Knicks for three consecutive years, and his morale was completely crushed.

His offseason was spent traveling with his wife. And top small forwards like Pierce and Wallace didn't come this year either.

Looking across the entire training camp, the most suitable position for a small forward is James.

James played point guard but failed to develop the skills, and his leadership abilities have been heavily criticized.

I tried playing position two again, but it still didn't suit me.

Last season, he returned to the small forward position.

He's stopped talking about being the next Magic Johnson; his talent for organizing the offense is really limited.

LeBron James now claims he wants to become the next Hill, the next Bird.

He hopes to become the best small forward in the entire league.

His positioning is also correct.

His advantages are limited if he plays point guard.

The league's top point guards include Billups, Kidd, and Nash.

This is the traditional point guard, the point guard in everyone's mind. James' playing style is not traditional.

The label of "tall point guard" has proven to be used only once in history, with Magic Johnson being a prime example.

Playing the shooting guard position, there are four top shooting guards ahead of you, and then there's Wade, who's five centimeters shorter than Jordan, chasing behind you. The competition is too fierce.

Even if it's just for publicity, returning to the small forward position and striving to become the next Bird would be a great option.

That's how the NBA's official media, controlled by Tang Sen, promoted him.

Even in terms of playing style, Tang Sen is being groomed to be an all-around small forward.

In Tang Sen's mind, if no more talented players emerge at the small forward position in the league over the next few years, then LeBron James will be the face and representative of that position in the league.

So if Durant plays the small forward position, he'll play against James.

If I can beat LeBron James, then I'll have no problem facing any small forward in the league.

In terms of specific training plans, Tang Sen did not rush to arrange for Durant to play against Kobe or James.

Let's start with the regular players.

If you're just accumulating experience and leveling up, there's no reason to challenge the final boss alone right away.

Furthermore, Tangsen will selectively choose different types of players.

For example, at the beginning, Townsend assigned Jamal Crawford of the Bulls to Durant.

He came to the training camp in his first year, and he's back again this year.

It was because he gradually displaced Ben Gordon and became the Bulls' first choice at guard.

Tang Sen summarized his technical characteristics as a combination of streetball and real-game skills.

He has good physical fitness and excellent technique.

He also has that urge to show off. In Tangsen's view, this kind of player is like Bird, with a strong desire to perform.

At the same time, he has outstanding acting talent.

Tang Sen has always believed that acting skills are also a kind of talent.

Playing against Crawford will hone Durant's acting skills.

After defeating Crawford, Townsend then arranged for Michael Reed to play.

He is a well-rounded scorer who can drive and shoot effectively, and he has quickly grown into the Bucks' core player.

He has an excellent sense of rhythm when playing.

Their defense is also fierce.

Durant can learn a lot from playing against him.

There are also small forwards.

Tangsen would also arrange for players like Carmelo Anthony, who have outstanding physical attributes, can play the power forward position, and are technically versatile, to practice with Durant.

If he can beat Anthony, beating James shouldn't be a problem.

The training camp has a variety of players, enough for Durant to hone his skills.

Durant did not disappoint Townsend.

Practice makes perfect, accumulate experience, then conduct targeted training, refine the details, and then verify your skills in practice.

The cycle repeated itself, and Durant not only remained focused but also thoroughly enjoyed the process.

Because he always wins, he can clearly feel the improvement in his strength.

This accumulation continued until the end of August.

Tang Sen felt that was enough; with one last month, he could start challenging the ultimate boss.

(End of this chapter)