Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 480 He changed the sport
The match is over, but the shock it caused has not yet subsided.

Inside the studio.

"Why?"

Kenny Smith's voice echoed: "Why is he so strong?"

"He was facing Kobe, damn it, Kobe Bryant, he's one of the best players on the planet."

"Kobe possesses top-tier physical talent and incredible self-discipline. He worked hard for a full ten years to achieve his current level of skill."

"But what about Kevin?"

"Don't tell me he's strong because he trained with Tang for over a year."

"I know Tang is amazing, representing the best basketball training level in the world, but Kobe also trained with Tang."

"But look how many points Kevin got, 61 points, damn it, 61 points."

"Some might say that Kobe also scored 52 points, and they were only 9 points apart, but if you watched the game, you would know that the difference in the difficulty of their scores was much more than just 9 points."

Kenny Smith couldn't understand it.

After watching the entire game, his biggest feeling was that Durant scored too easily.

This level of ease far surpasses that of Kobe.

He felt that Kobe would have to work very hard to score against Durant.

Against an opponent who was 10 centimeters taller, had longer arms, moved faster, was more agile, and jumped like a spring, Kobe's ability to score 52 points can be described as giving it his all.

His questions went unanswered.

Barkley and Ernie Johnson on the other side remained silent.

After a long pause, Barkley finally spoke up: "Kenny, I think Kevin has changed the game of basketball, or rather, he has changed the sport of basketball to some extent."

"Just like me."

He pointed to himself and continued, "Back then, everyone told me that you could never play like that."

A short guy who's less than 2 meters tall is playing power forward, or even center, and going to the basket to fight for rebounds against a seven-foot giant.

"But I did it. I was very proud because I overturned everyone's perception and showed everyone that a short person like me can play basketball just like me."

“And now, I think Kevin is doing the same thing.”

"He told all the defenders that if they were 10 centimeters taller, they could still perform those offensive skills, and they would be even more powerful."

"And tell those tall interior players that they can also play like guards."

“Kenny, I think that’s why Kevin is so good. He’s an outlier. He showed the world that basketball can be played like this.”

"Or, tell those big men that through training and hard work, they can be as versatile as guards."

"He brought new possibilities to the sport, and I think that's the most valuable thing about him."

At this point, Barkley suddenly realized and said, "Kenny, I think I understand why Don chose Kevin."

Right here, Tang Sen was shouting that he wanted to select a player and train him to be the best athlete in the world.

Everyone thought that Tang Sen would choose a player based on Jordan's style.

As a result, Tang Sen selected Durant.

A guy who's 10 centimeters taller than Jordan.

Everyone thought Tang Sen had made the wrong choice.

"But I think that at that time, Tang was already thinking about a whole new possibility, telling players all over the world that you can play like Kevin."

"He's exploring the limits of basketball!"

"Just like Yao, before Yao appeared, we couldn't imagine that a 7-foot-5 giant could shoot three-pointers from beyond the three-point line, pass the ball, and win the assist title."

"Yao has appeared, and he has brought new possibilities."

"And now Kevin Durant has emerged, and he has created new possibilities for the sport of basketball."

This is a live broadcast across the US; it's the Christmas Day game.

At a time when the NBA was a global phenomenon, the level of attention the games received was astounding.

Therefore, Barkley and Smith's conversation was widely reported by all the media outlets. There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, because Kenny Smith asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

How can Kevin Durant, this 18-year-old kid, be so strong?

Secondly, the person involved remained remarkably silent after the match ended.

Kobe attended the post-game press conference, but remained silent.

Durant also went, but it was the same old thing: he said a few meaningless and pointless words.

The silence of the two men was far less thought-provoking than Barkley's words.

Therefore, the media outlets the following day were all reprinting and analyzing Barkley's words.

Analyze the reasons behind Durant's greatness and examine whether Barkley's words make sense.

Is Kevin Durant changing the sport of basketball, or bringing new possibilities to it?

His final speculation, in particular, that Tang Sen orchestrated this change, put Tang Sen in the spotlight.

Numerous reporters attempted to locate Tang Sen and inquire about his true thoughts.

Many people called Tang Sen, wanting to ask him in person if that was what he thought.

"Honey, is that really what you're thinking?"

While waiting in line at Manhattan's best cake shop to sample wedding cakes, Harmon asked a question out of curiosity.

After completing the Durant piece, Tang Sen felt a sense of fulfillment in his career.

As a trainer, I have trained the best players. My life is complete and I have no regrets.

Therefore, Tang Sen felt he could move on to the next stage of his life.

Tang Sen is preparing to get married.

From this day forward, I will begin my decades-long, perhaps one year, I will be amazed by a talented player and then return to the game, living a long, tedious life.

Considering that Hammon will be playing games next summer, they plan to hold the wedding before the start of the WNBA season.

So during this time, Tang Sen stayed with Harmon to help prepare for the wedding.

Every day I just think about flowers, cakes, and other random things.

“How could that be?” Tang Sen shook his head decisively.

Tang Sen was certainly aware of the media reports, and he also noticed what Barkley had said.

To this, Tang Sen could only say that they were overthinking it.

What is being considered during the selection process already takes new possibilities into account.

That's utter nonsense.

When making selections, Tang Sen's role model was always Jordan, but he didn't select a player with Jordan's talent.

Finally, out of desperation, they compromised and chose Durant.

They've already announced they'd choose someone, mobilized so many people, and if they don't end up choosing anyone, it won't look good.

To be honest, Durant's current development has exceeded Tang Sen's expectations.

Or rather, back then, looking at that skinny kid who was as thin as a stick, no one expected that he could gain weight and train to the level he is today.

Otherwise, how could they have invited so many people to a seven-day training camp?

It was through gradual observation that Tang Sen solidified his decision to choose Durant.

As for Yao Ming...

Similarly, when training him, we only focused on developing his talents, which ultimately led to his current state.

However, these discussions did indeed inspire Tang Sen.

So, what is the maximum height for a defender?
There will always be geniuses. Will there ever be someone as tall as Yao Ming who can play like a guard?

That would definitely be a monster.

(End of this chapter)