NBA, Yao Ming is back!

"Tim, you seem a little distracted."

Hank Egan is currently the head coach leading this team.

He was Popovich's head coach in college. After graduating from the University of San Diego in 94, he stayed with the Spurs and later became Popovich's lead assistant coach.

He was also the chief contributor to Duncan's technical magic and the Spurs' defensive focus.

Tim Duncan is known for only smiling at two people during practice games: Gregg Popovich and himself.

"I just feel a bit uneasy."

"What, you have moments of restlessness too? I thought you were like those statues in temples, with no heartbeat."

Duncan smiled slightly, showing genuine respect for him, since Popovich hadn't initially been so firm in his decision regarding Duncan.

Popovich himself has given interviews and admitted that he did have doubts back then.

This old man said: You'll regret not choosing him for the rest of your life; he'll become a historic center.

Once you understand these intricacies, you'll know why Duncan was led by him in the early stages.

Be brave, you are the top pick.

"What can a 16-year-old kid use to compete with you in terms of basic skills? You only need to use your basic skills to beat him."

"I've never seen a 16-year-old with such good fundamentals. You just need to play at your own pace."

"But when he played, he defended both high draft picks very inefficiently." After Duncan finished speaking, Egan said, "That must be media exaggeration. People like this kind of exaggerated news these days. It's probably just that the two players were having a bad day."

"Think about it, how could a guy who's almost 2.3 meters tall possibly go out and defend those two? Have you ever seen anything like this? I certainly haven't. This is just a common tactic used by the media to sensationalize your meeting with this second overall pick and create hype."

Hearing what Egan said, Duncan felt much more at ease.

This cannot be blamed on the old man; the main reason is that although there is television broadcasting in this era, it does not fully cover the Summer League.

Furthermore, without mobile internet, it's impossible to watch these matches anytime, and there are hardly any recordings available.

The Summer League schedule is very tight, with games every other day, leaving no time for detailed adjustments. This is similar to the NBA, where it's impossible to make targeted strategies against every team during the regular season because the tight schedule means you can only focus on a few specific teams.

The real time for adjustments and targeted measures is during the offseason, when the coaching staff has the opportunity to do so.

Therefore, the vast majority of information comes from newspaper and media reports, as well as judgments based on personal experience.

Based on my own experience, Hank Egan's statement is perfectly valid.

Historically, there have been very few people like that. Even Yao Ming's current draft comparison, Sampson, is primarily an offensive player who faces the basket, while defensively he is a solid rim protector.

From an empirical perspective, what the old comrade said makes a lot of sense.

However, some people are simply not judged by experience.

Such people are collectively referred to as—

Superstar.

……

The competition is about to begin on the second day.

This is the venue for the Summer League Rocky Mountain finals.

Although there are champions and MVPs, this competition doesn't pay out of pocket.

Honors are also optional.

Therefore, not many people reported on it.

Many rookies even give up after playing for a while.

However, although Duncan was somewhat unsettled before playing Yao Ming, it wasn't that he didn't want to face him; rather, this feeling was bothering him, and he knew that only a good game would solve the problem…

Only then can this feeling dissipate.

As a psychology master's student, it's not a wise choice to keep yourself in a state of emotional turmoil for a long time.

But as soon as he saw Yao Ming...

Seeing that giant's height immediately reminded him of the draft.

That feeling.

Archetypal fate projection theory.

This is the downside of reading too much: many authoritative classics and theories will instantly pop into your mind and unconsciously influence your cognition.

Yao Ming didn't seem to have any particular feeling when he saw Duncan; instead, he waved and greeted him.

His calm and composed attitude can easily influence his teammates.

If Yao Ming hadn't gone to the NBA after the Summer League, his teammates would have really wanted to play a few more games with an athlete like him.

This match will definitely be a key domestic broadcast for the Summer League.

Because Yao Ming played so well in the Summer League.

Those statistics are simply misleading. At this stage, most people in China don't know the difference between the Summer League preseason, regular season, playoffs, and finals; they all think they're playing in the NBA.

To produce such data is truly impressive.

Even the leaders of those TV stations might not be able to figure out these intricacies, but no matter what, the ratings are indeed rising, and that's enough.

Why not add more time at the beginning and schedule some more interviews?

Anyway, the longer the show with high ratings, the better.

I'll get a promotion and a raise then.

They might all have to rely on this 16-year-old who's going to the NBA.

……

"Little Yao, you've performed exceptionally well in the previous few games. I'd like to know, before this game you're facing the most famous rookie of your draft class, Tim Duncan, is there anything you'd like to say to the audience?" Wei Ping, the interviewer, asked.

The main reason is that Sun Zhengping is too short, and it's tiring for him to hold the microphone, so Zhang Heli has to do it.

"I will learn from him. His fundamentals are very good, and he must be very envious of my dunks."

Zhang Weiping: ...

Dunk, dunk?

"Yes, I heard from a rumor that he really wants to do a windmill dunk. He can't help it, and sometimes he even wants to do one while still standing still."

As they were talking, Duncan actually did a windmill motion on the spot.

This is really...

Whether it's confirmed or not, it has to be confirmed.

Yao Ming was surprised by how cooperative the rookie, number 21, was, and said with a smile, "I can teach him a thing or two later."

"He'll definitely be very happy."

As expected of a young person, they speak so freely, but no senior will dislike a very strong young person.

If you, a complete novice, speak like that, then you are simply ignorant and arrogant.

If you were Yao Ming speaking like that now...

That is... a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger, and someone who is inexperienced in the world is bold and courageous.

Words, idioms, and proverbs left to us by our Chinese ancestors.

It's always a matter of being able to advance or retreat at will.

Can be offensive and defensive.

Fighting and retreating simultaneously is also acceptable.

"I hope you can achieve good results. Keep it up and let the top draft pick know the strength of Chinese players."

After the interview, the signal was switched off, and Sun Zhengping asked, "Can he really go toe-to-toe with Deng Ke?"

Uh.

Who is Deng Ke?

Zhang Weiping almost lost his composure.

I almost spat out the tea I had just drunk.

Big brother.

Big pot.

His name is Duncan.

His name isn't Deng Ke.

However, Sun Zhengping now holds a higher position than him on China Sports Channel, so I still have to answer patiently.

"It's difficult, almost impossible. He's a man who tanked in the NBA for three or four years. Tim Duncan, he'd be an immediate contributor if he came in now, so logically speaking..."

Zhang He thought for a moment: "It would be good enough if we could achieve some results under his guidance."

"Yao Ming was also the second overall pick, so theoretically he shouldn't be that far off from the first overall pick."

Zhang Heli looked at Sun Zhengping, who seemed to understand the nine tricks, and said, "They seem to be not far apart, but in fact they are far apart. Duncan was the number one pick that every team wanted to select. Yao Ming was the unexpected second pick. The main reason is that he is only 16 years old. We should give young people some room to grow and not be too harsh."

"What if we don't follow the usual logic?"

ha?

Sun Zhengping's question left Zhang Weiping somewhat stunned.

Why isn't this over yet?

Why would you invite me here to explain things in a way that doesn't make sense?

If we don't follow the rules, anything is possible.

For example, to prevent him from dying.

For example, beat him to a pulp.

For example, let him know about the mysterious power of the East.

But what's the point? Everything still has to be reasonable.

It's unreasonable, and there's no point in talking about it.

Both sides were warming up when, by sheer coincidence, Duncan missed a mid-range shot, and the ball flew out of bounds. Yao Ming also made a shot, which also missed.

The two men went to retrieve the ball and met in the middle of the field.

Duncan's first thought was...

Oh my god, why are the lights off?

Honestly, having grown to his size, I've always wanted to have that feeling.

That's not easy.

He usually gives people that kind of impression.

It looks even more terrifying up close.

At 2.11 meters tall, I suddenly feel...

He's like a normal person now.

Of course! You're 2.11 meters tall. Even if Duncan is barefoot, he's still 17 centimeters shorter than you.

To put it another way, compared to Yao Ming, Duncan is like a 1.63-meter person standing in front of a 1.8-meter person.

It's roughly like having your girlfriend standing next to you.

It can't really be described as small and exquisite.

It is definitely small and exquisite.

It's no wonder that Duncan was so impressed by someone who could make a 2.11-meter-tall person feel like a little sister.

Fortunately, my wingspan isn't that much different.

As a monster with a wingspan of over 230 cm, this is the first time I feel that the name "monster" is somewhat undeserved for me.

"Hey Tim, do you like windmills?"

Yao Ming took the initiative to speak, and Duncan was taken aback by the question.

He seemed surprised that Yao Ming's English was so good.

"like."

I don't know why, but I blurted out this question.

"Alright, then I'll give you a little something as a gift."

After speaking, Yao Ming stood under Duncan's gaze.

Yao Ming dribbled the ball across his own half of the court, and then...

He performed something that might not have looked very fluid, but it was absolutely genuine...

Windmill dunk.

bang-

I've been developing myself using the NBA model since I was a child, and it's finally paid off.

This wave.

Little Deng!

I don't believe you won't fall in love.

Sure enough, he turned around.

Duncan, the guy whose eyes are always expressionless.

For the first time.

I saw a reflection of myself in one of my opponents.

Yes, a shadow in my own imagination.

Yao Ming is very familiar with this kind of perspective.

That's how I looked at Duncan's long arms back then.

at last.

Now it's your turn to envy me.

fool.

look.

She still interacts with men.

That's quite interesting, isn't it?

This inner joy.

Yao Ming felt he couldn't hide it anymore.

P.S.: Please keep reading! Everyone, help me!!!