NBA: This center is incredibly strong.

"Chen! Wait a minute."

Inside the players' tunnel, Van Gundy's shouts came from behind.

Chen Yan stopped and turned around to look.

"Two of your compatriots want to see you. They say they are from Chinese media and want to do an exclusive interview." Van Gundy came to Chen Yan's side and told him their purpose.

"A reporter from China? They've arrived so quickly?" Chen Yan nodded upon hearing this; he had already sensed this day was coming.

At the beginning of this new century, when the internet was not yet well-developed, the domestic media would never have imagined that there was a gifted Asian in an American high school.

They must have stumbled upon this shining gem during the draft.

The fact that they didn't come to the Summer League immediately might be due to some concerns, but the arrival of the preseason indicates that the opportunity has arrived.

Chen Yan was happy to accept the interview.

Not only can he become famous in China, but he can also collect a lot of emotional points when his matches are broadcast live in China later.

Chen Yan straightened his jersey and followed Van Gundy into the reception room.

Pushing open the door to the reception room, two familiar faces came into view.

Of course, this "familiarity" refers to Chen Yan before his time travel.

For Chen Yan, who has lived in the United States for eight years, these two people are no different from strangers.

When the door opened, the two people sitting on the sofa also stood up.

Chen Yan's gaze first fell on the man with gray hair.

With a broad forehead and square face, even when wearing a casual suit, the athlete's frame is still visible.

The young man next to him was wearing glasses and holding a recorder and notebook, trying hard to make his smile appear less nervous.

"Hello, hello, Chen Yan, I'm Zhang Weiping, a basketball commentator in China." Coach Zhang extended his hand first, with his signature friendly smile on his face. "This is my colleague Yu Jia. We came to Orlando specifically to do an exclusive interview with you."

Seeing Coach Zhang politely extend his hand, Chen Yan stepped forward and shook it.

"Hello, Teacher Zhang." After shaking hands, Chen Yan turned to the young man next to him, "Hello, Teacher Yu."

Yu Jia clearly hadn't expected Chen Yan to address him that way, and blinked several times behind her glasses: "No, no, no, just call me Xiao Yu."

The sofa in the living room was large enough for an average person, but when Chen Yan sat down, the armrest still got stuck on the outside of his knees.

He had to turn slightly to the side and put one arm on the back of the sofa to sit comfortably.

Zhang Weiping sat down opposite him, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over Chen Yan's skeleton.

This young man's shoulders are almost twice the width of the sofa back.

"Want some water?" Van Gundy asked from the doorway, and closed the door after receiving a negative answer.

After Van Gundy left, the interview session began.

Yu Jia pressed the recorder button, and the red indicator light lit up.

"Chen Yan, first of all, congratulations on your 22 points and 16 rebounds in your preseason debut. Especially those dunks and blocks, they were absolutely fantastic," Yu Jia praised without reservation.

Chen Yan smiled and replied, "Thank you."

He never expected that Yu Jia would become his little fanboy after just one game.

"Let's talk about the game first," Zhang Weiping said, picking up the thread. "You played 28 minutes today, facing this year's second overall pick, but you didn't play like a rookie in your first year in the NBA. How do you feel about how you've adapted?"

Chen Yan answered truthfully: "I originally thought the preseason would be much more intense than the Summer League. But the first time Stromile Swift defended me, when I went up to him, I found..."

He paused for a second, as if carefully choosing his words: "I found that it's not all that great."

Zhang Weiping laughed and explained, "This is your physical advantage at work. Look, those times you were boxing out for rebounds today, Swift couldn't move you at all. Your strength and jumping ability are already a game-changer in preseason-level competition."

What he didn't say was that even in the NBA, there are very few people with your strength and jumping ability.

Yu Jia chimed in, steer the conversation back on track: "Your playing style is very similar to Shaq's. Everyone thinks you'll become the next Shaq. What do you think?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment.

This question is much harder to answer than the feeling of the game.

"I've only played one preseason game, and I'm still a long way from him. But I don't want to become the next Shaq. I am who I am, unique and irreplaceable," Chen Yan said confidently.

Zhang Weiping's eyes revealed admiration; he hoped that Chen Yan could forge his own path.

Yu Jia didn't continue asking questions on that issue, but instead posed a new one: "Judging from today's match, you're more willing to compete and do the dirty work. How did you develop this style?"

This question made Chen Yan take it seriously for a few seconds.

"Well... I think the essence of basketball is very simple: it's about putting the ball in the basket and preventing the opponent from doing so." He paused for a moment. "Many people enter the NBA wanting to become stars and think about how to make a lot of money. But from the beginning, I understood that what allowed me to establish myself in this league was my physicality and defense."

Zhang Weiping was clearly satisfied with the answer, nodding repeatedly: "You have a very clear understanding of yourself, which is rare."

"One last question," Yu Jia adjusted her glasses, "The preseason is just the beginning. What are your goals for the upcoming regular season? Or rather, how do you hope people will evaluate you after your rookie season?"

Chen Yan didn't answer immediately. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I hope they say—this Chinese guy can play ball!"

Zhang Weiping stood up excitedly, stretched out his hand, and this time shook it even harder: "Great! We'll be waiting to see you play!"

Yu Jia turned off the recorder, and the living room fell silent.

"The interview is over. I have a personal question I'd like to ask you, is that convenient?" Coach Zhang said, seizing the opportunity.

"Go ahead," Chen Yan said, thinking that he had already answered so many questions, one more wouldn't make a difference.

"If the national team invited you, would you be willing?" Coach Zhang asked this question with trepidation.

Chen Yan remained silent for a while.

He never expected that this old geezer was so wicked, unleashing his ultimate move.

You shouldn't have agreed; it's too late to say anything now.

The reception room fell silent again.

Coach Zhang and Yu Jia were extremely nervous, their hearts pounding.

Ten seconds later, Chen Yan smiled and said, "If the country needs me, I will offer my insignificant strength."

When Coach Zhang heard the satisfactory answer, his heart finally settled down.

Chen Yan is a really good young man, with impeccable political background and high level of ideological awareness!

"Alright, I won't take up any more of your time. See you next time." After saying goodbye to Chen Yan, Coach Zhang left the reception room with Yu Jia.

After seeing the two media representatives off, Chen Yan also left the reception room and headed towards the dressing room.