I just want to play healthy basketball

Chapter 9 Interview

June 2001, 6, Madison Square Garden.

In order to expand the influence of the NBA in the United States, the draft will be held in different cities every year. This year, it happens to return to New York City, the basketball holy land where the NBA headquarters is located, so this year's draft will also be held at the home of the Knicks.

He Li, as one of the 327 players participating in the draft this year, naturally entered the arena early, accompanied by his agent Jeff Austin.

It's a pity that although He Li has the prospect of being drafted in the first round, he doesn't have the qualifications to enter the small green room to chat and laugh with other heaven's favorites.

He Li, like the vast majority of players participating in the draft, sat in the first two rows, waiting eagerly.

While He Li was looking for the figure of NBA Commissioner David Stern, he didn't expect that someone was looking for him at this time.

After seeing He Li, two reporters with Asian faces and work IDs hanging on their chests kept walking towards He Li.

He Li didn't pay attention at first. After all, it was his first time to participate in the draft, and it would be the first time he saw Stern, an NBA legend, with his own eyes. He Li's attention was all on the draft stage.

Austin's attitude towards the draft is completely different from that of He Li. Austin has long been accustomed to what will happen next!
Austin was already chatting with other nearby managers, hoping to get some useful information from the conversation, but the possibility of this is very small.

After talking a few unnutritious words with someone, Austin didn't want to talk anymore.If it weren't for the draft being about to start, Austin would rather sit down and read the newspaper.

It was also because Austin was a bit boring, which led to the discovery of extremely rare Asian faces on the draft scene.

"He Li, are they here to look for you?" Austin patted He Li on the shoulder, then stretched out his fingers and asked the two reporters who were rushing over.

He Li looked up in the direction Austin indicated, and then replied: "It should be!"

"One of them is Yang Yi? Who is the other one?"

He Li probably recognized one of them, then stood up from his seat and took two steps forward.

"CCTV reporter?"

When Yang Yi saw He Li saw them, he immediately got up and came forward, the corners of his mouth couldn't help showing joy, but just as he was about to start communication and interviews, He Li's question stopped them.

"Uh... sorry, we are reporters from the "Emperor Capital Youth Daily", and my name is Yang Yi.

May I ask who you are, He Li?We are here this time to interview you.

Do you have time to accept our interview? "

Yang Yi is not afraid of life. After hearing He Li speak in friendly Mandarin, he has no worries. He directly expresses his intention of coming. This time he came to the draft conference to find He Li.

I just don't know where Yang Yi got the news of He Li's participation in this draft.

"It turns out that Yang Yi is not a CCTV reporter?" He Li only knew that Yang Yi was an NBA commentator for CCTV Sports, but he didn't know where he worked, and it was embarrassing for both of them.

In order to ease the embarrassment in front of him, He Li agreed to the interview.

However, a voice suddenly came from behind He Li: "Excuse me, I am Jeff Austin, He Li's manager, can you speak English?"

"Excuse me, we want to interview He Li. May I ask this gentleman?" Yang Yi reacted and replied in Chinglish.

"Yes! However, in the following interview process, I hope that there will be no impolite questions.

If there is something inappropriate in He Li's answer, I hope that I can modify it or delete it directly.

I hope that this interview will satisfy both parties. "As He Li's agent, Austin is still very responsible.

Austin is worrying about not being able to develop He Li's commercial value in China. Now that there are Chinese journalists traveling thousands of miles to interview, Austin naturally wants to help He Li with a few good words.

However, Austin also knows the truth that too many words will lead to mistakes, and he is worried that He Li will say the wrong thing in the next interview, so he set his attitude and conditions well before the interview.

Yang Yi and Yang Yi were a little flustered by Austin's words, and when they didn't know how to answer, He Li opened his mouth and said: "You may not understand, what my agent means is that I hope to speak well for me in the subsequent interviews and reports, and try to choose my best door to write about.

If I was young and reckless and said something that should not be said during the interview, I also hope that the two of you will help me hide it.

If these two points can be achieved, we are happy to accept interviews. "

He Li spoke Mandarin, and Yang Yi and the others naturally understood it.

"Okay, no problem, then I will trouble you."

Yang Yi breathed a sigh of relief, and then started the interview.

"Let's talk about some routine first. The first question, He Li, where are you from? Can you tell me about your ancestral home?"

"Don't worry, I am not from Wanwan! My ancestral home is from Zhejiang Province. Although I have a green card now, my nationality has not been changed. I am still a Chinese, a communist successor who is determined to serve the country!"

Yang Yi was very satisfied with He Li's answer. He Li was indeed the person they were looking for.

Yang Yi came to the United States this year to cover the NBA finals. Originally, after the finals were over, Yang Yi was going back to China.

You must know that there will be the Asian Championships in July. Originally, the Asian Championships were held in Thailand, but Thailand suddenly quit, and then the magic capital took over successfully.

For the Asian Championships in Shanghai, Wang Zhizhi, Yao Ming, and Battelle will play together. Among them, Wang Zhizhi has just returned from the NBA playoffs, and Yang Yi is also anxious to go back to report on the front line.

Unexpectedly, when Yang Yi was leaving to return to China, he received a message from Stern.

According to the news, there is a Chinese player in this draft, and there is a high chance that he will be selected in the first round.

Stern hoped that the two of them would stay in the United States for a while, and leave after interviewing the draft. For this reason, they also gave Yang Yi and the two some rewards.

Before the two of Yang Yi came, the most worrying thing was that the "He Li" in the news was from Wanwan.Of course, Chinese-Americans and Chinese-Canadians will also be a little embarrassed.

Now He Li's nationality has not been changed, and he even revealed his willingness to play for his motherland. This is indeed something to be happy about.But Yang Yi did not come here in vain.

These are also the basis for Yang Yi's interview with He Li.

"The second question. Will there be pressure to play in the United States as a foreigner alone in a foreign land? Will there be some problems in terms of language, body, and technology?" Yang Yi first cared about He Li.

He Li answered very easily: "I went to junior high school and high school in the United States, and I was exposed to American basketball from the beginning of basketball enlightenment. I have no problems with the three aspects you mentioned."

"Very good. Are you confident about this draft? What position will you be selected in?" Yang Yi asked a key question.

He Li smiled and shook his head: "Well, you have to ask my agent! The draft is not only a talent competition between players, but also the result of a game between the agent and the team."

"I heard that you have a chance to be selected by the team in the first round? Is this true?" Yang Yi continued to ask.

He Li didn't hide it this time: "Yes. The owner of the Memphis Grizzlies promised to select me with the 27th overall pick in the first round, but I have tried out a lot of teams, and I might be selected by another team with a higher overall pick. Of course, there is also a small probability that I will fall into the second round or even lose the draft."

"Don't worry. I have reliable news here. You were selected in the first round, so you should be very stable." Yang Yi instead comforted He Li with behind-the-scenes information.

He Li laughed immediately after hearing what Yang Yi said.

"It turns out that I'm already the president's favorite cub!"

(End of this chapter)