The way of the center

Chapter 180
After the Asian Championships, all members of the men's basketball team participated in the celebration banquet organized by the Basketball Association.The whole banquet was full of bureaucracy, and the players couldn't let it go, let alone celebrate wildly.

After the banquet, the national team announced its disbandment, and the men's basketball players officially ended their trip to the Asian Championships.After that, An Jie stayed with his parents at home in China until the end of August.Like last year, in September, the holidays are basically over, and Anjie has to rush to the United States to deal with some things, and then he will join the Thunder team.

In fact, the Chinese national team still has the Stankovic Cup to play in the future, but after the Asian Championships have already won the championship, the above does not attach great importance to the Stankovic Cup.So An Jie and Yi Jianlian were able to leave the national team and report to their respective NBA teams.

Yi Jianlian's performance last season was quite satisfactory, and everything is steadily improving except for too many injuries.However, for his main position, this pre-season training camp will be crucial for Yi Jianlian.The Nets are a rebuilding team where everyone has an equal chance.

Although An Jie is definitely the main center of the Thunder, but this does not mean that he can relax in the pre-season training camp.You must know that the Thunder's goal this season is to hit the playoffs.If you can't adjust your state to the best, it is difficult to meet expectations.

Of course, hitting the playoffs is not Anjie's work alone.As the general manager of the team, Presti's reinforcement to the team is undoubtedly the top priority affecting the performance of the Thunder.

First, after missing out on James Harden, Presti listened to Jeff Van Gundy's advice and selected Anjie's teammate Andrew Morris with the seventh overall pick.

In fact, Presti didn't want to choose Morris at the beginning, because this guy had suffered serious injuries in college, and he played more with his body, and his talent was far less than that of Anjie.But Jeff Van Gundy still reserved his suggestion. He believed that Morris was a good immediate force that could help the team hit the playoffs.

"I admit that Morris may not have much room for growth in the future. After all, his body is almost developed to the limit. But he is willing to do dirty work on the court and is very good at defense. Plus With a strong body, if he can join the team, our weak inside will be greatly strengthened." A defensive blue-collar insider is Van Gundy's favorite Anjie assistant.

When Presti selected Andrew Morris, Serge Ibaka was almost desperate.A guy who is in his position is selected, which means that Presti has given up on himself.

He worked hard to prove his strength in the Spanish league, but in the end he didn't get rewarded. This made Ibaka very depressed during that time.

However, on the first day of the opening of the free agent market, Ibaka received an offer from the Thunder.

Presti bought out the Spanish team's contract and signed Ibaka for four years, a standard rookie contract.In this way, for the first time, someone from the Republic of Congo was brought to the NBA stage.

Many people don't understand Presti's approach. Why did he sign another Ibaka when he has Angie and Morris.

Yes, for a starter, his approach will only make the Thunder look crowded inside.But for the entire team, there is no problem with this signing at all.

In addition to starting, the team's bench is also a link that must be reinforced.You can't start and play smoothly, and then give up the advantage as soon as the substitute insider comes up.Choosing Morris and signing Ibaka at the same time is to prepare for the inside line of the second team.

Both of these guys are rookies, and they are definitely willing to accept the arrangement of playing off the bench.In this way, not only can it promote a healthy competition between Morris and Ibaka, but it can also strengthen the inside of the bench.

After letting go of Robert Swift and Malik Rose, plus the original Nick Collison and Nenad Kostic, the Thunder's internal strength has not declined but increased.

In addition to these two guys, Presti also signed some perimeter players.For example, the former high school genius Sean Livingston, such as the experienced 37-year-old veteran Kevin Ollie.However, the strength of these guys really cannot be compared with Morris and Ibaka, so these signings of Presti did not spark any discussion.

Of course, when someone comes, someone leaves. Atkins, the veteran who once supported Anjie in the locker room, did not renew his contract with the Thunder. For example, Robert Swift, Anjie’s good helper at the end of the season, also chose to go to Europe. play ball.

People who are at a disadvantage will be eliminated by stronger guys sooner or later, and this cycle repeats itself. This is the status quo of survival in the NBA.

Presti's Thunder lineup is tentatively finalized. After all, the Thunder's trading chips are too few, so he can only strengthen the lineup through free agency signings and drafts.

But these are secondary. Whether the Thunder can make it to the playoffs depends on the performance of the Thunder's three young players in the new season.

Just when Presti finished working for the summer and was thinking about the third Thunder, An Jie also flew from China to the United States.The first stop, of course, is Ames.

Since the last trip to China, the busy An Jie never had time to meet Catherine.Now that the holidays are busy, the new season is about to start.

Before the start of the training camp, An Jie decided to spend a good time with Catherine.After all, after the start of the season, the two will have to live apart from each other again.

During the time in Ames City, Anjie and Catherine had a very sweet time. After all, they were newly married, and they both cherished the time they spent together.

After Catherine's identity was exposed, she also became a half-public figure.And her stunning appearance in the All-Star Game also made many scouts notice the girlfriend of this NBA player.

"Model?" An Jie looked at Catherine in surprise, her golden hair and blue eyes were still so charming.

"Yes, the people from IMG Model Agency have already contacted me, and I want to hear your opinion." Catherine and An Jie were sitting by the river bank, and the future of these two young people has become increasingly clear.

"IMG?" An Jie didn't understand the modeling industry at all.

"IMG is one of the largest modeling agencies in the world, do you think I am suitable to be a model?" Catherine said and stood up.

"Of course you are the most beautiful in my eyes, but, do you like this job?" An Jie earned enough money to support Catherine for a lifetime, and he was fully capable of making Catherine a housewife like Peggy.But if that's not the life Catherine wants, of course An Jie won't force it.

"I can't say whether I like it or not, but as a model, I can wear a lot of beautiful clothes." Catherine smiled at An Jie, her thoughts were really pure.

"I want to try it. After all, you have achieved such great success. I don't want to lose to you." Catherine leaned on An Jie's shoulder, which was very strong and full of security.

"Then go ahead and try, honey, I believe you can do it, just as you believe in me."

Chinese-American mixed race, tall and plump, with both American and Chinese appearance.Catherine, who has so many advantages, is not impossible to become a monk halfway and achieve success.

A week passed quickly, and the two had to say goodbye again.Only now, Catherine is not as sad as before.Because she knew that this big boy would always miss her and come back to her.

On September 9, the Thunder's preseason training camp officially opened.Since An Jie has already been tempered by the Asian Championships, he still didn't go to the summer league this time.

However, Westbrook, Morris and Ibaka all participated in the summer league and performed well.

When An Jie walked into the long-awaited Chesapeake Energy Arena training ground on the afternoon of the 16th, many players were already warming up on the field.Among these faces, some are still those people, and some are very strange.

"Hey Ann! Why did you come here!" Westbrook was the first to discover Anjie, and hearing Westbrook's shout, everyone looked towards the gate.

"How was your vacation Russell, hey Morris, I heard you played well in the summer league. Oh, did you see Kevin? Why hasn't that guy arrived yet?" At this moment, Anjie felt himself Like coming home.He greets people casually, which feels even more cordial than facing his compatriots in the national team.

"Your big brother is really great. We will definitely make it to the playoffs this season." Westbrook pointed to Morris, and Morris proudly showed off his muscles to Anjie.That guy is bigger than ever.

"Let me tell you, the general manager is definitely right to choose him." An Jie was very excited when he thought that he would partner with Morris again in the new season. This is simply a dream come true.

"And my new friend, let me introduce you. His defense in the summer league almost made me think he was possessed by you." Westbrook led Angie through the crowd and came to a corner .Here, a muscular black player is practicing shooting alone.

"Hey, Serge, meet your new friend!" Westbrook was a familiar face, and he seemed to be on good terms with everyone.

Ibaka stopped what he was doing when he heard someone calling him, and turned his head to look. It was the yellow-skinned center who shined last season.

"Hi, my name is Serge Ibaka. Nice to meet you." Although Ibaka is good at Spanish, his English level needs to be improved.So far, he basically only knows this sentence when he greets people.

"My name is Anjie. I'm very happy to play together." Anjie didn't shake hands, but punched Ibaka in the chest.An Jie also learned a lot about the habits of foreigners.

After that, more and more people came to the training ground, and it became more and more noisy here.Because the rosters of each team have not yet been determined, so it is normal to have a large number of people.After all, after a training camp and preseason games, the entire league will lay off more than 100 people.Before the official start of the season and layoffs, as many people as a team can participate in training.

The Thunder's three juniors and the newly joined Ibaka and Morris quickly got along with each other. Presti in the office on the second floor nodded in relief when he saw this scene.Rookies dissatisfied with each other and disliked each other, this was what he was most worried about before.

Morris has a stronger personality, but with An Jie around, he won't go to others to single him out.

Serge Ibaka came to the United States to play for the first time, and he was unfamiliar with the place, so naturally he had to lower his attitude.

When a man in a black suit opened the door to the training ground, the entire training ground fell silent immediately.

"It seems that you are all very energetic! This training camp is quite intense, so be prepared!" It was Jeff Van Gundy, who also officially joined the team!
"Come on, boss, I'm still worried that the intensity is too low for me to get back to my form!" Westbrook replied with a smile, and Van Gundy responded with a smile.

Although some role players have changed a lot, the Thunder is still the Thunder that Van Gundy is familiar with.In his second season with this group of guys, Van Gundy is full of confidence!

47 wins, people say that Van Gundy has created a miracle.Nearly making the playoffs with a "bad team" composed of three rookies at its core is a feat that no one else can accomplish.

Is it really a miracle?No, that is the embodiment of Thunder's strength!The playoffs should belong to Van Gundy and the Thunder's three young masters!

"Guys, get ready! We have only one goal this season!" Van Gundy held up a finger.

"Playoffs!" The Thunder's three juniors replied at the same time. They clapped each other skillfully. The journey of the new season has begun now!
(End of this chapter)