basketball player

Chapter 25 025: Two young people
In two months, the team's official assistant coach.These two words kept spinning in Henson's head, and it was the second time after he traveled here that he tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep.The first time was when An Jiali passed out drunk on his bed.

Henson didn't expect his progress to be so fast. He has only been a scout for the Pacers for less than a year. Of course, if you count before Henson crossed over, he has actually been a scout for almost three years.But before that, Henson's resume was almost blank.

From a scout to an assistant coach, this is undoubtedly a turning point for a basketball worker.It took Henson's good friend Vogel on the coaching staff seven years to get to this point, but Henson, in fact, took him almost one year.

Bird gave Henson two months to prepare, but don't think that two months is enough time.From formulating training plans to detailed arrangements for the employment strategy, rotation strategy, tactics, etc. of each game, the workload is not comparable to that in the summer league. There are 82 regular season games in the NBA, and that's not counting the playoffs.It can be seen from this that the job of an assistant coach is not so easy and capable.

After lying in bed all night in a daze, Hansen woke up with big dark circles under his eyes.In fact, he didn't sleep well all night.For a brief moment, Henson felt that all the books he read on vacation were not enough.Basketball is really not a game on paper. Even after reading so many books, you will feel that you can't start.

Henson got up and drank a glass of milk as usual, and ate two slices of toast.The team didn't practice today, and he still doesn't have much work to do as a scout.Just as Henson was planning to go to the Indiana University library to read books in the afternoon, Bird called.

"Shouldn't you be on a business trip again?" Henson muttered and connected the phone. After all, his current position was still just a scout.

"Didn't sleep well last night, buddy, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha'" Byrd laughed smugly as soon as he answered the phone, as if he was in control.

"I slept very well, Bird." Henson rolled his eyes, Bird is still so pretentious despite his age.

"You can say what you want, Henson, but if I were you, I'd be very anxious right now. How about it? Play golf with me in the afternoon? Or go to Indiana University to study?"

"Golf, don't you already have Pritchard? People say that Pritchard's task is to play golf well with you." Henson is still joking with Bird. Although Bird can give people a great sense of oppression, at present, Henson prefers to treat Bird as a friend rather than a boss.

"Boy, your mouth is very likely to cause you to get technical fouls on the sidelines. It's fine if you don't come, but I also suggest that you don't go to Indiana University to read books. No coach can tell by just reading books. I have a more interesting place for you to recommend, do you want to listen to it?"

Byrd kept it a secret on purpose, waiting for others to ask questions. This is what he learned from Henson.

"Okay, let you pretend. So, dear Mr. Bird, where is this place?" Henson now finally knew why so many people wanted to kill Bird.

"Butler University, not far from downtown Indianapolis. When you arrive, find a guy named Brad Stevens, and tell me that I let you go."

"Brad Stevens?" Henson frowned when he heard the strange name.

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As Bird said, Butler University is indeed not far from downtown Indianapolis.Carter only drove for 20 minutes, and sent Henson to this campus surrounded by green forests.

Butler University, Henson knows little about this school, because even in Indianapolis, this is not a famous basketball school.The school has never made it to the NCAA playoffs, nor has it produced any stars who can stand in the NBA.

But Bird recommended Henson to come here, certainly not to let him browse the campus scenery.After all, during his time as a scout, Henson had already visited most of the famous American schools.

Henson didn't wander around, but went straight to the basketball gym of the Butler University Bulldogs.Henson firmly believed that the person he was looking for must be in the basketball hall.

After revealing his identity, the guard of the arena quickly led Henson the way himself.After almost a year of accumulation, Henson still has some status and fame in the hearts of local Indianapolis fans.There is no Pacers fan who has never heard of that magical Chinese scout, but they may not have seen the real person.

"To be honest, sir, when I read the news reports, I didn't expect you to be so young." The gatekeeper is also a Pacers fan, so he knows Henson's background very well.But then again, there are only a handful of people in Indianapolis who don't watch basketball.

"Really? I have always told others that age does not represent strength." Henson smiled politely, and while speaking, they walked into the basketball hall.Inside, there are already many players training.

"Hey, Brad, you have a guest!" After entering the basketball hall, the doorman shouted at a young man in sportswear by the side of the court.

"Brad, this is Henson Joe, a scout for the Indiana Pacers. This is our head coach, Brad Stevens. I won't bother you."

After the guard introduced the two of them, he left alone, leaving only Henson standing there in surprise.He originally thought that this guy named Stevens was an old man, but it seemed that he was about the same age as him!
"Mr. Henson? Byrd has already called me. It's a pleasure to meet you after a long time."

Henson mechanically shook hands with Stevens, what did he say just now?Age really doesn't represent strength.I am still complacent about becoming an assistant coach, but this guy who is not a few years older than himself is already the head coach of an NCAA team.

It's true that there is a sky beyond the sky, and there are people beyond people.

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Henson and Stevens got along very well, and Bird's purpose was very simple, that is, to let Henson come to Stevens to study.Of course, this learning is long-term. After all, one day can't make you a big fat man.It seems that Bird is not only optimistic about Henson, but also very optimistic about this young coach who is teaching at Butler University.

Stevens, like Frank Vogel, is not a systematically trained coach.Stevens was unknown as a player, and he also chose the academically-centered DePauw University in college.After graduating in four years, I received a bachelor's degree in economics and worked in a pharmaceutical company.

In this regard, Stevens and Henson look very similar. The jobs they started and the majors they studied had nothing to do with basketball.

But unlike Henson, Stevens chose basketball because of pure love, not because he was desperate.At that time, Stevens was already the company's head of marketing operations, and the future was bright.But for basketball, he chose to be an unpaid basketball volunteer at Butler University.

While volunteering, Stevens worked in restaurants to make ends meet.It is this kind of persistence and dedication to love that made Stevens finally achieve success and become a well-known young coach in Indianapolis!

Compared with the previous Henson who asked a university professor to go through the back door because he was desperate, Stevens' experience is undoubtedly much more inspirational.If he hadn't seen this person with his own eyes, Henson would never have believed Stevens' life experience like a Hollywood inspirational movie.

The two chatted very speculatively, maybe because of the similar age, maybe because of the similar experience.Anyone with a similar experience to Henson will have a good chat with him, and so will Frank Vogel.

Watching the players practice, Stevens also taught Henson a lot about developing a training plan.A white forward on the Bulldogs lineup caught Henson's attention because the guy had A-level potential.

"That guy named Gordon Hayward, he will become a great player in the future." While studying, Henson also chatted with Stevens about his players.

"I think so too. Gordon works very hard. He has been hailed as the best native white striker in the United States! Mr. Henson's vision is as accurate as the rumors say." Stevens couldn't help admiring Henson. He could see a player's potential within less than two hours of watching Hayward play.

In fact, with the help of the data analysis module, Henson can generally distinguish between good and bad players in only 10 minutes.

"By the way, Henson, how do you usually learn tactics?" Stevens turned to look at this interesting scout. During the chat, Stevens found that Henson's tactical skills are actually good, but he can't practice them.

"Me? I usually just read in the library."

"Just reading is not enough, come on, come to my office, I'll show you something." Stevens beckoned, and then asked his assistant to help take care of the players.

After walking into Stevens' office, Henson saw an old TV and a stack of small white papers next to the TV.

"I will watch all the coaches' game videos. As long as I see interesting tactics, I will write them down and improve them. In fact, everything I know is learned from others! I think it is easier to learn tactics by watching videotapes of actual games than by reading books. Of course, it will not work without a foundation of theoretical knowledge. But you, Henson, you don't have such a problem."

Looking at the small pieces of paper full of slashes and circles on Stevens' desk, Henry nodded thoughtfully.

This trip to Butler was really not in vain.

(End of this chapter)