All I Really Want Is To Play Basketball

"Su, can you tell us what the 'dribbling technique' you and Kobe used on the court today was?"

As the saying goes, it's better to eat first and drink the soup later. Mills asked curiously while handing the recording device to Su Feng.

Looking at the two middle-aged white men on the left and right who looked wretched and short, with cameras hanging around their necks, Su Feng thought at first that he had met the legendary "pervert".

However, after Mills asked the question, Su Feng quickly responded.

Am I being interviewed now?

It looks like it is.

So, Su Feng straightened his back subconsciously, "Are you talking about the move of first doing this to the right, and then doing this to the left?"

Mills and Maxon beside him nodded.

"This move, Kobe and I learned this move from a friend in New York. We both call this move 'Sam Goad'." Su Feng replied.

""Sam Gold"? This seems to be a personal name?" Mills asked.

"Yes, because the name of the friend who created this trick is Sam Gold-Welsh, and he is the captain of the Lazarus Academy basketball team." Su Feng replied.

"By the way, Su, the new season is about to start. What are your school's goals for this year?" Maxon, who had never had a chance to ask questions, saw that Mills was busy taking notes in a small notebook, so he hurriedly asked.

"Our goal this year is to win the state championship. As you know, we have extremely talented players like Kobe. He is simply the "Michael Jordan" of high school basketball." Su, who wanted to brag about himself, After Feng glanced at Kobe passing by from the corner of his eye, he hurriedly said seriously.

"What about your personal goals for the future?" Maxon asked casually.

"Me?" Su Feng scratched his head, and then replied: "I want to play in the NBA."

Hearing Su Feng's answer, Maxon was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked at Mills who was still recording.

fine!

Fortunately, this idiot didn't hear it!

Big news!

I didn’t expect that my casual question would lead to such a big treasure!

While "Sam Goad" is, in Markson's opinion, well worth covering,...

During the previous investigation, Maxon had found out everything about Su Feng's background.

After all, as a professional basketball reporter, Maxson believes that if you interview an athlete, the first three sentences are "What is your name?", "Can you introduce yourself?", "What do you think yours is?" What are the characteristics?”…

It's better not to ask...

Because that's so amateurish.

If the interviewer has to answer everything, then why do we need the reporter?

Although he is not as quick as Mills, Maxon, who has a very keen sense of news, knows that perhaps the real breaking news is in his hands at this time!

Because this Chinese international student in front of me... he wants to play in the NBA!

And according to Markson, this is not impossible.

After watching Su Feng's two games in a row, even Maxon was optimistic about Su Feng's future.

Although it will be difficult for Su Feng to enter the NBA in the future,...

What if he really did it?

As a photojournalist for the sports section of the "Philadelphia Evening News", Markson is very aware of the character of his editor-in-chief Johansson.

Johansson is a complete gambler, and he dares to bet as long as there is a 1% probability.

"The editor-in-chief will definitely agree to publish this news! Although this news is likely to be ridiculed by peers in a short period of time, if Su Future really makes it to the NBA... then we will be the first to report this News media!"

Although he is 47 years old this year, the journalistic ideal has always been Maxon’s lifelong pursuit.

Markson knew very well that if this news became a reality in the future, the news published by the "Philadelphia Evening News" would be the first, exclusive, and a report that others could not copy!

"Su, can I take a photo for you?" Maxon smiled at Su Feng.

For some reason, Su Feng always felt that the smile of the reporter in front of him was quite vulgar...

But Su Feng didn't think much about it, because both Maxon and Mills reported their families during the interview.

Su Feng had read these two newspapers after traveling through time. They were both relatively serious newspapers.

You shouldn't be messing around... right?

Click!

Just like that, Maxon took a photo of Su Feng sitting on the bench holding a basketball.

On the other side, after interviewing Su Feng, Mills asked Kobe the same question again. It was obvious that he was very interested in the "Sam Goad" move.

"Alas...my precious first interview!"

There are always many firsts in life.

Su Feng, who originally thought that no reporters would pay attention to him until the main match started, never expected that reporters would already come to his door before the main match started.

"Don't think too much. They are not here to do a special report for you. Believe me, they are just interested in "Sam Gold"."

Looking at Su Feng who was a bit narcissistic, Kobe felt that he needed to prick Su Feng to wake him up.

"Yes." Su Feng nodded, feeling that what Kobe said made sense.

Therefore, Kobe is indeed an essential tool for basketball practice... well, an essential companion.

Not only can I accompany you for special training, but I can also help you with psychological counseling to prevent you from being over-inflated and unable to see yourself clearly.

Su Feng silently gave Kobe a thumbs up in his heart.

…

It has been five days since Lower Merion's game against Chester High School.

New York, Fifth Avenue, Olympic Building, NBA Headquarters.

"David, I suggest you take a look at our financial statements, our financial estimates..."

"David, if the ratings continue to drop, we may not be able to..."

"David..."

"Okay, let's get here first."

After cursing the United States in his heart, NBA President David Stern rubbed his temples and looked out the window meaningfully...

Alas, it’s been another difficult year!

If I had to use one sentence to describe the mood of the little old Jewish man Stern at this time, it would probably be:

I...It's too...difficult...!

You know, for the NBA, which is caught between the other three major sports leagues in North America at this time, the NBA's situation is more than difficult?

Because the players keep making bad moves and swearing on the court, even many American parents have publicly stated that they want to boycott the NBA to prevent their children from learning bad things.

At this time, Stern knew better than anyone that in the United States, basketball could no longer compete with football or even baseball.

The NBA needs new audiences.

A huge overseas market is needed.

Therefore, in 1992, after professional players could play in the Olympics, Stern immediately called on the stars to play for the country.

It can be said that in Barcelona, ​​the style of the Dream Team allowed countries around the world to appreciate the charm of the NBA for the first time.

but......

Everything that happened next made Stern feel like he had picked up the wrong script.

Because it was agreed that all lines will start to be pushed equally, will the NBA lead a simple and boring life under his leadership?

No!

Not at all!

The 1990s are no different than the future. Except for a few players, most European basketball players are not interested in joining the NBA.

The most famous among them is Bodiloga, the King of Europe and the "White Magician".

Because in Bodiloga's view, I can make a lot of money playing in Europe, so why do I have to go to the NBA?

As one of the representatives of basketball in Europe at this time, even Bodilloga thinks this way. It is conceivable how limited the NBA's appeal is to European players.

So Stern is too difficult.

But it doesn't matter. As a dynamic CEO, Stern will not give up even if the European market cannot be opened temporarily.

Because Stern discovered a new continent in the NBA’s overseas market——

China.

When researching the history of basketball in China, Stern discovered that China has a history of playing basketball almost as long as North America. Old China even sent a basketball team to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

These histories made Stern realize that China has a far better basketball foundation than Europe.

Because the center of world football is in Europe, even if the NBA can intervene in the European market, its influence will be very limited.

But China is different.

So, in 1986, despite everyone's opposition, Stern, who insisted that China would become the largest basketball market outside the United States in the future, mailed several boxes of NBA video tapes to China's Datianchao TV station.

In Stern's view, although China was still in a state of exhaustion at that time, he firmly believed that China would surely rise and the NBA must enter the Chinese market as soon as possible.

In 1989, in order to further promote the NBA to China, Stern once again fought against all odds.

This time, the little Jewish old man once again brought the NBA tape and went to China alone.

Outside the Datianchao TV station, which was still very old at the time, Stern had to wait for two hours because he did not have an appointment. Only then did the young Jewish man meet the leader in charge of sports at Datianchao TV.

In the end, Stern impressed the Chinese TV station with his sincerity. If Stern's experience was described in a modern way, it would probably be like this:

Stern: The NBA here is pretty good, with Jordan, Big Dream, and Sharks...

Datianchao TV: But our programs are all arranged.

Stern: That’s okay. If it doesn’t work, you can broadcast it as an advertisement!

Datianchao TV: Advertisement? I won’t be tired if you talk about this. By the way, speaking of advertising, how much are you prepared to pay?

Stern: ORZ.

It can be said that Stern's process of opening up the entire Chinese market was very difficult, but at the same time, all this also proved Stern's vision.

In Su Feng's previous life, this little Jewish old man basically made correct judgments except for not taking into account the various decisions made by our emperor.

Stern does not have the ability to predict the future, but he is full of sincerity.

In the early days of the cooperation with Datianchao TV, in Stern's own words: Don't talk about money with me. Talking about money will hurt your feelings.

So, just like that, in the 1993/94 season, the NBA officially invited Datianchao TV to broadcast and report on the NBA All-Star Weekend.

After that, Datianchao TV will broadcast the NBA All-Star Game every year.

until......

In the future, someone will appear who is mentally retarded and thinks that all this is insignificant and can be done away with...

"Alas, although cooperation with China has taken shape, there is still a lack of a bridge between us and China."

Although Stern has never read Chinese online novels, the president knows better than anyone that if he wants to truly open up the Chinese market, the NBA must have Chinese players.

Because Stern, who has worked hard on Chinese culture, knows that this... is called a sense of substitution.

Just like a certain author named Shui Danqiao always likes to write handsome protagonists, isn't that all to make readers feel more involved?

In Su Feng's previous life, in addition to the well-known Wang Zhizhi, Battelle, and Yao Ming, in fact, during this period, many NBA teams also sent invitations to Hu Weidong, nicknamed "Chinese Jordan."

Because the Great China TV station felt that it should reciprocate with the NBA, after the establishment of the CBA, the Great China TV station also mailed a CBA highlight video to the NBA.

Later, after this video was broadcast, Americans became interested in the tall and thin Chinese defender.

Because he has a gorgeous style of play and can fly and dunk.

Ahem...it seems to be going too far.

Let’s get down to business.

worry!

worry!

worry!

Who can know the sorrow in my heart?

And just when Stern was drinking bitter coffee and feeling the depression in his heart, suddenly...

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Stern calmed down his emotions. After all, as a president, you have to behave like a president. How can you be downcast?

"David... I have a newspaper here, do you want to read it?" A senior executive wearing a gray suit and looking a bit Asian said to Stern holding a newspaper.

"Mark, I guess I'm not in the mood to read the newspaper right now." Stern looked at Mark and said.

"No, no, no, I think you have to take a look." Mark placed the newspaper in front of Stern regardless of Stern's objection.

"Huh?" Looking at the newspaper title, Stern was confused for a moment...

"China's First NBA Player?" 》

Stern felt like his eyes were blurred, but...he was clearly wearing glasses.

"The Philadelphia Evening Post?"

"Isn't it written about a player of the Chinese Men's Basketball National Team?"

"S-Su Feng? Pennsylvania... Lower Merion?"

Looking at Stern who kept sending him various question mark emoticons, Mark smiled and said: "This report is about a Chinese international student at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia."

"The newspaper mainly introduced some of the Chinese student's deeds, as well as his playing characteristics and the statistics of recent friendly matches."

Stern frowned when he heard what Mark said, "Friendly match? What about his data from the first and second years of high school? Why are they not there?"

"David, this Chinese player named Su has never played in a high school league before." Mark said.

"They dare not show up..."

Stern originally wanted to say, how dare this newspaper write about a player who has never even made an official appearance?

"It's strange here, because according to my research, the Philadelphia Evening News is a pretty serious newspaper."

"But after they sent out this report, almost the entire industry was laughing at them."

"Because in the eyes of industry peers, no matter how good this Chinese genius is, they should not report on him until he has played a full season."

"And the writer of this article, Maxson, used nine consecutive words "I think" in the last paragraph at the end of the article to affirm the strength of this Chinese international student."

"Therefore, the industry feels even more that this report is unrealistic and just for hype." Mark told Stern.

actually......

Not only these so-called industry insiders think...

Stern felt the same way after reading the entire report and listening to Markle's explanation...

"So, Mark, today is not April Fool's Day." Stern looked at Mark weakly and said.

"No, David, if that's the case, I wouldn't be surprised. After all, we often see this kind of hype." As he spoke, Mark took out another newspaper.

"Pennsylvania High School Basketball League Shows Amazing Skills - Sam Gold"

"This is also a very popular report in the past two days. Also, ESPN already played this video yesterday afternoon." As he said this, Mark took out another video tape. (Are you Doraemon?)

Soon, in Stern’s office, Stern watched this scene on the videotape:

In the picture, first, a yellow defender used a dribbling technique that Stern had never seen before to dodge his opponent and complete a three-point shot. UU Reading www.uukanshu. net And next, a black defender completed the attack in the same way...

"I remember this kid with No. 33, his name is Kobe, right? His dad's name is Joe, a former NBA player." Stern looked at Mark and said.

"Yes, that's right, David, do you know who the player who appeared first in this video is?" Mark asked.

Stern shook his head, then opened his eyes wide.

"He is Su, the Chinese genius high school student Su mentioned in the report written by Maxson."

"Although I don't know if he can play in the NBA, after all, there is too little information that can be obtained just by watching this video."

"But David...I think this might be an opportunity." Mark said looking at Stern.

Stern knew what Mark meant.

The NBA and the Chinese market have always lacked a bridge.

And now...

What if this talented high school student named Su Feng could build this bridge?

In Stern's view, it doesn't matter even if he can't play in the NBA in the future.

It would be a good idea to find a way to open a backdoor for him and let him come to the NBA for a tryout. It would also be a good idea to find a team for him to play in the summer league!

Stern felt that his mood suddenly improved.

At this moment, Su Feng, who was practicing one-on-one with Kobe Bryant in Philadelphia, could never have imagined that...

The boss has already written down his name in his little notebook.

…

PS: This chapter has a lot of pitfalls, so it is quite long. I will explain it in detail in the next chapter. Continue to ask for recommendation votes, collections, and also, is there any big boss who likes me? Um? Chirmi?