NBA: James wants to team up with me

Chapter 34: In the draft, LeBron is high-spirited

2003 6 Month 27 Day.

New York, USA, Madison Square Garden Arena.

The annual NBA draft is being held here.

The venue in the arena was overcrowded with players participating in the draft, their families, team management, media reporters, and official league staff. The occasion was unprecedented.

This is not surprising.

The 2003 draft is recognized as the draft with the highest quality in recent years.

LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, including Europe's talented prodigy Darko Milicic... these players are considered to be destined to become the league's top stars in the future.

Any team that can get one of these players will get the core of the team and build a championship team around them.

James, who made his debut wearing a pure white suit, was surrounded by reporters as soon as he appeared on the stage, as if stars were holding the moon.

The reporters who missed the opportunity rushed to surround Anthony, Milicic and others.

In contrast, Wade and Wang Chong are obviously ignored.

It’s not that the two of them are not famous.

The defeat of Anthony in the NCAA finals made the popularity of Wade and Wang Chong skyrocket. Almost everyone in the American basketball circle does not know their names.

But popularity is popularity, and draft picks are draft picks. Although Marquette University, led by these two men, had the last laugh in the NCAA, no one is optimistic about their draft prospects.

One is too old and has potential injuries, and the other temporarily switched from center to small forward. Although the physical test results are good and the performance is quite good, we really need to use the precious first-round draft picks to select them...

Before the draft started, the media made draft ranking predictions for both of them.

Wade's draft prediction is that he will be selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 13th pick in the first round, while Wang Chong predicts that he will be selected around 15th to 20th.

Grizzlies general manager Jerry West clearly expressed his love for Wade not long ago, and the Grizzlies, who have Pau Gasol, really lack someone like Wade who can break through and charge with the ball. players.

Although no team has clearly expressed interest in Wang Chong, his talent is indeed real. The reporter inferred that there should be teams in the range of 15 to 20 picks in the first round who want to bet on Wang Chong to realize his talent. possibility.

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In the small green room at the draft venue, the invited rookies took their seats.

Those who know the NBA draft know what the Little Green Room is.

This is a position where players are officially invited by the NBA and voted by the general manager of the NBA team. Most of the players who are qualified to enter the small green room are popular candidates in the lottery area.

James is naturally the absolute protagonist of the Little Green Room, and his limelight even completely overshadowed the two top picks, Anthony and Milicic.

James' slutty white suit outfit seems to be specially prepared to show off, although it looks a little inappropriate.

To Wang Chong's surprise, he was actually invited into the little green room.

This is good news. It seems that the talent he showed in the joint trial has attracted the attention of some teams in the lottery area.

"Hey, Mero, what are you doing sitting so far forward?"

James, who was sitting in the small green room, was in high spirits and asked Anthony, who was sitting in the front row, to say hello.

"It will be convenient to go on stage later." Anthony responded with a smile. Although the two of them have a good relationship on the surface, they are still in a competitive relationship after all.

Seeing James thinking that he was already the number one pick, Anthony, who is also the chosen one, naturally felt unhappy.

<divclass="contentadv">His words are an explanation on the surface, but they also have another meaning.

I'm sitting in the front because I will be on stage very early, so I might be there before you.

James smiled, noncommittal.

The Cavaliers management has already been in contact with his agent, so he is 100% sure that he will definitely be selected by Cleveland as the No. 1 pick.

Although Cleveland is relatively small, it is his hometown, and the ambitious James is full of confidence. His arrival will definitely transform this city and this team!

James, who was thinking this, turned his head and saw Wade sitting on the other side.

"Hey, Dwayne, long time no see. Congratulations on winning the NCAA championship. It's a pity that I didn't enter college to play in the NCAA. I really want to compete with you in the finals."

Anthony, who was sitting in the front row, twitched the corners of his mouth and his face darkened.

Did this guy do it on purpose?

Hit people without slapping their faces, and curse people without revealing shortcomings.

His failure in the NCAA finals will be an eternal stain on him, yet this guy refuses to mention any pot.

Obviously, James did it on purpose, because he then looked at Wang Chong sitting next to Wade and said with a smile: "You must be Wang Chong. I saw your performance in the finals. It was very good. I believe it." You're definitely going to be drafted in the first round."

James greeted the rookies in the little green room like a superior.

Wang Chong observed James with interest.

Obviously, there is still a big gap between the 18-year-old James and the future James who is as thoughtful and cunning as an old fox.

This is not surprising. Otherwise, how could he have dug a hole for himself by saying that he would not leave until Cleveland wins a championship?

But that's right. Young people should be high-spirited and high-spirited. Who can let someone be the top pick?

Wade, who has a gentle personality, did not compete with James like Anthony, but smiled and chatted with him.

As for Wang Chong, James just said hello and ignored him.

It can be seen that James just praised Wang Chong just to retaliate against Anthony. In fact, he did not take Wang Chong seriously at all. After all, he is the proud son of heaven and the No. 1 pick in the NBA, while Wang Chong is just a lottery pick. It's very difficult to enter. Those who can enter the small green room are just lucky players.

During the exchange of greetings, the draft was finally about to begin.

NBA Commissioner David Stern took the stage to deliver a speech, and then began to read out the draft results.

"The first pick in the first round from the Cleveland Cavaliers, their choice is LeBron James."

Thunderous applause erupted from the stands.

James hugged his mother beside him, and then stood up and walked to the stands under the envious eyes of all the rookies, with an expression of joy on his face.

Becoming the No. 1 pick in the NBA is just the beginning of his glorious career for James, but this height is already beyond the reach of many people.

Anthony applauded and congratulated with a smile, but his expression was obviously stiff.

Although it was a foregone conclusion that James would be the No. 1 pick, what actually happened still made Anthony feel a little sour.