Legend of Tomorrow

Back in the locker room, Guo Xu received a greeting call from Austin and made an appointment to celebrate when he returned to Los Angeles.

Guo Xu's grandfather also called and said that the restaurant business had become booming because of him, and many people went to eat and talk about the NBA.

He simply took a shower and came out of the bathroom. Zen Master Jackson called him to his side and said, Jason, come with me to a press conference later. Be humble and don't say too much about the future, otherwise the media will praise you. You, don’t mention the team’s title defense again, that will make us the public enemy of the league.”

Jackson knows the media's ways very well, and he can remind newcomers in some ways.

Guo Xu smiled and said: Thank you, I understand.

Jackson praised him. You did a great job today. Keep working hard and don't be proud.

At the press conference, Guo Xu was the focus of the audience. O'Neal has the best statistics, but 30+10 is just normal performance. Everyone has long been tired of seeing it. 30+ for the last rookie in his career is the big news!

There have been many rookies in history who performed well in their first game, often lottery picks or even top three. They were predicted to be potential new stars before they entered the NBA. Guo Xu obviously has more gimmicks and highlights.

Reporters asked Jackson to comment on this new disciple.

Jackson said: He is the kind of young man that I am full of expectations for. I am willing to give him a chance to perform and I am willing to watch him play.

The reporter asked: How far do you think he can grow in the future?

I dare not say this because he is only 180cm tall. If he wants to perform well, he needs a suitable tactical system.

Jackson's evaluation will make it difficult for the media to praise and is a kind of protection for young players. This is not to underestimate Guo Xu. No matter how strong a player's personal ability is, without a suitable tactical system and excellent partners, it is still impossible to win the championship. Jordan, Magic, Olajuwon, O'Neal and others are no exception.

O'Neal praised Guo Xu in other aspects during the interview. He's a good player and a good guy, he's a guy with a great sense of humor and I like him and now he's my little brother.

The reporter asked: What do you think of him and Tyrone Ruby? They are both small guards.

No comparison, I haven't spoken to Tyronn Lue. O'Neal replied. This sounds like a joke, but it's not. He really hates Tyronn Lue and doesn't even bother to hide it.

So do you think Jason will become a star in the future?

It will definitely happen. People with cheerful personalities are more likely to succeed, just like me. O'Neal said with a smile.

Kobe Bryant's evaluation of Guo Xu was relatively simple: He is a passionate person who seems to have endless strength and works very hard in training. I admire this about him.

The reporters focused on interviewing Guo Xu, but the first question was difficult to answer because there was a trap. You scored more points than Iverson in your first career game. How do you think you compare with him?

In the first regular season game of his career, Iverson made 12 of 19 shots and scored 30 points and 6 assists with free throws. Although the 76ers lost 103 to 110, people also recognized Iverson as a superstar.

If Guo Xu really makes a comparison and says that he is happy to score more points than him, the media may take it out of context and say that he does not take Iverson seriously and his future goal is to surpass Iverson. The big media are better, but some small media are so unscrupulous and rely on making up news to attract attention. This is why Jackson reminded Guo Xu to keep a low profile, as young people can easily suffer.

Guo Xu thought for a while and smiled: I think there is no comparison. The reason why Iverson joined the 76ers was because the 76ers were the bottom team in the league the previous season and he did not have so many outstanding teammates. I joined I'm from the Lakers, and with a thigh as thick as Shaquille's, the intensity of the defense I face is definitely much smaller than that of Iverson.

There was a burst of laughter in the venue, and even a local reporter in Portland found this answer interesting.

Guo Xu is just a rookie,

I don’t think it’s shameful to admit to “hugging my thighs.” In his previous life, O'Neal was recognized for his thick thighs. Just look at his career dunks on the basket and his regular season averages of 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks per game!

He can see his position clearly. If you don't say this, don't the fans say you hug your thigh? The NBA championship teams have at least two stars. If the rookie wants to go to China to play without holding his thighs, they are really a bunch of CBA teammates.

O'Neal was very happy to hear that, and felt that this little brother was not in vain. Kobe, who had been with him since entering the league, would never say that.

The reporter asked: Do you want to compete for the best rookie of the season?

Of course I do. I not only want to be the best rookie, but also want to be an All-Star. I know it's difficult. There are many people in the league who can stop me from scoring, but... Guo Xu paused and said seriously: No one can Can’t stop me from dreaming.”

There was another burst of laughter in the venue. The previous words seemed to be Guo Xu's madness, and the last sentence changed the flavor. It was self-deprecating, and the reporters couldn't catch him.

The reporter asked: You played better than Kobe today, what do you think of this?

Guo Xu said: I don't think I played better than him. Even if Kobe's hand is not good, no team will underestimate him. The opponents will definitely send defensive experts to deal with him, otherwise they will lose ugly. On the defensive end, he The role is more crucial. I just had hot hands today, so I could shoot no matter what. The basket was as wide as the sea. Everyone has this kind of moment, there is nothing to be proud of.

A reporter asked: Stoudemire has won the best rookie. Today's statistics completely overwhelmed him. Who do you think is better than him?

I'm better. Guo Xu replied without thinking.

Everyone was excited. Little Flying Squirrel was a famous star in the league back then. Although he was not selected as an All-Star, he was at least a second-rate star. Guo Xu only played one game and said he was better than him. This was a bit crazy.

The reporter asked: Why?

Of course it's because I'm taller than him, so I stood next to him to compete. During the draft, almost everyone didn't think highly of me. Even if I won the NCAA Final Four MOP, they said I was too short. Now. It's rare to meet someone shorter than me, and by public standards, I'm obviously better.

I don't know who took the lead in applauding, and the reporter who asked the question realized that the topic had been misled by Guo Xu.

He expected Guo Xu to say that he was now stronger than Stoudemire, but when Guo Xu explained, it was more like saying that people with ambition do not have height. He not only expressed his ambition, but also emphasized his height to people.

Stoudemire was the seventh pick in the first round of 1995, and Iverson was the No. 1 pick in 1996. The media often said that they were inspirational, so wouldn't Guo Xu, the last pick, be more inspirational? Those two were widely favored before the draft.

Phil Jackson felt that Guo Xu answered the questions very cleverly and promoted himself jokingly. As long as the media made a fuss about his height and position, he would immediately attract the attention of fans. The game was broadcast live nationwide, with a high rate of exposure.

Guo Xu's saying this will indirectly improve his status within the Lakers. Once he has a high popularity, he will have high commercial value correspondingly. The fans like him, and the coaching staff must also guarantee his playing time.

Jackson deliberately hid Guo Xu in the preseason, and there is no need to hide it anymore. Guo Xu is destined to be popular, and it only took him one regular season game!