Staples Center, Los Angeles.
This is the fourth game of the Finals. In the previous three games, the Clippers have won all of them, leading the Bucks by a big score of 3-0. And this fourth game is the Clippers' home court. It is inevitable that the Bucks will win the championship without a clean sheet.
When the sound of the end of the game sounded, all the Clippers players rushed into the court and hugged each other. The veterans were already crying.
For these veterans, it is already a miracle to be able to return to the game, and this championship makes up for the regrets in their careers.
The camera focused on these veterans, and their painful look moved every fan, not only at the scene, but also many viewers watching the game on TV shed tears.
Those former superstars spent their youth with many people. Those fans year after year hope that the stars they support can win a championship. They waited until the stars retired, but it did not come true.
Today, this championship not only makes up for the career regrets of these veterans, but also brings a perfect end to the youth of the fans.
Dai Li on the sidelines was also moved, and he felt even more reluctant to give up.
After this game, he will also step down as head coach of the Clippers and shift his focus to his physical training center.
Next year is the Olympic year again, and the work of the physical training center will become busy.
…
The news that Dai Li was stepping down as head coach of the Clippers immediately attracted a lot of attention.
After all, the Clippers have just won the championship. This kind of situation where the head coach leaves after winning the championship is unique in the NBA.
If it were another team, if something like this happened, it would inevitably lead to a lot of speculation, even mixed with various conspiracy theories.
But the Clippers are different. Everyone knows that Dai Li is the owner's son-in-law and can be considered the future owner of the team. Of course, there will be no conspiracy theories. Our own industry means that we can leave whenever we want and stay here whenever we want.
Many people even think that Coach Li probably won a championship and achieved his goal of dominating the NBA, so he quit.
Cassell was promoted to head coach and took over all the work of the Clippers. Everything went smoothly.
This is the benefit of promotion within the team. Everyone is on the same team and is familiar with each other, making it easier to work. If a new coach is hired from outside, it will probably take a month or two to reintegrate the team. Moreover, Cassel was originally the second-in-command of the coaching staff and was very familiar with the work of the coaching staff.
Li Dai originally thought that if he handed over the work to Cassel, he would have nothing to do. Unexpectedly, in late June, Cassel invited Li Dai to New York.
Madison Garden Square, the new NBA draft has begun again.
"Coach, your vision is much more accurate than mine when it comes to draft picks. If you didn't come, I would be really unsure." Cassel said with a flattering look.
Dai Li was helpless, but for the sake of the team, he still scouted the rookie candidates at the scene.
"The quality of this group of rookies is pretty good, but the talented players are all in the lottery, and the Clippers can't select them."
Dai Li sighed with some disappointment. Several talented players have long been favored by people. These players will be selected in the lottery, but the No. 28 pick held by the Clippers cannot be selected at all. to talented rookies.
"With the 28th pick, if you can select a qualified rotation, it is already a success. If you want to use the 28th pick to select a star, it is similar to a lottery."
There are no first-round picks that Dai Li expected, and those rookies who may be selected in the second round also do not have talented players.
Of course, there are many players on the draft list who will not come to the scene, and Dai Li cannot detect their talents.
The scouts of each team are not vegetarians. In addition, there are trials before the draft, so the team will have a rough evaluation of the rookies. Rookies with outstanding talent are booked early and selected in the lottery.
The NBA president announced the fourteenth overall pick. Dai Li shook his head helplessly. As expected, none of the players he was optimistic about fell out of the lottery. There is no hope for the Clippers to pick up the slack.
On the big stage, the NBA president popped out a piece of paper from his pocket.
"What's going on? The team with the fifteenth overall pick has already been selected? So fast? That's not right. Even if the team has already been selected, the president shouldn't take out the results in his own pocket!"
Dai Li was wondering when he heard the NBA president announce: "The NBA selected Saiya Alston with the 14th overall pick!"
"What? Another 14th pick? NBA selection? What kind of drama is this?" Dai Li was even more confused.
A picture of a player was displayed on the big screen, and at the same time a big man in a suit walked onto the stage. This person was exactly the player displayed on the big screen, but this person looked a little weird, his facial features were slightly distorted, and he was still One eye is big and the other is small, especially the right eye, which seems to be unable to open.
"Who is this guy? What is going on?" Li Dai asked Cassell.
"Coach, you really don't pay attention to high school basketball and college basketball!" Cassell smiled slightly and introduced: "His name is Saiya Auston, he comes from Baylor University, he is 7 feet 1 inch tall, and he serves as a center. Do you think this young man is a little weird?"
Dai Li nodded, and Cassel continued to explain: "He is sick, it is Marfan syndrome!"
Dai Li nodded in sudden realization.
Marfan syndrome, also known as Marfan syndrome and spider dactyly, is a hereditary connective tissue disease that causes congenital mesodermal dysplasia in patients. The disease is characterized by thin limbs, fingers, and toes. Unproportionate growth, significantly taller than ordinary people, accompanied by cardiovascular system abnormalities, especially combined heart valve abnormalities and aortic aneurysm.
In history, many basketball or volleyball players have been diagnosed with this disease, and most of them died of heart failure or myocardial ischemia caused by aortic aneurysm rupture, cardiac tamponade, aortic valve insufficiency, and mitral valve prolapse. .
Cassell, who was next to him, continued: "When Auston was 12 years old, his right eye was completely blind because he was hit by a baseball, so he now has an artificial eye in his right eye socket."
"No wonder he has one eye and one small eye. Missing one eye will have a great impact on his shooting! Also, his ability to turn right will be greatly limited." Dai Li commented.
"That's true, but it didn't stop his basketball dream. He worked very hard. When he was in high school, Auston was among the top three high school students in the country. Later he joined Baylor University and averaged 100 points per game in his first season. Contributed 13+8 data. At that time, some draft websites predicted that he would probably become the second pick." Cassel said.
Dai Li nodded silently. It was indeed great for a center to score 13+8 in his freshman year. Moreover, excellent big centers will have relatively high draft picks. You can know this by looking at the drafts over the years.
Those who hold the No. 1 pick will give priority to selecting top centers. As strong as the God of Basketball, they can only be ranked third in the diamond generation draft, and the No. 1 pick that year was of course a super center. From 2001 to 2010, seven of the top picks in the draft in this decade were also centers.
A big center who can score 13+8 in the NCAA is indeed qualified to be ranked in the top three of the NBA draft.
Cassell continued: "Last year, Auston did not participate in the draft, and this year he chose to sign up, but during the physical examination, he was found to have Marfan syndrome, which means the end of his basketball career. .With one missing eye and Marfan Syndrome, he is a man abandoned by God!”
"But he didn't give up. He still wanted to play. Although the doctor has given a report that he can play, no team would choose him. At least in the NBA, no team would choose a player with Malfoy. Syndrome player. Perhaps his inspirational story will help him find a job in a lower league overseas."
"What a pity, what a pity." Dai Li couldn't help but sigh.
The reason why Dai Li cried out was that he had detected that Auston had A-level basketball talent, which meant that he could potentially grow into a star player. A 7-foot-1 star center is worth more than forwards and guards of the same level. But disease wiped out all this.
"It's a pity that my athlete's patch can't cure the disease, and he doesn't lack arms and legs..."
Dai Li lowered his head and pondered for a long time, then asked: "Do you think his body can adapt to NBA competition?"
Cassel thought for a while and replied: "The 225-pound weight is a bit thin, and he will definitely suffer in terms of physical confrontation. This weight can barely adapt to the NBA. But his jumping and wingspan are first-rate, and his rebounding ability and awareness They are both very good, but the key is that he has a very soft shooting touch and has three-point shooting skills.”
"Sounds like he's very suitable for high post and top-of-the-arb support." Dai Li frowned and thought for a moment, then said: "It's a pity that he doesn't play basketball because of his talent. I'll let him go to my training center for a few months." , I want to investigate him. If he can satisfy me, give him a two-way contract! This is a young man with a dream, and if possible, I am willing to help him realize his dream!"
…
Auston knew what it meant to receive a training invitation from Dai Li.
Although he is not trying out with the Clippers, but training at the physical training center, Auston knows that this is a stepping stone for him to enter the NBA. If he can get Dai Li's approval, he will have the opportunity to enter the NBA and play. .
For Auston, even if he cannot go to the NBA, it is a good thing to be able to play in the NBA Development League. The Development League takes in many undrafted rookies and low-ranked rookies every year. If Auston goes to play in the Development League, he will at least be on the same starting line as this year's low-ranked rookies and undrafted rookies.
For a patient with Marfan syndrome, it is a rare opportunity to compete with normal people.
However, when Auston saw the training plan drawn up by Li Dai, he couldn't help but feel stunned.
"Coach Li, this training plan includes a one-hour nap every day? What does this mean?" Auston asked subconsciously.
"I just go to bed and take a nap after lunch." Li Dai explained.
Americans are not in the habit of taking a nap. At noon, if they have time to rest, they will definitely choose a cup of coffee instead of finding a place to sleep for a while. So Auston doesn't understand the point of taking a nap at all.
Dai Li explained from the side: "Napping is good for the body. German scientists have conducted relevant research. They believe that the nap is part of the natural sleep cycle. In my opinion, in addition to eliminating the feeling of sleepiness, taking a nap can also It protects the heart, which I think will help in your current situation.”
The most lethal part of Marfan syndrome is cardiovascular disease, especially aortic aneurysm. Rupture of aortic aneurysm is the most common cause of death in Marfan syndrome. Therefore, Dai Li's statement that taking a nap can protect the heart is in line with Alston's situation.
Although Auston felt that Dai Li's statement was unreliable, he still nodded and agreed based on the principle of satisfying the coach.
In order to go to the NBA, take a nap!
…
Patients with Marfan syndrome have no problem participating in sports as long as there is no heart disease, and Auston has also been approved by his doctor and can play basketball.
Therefore, Oston's physical training is also carried out according to the standards of normal people.
After lunch, Auston followed Dai Li's arrangement, lay down in the lounge, and then took a nap.
In order to help Auston fall asleep faster, Li Dai specially added some rice to the lunch menu and strictly prohibited Auston from drinking coffee.
Ingesting carbohydrates will increase blood sugar, making people more likely to feel sleepy. Many people in European and American countries do not eat too many carbohydrates during lunch, so they will not feel sleepy at noon.
As for banning coffee, it is natural to avoid coffee stimulating the nervous system. In European countries that get off work at three or four in the afternoon, they all work immediately after lunch. In order to ensure work efficiency in the afternoon, you must drink a cup of coffee after lunch, especially Italians. They like to enjoy a cup of strong coffee at noon. Very energetic in the afternoon.
Auston, who had eaten rice but not drank coffee, did feel sleepy, and the training in the morning also consumed a lot of his energy, so he fell asleep not long after.
At the same time, Dai Li used the Dream Maker Top and started dream training.
In Dai Li's view, although Auston has A-level basketball talent, he is not a healthy person after all, so he cannot have a body like other NBA players.
7 feet 1 inch, 225 pounds, he is indeed a little thin. This figure is very disadvantaged in the interior, but Li Dai does not intend to gain weight for Auston, because Auston suffers from Marfan syndrome. The most fatal disease of Quan syndrome is the heart disease. If you gain weight, the pressure on the heart will also increase, which may cause cardiac complications. For the safety of Alston's life, Dai Li will also let him maintain his current weight.
Since a basketball player cannot improve physically, he can only improve his skills and game experience.
It takes time to practice skills, and increasing experience also requires the accumulation of a lot of games, so Li Dai chose to use the Dream Maker Gyro, which allowed Auston to gain skills and experience in the dream in a time of 1:10.
…
Auston had a dream. He dreamed that he really became a member of the Clippers and then appeared on the NBA court.
Auston has always dreamed of playing in the NBA, and now he has really dreamed of it.
Then there is a road of being beaten, blocked, intercepted, deceived and fouled, and defensively missed...
In just a few minutes, Auston left the game with six fouls.
Even though it was in a dream, Auston was still angry.
However, the scene in front of Auston changed. He was standing on the court again, in the NBA where he had dreamed of playing, and a new game had begun.
Blocked shots, interceptions, fouls, defensive leaks, and six fouls left the game. Auston experienced it again.
The next second, the picture in front of Auston's eyes changed and a new game started again. He was still blocked, intercepted, deceived and fouled, missed on defense, and left the field with six fouls...
For a rookie to appear on the NBA court, this behavior is normal.
But Auston also summarized it time and time again. He started to score goals and successfully defended. He was not easily deceived into fouls and would not leave the game with six fouls in the first quarter.
Auston himself didn’t know how many games he had played and how many times he had left the field with six fouls. When the bell rang in his head, Auston suddenly opened his eyes and found himself lying on the bed. In the lounge, he also recalled that he must have followed Dai Li's arrangement and was taking a nap.
"I had a very strange dream. I just dreamed of playing in the NBA, and then being violently tortured." Auston shook his head when he returned to reality, then stood up to prepare for the afternoon training.
That night, Auston had another dream. He dreamed that he was standing on the training court, practicing his steps around the basket.
He slept for seven hours that night, and in his dreams, he practiced his steps under the basket for seventy hours.
The next night, Auston practiced hooking for seventy hours in his sleep.
On the third night, Auston played seventy hours in his sleep.
In the NBA, the average playing time of a normal rotation player is less than 30 minutes. If calculated based on 82 games in a season, a player will play more than 40 hours of games in a season.
By taking a lunch break and sleeping at night, Auston can play eighty hours of games in his dream state, which is equivalent to two seasons of games for an NBA rotation player.
One day is equal to two seasons, and five days is equal to ten seasons. Playing games in a dream for ten consecutive days, Auston gains as much game experience as a twenty-year career veteran.
Even if we look at the entire history of the NBA, there are only a few people who can play basketball for 20 years.
…
Auston felt very tired, not physically tired, but mentally tired.
Every time he goes to sleep, he always has some strange dreams, such as performing various trainings, such as being violently tortured by NBA superstars on the basketball court.
Auston indeed dreams about playing basketball, but when he really dreams about playing basketball every time, he does feel a little distressed.
He even confided in the doctor during the re-examination, and the doctor's answer was that he was too mentally stressed or wanted to play too much, so he always had such dreams.
Alston had no choice but to sleep. Besides, being able to play against those NBA superstars in a dream is also quite exciting.
…
New York, NBA headquarters.
"Mr. President, we have just been notified by the Clippers that they intend to give Saiya Auston a two-way contract." The secretary said and handed a document to NBA President Adams.
"Auston, he's the kid who lost one eye and has Marfan syndrome!" Adams nodded. He still remembered that in the draft a few months ago, he selected Going to Alston is considered a charitable thing.
"This child's story is indeed very inspiring. Although God abandoned him, he did not give up on himself and was still working hard. Since a team is willing to give him a two-way contract, that is also a good thing." Adams put down the document in his hand. , and then said: "I really hope other teams can be like the Clippers, stop worrying about tens of thousands of dollars, and do more charity, create a good reputation for the NBA, and help promote the NBA! "
As Adams said, in everyone's eyes, the Clippers are doing charity by signing Auston.
How can a patient with Marfan syndrome play in the NBA? Maybe he can't even adapt to the G League game. Spending money to sign him is just doing charity!
…
Marcus was the No. 1 center in the NBA before he was injured. He has a standard center figure, a strong body, flexible feet, extraordinary jumping, and excellent skills. He has been selected to the All-Star team many times and won the Olympic men's basketball championship with the United States team.
At the end of last season, Marcus tore his left Achilles tendon. Not only did he miss all the games that season, but he also missed another entire season to recuperate.
Now, Marcus' injury has finally recovered, and the new season is approaching.
However, Marcus did not feel that he had not been on the court for more than a year and his hand and condition would not be very good, so he decided to play a few low-intensity games first to restore his condition and feel.
So Marcus took the initiative to be transferred to the Development League, hoping to find his form and feel by going to the Development League.
The first opponent Marcus encountered in the Development League was the Ontario Clippers, which is the Los Angeles Clippers' sub-team in the Development League.
Marcus was not familiar with this opponent at all. He didn't even know the name of the opponent's player.
Of course, before Marcus came to the Development League, he didn’t even know what his teammates were called.
How could the majestic No. 1 center in the NBA and All-Star starter pay attention to the situation in the Development League!
And Marcus feels that he came to the Development League just to torture the noobs. Who would be able to remember the name of a novice!
But before the game, the team coach specifically called Marcus aside.
"Marcus, our opponent, there is a player facing you named Saiya Auston. During the game, you must pay special attention to him." The coach said.
"Pay special attention? Is he very powerful? Don't worry, I will beat him up." Marcus curled his lips and said, in his opinion, no matter how powerful the players in the Development League are, they are still noobs.
"No, no, no, you misunderstood me. This Auston is this year's undrafted rookie. He suffers from Marvin syndrome." The coach explained.
"When you said that, I remembered that he is the disabled person who is blind in one eye and still sick! I have seen his story on the news, a poor man abandoned by God, well, for the sake of For the sake of his pity, I will let him, and I will not bully the disabled." Marcus said.
"That's what I mean." The coach paused and then said: "Also, if possible, let him score two points. It is not easy for this kid to be able to play on the court. We have to sympathize with him."
"Understood, I will give him a chance to score, just to do charity!" Marcus smiled, and then said: "I will bring him a signed jersey of mine, he will definitely like it very much."