Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 235 Our future is exciting

RTP.

Full name: Rookie Transition Program, translated into Chinese means: NBA rookie training program.

This is a training that all rookies must attend. After the summer league ends, the NBA will force all rookies to attend closed training for 4 days.

RTP training content is all-encompassing, and invites active and retired athletes, coaches, and managers from sports leagues including but not limited to the NBA and NFL to share their personal experiences and teach rookies how to adapt to the NBA league.

To sum it up in one sentence: teach you how to be a human being.

The training contents mainly cover the following points: sex, drugs, wealth management, media public relations and personal development.

The core indoctrination is sex, drugs and wealth.

Guests invited to this year's RTP include Tracy Murray, Derek White and Anthony Walker.

and some outside sports lecturers, such as Tony Gaskins.

He was a college football player, and now he is a motivational speaker and a "big star" in the NBA's "Rookie Transition Program." The reason why he is often invited is because of his "rich experience."

"Trust me, boys. I've been rich, I've been broke, I've been strong again, all with one word."

"woman!"

Tony Gaskins first explained to the rookie what infectious diseases may be caused by abnormal sexual behavior before marriage, and secondly, what the mentality of some women who approached him actively was.

“Why do women make advances on us?” Tony Gaskins asked.

All the rookies sat on the center court floor of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces' practice facility and raised their hands when asked.

Gaskins then pointed to one, and Chen Fang turned his head and saw that it was Lonzo.

Lonzo responded: “Because of the money.”

Gaskins smiled and said, "The answer is not entirely correct. Can anyone add to it?"

This is a simple answer in itself, so when Gaskins denied it, everyone was confused.

Gaskins would not let the atmosphere get cold. He was very good at controlling the rhythm and said, "It's a need!"

He pointed at himself, then at everyone present, and said, "We are athletes. Our hormones are much higher than ordinary people. We are full of energy. In the league, the environment and challenges we face make us need psychological comfort."

"We are the center of attention and we are used to being sought after. We are like wolfhounds in the pet market. We have no vigilance when being approached."

"Therefore, we are the easiest target group to be tempted and deceived. Some women like to hunt us as targets!"

"When a woman approaches us, our first reaction is that this girl must like me and wants to have sex with me. When they twist their sexy bodies, approach you with adoring eyes, and smell the perfume, we are eager to move. As long as there is a private space, a fierce battle will occur."

"Maybe the process was quick, maybe the venue wasn't suitable, but it was exciting enough to make you forget to be vigilant and not even realize your DNA was taken away."

"Maybe in a few days, you will receive a lawyer's letter saying to you in a mocking tone: Mr. Strong, I think you had some unpleasant things with my client Ms. So-and-so. Now my client is in a state of emotional breakdown. She told me without a doubt that you raped her."

"Excuse me, when you saw this content, what was your reaction? What result did you expect?"

Gaskins said to the rookies seriously: "Let me tell you the result. Your wallet will be empty!"

"Haha, don't look so scared. Unfortunately, this is the best outcome."

"If nothing happened, and a year later, a woman came to you with a baby and showed you a paternity test certificate, that would be the scariest thing."

"Your wallet will be controlled, and your career will be continuously drained of blood for more than ten years. The alimony will make you very annoyed, and anger and regret will often wake you up from nightmares."

"Improper relationships, improper handling, blind self-confidence, and uncontrollable desires will mess up your future. Your endorsements, your professional contracts, and your family relationships will all suffer a huge blow. Bankruptcy will be your final outcome."

"I'm not exaggerating, otherwise I wouldn't be here, and the league wouldn't hold any RTP. This rookie training, which started in 86, has been helping you and warning you not to go wrong."

Finally, Gaskins said frankly: "I have been giving speeches like this for many years, and I have received some feedback. They said, hey, your words really helped me. But I also received some regretful words, saying that they did not follow my advice at the time."

"Every year, there are rookies who get into trouble. I don't expect everyone to be safe, but please remember that if something goes wrong, contacting professionals in time to stop the loss is also the smartest way."

Gaskins held up a sign from the podium and pointed to it, saying, "Here are my phone number and Twitter account. Feel free to follow me and contact me. I think I can help."

The players stood up and came forward. For Chen Fang, this was no big deal.

Asians have more control over sex than other races, not to mention that he already has martial arts skills. Chen Fang never thought that what Gaskins said would happen to him.

However, Chen Fang saw something very funny. Tatum also quietly approached him. When he came back, he found that Chen Fang was looking at him. He couldn't help but blushed, lowered his head and walked away quickly.

Kuzma, who was beside him, came back. He was very generous. After sitting back in his chair, he said to Chen Fang: "It is always better to be prepared."

"Yes, you are so handsome, you should be careful." Chen Fang chuckled.

As Gaskins left the court, the next person to come on was Weidman, director of the NBA's player development department. She is a former WNBA player and an excellent manager. During her WNBA career, she founded the Stanford Sports Alliance and the Youth Mentoring Program. Before entering the NBA league management, she also worked as a lawyer in the civil department. She graduated from New York University School of Law with a doctorate degree.

She is the current host official of the RTP program. She first congratulated the rookies on completing the summer league, the most important link to the NBA, and then began to share her understanding of RTP.

The main content is about the formulation and carefulness of the players' own development plan.

She raised three core points, namely, improving on-field skills, off-field functional planning, and community social responsibility.

"We need to know our weaknesses. No one is perfect. Every superstar has to work on his or her flaws and reach the top during his or her long career."

"Problems with shooting, movement, skills and tactics are all waiting for us to solve. This is also the core challenge for you to survive in the NBA. You need to maintain close communication with the team's trainers and assistant coaches, and change and improve yourself through training and offseason."

"Some rookies may not understand what functional planning is. It's actually very simple. What is your position in the team?"

Weidman glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on Chen Fang's face for a moment.

"I know that everyone who can enter the NBA has been the Jordan in his own story, but when you come to the NBA, it is often different."

"Preseason training camp has 20 players, regular season has 15+2 two-way contracts, and playoffs has 15 players." After Weidman clearly reported the number of roster spots for each NBA team, he said to the current first- and second-round rookies: "Everyone has only one position at the beginning, or in other words, one position will be your biggest chance to stay on the team."

"Defender, attacker, rim protector, scorer, hard tackler, facilitator, organizer."

"A reliable substitute rotation ability and an excellent single function will be your only capital to stay in the NBA and continue to make money. Everyone here will be one of the above."

“Let go of pride, stick to your heart, maintain your fighting spirit, take what the team needs as your own, and contribute your abilities with the goal of winning.”

"This is my advice to everyone. Unrealistic fantasies will quickly keep you away from the NBA. It is a functional plan that every rookie on the field must make to examine your own abilities, give full play to your expertise, fill the team's shortcomings, and become an indispensable member of the team." (Many college star players begin their transformation at the RTP stage, choosing to be functional players and giving up the all-around route.)
Weidman's speech was quite heavy, which made the lively atmosphere low. Chen Fang lowered his head and said nothing. To be honest, he was very determined in his heart. His job planning was to be the boss. If he couldn't be the boss, he would continue to fight and use data and game processes to prove that he had the ability to do so.

Then, a sports financial manager came up. This segment was quite interesting. He told the players what kind of financial management is stable, long-term, and can maintain growth.

There are mainly three directions.

1. Investment in the field of science and technology; 2. Purchase of commercial real estate; 3. Investment in the sports and entertainment industry.

It is still necessary to increase income and reduce expenditure, and hire professional financial advisors and investment experts to help them with financial planning and risk management. These professionals will develop personalized investment strategies based on the players' career stage and personal goals.

Tax planning: Players need to face complex tax issues and minimize their tax burden through tax planning to protect and increase their wealth.

Finally, there are family trusts and foundations to ensure the effective management and inheritance of family wealth. These are operations that can ensure that after a player suffers an accident, his immediate family members can still benefit.

Chen Fang listened to these very carefully. If you want to make money in the United States, many things are different from those in China. Taxation is the biggest problem. No trouble is more terrible than tax trouble.

Today is just the opening remarks. In the next few days, we will go into details. Players need to attend every class. For rookies who are just college students, this is not an obstacle.

When Chen Fang returned to the room, he heard Tatum calling him.

This was the first time Chen Fang and Tatum met since entering college.

"It's been more than a year in a flash." Tatum stared at Chen Fang. After more than a year, Chen Fang's facial features became more three-dimensional. Just as Duan Ran said, he had grown up.

But the eyebrows still look vaguely familiar.

Chen Fang was also watching Tatum. Both of them had changed a lot. Upon hearing this, Chen Fang chuckled and said, "Come on, let's find a place."

RTP is also something the league deliberately did, so that rookies of the same year can get to know each other and communicate with each other, and deepen their friendship. Except for not being able to leave the training base, no one cares where you go.

The two found a tea table in the player's leisure area, ordered coffee and started chatting. "How are the Celtics?" Chen Fang spoke first.

"Very good. The whole team is very nice to me. How about you?"

"Same, it's normal for a high draft pick like us to have high standards. I watched your game, half 3 and half 4, and your body couldn't handle some of the offense."

Tatum was shocked, but then he thought it made sense. He knew Chen Fang liked to watch videos. He loved watching game videos in front of the computer in high school. He felt a little ashamed when he thought about it. If Ainge hadn't forced him, he wouldn't have watched the final.

"What does it feel like to be a summer champion?" Tatum asked.

"That's it. Let's be happy before the money is divided." Chen Fang said after thinking for a moment.

He really wasn't pretending. There weren't that many spectators there. There has never been a summer championship, and no one cares who wins it.

"I don't have a championship yet, alas." Tatum was very depressed.

"You will be the champion in the future, what are you afraid of!"

"Me?" Tatum felt that Chen Fang was comforting him.

"Yes, the Celtics' rebuilding is complete with you. All that's left is polishing and continuing to strengthen the puzzle. Maybe in a few years, you'll be the first person in this class to win the championship."

"Maybe." Tatum didn't take it seriously. Although he knew the Celtics were ambitious, winning the championship was not something that could be done easily.

On the contrary, some role players can easily get championship rings. For main players like them, the probability is very small because of the low frequency of transactions.

You can only rely on the ability of the team management, continuous reinforcement operations, and your own efforts and luck to get a ring.

"You just entered the NBA and you're already thinking about a ring. You're really carefree." Seeing Tatum thinking, Chen Fang teased him, which made Tatum blush. He coughed awkwardly and explained, "No, I'm thinking about what my functional plan is."

"Yours? You're the boss. Why, you want to be the second in command?"

"Of course not, I don't want to be second!" Tatum shook his head firmly.

"Don't say this to anyone else. Once you join the team, try your best to perform well in the games. After two years, think about the next step depending on the situation." Chen Fang warned.

"Well, it's you. You have more pressure than me!" Tatum said.

"Yeah, if I switch with Paul, there will definitely be a lot of criticism, but to be honest, the problem is mine." Chen Fang sighed.

At first he took it for granted, but later he was deeply involved in it. The Clippers became interested, and Paul had just expressed his intention to leave to the management, so due to various reasons, this deal was made possible.

Going to a bad team will definitely give you more freedom, and there will be no boss. You can move up naturally. If you don't play well, you will be demoted automatically. If you play well, the team will push you up even if you don't want to.

Unlike now, the Clippers have made the playoffs for five consecutive years. In order to rebuild early, they traded Paul to the Lakers. Chen Fang’s situation is not good now. It seems to be glorious, but the internal risks are extremely huge.

The first point is how to face the big brothers of the Clippers. Griffin must think that Chen Fang is here to assist him, and Jordan Jr., Rivers Jr. and others will not treat him well because of Paul.

These are the problems that are about to be faced.

Although Chen Fang was prepared to lie in wait, in fact, according to his memory from his previous life, the Clippers would most likely send Griffin away and go straight into rebuilding.

In other words, Chen Fang will definitely be blamed for squeezing out Paul and Griffin. By then, he will be unpopular both inside and outside. Not only will Paul and Griffin's fans hate him, but neutral fans will also not like him.

The more glorious you are now, the more miserable you will be in the future.

Fortunately, I have foresight and I still have some time to take precautions.

Griffin is the hero of the Clippers. In the minds of Clippers fans, he is the symbol and expectation of one man, one city, although Chen Fang is not clear why the Clippers signed him first, gave him a five-year contract, and then sent him to the Pistons six months later.

But it does not prevent him from making inferences, because Chen Fang knows what the Clippers will do next.

Griffin was sent away in exchange for Harris, and then Jordan was traded for the 18 draft pick, which brought in SGA. Finally, Harris + SGA + a lot of immediate combat power + draft picks were used to complete the reconstruction in 19.

Got George + Xiaoka.

Only West dared to play this game, and it began now in 17.

The only problem is that Paul did not go to the Rockets and did not get a group of ready-to-fight players in return. So, wouldn’t the next thing happen?
No, it will still happen, West being recruited to the Clippers is one thing.

Help the Clippers complete the reconstruction and hit the championship, otherwise why is he here? A team that can enter the playoffs does not need West to run the team. What this old man does is to operate the championship dynasty.

Just because the Clippers had no capital in 17, West could only operate in a roundabout way and use a large number of transactions to hide his true intentions.

He should have figured out this year that Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, or several other superstars would leave the team in the next two years, so he planned ahead and waited for the moment to come.

Of course, some of the details are still worth studying.

For example, SGA, the future strongest competitor for the league's MPV, is outside of West's plan.

According to Chen Fang's judgment, Mr. LOGO should have two preparations. While retaining SGA, he should look for a superstar and build a lineup that can compete for the championship for a long time. Even if he cannot form a dynasty, he can still maintain competitiveness for a long time like the Spurs.

Then, Chen Fang felt that West's thoughts were a little clearer.

As soon as possible, we can form a combination of two giants + a young forward, with Kawhi Leonard playing 3 and George playing shooting guard, and there will be a potential point guard for long-term training.

Presumably, Alexander has now entered West's sight, and he is actively planning how to get him.

And Chen Fang has become that N. West's thoughts now should be more multidimensional.

Perhaps it would also be his choice to let Chen Fang and SGA form a future championship-contending lineup.

So, while retaining the playoff strength of Griffin and Jordan, cultivating Chen Fang and Alexander should also be a direction in West's mind.

If they perform well, it will become a reality. No, that is the plan in the previous life, to form a championship-winning lineup of Kawhi Leonard and George.

In other words, the time left for himself is only one year, and the time given to SGA is also one year.

It is even possible that if Chen Fang's performance is not as good as expected, he will become a bargaining chip to be exchanged for a strong team of George + Kawhi + SGA.

In 19, the Clippers' operations were suffocating, not only to other teams, but also to themselves.

Kawhi Leonard expressed his willingness to come to the Clippers, but he specifically wanted Paul George, while the Thunder took a fancy to SGA and specifically wanted to trade Alexander for George.

Well, if he performs well, maybe the Thunder will trade him for George, and SGA will stay with the Clippers.

This thought made Chen Fang break out in a cold sweat.

It's really difficult.

How to avoid this possibility?
Chen Fang was at a loss for a moment!
"What are you thinking about?" Tatum asked curiously when he saw Chen Fang thinking for a long time.

"I thought about the future." Chen Fang looked at Tatum with envy in his eyes.

He was lucky enough to be valued by the Celtics, gradually becoming a non-saleable player, and winning the championship, proving himself. The only flaw was that he was not as competitive as Brown, and someone else took away the honor of Finals MVP.

This is fatal. No matter how many years later, this will be brought up for discussion, unless Tatum can win consecutive championships and surpass Brown.

But even so, this Celtics still cannot be considered Tatum's team. He is just the most important one, not the only one.

I may also make the same mistake, or even be worse than Tatum.

This is the NBA, a challenging place.

Gather the best talents and strongest fighting spirit on the planet, fight for a championship under the best team, and ultimately provide everyone with a topic about dominance.

Life is like a play, and the competition field is both a stage and a competition arena.

I don’t know what I will say to myself now or what advice I will give when I look back on 17 years from now, five, eight, or ten years.

Chen Fang was so emotionally disturbed that he couldn't control himself.

Looking at Tatum, Chen Fang whispered: "Our future will be exciting."

"Yeah, it's exciting!" Tatum nodded.

(End of this chapter)