Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 262: Layout and Ambition

Chen Fang had communicated with the team's press officer and he didn't want to attend the post-match press conference regardless of winning or losing. However, he had achieved a new achievement today and according to the rules, he could only go on stage and speak.

With Griffin pulling him aside, Chen Fang had no choice but to sit on the stage again and silently look at the more than 30 reporters below.

Usually, NBA post-game interviews are divided into two parts. First is the locker room interview, where the players enter the locker room after they have finished showering. These reporters who are qualified to enter are basically from big companies and have been registered with the team.

The remaining ineligible ones will wait at the press conference, usually half an hour after the game.

There is no distinction between home and away teams, but there is a convention that the loser goes on stage first and the winner last.

Sometimes, players will go through two interviews, the locker room + post-match press conference.

For example, today's Chen Fang is like this.

Some players love being interviewed and will even take the initiative to greet reporters in the locker room, but substitutes and rotation players often appear silent, quickly rinse off and leave, leaving the field for the focus people.

But Chen Fang would often call over some substitutes or even marginal players in the locker room and pull them together for interviews.

Many reporters who had access to the locker room noticed this detail, such as Ron from the Los Angeles Daily News.

So he raised this issue to Chen Fang at the post-match press conference.

"Winning is the credit of the whole team. Points are scored from screens, counterattacks start from rebounds, and every substitution offsets lost points. In my eyes, basketball is a team game." Chen Fang's answer caused the reporter to nod frequently, but Ron continued to ask: "What if we lose?"

"Lose?" Chen Fang laughed. He said, "Look in the mirror and ask yourself what you haven't done enough."

"Shouldn't we blame our teammates for the problem?" Ron asked.

"No, reflect on yourself first. It is never right to blame your teammates." Chen Fang replied.

Seeing that Ron wanted to ask more questions, Chen Fang held out his hand to ask him to stop. He remembered a book he had read some time ago and said, "In China, there is an ancient book with this passage. I can share it with you."

“Translated into English: Those who blame others still have a long way to go; those who blame themselves have already gone halfway; those who do not blame anyone have already reached their destination.①”

“I haven’t reached my destination yet, I still need to work harder.”

After these words were spoken, the press conference fell silent. Some reporters seemed to be thinking about something and quickly wrote them down in their notebooks. Ron, who had asked the question, also gave up the idea of continuing to ask questions and returned the topic to the staff.

Finally, the topic returned to the Clippers' five-game winning streak and the dual-core explosion. Chen Fang asked the head coach and Griffin to answer. He was actually very sleepy now, and the fatigue made his eyelids droop.

Perhaps this was the side effect of the adrenaline wearing off. Chen Fang felt that as long as he closed his eyes, he could fall asleep in seconds.

Rivers also noticed Chen Fang's condition. After quickly answering a few questions, he signaled the press officer to summarize.

After the press conference, Chen Fang complained to the head coach again: "I really don't want to attend the press conference. It will delay my rest. It will take at least an hour to go there and back."

"This is the core responsibility of the team." Griffin smiled and said: "I liked it at first, but then I was annoyed. Now I'm used to it."

"The entire team not only plays games, but also needs to cooperate with the media and advertisers. There is a lot of hidden underwater work that needs to be laid out, and we just say a few simple words, but it becomes the most important part of the entire work." Rivers patiently explained to Chen Fang.

Chen Fang remained silent after listening. The operation of the team is like a game of chess. As a player in the game, no matter what your mentality is, all you have to do is cooperate.

The team bus drove directly to the airport. They will rush back to Los Angeles overnight and face the Suns at home the day after tomorrow.

Chen Fang fell into a deep sleep as soon as he got on the plane. The other teammates also noticed this and lowered their voices while chatting.

At one o'clock in the morning, the plane landed at Los Angeles Long Beach Airport. Chen Fang was awakened and got off the plane in a daze.

Because he was the slowest, he found that several teammates were still waiting in the terminal.

"Why don't you leave?" Chen Fang yawned and walked over to ask.

Jameel Wilson, Tyrone Wallace, and C.J. Williams were all undrafted and second-round picks. They couldn't help feeling awkward when they saw the team leader Chen Fang coming over.

The three of them had almost no playing time, they were marginal players in the team, Wallace and CJ were on two-way contracts, and they didn't know when they would be cut. So not only were they underpaid, they were also in a situation of no fixed place to live, often changing places, so naturally they had no means of transportation.

Wallace held up his phone and explained, "It's too late now. I can't get a taxi right now."

"Oh, I see." Chen Fang suddenly realized.

"Come on, take my car and I'll take you back." Chen Fang waved his hand.

The three of them didn't move. Chen Fang took two steps before he realized it, so he turned around and ordered, "Hey, brothers, hurry up and catch up. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. We are all men, be generous!"

The boss had spoken, and the three had no choice but to obey. Wilson thanked him, "Thank you, Falcon."

"They are all small matters. If this happens again in the future, I will make arrangements. This is wrong. We are all part of a team, whether on the court or off the court." Chen Fang led the three to the parking lot.

After finding out the location, Chen Fang quickly planned the best route.

Chen Fang had a smooth journey. As a core figure, he sometimes overlooked the plight of marginalized people. On the road, Chen Fang learned through casual chatting that they were having a hard time.

CJ has three children to raise, Wilson has loans and is in debt, and although Wallace is single, his mother has a chronic illness and is a bottomless pit.

Everyone is having a hard time, struggling on the edge of the NBA, dreaming of signing a multi-million dollar contract in the future, dreaming of changing their lives and escaping their predicament.

Chen Fang resonated with the situation. As he spoke words of encouragement, an idea gradually came to his mind.

Wallace was the last one. Chen Fang ignored the fact that this was a motel and focused his attention on Wallace: "Go to bed early. See you tomorrow!"

"Okay, see you tomorrow!" Wallace waved goodbye to Chen Fang and watched Cullinan's handsome back, feeling indescribable emotion and sadness in his heart.

It was already 3:30 in the morning when Chen Fang returned home. Chen Fang was so tired that he was about to cry that he made up his mind to hire a driver. Driving by himself was not only tiring but also unsafe. Driving in Los Angeles late at night was not a wise choice.

Previously, the bodyguards arranged by Duffy were paid on a daily basis, which saved money and effort. But now it seems that there are still disadvantages.

It was already 3:30 in the morning when he got home. Wu Zi was still awake and waiting for him in the living room.

The two chatted for a while while drinking soup. Wu Zi said a few words, but suddenly heard no response. She turned her head and found that Chen Fang was already fast asleep on the dining table.

Wu Zi was so distressed that she tried several times but failed to move him. However, she managed to wake Chen Fang up. With help, Chen Fang went into his room and fell asleep.

When he woke up again, it was almost noon. Chen Fang felt sore in his back and waist, and felt unwell all over.

Knowing that it was the consequence of being lazy and not doing physical therapy yesterday, and Wu Zi was not at home, she gritted her teeth and called Ilya.

Half an hour later, Elijah drove over and took Chen Fang to the Clippers training center.

Lawrence was already waiting at the door with a serious look on his face. Chen told him on the phone that he might have some minor troubles.

It was also Elijah's first time to come to the NBA team base. His eyes were full of curiosity, but the most important thing now was Chen Fang's health. After accompanying Chen Fang to the medical center, Lawrence took the opportunity to wait at the door to chat with Elijah.

"I didn't expect that he turned out to be a teammate from USC." Lawrence suddenly realized. He was still speculating about Elijah's identity, because Chen Fang was Chinese. He must have called a black man over when something went wrong.

Hearing that he was recruited by Chen Fang and was working in his team, Lawrence suddenly became enthusiastic about Elijah.

After exchanging contact information, Lawrence learned that Elijah had transformed into a trainer, and he immediately said cheerfully: "Welcome to the center to work part-time, we are short of manpower."

Elijah was immediately excited, but after entering society, his temperament became a little calmer. He was just grateful for Lawrence's appreciation and opportunity, and explained that he still needed Chen Fang's consent before he could do so.

Lawrence nodded and smiled: "Of course."

The door opened and Rupert came out. He said to Lawrence, "There are some bruises and inflammation. I need to rest for a while."

"Are you sure?" Lawrence felt relieved.

"Yes, but you may have to miss the Christmas games. I suggest you rest until the end of the month. It would be safer to return in January," said Rupert.

"I see. Does he know about this situation now?"

"I know. He hopes we can tell him without any obstacles because he is planning to see his medical team for a follow-up consultation." Rupert said helplessly.

There is a procedure for testing itself. Before the players know about it, the management and the head coach are the first and second to know the details.

Lawrence didn't dwell on this detail too much, but walked straight into the room.

Chen Fang sat on the medical bed with a frown on his brow. He had just finished a great fight, but he didn't expect to make a fool of himself the next day. Chen Fang began to doubt whether his body could survive in the NBA.

"Inflammation is the main cause. It's a good time to take a break." Lawrence said.

"I didn't play much. I played 29 out of 23 games and rested for 6 games. Alas." Chen Fang was dissatisfied. "The first season is already very good. Many rookies will get injured in their first year. Strictly speaking, you don't need to rest for so long, but I'm still considering giving you more rest time." Lawrence comforted him.

"It's just a rough estimate now. Maybe if the retest results in a few days are OK, we can move it forward. There's no need to worry about it."

Chen Fang thought about it and it made sense. He lay back down with peace of mind: "Should we start recovering now?"

"Yes, you have to stay here all day today. Also, you might want to charge your phone. When the team announces your injury, your phone will be very busy." Lawrence said humorously.

"Come on, NBA, I think this is part of the job," Chen Fang replied.

"By the way, how did you announce the reason for the break?" Chen Fang stopped Lawrence who was about to leave.

"What about a back spasm?" Lawrence thought.

"Perfect!" Chen Fang replied.

After he left, Elijah came in. He first comforted Chen Fang, and then mentioned Lawrence's invitation.

"Promise him, it's a good thing." Chen Fang said without hesitation.

"This is very important to you." Chen Fang then said, "Having an NBA resume will be helpful to you throughout your life."

Elijah also nodded excitedly: "Yes, but I know that this is entirely because of your face."

"I'm glad you understand. You'd better pray that I can play in the league for a long time, haha!" Chen Fang winked playfully.

Don't think that people in other countries don't have social practices. On the contrary, they do things more outrageously and take it for granted.

Not to mention the superstars, even the confidants of ordinary stars can get a piece of the pie. Those who serve as Harden's bodyguards can become the security director of the Rockets. You can imagine.

The annual operating costs of any NBA team, from top to bottom, are in the billions. Even a little bit of that can make an ordinary family become middle class.

We need to make the star players feel a sense of belonging, so that they will have some concerns and constraints before making a decision.

Of course, if you want to dig a star, just like James decided to come to the Lakers, it was the Lakers who packaged and upgraded everything he had in the Cavaliers.

In the afternoon, Chen Fang's phone became busy as expected. After being busy for a while, Chen Fang saw Harden's text message.

"I'm so disappointed. I had planned everything. We were just waiting for you to come over on the 23rd so we could have some fun."

"Brother, there will be opportunities. My absence is good for the Rockets. You are at the top of the list, but the Warriors are right behind you."

"Haha, I'm not worried. The Clippers can't win."

"Not necessarily. Let's wait and see." Chen Fang did not show weakness. He gradually became familiar with and accustomed to the North American way of dealing. Don't be modest. You must be tough.

The tougher you are, the more friends you will have.

Griffin and Jordan Jr. also came to visit after training.

After chatting for a while, Chen Fang talked about what happened at the airport yesterday.

"I think, as the main force, we need to do something." Chen Fang said.

Griffin and Jordan looked at each other, and Jordan spoke first: "Yes, in fact, the probability of this happening is very small. It was too late yesterday, and everyone was very tired."

"Yingbian is also a member of the team. We call each other brothers but we are not trying to fool people. I am thinking about how to solve this problem without embarrassing each other." Chen Fang said.

Griffin also agreed with Chen Fang's opinion. He said, "Let me think about it. I'm the captain."

"Of course you have to do it. I have an idea that you may want to refer to." Chen Fang said with a smile.

"Help. Each of our starting lineup should choose one person to help. Whether it's away games or home games, we can cover the cost of cars, food and drinks. The amount is small, but it helps the team's unity."

Griffin nodded happily: "It's a good idea, I think it's okay."

So Chen Fang looked at Jordan, who spread his hands and said, "I have no objection."

"You guys draw up the list, and I'll obey it unconditionally."

In fact, there are not many players in difficulty on the team. Apart from two two-way players, there are only second-round picks left. After all the calculations, they are the three from yesterday.

But Chen Fang had to let Griffin and Jordan do this operation, which would save face for both parties.

Other teammates also came over one after another. Chen Fang smiled and joked with them. In the end, only Kuzma and a few others stayed.

"This is an opportunity, everyone should seize it." Chen Fang smiled at them.

"Don't worry, boss, we will win." said Sangweier.

This is not a place to chat, and Chen Fang won't say much. After urging them to leave, he found Rivers outside.

He walked in after everyone had left.

"It seems that everyone cares about you." Rivers said with a smile.

"The most important thing is to be a good person, but you still need to learn a lot from the coach." Chen Fang's words choked Rivers. He pointed at Chen Fang with a helpless expression.

"I came here to see how you are doing. It seems that you are doing well!" Rivers stated his purpose.

"It's just to make the coach suffer. The next opponents are all tough opponents."

"Don't worry, you can also see on the spot where the Clippers have the biggest problems without you. This will help you have a deeper understanding of the team after your comeback."

"Thank you for the reminder, coach. I think I can go to the coaching staff and do some clerical work like I did in the preseason?" Chen Fang took the opportunity to apply.

Rivers couldn't help but look at Chen Fang a few more times, then said: "Come on, I have a hunch that you can help."

The two continued chatting for a few more sentences, and after Rivers left, Chen Fang's recovery was almost complete.

When he got out of bed, he felt much more comfortable than in the morning. After thanking all the medical staff in the department, Chen Fang walked out and called Lindsay.

Chen Fang first asked about the media's opinion on his truce, and only felt relieved after receiving positive feedback.

"Please prepare some small gifts for me. They don't have to be expensive, but they need to be thoughtful. The target is the entire Clippers' medical team. Is this difficult?" Chen Fang thought of something.

"No, I have records of everyone on the Clippers," Lindsay answered quickly.

"Then arrange it as soon as possible." Chen Fang felt relieved.

"Okay, boss, you finally took action." Lindsay's words made Chen Fang blush, feeling embarrassed that his little thoughts were seen through.

"If you want to be a real boss of a team, you have to manage the business carefully. From the cleaners and security guards to the management, you have to win over and make friends continuously," Lindsay said on the phone.

"Since you understand my intention, let's start." After Chen Fang hung up the phone, he walked out of the training center. Elijah was already waiting for him at the door.

"Where?"

"Now that I'm home, I can finally have a good rest during this period of time." Chen Fang felt comfortable, with a sense of joy and happiness as if he were enjoying the seven-day National Day holiday.

In his mind, he was still thinking about Lindsay's words.

Yeah, time to start.

To build up prestige and confidence, you must grab all the visible benefits.

Status and rights can never be obtained without hard work; they require hard work.

Chen Fang wants to make the Clippers his own label, so that everyone will think of him first when they mention the Clippers, but he feels that he still has a long way to go.

"This is only the first season, I still have a long way to go." Chen Fang said to himself.

"What are you talking about?" asked Ilya, who was sitting in the driver's seat.

“Nothing, just come early to complete the induction process, I need you, Stuart!”

Hearing Chen Fang calling his last name, Elijah realized that Chen Fang was serious. He nodded and assured: "I will be your eyes in the Clippers, brother. You can trust me."

(End of this chapter)