Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 295 The Evolution of the Dragon Spaceship
Tan Palace.

It is hailed as the premier luxury residential area in Shanghai.

There are only 18 buildings, one of which belongs to the Lu family.

Today, Chen Fang is using this auspicious place to host Kobe.

To be honest, the place is truly luxurious, and it's really hard to get used to. Chen Fang is also a guest, and Lu Yun, as the host, warmly welcomes him.

He didn't know what he ate, but the taste was unique, a flavor he had never tasted before in his life. Seeing that Kobe was satisfied, Chen Fang felt relieved.

After dinner, the two took a walk in the private garden.

"When I saw the Clippers' draft moves, I knew it was something you were planning." Kobe's opening remarks still revolved around basketball.

Chen Fang nodded in agreement: "Yes, that's what I meant."

This year's draft followed history.

The Clippers' management made a move that shocked the league.

The Grizzlies agreed to trade Griffin for the No. 4 pick without hesitation, along with a matching trade involving Dillon.

Little Jialun successfully boarded the ship, while Dillon was half happy and half worried, feeling as if he had boarded a pirate ship.

The first-round pick acquired from the Cavaliers is protected and void.

They acquired the first-round pick from the 76ers and selected Mikal Bridges with the 10th pick.

They signed Donte DiVincenzo as their number 12.

They used the second-round pick acquired by the Rockets to sign Jalen Brunson.

At the same time, the Clippers' existing roster has also undergone significant changes.

DeAndre Jordan opted out of his contract, became a free agent, and joined the Dallas Mavericks.

Qian Ning announced his retirement.

Tony Allen announced his retirement and will become a defensive assistant coach for the Clippers.

Okafor became a free agent and signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Two two-way contract players, CJ Williams and Tyron Wallace, were waived.

Kyle Kuzma was traded from the Clippers to the Pelicans, with the Clippers also sending their 2020 first-round pick and 22 first-round pick to the Pelicans in exchange for Jrue Holiday.

As a result, the Clippers' roster underwent a major change in the 18-19 season.

While retaining immediate combat power, a strong lineup capable of both offense and defense can be formed.

Despite some doubts, Chen Fang considers Zubac and Jaren to be the strongest frontcourt duo for the next decade.

Two major troublemakers in the paint: Richon and Harrell.

The two perimeter stars: Beverley and Jrue Holiday.

The best NCAA championship lineup: Brunson, Bridges, and DiVincenzo. The three of them hardly need to gel and can perfectly rotate the starters during rest periods.

Lou Williams still has the potential to be the best sixth man.

And there's Thornwell, who's showing promising defensive skills, and the hardworking Evans.

Add to that the revitalized Windy City Rose, Ross, and Dillon, who is proving himself.

Finally, there's Chen Fang, who has already proven himself to be a future league MVP and is sure to have a place!

Each of the 15 names on the list has gained value and importance.

The Dragon spacecraft's latest evolution has initially met Chen Fang's expectations.

Others may not understand, but Chen Fang is very clear that within three years, the Clippers will definitely dominate the competition, and this roster will not incur the luxury tax.

In his eyes, this lineup is far stronger than Leonard and Paul George.

So when Kobe asked him, Chen Fang readily admitted it.

"Only a year! Everyone's gone!" Kobe's next words made Chen Fang's smile freeze.

Yes, all the old people have left. Even those who came at the same time as me are now only Sandwell, Evans, and Zubac.

"I have mixed feelings, but I will not give you a perfunctory answer when you question me."

“I need teammates who want to compete for a championship, a group of teammates who have a passionate love for the game. This series made me realize that some people only care about their contracts. Of course, some players are not suited to be on a team that aims to win a championship.”

"It seems you've overcome your inner demons."

"I guess so. When you brought it up just now, my face was burning with embarrassment!" Chen Fang forced a smile.

Kobe pursed his lips and patted Chen Fang on the back.

He could understand this feeling. Perhaps he wouldn't have agreed with it before, but looking back, he realized that he had also wasted a lot of time.

“I know this decision is hard to make, but as you said, in the league, you need a group of like-minded people, not people who talk about personal relationships or friendships.”

"These are not within the scope of consideration."

"When I saw this roster, I knew you were going to make a big splash, and your goals for next season could be amazing."

"Yes, I dare not make any big promises. Everything depends on the team's cohesion. I hope that by the end of the season, we will have grown into a team that is good at both offense and defense and has the strength to face any team without fear."

Chen Fang wasn't sure if the imagined lineup would meet his expectations.

To be honest, this draft is the best in a decade. He has picked almost the best pieces of the puzzle. It's just unclear how long it will take for them to develop.

"Sometimes, many plans are not as good as God's arrangement!" Kobe's words were profound, and Chen Fang could only remain silent.

"Let's not talk about these things. I still want to apologize to you!" Kobe ended the discussion about next season because he could tell that Chen Fang was still in pain.

"It's alright, you can open the show. I was originally planning to have you close the show!" Chen Fang waved his hand.

"I have a lot of things to do this time, but I've set aside two days!"

"That's enough. One day for the opening ceremony and one day for a speech to all the young players is more than enough."

“Well, I’m glad to see what you’re doing now. It really makes sense.” Kobe had already seen the progress of Blue and was amazed by Chen Fang’s great ambitions, completely unconcerned about whether it would impact America’s status in basketball.

"Only by getting everyone to compete can basketball develop better. The best evolution of competition is through competition!"

"Yes, if one day the Chinese team wins the World Cup in the final, don't be disappointed," Chen Fang joked.

"Of course I'm frustrated, but I'm also happy. This kind of setback will make Team USA even stronger!" Kobe replied nonchalantly.

Chen Fang knew that Kobe was not hypocritical; he had always been committed to the global popularization and development of basketball, and he would lend a helping hand to anything that could help basketball.

"Then it's up to you now!"

※※※

The first annual King of Kings Junior Grand Prix of Azure was finally held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai on August 1st.

Tickets for this year's event are inexpensive, and Blue has pledged to donate all proceeds to the Blue Foundation to help those who love basketball but are facing financial hardship.

With ongoing pre-event promotion, the joint appearance of Chen Fang and Kobe Bryant, two of the hottest basketball superstars in China, ensured that the opening ceremony was packed to capacity.

The two stood together in the center of the room and gave speeches. Chen Fang's theme was that dreams should be pursued and youth should not leave regrets.

Kobe shared his journey in pursuing his dreams. Finally, the two sat like door gods on either side of Chairman Yao in the VIP section, watching the opening game between the Guangdong Xunlong team and the Liaoning Menghu team.

After watching for only a few minutes, Kobe said, "White team number 21, very good!"

He was referring to Qin Changzheng, who played as a shooting guard in this game. He led the charge from the start, helping the Xunlong team gain a lead.

Yao, who was also aware of the situation, said, "This is the biggest surprise discovered by Blue Ocean this time. He has exceptional talent and is known as 'Little Chen Fang'!" Hearing this nickname, Kobe chuckled. He turned his head to look at Chen Fang and asked, "Does he look a lot like you?"

"If he were ten centimeters taller, he would indeed look very similar."

“I’ve trained with him, and just like Yao said, he has exceptional talent. In my opinion, his pure skill level is already among the top four or five in the 19 ESPN high school class.”

After hearing Chen Fang's answer, Kobe took it seriously and began to focus on Qin Changzheng.

At that moment, the Xunlong team launched an attack. Qin Changzheng dribbled the ball forward and was double-teamed just past the halfway line. He suddenly leaned down and accelerated. Even though the opponent closed the goal in time, his strong body managed to force his way through and break through.

With a wide-open space ahead and only the opposing center forward in the penalty area, who was still getting into position, Qin Changzheng let out a long roar and charged fiercely towards the center forward.

Whenever there was an attack, Qin Changzheng liked to roar, which earned him a nickname.

Hoo King!

Song Yuanshan tried to correct him several times, but to no avail, so he had no choice but to let him do as he pleased.

Qu Shaobin specifically asked again, and Qin Changzheng replied firmly: "It's to tell the other party, 'I'm here!'"

All I can say is, those immature boys are not to be trifled with.

Because it was a North-South match, the Liaoning Tigers were unfamiliar with the game. The 207-point center heard a strange cry and was wondering what it was. When he looked in the direction of the sound, he saw a large black shadow rushing straight at his face.

My brain went blank for a moment, then everything went black, a tremendous force struck me, I lost my balance, and landed hard on my bottom on the floor.

After sliding a few meters away, I opened my eyes and saw a boy in a hanging frame falling from mid-air.

"Great shot!" Kobe was the first to applaud. He had witnessed the whole thing. This Chen Fang was really fierce.

He actually dared to dunk over a center who was more than 20 centimeters taller than him, and he was still roaring after landing, a very American-style scoring outburst.

"Your jumping ability is excellent!" Yao praised.

But soon, Qin Changzheng's pull-up jump shot after shaking off his opponent on the perimeter once again refreshed their understanding.

"So accurate?" Kobe remembered clearly that it was already four consecutive shots.

"That's why we call him Little Chen Fang!" Yao laughed. He was genuinely happy. If China produces another Chen Fang, then not only Asia, but the entire world basketball community will regard the Chinese team as a monstrous threat.

Kobe even took out his phone to film the game. He watched the first half very carefully and then said to Chen Fang, "There are many flaws. There are problems with the tactics, the movement, and the teamwork."

"Yes, he's only received formal training for these past three months!"

"Why?" Kobe tilted his head back in shock, and Chen Fang confirmed again: "Yes, he will be 16 soon. He only played pickup basketball in the community for three years of junior high school."

"Thank you for the generous gift." Kobe rarely used a swear word. He shook his head and said, "His impact and aggressiveness were fantastic."

“Although his opponent is weak and cannot restrain him, I believe that even in a more intense confrontation, he can adapt and perform well.”

"It seems we all think the same thing!" Chen Fang laughed. "I've already planned to take it to America and send it to my alma mater, Chaminard!"

"That's really good. He needs to work on some fundamentals and basic tactical understanding. I hope he has the corresponding basketball IQ. You should know what I mean."

“Of course, I know very well.” Chen Fang nodded.

In the United States, there is no shortage of players with explosive physiques and explosive playing styles. They may thrive in high school and college, but when they come to the professional arena, they can easily fall behind due to their lack of basketball IQ.

"Congratulations, your league has achieved results." Kobe immediately made the connection, and he reached out to shake Chen Fang's hand.

"We also need to thank Brother Yao. Without his support, Azure would have been hard to come to fruition." Chen Fang would never say anything wrong. He took Yao's hand, and the three of them held hands together.

The accompanying reporters, who had been focused on the three of them, immediately pressed the shutter upon seeing this scene.

In the end, the Guangdong Xunlong team won the opening game with a score of 71 to 54.

Qin Changzheng racked up a phenomenal performance with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals, an overwhelming display that immediately captivated the more than 20,000 fans in attendance.

From that day on, Qin Changzheng's name entered the fans' field of vision, and people were wondering what his future would hold.

Sports Daily front page article: Qin Changzheng, the next Chen Fang!
After the game, Kobe, Chen Fang, and Yao Ming came to the court and took photos with both teams.

After the group photo, Kobe took the initiative to find Qin Changzheng and, with Chen Fang translating, chatted for a few words with the goofy-looking Qin Changzheng.

"I have a training camp in September, you're welcome to come!" Kobe extended an invitation to Qin Changzheng, then looked at Chen Fang.

"You're coming too!"

With so many people in front of him, Chen Fang had no choice but to agree.

Kobe's training camps mainly fall into two categories: the "Kobe Mamba Mentality Camp" for teenagers and private training camps for professional players.

In the league, whoever is invited by Kobe is the player Kobe most favored in the next few years. It is an honor, but Chen Fang is indifferent to it. He only knows that Kobe's intentions towards him are sincere and earnest.

The following day, Kobe gave a public basketball lesson in front of nearly a hundred young basketball players from his school.

He started with defense, showing the young men the logical relationship between offense and defense.

"Only when you play good defense will your offense be threatening. Learning the secrets of scoring from defense is the core logic for becoming an elite player."

"Being physically strong won't make you a better defender; it just gives you the ability to deal with weaker opponents. When facing a true scorer, your brain is your strongest shield."

"Thinking, thinking on the field, should become your guiding principle. Strive to cultivate this habit, and it will make you stand out and become the most trusted person in the eyes of your coach and teammates."

"And similarly, they will become the opponent's most feared nightmare."

It must be said that Chen Fang, who was listening in, was also deeply inspired. Kobe really had something. His basketball theories and thinking, which he practiced throughout his twenty-year career, were truly terrifying.

"The Weakness" made people realize Kobe's masterful understanding of offense and defense, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

This lesson was broadcast live in its entirety, and it broke the record for the highest number of online viewers in the history of Chinese short videos.

It can be said that Kobe's arrival left a significant mark on Blue Sky's nationwide plan.

That night, Chen Fang and Kobe had a long talk.

"You need to gain some weight and improve your ability to handle double teams. I've brought McGrady in for you. His understanding of offense will be a great help to you. Trust me," Kobe said to Chen Fang very seriously.

Seeing Kobe's expression, as if he feared he would refuse, Chen Fang had no choice but to agree.

“I’ll be back soon, in late August. Gaining weight is a must, and my goal is 10 pounds.”

Kobe did the calculations and nodded: "That's about right. Enough for you to post up and not lose balance and speed when you break free."

“Your skills are now approaching master level, but there are still many details that need to be addressed.”

"For example, you can't maintain your output. This is also related to the opponent's counter-strategies. Even I am troubled by it." Kobe shrugged, but he stubbornly said, "If I could have the skills of a 30-year-old and the body of a 20-year-old, this wouldn't be a problem."

Chen Fang said, "One cannot possess youth at the same time as having an understanding of youth."

Kobe was briefly lost in thought by the profound Zen-like meaning of those words, then looked up and said, "Thank you, you've made me feel much more at ease."

"Of course, we inspire each other and improve together!" Chen Fang said half-jokingly. That's one of Kobe's bad points; sometimes, he's too serious.

"Yes, this is my favorite way to be with you. Thank God I got to know you!" Kobe made the sign of the cross on his chest and looked up at the sky.

"Haha, that's so cheesy. It's late, so I won't see you off tomorrow. I wish you all the best on your trip in China." Chen Fang felt it was time, so he stood up.

The two shook hands and hugged, and Chen Fang left Kobe's presidential suite, using the VIP passage to get directly into his car.

To be honest, going back to China is completely different. It's not as comfortable as it was in the US. Although Chen's presence in the US would cause a stir, the treatment he received there was on a completely different level compared to China.

This time, Chen Fang truly witnessed what fanaticism is.

The car slowly drove off, and with the help of other vehicles, entered the main road, shaking off the reporters.

Looking at the Shanghai night view through the glass, Chen Fang murmured to himself.

"time to go!"

(End of this chapter)