Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 303 Fighting for the Center Position

10 month 9 day.

As the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the Clippers' final preseason game, Chen Fang stood up and gave each of his teammates a high-five.

In the locker room, everyone celebrated their perfect record of five wins for a few minutes. Dillon and Beverley were surrounded and showered with champagne by the entire team.

After the initial excitement subsided, Rivers paid tribute to the entire team and placed two necklaces representing the Most Valuable Players around the necks of Beverley and Dillon.

The MOP was shared, but the two didn't mind at all and were overjoyed.

Rivers summarized: "There's no need to pay attention to outside opinions; in the arena, victory is the only standard."

The head coach emphasized this point because the media is increasingly disgusted with the Clippers' winning style, with their average of 31 fouls per game truly tainting the court.

The competition was also fragmented and lacked any entertainment value.

Now, some media outlets have already defined the Clippers as the new Pistons of the 21st century.

"The Bad Boys have a successor; now it's called the Corsair!" Los Angeles Lakers columnist Eddie Burton scathingly mocked.

With LeBron James' move to Los Angeles, the Lakers seem to have come back to life. Not only are season tickets sold out, but they also have twice as many advertising spaces outside the arena as the Clippers, even though the Clippers had previously had more advertising spaces.

The rivalry between the Lakers and the Clippers, both on and off the court, has been reignited by the Clippers' rise and the arrival of LeBron James.

Clippers beat reporter Tomer Azali retorted fiercely: "We'll soon see the emperor's new clothes come off. Just wait and see. Your emperor can't always have groin discomfort, can he?"

Tomer Azali was referring to the preseason game against the Lakers on the 7th, in which James did not play but instead announced to the outside world that he was feeling unwell.

This has become the norm; most of James's injury absences are announced by his public relations team, not by the team itself.

Because the team will purchase injury insurance for each player, which can protect them from the bad situation where the player is unable to play due to injury, but the team still has to pay the player's salary.

If it's an official announcement from the team, then a medical certificate of injury must be provided for the insurance company to recognize it.

If it's insurance, there will be strict injury checks to prevent players from faking injuries to fraudulently claim their wages.

Injury examinations are not conducted unilaterally by the team's medical team; they also require supervision from the league.

However, sometimes players and teams don't care about this salary and will, by default in the league, say they are absent due to injury, and the injury they say is often a difficult condition to diagnose.

As long as insurance isn't involved, all parties can accept it.

Tomer Azali understood perfectly, so he subtly insulted Eddie Burton, who, as expected, dared not retaliate.

The regular season starts on the 18th, giving the players a week to relax.

After showering, Chen Fang did not leave immediately, but returned to the Clippers training center with the coaching staff to participate in the preseason debriefing meeting.

"The improvement in defensive awareness is what we expected; the next step is to work on the defensive layers." Mazzula knew very well that he was the focus of today's meeting.

"The number of fouls will definitely be closely monitored by the referees during the regular season."

"Therefore, I will ask the players to reduce their foul frequency."

This statement made the coaching staff wonder if they had misheard. Just as everyone was puzzled, Mazura explained, "It seems like there's a problem with the logic, but there isn't."

"The foul rules are just to instill in players the awareness to commit fouls and take action."

"The following strict rules on fouls will be explained in detail, such as where fouls are allowed and where they are strictly prohibited. Players have different defensive abilities and styles, but we need to establish a team-wide understanding of the standards for fouls."

After hearing the explanation, the meeting room fell silent. Rivers spoke first: "I think it's fine. Even if we are constantly plagued by fouls, there is no need to worry. In a sense, it can allow more players to get playing time."

“A high-intensity defensive strategy will reduce the opponent’s determination to attack the basket, leading to a large number of outside shots. This will increase the opportunities for transition offense and defense,” Brian agreed.

“Yes, Beverley, Dillon will be a bellwether. Just by watching them, the team will know what to do next,” Mazura replied.

Chen Fang, who had been listening attentively, was called upon by Rivers: "Do you have anything to add?"

Chen Fang shook his head: "No, just like everyone says, having more fouls has more advantages than disadvantages, such as more free throws."

“I don’t mind being seen as a bad boy team by outsiders. I even think that maintaining this level of defense throughout the regular season is more conducive to training and cohesion of the team and achieving a better ranking.”

“But we must be careful, if this standard is maintained in the long term, there will be a lot of disputes,” Sam Cassel, who rarely speaks, suddenly said.

Cassell, nicknamed "The Phenomenon" during his playing days, was a chatterbox, but as an assistant coach, he became a quiet and reserved person. He always worked silently and was the one who listened attentively in meetings.

He was a veteran of the Clippers in the 90s, and someone who fought alongside the first captain, Brand.

He joined the Clippers coaching staff in 14 and, because of his low profile, avoided several purges and remains a veteran on the team.

Because the league has 30 teams, and each team has its own unique tactics, the coaching staff usually needs a certain number of full-time assistant coaches, with each person assigned to several teams to specifically understand and track them.

Cassell was assigned to an Eastern Conference team, so his workload wasn't heavy. He would only get busy when the team went on an Eastern Conference road trip.

Cassell's remarks drew everyone's attention, and Rivers nodded: "Yes, some players will feel offended, and those with a bad temper will immediately retaliate. Dillon and Beverley aren't necessarily smart; they can also get carried away."

Chen Fang remained silent until everyone had come up with a better solution and looked at him, at which point he said, "I don't care."

"If you want to win the championship, you must forge an iron will."

"I don't mind using a few conflicts to unite people and forge a team spirit."

"Anyone, any team, should redefine their attitude toward the Clippers."

"Of course, serious crimes are not allowed, and anything that could seriously injure the other party must be explicitly prohibited."

“We’re just fierce, not bad.” Chen Fang looked at Mazura and continued, “Rest assured, I’ll take care of these things. I won’t allow any truly bad people to appear!”

Rivers clapped his hands: "Very good, that's what I wanted to say."

Kassel smiled too. He was very worried about the disastrous consequences of continuing like this, but the Chinese had already thought of it, so that was fine.

After the meeting, Lawrence was waiting outside. When Chen Fang saw him, he asked, "Were you looking for me?"

"Yes, come on, everyone is waiting for you."

It's frustrating, but that's the side effect of power.

Chen Fang now has to deal with five groups.

Coaching staff, management, media, fans, sponsors.

The coaching staff and management have frequent contact.

The elevator went up to the 7th floor, where Chen Fang saw Wenger. Unexpectedly, West was also there, as was the boss, Ballmer.

That's it.

Chen Fang appeared casual, but he sat at the other end of the oval table, looking towards the management team.

“No need to sit so far away, come, sit next to me!” West beckoned.

Chen Fang smiled and explained, "Everyone here is my superior. I'm sitting here to show respect."

“Come on in, this is just a regular meeting.” West waved again.

Chen Fang merely made a statement, then stood up and sat back down upon hearing this.

"How are you feeling?" West asked.

“Great, I’m really looking forward to this season.”

Wenger remained quiet. He knew very well that there was no room for complacency when dealing with Chen Fang.

“We’ve all seen the changes in the team recently, and we know what you’re thinking. I’ve asked Rivers about it, and his answer was that everything hinges on you,” Wenger said slowly, his tone calm, but his eyes remained fixed on Chen Fang.

"Yes, I think the goal for this season is to reach the Western Conference Finals, and then try to win the championship."

Chen Fang's answer brought a light to Ballmer's eyes.

"This season is crucial for both me and the Clippers." Chen Fang had already planned to have an in-depth discussion with the management, and now that the opportunity had come, he certainly wouldn't refuse.

So he opened up: "I hope the management can fully support the coaching staff's decision. The coaching staff and the team are a perfect fit right now. I respect Mr. Doug and I fully support his decision."

"There will be many difficulties on the road to the Western Conference Finals, some of which are even beyond our current imagination."

"Rebuilding a team to contend for a championship takes a long time, but the Clippers have the potential to win the title the fastest, even though we've used some unconventional methods."

"Which aspect are you referring to?" Wenger asked.

"The media, sponsors, and fans will all be in trouble because our decisions are risky."

"These decisions were made with my approval, so I am fully aware of today's meeting," Chen Fang said frankly.

"I understand how difficult it is to win the championship. My idea has the support of the coaching staff, and now I hope that the management can support me as well."

Faced with Chen Fang's sudden assertiveness, Wenger remained calm. He looked at his boss, who had remained silent, and then turned back to say, "Of course we should support him, but vague and directionless support is bound to be weak in the long run."

"Before the All-Star Weekend in February, we will be number one in the West and number one in the league."

"And I will make it to the All-Star Game!"

"If this is not achieved, management can intervene and make adjustments."

Chen Fang stood up, propped his arms on the table, and looked down at Wenger, who was sitting there calmly.

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

"I haven't seen such a confident statement in a long time, Chen Fang, please sit down," West said.

Chen Fang sat back down in his chair. He knew the old man was actually protecting him and didn't want him to be blocked by his words.

"The Clippers are number one in the West? In such a short time?" Wenger asked.

"I have that confidence," Chen Fang said without backing down.

“Chen, my expectation is that within five years, I really like your confidence and assertiveness, which is the attitude a superstar should have,” Ballmer suddenly said.

He glanced at Wenger, who immediately lowered his eyelids.

"No promises are needed. I am very satisfied with the Clippers as they are now, and I am equally satisfied with today's meeting. I see a clear future for the Clippers in you."

Ballmer got up and came to Chen Fang, who immediately stood up.

Holding the Chinese man's hand, Ballmer appeared very excited: "The Clippers will fully support you, and any request will be fulfilled immediately. I believe that this season, you will definitely surprise the league."

"Yes, boss, everyone needs to re-evaluate the Clippers, and re-evaluate us."

“Very well, I only have one small request!” Ballmer suddenly became serious.

"Since the start of this season, I've been in the stadium for every home game, and I hope the Clippers win more games at home."

This means that you must not lose at home.

Chen Fang changed his mind and replied, "I will do my best to ensure that every home game is played and that the fans leave the stadium without being disappointed."

“Very good!” Ballmer was completely satisfied.

He likes players who are extremely confident. Chinese people have a strong desire to win, and this isn't something they can fake; he can read it in their eyes.

The loss to the Warriors in last season's playoffs led Chen Fang to express his wishes through various channels, which surprised him and made him even more certain that his judgment was correct.

"Go for it, focus on the game, and the team will take care of everything off the field," Ballmer promised.

"The boss will be proven right in the near future!" Chen Fang complimented.

Lawrence saw Chen Fang off, and once they were out of sight, Ballmer changed his expression and said to Wenger, "Michael, you need to immediately re-evaluate your attitude towards Chen Fang."

Of the four people in that meeting, he was only wary of you.

“Dad, the Chinese have a very strong desire for control, and I have to take measures against them,” Wenger explained.

"I know very well that he has achieved a level of control over the coaching staff and players that other players couldn't achieve in five or six years." Ballmer spread his palms: "So what? That's the style of a superstar."

“He was very clear about where the boundaries were. At least, he didn’t touch the management. He only wanted the management’s support, and he made a clever maneuver.”

"Supporting the coaching staff is supporting him."

"This step is already very good."

Wenger remained silent in response to his boss's words.

"Michael, this is the last time I'll reiterate my dream for the Clippers."

"I'm giving you ten days to mend your relationship with Doug. It's very important."

“Understood, boss.” Despite his inner frustration, Wenger remained calm and composed as he left the meeting room. Now, only Ballmer and West remained in the room.

"Can his confidence come true?" Ballmer asked.

"There's a 50% chance that the Clippers' defense has improved significantly, and he has people around him who can help him. The problems he had last season are no longer there."

"As long as he can maintain the level he showed last season, anything is possible," West reassured Ballmer confidently.

※※※

Chen Fang quickly drove away from the training center; he had many things to take care of.

First, we went to Panshi.

After undergoing back surgery, young Potter, who was recovering in Rocky Hill, was delighted to see Chen Fang and Jia Lun. He was even happier when he heard that they were going to get a free meal from Trae Young.

Chen Fang borrowed Kobe's private jet and flew directly to Atlanta.

This is a magical city, with a unique culture resulting from the fusion of northern and southern cultures.

It is also the city with the best value for money in the United States, and its living conditions are suitable for long-term residence.

Trae Young was waiting at the airport. When they met, the four of them laughed heartily. Trae Young inquired about Porter Jr.'s recovery, and the latter said enviously, "You became the Hawks' savior in just five games! That's amazing."

In five preseason games, Trae Young averaged 19.1 points, 8.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals.

This statistic is even more impressive than Chen Fang's preseason performance during his rookie season, naturally earning him the favor of the Hawks' management.

Trae Young, with his usual arrogant expression, raised his head and lectured in a tone: "Get well soon, the future is yours."

Chen Fang touched his head, but fortunately the latter was on guard and immediately stepped back to keep away from Chen Fang.

"Warning! Don't do that!"

"I just couldn't help it!" Chen Fang chuckled.

Reluctantly, Treyan drove the three of them to the pre-booked hotel.

"How do you want to play?" he asked.

"Don't worry, it won't cost you much, just a budget of 100,000!" Chen Fang said deliberately.

"What? One hundred thousand? Fuck! How can the rich rob the poor!" Treyan exclaimed indignantly.

Trae Young's rookie contract was signed in the summer, a four-year deal worth approximately $2653 million. The first year's contract was only $536 million, meaning he'll likely receive a maximum of just over two million.

It's truly unacceptable to be asked to take one-twentieth of his family's wealth.

Moreover, the two million yuan was not paid in one lump sum, but in three installments. Chen Fang estimated that he would only give a maximum of seven or eight hundred thousand yuan in October.

"Alright, I'll let you off the hook. You'll take care of your food and lodging, and you don't need to worry about playing this game."

"That's more like it!" Trey knew Chen Fang was teasing him, but he was still delighted.

Atlanta's local cuisine is truly excellent; the steak was the best I've had since I came to the US.

Having tea after a meal has become a habit. The four of them found a teahouse. There are many Chinese people in Atlanta, and you can even order food and have it delivered via WeChat.

The boss was from Guangdong. When he saw Chen Fang, he was clearly taken aback, and it was obvious that he recognized him.

In exchange for a free tea, Chen Fang proudly boasted, "Look at my face!"

After sitting down and recounting recent events, Trae Young asked, "What have the Clippers been doing lately? I've seen the media criticizing them."

“When building a team culture, some fluctuations are inevitable,” Chen Fang said calmly.

"I checked the schedule, we're meeting on November 19th!"

"Okay, then, please treat me to a good meal!"

"Don't hold back, I saw it, it was a back-to-back match that day, so don't skip it."

It has to be said that Trae Young is a thoughtful boy. Chen Fang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll definitely take good care of you."

Porter Jr. was envious and couldn't help but sigh. Trae Young comforted him, saying, "I think you made the right decision to withdraw from the draft. Focus on recovering your health, and your draft prospects next year might not be bad."

"But how do I get to the Clippers?" Porter Jr. wondered anxiously.

Chen Fang waved his hand: "Actually, it doesn't matter whether you come or not. I just hope you are healthy and don't rush things."

These words made Porter envious, but Trae Young mocked him: "Looks like the boss doesn't think much of you, haha."

"Nonsense!" They shouted almost at the same time. Chen Fang made Xiao Bo very angry, but he explained very seriously: "Actually, there is a way to get him into the Clippers. Get a doctor's diagnosis that his lumbar spine problem is irreversible and will accompany him throughout his career. Naturally, there will be fewer competitors."

"Truly insidious!" Treyan knew Chen Fang's methods well and gave him a thumbs up.

"Tch, why don't you try to persuade the Hawks' management to sign him?"

Trayvon's eyes darted around, and Chen Fang could tell at a glance that he was tempted.

"Stop thinking about it. My method is real. Let little Potter explain it himself."

Porter Jr. sighed: "It is indeed irreversible. Of course, I can play in the NBA, but I have to be careful about a lot of things, and there is no guarantee that it won't recur."

"Really?" Treyan was stunned.

"So do you think you can handle it?" Chen Fang asked.

Treyant didn't dare to say a word.

"Only I can keep him under control. He has plenty of time to adapt to the Clippers. Apart from the lower pay, there are no other problems."

"Besides, I'm here to discuss something."

"I'm planning to start an investment fund, and I'll call it Late Spring Gathering!"

“I’ll take charge of the investment. Each of you, put up some money. I’ll cover Porter’s investment first, and he’ll pay me back the principal later.”

“This principal will be paid out over three years. I want half of your rookie contract salary.”

The three looked at each other, and Treyant couldn't help but ask, "I want to ask, why so many?"

"Because if there's less, the snowball effect will be slower."

"Jason has agreed, now it's up to you."

"Oh, before you make a decision, I'll show you something." With that, Chen Fang placed his phone on the table. He had already set it up and was showing it off to everyone.

"What is this?" Little Jialun asked, still confused after reading it.

"This is the investment company I started last year, and this is the return," Chen Fang said casually, pointing to a number.

The three of them immediately formed an "O" shape with their mouths.

"Twenty times more?" Treyan found it unbelievable.

"The overall figure is 956%, which is fortunate, as someone happened to take over and we sold our original shares, so the figure looks very good."

"That's ridiculous!" The three of them exclaimed, their eyes practically sparkling.

"The reason we did this is so that when we can all work together in the future, we can negotiate a price reduction in the contract!"

"I don't want to wrong everyone, so I'm taking precautions and compensating them in other ways."

Once Chen Fang explained his intention, the three of them immediately understood.

"Wouldn't this violate the alliance's rules?"

"No, the salaries are based on market rates. I'm worried that your agents will ask for exorbitant salaries and try to break up the team."

"I understand!" Treyan exclaimed happily, nodding, "I agree!"

The other two, of course, didn't waste any words either.

"Okay, that's fine. Don't worry, I'll be very careful with this money. Although the appreciation might not be as fast as mine, it's very stable."

"Once we all retire, we'll all be true billionaires."

All three nodded. What do you mean by "real"? Those start at a billion.

That evening, Trey Young generously treated them to a meal. Chen Fang didn't push the woman away; he knew very well what it meant for men to be on the same wavelength.

He politely declined the woman's offer to get in the car when he left.

The next day, Chen Fang left Atlanta alone, leaving the two bastards to continue fooling around in Atlanta. He was going to St. Louis, back to his alma mater, to take care of Qin Changzheng's affairs.

Arriving in Chaminard, the journey was smooth and unimpeded.

Perez was surprised by Chen Fang's appearance. The two chatted as they watched the school team's daily training sessions.

"How is Qin?"

“Very good, just like you did back then, giving us a shock.” Perez said with emotion.

"Of course, these are the best I selected in China, and I'm sending them back to my alma mater." Chen Fang laughed heartily.

“I’ve already felt it.” Perez wasn’t surprised; it’s the sentimentality of one’s alma mater, and he would have felt the same way.

"Coach!" Chen Fang stood up and stepped forward when he saw Frank walking over.

The two hugged, and Frank looked them over with satisfaction.

"You've gotten even stronger!"

"I'm currently at 217 pounds, and I'm aiming to reach 220 pounds!" Chen Fang is now fully experiencing the benefits of muscle gain, while the negative effects are relatively minor. His explosiveness and jumping ability remain strong.

"So, you've come to see your precious apprentice?" Frank joked.

"Yes!" Chen Fang did not deny it. When he delivered it, he said it was his eldest disciple.

"He's great! Apart from his height, he's almost perfect!" Frank praised Qin Changzheng, who was working hard on the training field.

"Are you implying that you're even better than me in some aspects?" Chen Fang asked.

Both of them burst into laughter. Perez grabbed Chen Fang's hand and said, "He's adapted to American high school even better than you are."

To be honest, that's exactly what happened; Chen Fang had expected it.

He explained his purpose for coming: "He came to the United States a year earlier than me, so I hope he can settle down more and adapt in all aspects. I hope he can win another championship for Chaminard and retire his own number."

"Three years is enough!" Both of them were very confident.

"We also hope that the coaches will pay attention to safety."

"Don't worry, I've spoken with Rami, and he has the ability to make that promise."

Chen Fang was completely relieved. He had originally planned to go find Rami, but now it seemed unnecessary.

After training, Chen Fang and Qin Changzheng walked around the campus.

He noticed that some classmates wearing rugby uniforms greeted Qin Changzheng, so he asked curiously, "You seem to be quite popular!"

Qin Changzheng replied happily, "I also joined the school's rugby team. Coach Robert is even competing with Coach Frank for me."

"Ha!" Chen Fang chuckled, then realized that the kid's physique and strength seemed more suited to rugby.

"Brother Fang, you don't object?" Qin Changzheng asked somewhat nervously.

"I don't object. You should consider both first, but health is the most important."

"Don't worry, I'm just using rugby to exercise!" Qin Changzheng's reply left Chen Fang speechless once again.

Parting is inevitable. Before leaving, Chen Fang instructed, "I'm letting you go to America because I have my own reasons."

"First, the national team needs a strong point guard. Second, you are the hope of the national team; you must set an example for young people across the country who love basketball!"

"I hope to always remember my mission, just as I have never forgotten my mission."

"Brother Fang, what is your mission?" Qin Changzheng couldn't help but ask.

Chen Fang smiled but remained silent, as he was now fully focused on this season.

Sorry, Kawaii, I'm going to steal your spot in the center.

(End of this chapter)