Basketball miracles

Chapter 206 [Accompanying the Crown Prince in His Studies]

Before the Heat vs. Cavaliers game the following day, LeBron James made headlines in sports news, generating tremendous buzz.

The NBA Summer League is usually an unremarkable event, but this year it became an exception. The Orlando Pepsi Summer League changed its venue from a private arena to the Magic's home court, TD Waterhouse, just so that 13,000 fans could witness LeBron James play in person.

When the Cavaliers arrived outside the arena, the enthusiastic fans completely surrounded their team bus. Even Ted Capper, the team's communications director with many years of experience, couldn't help but exclaim in an interview, "The atmosphere here is comparable to the playoffs."

“They couldn’t actually see anyone sitting in the car,” Capper said. “But the fans kept banging on the car windows.”

The fans were roaring, as if LeBron James wasn't a rookie draft pick, but a well-established NBA superstar who had won multiple championships. All they wanted was a photo with him or an autograph when he was in a good mood; nothing more.

These people are so crazy... it's like they've been hired to pose for photos and release news for the media.

All the Heat players combined don't even come close to getting as much media attention as LeBron James alone. Only Dwyane Wade gets any media attention; the rest are just nobody.

This wasn't the Cavaliers' first game; they played their opening game against the host Magic yesterday.

James delivered an all-around performance with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, leading his team to a 27-point victory over the Magic. However, the Magic didn't have any good players; they were all unknowns.

The team's core inside player was Zaza Pachulia, a white center selected 42nd overall in the second round. Their core outside player was Reece Gaines, the 15th overall pick, a 198cm black shooting guard, who didn't perform well.

Now, everyone is waiting to see LeBron James dominate Dwyane Wade and rule the game on both ends of the court. Even though he's still a teenager, James is already receiving star treatment and has been nicknamed "King James."

When the players from both teams entered the stadium, the fans gave James the loudest applause.

Surrounded by admirers, the one everyone hopes for.

There was no applause when Xiao Tu entered the stage, and no fans recognized him, even though he was very handsome. He quietly observed the spirited James, and his thoughts suddenly drifted back to 2010.

If I were to say then, “We were already champions before you arrived,” how would you respond?

James is only 18 years old, but he looks like a man in his 30s, with a forehead full of wrinkles when he opens his eyes wide. If the news said that he has a son named Chang Chen-yue, who cosplays Xiahou Dun in an arcade and bullies Jimmy Lin, it would be perfectly believable.

But LeBron James didn't change his age; he just looks older than his actual age. And compared to Greg Oden, who will be entering the NBA draft on a retirement pension, he still looks younger.

If LeBron James had falsified his age, so many people wouldn't have seen him as a cash cow and tied him to their interests so early on. Many players don't even have an agent when they're drafted; they already have a management team.

On February 18, 2002, LeBron James appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the first time, with the cover titled "The Chosen One," telling the story of his rise to become a top figure in the basketball world.

One commentator remarked, "Even a high school senior like LeBron deserves to be drafted by an NBA team with a lottery pick."

This inspired 17-year-old LeBron James, who tattooed "The Chosen One" on his back. Now, without playing a single NBA game, James has already signed a record-breaking shoe endorsement contract, surpassing all other rookies.

He rejected a 7-year, $1.15 million contract offer from Reebok and signed a 7-year, $8700 million fully guaranteed contract with Nike. The media then described him as having exceptional business acumen, valuing long-term development and greater business opportunities.

Xiao Tu sighed at the thought of the rookie contract.

It was better to live in the 90s; coming here made me poor.

Unless I become famous quickly and get advertising endorsements to make money, I'll be poor for a long time...

Stan Van Gundy's tactics were very simple, mainly relying on player isolation plays. This hastily assembled team couldn't execute complex strategies. Pat Riley sat courtside as a spectator, offering no tactical guidance, simply there to watch Xiao Tu and Wade.

Van Gundy assigned Xiao Tu to guard James and encouraged him, "Xiao, don't be nervous. Just stick close to him. It's okay if you can't stop him. Just use your strengths to score."

Xiao Tu smiled and said calmly, "I'll keep him under control."

"..."

How could Xiao Tu be nervous playing in the Summer League? He won the Finals MVP in the 80s, defeated a group of big-name stars, and knocked out Larry Bird with one punch.

When Xiao Tu first traveled back to 2003, he lacked confidence in securing a minimum NBA salary. He wasn't performing well at Harvard, displaying a rookie mentality. Now, he has a superstar mentality; even with his physical abilities declining, he's still a superstar in his decline. Xiao Tu also has a significant advantage in information; he knows exactly what LeBron James' playing style is at this time, while James knows nothing about him.

The Heat's starting lineup for this year's Summer League looks weak, with the core consisting of three rookies: Xiao Tu, Wade, and Haslem, and only their center having NBA experience.

Lauren Woods is a 216cm tall, 111kg African American center. He is very tall, but he doesn't have any particular skill. He was the 17th pick in the second round of the 2001 NBA draft and spent his first two seasons on the fringe of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

As a center, his field goal percentages in the previous two seasons were 34.4% and 38.2% respectively, and he averaged 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds last season. As a result, he was left without a team and entered the Summer League seeking a minimum-salary job.

Starting shooting guard Kirk Penney is a 23-year-old New Zealander who wants to prove himself in the NBA. He is 196cm tall and weighs 100kg. He is skilled and strong, and he didn't participate in the NBA draft but was invited to join.

The Cavaliers have a very strong roster, the best among all the participating teams.

Xiao Tu was a little surprised when he saw the opponent's information, because the Cavaliers were practically the dream team of the Summer League.

The Cavaliers have several high-paid NBA players participating in the Summer League. Despite having guaranteed contracts, they were still assigned to "accompany the prince in his studies."

Guard Dajuan Wagner is 188cm tall and weighs 91kg. He was the 6th overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft. Last season, he started 24 games for the Cavaliers, averaging 13.4 points and 2.8 assists per game.

大前锋达柳斯-迈尔斯，身高206CM，体重95公斤。他是2000年的探花秀，上赛季在骑士首发62场，场均砍下9.2分5.4篮板2.6助攻1抢断1盖帽。

Center Desagena Diop, 213cm tall, 230cm wingspan, and 127kg, is known as the "Black Tower".

He was the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft, and his physical attributes suggested he could become a superstar. Unfortunately, he lacked intelligence and remained a rough and unrefined guy, only capable of blue-collar work.

He was once considered a key player for the Cavaliers, but after two seasons he showed no improvement, offering nothing beyond relying on his physical advantages to defend the paint. Last season, he played 80 games, averaging 11.8 minutes, 1.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1 block per game.

This guy is pretty amazing. The coaching staff put him in the Summer League to get him moving, otherwise he wouldn't train. If he plays well, they'll trade him away in the summer.

Unfortunately, that's impossible. Diop lacks any skill; he can't even finish plays properly and can't put up any stats. In this parallel universe, his career fouls total exceeds his total points: 1219 fouls for 1185 points.

Backup center Michael Stewart is 208cm tall and weighs 104kg. He has played six seasons in the NBA, but has been a fringe player except for his rookie season. Last season with the Cavaliers, he averaged 5.3 minutes, 0.8 points, and 1.2 rebounds per game.

Backup shooting guard Martin Clifton is 188cm tall and weighs 93kg. He was the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft and averaged 2.2 points per game for the Sacramento Kings last season.

Among the Cavaliers' starting lineup, the only relatively unknown player is Jason Kapono, a white small forward who is 203cm tall and weighs 97kg.

Xiao Tu estimated that he would be matched up against Capono at the start of the game, a player who would be easy to deal with.

This guy is a famous three-point shooter in the NBA, with a three-point shooting percentage of 51.4% during his peak season in this parallel universe.

It's clear that the Cavaliers' management wants to use the Summer League to promote LeBron James. If James puts up superstar numbers in the summer and showcases the talent of a number one draft pick, the Cavaliers will have a very promising future in the new season.

The Cavaliers have several star players who didn't participate in the Summer League, so they don't need to prove themselves.

场均17.2分7.5篮板1.9盖帽，入选东部全明星的221CM高中锋伊尔格斯卡斯；上赛季场均20.6分4.9篮板5.5助攻的得分后卫里基-戴维斯；表现出色的新秀大前锋卡洛斯-布泽尔等等。

With so many strong players plus LeBron James, the Cavaliers' goal for the new season is to at least make the playoffs and contend for the championship within three years.

Cavaliers coach Stephen Silas orchestrated the offense, assigning LeBron James as point guard to orchestrate the offense. His draft comparison was Magic Johnson, who was known for his all-around game in high school.

James assumed he would be matched up against Wade, and greeted Wade with a smile as he entered the game. The two had met at the draft, chatted for a while, and exchanged contact information.

Sebastian Shaw? James had never even heard of him; he only had eyes for Wade.

Diop won the jump ball, and the match began.

(End of this chapter)