Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 98 The King's Teachings

The training facility in Sacramento, their first group practice since the deal was finalized.

Tonight they will face the Kings with their full roster for the first time.

The last time they played against the Kings, their overall performance was poor. Xu Ling was clearly not used to facing a beast-like forward like Ron Artest, who was experienced and physically strong. But this time, the situation seems to be different.

Since there's a match tonight, the afternoon training session will focus on maintaining form.

However, after training ended, Xu Ling and Kidd stayed on the court for one-on-one practice.

Kidd ran his fingertips over the basketball, as if he were fiddling with an invisible book.

"Look here,"

Kidd's voice was exceptionally clear in the empty arena. He didn't use any fancy moves, just a very simple back-to-the-back positioning move, but at the moment of exertion, there was an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible drop in his left shoulder.

"99% of people will look at my feet or hands, but my shoulders don't lie. If they really want to go that way, their shoulders will move first. You have to practice until you can catch it with your peripheral vision."

The experienced master craftsman was indeed skilled; he got straight to the point as soon as he spoke.

Xu Ling seemed to understand something and asked in return, "Would this method work for Kobe?"

Xu Ling was probably the best perimeter defender in the United States during his college years, but after entering the NBA, his defense was only good, not elite.

As a rookie, this was already a remarkable defensive ability, but Xu Ling still felt frustrated whenever he recalled the game where Kobe scored 58 points over him.

Admittedly, Kobe was on fire that night, taking many incredible shots. You really can't handle those kinds of shots. Just like how Florida Stallion J. Mack's specialty is lifting up a skinny opponent and suspending him like a train bento, you can't expect other male actors to do the same thing.

Xu Ling's problem wasn't that he failed to defend against Kobe's incredible shots, but rather that Kobe scored many of his points that night through one-on-one back-to-the-basket plays.

This made Xu Ling realize his major weakness on the defensive end: he was not good at defending against back-to-the-basket shots.

Upon hearing Xu Ling's question, Kidd raised an eyebrow and asked with some curiosity, "Is that important?"

Xu Ling answered truthfully: "That's why I want to strengthen my low-post defense."

“Then you’re probably going to be disappointed,” Kidd said. “Improving low-post defense is one thing, limiting Kobe is another. We can’t use conventional defensive strategies against Kobe because his moves are different every possession.”

Xu Ling felt helpless; he knew Kidd was right.

Kobe is the kind of player whose movements are very unpredictable once he starts playing one-on-one. Even if you block all his shooting space, he can still force an opportunity.

"However, what you should be thinking about now is not defending Kobe's post-up game, but how to improve your low-post offense and defense," Kidd continued. "Although I've only played two games with you, I can see that you are very confident in your shooting. This confidence makes you subconsciously seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. You must play more in the low post. Only by understanding low-post offense and defense will your awareness in this area improve."

Kidd's words were undoubtedly heartfelt advice from someone who had been through it all.

Xu Ling knew, of course, that his back-to-the-basket skills were ridiculously naive compared to contemporary outside scorers. How could that be logical? Everyone grew up watching Michael Jordan's games, and everyone wanted to be the next Jordan, but you've honed your outside shooting to resemble Reggie Miller's. It just doesn't make sense.

However, Xu Ling was not truly unwilling to develop lower-level areas; he was simply forced by circumstances.

Before the arrival of players like Kidd, the Grizzlies' games offered almost no room for error. If Xu Ling had a bad start, the whole team would often completely lose their way. Therefore, he rarely dared to use official games to hone his still-developing low-post offense.

The team has now received strong reinforcements: Kidd controls the tempo, and Josh Howard adds toughness to the frontcourt. Despite losing Pau Gasol, this trade still injects strong immediate impact into the team.

That's why Xu Ling sincerely accepted Kidd's advice: "I understand, thank you for telling me that."

However, unlike the composed Kidd, another important new recruit, Josh Howard, seemed preoccupied.

In the past few years, Howard, a wing player discovered by Avery Johnson, was a core member of the Mavericks, a team that reached the NBA Finals and achieved the best regular-season record in the league. However, his performance was inconsistent under high-intensity competition, and he was prone to underperforming in crucial moments. Coupled with a season plagued by injuries and poor weight management during his off-season, the Mavericks ultimately chose to trade him—rather than Jason Terry—in the trade that shocked the league a few days ago.

Having just joined the new team, this unremarkable-looking man was eager to make a good impression on his new teammates, giving his all in training. Unfortunately, his current form is still far from his peak.

“Josh,” Mark Jafaroni said, noticing his anxiety, “don’t worry, we have plenty of time for you to get back to your best.”

Howard simply glanced at the coach silently.

He knows his body better than anyone. It's fair to say that his ability to make it into the NBA is a miracle in itself.

Howard was born with congenital bowed legs. In order to allow him to walk like a normal person, his mother followed the doctor's advice and underwent a horrifying orthopedic surgery: breaking his twisted knees and legs and then re-implanting fixation devices to forcibly correct them.

For most people, such surgery would make walking difficult, but Dwight Howard not only survived but also made it to the NBA. However, for many years, his legs have remained the most vulnerable part of his body. Now, this congenital curse is quietly eroding his athletic career.

"Coach, I don't have that much time."

Howard answered softly.

Upon hearing this, Jaffaroni said no more.

The other two new signings were more disciplined.

Vladimir Radmanovic looks like a carbon copy of Darko Milicic, lacking the same drive but not the tendency to tank either. He just goes through the motions, showing none of the discomfort that comes with switching teams.

Trevor Ariza sees this trade as a chance for a fresh start. He possesses exceptional physical talent, but his skills remain somewhat raw. From his initial draft by the Knicks into the NBA to his stint with the Lakers, Ariza has almost never truly received the recognition he deserves. As the saying goes, "Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou don't believe in tears," Ariza's experience reflects a harsh reality in America—the two cities that best represent the American Dream, Los Angeles and New York, have never truly believed in him.

Even in Memphis, Jerry West, who was in charge of the trade, only saw Ariza as a trade add-on and a supplement to the team's depth at the forward position. After all, no one really takes Ariza, who is in his fourth year as a professional, with averages still hovering around 5 points per game and a shooting percentage of just over 40%, a failed gamble.

Ariza quickly became the Grizzlies' second-most training fanatic after Xu Ling.

However, unlike Josh Howard, he still has plenty of time; his best days are yet to come.

That night, the Grizzlies played the Kings on the road.

Once the game started, Artest stuck to Xu Ling like a shadow, constantly making small gestures with his hands and muttering, "Rookie, remember last time? Tonight will be even worse!"

Xu Ling ignored Kidd's instructions and, instead of rushing into personal attacks, frequently made off-ball runs, using Howard and Milicic's screens to drag Artest into layers of obstacles before cutting out to receive the ball and shoot.

"You're definitely going to look terrible tonight."

Xu Ling left after saying that.

Subsequently, after only a few rounds, Xu Ling once again became the core of the tactics.

Xu Ling used a double screen along the baseline to get around the defense. Artest struggled to squeeze past him, but just as he was about to close in on Xu Ling again, Kidd's pass arrived. It wasn't a pass to Xu Ling, but a precise bounce pass, perfectly timed, directly guiding Xu Ling to receive the ball and break through.

Artest was still focused on catching up and could only watch helplessly as Xu Ling swept past him and easily scored a layup.

"Beautiful pass! Kidd read the defense perfectly, putting Xu Ling in an advantageous position as soon as he received the ball!" Xu Ling looked at Artest and mocked, "Terrible defense."

Enraged, Artest attempted a power play in the next round, but missed.

Xu Ling secured the defensive rebound and officially entered his personal offensive rhythm. After pushing the ball up the court alone, he once again demonstrated his privilege of ignoring tactics – a not-so-surprising three-pointer from a three-point line with a numerical advantage.

Xu Ling turned around and looked at Artest, who had just caught up, and continued to trash talk: "Terrible defense x2".

Artest was furious, but no matter how angry he was, he couldn't change the fact that Xu Ling's offense had been completely unleashed by Kidd. He no longer needed to hold the ball for long periods facing Artest's ironclad defense, but instead gained numerous opportunities to receive the ball and attack immediately through movement and Kidd's passes, either scoring directly or making a decision as soon as Artest's defense was in disarray.

At halftime, Xu Ling had already scored 14 points efficiently, while Artest picked up his fourth foul due to his temper and spent most of the time on the bench, looking frustrated.

Meanwhile, Kidd racked up 5 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists in the first half, and a triple-double record in his first game with a new team is within his grasp.

Howard's performance was also good. Although he is still far from his best, his current form is enough to replace Mike Miller.

In the second half, the Kings tried to adjust, but the Grizzlies' offensive system was already running smoothly. Kidd repeatedly directed traffic with his passes, while Xu Ling, Warrick, and Howard made continuous cuts and shots.

Ultimately, the Grizzlies decisively defeated the Kings 108-85 on the road, completing a beautiful revenge.

Xu Ling scored 26 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists, shooting over 50% from the field, a stark contrast to his struggles against the Kings in their previous game. Kidd delivered a perfect debut with 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 16 assists. Surprisingly, what prevented Kidd from achieving a triple-double was the seemingly simplest form of scoring.

After the game, Artest did not shake hands with Xu Ling, but went straight back to the locker room. Xu Ling, in an interview, praised his teammate: "Jason makes the game simple. He always finds teammates who are open, and we just need to be ready to make the shot."

This was a perfect rhythm for the Grizzlies.

Kidd did what everyone hoped he would do. Howard did bring toughness to the small forward position. Radmanovic, Milicic, and Warrick shared the playing time at the power forward and center positions. Ariza, who was not expected to play, sat on the bench. For the first time, Xu Ling felt he could play comfortably with the Grizzlies. Kidd relieved him of the burden of being the playmaker. He no longer had to play the role of the young prodigy who had to shoulder everything.

In that sensational four-team trade that shook the league, the Memphis Grizzlies were the first team to reap the benefits of their new additions. The Dallas Mavericks were still adjusting their roster, struggling to find the right balance between Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki; the Los Angeles Lakers were caught in the awkward situation of wanting to tank but being unable to; and the New Jersey Nets remained mediocre, neither particularly strong nor weak. Only the Grizzlies, after the trade, went on a winning streak, returning to playoff contention and demonstrating a continued upward trajectory.

The Grizzlies are about to travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on the road.

This matchup is not only the final game before All-Star Weekend, but also a highly anticipated showdown. Xu Ling versus LeBron James—the rookie hailed by the media as the best since Tim Duncan, and the "Chosen One" burdened with the expectation of surpassing Jordan; Adidas and Nike's star endorsers for the next decade; and the long-simmering off-court rivalries…

The controversy between Xu Ling and James did not subside with time; instead, it intensified. Every media outlet was eager to portray them as arch-rivals, just as Adidas and Nike desperately wanted them to completely overwhelm each other. From James' disrespectful behavior towards a caddie in Memphis to Xu Ling's controversial tweet and the subsequent chain reaction, everything fueled the flames of this rivalry.

Just two days before the Grizzlies arrived in Cleveland, James had led the Cavaliers to a big win against the Pacers with a triple-double performance at home.

After the game, ESPN reporter Chris Sheridan handed him the microphone and asked the question that every media person inevitably asks: "LeBron, how do you view the challenge posed by rookie Eli Xu? Many people are starting to compare him to you during your rookie season."

On camera, James flashed his signature flawless smile, his tone warm and sincere: "Eli is an incredible talent, I really think so. He has a bright future. I admire his competitiveness, his desire for greatness. Memphis is completely different because of him. I look forward to playing against him again, it's going to be very interesting."

This was originally a standard and impeccable official response; if it ended there, it would have been just another boring media interaction.

However, James seemed to find this statement too formulaic, and added in a more personal tone: "To be honest, seeing him reminds me of my younger self, full of energy and wanting to conquer everything. But for me, the most important thing in my rookie season wasn't the stats, but learning how to be a real professional player, how to truly lead a team to victory, and how to take responsibility."

At this point, the chosen one paused briefly, as if giving the other person time to process the information, before throwing out the most crucial sentence: "I believe he is also learning these things, and it takes time. Perhaps after he plays another 50 or 100 games, he will better understand what this league truly means."

As you know, the most valuable professional ethics lesson journalists have ever taken is learning "to take things out of context" from "don't take things out of context".

James's remarks were quickly interpreted by the media in their own unique way.

LeBron James acknowledges Elijah's talent but points out he needs to "learn how to be a professional player."

LeBron advises Xu Ling: Play 100 more games to understand the league.

Lessons from a Veteran: LBJ Believes Eli still needs time to grow.

News like this is all over the internet.

Moreover, James's words already had a strong didactic feel to them, so it's hard to say he didn't mean it that way.

As the Grizzlies prepared to board their chartered plane to Cleveland, the news was spreading throughout the basketball world.

Xu Ling wore headphones and didn't speak to anyone.

The teammates didn't want to embarrass themselves by asking about it.

The plane landed in Cleveland.

A large number of media outlets gathered outside, many wanting to know Xu Ling's thoughts on His Majesty the King's earnest teachings.

Xu Ling walked up to them, took off his headphones, and looked at the reporters in front of him. There were too many of them, as if they had just won a high-profile battle.

At this moment, Xu Ling was not calm. He did not give the reporters a chance to ask questions, but took the initiative to speak and gave them the answers they wanted.

“I’ve heard a lot of advice and analysis about what I still need to learn, how many games I need to play, and what level I need to reach.”

"But I came to the NBA not to meet someone's standards, nor to understand someone's philosophy."

"I'm here to win. Win tonight's game, win tomorrow's game, win every game I can win."

"I'm not going to answer any questions right now. Don't ask questions; you won't get any answers."

Please, Eli, you've already given the answer.

And that's not all.

Xu Ling looked intently at the reporter in front of him: "After I defeat the person who set the standard for me face to face on the court, we can talk slowly."

After speaking, Xu Ling took the initiative to walk forward, and the reporters spontaneously made way for him.

Regardless of the reasons, who was right and who was wrong, or what their personalities were like, in the NBA and in this world, there is an irresistible force that has driven them further and further apart.

The irony of fate lies precisely in this: it never heeds the cries or boasts of individual will.

Howard's lower limbs, cursed by fate; Ariza's past, scorned and abandoned by the metropolis; Milicic and Radmanovic's almost resigned professional burnout; and Xu Ling himself, the villainous figure pushed into the eye of the storm by the combined efforts of the media and sponsors.

All of this, along with LeBron James's perfect idol persona, enveloped in the aura of a chosen one and allowing no room for error, meant that their fate was sealed the moment they stepped into the league.

The business logic of the NBA, and indeed modern sports as a whole, is essentially a grand narrative hunger. It is never satisfied; it needs heroes, but even more so, it needs demons; it needs camaraderie, but even more so, it needs irreconcilable enmity.

Xu Ling strode out of the Cleveland Airport terminal, leaving the noise behind him.

(End of this chapter)