The first punch that shocked the basketball world

The noise at the Toyota Sports Center gradually subsided.

The stadium lights went out, leaving only the emergency lights in the corridors glowing white.

The trial ended, the players left the field, and the cleaning staff pushed mops across the field.

For Mark Harris, the work has just begun.

The coach's office is on the second floor of the stadium.

The room was small and simply furnished.

An oak desk, opposite which sits a six-seater leather sofa.

Behind him, the entire wall was a tactical board, with tactical lines from last week's game still visible on it.

There was a metal bookshelf on the side, crammed full.

Half of it consists of the tactics manuals of each team, and the other half consists of the autobiographies of legendary NBA coaches.

Auerbach, Popovich, Phil Jackson... the spines of the books are all worn rough.

A book lay open in the center of the desk.

The cover was severely creased, and the margins were covered with annotations.

Mike D'Antoni's autobiography, "The Art of Run-and-Bomb".

The Lakers changed coaches this season, with D'Antoni taking over at Staples Center.

As the head coach of the Lakers' affiliate team, Harris wanted to understand the tactical thinking of the home team's head coach.

If someone is promoted in the future, they will be able to adapt to the system more quickly.

There were six people sitting in the office.

Harris sat in the head seat.

Below are four assistant coaches, two on each side.

Sitting on the far right is Tom Carter, the Los Angeles Defenders' president of basketball operations.

He was in his early fifties, balding, with a slightly protruding belly—a typical middle-aged white American executive.

He didn't go to the training ground this afternoon.

I only have five player resumes and a summary of basic data.

Harris pushed the autobiography on the table aside and closed the notebook.

"I've sent the video and data from today's trial to your email."

He raised his hand and tapped the table.

"Let's prioritize these five candidates. Who do you think should be kept first?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the group of people looked down and flipped through the printed documents in their hands.

No one was in a hurry to speak.

A few seconds later, the youngest teaching assistant spoke first.

"Let's eliminate the other three," he said. "Marcus Rivers' shooting is atrocious, and his defense relies entirely on his eyes. Derrick Banks' stamina won't last half a game. And that Jordan Crawford, he only has eyes for the basket, even more selfish than the dreadlocks who got kicked out today."

The others nodded in agreement.

All four teaching assistants passed the test unanimously, while three were eliminated.

There are two candidates left.

Alex Dunn, Lin Fei.

"Let's start with Alex Dunn."

The lead teaching assistant adjusted his glasses.

His name is Steve Coleman. He has been an assistant coach for ten years, has a solid foundation in tactics, and a relatively stable personality.

"Alex's advantages are obvious. He has played in European leagues for four years, his organization is stable, he makes few mistakes, and his mid-range and long-range shooting is reliable. He also has experience with 10-day contracts, so he can be used as soon as he's brought in."

He paused.

"There are also disadvantages. The defense is relatively weak, the physical strength is poor, and the lateral movement is slow. When facing a strong and aggressive defender, it is easy to be overwhelmed."

Three out of the four teaching assistants raised their hands.

Three votes supported keeping Dunn.

"Let's talk about Lin Fei again."

Coleman had just raised his hand when Harris gestured with his chin.

"You tell me first, why did you vote for him?"

Coleman put down the paper in his hand.

"The reason is simple," he said. "Out of the five players today, he performed the best. In the morning, it was a five-on-five game, and in the afternoon, there were four physical tests plus shooting and passing. He didn't have any obvious weaknesses."

"His defense is solid, his stamina is top-notch, his shooting is consistent, and his tactical understanding exceeds expectations."

"Players like this are plug-and-play in the G League. They don't hog the ball, they don't cause trouble, and they're reliable in everything they do."

Tom Carter frowned.

He turned to the page with Lin Fei's resume and pointed to the words "Chinese descent".

"Everyone raise your hands?" He glanced at everyone present. "The four of you, plus Mark, a unanimous vote?"

Harris nodded.

"Unanimous vote".

Carter smiled.

He was laughing a bit too much.

"My God!" He shrugged. "What kind of magic does this guy have? A Chinese-American with a resume as clean as a blank sheet of paper. He averaged 4 points per game in NCAA Division II, and never played professionally after graduating from college."

"You five voted unanimously?"

"Just because he's Chinese, does that give him a built-in audience?"

The atmosphere in the office became a little tense after those words were spoken.

Harris didn't respond.

He looked at another teaching assistant, Raymond Sr.

He's in his fifties, a defensive coach, and has spent his entire life working in grassroots basketball; he has a very keen eye for talent.

"Raymond, tell me," Harris said.

Raymond crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"Data traffic? Can that win a game?"

He pursed his lips.

"I shot him for one reason only: defense."

"During the morning scrimmage, with 30 seconds left, he switched onto Alex to defend him. He couldn't fake out Alex with his crossovers, his passing lane was anticipated, and he stole the ball and slammed it home. That's something half of the starting small forwards in the G League couldn't do."

"In the afternoon's physical fitness test, there was a 30-relay run. Everyone else was exhausted, but he wasn't even out of breath. With that kind of stamina, he could easily play the whole game."

"And tactical positioning."

"He remembers things after being told only once, and he can cover for his teammates when they make mistakes. He has high basketball IQ; he's not just a muscle-bound guy who can only run."

Raymond paused.

"To be honest, with his defense and stamina, he'd only be a fringe rotation player in the NBA. In European leagues, there would be plenty of teams vying for him."

"Joining our development alliance is like a game-changer."

Carter's surprise hadn't faded yet.

He opened his mouth, wanting to raise a question.

The third teaching assistant spoke up.

This is an offensive assistant coach.

"I agree with Raymond's point about defense," he said, "but I value his attitude even more."

"In the morning, during a five-on-five game, that guy on their team with the dirty hair was just randomly hitting the ball. Lin followed him around for almost five minutes without touching the ball once. Anyone else would have thrown up and complained, but what did he do? He set screens when he needed to, moved around when he needed to, and didn't miss a single moment on defense."

"No emotions, no complaints, and the ability to seize opportunities when they arise. This is the kind of player a coach can have the least trouble with."

"As for the offense," Mike smiled. "This afternoon, I went 21-for-25 in spot-up shooting. That's good enough for a defensive wing."

Several teaching assistants took turns speaking.

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Harris picked up his coffee and took a sip.

Black coffee, no sugar.

"That's right."

He put down his cup: "That kid's performance in the trial was almost perfect."

"Defense, attitude, physical fitness, shooting—all passed."

"For me, this was an impeccable trial."

Tom Carter fell silent.

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table.

He inherently believes that people of Asian descent cannot play high-intensity basketball.

But all five coaches voted in favor; they couldn't all be wrong.

Moreover, he trusts Harris's judgment.

After a half-minute silence, Carter spoke.

"OK."

"So, tell me, does he have the ability to play in the NBA? Or is he only good enough for the G League?"

After this question was asked, the teaching assistants exchanged glances.

No one responded.

Everyone looked at Harris.

Harris put down his coffee cup.

I thought for a few seconds.

"Standard 3D style of play: offense doesn't require possession of the ball, catch and shoot consistently. Defensively, quick lateral movement, and doesn't suffer in physical confrontations."

He looked up at Carter.

"If the Lakers get injured in the backcourt and are short-handed, he can fill in for ten or fifteen minutes without any problem."

He paused, then added.

"In fact, I think he's better suited for the small forward position than Ron is now."

Upon hearing this, Carter sat up straight.

"Are you serious?"

Harris nodded.

"Seriously."

He wasn't just making things up.

This season's Lakers, despite their impressive "F4" lineup, are plagued by numerous internal problems.

Kobe and Howard had a falling out, and Nash was getting old and had many injuries.

On the front line, Artest's athleticism has declined significantly.

His lateral movements become slower with each step, and when defending against the opposing young small forward, he is often beaten in one go.

Logically speaking, given Artest's current physique and speed, he would be better suited to play the power forward position.

But the Lakers have Gasol and Howard in the paint, and their twin towers fill up the space.

Artest can only play the small forward position.

As a result, his weakness in lateral movement was magnified infinitely.

Last month, Durant scored 48 points against the Thunder.

Paul George also dominated against the Pacers.

In many crucial moments, D'Antoni preferred to use Earl Clark rather than keep Artest on the court.

Clark's one-on-one defense is not as good as Artest's, but he has the advantage of quick footwork, so he will not be targeted as a breakthrough point.

Harris repeated these points.

Carter listened and remained silent for a long time.

He manages operations every day and doesn't watch training, but he knows the Lakers' problems inside and out.

If Lin Fei truly possesses the level of skill Harris described...

That's really like finding a treasure.

"OK."

Carter slammed his hand on the table: "Since you all think it's a good fit, then let it stay."

"Notify him to come and sign the contract tomorrow."

Lin Fei's matter is settled.

The group then started talking about Alex Dunn.

In terms of immediate combat effectiveness, Dunn is also qualified for the Development League rotation.

The problem is the budget.

The Lakers have been spending a lot of money this season, with the F4's salaries filling the salary cap.

The budget for the development alliance has been cut again and again.

Signing another person means an additional salary, insurance, and equipment expenses.

After several people calculated it over, they all felt it was too tight.

After discussing it for a long time, we still couldn't come up with a definite answer.

Harris finally made the decision.

"Sign Lin first," he said. "Let him train with the team for two weeks and see how he performs. If he's good enough, then we'll turn down Alex."

"If his performance fluctuates and it's just a flash in the pan during the trial, we'll sign Alex to fill the position."

The others nodded in agreement; this was the safest option.

That's settled.

...

the other side.

Lin Fei walked out of the Toyota Sports Center.

The afternoon sun was setting, and the wind carried a slight chill.

Today's trial training was quite intense.

For the past two weeks since he traveled through time, he has been running every morning to improve his physical fitness.

But if you really push it to its maximum intensity for an entire afternoon, your body will still react.

My muscles are slightly sore, and my breathing is a little heavier than usual.

But compared to the other four guys who were so tired they couldn't even stand up, he was already in a very good state.

Lin Fei stood at the bus stop and stretched his shoulders.

He had a general idea of ​​what the outcome would be.

Of the five, he performed the most comprehensively.

If the Defenders only have one player left, it should be his turn.

The most troublesome thing right now isn't the tryouts.

It's money.

If I actually sign the contract, I'll have to spend money on new sneakers, training protective gear, protein powder, and daily nutritional meals.

The six hundred dollars I "scammed" from my sister Zhu Xiuli won't last more than a few days.

I need at least two thousand dollars to keep the money flowing.

He was too embarrassed to ask his aunt for the money.

My aunt's restaurant business is not easy; she works from dawn till dusk, and all she earns is hard-earned money.

You have to figure it out yourself.

I was just thinking about it.

"Buzz!"

The sound of an engine approached from afar.

A black Jeep Wrangler was parked in front of the bus stop.

The car window rolled down.

He revealed a smiling face.

Sofia Green.

She took off her sunglasses and waved to Lin Fei.

"Hey Lin! Get in the car, I'll give you a ride."

Lin Fei was a little surprised.

I didn't expect her to stop on purpose.

"Is it convenient?" Lin Fei asked.

"What's inconvenient about it?" Sophia laughed. "I'm just heading to the suburbs anyway, it's on my way."

Lin Fei didn't mince words.

I opened the car door and got into the passenger seat.

It's not that I'm worried about the cost of taking the bus, it's just that it's slow.

Someone was going that way and gave me a ride, saving me more than half an hour.

He also knew that Sofia wanted to chat a bit more and gather some material.

In a sense, both of them got what they wanted.

"Where do you live?" Sofia started the car.

"Alhambra," Lin Fei said, "over on the main street."

"Oh, I know." Sofia turned the steering wheel. "There are quite a few Chinese restaurants over there."

The car drove onto the main road.

Sofia chatted casually as she drove.

"How did the trial go today?"

"It's alright." Lin Fei smiled. "Wait for further notice."

"You played really well this afternoon," Sofia said. "Your stamina is even better than Alex's. By the way, why didn't you go pro after graduating from university? With your skill level, even playing in a European second-tier league would be better than playing on a pickup court, right?"

Lin Fei had already prepared his explanation.

"I was a late bloomer," he said. "I was short and skinny in high school, so I couldn't get a starting position. I only started growing taller in college and gradually developed. By the time I graduated, I had already missed the draft window."

"Haven't you thought about trying your luck in Europe?"

"I don't want to be too far from home," Lin Fei said. "My aunt runs a restaurant here, and there's no one to take care of me."

Sofia nodded.

This reason is very reasonable.

"So what made you decide to try out for the Development League?" she asked again. "It couldn't have been a sudden whim, could it?"

Lin Fei didn't hide anything either.

He explained the whole story.

Sofia's eyes lit up as she listened.

I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

Street fight → Agent discovers → Scout spots → Development League tryout.

This script is practically a ready-made story of an underdog's rise to success.

"You're amazing!" she said with a smile. "If this story were written down, people would definitely read it."

Lin Fei smiled but didn't reply.

Sofia was making plans very quickly.

She has been a beat reporter for the Defenders for two years.

No resources, no connections.

Looking to arrange an exclusive interview with Kobe Bryant or Dwight Howard?

No way.

Even seasoned senior reporters can't get a turn; it's not her turn.

If you want to make a name for yourself in this industry, you have to find another way.

Write about ordinary people, about players from the bottom, about stories of pursuing dreams.

Readers love this.

Carl Miller's story of pursuing his dream with only one arm took her two months to write.

This is my first post, and it's gone viral.

The second time, the response was okay.

The third time, the data showed a significant decline.

If you keep repeating the same things, readers will get tired of it.

Ultimately, it was just a publicity stunt orchestrated by the team.

They come once a month, just to go through the motions.

They couldn't dig any deeper.

But Lin Fei is different.

He is of Chinese descent, comes from streetball, and worked his way up to the G League.

And it just so happened that the hype surrounding "Linsanity" had only just subsided.

Fans still pay attention to Chinese-American guards and players.

If they really make it to the Development League, and then climb the ranks step by step...

I don't even want to think about the traffic.

Sofia became more and more excited as she thought about it.

The way they looked at Lin Fei was different now.

This is no ordinary trial player.

This is walking proof of achievements!