The first punch that shocked the basketball world

Los Angeles.

In Ryan West's office, the computer screen was lit.

A detailed scouting report lay spread out on the table.

The title is "Lin Fei - Evaluation of Defensive Wing Player".

It's packed with advanced data, match highlights, and analysis of strengths and weaknesses.

He hasn't done anything else these past two days; he's been organizing Lin Fei's information.

I had just picked up my coffee when my phone rang.

Marcus Tucker.

West answered the phone.

"Ryan, I need to talk to you about something." Marcus's tone was a bit urgent. "Sam from the Thunder just called Lin and offered him a ten-day contract."

West paused for a moment, his coffee cup still in his hand.

"Sam Presti?"

"right!"

Marcus added fuel to the fire, saying, "Lin hasn't agreed yet; he wants to wait for the Lakers. But the Thunder are pressuring him, and I'm afraid..."

"Understood," West interrupted him. "I'll handle it."

After hanging up the phone, West frowned.

Presti, that guy, has a nose that's sharper than a dog's.

They acted quickly.

If this drags on any longer, the person might really be taken away.

He looked up at the calendar.

The Lakers are flying to the Eastern Conference today for an away game.

If you go to the airport now, you should still be able to make it.

West grabbed the reports and computer from the table and strode out the door.

We drove straight to Los Angeles International Airport.

On the way, he made a phone call to Lakers' lead assistant coach Mark Koster.

"Mark, what time are you taking off?"

"There's still an hour and a half left, what's wrong?"

"I'm coming to see you guys," West said. "The Development League has found a promising player, and I need to talk to you guys about it."

Forty minutes later, at the airport VIP lounge.

D'Antoni sat in the corner, frowning as he looked at his tactics book.

He's been really stressed lately.

The conflict between Kobe and Howard intensified, and the team's wins and losses depended entirely on the star players' performance.

With a winning percentage of only 50%, even a playoff spot is uncertain.

West walked over without even looking up.

"Coach," West said, "the G League has found a wing player who's a great defender and would be a perfect fit for us."

D'Antoni didn't even lift his eyelids.

"I don't have time to look at G League players right now." He waved his hand. "You talk to the assistant coaches first, and we'll see if it's a good fit."

West was not surprised.

D'Antoni is currently overwhelmed with problems and has no time to manage the G League.

He turned and walked over to Koster.

"Mark, take a look."

He handed over the computer and opened the match highlights.

Koster was just going through the motions anyway.

How good can the players in the Development League be?

After watching two rounds, he leaned forward slightly.

In the highlights, Lin Fei first stole the ball from James White, then blocked Evans' shot, and his help defense was incredibly fast.

The movements were clean and the positioning was precise.

"Interesting." Koster picked up the computer and placed it on his lap to examine it closely.

I flipped through the high-level data one by one.

Their defensive efficiency, steal rate, and shot contests are all top-tier in the G League.

They don't dominate the ball on offense, and their three-point shooting percentage is close to 40%.

He's definitely not the kind of rough guy who only knows how to defend.

West added from the sidelines, "His athleticism is top-notch too. Look at this ball."

He clicked on a single clip.

Lin Fei stole the ball and launched a fast break, jumping from a step in front of the free-throw line and slamming it home with one hand.

The movements were fluid and the jumps were impressive.

"Many people can do that kind of dunk," West said, "but combined with his defensive awareness and basketball IQ, it's rare. I think he has the potential to become a top defensive anchor."

"There are weaknesses too. His ball-handling offense is average, and his ball handling is a bit rough." He paused, "But what we lack right now is a 3-and-D player. Kobe, Steve, and Dwight have the ball, so he doesn't even get a chance to handle it."

Koster nodded.

That's right.

What the Lakers need most right now is a wing player who doesn't need the ball but can defend.

Artest is slow on his feet, and Clark's defense is inconsistent.

If we had a reliable defensive specialist, our perimeter defense wouldn't be getting blown out every game.

"We need to let Greg take a look at our defense."

Koster waved from not far away.

"Greg! Come here for a second!"

Greg Foster, Lakers defensive assistant coach.

D'Antoni focuses on offense, and the defense relies entirely on him.

He has a lot of influence in the team.

Foster walked over with a smile.

"What? The plane's about to take off, what treasure do you have?"

"Look at this young man's defense," Koster said. "I think it's good."

Foster looked down at the screen.

The first thing I noticed was that he had an Asian face and was wearing a number 9 jersey.

He subconsciously pursed his lips.

"An Asian player? Number 9? That reminds me of... what was his name again, Sun Yue?"

His tone carried a hint of disapproval.

"no."

West quickly said, "I scouted him out of the pickup basketball court; he just signed with the Defenders. Look at his defensive plays."

Foster didn't say anything, just watched with his arms crossed.

Five minutes passed.

His previously nonchalant expression vanished.

He reached out and touched his chin.

On the screen, Lin Fei defended against the opponent's key player for three consecutive rounds.

Their defensive coordination was precise, their steals were clean, and their positioning was solid.

"His defensive positioning was excellent," Foster murmured. "His movements were clean too."

After watching two more rounds, he turned to look at West.

"Which university does this kid go to?"

California State University, Mount Dominguez.

Foster frowned.

"Second Division? That shouldn't be the case." He shook his head. "With this level of defense, they'd definitely be a starter in the First Division."

West didn't respond.

The reason is not important.

It's easy to use.

Foster stared intently at the screen, becoming more and more focused.

For a coach like Lin Fei who makes a living through defense, defensive plays are a real treat.

"interesting."

Foster suddenly said, "I see the shadows of two people in him."

"Who?" Koster asked.

"Tony Allen's tenacity, Sean Battier's cleanliness," Foster said seriously. "Of course, I'm not saying he's at their level now. I'm talking about their styles."

Koster paused for a moment.

That's quite a high evaluation.

"You're not kidding?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Foster shrugged. "A tough and clean defender like that is the rarest. You know, tough defenders are usually dirty, and clean defenders aren't tough enough. He has both."

The two huddled together and got more and more into their conversation.

I studied it for a full 15 minutes.

D'Antoni, who was standing next to him, didn't pay any attention at first.

Seeing the two teaching assistants chatting in front of the computer for so long, my curiosity was piqued.

He walked over.

"What are you looking at?" he frowned. "A G League player, is it really necessary to study him for so long?"

"Mike, you really have to see this." Foster looked up. "This kid's defense is really good, he can definitely help the team."

D'Antoni raised an eyebrow.

Foster rarely praises people like this.

He glanced down at the screen.

The ball was placed perfectly in the corner for Lin Fei to receive and hit a three-pointer. He then turned around and intercepted the opponent's pass on defense.

The offensive and defensive transitions were completed in one smooth motion.

"Alright."

D'Antoni glanced at his watch: "Send the data to my email. I'll look at it during the flight."

West felt a sense of relief.

It's half done.

If D'Antoni is willing to watch, this matter has potential.

...

Oklahoma City.

Thunder's General Manager's Office.

The light is still on.

Sam Presti sat behind his desk, surrounded by piles of player files.

It's February.

The deadline for trading is approaching.

Every year around this time, he spends all his time working overtime in the office.

The Thunder are currently ranked first in the Western Conference and are on a hot streak.

This year presents a great opportunity to win the championship.

He wants to strengthen the roster before the deadline, aiming for the greatest return with the least cost.

This is his consistent style.

There was a separate document on the table.

Lin Fei's.

He picked it up and flipped through it again.

Coming from the second division, he played three games in the development league and his stats were impressive.

Their defense is really good.

His intuition told him that this player was usable.

The problem is that the team's roster is full.

If we really have to sign, we'll have to lay off people.

Laying off employees means paying the remaining wages and triggering a luxury tax.

Presti rubbed his temples.

Money is a small matter, but he doesn't want to spend a single penny more than necessary.

A short 10-day trial is the best approach.

Who knew that this kid would refuse?

The contract must also be fully guaranteed.

interesting.

He looked out the window; the night was deep.

He was making plans in his mind.

The Lakers probably haven't noticed this kid yet, right?

D'Antoni is constantly plagued by locker room conflicts; how can he possibly manage the Development League?

That would be best.

If we delay a few more days, Lin Fei will eventually get impatient and agree.

Presti put down the documents and sighed softly.

"Mike D'Antoni," he muttered to himself, "I hope your locker room infighting keeps you too busy to pay attention to the G League."

"That way, I'll have a chance to snag a bargain."