I’m Really Playing Basketball

Chapter 195 The draft lottery and LeBron James’ heart!

In the first round of the NBA playoffs, after all the playoffs in that round are over, everyone is looking forward to one thing.

The major awards of the NBA regular season.

After the second round of the NBA playoffs is over, apart from the East-West regional final matchup, the biggest news in the NBA now is the lottery of the 2003 NBA draft.

In fact, NBA experts across the United States and even fans across the NBA are more concerned about James' ownership than the announcement of major honors in the first round of the regular season.

This is no joke.

Chen Xiao has been in the United States for more than two years. The American basketball player with the most news in this year is not Jordan, not Kobe, not O'Neal, not Carter, not Iverson, but a high school student named LeBron James.

"I told myself, I've never seen a player that young so dominant physically and technically at that age. It's not just me who can see his greatness, because great players It's always easy to spot. But LeBron James has reached a point where it's completely different than other great players."

This is what NBA Vice President Stuart Jackson said after watching the game between LeBron and Anthony last year. At that time, James was 17 years old.

It is extremely rare for an NBA vice president to evaluate a 17-year-old player.

Since this game and Situ Jackson's comments, the name LeBron James has become more and more known.

As he became more and more known, everyone saw in him the great talent that Jackson said everyone could see.

For most talented players, only professionals can tell the difference between them and ordinary players.

For players like Chen Xiao, even most professionals cannot see the difference in him. Only special people like Jordan can see the difference.

But LeBron James is different from everyone. Even an ordinary person who doesn't understand basketball at all can see from him that he is completely different from other players.

This is Jackson's assessment.

Later, after more and more ordinary people saw James, they felt more and more that Jackson's words were correct, and James' popularity became higher and higher.

No way, ordinary fans really can't tell the difference between high school geniuses and high school geniuses. With 10 high school geniuses in front of them, they can't tell who is strong and who is weak. Who do they love?

It is human nature to follow the strong. If there is no strong person to follow, then just follow the players from your hometown.

Therefore, most high school geniuses cannot leave the entertainment industry and can only enjoy the glory of their hometown.

But James' talent is too easy to distinguish. Putting him together with other geniuses, James and the Gallic rooster stand in the middle of the chicks, which is so eye-catching.

Therefore, James became the second high school genius in American history to break out of the circle!

At the same time, James became the second high school genius in American history to attract national attention.

The last one, that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Yesterday, on the eve of the 2003 draft lottery, Metro TV in New York launched another one-hour basketball special looking back at history, and the theme of the review was Power Memorial High School from 1962-65.

Why do you say again?

Because New York TV really reviews every year, or even every six months.

On the eve of the draft lottery and the start of the new NBA season, New York TV stations will look back at Power Memorial High School from 1962-65.

Why is Power Memorial High School so important?

Of course it's because this team has a guy named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the number one god in American high school basketball.

In high school, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set an astonishing 72-game winning streak in the history of American basketball.

The 72-win match between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and DeMatha High School attracted over 12,000 spectators and was broadcast live across the United States.

And this game undoubtedly created a ratings miracle in the American high school basketball world.

The ratings of this game can beat the NBA and ABA finals.

At that time, American basketball fans can shout loudly, basketball is orthodox in high schools!

Later, with the emergence of Magic and Larry Bird, the orthodoxy of American basketball changed from high school to the NCAA.

Then with the rise of Jordan, the orthodoxy of American basketball slowly began to shift to the NBA, and of course, now it has returned to the NCAA.

Don't think it's incredible that a high school student can cause such a big sensation in the United States.

To be honest, James now has not reached the level of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar back then.

From 1962 to 2003, it has been forty years. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s high school career is still being replayed back and forth on New York TV. The prosperous times were prosperous.

Even if LeBron James is not as good as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar forty years ago, as the second high school student to attract national attention, experts and fans in the NBA and across the United States are full of great expectations for him.

His attribution issue was even the biggest news in American sports this year.

Even before he entered the NBA, Nike had already given him a contract worth nearly hundreds of millions of dollars.

Even before he has entered the NBA, his high school friends can often appear on major news pages across the United States.

Just yesterday, LeBron James' high school friend Mike Dochetser made the front page of USA Today.

The reason is certainly not because of how powerful this guy is.

The reason is entirely because he told James' favorite team in an interview.

"Almost everyone now believes that LeBron will be the No. 1 pick. LeBron has been interviewed by some media. Some reporters asked him which team he hopes to win the No. 1 pick. He always avoids such questions, but I know that he is the most favorite. team."

"We have also discussed this issue privately. The teams that have the greatest hope of getting the No. 1 pick are the Heat, as well as the Cavaliers, Raptors and Nuggets. However, during the party, LeBron said he hopes the Pistons (from the Grizzlies) can When the No. 1 lottery was drawn, the Pistons had already won the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Bucks at Tianwangshan, and they were about to enter the Eastern Conference Finals to compete with the Nets."

After this USA Today report came out, the entire American basketball world went crazy.

That's not what James said in the interview!

What about the promised construction of Cleveland, the agreed Sons of Akron?

If the Pistons are strong, go to the Pistons. What's going on?

Because the influence of America Today is so great that James himself was forced to explain.

"I'm kidding, I don't have to play for a certain team in the NBA, I can play for any team in the NBA, Cleveland, Miami Heat, even the Los Angeles Lakers, so I don't care who gets the No. 1 pick sign."

Of course, James' speech with extremely high emotional intelligence will not dispel the gossips in the United States, because James' statement is the same as if he has not said it.

It wasn't until James' agent Goodwin came forward that the storm in the American basketball world caused by James' high school friend finally stopped.

"Detroit Pistons? No, the Pistons will never get LeBron because that Grizzlies first-round pick is No. 1 protected."

"He wants to go to Cleveland, I want him to go to Cleveland!"

"It would be an incredible story for LeBron to be able to stay in his hometown and be able to help his community and his hometown."

"Does he get nervous or does he feel like he's under too much pressure? No, not at all. He's not nervous at all. He's never nervous about anything like that. He's a player who takes on the toughest roads. His idea is that even if he is on Mars, he can still change everything with the basketball in his hand, not to mention, Cleveland is not Mars."

"And LeBron's mother is one of the best mothers I've ever had, because she said the same thing: 'He was born in the hands of God, he's the chosen one, wherever he is, my Baby is going to do anything he puts his mind to.'"

"I never doubted that Cleveland would get the No. You could also say it’s based on how I feel.”

After Goodwin said this, the boiling public opinion in the entire American basketball community calmed down.

To be reasonable, a high school student is not James himself, but just a word from James' friend, just a private joke of James, which caused such a big storm.

This is not what Jordan, Kobe, O'Neal, and Iverson can do now. As for Chen Xiao, it is even less possible.

You know, after James' high school friend said this, league president David Stern's face turned livid.

After all, the LeBron James in his mind is not a player who wants to go wherever he is strong.

Turns out it was just a joke.

I can rest assured that.

It's just a joke, it's normal for young people.

May 21, 2003.

Chen Xiao finished the mid-morning passing training with Anthony and accompanied James, Anthony and Wade to the draft lottery.

You may not believe it if you say it, there will be the first game between the Lakers and the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals before and after the draft tonight, but the focus of the entire United States is on James, and it is all on the NBA draft lottery.

When did the NBA draft lottery become so popular?

In 1996 and 1984, there was no such popularity!

This is no joke. Before the draft in 1984, no one thought Olajuwon and Jordan could compare to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Iverson and the others in 1996 also had no such expectations.

But for James, Chen Xiao knows that the nation's expectation for him is to rival Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and become one of the top ten in history!

"LeBron, you are under so much pressure!"

Top ten in NBA history...

Chen Xiao can't even think about such a thing now.

When he entered the NBA, he only set his goal to "survive" in the NBA.

But James...

Good guy!

Before entering the league, everyone expected him to be comparable to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and become one of the top ten players in NBA history.

This is equivalent to before the college entrance examination, people all over the country expect a player to become the top scorer in the province's college entrance examination.

What kind of pressure is this?

This kind of pressure can crush a person!

And this young man, he is only 18 years old!

Chen Ling looked at James with a stern face beside him, and James's not-so-broad shoulders.

This young man is truly extraordinary!

In the face of such flattery from Quanmei, it's no wonder that he has been holding it involuntarily.

James and him are very good friends, and Chen Xiao knows what James is like in private.

This is a poor boy from a poor background like him.

Like him in private, James is also a 'stingy man' who is so frugal to charge his mobile phone, it is best to charge it at other people's homes.

Both of them are very common people in private.

But unlike Chen Xiao, Chen Xiao is very common in private and is also very common outside. No one has ever thought that Chen Xiao is just putting on airs outside.

But LeBron is different. In private, he is simple and civilian, but when he goes outside, under the spotlight, he immediately puts on a mask. Outside, he behaves very 'noble', even when he introduces himself to others. , are 'I am King-James'.

Chen Xiao complained about this more than once.

I'm a secondary school student, and I don't know how to say "I'm God Chen" when I meet people!

If you are so secondary, if you don’t come to my Mamba or the Wolf King to become the right protector, it’s really a waste of talent!

Of course, just like every time James introduces himself, Chen Xiao will complain.

Every time Chen Xiao invites him, he will get a blank stare from James.

In short, neither of the two can convince the other.

"How about if you don't mention King when you introduce yourself, I won't let you join the Mamba Cult or the Wolf King Cult?"

Well, Chen Xiao's previous proposal was rejected by James without hesitation.

Of course I refuse!

Who knows what kind of messy teachings you will create in the future!

Chen Xiao, James, Anthony, and Wade appeared in Secaucus, New Jersey, and immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Chen Xiao, James, Anthony and Wade, the four talented teenagers lined up, it really has a face!

Especially the four of them were all wearing handsome suits at this time.

To be reasonable, let's not talk about appearance, as far as appearance is concerned, LeBron is indeed a bit of a hindrance.

But the figures of the four of them are really good!

"It's too dusty! These four teenagers are too dusty!"

Many female reporters at the scene saw Chen Xiao and the others walking in a row, their eyes were full of sparkling hearts.

Such a stylish four little fresh meat!

Love it, love it!

"From now on, the four of them are the most perfect Four Heroes in my heart!"

The Four Heroes? !

Hearing the repeated exclamations of the female reporters at the scene, the male reporters at the scene felt a chill.

They are still so young, you want to take action? !

However, what is surprising is that.

Chen Xiao, James, Wade and Anthony, the nicknames of the Four Heroes slowly began to spread.

Even whether it is in the United States or China, this name will be spread quite widely in the future.

Until N years later, when Chris Paul always appeared by their side.

Many new fans are curious, why are there five of the Four Heroes?

Did LeBron James come over to take advantage of the heat?

Then the fans of LeBron James will say righteously that it is Chris Paul who is here to take advantage of the popularity!

Don't kick my Lao James out of the NBA's first day team just because of his good looks!

My Lao Zhan is the original member of the Four Heroes, the one who walks among the Four together with Wonder Boy!

Ahem, okay, this is all for later.

Now, Chen Xiao and James didn't know that the four of them appearing here together would have such a big impact in the future.

This time at the draft lottery, Chen Xiao is the host representative officially invited by the NBA.

James and Anthony are officially invited rookie representatives by the NBA.

Wade is the representative representing the Heat in the draw.

To be honest, this is not the first time Chen Xiao has participated in the draft lottery.

He was the rookie representative last year.

However, this is the first time for Chen Xiao to participate in the draft lottery as a bystander.

Therefore, Chen Xiao's current perspective and mood are really completely different from last year.

At this time, everyone on the scene was very nervous.

The same is true for Wade, James and Anthony around him.

Wade is planning to draw the top three picks, and then use the top three picks to trade for Ron Howard, who was squeezed out of the Magic.

The Heat's probability of winning the No. 1 pick this year is 25%, the highest among all lottery teams, so the probability of the top three is still very high.

James and Anthony were certainly nervous.

Anthony now knows that he has no hope of becoming the top pick, so he hopes to go to a big city.

Miami is great!

Never go to Denver, never go to Toronto, never go to Detroit!

As for James...

"LeBron, tell me secretly, do you want to go to Cleveland or Detroit?"

Well, Chen Xiao was looked down upon by James again.

The atmosphere of this draft lottery was extremely tense, many times more tense than last year.

Before the official start, the lottery ceremony had an experimental rehearsal, which deepened the already tense atmosphere at the scene.

This draft lottery rehearsal was fun.

The Denver Nuggets got the No. 1 pick during the rehearsal, and their probability of getting the No. 1 pick was fourth, after the Heat, Cavaliers, and Raptors. Logically speaking, this is something that we should be happy about. We are so lucky tonight.

If the draft lottery really relied on luck, of course they would be happy.

But……

Nuggets boss Stan Kroenke was very disappointed at the scene. He got the No. 1 pick during the rehearsal. This means that David Stern had no intention of letting the Nuggets get the No. 1 pick tonight!

Not only Kroenke thinks so, but also the Nuggets president Kiki Vandeweghe next to him thinks so.

"Stan, this is the kiss of death. It's impossible for us to win twice in a row. It's impossible for us to be the No. 1 pick. But we're pretty lucky tonight. As long as we're in the top three picks, I still think it's good."

After Vandeweghe finished speaking, Kroenke nodded with a livid face. David Stern won the number one pick, so he can't be the second place this year.

Then he, David Stern, should the NBA be fair, or should it be fair?

At the end of the rehearsal for the draft lottery, when the draft lottery officially began, it was league vice president Russ Granik who represented the NBA official opening.

After the start, Granik pulled out the cards with the team logo from the large envelope again and again.

At this time, Wade was drawing lots on top, while Chen Xiao was sitting with James and Anthony at the bottom.

When Granik pulled out the Heat's team logo from the envelope when he was the fourth overall pick, Chen Xiao saw that Wade's face on the stage was a little livid.

Damn it, shady story!

Looking at the expression on Wade's face, Chen Xiao was really afraid that he would just start complaining.

This shit, any fool knows it's a shady scene!

The probability of the Heat getting the fourth pick is lower than the probability of getting the No. 1 pick!

However, after the Heat took fourth place, representatives from the remaining three teams, the Cavaliers, Nuggets and Raptors, had expressions of excitement on their faces.

When Granik pulled the Nuggets badge at No. 3, Vandeweghe finally let out a sigh.

Although the result has been known for a long time, but forget it, Milicic or Anthony are also good.

When Vandeweghe sighed, the general manager of the Raptors was excited at this time.

Number one pick! Number one pick! Number one pick!

David Stern wants to support the Canadian team!

David Stern is going to play Pippen for Vince!

But soon, when the Raptors' team logo was drawn with the second pick, the excitement on the faces of the Raptors representatives was still frozen, but their eyes were already desperate.

According to their agreement with Carter.

Not only did they not get LeBron James, but they also lost Carter...

However, when the Raptors were desperate, the Cavaliers were already cheering excitedly.

The cameras at the scene were all focused on LeBron James next to Chen Xiao.

At this time, LeBron James once again had his iconic cold expression on his face.

A few minutes ago, when the Pistons drew the tenth pick, Chen Xiao captured the fleeting disappointment on James' face.

Chen Xiao captured LeBron's heart.

The whole world wants him to build his kingdom on a white field, and his Jinga thinks he can, and his mother says he can, and everyone says he can, and he can, and he doesn't get nervous, and he doesn't Pressure, even on Mars, he can build his kingdom.

But LeBron, his heart...

His well-wrapped heart was not what they said, what they touted, or even what they praised to death.

Maybe he also wants to stay in Cleveland, but he is not as confident as his agent, his mother, and the national media experts boast.

He's under a lot of pressure!

The pressure was so great that he just looked forward to escaping his beloved Cleveland for Detroit.

In the past, only he himself knew his feelings.

But now, Chen Xiao has become the second one.

Well, Chen Xiao's eyes were all on James at this time. In fact, Anthony on the other side of him was much more desperate at this time.

Denver, Toronto, choose one...

God, why do you treat your 'melon' like this!

The 2003 draft lottery is over.

That night, Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Spurs also ended.

Facing the Lakers, Duncan scored 40 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists, but lost to the KO who scored 71 points together. In the end, the Spurs lost their first home game 110 to 115.

It was such an exciting Western Conference Finals game, but on the second day, May 22, the news across the United States was full of news about Cleveland winning the No. 1 lottery and Vince Carter's application for a trade...

Vince Carter is on the market!

Even Chen Xiao and the Nets players, who are about to play in the Eastern Conference Finals tonight, feel the breath of an approaching hurricane!

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