I’m Really Playing Basketball

On June 26, 2003, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, league president David Stern walked onto the podium excitedly amid boos.

The boos from New York fans were still so loud tonight, but why was David Stern so excited?

Of course, his long-awaited 2003 class, the diamond generation rookies, will finally appear in the NBA!

The protagonist he values ​​most, the chosen one who carries the hope of revitalizing the NBA in the next decade, LeBron James, is finally about to appear!

Therefore, amidst the boos, as soon as David Stern stepped onto the rostrum, his eyes were already on the most conspicuous small round table in the small green room.

James' suit tonight is a milky white, as white as snow, super white. When everyone is wearing black or gray, James's white suit is really eye-catching.

Just like the stars in the night sky.

"LeBron, tell me, how can you steal the spotlight so much?"

Seeing David Stern on the stage, other rookies on the court, and reporters constantly focusing on James, Chen Xiao asked in a low voice in James' ear.

Even if Chen Ling's looks are against the sky, when Chen Ling and James sit together, passers-by will definitely see James at first sight, this kid is so good at stealing the spotlight!

"intrinsic."

"Is it true that you chose the clothes for most of the day schemingly, and came here on purpose to steal the spotlight?"

"No, it's natural."

Hum, I was born with it anyway.

James, who was sitting upright in front of the small round table, sat upright in his seat. Compared with Anthony who was nervously wearing what must be a very high-end silver-gray suit at the small round table next to him and licking his tongue, it was simply incomparable.

If Anthony's appearance can crush James, then James' temperament can definitely crush Anthony at this time.

Anthony is really nervous tonight. The Raptors don't want to go, and the Nuggets don't want to go either. He has been praying to God since he got up this morning, hoping that his draft prospects will continue to decline.

In this draft, Chen Xiao, as an active NBA player, came to the scene as a group of relatives and friends of James.

At James' table, there were James, James' mother, James' manager, Chen Xiao, and some of James' high school friends.

Compared with the nervous Anthony next to him, James is one of the youngest in this year's draft, but he seems to be the most calm one.

This is not to say that James's appearance is mature, so he looks calm, mainly because of his temperament.

Compared with Chen Xiao and Anthony's casualness, James can always present his best side outside.

This is very powerful.

As last year's No. 7 pick, the Rookie of the Year, this season's NBA first-team player and Finals MVP, Chen Xiao's appearance at the draft is still very eye-catching.

At only 20 years old, he has already won the two highest honors in the American basketball world, NCAA championship + MOP, NBA championship + FMVP. To be honest, Chen Xiao's status in the American basketball world is really not exaggerated.

Even David Stern had to give him face on such occasions.

Before the draft started, David Stern specially introduced Chen Xiao and thanked Chen Xiao. At the same time, he also hoped that there would be many young players as good as Chen Xiao among this year's rookies.

I have to say that the NBA president is really eloquent. He made the rookies at the scene excited and screamed one by one. At the same time, he also attracted many Chinese reporters at the scene and the Chinese audience who were watching the draft. Full of pride.

David Stern's bragging about Chen Xiao is just bragging about them, isn't he?

It sounds comfortable in my heart.

By the way, the Cavaliers have three first-round picks in this draft, and CCTV has been reporting that as the boss, Chen Xiao has the right to decide the draft in the Cavaliers, so many Chinese viewers are very much looking forward to this draft. What kind of help can Chen Xiao bring to him?

Chen Xiao didn't worry too much about leaving the Nets to become the boss of the Cavaliers, but the Chinese fans were much more worried than Chen Xiao.

Since Chen Xiao led the Nets to win the championship and slapped American experts and the Nets general manager in the face, CCTV now particularly likes to report unfavorable reports on Chen Xiao from the United States.

For example, with Chen Xiao's style of play, if he leaves Kidd and leads the team alone, he may not even make it to the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. For example, the Cavaliers gave away all three of the team's strongest players in order to get Chen Xiao.

Even with the assistance of James next season, it will be difficult for the Cavaliers to form combat effectiveness.

For example, without Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Martin, Boozer and other outstanding players around Chen Xiao, Chen Xiao may not have much room to score, and the defensive pressure may be overwhelming. By then, Chen Xiao's statistics may be plummeted.

Therefore, next season, Chen Xiao's record and statistics in the Cavaliers will both drop sharply.

In the end, Chen Xiao and the Cavaliers will become a team that everyone tramples on and so on.

To be honest, what these experts said is quite reasonable, and the various analyzes are sound.

Here in the United States, it is true that most people believe what these experts say.

But in China, I don’t believe that no one except Chen Hei will engage in rational analysis with you.

My Xiaobao is the best player in the NBA. Even if the Cavaliers are second-rate, what's the problem if they make it to the playoffs?

How dare you say that the No. 1 player in the NBA has no ability to lead a team alone!

Didn’t my Xiaobaby lead the Nets championship alone?

Boss Ji: Meow meow cat, it’s a long time to die, I’m really the second in charge!

In the few games last season when Key had a rest, Chen Xiao's leadership was indeed miserable. This is indeed a fact.

But we can't blame Chinese fans for being so rebellious against American experts. This is all the "credit" of CCTV. Since Chen Xiao went to the Nets to win the championship last year, CCTV has tasted the sweetness. As long as there is some small news about Chen Xiao in the United States, Just by reporting vigorously, the entire United States and the whole world are against Chen Xiao.

Thinking about it, you know it’s not true. Chen Xiao is not a big Yao. He is the NCAA champion + MOP and NBA championship + FMVP. Do you think it’s a joke?

With this honor on the table, no matter how foul-mouthed Barkley and Mr. Pi are, they will have to take a detour.

Not optimistic about good and bad, they are completely different concepts.

Chen Xiao actually doesn't have many anti-fans in the United States, but he has a lot of anti-fans in China. This is also a very interesting phenomenon.

Of course, the reason why there aren't many anti-fans here in the United States may be because he doesn't have that many fans.

80% of most NBA viewers in China are his fans, which may be an understatement.

In the United States, to be honest, not even half of the NBA audience is his fans. As a Chinese in the United States, no matter how good his performance is, it will be difficult to attract the love of local fans in Los Angeles and New York (except for Chinese Americans). Jordan was so popular back then. Strong, and still an American, I haven't seen him conquer the fans in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and New York.

In the United States, he has barely entered the discussion of superstars. There are still super giants ahead of him, but he can barely be counted among the top ten traffic stars in the United States.

The traffic of ordinary superstars is not as high as his.

However, even now, here in the United States, he is completely incomparable in traffic and discussion with super giants like Kidd, O'Neal, Kobe, Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Iverson and even Carter. .

It's not the biggest focus. There aren't that many fans, so of course there are fewer haters. Unlike Jordan, Iverson and OK who made headlines every day back then, they had many fans and a lot of haters.

Because of the different perspectives, the world that Chinese audiences see as Chen Xiao is different from Chen Xiao's real world. There is a big difference.

In the eyes of the Chinese audience, Yao Ming is the second most popular player in the NBA. They watch Yao Ming's news and reports every day in China, including Kobe Bryant, O'Neal, and Tracy McGrady. It's really hard to see them several times a day.

In the United States, the news about Yao Ming is really only seen a few times a week. When he is not in the All-Star Game, he is just a small fish...

Closer to home, because of the different perspective, the audience in front of the TV felt very refreshed when they heard David Stern play Chen Xiao.

"There are still good people in America!"

Many Chinese viewers were emotional.

Well, CCTV, maybe you should reflect a little bit.

If you reflect on your goals and don't create confrontation, can you gain attention and pride?

Closer to home, in the opening minutes before the draft, David Stern blew Chen Xiao to the point where Chen Xiao was very comfortable.

James next to him also looked envious.

After the opening session, the draft officially began, and David Stern opened the envelope of the Cavaliers, the owner of the No. 1 pick.

"In the 2003 NBA draft, the player selected with the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers was King James, a player from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School!"

Good guy, King James!

David Stern actually didn't call James by his last name this time, but directly called James' nickname plus his last name when he introduced himself.

When David Stern called out this name, there was really a burst of exclamations on the scene.

"This is too impressive!"

"The last rookie with such a good reputation was me last year!"

James felt quite happy when he got up and heard Chen Xiao praise the previous sentence, but after hearing the second sentence, he couldn't stand it anymore.

You can boast so much!

"King James, congratulations, I hope I can crown you one day."

Chen Xiao stood up and put the little red hat of the Cavaliers that had been prepared on James' head.

"Now Little Red Riding Hood, later the Crown."

"Thank you, God-Chen."

After being stunned for a moment, James looked at Chen Xiao. The two looked at each other and smiled, and then James walked to the podium confidently.

What James thinks is, the future is mine!

What Chen Xiao thinks is, Xiao Zhan, I will help you win the championship.

Just when Chen Xiao was excitedly applauding his new little brother James in the audience, when James walked to the stage, James heard another sentence from David Stern: "The future is yours!"

David Stern’s The Future Is Yours comes absolutely from the heart.

After receiving the blessings of Chen Xiao and David Stern, and looking at the eagerly anticipated American media in the audience, James, who became the number one pick on the stage and temporarily reached the first peak of his life, really felt at this moment that everyone The world was speaking to him. "The future is yours!"

"The future is mine!"

The future is mine!

After James shouted this sentence from the bottom of his heart and confidently on the stage, David Stern was the first to applaud, and then Chen Xiao and Anthony in the audience, as well as James' family, agents and friends, followed enthusiastically. of applause.

At the same time, the other rookies all looked at James with envy.

What is the accepted future?

When everyone sees you, they can't help but tell you: "The future is yours!"

This is the recognized future!

Who doesn't want to be the future of a team, the future of the entire league?

After James shouted "The future is mine" on the stage, he regretted it as soon as he stepped off the stage.

"Didn't what I did just now detract from my cool and handsome persona?"

However, while he was still thinking about these things, Chen Xiao hugged him excitedly.

"LeBron, what you just said was great, the future is ours!"

Did I just say that the future is ours?

Is there any misunderstanding in the middle?

However, James really didn't think much about it at this time.

Still too excited, too excited.

Just when Chen Xiao and James were excited, the Toronto Raptors, who had the second pick this year, selected Milicic, a young center from Hermiska High School who is 2.13 meters tall.

The youngest rookie in this class, Milicic, who just celebrated his 18th birthday a few days ago, was equally excited on stage after putting on a Raptors hat. Second place, second place, I am the second place pick, and the salary of the second place pick is higher than that of the top pick!

As for Toronto and Canada, which American players talk about with disdain, I'm sorry, I'm not even afraid of war, so why should I be afraid of ice and snow? Cold weather in the north?

As for staying away from the United States, if I can make money outside the United States, why should I come to your United States? Do you really think the air in the United States is better?

As long as I can make money in Toronto, a lot of money, I am willing to endure the icy weather in Toronto until the warm spring of the greenhouse effect blooms!

In this life, I will lie on the snow. I, Milicic, love to sleep on the snow. No one is allowed to drive me away!

"What a good boy!"

At this time, Milicic, who was selected by the Raptors on stage, was so excited that he really moved the Raptors' management.

Those players who were selected by the Raptors in the past, who didn't look disgusted, planned to leave when they came.

I have never seen anyone like Milicic.

It seems that it is really not a loss to give up Anthony and choose Milicic this time.

Although Milicic is not as strong as Anthony for the time being, he is young and talented. Strength is temporary, but his love for Toronto is permanent!

"After Toronto has Steve and Milicic, we have a future, and we don't have to worry about the future of the captain jumping ship!"

This wish is really sad.

However, for many teams in the NBA, the sudden jump of the captain is really a nightmare that has been hanging over their heads.

Finding a capable captain who doesn't like to jump ship is too difficult in the NBA.

After Toronto selected Milicic, the Denver Nuggets selected Anthony with the No. 3 pick without any surprises.

In this year's draft, James is in the first round, Anthony and Milicic are in the first round, and everyone else is in the second round. If Milicic is selected, then Anthony can only be selected.

Compared with the excitement of James Milicic, there was no excitement on Anthony's face.

The smile on Anthony's face was very sweet, really sweet.

Chen Xiao and James knew Anthony well. Anthony had a magic skill. No matter how ugly the smile appeared on his face, it would be very sweet.

"Anthony is fine without Milicic."

All in all, the management of the Nuggets seemed to have misunderstood something when they saw Anthony like this.

After Denver, next is the Miami Heat with the fourth pick.

The Miami Heat ended up selecting Georgia Tech big man Chris Bosh with the No. 4 pick.

After failing to acquire Luo Ge, the Heat did not give priority to selecting an excellent guard to partner with Wade. Instead, they chose an insider to partner with Yao Ming. The main reason is that nowadays, insiders are really difficult to find.

Last season, the Heat almost allowed Wang Zhizhi to play as the starting power forward for half of the season.

Although Wang Zhizhi performed well, he obviously did not meet Pat Riley's starting requirements.

And the outside line...

To be honest, there are a lot of free markets this year, and the Heat, not much else, just have a lot of salary space!

Payton, Terry, Hamilton, Andre Miller, Gilbert Arenas, etc., just pick any one.

Of course, what Pat Riley is mainly working on right now is the unrestricted free agent Payton.

The draft is still going on.

The Chicago Bulls selected guard Kirk Hinrich with the fifth overall pick.

The Los Angeles Clippers selected center Chris Kaman with the sixth overall pick.

This center player was very miraculous in the NCAA last season. He led a super underdog Central Michigan University to the NCAA championship after 28 years, and his own statistics almost doubled. No kidding, he was a senior. Compared to his junior year, his data has doubled.

In his senior year, he averaged 22.4 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game, and his shooting percentage was as high as 62%. These statistics are very Diaw. Even if he comes from a rubbish minor league, it is difficult for people to ignore him.

After the biggest Cinderella among this rookie class was picked, the draft is still going on.

Rookies in the lottery are being selected one by one.

Several of Chen Xiao's favorite players in the Cavaliers training camp have not yet been selected. This is very good news.

"In the 2003 NBA draft, with the seventeenth overall pick, the player selected by the New Orleans Hornets was the power forward from Xavier University, David West!"

"..."

Hearing David Stern's name read out on the stage, Chen Xiao's eyes pierced his eyes and felt a little unbelievable for a moment.

"My eyes of God were robbed like Jordan's eyes last season?"

Chen Xiao was really shocked. He was not bragging or talking nonsense, because the first candidate he prepared for the Cavaliers with the 18th pick was David West!

I have to choose on the 18th, but you took away the 17th. Isn't it a coincidence that you were robbing me?

"Chen, are you okay?"

"LeBron, there may be a traitor among us!"

"..."

James looked at Chen Xiao with wide eyes, as if you were kidding me.

"LeBron, I could have been stabbed in the back!"

"..."

Stop shaking, it's not me stabbing you in the back, your bones are harder than mine, it hurts!

"In the 2003 NBA draft, the player selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 18th pick in the first round was the French forward Boris Diaw!"

Boris Diaw, in Chen Xiao's plan, was to be selected as the 29th pick, the second candidate among several players selected by Chen Xiao.

Now that the No. 1 backup David West is gone, Diaw can only be selected with the 18th overall pick.

"LeBron, Diaw is a French magician, and you are an American magician. I don't know which one of you will be more like a magician next season."

"Of course it is me."

James is very proud and confident.

Seeing James like this, Chen Xiao laughed.

You said that without my boss, my data will drop off a cliff next season. Now I will give you a bunch of magicians. Three stooges can always beat one Zhuge Liang, right?

"Chen, I feel like you are thinking about something rude right now."

"I was comparing you to Mr. Ji just now. How could you be rude?"

With Kidby?

Than passing the ball?

Hearing what Chen Xiao said, James's eyes lit up, as he was disdainful of Dior.

After winning the championship, Key's passing has been rated as the best in NBA history by media experts.

Although this has the filter of just winning the championship, there is definitely no problem with being the top player in NBA history.

Therefore, comparing him with Kidd, Chen Xiao really thinks highly of him.

After David West was robbed by the Hornets, Chen Xiao became a little nervous.

After all, the Cavaliers' remaining first-round pick is the 29th pick, the last first-round pick.

Therefore, every time David Stern reads a player's name, Chen Xiao's heart skips a beat.

This is much more tense than when making a winning shot.

When he made the winning shot, he wasn't nervous at all.

Even the LOGO-shot in G4 of the Finals that has been rated as the best buzzer beater in NBA history.

It's coming, it's almost the 29th pick!

Seeing David Stern take out the Mavericks envelope on the stage, Chen Xiao turned his attention to the stage again.

"In 2003, with the 27th overall pick in the first round, the Dallas Mavericks selected forward Josh Howard from Wake Forest University!"

Seeing Howard's name being read out by David Stern, the expectant expression on Chen Xiao's face instantly solidified, James felt...

"Our team may really have an undercover agent."

"..."

Before Chen Xiao could finish speaking, James had already finished speaking with a smile.

Okay, Xiao Zhan, you have learned to answer questions this time.

Yes, Josh Howard was the third option selected by Chen Xiao.

Originally selected No. 31 in the second round.

This time I was originally selected on the 29th.

But on the 27th, he was almost intercepted by the Mavericks.

After Josh Howard was robbed by the Mavericks, Chen Xiao already felt that his God's Eye and Jordan's God's Eye might have the same effect of being robbed.

Fortunately, after Josh Howard was robbed, Chen Xiao prepared the fourth and fifth best backup players for the Cavaliers and finally stopped being robbed.

With the 29th pick, the Cavaliers selected guard Mo Williams, and with the 31st pick, they selected swingman Kyle Korver.

After selecting James with the first pick, Diaw with the 18th pick, Mo Williams with the 29th pick, and Kyle Korver with the 31st pick, this time Chen Xiao hosted the draft for the Cavaliers. it's over.

Although two goals were missed, the players selected were all on target, which is great.

After the draft, James and Chen Xiao were surrounded by Chinese and American reporters at the scene.

Of course, most of the American reporters at the scene were surrounding their chosen son, LeBron James.

Of course, the Chinese reporters at the scene surrounded Chen Xiao.

"Chen Xiao, how do you evaluate the Dallas Mavericks selecting Xue Yuyang with the 27th pick in the second round?"

"Chen Xiao, why don't you use one of the Cavaliers' four draft picks to select Xue Yuyang?"

"Chen Xiao, do you think Boris Diaw, Mo Williams and Korver are better than Xue Yuyang?"

"Chen Xiao, what is your outlook for the Cavaliers next season?"

"Chen Xiao..."

Just like crazy.

This is understandable, because this year another Chinese player has been selected by the NBA.

Especially the Henan reporters at the scene, it was really crazy.

After finishing the on-site interview, Chen Xiao and James both laughed as they fought their way out of the siege.

After this year's draft, Chen Xiao, James and his team said goodbye to Anthony and looked forward to returning to Cleveland.

Cleveland is a place that most Americans dislike.

But Chen Xiao doesn't care, because this is where he will become the boss of the NBA for the first time, and this is where he can draw circles as much as he likes!

Similarly, James next to Chen Xiao doesn't care, because this is his hometown. He has been calling for it for so long, and now he has finally become a player for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Therefore, when the two left the prosperous New York, they did not take any memories of the prosperity with them.

"We are all people who dream of being poor and happy!"

Chen Xiao thinks he is such a person.

James also feels that he is such a person.

Then two good young men who could live in poverty and live happily for their dreams, when they got off the plane, they were shocked by a piece of bombshell gossip news!

"The model couple's marriage changed, Amy Duncan cheated on her, and Tim Duncan grew old overnight!"

Is this... April Fool's Day?

James and Chen Xiao both saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

How can people believe in love? !

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