One Guard

If the Mavericks were a piece of ice before, then now, they are the hottest pot of fire. [Full text reading] How hot is the Dallas Mavericks now? Even Miami's Big Three had to bow their knees under these "cowboys".

Although the Mavericks' excellent record this season has been maintained since the beginning, but until they defeated the Big Three, not many people actually paid attention to this Texas powerhouse.

But after Miami's battle with the Heat, everything changed. Now fans all over the world know that in the NBA, in Texas, there is a team that can easily defeat the Big Three by more than ten points. There is a team that can sink two powerful enemies, the Spurs and the Heat, in back-to-back games.

This team doesn't have that rocky No. 21 and don't wear red jerseys. It's the most inconspicuous of the Texas Three Masters, the Dallas Mavericks!

Back in Dallas one day after routing the Heat, the Mavericks didn't slack off, continuing what seemed to be endless practice for the rest of the regular season. Coincidentally, today is the NBA's official media open day. Whether the team coach wants it or not, all NBA teams have to give reporters a period of open training today.

What is different from usual is that there are a lot of reporters pouring into the American Airlines Center arena today. After playing in the NBA for more than a month, it was the first time that Yiyang saw so many reporters come to interview at the media open day. The defeat of the Miami Heat really made the Mavericks' popularity soar.

During the period when the media is open, although training is open on the surface, the team generally does not practice any tactics during this period, but just put on a show in front of the media. Because if the training content is exposed by the media, it will definitely be caught by the opponent in the next game.

Therefore, during this period of time, the players generally rest in place, and answer a few questions when reporters come forward to interview. Without reporters to interview them, they are also happy to be at ease.

But there is only one exception, and that is Yiyang. The reason is simple, his shooting task today has not been completed. When others are resting, he doesn't want his training to be interrupted.

"We can see that during training, Yiyang's three-point shooting percentage is already very high. Looking at his series of goals, I really don't want to disturb him. Look at the state of this young man, next A game against the Houston Rockets, even without Yao Ming, we don’t have to worry about not having Chinese elements!” Mu Ran gave the camera a thumbs up, but did not step forward to disturb Yiyang.

Seeing that Mu Ran was indifferent, the other media wisely did not step forward to interfere with Yiyang's shooting practice. After all, if you make a star unhappy, the media will lose more than they gain.

"Look at that brat, he's so energetic." Terry, who was sweating profusely, cast an envious look at Yiyang,

When Terry was his age, he also had inexhaustible energy. But now, he just played a game yesterday, and even the training feels strenuous.

"You have to be thankful that this kid put all his extra energy on the training ground. Back then, you didn't seem to like training that much." Kidd, who was sitting next to Terry, threw a contemptuous shot at the "Jet". look.

"Hahahaha, so I'll make it up now." Terry said, straightened up, and walked to Yiyang.

Kidd shook his head, it seems that Terry is going to play a shooting duel with Yiyang again.

In the beginning, Yiyang could hardly win against Terry. But in recent times, Terry has won fewer and fewer duels. This is not because Terry is not in good condition, but because that boy Yiyang is getting more and more accurate...

After a day of training, Yiyang didn't stay for extra training as usual. Instead, he changed into a suit and a tie. This scene made everyone in the Mavericks locker room dumbfounded.

"What are you going to do today? That Italian woman came to Dallas again? Even if you are going on a date, you don't need to dress so formally." After taking a shower, Terry looked at Yiyang's attire, and opened his own Tucao mode.

"Maybe they are going to negotiate a business contract, you should be jealous, Jeter." Nowitzki also joked with the two of them. After getting better and better with Yiyang, Yiyang also found that the German was not Not as serious as expected.

"Today Yao Ming invited me to have dinner together." Yiyang replied coldly, and then spread his hands, signaling to his teammates to stop making wild guesses.

"Yao? He came to Dallas?" Nowitzki was a little surprised, because Yao Ming was injured again in the game against the Wizards on November 11. He thought Yao Ming had returned to China long ago.

"Nonsense, if such an excellent defender suddenly appeared in your country, you would also talk to him." Terry seized the opportunity to complete "revenge" on Nowitzki.

"By the way, you haven't joined your country's national team yet, have you?" Hearing Terry mention the word "country", Nowitzki's thoughts suddenly jumped from the NBA arena to the international arena.

Typically, international players who land in the NBA first make a name for themselves in their home country before entering the NBA draft. Outside the United States, only one or two top basketball players have the strength to play in the NBA. This is the case whether it is Nowitzki himself or Nash, or Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming back then.

But Yiyang is different. His basketball career started in the United States. Before entering the NCAA, the Chinese didn't even know anything about this yellow-skinned defender.

In the field of international players, Yiyang is indeed an uncommon example. As a Chinese, Yiyang has almost no connection with Chinese basketball. The purpose of Yao Ming's visit to Dallas this time should be to connect the two!

"The Chinese national team? I haven't thought about this. The manager told me to go, so I'll go." Yiyang didn't think so much, he only knew that this was an arrangement by "off-court coach" Bill Duffy. "Tactical". Yiyang was just carrying out, and didn't put too much personal emotion into it.

"Good fun, man, but tomorrow's game against the Houston Rockets, you can't be soft."

"Don't worry, old Jeter, I'm tough!" Yi Yang waved his hand, and became the first person to leave the stadium today.

※※※

Yao Ming in the restaurant was playing with the water glass in his hand, Yiyang, a Chinese player who grew up in an American environment. How to get along with this kind of guy is really troublesome for this Chinese giant.

After I retire, what should Chinese basketball do? Just as a professional player, Yao Ming shouldn't have considered these things. But the sense of responsibility in him made him unable to keep the word "Chinese basketball" out of the matter.

Just as the giant was thinking wildly, the door of the private room of the hotel was knocked open. The first person who walked in was Yao Ming, who was very familiar with him. He was his manager in the United States, Bill Duffy, one of the members of "Team Yao".

And the boy in suit and leather shoes following Duffy is the real protagonist today, Yiyang.

"Hey, I don't think I need to introduce you to each other!" Duffy turned sideways, allowing Yao Ming, who was 2.26 meters tall, and Yi Yang, who was 1.93 meters tall, to stand face to face for the first time.

"How are you, Yiyang!" As an old man, Yao Ming didn't put on airs, but warmly went up to shake hands with Yiyang.

Yiyang's slender arms and powerful hands made Yao Ming salivate. He searched all over China, and it might be difficult to find a defender with such excellent physical condition.

"Hi Brother Yao, just speak Chinese, I can understand you." The cold Yiyang smiled at Yao Ming, not because he doesn't like Yao Ming, but because Yiyang treats strangers like this. After all, this was only his first meeting with Yao Ming.

Yao Ming smiled when he heard Yiyang speak fluent Chinese. He originally thought that Yiyang, who grew up in the United States, had forgotten how to speak Chinese, but the fact is just the opposite. Yiyang's Chinese is not only good, but also very down-to-earth. The name "Brother Yao" cannot be called by a Yankee who can speak Chinese. Does this also mean that Yiyang has not "forgot his origin"?

The dinner afterwards went very smoothly, and Yao Ming could tell that Yiyang was the type who didn't like to talk much. But Yao Ming's unexpected affinity and sense of humor quickly "pried open" Yiyang's mouth.

During the period, the two chatted a lot. From China to the United States, from the basketball court to life, and even Yiyang's heavy-duty pickup truck, Yao Ming could chat with him.

It was only then that Yiyang discovered that Yao Ming was completely different from the taciturn and serious person he was on the court. He had thought it would be an extremely serious meeting, but it turned out to be a very relaxed time in the end.

In the end, the dinner was over, and Yi Yang actually felt unfulfilled. Chatting with Yao Ming is like being with Vignelli, and you will never feel bored.

"By the way, how are you preparing for tomorrow's game? Although I can't play anymore, the Rockets are also difficult to deal with." Yao Ming wiped his mouth and asked casually.

"Everything is ready." Yi Yang didn't boast too much, and he prevaricated the question with a simple word.

"You have been playing pretty well in the NBA, and now you still have two No. 1 picks in the rookie rankings. In fact, the basketball world is not only on the NBA stage. Sometimes, have you ever thought about..." Yao Ming paused for a moment. He had no idea. After all, Yiyang had never received the education and cultivation of Chinese basketball. He may not have much affection for Chinese basketball, but Yao Ming still decided to give it a try.

"Have you ever thought about serving the country?" Yao Ming put away his smile and turned serious.

"Serve for the country?" Yiyang was also taken aback, the words "serve for the country" would appear in his life. Although Nowitzki had given himself a "vaccination" before coming to Puyue, Yiyang was still a little surprised when Yao Ming actually sent out the invitation. Why country? Is that the land that I haven't been back to for more than ten years? Yiyang didn't have an answer in his mind. He didn't want to reject Yao Ming, but he didn't know whether he wanted to play for China or not.

"I don't have this plan for the time being, but... I will seriously consider it." Yiyang did not mince words with Yao Ming, and he never forgot that he is Chinese. But Yiyang had never thought about such things as the national team before. How does the national team work? How is the international competition different from the NBA? Yi Yang, who grew up in the American basketball environment, knew nothing about these things. Faced with something that he knows nothing about, Yiyang certainly wouldn't agree with it.

"Really? Haha, this team really needs you. You know, the backcourt has always been one of our weaknesses." Yao Ming laughed dryly, at least Yiyang didn't directly refuse. This is also good news.

"Okay, you have a match tomorrow, so it's not too late to keep you. Rest well, and look forward to your outstanding performance tomorrow." Yao Ming saw that the time was almost up, so he got up and said goodbye to Yiyang.

Watching the young figure leave the private room, Yao Ming suddenly felt relieved.

Is the future of Chinese basketball? At least that door was not completely closed.

As a fighter, Yao Ming does not intend to fade out of the sports circle like others after retirement, and enjoy a life without worrying about material things. He always hopes to do more for Chinese basketball, even if not as a player.

Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, this is Yao Ming's future goal. And he naturally hopes that he has a group of players who can play.

"Come with me, Yiyang, and create a golden age with me." The tall oriental giant muttered.