One Guard

phone-reading

The appearance of the American Airlines Center Stadium looks very different from the home courts of other NBA teams. There is no huge fan square around the arena, but empty parking lots.

Of course, the parking lot outside the stadium is only vacant when there is no game. If it's a race day, it's almost impossible to find a parking space around here.

The roof of the stadium is rounded, like most stadiums. But the four sides of the stadium are designed in the old American style. In addition to the brick red walls, it makes people feel that this building is not a stadium, but more like a university teaching building or library.

Carrying his schoolbag, Mudiay looked up at the majestic building with his mouth open. Of course, there are countless buildings in Dallas that are much more majestic than this. But for a person who loves basketball and likes to watch Mavericks games, the majesty of the American Airlines Center Stadium is unmatched!

Mudiay looked at his watch, it was only six o'clock in the afternoon. And he has been wandering around the entrance of the gymnasium for half an hour. In order not to be late, he made an appointment an hour in advance and arrived at the entrance of the American Airlines Center arena. After all, in order to see your idol, it's nothing at all to be an hour early.

Thinking of last night's experience, Mudiay still felt very incredible. All the members of the Mavericks appeared in front of his eyes, and Yiyang even gave him a ticket to an NBA game.

Although the game between the Mavericks and the Nets tomorrow is by no means the most exciting game in the entire league, Mudiay is still very excited to be able to watch an NBA-level basketball game live.

At this moment, in the gymnasium, Yiyang is still honing his shooting skills. Ever since he played against Curry in the last game, Yiyang has deeply realized that his shooting percentage from beyond the three-point line is far from enough.

That Curry guy hits almost 100% of his 3-pointers in warmups, but when he's on the court, he's shooting "only" closer to 45% of his 3-pointers per game. Yiyang can't even hit every shot in training now, but he knows that his three-pointers in the game are still not threatening enough.

In the past, Yiyang's benchmark was Hayward, and Hayward was the representative of Yiyang's accurate three-pointers. But now, a guy who is more accurate than Hayward has appeared, and Yiyang's goal is naturally set higher than before. This guy, he doesn't want to be left behind by anyone on the court.

Yiyang always has high demands on himself, and it is precisely because of the demands on himself that Yiyang did not fall after entering this world of luxury and money, but improved at a faster speed.

"Yeah, the boss put the tickets in front of your locker, remember to take them when you leave!" When Yiyang was shooting, Terry, who had already changed his clothes and was about to leave the gymnasium, opened the gate of the training ground and stuck his head in to remind Yiyang.

Yiyang nodded slightly in response, but did not stop what he was doing. Terry smiled and closed the door of the training ground, it's better not to disturb this guy's training.

Finally, at 6:17, Yiyang completed all the shooting tasks he set for himself today. Basketballs scattered all over the floor and vests that have already been completely soaked in sweat have become a daily occurrence in the American Airlines Center Arena.

After returning to the locker room, Yiyang immediately took a shower, quickly changed his clothes, and picked up Cuban's ticket. At 6:30 in the afternoon, Yiyang appeared in front of Mudiay on time in his heavy-duty pickup truck. Mudiay was a little shy, but this black boy seemed to be quieter than Yiyang imagined.

Yiyang beckoned, signaling Mudiay to get in the car quickly.

"Hi, sir!" Mudiay showed a shy smile after getting into the car, and Yiyang looked at the expression of the black child. This guy is better than himself, at least he doesn't look like someone who would rob...

"You don't need to be so restrained, hey, the ticket." Yi Yang held the steering wheel with one hand, took out the ticket from his pocket with the other hand, and handed it to Mudiay.

Mudiay took the ticket with both hands and said thank you happily.

For today's meeting, he learned a lot of Chinese etiquette online last night.

"Where do you live, I'll take you back."

"No sir, I..."

"It's okay, I want to talk to you more."

Hearing what Yiyang said, the embarrassed Mudiay had no choice but to "submit obediently".

"I live in the Ellington area, which is still a little far from here, hehe." Mudiay smiled. If his family could live near the center of American Airlines, he probably wouldn't need to work and study.

Yiyang has been in Dallas for some time. Although he dare not say that he is completely familiar with the city, he still knows Ellington District. This place is a typical working-class black gathering area in Dallas. Although the environment there is much better than that of the Wood District, for the city of Dallas, the Ellington District can be regarded as a "slum area".

Outside the car window, bustling streets, bustling shopping malls, and numerous pedestrians flash past one by one. Under this bustling city, under the sunshine of the twenty-first century, few people can imagine that there are such places as ghettos on American soil.

But it is here, in this city, in this country. Yiyang will never forget his experience of growing up in a slum in his life.

The scenery outside the car window gradually changed. After passing through the most magnificent residential area, the city of Dallas seemed to have changed.

The luxuriously decorated buildings outside the car window disappeared, replaced by dilapidated brick and tile houses, walls full of graffiti, and messy streets. As Yiyang continued to drive further, there were gradually more dilapidated houses than this one, and pedestrians on the street also cast hostile eyes on the high-end pickup trucks that are not commonly seen here.

If Happy was in the car now, he would definitely have a feeling of empathy. Because the situation when he went to Wood District was almost exactly the same as it is now.

Yiyang looked at the world outside the window. In Dallas, one of the largest cities in the world, there is actually a "Wood District". Everything around him did not disgust Yiyang who had already lived a different life, but instead reminded him of many things from that year.

"You...why do you work part-time." Yiyang asked knowingly.

"Because I had to bear the burden of the family, my father died in the war when I was one year old, and my mother had no education, so she had to work as a nurse in the hospital. She went out every night and returned home from get off work in the morning. And, The salary is not high. So, my two older brothers and I can only work part-time while studying, and we can share some.” When Mudiay said this, the smile that had always been on his face gradually disappeared.

He lost his father when he was one year old, and he has three children with him. It seems that Mudiay's mother may have worked harder than his own mother.

"Do you want to leave this place?" Yi Yang pointed to the world outside the window that seemed to be abandoned by people.

"No, I just want my mother to not have to work so hard. I just want to save her from going through so many hardships." Mudiay, who was quiet and shy, seemed to have matured now. What he hopes most is not to live a good life for himself, but to lead a good life with his mother.

"You know Moody, I also came out of such a place back then."

"Really?" Mudiay looked at the young man in front of him in disbelief. An NBA prospect, a professional player, with an annual salary of millions of dollars... This kind of person actually comes from a poor area?

"Of course it's true, where I live is more shabby than here. On the street, you can even see drug deals and gangsters walking around with pistols. Compared to where I live, Ellington is simply paradise.. ...by the way, Moody, how are you playing basketball?"

"The middle school team I'm in is currently the most winning team in Dallas! If we continue like this, we may even win the state championship! Moreover, I am now the team's first scorer, no, the entire Dallas middle school league The first scorer!" Mentioning this, Mudiay showed a proud look.

"Really? Have high school and college scouts come to you?" Yiyang thought of Happy, who was robbed by him back then.

"There are, but they are not very well-known schools. And, even if there are, so what? It is impossible for me to play in the NBA like you." Mudiay's excited expression gradually became lost.

"I don't know whether you are famous or not. Moody is important. What is important is to stick to your dreams. Don't give up kid, who said you can't play in the NBA? This world won't bury gold, and you can't bury yourself." Yiyang may be the first That's a lot to talk to someone you've known for less than 24 hours at a time. But he always felt that he had an obligation to guide this child who was very similar to him to pursue what he wanted.

"I want to see you play. Is there a basketball court near your place?"

Yiyang's proposal made Mudiay startled. An NBA player wants to watch himself play? Isn't this the only plot in the novel?

"I have one in my backyard...but it's not official..."

"Having a basket is enough."

Arriving at the destination, Yiyang parked the car. A group of children seemed to want to ask Yiyang for money, but Mudiay waved his fist, and the group of children dispersed together.

"Moody?" A woman's voice came from the small room in front of Yiyang.

"It's my mother, we have guests."

"Are there any guests?" The hostess pushed open the door, the shabby skirt was full of stains, and her eyes were full of tiredness.

"Also, the star guard of the Dallas Mavericks!" Mudiay proudly introduced the big yellow man next to him. In fact, Yiyang is not a "star guard" yet. Mudiay's mother, on the other hand, stayed completely where she was.

Isn't that yellow-skinned guy the guy on the poster in Mudiay's room! ?

"I'm sorry sir! The house is a mess!" Therese Mudiay, little Mudiay's mother, was busy tidying up the living room at the moment, and seemed to be worried about how to entertain Yiyang in front of her.

Yiyang scanned the surrounding area, in fact, the house has been tidy and tidy, and it looks very strict. Black sofa, medium-sized TV, oriental-style carpet covering the entire floor. This place is more than twice as good as the apartment where Yiyang used to live.

The house is sparsely decorated, and the only thing that would suggest that this is a house for an elite student-athlete is a square plaque that honors Mudiay with its Most Outstanding Player award from an unnamed basketball camp.

"Don't bother Madam, I'll be leaving in a while, my mother is waiting for me at home for dinner?" Yiyang forced a smile at Mudiay's mother, because Yiyang is really not used to smiling at others.

After that, Yiyang and Mudiay picked up the basketball and walked towards the backyard.

In the backyard of the house, there is a basketball court paved with small stones, but it is less than half the size of the court, and it is here that Mudiay learned to play basketball.

"Are you the team's top scorer?" Listening to Mudiay's experience of playing in middle school, Yiyang felt more and more that basketball might become the touchstone for this kid.

"That's right!" Mudiay said, imitating Fisher with a left-handed shot. The basketball arced and fell into the basket without the net.

After that, Yiyang and Mudiay played together. It is no exaggeration to say that the current Mudiay is stronger than Yiyang at the same age.

Whether it is explosive power, speed or jumping ability, they are all very good. Moreover, this kid has a strong body that even Yiyang envies. You know, he is just a child!

The two played together for an hour, and Yiyang saw that it was not too early, so he prepared to go home.

But before leaving, Yiyang left his private number to Mudiay. "In the future, I will always pay attention to you. Maybe I will ask you to train together? In short...don't give up, kid." Yiyang is willing to help "another self", through basketball, to come change his life.

When Yiyang left, Mudiay and his mother, Therese, stayed at the door until they watched the heavy-duty pickup leave before entering the house.

"Why did you come back so late?" Wen Xue looked at the time, it was already eight o'clock in the evening. The food on the table was already cold.

"I went to meet a friend." Yiyang thought of Mudiay's family, as if he saw himself and his mother.

So, the tall Tanhuaxiu hugged her mother tightly.

"Thank you, Mom." A few simple words made Yi Yang, a guy who is not good at expressing his emotions, say what he wanted to say the most over the years.

"I'll go and heat up the food." Wen Xue smiled softly, as long as you can succeed, everything is worth it.

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