One Guard

The referee blew the whistle for the end of the game, Chesapeake Energy Arena roared with cheers, the fans of the home team were celebrating their team's entry into the Western Conference Finals, and the Dallas Mavericks once again became the season's winner. Loser in the playoffs.

The goal of working hard for the whole season was shattered. In an instant, Yiyang's mind went blank. He looked at the big screen in a daze, and then stood on the sidelines blankly. Yiyang didn't even see Westbrook walking towards the one he wanted to hug.

Is this what failure feels like? Last year, the Mavericks went all the way to defeat a strong enemy. As everyone knows, when he loses, Yiyang can't stand it.

Cheerful Thunder players, frustrated teammates, Durant shrugging his shoulders with a disdainful smile, Carlisle closing his eyes in pain, Nowitzki trying to comfort the players...these people will also Yang surrounded him tightly, making him feel tight in the chest and short of breath.

Yiyang's heart tightened suddenly, he didn't want to admit one thing, but he had to admit it - this season is over!

"For the Dallas Mavericks... it seems a bit too tragic. They gave everything, but in the end they were defeated by a stronger opponent." Barkley was halfway through speaking, and suddenly lost his voice. He didn't know how to evaluate the Mavericks. They lost the game, but won the respect of fans and opponents.

Yiyang mechanically hugged his opponents one by one on the court, Westbrook, Durant, Harden and even Sefoloza. Every time we hug them, the other party seems to whisper something in Yiyang's ear. Yiyang didn't listen very carefully, it was nothing more than comforting words. If he was promoted, of course he would speak beautiful words. They're just doing it out of politeness, not really expecting anything from you in the future.

After hugging a few Thunder players with a blank face, Yiyang still stood on the court blankly, standing in this happy world that was incompatible with him.

The fans in the stands were cheering wildly. In Dallas last year, the Mavericks eliminated the Thunder. Durant comforted the unwilling Westbrook and took him off the court.

This year in Oklahoma, Yiyang finally experienced Westbrook's mood at that time. How much he wanted to play for one more minute, how much he wanted to have a few more shots. If he could, he'd put all those missed basketballs in the damn hoop. But in the professional arena, there are only results, not ifs.

"Let's go buddy, this place doesn't belong to us." Nowitzki appeared next to Yiyang. This German who has worked hard in the league for more than ten years has already looked down on "life and death". But the second-year guard next to him, who experienced failure for the first time, may not be so mature.

"Is this the end of the year? Dirk." Yiyang didn't take his own steps, but asked a question that sounded silly.

"You are right,

And so the year ended. But you also need to know that this is not the end of your career. We still have a chance to start all over again, the big man has to afford to lose. Nowitzki patted Yiyang on the shoulder, and then pulled Yiyang away with force.

The two walked in the player tunnel without saying a word. Yiyang is not afraid of failure, but what makes him unwilling is that he has tried his best, but still fails.

"Dirk, how did you deal with failure before?" As he walked, Yiyang asked Nowitzki a question. Although the German has been playing in the NA league since 1998, he did not win the O'Brien Cup with himself until last year. It's really hard for Yiyang to imagine that Dirk spent the past ten years in such painful failures.

Dirk smiled after listening, how to deal with it? What else can I do besides persevere?

"Keep working hard, and then believe that you can succeed. If you fail, then get up again, and continue to fight!" After Dirk finished speaking, the two also came to the door of the locker room. At the same time, both of them stopped.

"Are you ready to face your teammates? No one is allowed to cry after entering."

"Damn it, Dirk, do you think I'm going to cry?" Yiyang lowered his head and wiped his eyes quietly. "Come on, let's go in."

※※※

Twelve hours have passed since that thrilling series, although Yiyang has recovered from the shadow of defeat. But when he was dreaming that night, what Yiyang dreamed was still the scene of the team being eliminated.

The team has finished all games this season, although the Mavericks have been fighting until the tiebreaker before losing. But no matter how unfortunate the outcome, the season is over.

The morning after the game, after meeting at the American Airlines Center, Carlisle announced that the team was disbanding on the spot. From now until the new season comes, the players will enjoy a long vacation.

A day later, the results of another game in the NA Western Conference Finals were revealed. The once mighty Los Angeles Lakers lost in the matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, and Kobe's championship dream was shattered again. The Thunder and the Spurs, the combination of the old and the young, will bring an unprecedented beautiful landscape to the Western Conference Finals.

As a fan of the Lakers and Kobe, Yiyang naturally followed the game. Kobe played a historic performance, but once again failed in the Western Conference Finals. The encounters between Yiyang and Kobe this year are surprisingly similar.

Just two hours after the Spurs eliminated the Lakers, Yiyang, who was about to wash up and sleep, received a text message.

Yiyang picked up the phone, and when he saw the name of the person who sent the letter, he gasped.

"You can see that we are short of the championship, we need you, let this happen!" A simple sentence contains a huge amount of information. If this text message is known to the reporters, it will definitely cause an uproar in the league!

Because the person who sent the text message is called Kobe Bryant!

"Yiyang, what's wrong with you?" Wen Xue asked with concern when she heard the sound of the water rushing in the toilet that didn't stop.

Yiyang who came back to his senses hastily turned off the faucet, and then agreed. He picked up his phone again and looked at the text message. Kobe, what exactly are you trying to plan?

Every time the playoffs end, it means that the league will undergo huge personnel changes. Every team that has been eliminated hopes to strengthen itself through summer trades and signings.

There are not a few teams in the history of NA that have successfully turned over in one summer. Last year, there were the Heat's Big Three, and in 2008, there was also a precedent for the Celtics' Big Three to gather to win the championship.

For a giant like the Lakers, a season without a championship is a season of failure. And they don't have the patience to rebuild slowly like other teams.

Last year, Kobe invited Yiyang at the Venice Beach Stadium. But at that time, Yiyang just took Kobe's words as a joke.

But it seems that this time, Kobe is coming for real.

Just when Yiyang was full of thoughts, the phone in his hand vibrated again. It was still a text message, and the person who sent the text message was still Kobe.

"You don't need to reply to me in a hurry, and you don't need to give me an answer in a hurry. We will take the initiative to come to you."

Well, it seems that Kobe is serious this time.

※※※

After the Lakers and Mavericks were eliminated, Yiyang stopped watching NA games. Because no matter who gets to the end, Yiyang will definitely not be happy.

He first took a good rest at home for a few days, after all, this series really consumed too much of Yiyang. After that, Yiyang took his mother to go shopping in various shopping malls in Dallas. During the playoffs, Yiyang was too busy to stay at home, let alone accompany his mother. Now that I have time, of course I have to make up for everything.

Later, Yiyang played with Vignali in Dallas for a few days. Yiyang, who was not in the mood to have fun at first, became much happier with Vignali's company.

By June, the NA East and West finals had entered a feverish stage. And Yiyang also ended his play time after the season, and started to make plans for this summer with his agent Bill Duffy.

Duffy arrived in Dallas on the morning of June 2. When he arrived at Yiyang's house, Wen Xue prepared Duffy's favorite snacks as usual.

When Duffy saw Yiyang again, the mental state of the Chinese defender was much better than when he just lost. Young people, as long as they pass that hurdle, there is nothing difficult to overcome.

"Looks like you've been doing well lately?"

"It's okay, after resting for half a month, I feel like my whole body is going to rust." Yiyang smiled and led Duffy into the house.

"Hey, Mr. Duffy! It's really hard work, and I trouble you to come to such a far place." The two were chatting, and Wen Xue, who was wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen and greeted Duffy very politely .

"No trouble, ma'am. A trip to Dallas is already worth the money just to have a bite of the snacks you made." Bill Duffy also bowed to Wen Xue in a very gentlemanly manner, and Yiyang shook his head , he, a guy who grew up on the street, doesn't know this.

Yiyang and Duffy were sitting on the balcony on the second floor of the villa. After Wen Xue served coffee and snacks, she didn't disturb the two men's conversation.

Yiyang has already experienced his second NA season, he is no longer a child. For many things, he can make decisions on his own, instead of having to have his mother by his side like when Stevens looked for Yiyang in college.

"Did the Chinese Basketball Association send you a text message?" Duffy looked at the beautiful scenery outside the window of the villa and lit a cigarette.

"Sent it, the London Olympics, they seem to attach great importance to it."

"Well...the Olympics is a big stage, buddy. Perform well and don't mess it up. With you and Yi Jianlian here, it shouldn't be difficult for the Chinese team to break into the top eight." Duffy smiled confidently Laugh, in the international arena, I don't have to worry about Yiyang at all.

"The contract with Adidas has only the last year left, and they intend to renew the contract with you in advance. Of course, signing a new contract this time is not a trivial matter of several million. I am negotiating with them, if possible. ..." Duffy paused intentionally, and glanced at Yiyang. But that boy Yiyang didn't have any look of anticipation on his face.

"Hey, aren't you curious about your new contract at all?" Duffy spread his hands. Yiyang's attitude towards money was not like this before.

"Ah? Quite curious, tell me, Mr. Duffy." Yiyang's calm tone made this lie unbelievable.

"If possible, I may be able to win you a contract worth hundreds of millions this time! Adidas has already planned to promote you as their main spokesperson. The next cooperation is likely to be a long-term contract." Da Fei proudly smiled, which is why he was willing to let Yiyang sign with Adidas at the "low" price of 3.3 million.

For the sake of future big contracts, the three-year "trial period" is nothing at all.

Hearing the words "100 million yuan contract", Yiyang's expression changed into a smile. But soon, he regained his composure.

"In July, a mobile phone brand in China wanted you to participate in a business event..."

"Wait, Mr. Duffy, let's put the Olympic Games and business contracts aside." This time, before Duffy could finish speaking, Yiyang interrupted him.

"Oh? Then what do you want to talk to me about?" Bill Duffy looked at Yiyang with great interest. This may be the first time since he has been a manager for so long, a player will appear uncomfortable on the topic of money. patient.

"Let's jump straight to the link, when will I go to Brickley to arrange training for me, how about it?" When talking about the topic of training, Yiyang finally smiled.

The breeze hung over the balcony of Yiyang Villa, blowing the collar of Duffy's shirt. The manager held the cigarette in a daze for a moment, confirming that he was indeed in reality.

He froze, as if digesting what Yiyang just said. After a few seconds, Duffy came to a conclusion.

"You know what? You're a lunatic!"

But just like what Barkley said when explaining the game, when has Yiyang been "normal" since the beginning of this season?

...

Welcome to the latest chapter of "One Guardian", updated by

Address of this article:

Welcome to read.

...