The Road to Stardom: Start as a Slam Dunk Master

A few days have passed by in a flash. July 9th is 23 days before the start of the national competition...

The mysterious coach Kitano still failed to come to report, so that both Lin Dong and Fujima began to wonder whether the previous notice given by the school was deliberately perfunctory.

After all, the school had promised before that if it won the county championship, it would find another coach if Kitano could not be found, but now...

The Kanagawa All-Star mixed training team had almost finished learning Lin Dong's energy training and began to return to their respective teams. Only Sakuragi Hanamichi was still stalking the gym.

It is said that Coach Anzai took Rukawa Kaede to Kyushu Island two days ago after assigning him a month-long basic training task. He didn't know what he was going for.

In addition, Akagi from Shohoku did not return to the team. Miyagi returned to his hometown after the holidays, and Hisashi Mitsui did not often go to the school gym. In his words, training with Sakuragi would be better than finding a field court to practice three-pointers on his own, so as not to easy to get injured.

As a result, the current Xiangbei basketball team has not actually opened a gym, and this guy does not have a stable training location, so he regards Xiangyang as his own back garden.

He is the first one to come every morning and the last one to leave every afternoon. Although he is a bit careless and talks nonsense, he is not disliked by everyone in Xiangyang because of his cheerful temperament.

According to Lin Dong's rhythm, the morning usually consists of various energy training, as well as basic training such as ball control and shooting, and Sakuragi Hanamichi followed him.

Lin Dong's training volume is already exaggerated in the eyes of Fujima and others, but Sakuragi is the only person who can keep up with Lin Dong's training volume. You don't care whether he can do as well as Lin Dong. Teng Zhen and others secretly admired the standard.

At noon, Fujima and other other players have to go home for dinner and usually don't come over in the afternoon. However, Lin Dong's family lives relatively close and there is no one at home at noon, so he usually practices for an extra hour or two in the gym. .

So Sakuragi Hanamichi didn't leave at noon. Every morning when he came here, he brought a large plastic lunch box with dry kimbap or rice balls, just to stay in the arena for a while and then pester Lin. A duel from the east.

Beating him is effortless and time-consuming... Lin Dong usually doesn't refuse, so a 10-0 every day becomes their daily meal.

Repeated battles and defeats, repeated defeats and battles.

Frankly speaking, Lin Dong really admires this guy's mentality.

For any normal person, after being beaten 10 to 0 several times in a bullfight, even if he does not doubt his life, he will feel fearful and will find it difficult to think of another challenge in a short period of time.

But Sakuragi was different. Every time he lost, he could count on his fingers for half a day, and then he would happily say things like, "Brother Takato took 10 seconds longer to beat me today than yesterday."

...10 seconds, is this a judgment that normal people would calculate and make?

That's probably the difference between him choosing two more breakthroughs in the one-on-one challenge today, and two more mid-range shots yesterday, right?

And this guy actually doesn’t even have an electronic watch. How did he calculate these 10 seconds...

But this guy just enjoys it. With this mentality, it feels like if the Kamakura Buddha saw it, even the Kamakura Buddha would have to stand up obediently and let him sit down.

However, his learning ability is really strong, especially in actual combat.

Lin Dong felt like the only thing defending him was a ball of air when he was fighting a bullfight a few days ago, but now he can feel some physical resistance.

Sakuragi Hanamichi belongs to the type with explosive athletic ability, quick reactions, coupled with positive enthusiasm and long wingspan, as well as almost unlimited physical strength and tough body, his offensive ability may still need a long period of practice. , but as far as defense is concerned, he has already practiced well in these few days.

So much so that when Lin Dong faced off against him now, he could feel some intensity in the confrontation...

"Brother Takato, let's try it together!" Sakuragi Hanamichi excitedly took out his plastic lunch box.

This guy, the oden he promised has never been fulfilled, but the rice balls he brought were not stingy.

Light rice balls sprinkled with some sesame seeds and chopped seaweed, and served with a small box of wasabi clams, which is quite delicious.

It's just this nutrition... that makes Lin Dong seriously doubt how this guy gained his physical strength.

"Haha, because I have a big meal every afternoon!" Sakuragi Hanamichi said proudly: "You don't know what dad does, right?"

Lin Dong ate his rice balls and shared a large bag of Snickers bars. Anyway, Lao Lin was not there when he went home at noon. Sometimes he was too lazy to go back or go out to find a restaurant. If he wanted to practice more, he would always have some in his training bag. There are several large bags of energy replenishing stuff.

"Coach Anxi? Didn't he go to Kyushu Island? What does this have to do with your feast?"

"Hahaha, you really don't know, right?" Sakuragi Hanamichi said proudly: "I told you, dad is a super rich man! Being a coach is just his side job, and he has opened dozens of fried chicken chains. Where is the store! He has branches in Kanagawa, Kyoto, Osaka and even Kyushu Island!"

"Coach Anxi won't buy you dinner, right?"

"Of course! Dad went to the store and explained it himself!" Sakuragi Hanamichi said with a smile: "And I can eat whatever I want, open-mouthed! I have been eating fried chicken so much that my mouth is smoking. I'm afraid it's not enough. Nutrition? It’s just right to eat some light rice balls for lunch, one meat and one vegetable, the combination is just right, hahahaha! Eh...I think the taste of your Snickers bar today is different from yesterday? Let me try a few more pieces!"

"..."

Coach Anxi is still in charge of food? Lin Dong was a little speechless about this.

There were 800 more shots to be practiced this afternoon. Lin Dongzheng and he were sharing a meal and chatting together, when suddenly they heard the phone ringing in the office of the arena.

Lin Dong went over and answered a call. It was Yuya Ishihara.

"Lin Dongjun? Are you in the arena? Great, I got the list!"

"What list? It's the list of foreign players from Shibuya Sun Rock that I told you last time! Many of them are willing to come to Xiangyang as trainers... Oops, I can't explain it clearly on the phone. Just wait, I'll be there soon come over!"

"Trainer? What trainer?" Sakuragi Hanamichi held the plastic box in his hand and asked with wide eyes in surprise while eating: "Is it one-on-one private training?"

Lin Dong grabbed a rice ball and swallowed it: "What? You also want to have a private moment?"

"Hey Hey……"

Ishihara Yua soon appeared in the arena, dripping with sweat from running, and handed Lin Dong a piece of information.

I saw that it was a list printed out by a fax machine, with some names and information introduction listed on it.

——Rodick Jerry: He played for NSAA Carian High School and NCAA Division III Johns Hopkins University. He was a small forward and was good at...

Detailed data such as his height, weight, and skills are also listed later.

Eric Doverland: Worked for…

There are not many names on the list, about a dozen, but the information is very detailed. They are basically Americans. They have experience playing in NSAA or NCAA, but there are no first-level league players.

The highest-level player you can see on the list is a center named Palova. He once served as the starting center at the University of California, San Diego, the NCAA's second-tier league, but he only played one year as a starter before he was dismissed. The bench went up.

From what Yua Ishihara said, these people are not professional players now, but they all have their own jobs in Tokyo.

However, in my free time, I choose to go to the free international arena of Shibuya Sun Rock to play ball, because there are more Americans gathered there, the conditions are good and free, and they also provide free drinks, so they become a group that cannot play in the United States. For professional enthusiasts, this is a holy place for entertainment while living in Tokyo.

Although they are just amateurs, they have also played in the NCAA or street basketball. Coupled with their outstanding physical talents, the level of these people is not low.

Shibuya Sun Rock not only provides them with free courts and drinks, but also often arranges for the club's main players to play friendly matches with them. They serve as free training partners for the team, and each of them wins or loses.

Behind Shibuya Sun Rock stands the huge Hitachi Group. Although it is a corporate team, it has always been interested in internationalization over the years. Hitachi Group has invested heavily in this and is expected to win the first championship after the separation of the JBL League this year. It can be regarded as one of the most professional and successful teams in Japan.

And this group of rabble who have been eliminated from the American basketball world can actually win or lose against the main team of Shibuya Sun Rocks. This is enough to show their strong personal fitness and high level. They are definitely not like Bob who has been away from the battle for a long time. The former NCAA retirees and current office white-collar workers are comparable.

Of course, the number of people in this group was originally very large. There were at least dozens or hundreds of people who often went to the International Arena, but only thirteen people appeared on the list.

"The manager of Sun Rock has already asked us. These thirteen people are willing to be Xiangyang's special trainers, but whether they are suitable or not, we may have to go see it ourselves to know." Ishihara Yuya said happily. He said: "How's it going? Do you like any of them? If so, I will accompany you to Tokyo today to have a look!"

Lin Dong smiled.

Just after reading the first few information introductions, I felt that the "Shibuya Sun Rock Manager" who gave this list seemed to have misunderstood something.

I probably think it's just a high school basketball team looking for a trainer, and it's not a wealthy company like Sanno Industries. Having a trainer with a Western face is already very good, so what's the use of quality?

Trainers also need professional knowledge, not to mention meeting their own needs. That is not a position that these guys who have only played in the American high school league or the NCAA second- and third-level leagues are qualified for.

It seems like all the hard work is in vain again... huh?

Lin Dong didn't even bother to look at the detailed information. He just glanced down at the remaining names and general resumes, and planned to return the information to Ishihara Yuya. But he didn't expect that he would see it at the end of the list in a blink of an eye. A familiar name.

Stephen Brown.

Lin Dong was slightly startled.

Same name and surname?

He turned to read this person's information carefully.

Stephen Brown: No student status, member of the 1997 Locke Patrol championship, street ball player, nicknamed Bone Nightmare, 201 cm tall, 97 kg weight, no fixed position, can play from No. 1 to No. 5...

Lin Dong read the name and introduction several times, and then looked at the black and white, unclear fax photo carefully for a long time.

——It was a young black man with drooped eyelids who looked like he was not awake.

Even Sakuragi Hanamichi next to him saw that he was particularly interested in this person, and couldn't help but chirping: "Street ball? Champion, is this guy good? Is he famous? Brother Takato, do you know him?"

"..." Lin Dong did not rush to answer, but looked at the photo repeatedly and compared it with the person in his memory for a long time.

Except for his dissimilar expression...the skin color of his eyes, nose, and ears, including his experience information, etc., are all solid.

this……

Lin Dong took a long breath, nodded, and then couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

famous? This guy is more than just famous!

But that's twenty years into the future.

The street basketball culture in the United States has given birth to many NBA superstars. Of course, it has also given birth to many more talented people who have never had a chance to play professional basketball.

This Stephen Brown is one of them.

Although he was born in street ball, he became famous because he became famous in Rucker Park in Harlem, New York, a place known as a holy place among street ball players, and he won the most important patrol championship. He was famous in the basketball circles of the United States at that time, and was nicknamed Bone Nightmare. It refers to this guy's excellent dribbling ability and passing ability, which is similar to the ankle terminator.

At that time, many scouts in the United States believed that he was a talented player with a chance to enter the NBA.

Unfortunately, because he has some gang background and XD history, and has a criminal record of being detained, he was eventually blocked from the NBA draft.

After that, for the sake of JD and breaking away from the American gang, this guy went to Japan to make a living, which happened to be a year or two ago.

It was not until he regained some fame in Japanese street basketball that he was hired by a Japanese professional basketball club as the team's trainer in 2005, and then quickly became popular in Japan with his reputation as a devil trainer.

By 2026, he was already one of the top trainers in Asia and was hired by the Long Guoqing Youth League with a large sum of money...

Yes, this guy is Lin Dong's exclusive trainer when he was in the U19 National Youth League in his previous life.

The friend who accompanied him through his glorious years, also accompanied him through the trough of losing to Serbia, and finally helped him stand up again!

When Lin Dong wanted to find a trainer before, he was the first thing he thought of. After all, according to the time, that guy is in Japan now.

But when I chatted with him in my previous life, I only heard that he didn’t even have a regular job in Japan in the first few years. He traveled to Tokyo, Osaka and other places. If it weren’t for the green card and visa from the United States in his hand, and the help of some friends, , otherwise I am afraid that he would have been expelled by the Japanese government long ago. Anyway, he would be like a homeless man with no fixed place to live, and he would not be able to find one even if he wanted to.

But I really didn't expect to see his name on the list brought out by Ishihara Yua so easily.

Frankly speaking, the current Stephen Brown probably does not have the skills related to a professional trainer in the future, and may not be fully qualified to work as a trainer. After all, this was what he learned and learned from his later work in Japan.

But at this stage, what he urgently needs is a strong opponent for training. And with Stephen's basketball ability, there may not be anyone in Japan who is better than him at this stage. Even if there is, it is definitely not the Xiangyang School Director. I can afford it.

As for other professional knowledge, Lin Dong believes that given Stephen's persistence and study energy, and given him some time to study, he will soon become a first-class person.

Moreover, this can be regarded as the first acquaintance who was very important to him after his rebirth. Lin Dong really wanted to meet him.

It’s him!

"Isn't this good?!" Ishihara Yua clearly saw the expression on Lin Dong's face and was very happy. She felt that she had finally helped. She was already looking forward to their trip to Tokyo and was excited. Said: "Then let's set out for an inspection and go to the high-speed rail station to book tickets immediately. If the negotiation goes well, we can come back tomorrow! There are only about twenty days left in the national competition, and the coach promised by the school board has returned. It’s been a long time coming, this trainer can’t delay any longer!”

"Going to Tokyo? It doesn't have to be so troublesome." Lin Dong smiled and picked up the information and walked to the office: "Just make a phone call for this kind of thing."

Make a call? Don't you even need to examine the other party's true strength?

Ishihara Yua was stunned, his face full of depression.

However, Sakuragi Hanamichi rushed to run in front of Lin Dong: "I'll do it, I'll do it!"

Trainer!

As soon as he heard that he was someone who could help improve his skills, he would be pestered by him even if he lived or died.

In order not to delay the overall rhythm, Xiao Hei will not appear for the time being, but this is indeed a character that is very important to the overall plot, not just for the current stage, so it must be laid down first.

In a word, even if we start to enter the NBA plot in the mid-term, it is not to experience the novice roll, we must have all the cards we should have! And these cards must be laid out early.

I will update as usual at noon and afternoon. It is the fourth day of my daily life. Miraculously, I am...