The Way of the Center

The news that the Cyclones defeated the Wildcats was like throwing a small stone into the sea, only slightly slapped some water splashes, and was quickly swallowed by huge waves.

Anything can happen in the regular season. Whether it is Duke or North Carolina, everyone loses in the regular season. What's more, the Cyclones only won their opponents by three points. Even if they play the game again, no one can guarantee that they can win again.

So the attention of the Iowa State Cyclones and Ainger fell back to the bottom just one day later. However, only Ricard and Moore in the entire team know that it is a certainty that their team will once again make headlines in various media.

The reason why Ricard and Moore are so sure is because of the conversation that happened in the office yesterday afternoon.

………………..

Back to yesterday afternoon.

When Ricard opened the office door, Moore was chatting with the man who had applied for the job. Ricard shifted his gaze to the applicant, and he was suddenly speechless in surprise.

"I think you must be the head coach of the team, Mr. George Ricard. We just talked about you." The applicant saw Ricard staring at him blankly, so he stood up voluntarily and prepared to talk to Ricard Handshake.

Just like when Ricard was looking at An Jie, when the applicant stood up, Ricard had to raise his head as much as possible to see the other person's face. To this applicant, Rickard and Moore looked like dwarves from a Western fantasy world.

The applicant's face is a little old, and his face is full of stubble. The most important feature is his terrifying height, it feels like his head is almost reaching the ceiling of the office. With an amiable smile, he bent down and stretched out his right hand in a friendly way.

Ricard still couldn't believe his eyes, he stretched out his hand mechanically and shook the other party gently.

He was about to speak, but found himself stuttering like old Austin the doorman.

"Please... Excuse me, are you... Are you Mr. V... Vlad Divac?" Rickard wished he could slap himself a few times, such stammering inquiries were simply too demeaning.

"It's me who is right, and I am willing to help you." Divac still maintained a friendly attitude, and did not put on airs because he was a celebrity.

Who is Vlade Divac? I think only a small number of basketball fans don't know this man's name.

When Divac was only 12 years old, he began to play in the professional league in his home country, former Lancelav, as a center forward. In 1986, when he was only 18 years old, Divac was selected for the former Lancelav national team. In the same year, he won the third place in the International Basketball Championship with the team, which also made the world realize this young man full of potential for the first time. In 1987 and 1988, he also won the third place in the European Basketball Championship and the runner-up in the Seoul Olympic Games with the national team. It can be said that in Europe, he has become famous at a young age.

He is only 21 years old after nine full years in the professional league in the former Lancelavia. Although Divac has long been famous in Europe, his goal is more than that. So in that year, he decided to go to a higher stage, and he aimed at the basketball temple in a distant land, the NBA.

Therefore, in 1989, when Divac was not yet 22 years old, he resolutely chose to participate in the NBA draft, and was successfully selected by the giant Los Angeles Lakers with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the draft. Started his long NBA career.

After only one season in the NBA, he became the starting center for the Los Angeles Lakers and played all games that season.

In the 1994-95 season, Divac, who has been in the NBA for many years, has proved that even if he plays in this highest level of competition,

Will not lose to any opponent. You must know that in that era, there were a lot of excellent centers in the league, but Divac, as an international player, survived in a league full of strong players. That season, Divac still played all the games of the season as a starter, and averaged 16 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Among them, the average of 4.1 assists per game is very impressive among the centers.

Everyone knows what happened after that. The Lakers with O'Neal exchanged Divac as a bargaining chip for a high school rookie selected by the Hornets, Kobe Bryant.

Although he had a good performance in the two years of the Hornets, he was buried among many stars.

After two seasons with the Hornets, Divac was traded again by the team. This time, he came to the Sacramento Kings. But this time, Divac has a second spring and has once again entered people's field of vision.

The Princeton system created by Adelman in the Kings made Divac shine in it. When it comes to a center who can pass the ball, the first name most people can think of is Divac. He also went through six seasons in his career with the glorious Kings that year.

In the last season of Divac's career, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers again, and became teammates with the high school genius Kobe Bryant who swapped clubs with him that year. After the end of the Lakers' 04-05 season, Divac chose to retire, which can be regarded as returning to his roots. He started his NBA career in Los Angeles and ended his NBA career in Los Angeles.

As a center with a height of 2.16 meters, he is most praised for his passing skills. In addition, Divac can also be said to be a master-level figure in the NBA diving world. NBA veteran P.J. Brown even commented that Divac may be the best player ever to dive. In this evaluation, Divac not only did not defend, but readily admitted it. He also said that he would only do this when he felt that the referee had made an omission that caused him a disadvantage. That being said, he is definitely one of the biggest villains in the NBA.

At the time of Divac's retirement, only six players in the NBA had reached or exceeded 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocks at the same time. Divac is one of those six. If you have no idea about these data, let's take a look at the names of the other five people who achieved this data. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal. Seeing Divac with these names, you can probably guess Divac's position in NBA history.

And at the moment, the legendary center in European basketball is standing in front of Ricard and Moore.

"Then, the purpose of Mr. Divac's visit is..." Ricard dared not speak out loud.

"I'm here to apply for the position of the team's center forward coach." Divac expressed his wishes indifferently.

"Boom!" Ricard felt his mind go blank. A character like Divac to be his center coach? What an international joke!

"But... why is this? A small NCAA team like ours will definitely not be able to meet your requirements financially."

"Of course I didn't do this job for money, but for the Asian center in your team." Speaking of key points, Divac's expression became serious.

"An Jie? I admit that he has great potential, but I still can't imagine that you would come here to apply for the job specifically to guide him." Ricard really couldn't figure out why Divac had to provide guidance to An Jie. Throughout the NCAA and even the NBA, there are many young people with more potential than Anjie.

"Actually, I was at the scene of yesterday's game. I came to see what kind of ability Michael Beasley, who has been praised to the sky, has. But I found that my gaze was completely Attracted by your team's starting center." Divac began to recall his impression of Anjie last night.

"The first impression he gives people is that he is tall and thin, very much like his compatriot Yao Ming when he first entered the NBA, and also very similar to my body when I first entered the NBA. So he is not one of those who just rely on Body-playing center? I continue to keep an eye on him with questions."

"As a result, he did not disappoint me during the game. He is a very skilled and very smart guy. Although his opponent is not strong, he also has some problems in technical movements. But as one of the few in the American basketball circle One of the traditional centers, he is already special enough. And then, the flop when he was entangled with the opponent made me completely like this guy." Speaking of this, Divac smiled proudly. When he was in the league, he didn't even know whether the fall was true or false, let alone the referee. As the saying goes, drama is like life, he himself is completely immersed in his performance.

Ricard was also a little speechless when he heard this. This old devil still has a soft spot for flopping.

"I think he has great potential, and his playing style suits my taste. Look at Yao Ming, whose playing style is similar to his. If I guide him correctly, he will definitely be able to make a big difference in the NCAA and even the NBA in the future." Having said that, Divac's tone is full of confidence.

"But, Mr. Divac. There are too many talents in this circle, and even the athletes from your home country have many potential players. Why do you have a soft spot for Anjie?" Ricard Seeing Divac so easy-going, the tension in my heart calmed down a little. At least now he doesn't stutter anymore.

"Do you believe in feelings? Mr. Rickard. The young basketball players in our country are indeed good, but I want to guide whoever is not related to his nationality. In Anjie, I saw not only the skills, but also the inner strength in his bones." The viciousness, the badass potential of flopping for the ball. Maybe they Chinese are born so humble and peaceful, so his characteristics in this aspect have not been released. Now, I want to open his Confinement, unleash the demonic potential in him. If a center has good skills and a strong body at the same time, he may succeed. But if he has the first two things while being a court villain, I think His deterrence at the basket will be greatly improved. Although Yao Ming is very strong, he is still a target that every player dares to bully and challenge. On the contrary, let’s go and see O’Neal, although Yao Ming Can compete with O'Neal. But because O'Neal is also a damn bastard, so his deterrence in the interior is much higher than that of Yao Ming. Everyone's first reaction when seeing O'Neal is to avoid it, but no one wants to Go and provoke him. Yao Ming is a humble and kind person by nature, who just explodes occasionally. But An Jie, he is a devil by nature!"

"But..." Even after Divac said so much, Ricard still couldn't convince himself.

"Don't be Mr. Ricard, I have already made a decision. I am not Anjie's personal coach, but the center coach of this team. That is to say, I will do my best for the rest of the team. They provide help, and you are sure to make money from this deal, so is there any hesitation?"

Ricard didn't know that Divac saw not only the young Yao Ming in Anjie, but also the shadow of himself when he was young. Also as an international player, he knows how difficult it is to survive in the American basketball circle. Who doesn't want to see his mantle and spirit can be passed on, and who doesn't want to see his legend continue to be performed in the NBA. This is the biggest reason why Divac wants to teach Anjie.

"Okay, Mr. Divac. That's what you said, and I really have no reason to reject you." In any case, having Divac as the center coach of this group of young people is only good for the team. It will be beneficial and harmless.

"I think it is necessary for a person of your status to hold a press conference for your joining." Old Moore reminded a neglected issue.

"Well, I don't think it's necessary." Divac actually didn't have much interest in these programs.

"No, no, a press conference must be held. Mr. Divac, you are so sincere, we have to show due respect." Ricard added.

They have raised this matter to the level of respect, so Divac would be more respectful than obedient. He didn't decline again, but readily agreed to the proposal.

………………..

Under the leadership of the guide Robert Cox, Wu Hua has arrived at the gate of the University of Iowa Gymnasium. But the interview request of the two of them was rejected by the old guard Austin.

"Coach Ricard said that the team is still in a closed training state. All idlers are not allowed to enter."

Helpless, Wu Hua and the guide had no choice but to go back the same way, and planned to come to the entrance of the gymnasium early tomorrow morning to block Ricard or An Jie.

Unwilling, Wu Hua walked halfway and looked back at the gym that he hadn't been able to enter, but this time, he saw Coach Ricard standing at the entrance of the gym, shaking hands with a tall white man to say goodbye.

Even though the white man was wearing sunglasses, as a basketball reporter specially sent to the United States, Wu Hua recognized the man at a glance, Vlad Divac!

Wu Hua quickly raised the camera in his hand, and began to snap pictures. He would have rushed back to the gym to do an interview about what had just happened. But before him, Ricard had already walked into the gate of the basketball stadium, and Divac also got into a black Mercedes-Benz sedan and drove away.

"What did you shoot blindly just now? Wu." Cox, Wu Hua's colleague and guide, asked puzzledly.

"Get ready Cox, we must interview Coach Ricard tomorrow. There will be big news in this place soon." As a professional basketball reporter, he smelled explosive news here. It seems that this "labor travel" really came to the right place.

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