The Way of the Center

From that day on, whenever Catherine had time, she would go to Sports Sense to train with An Jie. As for An Jie, he also figured out where he belonged while training.

"Okay, today's training is over. Spend time with him tonight. Don't come to the gym alone for extra practice." Divac pointed to Catherine sitting in the stands with his chin.

"Well, remember, remember, I won't consume myself too much." An Jie was also helpless. He might be the first player to be warned by the coach again and again because of training too hard.

The two sweated in the locker room, Divac changed and prepared to leave. When he pushed open the door of the locker room, he found that An Jie, who had gone out earlier, was still outside.

"Still leaving?" Divac shouted into the stands.

"Actually, teacher, I have something to tell you."

"Teacher? Which student have you ever seen treat his teacher so rudely?" Divac was not quite used to this title, he walked to the stands and sat down next to Anjie. "what's up?"

"Do you think it's really not suitable for me to continue my training in college?" An Jie put away his hippie smile, and Divac became serious because of this.

"Let me tell you the truth, An Jie, even though I am still coaching you every day, there is not much I can give you. My level will soon be unable to provide you with coaching. And you I also know that although the Cyclones still have wins and losses in the game, you will no longer be at a disadvantage when facing the star center of the NCAA. If you continue to play in the NCAA, I can neither provide you with better training, There will be no more challenging opponents in the NCAA, which will cause you to stagnate and fail to make progress." Divac said, unscrewed the bottle cap in his hand, and took a sip of water.

"NBA scouts can't see your progress, and they will think that your potential is not enough, and your development has reached a bottleneck. In this way, your draft pick is bound to drop greatly. Your teammate Mike Taylor averaged To 16 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists, this is a very good data, if he is a freshman, then he can definitely be selected in the top fifteen. But because Taylor is a junior, scouts They feel that he has not much potential to tap, so he is predicted to be selected only at the end of the second round. Therefore, in my opinion, your data this year is already very beautiful, there is no need to continue to study in the NCAA, this year is you The best time to participate in the draft." Divac made a decisive conclusion.

"Really?" An Jie looked at the empty field under the stands, where he and his Cyclones teammates had fought for a whole season, his eyes were full of reluctance.

"I will discuss it with my family tonight. I want to participate in the draft." A few seconds later, An Jie's reluctant eyes became firm.

Divac laughed. He wanted Anjie very much to participate in the draft, but he was not the one who made the decision. Now, he can be regarded as his wish come true. Now that he is busy again, it is time to use his network to find some potential next homes for An Jie.

At eight o'clock in the evening, An Jie called home on time. It's morning in China, and his parents should have woken up too.

After waiting for a few seconds, An Jie's mother answered the phone excitedly.

"What's the matter, son? What happened?" An Jie talked with his family on the phone the day before yesterday, seeing An Jie calling again so soon, his mother thought something had happened to her son.

"It's okay, is dad there?" An Jie lay down on the bed with his mobile phone in his hand. Is he really going to make such a decision?

"He just came back from his morning run, do you want me to call him?"

"Call my dad over here, and turn the phone on speakerphone. I have something to discuss with you two." Hearing what An Jie said, his mother had already guessed a general idea. What else is there besides playing basketball?

"What's the matter, son?" An Jie's father's voice came from the phone,

He knew that the two elders were already in place.

"Dad, Mom, I want to play in the NBA." An Jie made up his mind.

An Jie's mother's eyes widened in surprise. "where to!?"

"Have you promised Mr. Divac?" Anjie's father also asked at the same time.

"Of course not, no, I have to discuss it with you."

An Jie's father nodded approvingly, no matter in the United States or any corner of the world, Chinese people are very traditional in their bones, and the elders still have to make decisions about major family matters. It seems that although An Jie has been in the United States for so long, he still hasn't forgotten where the blood is flowing in his body.

An Jie's mother doesn't understand basketball. Now that An Jie has decided to give up her studies, the rest can only be watched between the two most important men in her life.

"What do you think?" An Jie's father asked.

"I want to play in the NBA." An Jie still didn't change his mind.

"I know you want to go to a bigger place to develop, but it is the Cyclone team, coach Ricard discovered and trained you, you have only played for one season and left, I am afraid it is not very good. And I do not agree with those who put The idea of ​​using college as a springboard, you are still so young, you should stay in college and hone it." An Jie's father lit a cigarette for himself, and what he said was not unreasonable, but the starting point was different from that of Divac That's all.

"Dad, it is because I am young that I am more valuable than others. I also hate the Cyclones, my teammates, Coach Ricard, and the fans in Ames City. But people can't just because of souvenirs , just stay where you are and stagnate." Why didn't An Jie think about what his father said. The Cyclones are not a team to him, but family!

"Professional basketball is completely different from college basketball. Once you step out of the campus, you will also step into the society. However, the society is dangerous, son, your future teammates may not give you heart and soul, they will do it for the greater good." The contract and more playing time are intriguing against you, and your coach may not give you full trust, and you even have to face the team owner. If they are not satisfied, it is useless for the coach to keep you. Have you thought about it? Is it?" What An Jie's father said was also his mother's biggest concern.

"I know that you are worried about me, but one day people have to step into society. I can't lie in the hotbed you have built for me forever. I know that I may make mistakes and stumble on this road. But, Dad, Mom, do you dare to say that you have never made mistakes or stumbled? These are things that must be experienced in life, and I can’t hide behind you forever.” An Jie’s rhetorical question put both The old question stopped, and they didn't say a word when they faced the phone for a long time.

An Jie's father remembered that he resolutely participated in the trial training of the provincial basketball team before the college entrance examination in spite of his family's opposition. As a result, during the confrontation training, An Jie's father suffered a serious knee injury, missed professional basketball, and delayed the college entrance examination. But he doesn't regret it, at least he fought for his dream. "An Jie, An Jie, as expected of my son, his temper is just like mine!"

An Jie's father looked at his wife, who nodded tenderly. She had nothing to say. An Jie, the wings are stiff, so I have to leave my parents and fly...

After a long time, An Jie's father spoke again. "You go, An Jie, your mother and I have no objection. But remember, when you have nothing, you still have a home. Don't forget where the door opens."

An Jie, who was in a foreign country, couldn't help but blush his eyes when he heard these words. After hanging up the phone, he called Wu Hua again.

"Hey, Angkor. Well, I want you to help me write a piece of news. Yes, I have decided to participate in the draft!" An Jie's tone was very calm, and now he has no worries.

On this night in April 2008, no one knew how much impact Anjie's decision would have on the NBA, not even himself. On this ordinary night, in this ordinary rental house, an important decision was made.

(The transition into the NBA will be a bit long, but I will try to be as concise as possible. If you take it all at once, it will definitely not work, after all, there will be too many things happening this summer.)

UU Read Books welcomes all book lovers to come and read, the latest, fastest and hottest serial works are all in UU Read Books! Mobile users please read here.