The Way of the Center

After everything was dealt with, An Jie finally had a rare real vacation. In the past, he had to practice more when he played in the NCAA, and An Jie continued to practice non-stop after the school holidays in order to improve himself. Now, he finally has some free time and can accompany his parents back to China.

To An Jie's surprise, the An Jie family was surrounded by swarms of reporters as soon as they got off the plane. The An Jie family, caught off guard, struggled at the airport for more than an hour before finally getting out of there.

"You are... You are An Jie!" Halfway through the taxi, the driver looked at the rearview mirror and said in disbelief. In fact, he already knew who was sitting behind him, but he never dared to speak.

"It's me." An Jie kept smiling. Now that he is a public figure, he can't just show embarrassment to others.

"My God! Let me tell you that I am an old fan with more than ten years of experience! Your generation of children can play in the NBA. It really gives us Chinese people! I don't want the fare money, you will give it to me later Just sign your name on the clothes." The driver smiled honestly, and An Jie also realized the cuteness of real fans for the first time.

"Play well in a foreign country! Our Chinese fans will always support you!" After getting off the car, the master still did not forget to cheer An Jie.

"I will work hard, big brother!"

As soon as the taxi left, a large group of people rushed up around An Jie's house. That's right, another reporter...

After being squeezed for another hour, An Jie's family finally squeezed into the house. The reporters couldn't force their way into the houses, so they finally let An Jie go.

"Oh my god, I didn't expect such twists and turns when returning home." An Jie collapsed on the familiar sofa, home, he finally went home.

When he left home to study in the United States a year ago, who would have known that An Jie would come back as a professional player. This year was really a year like a dream, and An Jie himself felt a little unbelievable.

But this is also thanks to An Jie's basketball enlightenment teacher, his father An Shiran. He, who was not able to become a professional player, also hoped that his son could fulfill his dream at the beginning. So when An Jie was young, An Shiran's basketball teaching to An Jie was very formal, which is why An Jie's basic basketball skills are so solid.

However, the dream is always shattered by reality. He does not want his son to follow in his footsteps. Only studying in peace is the safest way out in China. Unexpectedly, his son fulfilled his long-cherished wish by such a mistake.

During the half month in China, An Jie did not dare to relax too much. In addition to going to the gym to exercise every day, An Jie also specially chartered a small indoor basketball court for his own training. Half a month's rental fee for a small stadium is nothing to An Jie now.

Living with my parents, gathering with Chinese friends, visiting the coach of my high school team, attending the celebration banquet of the Provincial Sports Bureau, and of course, the unshakable daily training. During the half month after returning to China, An Jie really didn't have much free time.

After a short half-month vacation, An Jie had to leave his hometown again. He has to go to Seattle to meet with the team and then participate in the upcoming summer league.

Before leaving, An Jie's mother cried into tears again. Now that An Jie is gone, who knows when she will come back.

After saying goodbye to his family at the airport, An Jie once again embarked on the road of basketball away from home alone.

...................

"I'm in Seattle now, how are you doing?" An Jie asked with a smile on the phone.

"My father posted all the photos of you eating here before, and now the business in the store is so good that it's too busy." Catherine's sweet voice was on the other end of the phone.

"I'll make time to go back to Ames before the season starts, and I haven't said goodbye to you and the Cyclones yet.

"

"It's good to be back..." The two young couples haven't seen each other for some days.

"Catherine, don't worry, we'll be together soon."

"I'm not worried, I trust you, Ann." Catherine put away her usual naughtiness and said this in a very solemn tone.

...................................

After assembling with the team, the first thing was not the summer league, but the team's relocation.

After a brief legal battle, Supersonics owner Bennett reached an agreement with the city of Seattle, leaving the team's original team name and colors to Seattle, while he brought the team to Oklahoma City. It was also because of the team's relocation that the Sonics did not participate in the summer league that season. Anjie and Westbrook also lost a valuable exercise opportunity.

After a vote by local fans, the new team was officially named the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team also chose blue, red and orange as the main colors of their team. An Jie never imagined that the first NBA team he joined was actually a rookie in the NBA. And he himself was honored to be the first batch of players in the history of the Thunder.

The 30-day transfer freeze date came in a blink of an eye, and the Kings also completed the transaction as promised. Now, Anjie is a real Thunder player.

As soon as the news came out, the domestic media immediately went on a rampage, accusing the Kings one after another. You must know that the Thunder is a brand new team, and it is predicted that this season will not have any good performance. Throwing Anjie in such a bad place, the Kings are deliberately making life difficult for the Chinese people.

However, An Jie, who is the party involved, was very calm, because the deal was actually completed a month ago, and it was only now that people knew about it.

Missing the summer league, the Thunder's preseason training camp started much earlier than other teams. The Thunder doesn't have any stars, and the three newcomers Durant, Westbrook and Angie may be the ones who get the most attention.

"Hahahaha, I didn't expect that we are teammates now." Westbrook greeted Anjie enthusiastically. He had worked hard to deal with this Asian in the NCAA. Now it's all right. This Asian is protecting his own family. The basket looks after himself.

"I really didn't expect that we could work together. The world is so wonderful." An Jie also did not expect that he would be in the same room with an opponent who eliminated him so quickly, and the script of life is full of surprises everywhere.

"Hey, it's a pleasure to work with you, Anjie." After that, a tall and thin black boy shyly joined Anjie and Westbrook's conversation, it was Kevin Durant.

"D.J. Augustin told me about you on the phone a long time ago. I didn't expect to meet so soon. We are still teammates." Although Durant performed well last season, the team had the worst performance in history. grades. Well now, the team has two good guys again, and Durant is full of longing for his second NBA season.

Anjie and the Thunder teammates get along pretty well, which is the advantage of not having a team with big stars. There is no absolute boss in the team, and there are no small groups that don't like each other. And unlike Yao Ming who was unable to adapt to life in the United States during his rookie season, An Jie had no problem getting along with this group of Americans after a season of NCAA training.

The training camp went on unhurriedly, and An Jie did come into contact with many training methods that he had never seen before. And Presti also looked at the three running on the training ground with satisfaction. Durant, Westbrook and Angie all performed well, which made him very pleased. You know, the three of them are now all of the Thunder. Their future directly affects the future of the Thunder.

While An Jie was sweating in Oklahoma City, the Beijing Olympic Games also kicked off on time. Since An Jie is not a player in the system, and he has not played a professional basketball game, joining the national team is just a gimmick hyped up by the media. The Basketball Association has never considered An Jie from the beginning to the end. . Besides, the inside line of the Chinese team is already very crowded. If An Jie is an outside player, maybe he really has the possibility of being selected.

An Jie didn't even have time to watch the live broadcast of the unprecedented Olympic Games held in front of his house. Because the competition time happened to be An Jie's training time, this Olympic Games, which is of great significance to the Chinese, passed An Jie just like that.

With the end of the Olympic Games and the NBA preseason approaching, An Jie gradually became nervous. The day of his first professional game is getting closer and closer.

...................................

On the night before the start of the preseason, Anjie received a call from his mentor Divac.

"Boy, didn't you practice extra in the gym?" Divac knew that Anjie would have a game tomorrow, and he emphasized that Anjie should not practice extra the night before the game. Now he wants to see if his disciples have faithfully implemented their own The command.

"No, no, I'm recuperating at home now." An Jie rented a second-hand small house for himself in Oklahoma City. With the help of Moslav, he didn't spend too much on this house. much money.

"That's good. I'll watch your game tomorrow. Don't embarrass me."

"When will you come to the training?" Anjie has never seen Divac since meeting with the team. He seems to have gone back to Serbia for vacation.

"Participate in training? You are now a professional player Anjie. In the NBA, you can get better training than my guidance. I am no longer your center coach." Divac laughed on the other end of the phone Woke up, but he was really reluctant to part with An Jie.

"What!? Are you kidding me! Is there any center forward coach who can compare to you!" Although they only got together for a short year, An Jie knew that without Divac's help, he would not be able to get to where he is today. step. For this mentor, An Jie is not only reluctant, but also full of infinite gratitude.

"You have to learn to walk alone sooner or later. I have nothing to give you. You know, the Serbian government asked me to be a humanitarian consultant, which means I will be an official hahaha. I think it's time for me too Stay away from the basketball court and do something different." Divac's tone was very calm, he had experienced countless ups and downs, and he knew that he had to let go now.

An Jie also knew that Divac had made up his mind. He couldn't be selfish and obstruct others from pursuing their own lives for his own sake.

After hanging up the phone, thinking that he would never see that old devil again on the training ground, An Jie suddenly felt a little lost. However, the best way to repay your teacher is to succeed on the field.

In the preseason, Anjie was ready to repay Divac's teaching with his actions on the court.

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