When Yiyang broke through Evan Turner's defense and then faced the block of rookie center Hassan Whiteside who came to try out and gently picked the ball into the basket, the 76ers who were watching off the court Manager Stevensky nodded approvingly.
After a trial trip in San Antonio, Bill Duffy took Yiyang to Minnesota and Sacramento.
And on June 15th, ten days before the start of the 2010 NBA Draft. Yiyang came to the penultimate stop on his trial road, and it was the highest draft pick among all teams interested in Yiyang, Philadelphia.
The general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers Stevensky is very interested in Yiyang. He always thinks that this cold-looking guy can inherit the mantle of AI.
But in the same way, Evan Turner's strength is not to be ignored by Stevenski. In this college period, he has become an all-around outside line for the All-American star, and he also performed well in the trial training.
Now, Stevenski is a little bit troubled. Both Yiyang and Turner are very good, but he can only take one person from them. Even though Yiyang has an immeasurable Chinese market behind it, what the 76ers need most now is performance. As long as the results come out, there is no fear of no market.
Just as Stevenski thought, Evan Turner made another three-pointer in the training game. This guy's confident expression and mature style of play made the balance in Stevensky's heart tilt slightly.
Turner, Yiyang, Turner, Yiyang...Stevenski closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. This question may be really undecided for a while. One is combat power and one potential. Stevenski doesn't know which one is more suitable for the 76ers that are desperately in need of results.
"Boss, do you want to play another quarter?" It wasn't until the referee yelled from the field that Stephensky recovered from his thinking.
On the training ground, the players have played a five-minute period for three quarters. From the data point of view, Yiyang's 8 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds are very comprehensive. Turner's performance of 16 points in 15 minutes is even more eye-catching.
Who do you choose? Stevenski has no definite number in his mind. He just waved his hand to signal that the trial is over.
Seeing the players walk off the court separately, Bill Duffy immediately got in front of the 76ers general manager who was in a dilemma.
"How about, his performance is amazing enough!" Bill Duffy is full of confidence. Although Yiyang has not scored Tenado, his ability to control the rhythm of the game on the court is beyond the reach of all the rookies who come to try out. .
"It is really great, as you know, we have not observed it in one or two days. His performance is even better than we thought! But..."
Hearing this, however, Bill Duffy's smile disappeared without a trace in an instant.
"But Turner's performance is equally good. I can't give you an accurate answer right now, Duffy. I can only say that we will continue to follow him. Maybe in ten days, he will become the second place in the ranking?" Stephen Skipi smiled and dealt with Bill Duffy without a smile. Duffy was not stupid. After abruptly thanked him, he turned and returned to Yiyang.
Different from the "sales" of Yao Ming back then, this time Bill Duffy recommended Yiyang's path, and it seems that it's not going well. The general manager of each team was satisfied with Yiyang's performance, but none of them voted to choose Yiyang.
This is not because of Yiyang's poor strength, but because of the current world, the management of each team is paying more and more attention to the drafting rights. When they get a higher draft pick, they are all eager to rely on this pick to fight a turnaround. Look at the Cavaliers who selected LeBron, look at the Thunder who selected Durant and Westbrook... In a draft like a gambling, the managers of each team can only be cautious to ensure that they do the best. The right choice.
Because of this, few people now guarantee in advance which rookie they will pick. Many teams will not finalize their candidates even one second before making a choice.
Bill Duffy knows that the current general managers are getting more and more difficult. Both he and Yiyang have done everything they can do. Now, just wait for the draft to decide their fate.
"Hey, you played well!" Bill Duffy smiled again and patted Yiyang on the shoulder.
"Did they say they would choose me?" Yiyang asked straightforwardly. The closer to the draft, the more Yiyang wants to know his fate.
"Of course they will choose you! Don't worry, okay, we have a lot of potential next homes!" Bill Duffy showed his friendly smile. With this experienced manager by his side, Yiyang also feels I relax a lot.
"So now, we only have one place left to go." Yiyang said, walking towards the players' locker room, ready to leave Philadelphia.
"Yes, there is one last stop." Speaking of this last stop, Bill Duffy didn't have much sense of anticipation. Originally, Philadelphia was the last stop of Yiyang and Duffy. But the next team, they took the initiative to contact Duffy.
In order not to froze the relationship with the other party, Duffy agreed to take Yiyang to the trial.
It's okay to go to one more place anyway, Bill Duffy, Quandang, this is taking the kid Yiyang to travel.
I hope everything is normal for the next draft.
※※※
"Are you sure this guy is worth it?" Outside the airport, two men wearing sunglasses and peaked caps were chatting casually.
"The draft has never been certain, and the team that wins the No. 1 pick is likely to get parallel imports. I just think we can try it on him."
"He really played well in college, I hope this kid can gain a foothold in the NBA."
"I believe that under Jason's guidance, that guy will grow up very fast. I can only bet on my buddy, for the championship, I can only bet on it!"
On the big electronic screen at the airport, the flight ZPH7609 from Indianapolis has landed. The two men began to lean towards the reception gate, and the guy in their hearts who could help them break the deadlock was finally about to appear.
"There are so many people here!" After getting off the plane, Yiyang could obviously feel that the city was denser than other places.
"Do you think this is a city like San Antonio? This is the metropolis of Texas, man!" Bill Duffy smiled at Yiyang's dizzying expression. From now on, Yiyang will get used to scenes much bigger than this.
When Yiyang and Duffy were walking towards the exit, a huge poster was hung on the wall in the airport. There is only one simple sentence on the poster: "Welcome to Dallas".
Yiyang and Duffy had just appeared, and the Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and team general manager Donny Nelson discovered them.
"It's finally here, Duffy, we can wait a long time! Hey, also, welcome to Dallas!" Mark Cuban smiled kindly, without any pretentious team boss.
Yiyang stiffly shook hands with Cuban and Nelson. He has already traveled to so many cities. This is the first time the team owner and team general manager will personally greet him.
"Actually, it doesn't have to be troublesome. It's not far to take a taxi from here to the American Airlines Center Arena." When Duffy learned that Cuban and Nelson were both coming to greet him and Yiyang, he was a little flattered.
Yiyang is just a rookie, not an all-star. Even if Dallas really wanted him, it would be too exaggerated.
"Go to the arena? No, no, you must have not eaten yet? I booked a place in a good Chinese restaurant. Let's go to eat first to see the scenery of Dallas, and then talk about the trial training." Zhu Yiyang and Du Fei got in the car that had been waiting outside the airport. Yiyang stared at all of this. He grew up in the Wood District, but he had never received such treatment.
After having lunch, Yiyang and Du Fei were finally taken to the training ground after driving halfway around Dallas. Only when he came here did Yiyang know what he was going to do.
"How come?" Yiyang just changed his clothes and stood on the court when a big blond man in casual clothes greeted him. Yiyang looked up and saw that it was no one else who came here. It was the legend of European basketball and the symbol of the Dallas Mavericks doing their part, "German Chariot" Dirk Nowitzki!
"I took them around the city." Cuban smiled and answered his team's box office guarantee, and he was also a close friend of his own.
"Hey, welcome, also, we have been paying attention to you a long time ago." Nowitzki and Kuban finished talking, and came to embrace Yiyang enthusiastically.
Yiyang didn't do anything, just stood there blankly, letting Nowitzki hug him.
Facing an enthusiastic basketball legend, ordinary rookies will definitely become more enthusiastic. But Yiyang, he still seemed cold.
Maybe it was a little embarrassing to see the scene, Bill Duffy clapped his hands and diverted everyone's attention. "Then, wait and warm up, let's start training."
Running, touching height, measuring body data...These things are inevitable no matter where you go.
After , Yiyang went through a series of basic tests. But for Yiyang, who has been training for more than a month, these things are simply caught.
After passing all these tests, Cuban called many coaches onto the training ground for the last item of this trial training. Bill Duffy watched these more than a dozen people play, and didn't know what Cuban wanted to do. Is it possible that he wants Yiyang to stage a scene where Yiyang can pass several people from the backcourt to complete the offense? Even if you want to see it, there are too many people.
But then Duffy discovered that things were not what he had imagined. These coaches were randomly distributed in various positions on the basketball court, and then Cuban began to explain. These coaches will pass the ball to Yiyang, and when Yiyang receives the ball, one of the coaches will raise his hand for the ball. What Yiyang has to do is to pass the ball in place with the shortest reaction time and the most accurate way! Of course, these coaches will not take the initiative to receive the ball, and Yiyang must accurately deliver the ball to them.
This thing is very fresh to Yiyang. Cuban also saw that Yiyang's lazy eyes seemed to get excited.
After explained, the training began immediately. Yiyang stood at the center line, a coach passed the ball to him, and then a coach under the basket raised his hand for the ball!
Yi** didn't hesitate, and directly slammed the ball **** the floor. The basketball crashed into the floor, passing two people close to the pass on the way. After that, the basketball rebounded, impartially, and accurately passed into the arms of the coach who asked for the ball!
"WOW!" Dirk Nowitzki couldn't help but yelled, this kind of long-distance precision hitting the ball is always full of appreciation. What's more, this long pass has passed through several people!
"I said, he is special!" Cuban looked at Nowitzki's surprised expression and smiled triumphantly.
After the goal, a coach behind Yiyang shouted and raised his hand. Yiyang quickly turned around, and immediately took the ball as soon as the corner of his eyes reached the position of the player who wanted the ball.
The basketball flew fast and straight, and once again passed accurately into the opponent's hands. These movements were completed smoothly and smoothly, and it seemed that it didn't take much effort at all!
After several pass attempts, Yiyang completed very wonderfully. Dirk even believes that this is not a trial training ~www.mtlnovel.com~ but a performance show specially set up by Kuban for Yiyang! Yiyang is in this, just use unscrupulous dazzling skills!
Kuban laughed from ear to ear from the sidelines. As for Dirk, this guy is already thinking about the O'Brien Cup!
After the trial, Cuban and Nelson took the initiative to greet them, and Hao unabashedly expressed their love for Yiyang.
"He is really great, Mr. Dufie, please tell him what a wonderful thing it is to play in Dallas!" Cuban held Duffy's hand tightly, seeming to grab the Mavericks and slowly win the championship. The last piece of the puzzle on the road.
"I know that your team is very sincere, and I also know that playing in Dallas is also great. But... Mr. Cuban, as far as I know, the Mavericks even have a first-round pick this year. None. And my client, there should be no possibility of falling into the second round." What Duffy said is the reason why he hasn't paid much attention to the Mavericks. Because of a second-round pick, Dallas has no chance of picking Yiyang.
"I will worry about the draft pick, Mr. Duffy. I will tell you now that I am willing to trade a high draft pick for the sake of also!" Cuban's firm eyes made Dufy unable to question his words. .
Kuban looked confident, as if he meant to say more. "Yiyang, this player, I'm going to Dallas to make it!"
The ambivalent Spurs, the undecided 76ers, and, now, this over-enthusiastic Mavericks...
Duffy looked at Yiyang, this guy's draft meeting may be full of unprecedented uncertainty.
Where will your career start? At this time, even the experienced Bill Duffy felt that he could not predict it.