The call from the San Antonio Spurs was made by Mike Budenholzer, the head assistant coach under Gregg Popovich, and the future mentor of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Spurs, like the Mavericks, had a penchant for international players. As a team renowned for unearthing gems, they wouldn't miss a good player. Their offer startled Jiang Lin.
Coach Budenholzer directly offered a one-year rookie minimum contract, the same type Kawhi Leonard had signed, except Leonard had a four-year rookie deal. The Spurs' keen eye was undeniable; they only believed in what they saw on the NBA court. Analyzing all of Jiang Lin's plays from that fateful night, they saw a player with a 100% shooting accuracy and decisive passing—an embodiment of team basketball.
As for shooting and tactics? They boasted world-class shooting coach Chip Engelland and the tactician extraordinaire, Coach Popovich, who could quickly elevate Jiang Lin's game. The coaching staff decided Jiang Lin could be the Spurs' X-factor, filling in if a key player got injured.
Budenholzer had Jiang Lin's role all planned out. The Spurs had plenty of shooters in the PG slot but only Tony Parker as a primary penetrator, which wasn't sufficient. Every play hinged on dribble penetration and kick-outs, making Jiang Lin's ability to drive and dish crucial.
Jiang Lin understood the lengthy explanation simply: if Parker or Manu Ginobili got injured, he'd be the emergency replacement, similar to Parker's rookie season when he was thrust into the playoffs.
But there was a catch! Jiang Lin knew Coach Popovich's traditionalist approach. Virtually all Spurs rookies spent their first year observing and learning from the bench, no matter how well they performed in garbage time. Rookies rarely made the starting lineup in their first season.
When Jiang Lin posed this concern to Budenholzer, he hesitated before confirming it was true. Unless circumstances were extraordinary, the Spurs wouldn't elevate an undrafted international rookie to the rotation immediately.
"Sorry, I'll have to think about it. Thank you for your belief in me," Jiang Lin said, somewhat embarrassed as he ended the call.
The Spurs were the only team so far to fully appreciate his skills and abilities. If this were a weaker team, he'd sign immediately. But Jiang Lin had the pride not to accept charity. Riding the Spurs' coattails to a championship didn't appeal to him. The Spurs were too strong; he wanted to make his mark and contribute to a team's success, not merely bask in the glory of the Big Three.
Speaking of Budenholzer, Jiang Lin pondered the possibility of joining the Bucks after Yi Jianlian's era, with hopes of mentoring a young Giannis Antetokounmpo in the future.
As he considered the offers from other teams, Jiang Lin saw that the Rockets and Jazz both offered two-way contracts, requiring him to split time between the NBA and the D-League.
Four teams had extended contract offers, and contrary to online speculation, the Heat had been silent. With Lin's presence, the Knicks were also unlikely to sign another Asian guard.
Though only four teams had made offers, media coverage would likely draw more interest, considering the caliber of the interested teams—playoff contenders, particularly the Spurs, whose recruits drew widespread attention.
Jiang Lin was torn. If the Spurs' terms applied to the Jazz or Mavericks, he'd be thrilled. But he needed to take it step by step. As he examined the rosters of these teams, he reminded himself that he wasn't a saint; basketball was a team sport, and he needed competent teammates. He couldn't afford teammates like Robert Sacre, who couldn't convert easy opportunities.
Just then, another call came in, this time from Tennessee, Memphis.
A deep, somewhat frustrated voice greeted him, "Hello? Is this Jiang?"
"Yes, who's speaking?" Jiang Lin slowed down his treadmill. The deep voice indicated someone tall.
"I'm Lionel Hollins."
The Train!
Jiang Lin was momentarily stunned before recognizing the voice. Lionel Hollins was a 1977 Trail Blazers champion, an All-Star guard, and a multiple-time All-Defensive Team member. Known as "The Train," he was now coaching the Memphis Grizzlies.
As a former point guard, Hollins had a keen eye for fellow guards. Was the Grizzlies' tough defense about to recruit him?
The truth was a bit different.
"Hello, Coach! I'm Jiang Lin!"
"Did you watch our game last night?"
"Uh... not yet."
"Watch it first, then call me back."
"Okay."
Hollins' commanding presence was palpable, befitting his tenure leading the Grizzlies' formidable defense. After the call, Jiang Lin quickly found a quiet place to watch the game replay for about an hour.
The Grizzlies lost 78-91 to the Dallas Mavericks, marking their sixth straight loss. The low score was characteristic of the Grizzlies, but the losing streak was troubling.
Currently, the Grizzlies were 4-9, ranking 12th in the West. With their roster, they shouldn't have been struggling so much.
Reviewing the game and checking the stats, Jiang Lin identified the issue. Despite the losing streak, the Grizzlies consistently held opponents under 100 points, but their scoring also stayed below 93 points. Their scoring efficiency was far too low, indicating strong defense but weak offense.
At this point, the Grizzlies led the league in defensive efficiency, limiting opponents' scoring, but ranked last in offensive efficiency.
Jiang Lin understood Coach Hollins' intention for reaching out.
He called back and directly pointed out that none of the Grizzlies players, from starters to the bench, averaged over 20 points, highlighting their offensive struggles.
Hollins got straight to the point, "I've heard you have explosive individual scoring ability. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is."
"Then we need you. Are you willing to come for a tryout?"
"How does it work?"
"Be at FedExForum at 2 PM tomorrow. Don't be late." The old-school coach's tone was firm and uncompromising, matching his playing style—tough and no-nonsense.
Jiang Lin added, "I need a guaranteed contract."
"Of course!"
"No problem!" Jiang Lin nodded vigorously.
Coach Hollins hung up, his eyes bloodshot from staring at the tactics board. He sighed softly, "Little mustache, I hope your advice is correct..."