The rules are brutal.
The reward is enticing!
Winning directly lands you an NBA contract? Good thing this hasn't spread around, or else a ton of people would come to try it out.
Rudy Gay and Prince, the Pistons' championship puzzle piece who was just traded to the Grizzlies this season, exchanged glances. This harsh tryout method made them anxious. Did a rookie really think he could beat them one-on-one?
This poor rookie is in for a tough time; there's no leeway at all, purely based on absolute skill!
Judging by the expressions on the Grizzlies players' faces, it was clear they weren't aware of this either. This is so Grizzlies...
Hardcore!
Straightforward, yet it fuels the fighting spirit.
That's also why Silicon Valley entrepreneur-owner Pera was so interested. He wanted to see if this kid could emerge from this hellish challenge.
"Well, what do you think? Up for it? The rules are for a one-on-one, no matter if it's 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2, you have to win all three games to pass the tryout. Accept the challenge?" Wallace stared at Jiang Lin with interest. This was also a psychological test for the rookie.
The Grizzlies are a unique team. They might not have a superstar, but every player is a defensive superstar, with some of the best defenders in the world at every position.
Beating all of them one-on-one is no easy feat.
"Sure, no problem. I like this kind of tryout." Jiang Lin agreed immediately and started stretching his leg muscles, looking very relaxed.
In the realm of one-on-one, he had to have absolute confidence!
Otherwise, he'd let down streetball legends like The Professor, Alston, and Crawford.
Lionel Hollins, standing with arms crossed, looked at the other players and asked, "What about you?"
This tryout rule was also a challenge to the Grizzlies players, ensuring that the 3-on-1 format avoided flukes.
Tony Allen: "No problem, send me in. I'll make sure he doesn't even see the basket!"
Conley: "He doesn't seriously think we can't play offense, does he??"
Prince: "Kid, better book your ticket home. We'll defend you to the point of crapping your pants!"
Gay: "Heh… Coach Hollins, you're ruthless, but I like it!"
Gasol and Randolph were already "mourning" for Jiang Lin. This skinny guy was going to come and go quickly. This tryout was too cruel.
Hollins rubbed salt in the wound: "Six losses in a row. How can we not be ruthless?"
Everyone's faces twitched at that. GM Wallace and owner Pera exchanged glances. With a six-game losing streak, they had to change something. Jiang Lin was their extreme choice—either no change or a drastic one!
If Jiang Lin passed this tryout, according to the coaching staff's plan, he'd immediately take on a significant role in the team!
"JIANG, pick your opponent??" Hollins smiled.
"You guys choose, I don't care."
"Kid, are you looking for trouble…" Jiang Lin's nonchalant attitude irritated the Grizzlies players, fueling their battle readiness!
"Tony Allen, Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, warm up." Hollins pointed at them, and they immediately started warming up on the sidelines.
They were already in a bad mood from recent losses and had no intention of losing to a rookie. They all wanted to teach him a lesson!
An assistant coach explained the rules, which were also thrilling:
First to 3 points wins. Jiang Lin starts each game. No ball change after scoring; continuous possession.
If he loses the first game, he's done.
After a coin toss, Gay was chosen to go first, then Conley, and finally Tony Allen.
The rules were clear—they were testing Jiang Lin's offensive ability. With no ball change after scoring, he didn't have to defend those players. If he had the skills, he could just keep scoring.
Jiang Lin knew the risk was much higher than in a streetball king competition with possession changes.
Because if he missed one shot, it could be over. His opponent could score three straight! He wasn't confident in stopping someone like Gay with those long arms!
One-on-one in the NBA is usually a mutual explosion, with no one able to completely shut down another, nor is anyone totally incapable of scoring. Some just look weak offensively in a full game.
So, he couldn't give these three any chance!
Not even one shot!
Rudy Gay and Jiang Lin stood at the half-court three-point line, with everyone else watching from the front row.
Gay handed the ball to Jiang Lin.
"Hey, kid, I'll send you home."
Jiang Lin: "I'll take the contract. Consider this my initiation."
Arrogant!!
Brimming with confidence!
The game hadn't even started, and Jiang Lin's words already pleased Pera. Was Jiang Lin treating this as an internal one-on-one to establish authority?
"Let's go!"
"Here I come."
When the game started, Jiang Lin's demeanor changed.
The first point, a simple hesitation move to the free-throw line, after a confrontation, a behind-the-back dribble forced Gay to shift his weight forward to guard against a shot, then a sudden push dribble through his legs, and Jiang Lin lowered his center of gravity to slip past him for an easy layup!
A nutmeg dribble split move!
"Smart move," Conley shook his head. As a traditional point guard, he saw it as a steal.
"Wow!! So streetball?" Randolph and the others were impressed. This flashy move worked on an NBA player!
Tony Allen: "Hmph, useless."
Rudy Gay, weighing 105kg and standing 6'8" with long arms, was too bulky in Jiang Lin's eyes. The speed wasn't on the same level. As long as he could execute under pressure, bypassing him was like crossing an empty street in the morning!
"Keep going!" This time Gay lowered his center of gravity to guard against a drive. Jiang Lin did several quick crossovers, then suddenly a large crossover moved to the right side of the free-throw line, and before Gay could react, he did a Chris Paul-style quick jump shot!
Because Paul's shots were always very discreet, suddenly rising after a moment's pause, defenders couldn't react in time.
The ball went through the net cleanly, a seamless move!
"No more leniency!" Gay quickly passed the ball back to Jiang Lin, ready to steal it with his long arms, leaving the right side wide open.
Jiang Lin instantly turned into a Chinese flash, using explosive footwork to blast past Gay from the three-point line, reaching the paint in a flash and slamming it in with both hands!
Gay, chasing at full speed, could only trail behind him!
3-0, a clean sweep of the Grizzlies' best scorer!
"Next!"