After Su Feng had spent nearly an hour explaining himself, Hu Weidong was silent for a long time.
"Thank you, Xiao Su. I won't delay your time any longer. You should go to the interview," Hu Weidong said after calming down, patting Su Feng on the shoulder.
Su Feng raised an eyebrow. "Lao Hu, do you think that after all this time, there will still be reporters who want to interview me?"
Hu Weidong chuckled. "Well, aren't Xu Jicheng, Zhang Weiping, and Su Junyang standing there as journalists?"
Su Feng paused, his lips curling slightly. "True. Alright then."
Hu Weidong seemed to consider something before speaking again. "Xiao Su, I'm not the type to drag things out, but I've thought it through. I'll definitely make it to the NBA. But before that, I want to help the Jiangsu team win a CBA Championship first."
A CBA championship... Su Feng wasn't surprised, but it was a tough goal, especially given the state of the league at that time. It wasn't that he doubted Hu Weidong's ability, but winning the CBA championship back then was extremely difficult. If Su Feng remembered correctly, Yao Ming had put up insane numbers during his time in the league—41.3 points, 21 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game. It had been Yao Ming's sheer dominance that had secured a championship for the Shanghai Sharks, and that had only been possible because Wang Zhizhi had gone to the NBA. Back then, the Bayi Dynasty's dominance was terrifying.
After hearing Hu Weidong's words, Su Feng didn't try to convince him otherwise. This was Hu Weidong's path, and even if it was a difficult road, it was one Hu had chosen for himself, and Su Feng respected that.
But just before leaving, Su Feng's system pinged, signaling that Hu Weidong had reached the required level of affection. It was an opportunity, and Su Feng, having been stuck at a standstill for nearly three years, decided to use it.
The system had strict rules about nutrient solutions—supreme nutrient solutions could not be shared with others. However, Su Feng could share ordinary nutrient solutions if the relationship was strong enough. These solutions were effective in restoring physical fitness, and considering the state of the Chinese men's basketball team, often plagued by injuries, Su Feng felt the need to help. It wasn't just about health products; this was more than just simple supplements. It was something Su Feng believed could help alleviate some of Hu Weidong's pressures.
So, with a kind smile, Su Feng said, "Lao Hu, I'll send you some health products from the States soon. Make sure you drink them."
Hu Weidong smiled warmly. "Alright, when you come back next time, I'll take you out for some hairy crabs."
Su Feng chuckled. "It's a deal."
Hu Weidong didn't refuse the gesture. In fact, he had already decided that, when the national team called up Su Feng, if anyone tried to sabotage Su Feng's position, he'd give up his spot without hesitation. After all, Su Feng was only 18, and it wasn't easy for someone so young to make it abroad, pursuing his basketball dream. Hu Weidong didn't want anyone to extinguish that flame.
Meanwhile, the Long Beach Summer League was still in full swing, with Su Feng, Iverson, and Ben Wallace continuing to show their dominance on the court, earning the nickname "Philadelphia Iron Triangle."
On the other side of the country, the American men's basketball team, known as "Dream Team Three" in the future, had just arrived in Atlanta. Compared to the Dream Team One that had dominated the Barcelona Olympics four years prior, the Dream Team Three had an even deeper roster. Some believed it was the strongest American team ever assembled, particularly on the inside.
In addition to Patrick Ewing, three of the four centers on the team had already been selected for the upcoming Olympic Games. The team also boasted legends like Charles Barkley and Karl Malone, known for their physical dominance—"hip god" and "elbow king" as they were affectionately called.
When Dream Team Three arrived in Atlanta, the conversation wasn't just about basketball. Most of the time, the players were discussing women, luxury cars, and big houses. However, there was one other topic that dominated the chatter—the young big man from Wake Forest.
It was a long-standing tradition for the U.S. Men's Basketball Team to invite college rookies to training camps. Before professional players entered the Olympics, American college players had held their own for a long time, proudly representing American basketball.
In the weeks leading up to the training camp, Dream Team Three's coach, Lenny Wilkens, had specifically called on Tim Duncan, a junior from Wake Forest, to join the team for training.
At first, when Wilkens arranged for Duncan to play against the superstars of Dream Team Three, Shaquille O'Neal cracked a joke.
"Hey, coach, aren't you worried I'll break this new hope for American basketball?" O'Neal teased, clearly enjoying himself.
Wilkens chuckled but couldn't help feeling the weight of O'Neal's words. Duncan was, after all, just a junior. His scouting report had been glowing, but when he thought about the heavyweights Duncan would soon face, Wilkens couldn't help but wonder if the young man could truly keep up with the all-stars.
Wanting to keep things respectful, Wilkens turned to Duncan for his thoughts. "The action of forces is mutual," Duncan responded quietly, looking the coach straight in the eye.
Wilkens blinked, confused. The rest of the Dream Team was equally baffled, and even the few reporters and scouts watching the scene couldn't help but be taken aback by Duncan's calm, almost prophetic demeanor.