1 Chapter 1 [1995 NBA Undrafted Rookie]
"These scouts should all be fired. The perimeter players in this year's draft, apart from Jerry Stackhouse and Michael Finley, can't match your fitness and you're faster than either of them."
"These teams will regret it, and soon they will find that these black people only play with their bodies, and their IQ is very low. Their minds are not on the court, and their minds are only money and women."
"Damn, are the Warriors scouts blind? Martin Lewis' stats in college are so bad and his physical fitness is average! What is he better than you? He is a year older than you!"
"Yang... If the Warriors don't choose you at No. 50, you're probably going to lose."
In a student apartment at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a middle-aged white fat man and Chinese students sat on the sofa and watched the 1995 NBA draft live on an old TV.
After the second round of the draft began, the fat man kept complaining, and the young man smiled, as if the draft had nothing to do with him.
The conference is drawing to a close, with only eight second-round picks remaining. It is very difficult for a player to get a contract at this position even if it is drafted, even if it is only a minimum salary. For player selection, this is definitely a terrible career start, and there is a high probability that you will not be able to play in the NBA in this life.
The fat man with messy brown curly hair and a beer belly called Steve Oldman was the agent signed by Yang Jian after the physical test.
Seeing that teams that need swingmen at the front and back choose other players one after another, Oldman is a little helpless. He is even more excited than the player, because he is a failed agent, and now Yang Jian is the only client left.
Oldman felt that this was racial discrimination, and all scouts did not believe that Chinese people could play in the NBA, even if Yang Jian's physical test data was amazing.
It is difficult to break the inherent impression of people after they are formed. People generally think that the physical quality of black people is better than that of white people and yellow people, even if this person is only black. Therefore, black players participating in the draft are more concerned by NBA scouts.
In the United States, if a man is black and shiny, and he has a bald head with thick lips, he will look particularly fierce. They were so violent that they ate people without spitting out bones and spitting out grape skins. The police couldn't help but want to shoot when they saw them.
"Don't get excited, Oldman, wasn't I expected to lose the election?" Yang Jian crossed Erlang's legs, as steady as Erlang Shen, Nan Xia Zhanzhao, Xiao Li Feidao... I'm fine, silly fat man, don't worry about me.
The above description of Yang Jian is very apt. If he was interviewed on TV, Chinese audiences would find him bumping into a certain young actor, only much taller.
"Aren't you worried at all?" Oldman was a little worried.
Yang Jian is a top student at Harvard Business School and participated in the draft after a year of school. If he can't play in the NBA, he can continue to study at Harvard, and he can do well in other fields with a diploma. Oldman has no way out. If he loses this client, he will have to consider changing jobs.
"What are you worried about? You said that there is a way to help me contact the team for trial training and play summer league. This is enough. As long as there is a trial training opportunity, they will see my potential, and there is no reason to ignore me." Yang Jian lazily said.
"I hope so." Oldman smiled wryly.
The draft continued, and the results of the second round of the draft were announced very quickly, with each team only having two minutes to decide. Teams usually make decisions immediately, with plans and clear goals in mind before participating in the conference.
The league will announce the list of "Little Green House" in advance every year, and invite those rookies who are expected to enter the lottery to enter the "Little Green House", wait for the draft results and take photos for interviews on the spot. Most rookies watch TV and wait for the results, shortening the draft time.
With the 57th pick, another swingman was selected. The Atlanta Hawks selected Kuenzo Martin, a black and strong man with a height of 196cm and a weight of 97kg.
With the 58th overall pick, the Pistons selected a power forward with a height of 203cm and a weight of 113kg, named Don Reed.
The statistics of the Yang Jian University League are terrible, and they are mentally prepared to lose the election. After the dust settled, Oldman was still a little disappointed, because he felt that all second-round rookies were not as promising as Yang Jian.
"The last two people are so ordinary and have team selection? One is 24 years old and the other is 22 years old, with average athletic ability and no data in college." Oldman clenched his Doraemon-like fist and gritted his teeth: "It's too much, they I'd rather choose a black man on the floor than you."
"You don't need to be so excited. It's not me who will regret in the future. If the Warriors, Hawks, and Pistons draft me, then I'll have a real headache. I don't want to go to these bad teams at all, there is no future. You don't have to do it during workouts. Contact bad teams outside the playoffs and try to find strong teams." Yang Jian smiled.
Oldman knew that Yang Jian was not forcing a smile, and he really didn't care about losing the election. He's a thoughtful young man who has talked more than once about going to a team that lacks shooting guards or a big-city team with high exposure.
"Joining a strong team now may not be a good thing for you. The competition in a strong team is fierce, and it is difficult to get stable playing time." Oldman said earnestly: "I am 37 years old and know this circle better than you. You can't be blind. Confidence doesn't mean you can play basketball well because you're physically strong. You didn't get many chances this year at Harvard, and you can't shoot."
Yang Jian smiled even more. "I can't shoot in the past, and now I can shoot in the open, and the shooting rate is not low."
"Really?" Oldman was stunned for a moment, then said in surprise, "You've been practicing shooting since the end of the season?"
"Yeah. You can't imagine how hard I try."
"How hard are you trying?"
Yang Jian said sternly: "Have you seen Cambridge at four in the morning? I get up early to practice ball every day, rain or shine. I have to practice every day until I am exhausted, cramps in my hands and feet, dizzy, and foaming at the mouth before returning to the apartment. Going pro, I just broke up with a girlfriend who is prettier than Nicole Kidman because women affect how fast I can shoot."
"..."
In any case, Oldman can only pin his hopes on Yang Jian. He didn't have a better choice, mainly because no one chose him.
There are many unspoken rules in the NBA. 90% of the rookies who enter the first round of discussions will receive money from their agents. And second-round rookies have limited potential, low salaries, and most do not want to sign agents.
Oldman has not signed a big name for four years in the industry, nor has he signed a young player with super physical fitness. More than anyone, he expects Yang Jian to become an All-Star, sign a big contract, and better have an advertising endorsement in the future.
"I will help you contact the team for trial training tomorrow, and I will call you when I have news. You really don't think about teams other than the playoffs?" Oldman also wanted to persuade him that it is easier for newcomers to play in bad teams. Time is focused on training.
"If the team can't even make the playoffs, where will I get exposure as a rookie? Didn't you say that you are optimistic about me becoming a star in the future? You should contact a strong team for a trial training first, just find the western one, and the eastern one will not be considered. ."
"Listen to you." Oldman thought for a while and asked: "How about I contact the SuperSonics and the Lakers first? I am most optimistic about these two teams, the fourth or fifth in the Western Conference regular season last season. The SuperSonics are the weakest. The position is shooting guard and needs to be strengthened. The Lakers are in Los Angeles and have a high exposure rate."
"Then these two teams, you don't need to contact too many teams, your vision is good." Yang Jian likes both teams and feels suitable to be the starting point of his career.
Because he is a traveler, a veteran fan, and knows the future of the NBA.
The Lakers have yet to dig an "OK combination", "Shark" O'Neal is playing with the Magic, and Kobe Bryant is in high school. Yang Jian entered the NBA a year earlier than Kobe Bryant is an important opportunity, if he shows extraordinary potential during the trial, it is possible to replace Kobe Bryant's position in the Lakers, and then chase Michael Jordan.
He's also good for the Sonics, and it's not just that the Sonics lack a good shooting guard. In his original world, the 1995-96 SuperSonics reached the Finals, losing 2-4 to the Bulls. If he does well, there is a chance to match Jordan on the Finals stage.
He wants exposure to quickly increase his popularity, and there is no better shortcut than joining the Supersonics. Jordan's popularity is unique in the NBA, and being his opponent is easy to be known by fans.
