Lian Dao's Journey to NCAA Stardom

Lian Dao had never seen DeRozan speak so highly of anyone before. He blushed a little from DeRozan's praise and made an excuse to go to the bathroom. When he returned, he settled the bill. The cost of a few cups of coffee was negligible for Lian Dao, who was quite wealthy. He thought it was worth it if it made a good impression on a media reporter.

Sure enough, Harland was visibly grateful when he saw Lian Dao had paid the bill. As a recent graduate just starting his career, Harland had been struggling financially. He had been so focused on getting firsthand news material that he hadn't thought much about the cost. Now, saving a bit meant a lot to him.

After the interview, Lian Dao and DeRozan bid farewell to Harland and left.

Harland hurried back to his hotel, eager to write his manuscript using the game footage and his interview notes.

As he reviewed the video, Harland marveled at Lian Dao's flawless three-pointers, precise defense, smooth dribbling, and no-look passes. He felt that Lian Dao's performance was masterful and that more people should know about him.

Harland quickly began typing on his computer: "Reggie of Southern California, Mr. Key Who Led the Trojans to Reverse the Game."

He spent an hour crafting the manuscript, carefully selecting a few of his best photos to include: one of Lian Dao shooting a three-pointer from the logo, another of him making a no-look pass, and a third capturing his defensive prowess.

The photos were of excellent quality, capturing Lian Dao at his best moments. Harland knew that fans loved players who not only played well but also looked good doing it. Players like Yang Ming in the CBA had throngs of female fans who came to watch him play, captivated by his skills and looks.

After finishing the article, Harland sent it to the editor-in-chief's mailbox.

Jim, the editor-in-chief of the basketball section of "Sports Illustrated," read the manuscript while smoking a cigarette, his expression conflicted. The piece was well-written, but everyone's attention was on hot rookies like Blake Griffin, James Harden, Hasheem Thabeet, and Stephen Curry.

Jim wasn't sure if Lian Dao would capture the fans' interest.

After about ten minutes of contemplation, Jim stubbed out his cigarette decisively. He called Harland.

"Boy, your report is very good. I have approved it and made it the cover of the basketball section. I hope that kid doesn't disappoint me."

...

At this time, Lian Dao was in his dorm room, patiently trying to teach DeRozan some math. He had already explained a particular problem three times, but DeRozan's confused expression made Lian Dao silently lament the futility of his efforts. It felt like playing a piano to a cow.

Lian Dao had heard before that many American students, both black and white, struggled with math. This was especially true for some families where even managing household finances was a challenge. For many Americans, math seemed like a punishment from the gods, and those who excelled in it, like many Asians, were often viewed with a mix of admiration and incredulity.

What frustrated Lian Dao the most was that DeRozan had confidently chosen math as an elective, clearly underestimating the challenge. Tutoring DeRozan was proving to be more exhausting than Lian Dao's own rigorous training sessions.

Realizing that explaining the principles was getting them nowhere, Lian Dao decided to switch tactics. He directly told DeRozan how to approach and solve each type of problem. This was a method Lian Dao had mastered under the rigorous exam-oriented education system back home: even if you didn't understand the problem, you could still get the right answer.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Lian Dao, the interview from earlier had been approved as the front page headline by the editor-in-chief of the basketball section of "Sports Illustrated."

In an era before smartphones were widespread, most people got their sports information from magazine reports like "Sports Illustrated" and ESPN. "Sports Illustrated" had a significant influence in the sports world, and this coverage would greatly increase Lian Dao's visibility.

Back at the hotel, the man wearing glasses who had been in the auditorium during the game had obtained a copy of the game video. He hurriedly compiled his scouting report and sent it, along with the video, to Chris Wallace, the general manager of the Grizzlies.

"Hey, Chris, I saw a talented player today. I think he's more suitable for the Grizzlies than Thabeet," said Jason, the scout, excitedly.

"Jason, although DeMarre Carroll is excellent, he's still not better than Thabeet. Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Chris Wallace was puzzled by the call, having not yet reviewed the information Jason had sent.

"Hey, buddy, who said anything about Carroll? I'm talking about the No. 1 player from USC. His Chinese name is Lian Dao, and his English name is Sickle. Did you not see the material I sent you?"

"Oh, sorry, I haven't had time yet. I hope the player information you sent is as good as you say. Otherwise, buddy, your bonus might be at risk."

"Don't worry, buddy. You're going to love this kid."

"Alright, let me read the information first. Talk later."

Chris hung up and, despite his skepticism, found and opened the information Jason had sent.

"Lian Dao

Height: 204 cm

Wingspan: 223 cm"

"Wow, this kid has some impressive physical attributes," Chris thought, intrigued.

As he read on, Chris saw Jason's assessment of Lian Dao's strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths: Excellent three-point shooting, defense, ball handling, and passing. High basketball IQ, great vision, and spatial awareness. Strong physical play.

Weaknesses: Slow foot speed, needs conditioning, poor mid-range scoring, ball-handling on the drive needs improvement, and overall fitness needs work. High potential for development.

Chris then watched the game video.

"He's so skinny. Jason says he has excellent strength and confrontation? What is he talking about? Oh, interesting three-pointer... how does he generate so much power?"

Chris's initial doubts slowly turned into admiration as he watched the video. By the end, he was impressed.

He stroked his stubbly chin in thought. Lian Dao had undeniable talent, as Jason had pointed out. But Chris also worried about the physical demands of the NBA and whether Lian Dao could handle the intense competition and physicality. As the Grizzlies' general manager, he needed to be cautious. Lian Dao might not be worth a first-round pick, but a second-round pick could be just right.

Chris messaged Jason, asking him to keep monitoring Lian Dao's progress.

As he pondered the future, Chris knew it was too early to make any decisions. The season had just started, and the Grizzlies' performance was still uncertain. Maybe, just maybe, they could make it to the playoffs. But even Chris had his doubts about that possibility, considering the team's current state.