Sneaker Dreams and NBA Draft Hopes

A

fter a while, DeMar returned.

"Hey Sickle, which brand of basketball shoes are you going to sign with?" DeMar asked curiously as he saw Lian Dao playing with his phone and sat down next to him.

Lian Dao put down his phone and thought for a moment. "I haven't decided yet. I don't know! Are you thinking about signing with Nike?"

Lian Dao hadn't really considered which brand to sign with. He knew that the biggest contract for a basketball player is often a sneaker deal. While he had thought about it before, he hadn't focused on it until his worth was established.

"Yeah, I have that idea. You know, I want to be part of Nike's 'Kobe Project,'" DeMar shrugged.

It made sense; DeMar idolized Kobe and had always said the team he most wanted to join was the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the probability of that happening was almost nil.

Firstly, the Lakers had a strong season and were likely to secure the top spot in the regular season. This meant their draft pick would be at the end of the first round or the end of the second round, making it unlikely for DeMar, with his current performance, to fall to the end of the first round. Secondly, Kobe, the star of the Lakers, played the same position as DeMar. Even if DeMar joined the Lakers, his playing time would be limited, which wasn't ideal for a rookie's development.

"But I didn't agree. We don't even have an agent yet. I feel it's a bit early to discuss it now. I don't understand some contract details. I think we should wait until we sign an agent," DeMar added.

Lian Dao nodded in agreement. Despite not being academically inclined, DeMar was smart enough to avoid rushing into a deal without proper representation.

"However, I will definitely sign with Nike's 'Kobe Project'!" DeMar said with determination.

...

The next day, the new draft prediction list showed significant changes. Lian Dao moved up from the 6th pick to the 3rd pick, while DeMar rose from the 7th pick to the 5th pick. The most notable improvement was Gibson, who leaped to the 14th pick in ESPN's predicted draft, marking three USC players in the draft lottery.

Vucevic, however, was not expected to participate in the draft this year. Although he had shown considerable improvement compared to his previous life, many of his skills remained unrefined. Due to limited playing time this season, Vucevic's draft prediction lingered around the end of the second round. In his previous life, Vucevic entered the draft in 2011 and was selected 16th overall by the 76ers. His best draft year should be the next season when USC would likely build the team around him following the departure of key players. This would provide Vucevic with more opportunities and exposure.

If everything went according to the current draft lottery projections, Lian Dao's draft pick might belong to Oklahoma Thunder. However, the Thunder already had Kevin Durant at the small forward position. If they selected Lian Dao, it would likely mean playing him at power forward or as the team's sixth man, similar to James Harden's role back then.

It was still early to speculate too much. The NBA's lottery conference was often influenced by interests beyond just odds.

Lian Dao's record-breaking performance in the game drew widespread media attention. Headlines included:

"Sports Illustrated": The Legend Never Ends

"L.A. Sports": USC's Reggie Miller

At least this time, they didn't call him Magic Johnson.

...

When Lian Dao browsed these reports online, some made him blush. The praise was so high that it almost felt as if no one had ever achieved such feats before and no one would again.

However, this also served as a wake-up call for Lian Dao. He understood that the media is fickle—when you're performing well, they elevate you, but if you falter, they are quick to tear you down. Therefore, he didn't pay too much attention to the media's comments.

Compared to the U.S. media, which often exaggerated, domestic media, especially "Basketball Pioneer," remained more realistic. Their headline read, "One Game, Two Broken NCAA Three-Point Records, and Bright Draft Prospects!"

The game was also broadcast domestically, and Lian Dao's scoring style attracted many fans who tried to imitate him. This led to a trend where players on basketball courts everywhere were attempting three-pointers instead of going for the basket. However, this trend didn't last long as they soon realized that scoring from the basket was more practical than consistently hitting three-pointers.

The broadcast also made Lian Dao one of the most popular athletes in China. When basketball-loving celebrities were asked if they knew about Lian Dao, they all said they did and expressed their admiration for his game. A few even cheered him on from afar, promising to come and support him if Southern California reached the finals.

He was relieved that Weibo hadn't come out yet. If it had, they would be tagging him constantly. This realization made him appreciate his memory even more.

In this era, without the constant buzz of social media, Lian Dao could focus more on his game and less on the media frenzy. His sharp memory was indeed his greatest advantage, allowing him to navigate the hype with a clear head and stay grounded despite all the attention.

...

"March Madness" had finally entered the Final Four stage, determining the champions from each region. The teams included the UConn Huskies from the Western Division, the UNC Tar Heels from the Southern Division, the Villanova Wildcats from the Eastern Division, and the USC Trojans from the Midwest Division.

The semifinal matchups were University of North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Villanova Wildcats and University of Connecticut Huskies vs. USC Trojans. Following these matchups, the winners would face off in the finals.

This stage of the tournament was being held at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, an 80,000-seat multi-purpose stadium sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. It was the home of the Detroit Lions of the American Football League.

With its massive capacity, Ford Field underscored the immense attention the NCAA semifinals commanded. The excitement surrounding the NCAA at this point often surpassed that of the NBA Finals. During the NCAA finals, all other sports events in the U.S. typically made way for the climactic games of March Madness.

The semifinals were scheduled for April 4, giving teams five days to prepare. Media outlets across the United States were fervently promoting the NCAA, shifting the attention of basketball fans from the NBA to college basketball.

According to reports, many NBA stars were expected to attend the games in person, further highlighting the significance and excitement of the NCAA Final Four.