Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Raymond sat alone in his basement with an old VHS in front of him. There was a box full of videotapes next to him.
Video home systems and videotapes used to be standard equipment in American families, but they had become irrelevant. Most had been thrown into basements as Raymond’s had been.
Raymond picked up one of the tapes, feeling nostalgic. He blew off the dust and placed it into the VHS.
To his relief, the old equipment still worked. The old CRT TV in the basement had lost its clarity. The colors had become very distorted.
Raymond appeared on the TV screen as an 18-year-old. He had just graduated from high school and participated in the NBA draft. He was selected ninth, by the Toronto Raptors, in the first round.
Videos of games from back then were hard to find, but Raymond had kept the videos of his season as a rookie.
I was really young back then. Raymond looked at his tender face in the video and smiled.
Raymond switched out the tape. On the next one, Raymond was going up against the Indiana Pacers.
I remember that game. I got 10 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first time in my career where I got a double-double. I was only 18 years and 5 months old. I was the youngest in the NBA to ever a double-double.
Raymond changed videotapes again. The next one was a game against the Nets. At that time, the Nets were still the “New Jersey Nets.”
This was the game that I scored 22 points. It was the most a rookie had ever scored in a game at the time.
My rookie season is worth remembering. I averaged a 45% field goal percentage per game. I had the highest field goal percentage of any player under 21 in the history of the NBA. Now, I have the record for the highest field goal percentage in a single season.
Raymond picked up another videotape. The word “Magic” was marked on it. Raymond knew that this was a record of when he transferred to the Magic.
He picked up the videotape, put it into the VHS, and began to reminisce about his past.
I still remember that season. I wasn’t 21 yet, but I still averaged 26 points per game. I was the third person in NBA history to average 26 points before turning 21.
Exciting highlights came on the screen. It was as if Raymond was able to find a way to get the ball in the basket every time he got his hands on it.
I got two NBA scoring titles in two seasons. I was the fifth player in NBA history to get a 40+10+10.
He only had recordings of the two seasons he got scoring titles. His career was not recorded on the videotapes, but Raymond remembered the time he scored 13 points in 35 seconds. In the final 35 seconds of the game, he had scored three three-pointers and four other baskets to turn the fame around. It was remembered by countless fans.
Raymond suddenly felt a strong urge to play basketball. He stood up, walked out of the basement, and went to the villa’s basketball court. He picked up a basketball, started shooting, and made a few perfect layups.
I was very hot and it didn’t take long for Raymond to start sweating. He still felt unsatisfied, as if there was something lacking.
Raymond stopped and looked at the basketball in his hand.
How long’s it been since you experienced this feeling of victory? Raymond heard Dai Li’s question in his mind. He looked at the lonely basket in front of him but felt that he himself was lonelier.
I miss the feeling of victory! Raymond sighed. He realized that even though he had retired, he still wanted to feel victorious.
When I want to play, I can go to the Rockets’ training grounds at any time to have fun. I can only feel victorious when I’m playing a real game in the NBA. Raymond suddenly had an impulse. He threw the basketball, hurried back inside, and found Dai Li’s business card in the living room.
Raymond picked up his mobile phone and dialed Dai Li’s phone number.
“Hey, is this Coach Li? This is Raymond…”
…
It didn’t take long for Dai Li and Johnson to get to Raymond’s home.
“Coach Li, if I join the Clippers, what position can you give me? Can you guarantee that I enter the rotation? I don’t want to be a benchwarmer,” Raymond said.
“I can guarantee that you will enter the team rotation,” Dai Li nodded without hesitation/ “If you are in good shape, I intend to put you in the starting lineup.”
“Starting lineup?” Raymond shook his head bitterly, “I can’t even fathom that. I am injured. I’ll be thankful for being able to play just a few minutes.”
“I know. You have a severe back injury, a waist injury, a knee injury, foot injuries. In addition, your inguinal hernia, wrists, elbows, hips and left foot have all been injured in the past. However, these are not problems,” Dai Li smiled and waved his hand. “Even your congenital scoliosis is not a problem in my opinion.”
“Coach Li. You are not kidding, are you?” Raymond said in disbelief.
Raymond had played basketball for many years. Naturally, he accumulated some injuries. He chose to retire because of his back injury. After he had a minimally invasive surgery on his knees, he did not fully recover. In actuality, he was not considered that old for a shooting guard or small forward.
Raymond’s most serious issue was his congenital scoliosis. In the past, some experts predicted that he could play basketball for another three or four years at most. Raymond was picked in the ninth in the draft because of this problem. If the congenital scoliosis were to disappear, Raymond would definitely be able to play at an even higher level.
Dai Li took out the brochure he had prepared.
“I am known for my excellent rehabilitation training. Over the years, I have helped many well-known athletes undergo rehabilitation. Many of the athletes suffered injuries that affected their careers. All of the cases above are successful cases.”
…
Dai Li and Johnson left Raymond’s villa.
“Raymond looked very excited,” Johnson said.
“Of course. The two biggest enemies of professional athletes are time and injury. Time is beyond anyone’s ability to overcome. We can’t do anything about it. Injuries are different. Injuries have always been an obstacle for athletes. Any athlete who has sustained an injury will be excited about healing themselves” Dai Li replied.
Johnson nodded and then asked, “Who is our next target?”
“Have you brought your swim trunks?” Dai Li asked.
Johnson immediately understood what he meant. “Why are we heading to Miami? To look for Chris Noel?”
“Yes, we need players inside the three-point line. This is the era of small ball play. The requirements for players inside the three-point line have changed. Those able to move quickly that can switch to defense quickly are popular. The players with three-point shooting ability are also very popular. Chris Noel is the best power forward in the NBA right now,” Dai Li replied.
“Noel is different from the others. Other athletes left the court because of injuries. Chris Noel had to leave the game because of an illness. The blood clots in his body may be fatal and they may cause thrombosis. They could even cause a pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction. This is a disease that needs treatment. It can’t be solved through training,” Johnson said.
“There is a problem with his anticoagulant function. If his body has no blood clots, these symptoms will not appear. He will then be able to pass the NBA medical examination, right?” Dai Li said. “It is up to you to talk about the contract. Leave the NBA medical exam to me.”
…
Chris Noel was two meters tall. He was a power forward and an occasional center. He had been selected for the NBA All-Star team 11 times. He had also won two NBA championships. He was definitely an A-list star player.
Noel was one of those players who played rapidly inside the three-point line. As a guy with a big build, Chris Noel could shoot outside the three-point line as well. He had won the NBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars Competition three times in a row. In his career, he had a 40% field goal percentage for three-pointers in a season.
There were a lot of fans who criticized him for not being aggressive enough, always shooting from outside the three-point line and not going inside. The truth was that he was very good at getting rebounds. Considering that it was the small ball era, power forwards who were able to shoot from outside the three-point line were definitely the most popular.
Like other stars, Chris Noel suffered from a lot of injuries, but it was a disease that eventually made him leave the court. The doctors found a blood clot in his lungs. They may cause pulmonary thrombosis.
The worse news was that he had a problem with his anticoagulant function. This meant that blood clots would appear in his blood vessels and enter the meridians of the main arteries The biggest problem was the potential blocking of the pulmonary artery, causing pulmonary embolism, or blocking of the cardiovascular system and causing heart disease. These were both deadly.
Although anticoagulation drugs could treat this disease, anticoagulation drugs also caused an increased risk of bleeding. It was not easy to stop the bleeding once it started. Playing basketball already increased the chances of vascular bleeding so had to choose between anticoagulation drugs and continuing his career.
In the end, the National Basketball Players Association issued a medical report to confirm that Chris Noel suffered from a career-ending injury. This report meant that Noel was leaving the NBA. Although Noel had never announced his retirement, his team, the Miami Heat, announced that he had been laid off and promised to retire his jersey.
…
In Miami, there were tons of bikini babes on the beach. In the evening, the nightclubs were filled with people indulging themselves.
Noel’s mansion was right by the sea and it had a three-story pool. There was also a private marina by the sea.
When Dai Li and Johnson arrived, they found a sign hanging on the door.
“Is Noel selling his house?” Dai Li subconsciously asked.
“It seems that getting cut from the Heat really upset him. He is not planning on continuing to stay in the city,” Johnson said.
“That’s better for us. We have a better chance of convincing him,” Dai Li said. He rang the doorbell.
…
“Chris, we want to invite you to join the Clippers.” Johnson was afraid that Chris misunderstood what he meant. “Don’t join the management or coaching staff, but join us as a player. We want to ask you to make a comeback.”
“Comeback? Why would you use those words? I haven’t retired yet!” Chris Noel patted his chest.
“You haven’t retired yet!” Johnson said, a little embarrassed. He was actually a little stunned. The Heat had already retired Noel’s jersey and he had the gall to say that he wasn’t retired.
Dai Li asked, “Mr. Noel, as you are not retired, are you interested in joining the Clippers?”
“Of course! I still have a villa in Los Angeles. I wanted to sell it, but I couldn’t. Now I can just move in,” Noel replied.
Dai Li and Johnson looked at each other. They didn’t think things would go so smoothly.
Noel went said, “I can go to the Clippers, but I want to be part of the starting lineup!”
“That is not going to be a problem,” Dai Li agreed quickly.
The speed in which Dai Li agreed made Noel felt uneasy. In his current condition, he wouldn’t be able to pass the NBA’s medical examination. He couldn’t even get on any teams, let alone play in their starting lineups. If Dai Li were not the head coach of the Clippers, Noel would think he had encountered a conman.
Noel asked doubtfully, “Coach Li, you know about my current physical condition, right? I am referring to the blood clots.”
“Of course I know,” Dai Li nodded.
“Then you should know that, in my current condition, it is impossible for me to pass the NBA’s medical examination. The NBA officials will not allow me to play,” Noel continued.
“I know,” Dai Li nodded again.
“If you know that I can’t get back on the court, then why would you agree to my requests?” Noel asked, puzzled.
“We’re still quite a few months away from the new season. If you come to Los Angeles to train during these few months, I’m confident I can help you recover,” Dai Li spoke very candidly.
“Through training? Are you kidding?” Noel clearly did not believe what Dai Li said.
“We can sign the contract first. If you can’t pass the NBA’s medical examination before the start of next season, then we will lose a lot of money. I don’t think anyone would use a few million dollars to make a joke, right?” Dai Li said.
Noel thought about it and saw that what Dai Li said made sense, so he nodded and agreed.
“Our team manager Johnson will contact your agent about the contract.” Dai Li thought for a while and asked, “I have one last question. I thought I would have to pay a lot of money to get you to join the Clippers. I didn’t expect you to agree so readily. I want to know why you made your choice so quickly.”
“You saw the sign at the door, right? I have no plans to stay in Miami. I’ve actually already planned to go to Los Angeles. I have a big villa there,” Noel answered.
“Is it because the Heat kicked you out?” Dai Li asked.
“That’s just one of the reasons. I have been in this city for many years. I love Miami. I would have also liked to stay on the Heat. I have a group of teammates who I am familiar with here. We have won two championships together. I thought I would grow old in this city, but now I have those damn blood clots!”
Noel took a deep breath and before saying, “I should have retired like a superstar, with glory. I could have enjoyed the flowers and applause. I wanted a perfect retirement ceremony. Instead, I was lying in the hospital wearing a patient gown, waiting for others to announce that I can no longer play. I was treated like an abandoned orphan!
“I am not willing to leave the court like this! So I said to myself, if I can, I will definitely return to the court!
“I am unwilling to stay down!”