An unexpected start 42: 41.
An unexpected start Continuing the timeline from last practice?
That’s actually pretty good, the Suns have a huge treasure trove of skills and game experience.
A semester had passed, and his shooting had improved from zero to capable.
In terms of ball control, he was also quite decent now, with the physical prowess, tactical bonuses, and the threats posed by DeRozan and Tatum, he had no problem playing a simple game.
next semester for sure, it definitely wasn’t due to a broken pass button.
As for physical fitness, the fastest two periods of growth had indeed passed; he only grew two centimeters during the semester.
DeRozan had reached 193 cm; tears were shed.
Fortunately, Tatum, who was now 16 years old, was still 190 cm, which greatly pleased Zhang Yang.
He was just a slow grower, the charcoal head stopped growing.
He had gained a whole 4 kilograms in weight, more than DeRozan who had grown 5 centimeters taller.
He hadn’t intentionally gained weight; it was simply a result of increased training volume and eating more, so it naturally happened.
Back when he played baseball, although he was diligent, he hadn’t received such professional training, and the intensity wasn’t nearly as high.
The increase of 4 kilograms in weight brought significant changes; his physical fitness assessment value had reached 92.
After so many matches, he was sure that this value was calculated based on high school overall standards, not just for a 15-year-old.
It could definitely improve, as his physical fitness would be considered excellent even in the NBA; at the high school level, he should be among the top-notch ones.
The next morning, Zhang Yang rarely slept in.
He was too tired from the previous day’s training, plus, he was relieved from the pressure of one hundred thousand shooting practices and excited about starting his next trial, so he slept until past ten.
After getting up and preparing food, he went to school in the afternoon to join the Gardening Club’s Christmas event.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
For Americans, Christmas was as big as the New Year, and it was important to participate.
Joining the Gardening Club was suggested by Hip, the team’s respected leader who liked taking care of his teammates.
He said it was a club with more girls, and so it suited him better.
Zhang Yang was quite happy with this advice.
Initially, he just relied on his looks and didn’t have to do anything.
But as he became famous within the school team, the club members became more enthusiastic toward him, and a senior even helped him print the club’s end-of-semester report.
The semester had practically ended after the exams, although it wasn’t officially holiday time yet.
Still, there were no more classes; only some club activities were left.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, after watching the drama and dance clubs’ Christmas performances, Zhang Yang and Thomas carpooled back to Hidden Mountain.
In the evening, Thomas dropped Zhang Yang off at home and agreed on a dinner time with Zhang Yang’s parents, then he went home, leaving Zhang Yang contemplating the transformed look of his family’s restaurant.
The facade had undergone major changes.
The two adjoining stores had been merged, tripling the shop area and expanding the business scope to include afternoon tea and coffee, with several more staff members hired, including a professional barista and a pastry chef, making the business thrive.
Zhang Yang: Could it be that I was the one holding them back before?
It must have been that my parents weren’t trying hard enough before!
Seeing her son’s shocked expression, Yang Jing felt a bit smug.
However, she thought that they as a couple needed to keep working hard.
Having heard that their son was doing well in high school, excelling both academically and in basketball, and even had a chance to go professional, she as a mother couldn’t fall behind.
On the 24th and 25th, Zhang Yang didn’t go training but instead spent a relaxing and pleasant Christmas…
receiving New Year’s money.
His mother said that since they were celebrating a foreign festival, they needed a sense of ceremony, emphasizing a blend of Chinese and Western traditions.
On Christmas evening, Zhang Yang and his parents watched the Christmas showdown between the Magic and the Knights, where rookie LeBron’s defense allowed McGrady to perform above his level, scoring a spectacular 41 points.
The Magic won the game against the Knights after an overtime.
The 24-year-old McGrady, looking full of spirit and with an elegant playing style…
Zhang Yang thought about how McGrady, not even 30, would fade from the star roster and end his professional career wandering for a few years, which was really regrettable.
After having a shower and saying goodnight to his parents, Zhang Yang went back to his room, lay down, and with thoughts of “Mr.
Nadal, here I come,” drifted off to sleep…
Waking up well-rested, Zhang Yang opened his eyes and, sure enough, the style of the ceiling light had changed.
how did it turn into a hotel style?
He sat up and looked around.
Indeed, it was a hotel room.
“Did Teacher Na divorce me and kick me out?”
“Or was the house burned down by a wildfire, and the Hawkeye Federation forced me to sell land because they wouldn’t rescue me?
No, that can’t be right – Hawaii doesn’t have an NBA team…”
Then he saw a jersey, and after a few frozen seconds, he closed his eyes.
“Evil spirits begone, evil spirits begone…”
Reciting this incantation should surely work in the free United States… When he opened his eyes again, it was still the same jersey in black and white, with ‘Zhang’ and ‘3’ printed on it.
“That’s not right, I can’t, or at least I shouldn’t.
How could I, Compton Zhang San, just join them because I couldn’t beat them…
It seems like I actually won!
So there’s nothing to blame.
But where’s my Teacher Na?
My precious Teacher Na is just gone like that?”
Zhang Yang initially wanted to play a detective game, analyzing his present time and recent performance in basketball through observing his living environment, just for fun, but now he wasn’t in the mood.
He mentally called out for the ‘Gate of Trials’ to appear.
The last glimmer of hope disintegrated – in the team column, it indeed had changed to the San Antonio Spurs.
Immediately a flood of information entered his mind.
In the 09-10 season, during the second round of the playoffs against the Spurs, his boldness won the favor of Alvin Gentry, head coach of the Suns.
He earned stable playing time in the Western Conference finals against the Lakers, and in 13 minutes per game, he scored 6.5 points with 1 steal.
Though not a standout performance, his fearless spirit against the defending champions caught the attention of the Lakers’ management.
Thus, during the offseason, the Warriors offered him a contract starting at 2.61 million US dollars, totalling 5.3 million US dollars over two years.
He was inclined to stay with the Suns, but this price exceeded the expectations of Suns’ general manager Steve Kerr, who refused to match the offer, and he ultimately joined the Warriors.
After joining the Warriors, he had disputes over ball rights with Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, and David Lee, could not overcome them, but still managed to achieve an average of 20 minutes of play per game, competing in 50 games before the All-Star weekend, with a shooting percentage of 43.2%, averaging 11.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game…
During the All-Star weekend, the Spurs and the Warriors completed a trade.
The Spurs sent sharpshooter Steve Novak and undrafted shooting guard Gary Neal, trading him back in return.
Yesterday, February 9th, he arrived in San Antonio and completed induction procedures, currently staying in a hotel…
After digesting the information, Zhang Yang was silent for a while before he could bring himself to say, “I’m really a true Warrior!”
Competing for ball rights with Curry, Ellis, and David Lee?
Well, thinking about it, it’s quite thrilling.
If he had to choose again, he’d make the same decision.
Ellis and David Lee were black holes when it came to ball possession.
Once the ball got to them, it wouldn’t come back.
In his sophomore year, Curry, teaming up with these two, had no choice but to compete hard.
He, Jack Zhang, teaming up with these three, would have to fight for his chance or he might not even touch the ball for a full game!
As a freshman or sophomore going to the Warriors back then, not taking a shot was a path to certain defeat!
The Warriors’ way of training players, was it like…
raising a poisonous creature?
I stayed late at work today, came back late, and hurriedly wrote a chapter.
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