blogombal Chapter 15 Lian Dao's NCAA Star Road
Chapter 15 Lian Dao's NCAA Star Road
Lian Dao had never seen DeRozan praise anyone so highly. A little embarrassed by DeRozan's compliment, he made an excuse to go to the restroom. Upon returning, he offered to pay the bill. The cost of a few cups of coffee was negligible for the rather wealthy Lian Dao. He felt that if he could leave a good impression on this journalist, the money would be well spent.
Sure enough, Haaland was visibly grateful when Lian Dao paid the bill. As a recent graduate who had only recently entered the workforce, Haaland wasn't financially well-off. He had been so focused on getting firsthand news material that he hadn't considered the cost. Saving money now was a big deal for him.
After the interview, Lian Dao and DeRozan said goodbye to Haaland and left the café.
Haaland rushed back to the hotel, eager to use the game footage and interview notes to write his article.
While watching the game footage, Haaland was full of praise for Lian Dao's accurate three-pointers, tight defense, smooth dribbling, and no-look passes. He believed that Lian Dao's performance was masterful and that more people should know about him.
Harland quickly began typing on the computer: "USC's 'Reggie'—the key man who led the Trojans to turn the tide of the war."
He spent an hour meticulously polishing the manuscript and carefully selected several of the best photos to include: one of Lian Dao shooting a three-pointer near the center circle marker, one of him making a no-look pass, and one of him capturing a defensive moment.
The photos are of excellent quality, perfectly capturing the most exciting moments of the game. Haaland knows that fans not only appreciate players with superb skills, but also those with outstanding looks. Some players, in particular, have a large female fanbase, deeply attracted by their skills and appearance.
After Haaland finished writing the article, he sent it to the editor-in-chief's email address.
Jim, the basketball editor of Sports Illustrated, read the article while smoking, his expression complex. The article was well-written, but everyone's attention was focused on the hottest rookies like Blake Griffin, James Harden, Hasheem Thabeet, and Stephen Curry.
Jim wasn't sure if the reports about Lian Dao would interest his fans.
After pondering for about ten minutes, Jim decisively stubbed out his cigarette and then called Harland.
"Kid, your report is really well written. I've approved it and put it on the cover of the basketball section. I hope that kid won't let me down."
……
At that moment, Lian Dao was patiently teaching DeRozan math in his dormitory. He had explained one problem three times, but DeRozan still looked completely bewildered. Lian Dao couldn't help but sigh inwardly, feeling that his efforts were futile—it was like talking to a brick wall.
I had heard before that many students have a weak foundation in mathematics. This is especially true for families that struggle to make ends meet. For many, mathematics seems like an innate weakness, while those who excel in math are often both admirable and unbelievable.
What frustrated Lian Dao the most was that DeRozan confidently chose mathematics as an elective, clearly underestimating the difficulty of the course. Tutoring DeRozan was even more exhausting than Lian Dao's own intense training.
Realizing that explaining the principles was ineffective, Lian Dao decided to change his strategy. He directly told DeRozan how to analyze and deal with each type of problem. This was a method Lian Dao had honed during his rigorous exam-oriented education—the ability to arrive at the correct answer even without fully understanding the question.
Meanwhile, Lian Dao was unaware that the interview he had just conducted had been approved by the editor-in-chief of the basketball section of Sports Illustrated as the cover story.
Before the widespread adoption of smartphones, most people relied on magazines like Sports Illustrated and ESPN, or television reports, for their sports information. Sports Illustrated wields enormous influence in the sports world, and this report will significantly boost Liandao's brand awareness.
Back at the hotel, the bespectacled man who had been sitting in the auditorium during the game received a copy of the game video. He quickly compiled a scouting report and sent it along with the video to Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace.
"Hey Chris, I saw a really talented player today. I think he's a better fit for the Grizzlies than Thabeet," scout Jason said excitedly.
"Jason, while Demarai Carroll is excellent, he's still not as good as Thabeet. Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Chris Wallace was completely bewildered by the call, as he hadn't even had a chance to check Jason's message.
"Hey buddy, who mentioned Carroll? I'm talking about that number 1 player from USC. His Chinese name is Lian Dao, and his English name is Xi Ke'er. Didn't you see the information I sent you?"
"Oh, sorry, I haven't had a chance to check yet. I hope the player information you sent is as reliable as you say. Otherwise, bro, you might not be able to keep your bonus."
"Don't worry, buddy. You'll like this kid."
"Okay, let me take a look at the information first. We'll talk later."
Chris hung up the phone, and despite his doubts, he found and opened the message Jason had sent.
Liandao
Height: 204 cm
Arm span: 223 cm
"Wow, this kid is in great physical condition," Chris thought, becoming interested.
He continued reading and saw Jason's assessment of Lian Dao's strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths: Excellent three-point shooting, defense, ball handling, and passing abilities; high basketball IQ, excellent court vision, and strong spatial awareness; outstanding physical strength.
Weaknesses: Slow footwork speed, requiring more physical training; poor mid-range shooting ability; ball handling skills during breakthroughs need improvement; overall physical condition needs to be strengthened; huge development potential.
Chris then watched the game replay.
"He's as skinny as a stick. Jason said he's very strong and has good physicality? What is he talking about?... Oh, that three-pointer was really interesting... How can he generate so much power?"
Chris's initial skepticism gradually turned into admiration as he watched the video. In the end, he was deeply moved.
He stroked his stubble-covered chin thoughtfully. As Jason had said, Lian Dao's talent was undeniable. But Chris was also worried about the high physical demands of professional leagues and whether Lian Dao could withstand the intense competition. As the Grizzlies' general manager, he had to proceed cautiously. Lian Dao might not be worth a first-round draft pick, but selecting him with a second-round pick might be just right.
Chris sent Jason a message, asking him to keep an eye on Liandao's progress.
As Chris contemplates the future, he knows it's too early to make any decisions. The season has only just begun, and the Grizzlies' performance is still uncertain. Perhaps they really can make the playoffs. But given the team's current situation, even Chris himself is skeptical.