69novels Chapter 3 Three Years Later
Chapter 3 Three Years Later
"Here, congratulations to the Lakers for defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 to win the 2000-2001 NBA championship, achieving a back-to-back title. Congratulations also to Shaquille O'Neal for winning the Finals MVP with an average of 33 points and 15.8 rebounds per game."
On television, the host's voice sounded calm and steady, unlike the passionate and enthusiastic tone of the present.
"Hey, you know what, this Lakers team is actually pretty good. They might actually be able to win three consecutive championships or something. This guy with the afro has a bit of a Jordan vibe in his fadeaway, but he's nowhere near Jordan's level."
Wang Kai's father said to his son, Wang Kai, who had grown to 1.85 meters tall.
"Tell your dad that Jordan is a bastard, a gambler and a fanatic. I can score 81 points, he can only score 69 at most."
"I'll talk to him when you get 81 points. Also, I'm sure I can get 82 points in the future."
In three years, Wang Kai has grown from an ignorant little kid into a young man in the prime of his life.
After three years, Wang Kai was able to allow Kobe, who was in his soul space, to experience the external environment through his body, including letting Kobe, who had been retired for four years, recall his "glory" when he won the championship in 2001.
Compared to three years ago, Wang Kai, now sixteen, is not as tall and strong as he was three years ago. Although his height is definitely tall among his peers, he is actually a bit thinner than before.
Although Kobe was not a professional nutritionist or trainer, he had unparalleled professional experience. The knowledgeable Kobe knew that making Chinese boys build muscle too early could shorten Wang Kai's professional lifespan. Therefore, he did not require Wang Kai to do a lot of functional training and high-intensity basic training during these three years. Instead, he focused on ball practice and shooting training.
By training his ball control in the soul space and his hand control in reality, coupled with a reasonable diet and sufficient sleep, Wang Kai's height continued to grow without experiencing a sudden increase that would cause calcium loss.
Yes, after three years together, Kobe had forgotten his goal of turning Wang Kai into a basketball enthusiast, or perhaps he had already achieved that goal. Based on that goal, Kobe began to cultivate Wang Kai as a professional player, or even a great player.
As for Wang Kai himself, after these three years, he has completely forgotten his original unrealistic ideas. He is much more mature than he was three years ago, but he still maintains a strong desire to win and a pursuit of glory.
Wang Kai, who will be a high school freshman in the second half of the year, is already famous throughout the county for his basketball skills that surpass everyone's expectations. Even some people in the city know that there is a teenager in the county who is very good at playing basketball.
However, given that Wang Kai's hometown is located in the northwest, it is probably not known to the world for its sandstorms, and there is probably nothing else about it.
"Xiao Wang, you should start thinking about how to participate in more competitions now."
Kobe had his own considerations regarding Wang Kai's development. Of course, subconsciously he also hoped that Wang Kai could go to the United States as soon as possible so that his plan to save himself and his daughter could be implemented sooner.
Wang Kai now possesses outstanding ball handling skills. His dribbling ability makes Kobe realize that he didn't have that level when he was sixteen. After all, with the addition of time in the soul space and real time, Wang Kai has already had six years of training, while Kobe himself only started formal training after he was eight or nine years old.
In addition, with Wang Kai's excellent shooting touch during training, Kobe felt that he could cultivate a Chinese "Curry".
The problem Wang Kai is facing now is that he needs to participate in more competitions to experience how to showcase his abilities in competitions, but unfortunately, Wang Kai has very few such opportunities in China.
As for having Wang Kai join China's domestic professional training system, this was not within Kobe's consideration. He felt that with the training level of Chinese basketball, it was impossible for Wang Kai to achieve any growth, and it might even lead to the premature interruption and downfall of Wang Kai's professional career.
"I understand what you're saying, Lao Ke, but look, there are only so many games I can participate in each year. The county's annual basketball games, and even the county's youth basketball summer league organized by the sports school with money sponsored by my dad, add up to only about a dozen games. I want to play, but I don't have the opportunity. Lao Ke, do you think I should go to a big city to find some professional teams for tryouts, like Guangdong Hongyuan or something? With my level, I should have no problem playing as a starting point guard there, right? As for Li Qun's ball-handling skills, I think they are far inferior to mine."
"You're right, my boy. Your ball-handling skills are indeed top-notch in China right now, but I don't agree with you joining the professional system in China. It will ruin your future. I would prefer you to go to high school in the United States now and participate in American college basketball to showcase yourself. Your body can withstand the collisions there, and you can gradually adapt to the atmosphere of American basketball. This will help your future growth. Of course, I don't deny that I hope you will contact me in advance after you arrive in the United States, so that you will have a better future under my personal care."
Kobe did not suppress or hide anything from Wang Kai. He felt that someone as flamboyant as Wang Kai was not suitable for suppression and education. On the contrary, praise and honesty would help improve Wang Kai's self-confidence. Kobe knew that basketball is a sport that requires a lot of self-confidence. Without enough self-confidence, every shot you take is a blind shot.
"Do you think I can just go to America just because you say so? Do you think I can just take some kind of exam and send a CD?"
"Don't worry, I've arranged everything. Remember the SLEP exam I had you take last year? It's a common basic test for studying in American high schools. And the CD that was sent to Florida this February contains your training videos recorded by Lao Wang. The recipient is Kevin Boyle, the head coach of the Montverde Academy basketball team (at that time, the head coach of the Montverde Academy basketball team should have been Philip Webber, but considering Coach Kevin's achievements and international vision, Kevin was made the head coach two years earlier). Once he's watched your training videos, he definitely won't miss you."
"You're just a high school graduate, how do you know all this?"
"There's something fishy about law school. What do you know, you kid who hasn't even finished high school yet? I'm Kobe Bryant, I know way more than you and your dad who just drinks all day."
After three years of getting along, Wang Kai had become adept at getting to Lao Ke's throats, while Lao Ke sometimes forgot Wang Kai's age. They got along like close friends who were always bickering.
For Kobe, being able to communicate with only one person for three years must have been incredibly difficult, especially when facing Wang Kai, that little rascal who doesn't respect his elders and doesn't care about his feelings for him.
"Have you told your alcoholic father that you're going to high school in America?"
"What do you mean, 'drunkard dad'? You can't talk about my dad like that. He was just socializing, expanding our family business. Stop worrying about my dad. When he heard I wanted to go to America, he was all for it."
"Sometimes you should pay more attention to your alcoholic dad; he loves you very much."
"Don't worry, I love my dad more than you do!"
"Kobe has a secret grudge!" (Kobe broke ties with his parents in 2001 because he was going to marry Vanessa, but after winning the championship in 2009, he cried while holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy because his father had passed away and he could not see him lead the team to victory.)
Just as Wang Kai was once again subtly provoking Kobe's lungs, far away in central Florida, in the small town of Montverde, about twenty miles northwest of Orlando, Kevin Boyle, the head coach of the Montverde College basketball team, was on the phone with Dean Dr. James Jim Bailey.
"Kevin, I understand what you mean, but I cannot agree to your request."
"James, you don't understand. That Chinese kid has unparalleled talent. His ball sense seems to be innate. Even though he hasn't achieved any games that have garnered much attention, his talent is still worth it."
Kevin Boyle didn't pay much attention when he first received the disc from the Far East, after all, he received a lot of self-recommendation videos every year.
However, Kevin Boyle was shocked after watching the video; he couldn't believe that there were such talented children in the far East.
Many people believe that talent in American basketball refers more to outstanding physical abilities. Of course, this is certainly important, because physical talent is objective and determines a player's basic level. However, in the eyes of many excellent college coaches, some hidden talents determine a player's upper limit.
Many people believe that ball feel can be developed through training, but in fact, what can be trained is only the basics. Those who have a natural talent for ball feel will perform more outstandingly and smoothly, and you can even feel the true essence of aesthetics in their dribbling and shooting.
Just like Jordan's mid-range shot and Curry's three-pointer, everyone can do those, but only one in ten thousand can do them as well.
Wang Kai is talented, but no one in his life before meeting Kobe Bryant could discover his talent. Kobe Bryant was also lucky; he seemed destined to come into Wang Kai's life.
China has a large population, and statistically speaking, there are many talented children. Unfortunately, they are destined not to meet their "mentor". Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, when people here no longer have to toil for a stable life, more "mentors" will appear and more talents will be discovered.
After recognizing Wang Kai's talent, Kevin Boyle strongly urged the college to lower its admission requirements for Wang Kai and provide him with "financial assistance".
Although Wang Kai achieved a high score in the SLEP exam with Kobe's help, it was clear that he had not participated in any games worthy of American attention, let alone any glory. Therefore, the college agreed to admit Wang Kai but disagreed with head coach Kevin Boyle's request for "financial assistance".
"Kevin, the college will never approve your request. We have a board of trustees. Don't even mention a Chinese student; even if it were my own son, I wouldn't approve it if he didn't meet the requirements."
"Okay, James, how about this? We can forgo it for the first year, but if this kid shows his talent after a year, could the academy approve my request?"
"I can't guarantee it, Kevin, but if he's really as good as you say, I'll try my best to get the school board's approval."