I have a lot of skills in the NBA

Chapter 35 The next stop, the Spurs

San Antonio is located in south-central Texas, USA. It is the second largest city in Texas and the seventh largest city in the United States. It is not a so-called small city.

The Spurs are the only professional basketball team in San Antonio.Since 1996, after Popovich served as the head coach, he completely changed the team culture of the Spurs.

Under the leadership of Popovich, relying on the excellent system, good tactical quality, and the strong performance of the GDP combination, the Spurs dynasty was created and they entered the playoffs for 21 consecutive years.

With the aging of the GDP, the Spurs dynasty completely collapsed and transitioned to the current dual-virtue period. The Spurs' playoff journey this year has ended. The team's core Kawhi Leonard was pushed to the cusp of public opinion due to injuries.

The Spurs AT&T Center arena, which is a arena dominated by black and white, can accommodate more than 4000 people watching the game at the same time.

Li Yang's second stop is the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have a No. 18 pick in the first round and a No. 49 pick in the second round of the draft this year.

The Spurs' second-round draft pick is a bit late, which is not Li Yang's ideal pick, but if they can meet their requirements, the possibility of them using the first-round pick to select Li Yang cannot be ruled out.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Bill Duffy brought Li Yang to the AT&T Center Arena. Immediately at the gate, staff greeted them and guided them into the arena to wait for trial training.

Li Yang was very grateful for Bill Duffy coming to the holy city for trial training with him, but he could also guess the reason, after all, he was also considered a potential excellent client under him.

Generally hot rookies, like Doncic and Ayton, usually have only one person in the trial training, or even one person in the trial training, and several teams are watching from the sidelines at the same time.

The trial training that Li Yang participated in was just the opposite. There were many people to choose from for the 18th pick and 41st pick.

Among these people, Li Yang also saw many familiar figures, including about 10 rookies including Lonnie Walker, Metu, Stewart, and Bruitt, who participated in this trial training together.

It can be seen from the candidates selected by the Spurs to participate in the trial training that their goal this year is very clear: choose a point guard and a swingman.

This is normal. The elimination of the Spurs in the playoffs this year has a lot to do with the weak point guard position. As for the swingman, Leonard and Aldridge have always been short of such players.

Seeing the competitors in the trial training, Li Yang's self-confidence actually grew stronger.

It was the same old physical fitness test as soon as it came up.The difference between Li Yang and other rookies lies in his stability. Li Yang's three-point shooting ability is very strong, and he performed as well in the trial training as he did in the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Then there is the non-confrontation trial training. This link is the same as in Cleveland, which is to show your technical characteristics and potential.

Just as Li Yang was about to start, a few people came to the sidelines. Spurs general manager RC Buford brought head coach Popovich and team star Tim Duncan to the sidelines.

"Is this the Chinese player?" Duncan whispered to Popovich.

And Li Yang officially started his trial training.

The first is dribbling. With the castrated version of the ball-handling master skill, Li Yang's ball-handling level has risen sharply. The dribbling is called smooth and smooth, and it can be retracted and released freely. Although it is not very fancy, it is very stable and practical.

"Well, not bad!" Popovich obviously saw this, and he made an evaluation in a low voice: "The dribble is stable, and there are no obvious shortcomings in the left and right hands."

RC Buford nodded in agreement.

But at this moment, Li Yang suddenly accelerated, like a whirlwind holding the ball to outside the three-point line in the frontcourt, he pulled up and shot, and the three-pointer went into the net.

Popovich was still so calm, and just said in a low voice: "The speed is really fast, by the way, what about his physical test data?"

Duncan handed over Li Yang's physical test data. Popovich looked at it carefully and made a few comments: "The speed is extremely fast and the scoring ability is extremely strong. This may really be a rare potential guard."

"Okay, let's continue to watch. Next, he should shoot a three-pointer?" Popovich asked, and Buford nodded.

Sure enough, as they expected, Li Yang took the ball and went beyond the three-point line.

Li Yang didn't hesitate at all, as soon as he raised his hand, he scored a three-pointer, and then only heard a "shua", and the three-pointer went into the net!

Li Yang kept shooting. In just 1 minute, Li Yang made [-] three-pointers, all of which were hits!
This time Popovich looked at it for a long time, nodded in satisfaction, and then made an evaluation: "Very good three-point shooting ability, quick shots, standard shooting posture, really a good 3D player."

"Then do you want to...?" Buford glanced at Popovich and asked hesitantly.

Popovich was silent for a while, considering that the team already had top 3D player Danny Green, he waved his hand and said, "He is not worthy of our first-round pick, but we can give him a second-round guarantee. If he falls to the second round, then we can select him with the No. 49 pick. Of course, we have to see the results of the confrontation training."

RC Buford smiled slyly: "Understood."

In the following confrontational training, Li Yang continued to demonstrate his offensive ability, completely shooting through the defense of Lonnie Walker, who also participated in the trial training, a shooting guard who also has a first-round prospect.

After the trial training, Popovich stepped forward and said with a smile: "Li Yang, your trial training is great. Your ball-handling skills are beyond our imagination, your confrontation ability is also better than our expectations, and your understanding of basketball also impresses us."

"Thank you." Li Yang pretended to be as shy as a good baby.

"Li, what do you think of the current pace of the NBA game?" Popovich was all smiles, chatting casually, but in fact he was alluding.

As we all know, the Spurs head coach Popovich is not very fancy about the league's three-point boom.He once said that if a player shoots a three-pointer in midfield, even if he scores, the game is meaningless.

The Spurs are more advocating team basketball. They mainly create open opportunities through the running of their teammates.

"Then I'll just say it straight, you don't mind!" Li Yang looked at the smiling Popovich, thinking that this old man is really bad, and he deliberately dug a hole for me to jump in!It made my grandson pretend for nothing for so long just now.

"The NBA has now entered the era of small ball. Three-pointers and transitions will become very important. Traditional centers are gradually abandoned by many teams because of their slow movement speed. Centers only need to do a good job of rebound protection and frame protection, and occasionally eat cakes under the basket." Li Yang said tentatively, while observing Popovich's face.

Sure enough, after listening to it, Popovich's face immediately turned dark. He didn't like Li Yang's argument very much. It ran counter to his team basketball, but he couldn't express it too directly: "Well, three-pointers are really important!"

"Three-pointers and mid-range shots are the most efficient ways to score." Li Yang observed his words and quickly made up for it, almost falling for Popovich's tricks.

Popovich's face changed from gloomy to sunny, and a kind smile appeared on Popovich's face again, and he patted Li Yang's shoulder with satisfaction: "Yes, what the young man said is still very insightful!!
"Er...it's okay!" Li Yang looked at Popovich in front of him speechlessly, and the other party turned his face like a Sichuan opera.

One thought of heaven, one second of hell.If you say yes, it will be sunny, if you say no, there will be no tomorrow!
Before leaving San Antonio, Li Yang got a reply from the Spurs management. Buford said sincerely: "Li, we can't give you a first-round guarantee because we have other more suitable candidates, but we can give you a second-round guarantee. If you fall to the second round, we will definitely choose you."

"At the same time, we hope you will continue to train during the holidays, oh yes, the most important thing is to avoid injuries!" Buford looked discerning.

This is the guarantee given by the Spurs, but it is up to Li Yang to believe it or not.These veterans have a strong ability to hide their swords in their smiles. You can just listen to such words, and the most important thing is to look at their actions.

Although Li Yang doesn't like Buford's operating style, he has to admit that the Spurs are indeed a team with rich championship background. They have a good team basketball culture, and more importantly, they have the magical and thick Popovich, which is very suitable for Li Yang.

(End of this chapter)