unfinished glory

Chapter 11 The Hardest Road
After returning to Duke University, the training continued as usual, but the players were a little lazy.

The old coach K made a consolation speech in the San Antonio locker room, but this did not eliminate the regret of the players.

After the training, Redick took the initiative to find the old coach K and told him that he was going to participate in this year's draft, which surprised the old coach.

Luol Deng revealed a long time ago that he would go to the NBA after finishing this season, and the old coach K was prepared.But Redick has always said that he still has some shortcomings, and at least he will work on the team for another year.

The old coach K knows that Redick is not a person who cannot bear the blow, and will not escape because of a temporary loss.

"Redick, are you serious? Tell me why you suddenly changed your mind."

"Coach, I'm serious. I've thought about it for a long time. As for why I did this, I just hope to have a good draft ranking."

The old coach K didn't think of this reason, he tried to convince Redick:
"Have you ever thought about it carefully, your skills are not yet mature, and your performance is not good enough. If you go to the NBA with this state, you may only get the late first-round pick. And you stay for another year , When everything is polished, I think, a lottery position can't escape."

"Maybe what you said is right, but" Redick looked at the old coach K meaningfully: "Wait until next season, will I really have a chance to perform?"

Old coach K was about to blurt out "Of course", but suddenly remembered something, he was silent for dozens of seconds, and said: "I understand what you are worried about, give me some time, I will think about it, and you should think about it too. "

Looking at Redick's back, the old coach K took a sip of coffee, he understood the opponent's thoughts.

In Redick's view, Li Chongxiao's growth has already posed a threat to him.According to the growth rate of the opponent and the importance of the old coach K, it is not certain who will be the core of the perimeter next season.

And Li Chongxiao is not like Luol Deng, he has a good relationship with him, and he doesn't have such big ambitions.

Next season, the two are bound to have a fight for the core position.

Redick isn't afraid of competition, but he isn't blindly confident either.

By the end of the season, the winner will happily enter the lottery, and the loser may fall to the second round.

He's in the lead, why take the risk.What's more, I'm still a senior, so I can't survive the opponent, and I can't afford to take the risk.

At the same time, he will not pin his hopes on his current teammates, counting on them to provide help on and off the court.

The authority of the old coach K is too great, the players will not and dare not do things that are not conducive to the team.

Moreover, many people are born with the ability to adapt to the wind.

Li Chongxiao has the potential to make people fall for him, so Redick handed over this choice to Coach K.

Now or the future, this is a question before the old coach K.

The team did not practice on the second day, but Li Chongxiao came to the training hall as usual, and then learned that Redick was going to participate in the draft, and someone told him on purpose.

He didn't have any inner fluctuations because of this, let alone secretly happy.

He is much precocious than the average peers, and he knows that this is Redick's way of retreating.The decision is neither his nor Redick's.

After training, the old coach K called him over, told him that Redick wanted to participate in the draft, and asked him what he thought.

Li Chongxiao said very directly that his own thoughts are not important, what is important is what the coach thinks.

"You're wrong," old coach K smiled, and said to him, "I don't own the team alone, and I can't influence your thoughts. If I really had that much control, Redick wouldn't shout If you want to go, you don't use my office."

"At least on this matter, we are all waiting for your decision." Li Chongxiao took the old coach K's words, and then couldn't help saying: "I don't think the responsibility for this matter lies with me..."

Old Coach K interrupted Li Chongxiao with a wave of his hand: "I'm not talking about who is right and wrong, and there is no right and wrong in this matter. Competition is always everywhere. When you enter the NBA in the future, you will know that today these are just pediatrics. .”

"Okay, I won't say anything superfluous." Old Coach K took a taste of it, and then got to the point:
"I came today to tell you my plan. In the next season, you continue to improve yourself, but you won't have many opportunities to play. At the end of the season, I will let Redick go to the draft, and then you are the team's Core."

"Like this season?"

"Just like this season!"

Li Chongxiao was silent, he was thinking seriously, weighing the pros and cons.

Old Coach K was not in a hurry, and drank his coffee slowly. This was the best solution he could think of.

It is impossible for him to give up Redick and choose Li Chongxiao. Redick has proved himself, and Li Chongxiao just has potential.

This is not the NBA, between Ricky Davis and LeBron James, the Cavaliers will not hesitate to choose James.

He was unwilling to give up Li Chongxiao, because it was relatively easy to find a good player, but it was hard to find a leader.After Shane Battier, he found Redick to reach the Final Four again.

"Coach, I'm afraid I can't accept this plan." Without making the old coach K wait long, Li Chongxiao gave his own choice: "If this choice makes you difficult, I will quit the team."

"Don't be impulsive, kid, can't you wait a year?" Old Coach K put down his cup and said seriously:

"Although you have a certain strength now, your potential has not been developed, your confrontation is not enough, and your tactical experience is not enough.

As long as one year of systematic training, your ability will have a rapid development, and then you will be famous, and the door of the NBA will open for you. "

Li Chongxiao listened carefully to Coach K's words, and replied earnestly: "Two years, coach, two years, who knows what will happen?
What if Redick insisted on reading until graduation?
What if a LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony comes along?

Or Dwight Howard is joining us, how do you choose at this time? "

He looked at the coach who was lost in thought, and then said solemnly: "If possible, I want to control my own destiny, and I don't want to leave it to the unknown!"

Old Coach K stood up, walked around the room a few times, and finally seemed to have made a decision, and sat down on a chair.

He looked straight at Li Chongxiao: "Then there is only one way. I will contact other university teams and recommend you. Of course, it will not be a team in this league. This is the only thing I can do now." .”

This is the old coach K's alternative plan. He is not willing to be an enemy, but he is even more unwilling to ruin a child's future.He believed that Li Chongxiao would agree, and he had carefully selected several schools for him.

Li Chongxiao laughed suddenly. He had thought about this plan himself, but he would not do it: "There is another option, and that is that I will participate in this year's NBA draft."

"Are you crazy?" Old Coach K was a little annoyed: "Do you know what I'm talking about? You can't be selected at all in your current situation! You may be capable of being a second-round pick, but you have no reputation at all, no The team will pick you!"

As he said that, he took a piece of paper and handed it to Li Chongxiao: "You listen to me honestly, I have already chosen a school for you, you pick one, and I will call. As long as you are famous in one season, you will at least It's a first round, even a lottery!"

"Coach, I'm not acting on a whim." Li Chongxiao pressed the old Coach K's piece of paper that said the alternative school, and said with a relaxed expression: "I can't compete with Redick here, so you think I'm in another school , you must be able to compete with others? You also said that I haven't fully grown up yet."

"Of course I can also choose a poorer school. Isn't this another form of escape? What's more, I still don't have the confidence to lead a bunch of poor teammates to the top 64. By then, I won't be famous. "

Li Chongxiao looked at what the old coach K wanted to say, and said first: "I am not afraid of competition and challenges, but it is also a choice, the same unknown, and the same challenge. Why can't I choose the most difficult path?"

After hearing what he said, the old coach K smiled wryly: "Son, you are playing with fire. Although there are various difficulties in going to other teams, I believe you can overcome them, but the NBA is another world. I don't think you are right now. Not ready."

"There is never a time when everything is ready, coach. I still have a way out. If I can't be selected, I can still go to Europe and return to my motherland." Li Chongxiao sighed: "

I don't want to stay in the NCAA against you.Maybe you don't know how much you have helped me in my basketball career, but I have to think about you.If I typed it at another school, your reputation and authority would be called into question. "

The old coach K became serious: "Thank you for being considerate of me, but these are unnecessary, my reputation and authority do not need to be maintained by sacrifice, and it is not worth a child's future.

I have been a coach in this school for more than 20 years, and I cannot be shaken by a little criticism.You have to think for yourself, the choice you make now will have a major impact on your life path.

You have to know that what you lose may not be an opportunity, but may be millions of dollars or even tens of millions. "

"Hahahaha!" Hearing this, Li Chongxiao laughed, and he said to the old coach K: "You are too worried, after going through some things, I know that there are many paths in my life.

Basketball is a part of my life, but it's not the only one.And I don't need to play basketball to change my life. I'm not, you know, playing hard for money.My family is not poor. My father's assets add up to buy two NBA teams. "

The old coach K looked at him and didn't know what to say for a moment. Li Chongxiao considered all the problems.

This is a well-educated child from a well-off family. They do not lack some life experience, and they can judge for themselves and have their own opinions on certain matters.

Who was the last child like this?Grant Hill, so smart, so hardworking and so talented, if it weren't for injuries, he should be a legend in the NBA.

Old Coach K sighed, he couldn't remember how many times he sighed for this kid.

He has some regrets now, but he can't make other choices: "Well, I will do my best to help you. I will make a plan and use my experience and contacts to try to get you selected."

He stood up and hugged Li Chongxiao:
"Good luck! I hope you don't regret your choice, and I don't regret it either!"

(End of this chapter)