Slam Dunk: My Study Abroad Career in Northern Hunan

Honor and wealth.

Why has the NBA become the ultimate destination that so many players are pursuing?
In addition to the fact that this league gathers the world's top players, the most important reason is actually the generous treatment that this commercial league gives to the players.

The Timberwolves players who won the championship have seen their values ​​increase significantly. If the Timberwolves management wants to renew the contracts of some of the players, the price they need to pay is far more than what they could have paid before.

But fortunately, this team is very young.

Except for Garnett's relatively high annual salary, the salaries of the other core players are almost the same.

A team that wins the championship will experience an earthquake after that season. In the history of the NBA, there are actually very few teams that can maintain their dominance and compete for multiple seasons with the same lineup.

The main reason is that players tend to have higher aspirations after they have proven their worth, and the temptations they face will be greater.

However, this problem is not reflected much in the Timberwolves team.

The main reason why the Timberwolves can maintain stability is that their core player, Wu Dao, is a first-year rookie.

Compared with Wu Dao's strength, his salary is really too cheap. As for the Timberwolves, they have a lot of room to appease other players who are ready to make moves.

After the championship season, some internal conflicts of the Timberwolves were well buried. The players were immersed in the joy of victory and have not paid attention to these things for the time being.

Wu Dao is a person who focuses on the present. He has not yet considered how the future will develop or what his situation will be like after his rookie season.

He doesn't even care whether the Timberwolves can maintain their dominance.

All he can do is play his own ball well. Even if he wants to take care of other things, he may not be able to do so.

If the Timberwolves' management can satisfy his wishes, then he will continue to play for the Timberwolves. If the management's operations are a bit messy, then with Wu Dao's personal abilities, he will be able to get a good contract wherever he goes.

Any championship-contending team would need a ready-to-fight player like Martial Arts.

Even if we put aside Wu Dao's contribution on the court, just considering his influence as a yellow player is enough to attract most teams in the league to extend olive branches to him.

For martial arts, other than Boston where discrimination is serious, other cities are fine to go to.

Strength is his confidence that allows him to not care about trivial matters.

The long off-season gave Wu Dao a lot of free time, and since he had so much free time, he didn’t want to rush into training.

Holding degree is very important for a player. High-intensity competitions also cause Wu Dao's body to accumulate a certain degree of fatigue, which requires some time to repair.

Even though he is still relatively young, he cannot allow his body to work at a high intensity so as not to affect his career.

After establishing a firm foothold in the NBA, Wu Dao received many inexplicable phone calls. Even the leader of the Japanese men's basketball team tried to get in touch with Wu Dao through his family.

Although his father was vague on the phone, Wu Dao naturally knew the plan of the Japanese men's basketball team.

I guess he hopes to be able to join the national team.

Without even thinking about it, Wu Dao informed his father directly and clearly refused. As for how to respond to the other party without losing face, that was not something Wu Dao had to consider.

This little episode also made Wu Dao think about his nationality.

In terms of family relationships, whether you are admitted to the University of Tokyo or Japan, it has no effect on martial arts.

But from the perspective of career development, neither of these two nationalities is actually suitable for martial arts.

Wudao actually doesn't want to participate in FIBA ​​events. From any perspective, participating in FIBA ​​events is harmful rather than beneficial to Wudao.

Needless to say, even without considering their own emotions, their weak teammates are not worth using martial arts to help the poor. Winning the game may not necessarily increase their wealth, but losing the game will instead put them in a whirlpool of public opinion.

As for Todai?
Wudao still wants to play in the NBA for a few more years. The current Tokyo University adopts a conscription system. He doesn't want to be like 226 and participate in all kinds of crappy games. That would only waste his precious professional life.

Wudao doesn't want to do thankless tasks.

The best choice for martial arts is actually to become an American citizen. For people from some countries, his Chinese American identity can actually bring him more convenience.

Disgusting?
It's really disgusting.

However, it is undeniable that in the current public opinion environment, the public intellectuals have not been exposed, and Yilin Readers is still selling well. His identity as a Chinese American will provide him with a lot of convenience when he returns to China to invest, do business, etc. in the future.

Even if I can no longer play basketball after several years, if I want to make a contribution to the basketball career of my motherland, joining the game would be the stupidest choice.

Criticizing certain policies on the Internet as an NBA star can have an unexpected effect. Exerting pressure from the outside can unleash unbridled restraint.

Although Wu Dao is young, he thinks long-term.

There are still many things to do in the future, and he doesn't want to put shackles on himself in advance.

Wu Dao informed his family in advance about international matters, and his family also expressed understanding of Wu Dao's ideas.

Moreover, for people at this level of martial arts, such things become insignificant matters.

After a short rest of a few days, Wudao took Sakuragi Hanamichi, who had taken a leave of absence, and went to Duke University in North Carolina.

Duke University is a famous university among famous universities. It is the best among the best in both basketball and academics.

A few years ago, Duke University produced a player named Grant Hill. He was the third pick in 94 and had already established himself in the NBA.

It is not easy to get into this school. Although Hanamichi plays at the prestigious Oak Hill High School and is even a starter on the team with good performance on the court, it is not easy to win the favor of Duke University.

Although Hanamichi had some exposure in high school, his identity as a yellow player ultimately restricted him.

Although Wu Dao has paved a way for his skin color in the NBA, those who want to retrace his path still need to overcome many obstacles.

The purpose of coming to Duke University this time is just to visit and browse, and there is no other substantial purpose. That kind of thing is useless to rely on individual martial artists, and it requires teamwork.

When Wudao and Sakuragi Hanamichi, dressed in casual clothes, appeared on the campus of Duke University, they did not attract much attention. Duke University's summer semester registration began in February, and summer courses are from May to June, so when Wudao and Sakuragi Hanamichi came, the school was not deserted.

They were received by the leader of the school basketball team. Although Wudao and Sakuragi Hanamichi were only here for a visit, they still greeted the school in advance.

Wu Dao is neither big nor small and is considered a star, so he deserves this little bit of preferential treatment.

The training intensity of American college basketball is not low, and the degree of specialization is also very, very high. The training environment here is probably difficult to cover with the so-called campus basketball.

It happened to be afternoon when Wudao and Sakuragi Hanamichi arrived, and the team was training.

Duke University in 1998 was at its peak, and the players of this class were also known as the golden generation.

Led by the Duke University team leader, Wu Dao and Sakuragi Hanamichi went to the sidelines to watch the team training. At a glance, Wu Dao saw Sean Battier who was playing a training game on the court.

He was the No. 2001 pick in the first round of the 6 draft. He is probably best known to fans for his career with the Rockets.

Battier transferred to Duke in the fall of 1997, along with Elton Brand, Williams Avery, Chris Boggs and Corey Maggette.

Duke's golden generation came very close to the NCAA championship in 1999, but lost to Connecticut State University in the final. After that, Brand, Avery and Maggette entered the NBA, and Burgess transferred from Duke to the University of Utah. The golden generation fell apart, leaving only Battier.

It can be said that if Sakuragi Hanamichi can occupy the position of a core player in Duke University and put in outstanding performances, he will definitely not lack exposure and the door to the NBA will be completely open to him.

However, it is not easy to gain a foothold in this university. Even a strong player like Battier was just a substitute in his freshman year.

After transferring to Duke University in 97, he successfully entered the NBA until the 01 draft.

Duke University's internal team training match was also very intense. Wudao and Sakuragi Hanamichi sat on the sidelines watching the game and chatting:
"Look at that. That player is Elton Brand. He has a high chance of being the No. 1 pick in next year's draft."

"He was the Basketball Player of the Year in New York State when he was in high school. He was the focus of attention of fans and the NBA."

"He's a great rebounder, and if you're lucky enough to get into Duke, this guy is the guy you want to chase."

The martial arts finger pointed at Elton Brand who was active in the arena, and whispered a reminder to Sakuragi Hanamichi beside him.

Many of Duke's golden generation of players entered the NBA, and some of them were drafted very high.

It is no exaggeration to say that it is the cradle of NBA players.

While introducing the Duke University players to Sakuragi Hanamichi, he also expressed praise for Duke University in his words. The team leader on the other side was very happy to hear this. Even the team leader of Duke University, a team with a profound history, would be very happy to be recognized by a player of Wu Dao's level.

At this time, Sakuragi Hanamichi had already been attracted by this training match.

After hearing what Wu Dao said, Sakuragi Hanamichi was able to truly understand Wu Dao's good intentions.

Using college basketball as a springboard, the level of college basketball will directly determine whether a player has the possibility of entering the NBA.

Duke University is like a ruler. Only those who can stand firmly in this team can stand firmly in the NBA. If you can't even stand firmly in this team, don't dream of becoming an NBA player.

There are some things Wudao did not say explicitly to Sakuragi Hanamichi, but I think with Sakuragi Hanamichi's current mind, he should be able to understand them.

The two of them stayed alone in Duke University's arena for two hours, and only left after the team training ended.

During the period, although some Duke University players recognized Wu Dao on the sidelines, due to team rules, they did not leave the team to approach Wu Dao and say hello.

When Wu Dao took Sakuragi Hanamichi out of the stadium, the young player showed regret on his face.

Although in terms of age, a large number of players are even older than Wudao, but age is of no use in the sport of basketball.

There is no doubt that as the Timberwolves' star player, Wu Dao is ahead of these people and is their predecessor.

"Brother Budao, I'm counting on you!"

"I want to play at Duke University. No matter what, I'm going to stay here."

"Become a starter! Become an indispensable pillar of the team!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi made up his mind very quickly. Just one sightseeing trip made him decide to play at Duke University.

What attracted Sakuragi Hanamichi the most was not Duke University’s hardware facilities or their historical honors.

Elton Brand
The player that Budo mentioned who might be selected as the No. 1 pick next year is the reason why Sakuragi Hanamichi is determined to come here to play.

If even the future No. 1 NBA pick plays here, then why can't he, Hanamichi Sakuragi, do the same?
He is full of expectations for his future. Now he is no longer the ignorant layman about basketball. On the road of basketball, Sakuragi Hanamichi has begun to have his own pursuits.

He wants to become stronger and go further in basketball.

In addition to his passion for the game, Sakuragi Hanamichi also saw the benefits of becoming an NBA player from Budo.

Wealth and honor.

Sakuragi Hanamichi has always been a person with very low material desires, but that is only because his own conditions are not enough to support his material desires.

In other words, the simple Sakuragi Hanamichi actually doesn't have much experience, and he hasn't seen too many temptations.

The glamorous world of America has already opened Sakuragi Hanamichi's heart, and Hanamichi's mental cleanliness has also allowed him to remain pure.

When I was in junior high school, I confessed my love to 50 girls.
But then again, Sakuragi Hanamichi only had feelings for one girl at a time.
And ever since I met Haruko, I have never been interested in other girls.

The killing power of white moonlight is just that strong.
Sakuragi Hanamichi pursues a career path not only for himself, but also to be able to be with the people he loves.

On the return flight, Sakuragi Hanamichi, who had already clarified his goal, slept soundly.

(End of this chapter)