Slam Dunk: My Study Abroad Career in Northern Hunan

Behind a player who can make a name for himself, there is often a comprehensive team of trainers. Most of the stars, in addition to the assistance of the team's own team of trainers, often need to recruit some special trainers themselves.

NBA players have high salaries and their expenses are also very expensive.

Take the famous basketball star James for example. At its peak, the logistics support team behind him exceeded more than 100 people. Everyone in this team has their own job responsibilities, including those responsible for James' technical training on the court, those who monitor his body, special physical trainers, and special therapists.

The fact that James has been able to maintain a certain level of competitive ability in the NBA for so many years is not only due to his outstanding talent, but also closely related to his huge logistical support team.

What's even more exaggerated is that long before Wen Banyama entered the NBA, he already had a professional training team following him and taking him through various trainings.

If Yao Ming had a logistical support team like Wenban behind him back then, his career would not have been so short. His ceiling might even have been raised to a higher level, and he could have truly become a different type of inside pillar that could stand shoulder to shoulder with O'Neal.

Wu Dao is well aware of the importance of the logistics team, but he is just a rookie now after all. Although his salary is not cheap, the cash he can get after tax is actually very limited.

In this day and age, excellent trainers are also very expensive. With Wudao's wealth, even if all his money is used to hire trainers, he can probably only get a team of 3 to 5 trainers.

But we cannot save money in this regard.

The importance of the logistics support team is especially important for young players like him, which will directly affect the length of Wu Dao's professional career. Similarly, an excellent training team can also enable him to maintain a high level of competitive state for a long time.

As long as Wu Dao can perform well in future games and maintain his dominance in the court, he doesn't need to worry about things like salary.

Moreover, when it comes to planning a team of trainers, not all the work needs to be done by Wudao himself, and not all the trainers' salaries need to be paid by himself.

As a championship team, if the Timberwolves want to maintain their dominance, they also need to work hard in this regard.

They are a young team, and before winning the championship, even if the owner is generous enough to spend money to find an excellent trainer for the team, it is probably difficult for a truly excellent trainer to come to the Timberwolves to guide these young people.

But now the situation is completely different.

The Timberwolves, who won the championship, have already gained a certain reputation in the league, and as this matter develops, the basketball market in Minnesota will also expand.

The expansion of the basketball market means increased team revenue, which means that the team has more funds to attract a sufficiently excellent team of trainers.

They are definitely unwilling to let those excellent trainers coach some newcomers who have just entered the league. Instead of coaching these rookies with the same salary, it is better to take a pay cut and guide some big-name players to add bricks and tiles to their resumes.

But today's Timberwolves players are very different. Each of these young men is a member of the championship team.

It is no exaggeration to say that they have a bright future. Being able to stay with them and help them grow is also a rare opportunity for trainers.

This is not only beneficial to the growth of trainers, but also helps them add a strong stroke to their resume.

When Wu Dao told Coach Philip about his plan to organize a new team of trainers, the coach who had just won the championship smiled in surprise.

He didn't expect that a young man like Wudao was not immersed in the joy of victory, but had already started preparing for the next season not long after his vacation.

Wu Da was the first player to put his mind back on the court.

As for the Timberwolves' other main players?
Play when you should play, enjoy when you should enjoy.

Only those young players who have not gotten a chance to play but have ambitions will work harder, hoping to stand out in a championship team like the Timberwolves.

Struggle also requires strong motivation.

Coach Philip originally thought that a youngster like Wu Dao would become complacent after winning the championship, but now it seems that Wu Dao's achievements have far exceeded his expectations.

Coach Philip admires such young players very much. Not being satisfied with the status quo is a quality that every great player must possess.

There is more to martial arts than just leadership qualities.

Philip saw the future of the Timberwolves in Wu Dao. He was extremely confident that as long as Wu Dao continued to play for the Timberwolves, this team would never become a weak team.

Martial arts can bring not only terrifying firepower on the offensive end to the Foresters, but also self-discipline and strong fighting spirit.

This is something every team needs, and in today's league, there aren't many clear-headed leaders.

The Bulls led by Michael Jordan were one of them.

Apart from this outstanding team, it is hard for the coach to imagine any other team leader like Wu Dao in today's league.

O'Neal of the Lakers? Forget it, it's hard to associate a guy like that with self-discipline.

The news that the Timberwolves were raising a training team quickly spread throughout the league.

In mid-July, the player free trade market has just been open for half a month. All the aggressive teams in the league are contacting the players they want during this period.

Few teams focus on recruiting a training staff.

There are very few teams like the Timberwolves that are almost completely isolated from external communication.

The Timberwolves "protect" their championship players very well. In fact, many teams are trying to poach the Timberwolves.

Everyone knows that Wu Dao is not for sale by the Timberwolves, so their target is naturally not on Wu Dao, but instead turns to other main players of the Timberwolves.

Many teams have tried to poach Kevin Garnett, Marbury, Tom, and even Cherokee Parks from the Timberwolves.

Kevin Garnett and Marbury are both young men who have not been in the league for long. The level they can reach in the future can already be predicted, and all teams hope to bring such strong players into their own teams.

For other NBA teams, whether players like Kevin Garnett and Marbury can really bring help to their teams after joining their teams is not the most important thing.

The most important thing is actually to weaken the Timberwolves' dominance, which is very important for other teams.

If the Timberwolves still hold on to their championship lineup for the 98-99 season, it would be a huge pressure on all teams.

Of course, no team would refuse players like Garnett and Marbury who are ready to fight.

They all have the potential to become star players, and all teams are optimistic about the future of these young people.

The game between teams also has many benefits for the players. As for bidding, outstanding players can naturally get better contracts in such a game.

Moreover, sometimes the team has no say on whether the players stay or leave.

Look, the Timberwolves' "main center" Cherokee Parks has been poached by another team
Although Wu Dao is a player, as the core of the Timberwolves, the team's personnel transfer management has always maintained high-intensity communication and contact with Wu Dao. The reason why they do this is very simple, that is, they hope to make Wu Dao feel valued in this way, let him enjoy the rights of being the core of the team, and strengthen Wu Dao's sense of belonging to the Timberwolves.

The team management will give priority to Wu Dao's feelings whether recruiting or trading players.

The Timberwolves management may not be able to help Wu Dao get what kind of players he wants, but one thing is certain, if Wu Dao does not want a certain player, then that player will definitely not appear in the Timberwolves lineup.

"Cherokee Parks wants to leave the Timberwolves"

"Budo, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to stop him from leaving."

Coach Philip, who called Wu Dao, and the master and apprentice got along very harmoniously after the team won the championship.

When they first joined the Timberwolves, Coach Philip and Wu Dao actually had completely different demands.

Coach Philip hopes to take control of the team and coach the Timberwolves, an NBA team, with a college basketball mindset. He hopes that every player on the court is his chess piece and can operate according to his ideas.

The tactical system to be played on the field is decided by Coach Philip, and all the players are born for his system.

However, during the running-in process, Wu Dao's sharp personality on the court forced Coach Philip to compromise. In Coach Philip's system, Wu Dao was a player that could not be controlled. In the early days, Wu Dao did not play by the rules, and his offensive options were only worse, not the worst.

However, given his horrific performance, Coach Philip couldn't stop Wu Dao from playing. This indulgence made it impossible for him to manage Wu Dao.

But Coach Philip quickly reconciled with himself. Wu Dao's sharp personality on the court was more beneficial than harmful to the Timberwolves. Coach Philip also tried to reformulate his tactical system around Wu Dao.

This change also improved the Timberwolves' overall strength and eliminated the conflicts between Wu Dao and Philip.

As long as they can win, it will be good for both of them.

Some so-called power disputes become unimportant in the face of the establishment.

The news that Cherokee Parks wanted to leave the Timberwolves made Wu Dao look surprised. He did not expect that the other party would choose to leave a championship team like the Timberwolves.

Their team is very young and they get along very well. There haven't been any fierce conflicts within the team. Normally, as long as they maintain their current lineup, the Timberwolves will still be a championship contender next season.

Leaving a team with so much potential is not a wise choice.

"What's the reason?"

Wu Dao scratched his head and asked in confusion.

Cherokee Parks was the 95th pick in the first round of the 12 draft. Although his statistics this season are not outstanding, he can be considered a brave and fighting player. More importantly, he is still young and has some potential to be tapped.

Although he is not a super center, he is suitable enough for the Timberwolves.

Moreover, with players like Stanley Roberts, Ben Wallace and Garnett, Cherokee Parkes' weakness in interior confrontation can actually be compensated to a certain extent.

Wu Dao had a good impression of this player, and it was a pity to separate them.

"The Grizzlies offered $3 million, and we... um, didn't want to match that salary."

In front of Wu Dao, Coach Philip did not lie. It was not that the Timberwolves were unable to keep this player, but they were unwilling to match the salary.
Three million. Stanley Roberts' salary is 378 million.

In a way, Cherokee Parks' asking price wasn't "high", of course, compared to Pippen, this guy's asking price was out of this world!!

The players have better places to go, and even as a leader, there is nothing much to say. He can't possibly help the team persuade Cherokee Parks to give up the $126 million and take the $ million child labor salary in the Timberwolves, right?
Does Wudao have to pay the difference himself?

Everyone has their own path to choose. Wu Dao sighed lightly and didn't say much.

Coach Philip on the other end of the phone couldn't help but cough lightly when he heard that Wu Dao didn't say anything.

To be honest, he really hoped that Wu Dao could persuade Cherokee Parks to stay and play for the Timberwolves as the team leader.

Anyway, it wasn't him who got less.
The team can still maintain a certain degree of dominance, isn’t that good?

But martial arts will not interfere with the choices of these players. If they block their financial path, others will resent them.

And what is the purpose of playing hard? Besides the honor, isn't it just for the US dollars? Now that he has the honor, what's wrong with pursuing US dollars and team status?

"By the way, Budo, are you interested in Charles Barkley?"

While bringing Wu Dao the bad news, Coach Philip suddenly changed the subject and asked Wu Dao about his feelings about Barkley.

"Charles Barkley?"

"What's wrong with being interested or not?"

Wu Dao asked somewhat confused.

"How about if he comes to the Timberwolves and plays with you?"

"Don't worry, we Timberwolves are absolutely centered around you. Even if Charles Barkley really comes, it will never shake your position in the team."

"You may not believe this, but Barkley is very interested in our Timberwolves."

"Even... we in the Timberwolves might be able to sign him with a veteran contract."

Wu Dao couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this. Charles Barkley, who was earning 1000 million dollars a year in the Rockets, was willing to come to the Timberwolves with a veteran contract?

one million?

What to play, etc.
Wu Dao suddenly thought of something and his expression changed.

For Barkley, who is obsessed with the championship, maybe he is really that crazy.

"Of course I'd like to play with Barkley. If he can come to the Timberwolves, it would be a great thing for us."

A bright smile appeared on Wu Dao's face. If this wave of signings was successful, he couldn't imagine what kind of team could stop the Timberwolves next season.

(End of this chapter)