no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 29 Luck is a Name
On the way home by taxi with Harden, Xu Yong was thinking about a question in his mind: is death a kind of injury or not?

When he finally figured it out, he looked around with vigilance.

Because this is the first time since he was reborn that he has a strong sense of crisis about death.

All because the streets around them looked so chaotic.

There are wandering gangsters on the street from time to time. When driving through a hidden alley, he can see people in it trading "Great Qing pills", and even at some corners, he can see wandering "walking dead" .

He had seen the introduction of the chaotic neighborhoods in the United States in the news reported by the media before, but those words were far from enough to describe the scene he saw at this time.

He looked back at Harden, unexpectedly Harden also grew up in this environment.

"Relax, they know I play well and won't do anything to me." Harden reassured after seeing Xu Yong's reaction.

Xu Yong nodded. People in the neighborhood would subconsciously protect someone who might become famous and bring benefits to them.

And he seemed to understand something at this moment.

In the original news reports, it was often seen that many NBA players would have many friends when they grow up. The most famous one is Iverson, and then the "gun king" Morant.

But thinking about being born in these places, after becoming famous, they will inevitably encounter life safety problems, and even their family members will inevitably encounter them. Without the help of so-called fox friends, whether they can live to the moment of becoming famous is a problem.

Soon they were at Harden's doorstep.

Harden had called before going home. At this moment, there was a man who looked a little like Harden at the door, but was a little older than Harden, and greeted them at the door.

"My sister, Anick Giles." Harden introduced.

"Welcome, Xu." Geers took the initiative to hug Xu Yong. Harden should have introduced him on the phone.

After entering the house, Xu Yong looked around, and soon found that the conditions in Harden's house were very poor.

The simple furniture and crowded debris, the only advantage is that it is clean enough, which shows that the owner of the house is usually diligent.

After sitting down, a slightly obese black woman came out. She also looked somewhat similar to Harden. This should be Harden's mother.

"Mom." Sure enough, Harden stepped forward to hug the woman when he saw her.

The eyes of the women were also full of love when they hugged Harden.

After embracing Harden, the woman walked up to Xu Yong and introduced herself: "I'm Monia Willis, welcome, Xu, my little lucky hasn't brought friends to my house for a long time, oh yes, I Bought steak tonight."

"Thank you." Xu Yong got up and hugged Willis, and thanked him.

Willis was busy preparing dinner soon, and Harden led Xu Yong into his room.

The house is small and cramped, but Harden does have his own room.

Although now there are some women's clothes on the bed in his room.

"Alnick will sleep in my room when I'm away," Harden said, covering the clothes with a quilt.

Xu Yong nodded, and then his eyes were attracted by the poster above his head.

That is the commemorative poster of Kobe's 81-point night.jpg.

With one finger pointing to the sky, he is so handsome.

He couldn't help but laugh.

Because he used to have a huge star poster on top of the bed in his own room.

It's just not Kobe, but Jordan, the "last. shot" scene.

Then, he was attracted by a few group photos on the wall.

One of them was supposed to be a photo with the varsity team from high school graduation, then a photo with Scott Pera, and one more.

Hey, that's DeMar DeRozan?

When he saw DeRozan, he froze for a moment. He found that his understanding of Harden was really limited.

"That's DeMar. He's still in Compton High, averaging 30 points per game. He's a natural basketball star." Harden said with a smile.

"He also lives in this block?" Xu Yong asked curiously.

"Yes, he lives in the past two blocks, we can go to him after dinner." Harden said with a smile.

Xu Yong nodded, but there was a strange feeling in his heart.

Harden and Westbrook have known each other since they were very young, and DeRozan and DeRozan were young again. The NBA circle is really small if it is small.

Harden then sat down and chatted with Xu Yong about the story of high school, which is also a very classic past.

As a native of Compton, his best bet was to go to Compton High with DeRozan, but that side didn't see him.

Later he could only go to the suburban school Lakewood Adesia High School, where he met Scott Pera and staged a "Revenge of the Black Prince".

He led the team to defeat Compton High School for two consecutive years in the third and fourth year of high school and won the California High School League championship.

"Children, it's time to eat." While chatting, Willis came into the room with a smile.

Xu Yong and Harden got up and went to the living room together.

There were three large plates of pasta on the table, followed by boiled but unpeeled potatoes.

In the middle of the table was a steak that had been cut into many small pieces.

After Xu Yong sat down, he just ate some steak symbolically, and then concentrated on eating pasta and potatoes.

They are really easy to fill up.

After dinner, Harden took the initiative to clean up the dishes and then went to wash the dishes.

Children from poor families are in charge early, and Harden must have been very sensible when he was a child.

Willis did not go to help, but said gratefully to Xu Yong: "Thank you, Xu."

Xu Yong was confused by this sudden gratitude, he hurriedly said with a smile: "Aunt Willis, I want to thank you for your kind hospitality."

Willis shook his head, and continued, "Fortunately, the little guy has no other friends except DeMar. You can be his friend, and you must have helped him a lot in school."

Xu Yong was taken aback.

He realized that Willis knew Harden very well as a mother, and that Harden's intelligence was inherited from her.

Xu Yong was a little embarrassed, he simply changed the subject: "Aunt Willis, why do you call James 'lucky'?"

"Because he is really a lucky child." Willis turned his head and looked at Harden who was busy in the kitchen, and said with emotion, "His father went to prison very early, and I was pregnant and had to work at that time. The previous two children were both miscarried..."

Xu Yong was stunned and looked at Harden. He suddenly felt that it was not easy for Harden to get to where he is today, and he also understood why Harden had that kind of personality.

"Aunt Willis, you are a great mother." Xu Yong praised after looking away.

According to Willis, Harden's father went to prison early, and they live in such a chaotic neighborhood, but Harden can still take up the road of basketball. As a mother, Willis is not only very insightful and wise , and must have paid a lot.

Willis looked back at Xu Yong, and the circles of his eyes turned red uncontrollably.

Only she knows what she has paid along the way, but this is the first time she has heard someone say that she is "great", and she is still a child like Harden.

"I'm sorry." She realized her gaffe and turned her head away.

At this time Harden had finished washing the dishes and came out. After seeing Willis's expression, he asked with concern: "What happened, Mom?"

Willis shook his head and said with a smile: "It feels like my little lucky has grown up, I'm very happy."

Harden grinned, then rubbed his chin and said with a smile: "Mom, I haven't cut my beard since I went to school, which makes me more mature."

When Xu Yong heard this, he unconsciously looked at Harden.

Just like two people who have been together for a long time can't feel that the other has become fat, he realizes that the "Jike Junyi" when he first met has now become a bearded man.

(End of this chapter)