The Road to Stardom: Start as a Slam Dunk Master.

Chapter 285 Come on! brother!

In fact, taking advantage of this wave of NBA bosses' "trial training invitations" and counter-inviting them over, in addition to counterattacking these bosses, there is also another very important reason.

Lin Dong promised Coach Anxi that during the draft, he would try his best to help Rukawa Kaede within his ability.

As a rookie who also signed up, compared to Lin Dong who received invitations from 29 teams, Sakuragi Hanamichi also received invitations from 3 teams, while Rukawa Kaede was not invited by any team to participate in trial training.

On the one hand, Rukawa Kaede's static talent data is really poor, on the other hand, it's because Rukawa Kaede's previous performance in the NSAA was robbed of all the limelight by Lin Dong of the same team.

At that time, all the attention of the Space Needle trio was focused on Lin Dong. Sakuragi Hanamichi's defensive ability was also impressive. After all, this ability did not coincide with Lin Dong's performance.

But Rukawa Kaede is lackluster.

Although he has good 3-point data, averaging 35 4-pointers per game in 3 games throughout the season, and won the title of Washington State NSAA 105-point champion this year with a record of 3 3-pointers in the entire season, but in the face of When playing against the Space Needle, too much defense against Lin Dong allowed Kaede Rukawa to get a lot of open opportunities. Those 3-pointers looked very simple.

People will only talk about Lin Dong's ability to pull open shots, but when it comes to Rukawa Kaede's 3-pointers, they basically have an attitude of "you should make the shot", which undoubtedly makes him have less sense of existence and makes him feel less present. NBA teams have little interest in him.

In addition, there are too many outstanding rookies participating in the draft this year. Almost every team has its own goals, so it is natural to dismiss dispensable shooters like Rukawa Kaede.

In the end, it was the Sonics who invited Rukawa Kaede for a trial training, through Lin Dong's relationship.

Frankly speaking, the trial training overall seems to be a satisfactory one. Both of them have obvious advantages and disadvantages. As for the final result, we can only leave it to fate.

This is completely incapable of attacking.

Coach Anxi, who came specially to watch their trial training, couldn't help but cover his forehead.

But in the shooting training that followed, Sakuragi Hanamichi, who had just been favored by various teams, performed extremely hard. He only hit 25 of 19 mid-range shots. The 76% shooting rate made the scouts feel that it was hard to explain. .

Do you think you are O'Neal?

On the contrary, Kaede Rukawa, whose athleticism was not promising just now, made 75 of 74 shots and 25 of 25 free throws. His shooting ability was quite good, which aroused the interest of several teams that were short of shooters.

He has watched many of Sakuragi's trainings in the past six months. In his impression, Sakuragi's free throw shooting is not that bad. Normally, he can reach 80%. Could it be that the strain on his hips from the previous shooting training has burdened him? A certain amount of psychological pressure, so that’s why you failed so much?

This is a penalty kick!

After the training ended, all parties dispersed. The news about Lin Dong's trial training will probably spread throughout the basketball circles across the United States tomorrow. The bosses are jealous, frustrated, and have an indescribable feeling of aggrievedness.

Also training with Rukawa Kaede was Sakuragi Hanamichi. The three teams that had sent Sakuragi trial invitations were also present, which simply saved the time of going back to prepare for the trial.

Sakuragi Hanamichi indeed showed a first-class defensive level, and Rukawa Kaede also showed excellent anti-interference shooting ability. Although it is far from being comparable to the excitement of Lin Dong and Thomas' duel, they still showed their respective abilities. Features: Rukawa Kaede narrowly beats Sakuragi 10:8.

Compared with Lin Dong, the trial training process of these two people was undoubtedly much duller.

But this was not the most unacceptable thing for them. The next free throw was the real beginning of the disaster. They made 25 of 13 shots...

In the presence of obstacles, 25 of 13 shots, a shooting percentage of just over half, can be called a trial disaster.

Not to mention 3-pointers, he made 25 of 7 shots. Even the three teams that had previously sent him trial invitations shook their heads.

The next confrontation was between Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede.

The SuperSonics will definitely not use their first-round pick to sign Rukawa Kaede. Schultz has already locked in Lin Dong and Sakuragi Hanamichi, and the two second-round picks he holds are hoping to sign two valuable point guards. Rukawa Kaede would not be considered for training, but after all, all the team owners and scouts are here today.

You say that everyone can tolerate you stretching your hips in the mid-range. After all, this player is positioned as a defensive blue-collar player, but if he does this even in free throws, it is really unbearable.

…………

When testing dynamic talents, Sakuragi Hanamichi's athletic ability really made the team bosses in the stands shine. In comparison, Rukawa Kaede is undoubtedly a lot worse.

Since the boss and scouts had come all the way, and Rukawa Kaede was scheduled to be a few minutes after the end of Lin Dong's trial training, it would be a waste to sit in his original position and watch one more trial training. How long do you guys have?

Frankly speaking, Schultz really gave Lin Dong a lot of face. In fact, he didn't need to do this kind of thing at all.

The scouts and bosses in the stands almost laughed out loud. At this level, they actually came to the draft?

They have to go back and study countermeasures quickly. They must not let such an Asian kid step on the sacred American basketball head.

At this time, outside the arena, Lin Dong and Coach Anxi were talking and reminiscing about the past, not far away...

"Hi." Rukawa Kaede called out to Sakuragi Hanamichi, with a complicated look on his face: "Are you giving in to me in today's trial training?"

Regarding Sakuragi Hanamichi's current strength, Rukawa Kaede actually knew very well that the level he showed in today's trial training was extremely wrong. It was not his true level at all.

After all, they had been together in the United States for so long, and they lived together in the apartment assigned to Lin Dong by the school. Their relationship was no longer as tit-for-tat as it was in Xiangbei High School.

You can't say gay friends, but it seems... they no longer regard each other as enemies.

And today's Rukawa Kaede has already had many of its edges smoothed by reality.

Whether it's the Nike Summit or the World Championships, whether it's Lin Dong's unmatched performance and Sakuragi Hanamichi's rapid progress, or the SuperSonics' two completely different attitudes toward Sakuragi and him, everything is being polished moment by moment. His former vigor.

Before this draft, he knew that his hope was very slim, and he also knew that coach Anxi had thought of a way out for him, which was to try to use Lin Dong to play for the SuperSonics affiliated team and go to the Development League to hone his practical skills.

Unexpectedly... There is no doubt that Sakuragi Hanamichi had been letting him go in the duel just now. He neither used the death coil he learned from Peyton nor tried his best to give him a physical confrontation. Otherwise, he and Sakuragi Mu has been singled out many times in the past six months, but he has never won once!

Is this guy deliberately sacrificing his trial results to pave the way for himself?

Frankly speaking, what Rukawa Kaede felt was a sense of shame and humiliation. Of course, there was also a hint of emotion.

As students who also left their hometowns and came to the United States from Japan, and have been living under the same roof for the past six months, it is impossible to say that they have no feelings for each other.

But to be fair, if it were him, he would never give up his precious trial training opportunity to pave the way for Sakuragi Hanamichi.

This made him ashamed, angry, and even helpless.

Even before asking what he just said, Rukawa Kaede still didn't know what kind of attitude he should use to face Sakuragi's 'charity'.

Are you grateful to the other person?

That's not his style. He even hates this kind of "cheating" method. The thought that he has to rely on "cheating" to gain the possible favor of NBA teams is like rubbing his self-esteem to the ground. all over.

However, blaming the other party and maintaining one's own dignity?

When he was on the court just now, he should have just stopped playing, but he didn't make such a choice at the time.

He wants to stand on the NBA court, even if it's just for a second!

If you accept the opponent's handicap on the court in order to get a chance, and then yell at Sakuragi Hanamichi afterwards, what does that mean?

Sakuragi was just helping him realize his dream. Apart from blaming his own incompetence, he couldn't blame Sakuragi at all.

"No, no, I'm just not in a good state today and a little nervous." Sakuragi Hanamichi said with a grin.

"Don't think of me as a fool." Rukawa Kaede's mood was extremely complicated at this time, and he just said subconsciously: "When you were guarding my fadeaway jumper just now, you obviously didn't take off with all your strength. I have fought against you too many times. Yeah, I know you well! Your shooting ability is not that bad. 80% shooting rate is very simple for you. You deliberately missed the shot just to show off my accurate shooting? You..."

"Shh! Shhhhhh!"

To Rukawa Kaede's surprise, Sakuragi Hanamichi actually became nervous, sweating profusely and made a silent gesture at him.

"Stop talking, stop talking..."

Rukawa Kaede was startled, and then he saw the boss of Rockets walking over with someone not far away. When those people walked away, Sakuragi Hanamichi patted his chest.

"You have discovered all this!" He looked around with lingering fear, as if he was observing all creatures that might approach: "I'm telling you..."

"It was Payton who asked me to do this!" Hanami Sakuragi said confidently: "They said that this way other teams will not take a fancy to me, and then they can ensure that the SuperSonics sign me, and maybe they can save a first-round pick. , use a second-round pick to sign me! Oh, what a first- and second-round pick, they are all going to the SuperSonics anyway, what does it matter, my salary will not be less than a point! Let me tell you..."

Sakuragi Hanamichi was giggling, but when she heard Rukawa Kaede gradually opened her mouth, she was dumbfounded.

This... didn't this guy show off his crotch on purpose just to set off himself? Are you being sentimental?

His expression gradually changed from angry and ashamed, to dull, surprised, and then to...

"You're not going to report me, are you?" Sakuragi Hanamichi asked cautiously.

It took Rukawa Kaede a while to come back to his senses, with a look on his face that didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"……Won't!"

"That's good, that's good. You don't have any evidence anyway." Sakuragi Hanamichi seemed to have thought of something, and reached out to touch Rukawa Kaede's trouser pocket.

Rukawa Kaede grabbed him: "What are you doing?"

"You're careless. I need to see if you have installed a bug or something. You are not reliable at all..."

Rukawa Feng opened his mouth, and threw his hand away in confusion: "Get out!"

It was only then that Sakuragi Hanamichi burst into laughter, ignoring Rukawa Kaede's scolding, and instead gave a thumbs up to Rukawa Kaede: "Haha, I believe you this guy once, hey... Opportunities are given by people, but Whether you can grasp it or not depends on yourself! Come on, no matter what, don’t let me be the only Japanese in the NBA!"

Rukawa Kaede's dumbfounded expression froze slightly on his face, and then gradually transformed into calmness and softness, as well as a hint of fighting spirit.

This year, both Sakuragi and him have grown a lot, both in terms of skills and as people.

Is Sakuragi's betrayal really just to comply with Payton and the Sonics' request? And for the sake of poor self-esteem, do I really want to give up the opportunity that my companions have won for me?

It's time to grow up...

Rukawa Kaede stretched out his hand to Sakuragi Hanamichi.

Sakuragi Hanamichi hesitated for a moment and then stretched out his hand.

The two hands were held tightly together, with mature smiles on their faces.

"Come on!" Rukawa Kaede said with a smile: "Brother!"

(End of this chapter)