The Golden Age of Basketball

() "Watch your steps! Be steady, don't have small steps!"

"Shoulders, your shoulders! Make reasonable use of your shoulder shaking to confuse me!"

"Don't loosen the bottom plate! Make sure the bottom plate is stable at all times!"

"Okay! Very good, this hook is very beautiful!"

"Yes, your back feeling is getting better and better."

The one who said these words was naturally Mr. Nate Thurmond, the owner of the grill restaurant.He continues to guide Gan Guoyang's basket skills.

"Mr. Thurmond, do you think I can play in the NBA?" Gan Guoyang asked.

Now, Gan Guoyang already knows that the person who has been guiding his basketball skills almost every day for more than a month is the famous nba superstar, "Nate the Great" Nate Thurmond.

Gan Guoyang's mind came up with Gan Guohui's surprised expression when he learned that he played training with the restaurant owner at Nate's BBQ Restaurant.Because in San Francisco, almost no one does not know that the owner of "Big Nate Grill" is former Golden State Warriors star Nate Thurmond.

Except for Gan Guoyang.

Of course, Gan Guoyang was also taken aback when he knew that the owner of the Giants was a former NBA superstar.After the giant boss personally confirmed it, he felt an inexplicable excitement.

This is simply the plot in a martial arts novel, and I haven't fallen off the cliff yet, I just came out to have a meal, and I met a senior expert.

He also got guidance from experts and taught him skills.Then the next step is naturally to study hard and practice hard, to come out of the mountains and kill the Quartet!

In fact, on the street court, he can really kill the Quartet.So now he simply doesn't bother to play on the street, and there are no challenges anymore.

Therefore, he wanted to ask himself if he could enter the NBA, the highest hall of basketball.

"Nba? Gan, you are still far behind." Thurmond shook his head, denying Gan Guoyang's fantasy.

This is tantamount to a blow to Gan Guoyang.Because he knows that there are many geniuses in later generations who entered the NBA after graduating from high school and became superstars, such as Kobe and Garnett.

But now, he is already in the 12th grade (senior year of high school), and he will graduate in one year, but he is still far from the NBA, which makes him a little disappointed.

"Hehe, Gan, don't be disappointed. How far do you think your strength is from mine?" Thurmond saw Gan Guoyang's disappointment and asked him.

"It feels very far away..." Gan Guoyang thought for a while and said.In his opinion, the distance between him and this star uncle who has retired for many years is almost endless.

"Haha, I am already a 40-year-old middle-aged man, and I am an old man on the basketball court. My body is constantly deteriorating, but you are constantly improving. I believe that one day you will reach what I used to be. Level, and may even surpass me."

Thurmond's words surprised Gan Guoyang a lot. He didn't expect the superstar to have such a high evaluation of himself.over him?Gan Guoyang didn't even dare to think about it.But why did he say that he was still far behind?

Thurmond continued: "However, even with my ability, in my 14 years of professional career, I have never won a championship, and I don't have a ring in my hand." , is the regret of Thurmond's life.

"So, even if you can surpass my strength, it will be very, very difficult to achieve real success in the NBA."

At this time, Gan Guoyang realized that what he said "playing in the NBA" just meant entering the NBA, and Thurmond hoped that he would become famous and win the NBA championship!

"I... But, Mr. Thurmond, I don't even know if I can enter the NBA."

"Haha, Gan, with your talent, as long as you train well, you won't have a big problem entering the NBA. However, there are too many talents in the NBA, just like gadflies on the grasslands of Texas. But There are far fewer cattle. Too many geniuses have shined, and too many geniuses have fallen instantly. This is a cruel world." Thurmond said with deep emotion.

As a fighter who has fought in the interior for [-] years, Nate Thurmond, who has always played fiercely and domineeringly, has to lament that fate tricks people after retiring.He was so close to the championship, but finally fell at the feet of his past idol.

"Mr. Thurmond, only a cruel world can support a great dream." Gan Guoyang suddenly said this. In Thurmond's eyes, he felt the retired superstar's incomparable love for basketball and the championship. Unlimited desire.

"Oh? Hehe, what you said is great. Your fat brother said that you are a language genius, and he is absolutely right. I hope you can carry your own beliefs forward."

"Well. Mr. Thurmond, can I still come to play with you in the future?" Gan Guoyang thought that it was already late August and school would start soon.Uncle and aunt have arranged a school for him, and he will go to Palo Alto Public High School in Palo Alto with Gan Guohui and Chen Xing.

Palo Alto is about 60 kilometers away from San Francisco, which means that Gan Guoyang will definitely live on campus and come back once a week at most.

"Of course no problem. I heard that you are going to Palo Alto to go to high school. Come on, you must join the basketball team, so that you can apply for a college basketball scholarship, and then you can enter the NBA." Thurmond reminded Gan Guoyang .

"I understand! I will not let you down!" Gan Guoyang also knew that he had to enter the school team and make a name for himself.

Because he did not study in the United States before, although he is very confident in his homework, he needs to have enough credits to apply for universities in the United States, and the accumulation of credits in two semesters is definitely not enough.

In this way, he can only go another way, which is to become a sports student, so that he can apply for a better private university instead of entering a community college.

"I believe in you, Gan. Come on, let's keep practicing!"

In the setting sun, two tall figures continued to practice on the small basketball court in the open space.

…………

"Hey, Cousin! Have you got Mr. Thurmond's autograph?"

"Got it! Here it is, his No. 42 jersey." Gan Guoyang took out the No. 42 jersey that Thurmond once wore in the Golden State Warriors from his bag, and his signature was on it.

"Wow! I still have the original jersey! It will be valuable in the future." Gan Guohui looked at this jersey, and already imagined that it will become a lot of money in ten or twenty years.

"You guy, you want to sign jerseys just to make money for appreciation?" Gan Guoyang rolled his eyes at him.

"No way! Didn't you see how big this jersey is? Is it suitable for me? It's the same as the skirt. Of course it's for collection. It's definitely better if it can increase in value and make money~"

"I really have nothing to do with you." Gan Guoyang shook his head.I helped him get it in the name of loving basketball, but I didn't know that this guy was thinking of other ways.

"We have arrived in Palo Alto." At this time, Gan Guohui's mother, Qian Hui, said.

The three of them were sitting in Qian Hui's car, heading to Palo Alto High School.Today is the day when high school starts.

Palo Alto is a small city in California, a satellite city of San Francisco, with a population of only about 6.But the most famous here is Stanford University, which is located here.

Gan Guohui's mother, Qian Hui, is a master's student in the Law Department of Stanford University, and Gan Guohui's grandparents also live in Palo Alto.

Gan Guoyang looked at the small town outside the car window, it was clean and tidy.The city is not small, but there are very few people.In China, a population of 6 is a market town.

However, it is precisely because of the small number of people that there is a sense of peace and serenity. This is what Gan Guoyang feels the most after coming to the United States.

Heading south along El Camino Boulevard, you will soon arrive at Palo Alto High School, which is just southeast of Stanford University.

After entering the campus and getting out of the car, Gan Guoyang felt a completely different campus atmosphere compared to that in China.

Chinese high schools give people the feeling that most of them are simple and simple, which also reflects the characteristics of Chinese people's down-to-earth education and emphasis on basic knowledge.

Palo Alto High School has a more artistic aesthetic.The school building with unique style, large green space and trees, open campus - there is not even a school gate here, which reflects the free and unrestrained characteristics of American education.

But for Gan Guoyang, homework is not a problem no matter whether he is studying in a Chinese school or a high school in the United States.

Especially in American high schools, he has experienced the college entrance examination experience in China anyway, and his grades are quite good, equivalent to a rookie in the nba lottery zone.Now being thrown to the cba to play, can't you be more relaxed and happy?

His only worry is how to get into the high school basketball team and make a name for himself.According to Gan Guohui, the men's basketball level at Palo Alto High School is not very good and has never won a state championship.

So Gan Guoyang thought that it should not be difficult for him to join the basketball team, even though he is Chinese and a 12-year-old transfer student.

Afterwards, a series of issues such as registration, student registration, and class arrangement went smoothly. With Qian Hui as a barrister, it was natural that the arrangements had been properly made long ago.

As for the dormitory, there are not many students living on campus in Palo Alto, and Gan Guohui is just one of them, and the two cousins ​​live together!It couldn't be more perfect.

"Hey, cousin, I'll take you out for a walk! Visit our school!" Gan Guohui proposed after settling down in the dormitory.His mother rushed back after completing all the formalities, and she was going to fly to Washington.

"Okay, we must go to the basketball court!" Now Gan Guoyang almost only has basketball in his heart.

Gan Guohui took Gan Guoyang to visit the school's church-like office building, a Persian-style auditorium, and a very unique classroom-a board room made of wooden boards, because there are many earthquakes in California.

In the end, the two brothers went to the school's main gymnasium together, where the basketball team is said to have practiced.

"Hey, we're here!" Gan Guohui said, pointing to a square building.

Gan Guoyang saw a green sailboat mark on the building, with vikings written underneath.

"Vikings?"

"Yeah, that's the logo of our school basketball team, and the team's name is 'Palo Alto Vikings.'"

When the two approached the arena, they could already hear the sound of "bang bang" hitting the ball inside. It seemed that someone was playing inside.

After entering, Gan Guoyang found that this was an old-fashioned basketball gymnasium—of course, this was for the 21st century, and anything in the 80s was old-fashioned in Gan Guoyang's eyes.

The stadium looked a bit dim, because the lighting equipment was underdeveloped at that time, and the floor was also dark brown.A group of players in dark green jerseys were practicing shooting on the court.

It was supposed to be a simple warm-up, the coach wasn't there and the players practiced loosely.

"I'm sorry! Our team is training, and it's better for others not to come in." Someone saw Gan Guoyang and Gan Guohui entering the gymnasium, stopped shooting and reminded loudly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, we thought our classmates were playing here, so we came in to have a look. We'll leave right away." Saying that, Gan Guohui pulled Gan Guoyang to leave.

"Excuse me, where is your coach? I want to see him." Gan Guoyang suddenly asked where the coach was.

"The coach hasn't arrived yet, do you know him? Why are you looking for him?" Another person asked.

"I want to join the basketball team." Gan Guoyang said.

"Haha", "Oh no," "What are you talking about?" "Yellow people..."

After Gan Guoyang said this, there was a burst of ridicule on the court.Everyone stopped shooting and turned their heads to look at this yellow-skinned boy who appeared out of nowhere, with all the playful eyes in his eyes.

"I think your brain must have been sunburned on the beach in California," someone said, and the others burst into laughter.

Gan Guoyang was not angry. He knew that it was really impolite for him to rush into the stadium so recklessly, so he said brazenly that he wanted to join the team.However, he is really eager to join the basketball team, and he also knows that if he does not fight for it, the coach will not be able to take a fancy to him. He is already a 12th grade student.

"I think with my strength, it shouldn't be a problem to enter this team." Gan Guoyang said, this is true for him, he thinks that according to his talent and strength, it is not a problem to enter an ordinary high school basketball team.

But his words sounded more provocative in the ears of the Palo Alto High School basketball team.

"Where do you think a basketball team is? You can get in if you want, yellow boy?" responded a tall black man who appeared to be 6'8 (2).Physically, he should be an insider.

"I just think I have the ability to enter the team and help the team." Gan Guoyang knew that his words had caused some misunderstandings, so he tried his best to adjust his words.

"I don't think a yellow-skinned monkey that came out of nowhere can bring any help to our team. Maybe you can become our team cook? The Chinese cook is quite good!" Apparently Gan Guoyang said The tense atmosphere did not ease, and the black man continued to make sarcastic remarks, which caused the others to laugh.

"Then you might as well give it a try and see if I'm qualified to join the team." Gan Guoyang didn't expect that his impulsiveness would cause such an effect.

His anger was also vented, especially when the black man called him a yellow-skinned monkey. He was so patient that he didn't say the word "nigger". He knew that this would further intensify the conflict.And he's not a racist either.

"Of course, if you're not afraid of leaving the arena with a limp and a few teeth." The big black man was still very arrogant, obviously he didn't take this yellow man seriously.

If a black man enters the arena and says he wants to join the team, he will be more polite. After all, he is also black, and there are many black basketball masters.But the yellow race?Sports trash!They are only suitable for women's sports like table tennis, even this guy looks quite tall.

"I hope you won't regret what you said." Gan Guoyang is still trying to restrain himself, but he wants to blow him up with his performance on the court.

"Come on, brat. After a summer break, I feel my bones loosen. Let me use you as a screwdriver and tighten my bones!"

"Kill him! Virgis!" "Show him some color!" "Viggis hit him with your big ass!"

The other players saw that the bullfight between the two was on the verge of breaking out, and they all started booing.

Gan Guoyang went to the basket with him, ready for a heads-up.

"Then let's have an inside duel."