Volume 1: A rookie who breaks into the basketball world Chapter 2 Weird Draft Expectations
It’s almost 8 o’clock and the draft is about to begin.
The rookies had already noticed the camera movements.
Being on TV, this happened. Every member of the Green Room, including Liu Xiu, had asked their agent about this.
You know what, agents really understand this.
Every rookie contestant has the same character...
Everyone's eyes were focused on the stage. The host came to the stage and gave an opening speech as usual, then went to the secondary stage.
The side stage is to deal with emergencies, that is, transactions during the draft.
With 10 seconds left until 8 o'clock, NBA Commissioner David Stern walked onto the stage on time, with perfect timing and temperament, and at 8 o'clock he came steadily to the center of the stage... and was greeted with boos from hundreds of fans who came to watch the draft and also had perfect timing.
David Stern smiled as if all he heard were cheers and applause, and said enthusiastically, "Ladies and gentlemen..."
Seeing this scene, Liu Xiu really wanted to applaud David Stern.
But when I think about it, it doesn’t seem to be a big deal. It’s nothing special, it’s just a matter of practice.
David Stern gave an opening speech as he did in previous years. At this time, the draft had actually begun. At 8:03, the staff brought the first envelope to the stage, which was the final selection of the Cavaliers' No. 1 pick.
David Stern opened the envelope, saw the name, and couldn't help but smile.
David Stern was a professional. When he saw the name, he immediately said into the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected the first pick..."
When David Stern first stepped onto the stage, the rookies in the green room all had different thoughts, but when the envelope was delivered to David Stern, every rookie focused their attention.
When David Stern drew out the last syllable, all the rookies present...except Liu Xiu, every rookie was looking forward to hearing his or her name.
Just like buying a welfare lottery ticket, as long as you buy it, even if you know the probability of winning is zero, you will still look forward to it when the prize is about to be drawn.
After just two or three seconds of enjoying it, David Stern continued, "...LeBron James from St. Mary's High School!"
The table where James was sitting immediately became lively with constant cheers and congratulations.
James' mother jumped up from her chair and shouted, "Hahahaha, you see, my son is a multi-millionaire!"
What James' mother said is correct. As the No. 1 pick, his after-tax income is guaranteed to be tens of millions in four years. However, many young people feel ashamed when they hear the roar of James' mother.
At this time, James took the initiative to hug his mother and said, "It will get better. This is just the beginning."
The people around him didn't hear what James said, but his actions made many people feel ashamed.
"Don't sons think their mothers are ugly? Lebang has nothing to say about this..."
Liu Xiu's original age was at least 5 years older than the new candidates present, and at most 10 years older. Although an older man does not necessarily mean he is more mature, he will always have more experience some aspects of his parents that he could not understand when he was a child, but he begins to understand them as he grows older.
After hugging and having fun with his family and friends, James walked onto the stage, put on a Cavaliers cap, and shook hands with David Stern for a photo.
The No. 1 pick has been announced, and those members of the green room who didn't become the No. 1 pick were just a little disappointed, but were not greatly affected.
After all, this has been confirmed a long time ago.
James won the state championship three times in his four years in high school. In terms of the All-American High School Best Team, James was selected to the first team three times in four years, breaking the historical record of two wins held by Garnett, Kobe, Odom and Kwame Brown since the award was established.
If it were a team that seeks stability, it might choose Anthony, but the Cavaliers will only choose James if they get the No. 1 pick. If they don't choose James, the Cavaliers will have no other choice but to move.
James returned to his seat wearing a Cavaliers cap, David Stern left the stage, and the live TV began to play James' high school highlights.
At the draft, the rookies are back to their expectations.
James is now completely relaxed. Although it is a sure thing, he will only feel at ease after being selected.
"That guy should be the second choice..."
James no longer felt those two gazes. As he turned sideways to talk to his high school teammate next to him, he glanced at Anthony. Anthony's eyes were fixed on the empty stage, his expression full of excitement.
James can understand Anthony's mentality. He will still be worried about things that are almost certain to happen.
There have been rumors that the Pistons have promised Anthony that if the Cavaliers do not choose Anthony, their target will be Anthony.
From a certain perspective, James is somewhat envious of Anthony...
Anthony is indeed very excited now. What is the most important reason that allows him to accept not being the No. 1 pick?
The team with the second pick is the Detroit Pistons! 02-03 NBA regular season first place in the Eastern Conference!
After the finals, the Pistons traded last season's starting small forward Michael Curry, freeing up the starting small forward position.
And the Pistons really told him during the tryout that they wanted to select him.
No matter how you look at it, the Pistons sent Michael Curry away just to pick him.
He entered the NBA as the second pick, and his team is actually a championship-contending team. The last player to be treated like this was named James Worthy!
Seeing that Anthony could no longer maintain his "cool and elegant" image, Liu Xiu sighed silently in his heart - "I don't want these 180 ..."
A few minutes later, David Stern returned to the stage again, this time holding an envelope.
It was rare that the fans at the scene did not boo, but instead started cheering and shouting Anthony's name.
Anthony led Syracuse University to win the NCAA basketball championship. His popularity in New York State is no less than that of James in Ohio. The value of the NCAA basketball championship is unmatched by any number of state high school championships. At the moment, Anthony has many more real fans in New York State than James in Ohio.
Normally, New Yorkers regard all other cities in New York State outside of New York as the countryside.
But for basketball fans, as far as Anthony is concerned, Syracuse is part of New York.
David Stern was very professional. He seemed a little uncomfortable without the boos, but he continued to move forward without any hesitation. He walked to the center of the stage and opened the envelope. But when he saw the name, he was obviously stunned.
David Stern sighed in his heart, "Joe Dumars is really capable of doing such a thing..."
Amid cheers and expectant eyes, David Stern said with his usual smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, in the 2003 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons selected the second pick..."
Liu Xiu glanced at Anthony next to him and noticed that he was leaning forward and looked like he was about to stand up at any time.
Anthony's relatives and friends were also ready to cheer and celebrate.
This time, Liu Xiu had no way to appease Anthony.
"It doesn't matter. People need setbacks to grow..."
Since he couldn't think of a solution, Liu Xiu gave up thinking about it. It was not worth wasting brain cells on something that couldn't be solved.
Amid the anticipation of everyone present, David Stern finished his elongated syllable and continued, "... Darko Milicic from Serbia!"
Anthony's relatives and friends had cheered, but it stopped abruptly.
Anthony's butt had already left the stool, but he was frozen in place in a very beautiful posture. Liu Xiu next to him even looked away, not daring to look.
The other dozen or so members of the Little Green Room at the scene were also dumbfounded.
"Micic? Who?"
"Me? Why me? Why did the Pistons pick me?"
Anthony's confidence is not only due to his good playing and the commitment of the Pistons, but also because the Pistons traded Michael Curry to free up the starting small forward position.
Although there are expectations, others have already tacitly accepted that James and Anthony will be the top two picks.
Including Milicic, he is ready to go to the Nuggets. He got the news from his agent that the Nuggets have already said that they will use Camby to trade Andre Miller to make room for him...
When they heard that the second pick was not Anthony, there was a loud booing at the scene!
New York fans are very interesting. Although it was not the Knicks who selected Anthony, they are already discussing whether the Pistons can beat the Lakers or Spurs to win the championship if they select Anthony and have a stable scorer.
It's not uncommon for a player to be selected in the draft and immediately change the landscape of the NBA. Duncan, Magic Johnson, and Bird have all done it. As for the current situation, Anthony + the Pistons may be seen as such a situation in people's eyes.
Even if it's just a possibility, people think the Pistons will give it a try, and Anthony's talent and strength are real.
David Stern looked at Milicic, who was still stunned when he put on the Pistons cap, and looked at the rookies on the scene who were either surprised, puzzled, or gloating... He felt that Joe Dumars' choice was not a bad thing for the league.
Apart from anything else, David Stern could already imagine the controversy that the Pistons' choice would bring, and he was afraid that there would be no controversy.
…
The Pistons' choice was unexpected, but it did not prevent the draft from proceeding.
A few minutes later, the ecstatic Nuggets manager handed the ball cap to Anthony, who couldn't even force a smile. Anthony walked onto the stage, shook hands with David Stern, and hurried back to his seat.
After Anthony's relatives and friends comforted him, he forced a smile.
Liu Xiu wanted to comfort Anthony, but Anthony spoke first: "Jace, who is the European center with the second pick? I haven't heard of him. Are the Pistons crazy? Why did they choose him?"
Although Anthony did not reject invitations from the other 28 teams like James, he rejected all the tryout invitations except for the top three picks, including the joint tryout, and he knew nothing about Milicic.
"Darkko Milicic, do you want to fight him? I heard he's a boxing expert. You can't even beat me. Don't even think about fighting him one-on-one. Call me. Together, the two of us can definitely beat him to tears!"
"Who said I can't beat you? Let's have a one-on-one duel later!"
Anthony was still looking forward to Liu Xiu's unintentional tenderness, but who knew that this guy still asked for a beating as soon as he opened his mouth.
Let’s not talk about fighting. It makes me sad. He is nearly 20 centimeters taller and yet he can’t beat me…
His thoughts began to diverge, and all the negative emotions in Anthony's heart were temporarily thrown aside. He was once again worried about the matter of dragging Liu Xiu to run for election.
"From mid-first round to being eliminated..."
Anthony thought of Liu Xiu's bizarre draft expectations.
Glancing at his friend who had already accepted the current situation, Anthony swore in his heart: "If no team wants Jace, even if I am accused of being a big shot, I will choose my team to sign him, otherwise I will not report!"
