Chapter 40 Forming the Foundation

  I received 2 update tickets from a book friend yesterday, but unfortunately, I couldn't complete it. Although I wanted to accept them, the book is still in its new release period. Even if I updated 9,000 words per day, it would be difficult to keep up. If I updated 10,000 words per day, I'd probably drop off the new releases chart soon and be left with nothing. Still, thank you to that book friend for the rewards and update tickets, thanks for your support!

  This year, aside from Vince Carter and Wallace Zerbiak, the 1998 NBA draft is considered a relatively big draft year because it was a time when American basketball talent emerged in droves. Although many geniuses entered the NBA in 1996, known as the "Golden Generation", many others remained in college. This year, these post-96 talents will also enter the NBA. Among them, Vince Carter of North Carolina is one of the most watched players. Of course, Zerbiak is also one of them.

  "Coach, you won't blame us, will you?" Carter and Szczepanik entered Zhuang Fei's office with some trepidation. As the team's captain and vice-captain, they had been with the team for four years under their previous captain Duncan. Of course, if Zhuang Fei could stay, they would naturally also stay, but since Zhuang Fei chose to leave, they no longer had a reason to stay either.

  Looking at the two of them being nervous, Zhuang Fei was taken aback at first, then he laughed. He himself had been worried that the players would blame him. Now the players had come to him instead.

  "It's not a big deal, with your current strength staying in the NCAA won't make much progress either. Entering the NBA early is also a wise choice. You don't need to compare with Tim, you and Tim are different, he promised his mom to get a bachelor's degree. I'm not blaming you at all. If this year wasn't so competitive, I'd encourage James and LaGerald to go to the NBA too."

  Carter has now reached 92 in ability, while Szczygiel has reached 87. The two have made progress over the past two years, but it's not as rapid as Duncan's was before. It can be said that they've hit a bottleneck period.

  As for James Posey and LaGerald Vick, their draft prospects aren't very optimistic, relatively speaking. James Posey is in the lottery district, while LaGerald Vick is in the first-round district. However, James Posey hopes to enter the NBA within the top 10 picks, while Vick also hopes to enter the lottery district or at least be picked in the early part of the first round.

  However, it's unlikely this year, so they've decided to delay for a year. Don't underestimate the difference in draft pick order - high and low picks have completely different salaries and status. As two core players from the Vicksburg Miracle generation, James Posey and LaGerald Vick have a good chance of achieving their goals."

  "But in the future, I hope to still be able to play under Coach's leadership." Seeing that Zhuang Fei didn't blame them, Carter's expression relaxed a bit, and he smiled as he spoke, with a hint of expectation in his eyes. Over the past three years, Zhuang Fei had fully fulfilled the promises he made when recruiting him, even exceeding Carter's expectations. Many players who rejected Zhuang Fei at the time were still suffering from pain and regret. Next to him, Szczygiel was also vigorously nodding his head, from being a nobody to now being the focus of attention across the country, all thanks to Zhuang Fei.

  "I do hope so, but your draft pick is really too high" Zhuang Fei also sighed. Being able to cooperate with familiar players is a great thing, but Carter is the top hot pick, Szczygiel as one of the former three giants of the Vicksburg Wolves is also a top five hot pick, and the Timberwolves only have the 17th pick. If Zhuang Fei had the choice, he would be very willing to bring Duncan, Carter and others to continue sweeping the NBA.

  ......

  ......

  "Coach, Carter and others came looking for you just now." After Carter and the others left, Stephon Green also walked in with a large stack of materials.

  "It's not easy being a scout, is it?" Zhuang Fei said with a smile to Stephen Green. In 1997, Stephen Green did not participate in the NBA draft. As a starting player for Victoria Lin, even if he was considered the weakest starter, he still had a guaranteed position in the second round, and because of his inside role, he could even make a push for the first round. However, Stephen Green seemed to have no intention of entering the NBA. On the eve of graduation, he found Zhuang Fei and hoped to become his apprentice to learn coaching skills. This surprised Zhuang Fei greatly. He himself had been in a similar situation, but at that time, he was already an unsuccessful player, whereas Stephen Green still had a way out. In the end, Zhuang Fei agreed to Stephen Green's request. What surprised Zhuang Fei even more was that this C+ level player with potential became an A+ level coach after switching careers. After a year of training, his ability also rose from 50 to 65. This made Zhuang Fei value him highly. Not only was he his own protégé, but also a very capable and promising one, so Zhuang Fei had been focusing on cultivating him all along.

  And more importantly, Steve Kerr is willing to follow Zhu Fang to venture into the NBA, although he also hopes to stay in the NCAA, but compared to staying in the NCAA, he still hopes to follow Zhu Fang and continue learning. So he is also the only coach in Zhu Fang's coaching team at present.

  The three armies have not moved, and the grain is already on its way. Zhuang Fei's coaching staff is his grain, and he has searched through the system to find employees of the Forest Wolves who can catch his eye. To quickly start work, he also needs his own team. In the past three years at university, what touched Zhuang Fei the most was the support from Bill Lanbo and Mark Allen. Both are top-notch coaches: Bill Lanbo's training techniques are unparalleled, while Mark Allen's tactical guidance is equally impressive. It can be said that Zhuang Fei doesn't need to worry about the team's daily training at all; he just needs to tell Bill Lanbo and Mark Allen how he wants the players trained, and they will immediately find the best training program. As a head coach, it's best not to do everything personally, and Zhuang Fei doesn't have that ability either.

  So now finding a coach who is his heart's desire has become the first thing he needs to consider.

  "Alright, Stephon, I'll be going out to take care of some things tomorrow. I've already spoken with the Timberwolves and you can head to Minnesota first. I'll also be heading there next week." Zhu Fang had never hidden his negotiations with the NBA team from the people at the Timberwolves, they all knew about Zhu Fang's progress. Stephon Green wasn't surprised at all that Zhu Fang would end up with the Timberwolves. He nodded in agreement.

  ........

  ........

  In May 1998, Colorado still had a bit of coolness, although it was about to enter the hottest July. As the state with the highest average elevation in the United States, with an average elevation of 2072 meters, and as a state in the central part of the American continent, the temperature here is relatively mild, never exceeding 25 degrees at its warmest, and never below minus 3 degrees at its coldest. Therefore, Colorado is a famous tourist destination.

  Of course, apart from tourism, Colorado also has something to be proud of - it is a major sports state. Baseball, American football, basketball, ice hockey, they have teams in all four major leagues.

  The Denver Broncos of the American Football League are one of the most successful and well-known teams, having appeared in five Super Bowls, although they lost the first four, they are still one of the most famous professional teams in the United States. Last year they finally achieved their dream and officially became the NFL champions.

  Of course, apart from this, there is also the Colorado Rockies of the Baseball League. This team is a new army and was established in 1993, so it doesn't have any glorious history and is still a minor professional team. Currently, it is still in the stage of cultivating fans and accumulating momentum.

  Although the Colorado Rockies were a minor league team, another NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche, has been in Denver for less time; they moved to Denver in 1995 and were previously the Quebec Nordiques.

  In addition to the Denver Broncos, there are now two more teams in Denver, the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Rockies. The pressure on the Nuggets is immense, especially since their performance has been poor. Since entering the playoffs in 1995, the team's record has continued to decline, with a dismal 11-71 record last season, compared to 21-61 the previous year. If this trend continues, what will happen next season?

  Denver is now as restless as Minneapolis, rebuilding is imminent.

  Zhuang Fei came to Denver precisely because he discovered a coach he wanted in the royal system, and according to Zhuang Fei's understanding, this coach was also quite embarrassed at the Nuggets.