Lu Xun carved the character "early" on his desk after being lectured by his private tutor for being late to class, reminding himself to arrive early.

From then on, he was early in everything, striving throughout his life.

Butler certainly didn't know about Lu Xun's essay "Early," but the paths of the world often lead to the same destination.

Just like the Spurs' locker room proverbs and the principle of constant dripping wears away the stone, Butler probably already realized that on the court…

Tang Tian glanced at the floor, then looked up at Butler.

"The scenery of New York at four in the morning is also beautiful; you can admire it."

"Yes, I know, I've seen Chicago's."

After Butler finished speaking, he went out first.

Tang Tian shook his head with a smile. It seemed that Butler had carved that "early" character in his heart.

But at this rate, did this guy also want to see Los Angeles at four in the morning?

Their training lasted less than half a month before Walker and Tang Tian went to Madison Square Garden.

The 2012 NBA Draft would be held there.

Last year's draft was moved to New Jersey because of renovations.

This year, with the renovations complete, the draft returned to its original location.

When Tang Tian and Walker arrived, they went straight to find Lamb.

After winning the championship last year, Calhoun retired, and Tang Tian and Walker both entered the draft, causing a sharp decline in UConn's strength.

Although freshman talent Andre Drummond joined, Ollie struggled to lead them.

Ultimately, they fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament, stopping at the Round of 64.

However, Lamb performed well, averaging 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Coupled with his outstanding performance in last year's NCAA tournament, he was projected to be a lottery pick in previous mock drafts.

He had also been invited to the Green Room.

Moreover, he wasn't alone this year; freshman Drummond also entered the draft with him, and both were invited.

"We're watching you," Tang Tian said, smiling and patting Lamb on the shoulder.

At Lamb's Green Room table, Tang Tian also saw his former assistant coach, now the team's head coach, Ollie.

Ollie smiled and hugged Tang Tian.

Although the team was eliminated early, Ollie's coaching ability was recognized by the school, and he received a contract extension.

In the Green Room, there were other familiar faces.

Dion Waiters, who struggled in the Big East Conference last season, showed significant improvement this season, leading his team to the Elite Eight.

This performance caused his draft stock to soar compared to last year, even reaching the top three in some mock drafts.

Waiters was a successful example of staying in school for another year, but Harrison Barnes was the opposite.

The North Carolina Black Hawk originally had a chance to compete for the top pick last season, but after playing another year without significant improvement and North Carolina stopped at the Elite Eight.

His current draft projection had nothing to do with the top three; he was basically in the middle of the lottery.

This was the importance of draft opportunity; Barnes made a rash decision after losing a game, directly changing his entire career.

Besides these two, Tang Tian also saw the remaining North Carolina players.

Marshall, John Henson, Tyler Zeller, Miles Plumlee.

In total, North Carolina had all its core players entering the draft at once; Coach Williams would have a tough time next year.

Of course, besides these, Tang Tian also saw the presumptive number one pick, the famous "Empty Stats King" Anthony Davis.

Davis looked really skinny at this time, like a rack of bones.

But his height and wingspan were a bit terrifying.

Davis noticed someone was watching him, turned around, saw Tang Tian, and immediately showed a smile.

It was hard not to recognize Tang Tian after he hit so many clutch shots in the Finals.

But, cough cough, Davis's eyebrows were really too funny; he really wanted to touch them.

Tang Tian couldn't help but laugh.

The draft was about to begin, and Tang Tian and Walker returned to their seats in the audience.

Stern came out, and the scene was, as usual, filled with boos.

Tang Tian and Walker couldn't help but boo along; as spectators, it was important to immerse themselves in the atmosphere.

The Bobcats' record was abysmal last year, but fate played a joke on the basketball god, and they ultimately failed to win the top pick.

Although this wasn't a strong draft year, Anthony Davis was a solid, cornerstone-type player.

It was like drafting the second pick and failing to select Howard before.

Even some die-hard Bobcats fans could only sigh: "Jordan, you're cursed!"

This year's top pick was won by the Hornets.

After sending away Paul and welcoming a new owner, the Hornets finally had the opportunity to rebuild the team.

Tang Tian had a good impression of the Hornets.

Because the Hornets were located in New Orleans.

Not because of New Orleans roasted wings, of course, because New Orleans didn't have roasted wings at all.

It was because the city had suffered a catastrophic hurricane, one that almost wiped out the entire city, but after so many years, they had gradually completed their reconstruction.

That was actually a very encouraging thing.

So being able to win the top pick might have been Stern's intention in the dark.

Tang Tian and Walker were sitting on the sidelines at this time. Walker took out the fries he had bought, and the two ate and watched, feeling really good.

Compared to sitting below last year, waiting to be selected, this spectator mentality was actually very different.

After a five-minute consideration period, the Hornets made their choice: Anthony Davis.

Actually, there was no need to consider at all; this was just a formality.

After the Hornets were the Bobcats.

The Bobcats held the second pick, but they had many choices.

Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Florida's Bradley Beal, Kansas's Thomas Robinson, Syracuse's Dion Waiters, Weber State's Damian Lillard, and so on.

Having so many choices also showed that Davis's strength was really a level above the others.

The Bobcats ultimately chose Gilchrist, Davis's teammate, an excellent defensive small forward.

Compared to the Bobcats' past performances in the draft, this was considered a relatively conservative choice.

The Wizards selected Bradley Beal with the third pick.

Dion Waiters was selected by the Cavaliers with the fourth pick.

The Kings selected Thomas Robinson with the fifth pick.

The Trail Blazers selected Damian Lillard with the sixth pick.

Harrison Barnes wasn't selected until the Warriors took him with the seventh pick.

When Tang Tian and Walker went to greet Lamb earlier, Barnes had seen them.

Now, after being selected, he couldn't help but glance at the location where Tang Tian and Walker were sitting.

Like Derrick Williams back then, he really felt some hatred in his heart.

He originally wanted to stay and defeat Tang Tian and Walker, but Tang Tian and Walker both entered the draft.

He stayed for a year, and this year he went directly from the potential number one pick to the seventh pick.

But fortunately, he was joining the Warriors. He heard that the Warriors' Klay Thompson had always been in competition with Tang Tian.

Joining there would give him a chance to defeat Tang Tian again.