Chapter 239 Reunion

The Walker in front of him was someone Tang Tian hadn't seen before, but Tang Tian understood his feelings.

When a person can't do the thing they care about most, it really feels like the sky is falling.

"Learn to accept failure, it's not like you haven't failed before; learn to accept injuries, it's something you'll find hard to avoid in the NBA; learn to accept adjustments, and if adjustment was so easy, who would guarantee that the changes it brings you would definitely be good?" Tang Tian understood Walker, but the words he said next were very direct.

"True strength isn't about defeating how strong an opponent is, but about defeating yourself, Kemba."

Walker was stunned for a moment, and he looked up at Tang Tian.

He had known Tang Tian for a long time, but at this moment, Tang Tian didn't seem like a teammate or friend, but more like Calhoun.

This was obviously the tone of someone with a lot of life experience, a basketball godfather.

Tang Tian saw Walker's expression and realized that the way he spoke didn't quite fit an 18-year-old.

However, Walker's emotions eased a little, and he sat down next to Walker.

"Kemba, have a little more patience, change really isn't that easy, you know? The great Michael Jordan suffered a major injury in his second season and missed more than 60 games, but when he returned from his injury, he scored 63 points in the playoffs. Is that talent? Yes, but did he change? That's for sure too, you have to know that the injury he suffered at the time was a broken left foot."

Tang Tian patiently guided him, and Walker's emotions slowly calmed down.

"Remember what I told you before? We will definitely make it to the championship game, and we will beat those opponents one by one, so losing a few games during the adjustment process really isn't a big deal, or do you think we won't be able to beat them when we get to the championship game?" Tang Tian asked rhetorically.

"No, we will win." Walker finally spoke. His goal was the NCAA championship, and the championship game was just the smallest step.

"That's right then! Be brave, be patient, and be confident. We have an idiom in our country called 'good things take time.' Sometimes, the more anxious you are, the worse you do. There's still more than half a month left, you'll definitely be able to adjust." Tang Tian smiled and patted Walker on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Tang." Walker took a deep breath. After Tang Tian's persuasion, he could feel that he had clearly recovered.

"What are you thanking me for? Save your thanks for when we win the NCAA championship." Tang Tian said with a smile.

"We definitely will." Walker nodded firmly.

After the two finished talking, they went to the training hall for extra practice.

After Walker adjusted his mindset, he maintained a normal attitude during training, and his efficiency was much better than before.

The pace of "March Madness" was getting closer and closer, and there were fewer and fewer games left in the regular season.

After Tang Tian's persuasion, Walker's performance still fluctuated, but he was clearly more patient.

Time passed unknowingly to late February, and the regular season of the major leagues was coming to an end. UConn had basically locked in third place in the league.

However, they still had one chance. If they could win the final regular season game against St. John's University on the road, they could still move up to second place.

The difference between third and second place wasn't significant, but facing a bitter rival, being able to take down the opponent would also be a good boost to the team's morale.

The day before the game, the whole team took a plane to New York together.

The game was at St. John's University's home court, and the team stayed in Queens.

Calhoun didn't want to put too much mental burden on them before the game, so he didn't arrange training and instead let the players relax on their own.

Walker took Lamb and the others to the suburbs.

Queens is called Queens because it is the most beautiful place in New York, as noble and beautiful as a queen. The suburbs are especially scenic, like a fairyland, a paradise.

Tang Tian also went out, but not with Walker and the others. Instead, he went to the streetball court alone.

The Professor had said before that there were unexpected opportunities here, and he wanted to try his luck.

Rucker Park was in Queens, but Rucker Park only had one court, and in the winter, because no one took care of it, the court was covered in bird droppings.

He went to some of the courts around Queens.

Queens is beautiful, but its economy is far behind the neighboring Manhattan, and there are even slums here. But precisely because of this composition, the area has never lacked courts and streetball players.

Rich and poor people learn from each other on the streets through basketball. This is the typical American streetball culture.

Tang Tian quickly found a lively court with dozens of people surrounding a half-court, where a one-on-one game was in progress.

From time to time, there were bursts of lively cheers, obviously the game inside was very exciting.

Tang Tian squeezed into the crowd and saw two black men playing one-on-one on the court.

Unfortunately, he knew one of them, Foster. This guy just happened to be in Queens.

The two really had a connection.

But unlike in New Haven, Foster was having a hard time now. The black man opposite him was not inferior to him in terms of physical talent or skill.

New York is a metropolis, and the level of players here is obviously much higher than in New Haven, and more than just a little.

In the end, Foster's fadeaway jumper killed the game.

5 to 4, he got his $100.

After playing, he rested for a while, and soon a white forward went up.

As soon as one game was over, there was a new challenger. Just like the Professor said, the earning opportunities in New York were much better than in New Haven.

The white forward's dribbling and shooting were close to NBA level. The two had another fierce battle. Foster was once behind 1 to 4, but after all, he was a near-NBA level player. After blocking one of the white forward's shots, he launched an offensive and laughed to the end with a score of 5 to 4.

The game was intense, and he was a little excited. After the end, he made his signature throat-slitting gesture to the audience.

"Killer! Killer!"

The audience on the sidelines was also incited by his actions and shouted his nickname.

After this game, no one came forward again. Tang Tian came late and didn't see it, but this was already Foster's fourth one-on-one game win.

Winning four consecutive games in Queens was not an easy thing, and Foster had already made a name for himself.

Foster took a deep breath. He was a little exhausted after playing four high-level games in a row. He was about to leave the court with the money.

At this time, Tang Tian squeezed out of the crowd.

Seeing someone else come out to challenge Foster, the onlookers immediately burst into cheers.

Foster was about to say which idiot was so blind, but when he saw that it was Tang Tian, his face changed instantly.