Chapter 1 The 2005 NBA Draft

On the evening of the 27th, the 2005 NBA Draft officially took place at Madison Square Garden.

Two days prior, Su Feng, fresh from his successful proposal to Britney, watched the live broadcast with Yao Ming, Iverson, McGrady, and Carter in Miami.

With the "NBA Heroes Conference" scheduled to be held in Las Vegas in a week, both Yao and his Ai-ge (Brother Ai) had arranged their itineraries well in advance.

The young Yao hoped to further enhance his outside shooting abilities through special training this summer.

In this life, without the complicated tasks of the national team, Yao Ming's physical condition was much better than Su Feng remembered from his previous life.

Plus, Carlisle consistently kept Yao Ming's playing time under 33 minutes. So, who knows...

Maybe this little Yao could really play with Su Feng until retirement.

In fact, just like Yao had confidently told Su Feng before.

As a floor-based player, his career would be longer than that of a typical jumping athlete.

It's just...

In Su Feng's previous life, he had to play nearly 100 high-intensity games every year, causing this little Yao to collapse prematurely.

In Su Feng's view, it was truly outrageous for the Chinese men's basketball team to pull Yao Ming back to play in the Asian Championship during this period.

Because if Su Feng remembered correctly, even China's opponents couldn't stand it after the 2005 Asian Basketball Championship.

Seriously...

Brothers, does this mean you have to use nuclear weapons even for the Asian Championship?

It should be known that in that Asian Championship, the Chinese men's basketball team not only set a record for the largest point difference victory in history against the Republic of Korea...

But also left a score of 98 to 10 against Saudi Arabia, a traditional powerhouse in West Asia.

Honestly...

If the national football team is beaten badly in Asian competitions in the future, the men's basketball team during this period will definitely bear a third of the blame.

Because since you're coming out swinging on the basketball court, you can't stop others from trying to save face on the soccer field, can you?

According to Su Feng's previous discussions with the Basketball Association, the Chinese men's basketball team will be led by Wang Zhizhi, Ba Te'er, and Hu Weidong, who just won the CBA championship, in this summer's Asian Championship.

Ba Te'er, who had been Duncan's sparring partner for a whole year with the Celtics, might just be a water dispenser manager in the NBA...

But after returning to the Asian arena...

You can completely think of Ba Te'er as the Shaquille O'Neal of the Asian battlefield.

And despite gaining a lot of playing time under Nelson last season...

Compared to Yao, who desperately needed rest, Wang Zhizhi was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate to go back and crush the competition this summer.

As for Lao Hu...

To be fair.

This season, the Jiangsu team was able to win their first CBA championship in team history, and Su Feng claiming a third of the credit wouldn't be an overstatement.

Under the influence of Su Feng's previously proposed 2008 Olympic strategy, many injured players on the Bayi team underwent surgery early this season.

And with Yi Jianlian gone, how could the Guangdong team withstand the god-like Hu Weidong in this year's CBA finals?

Hu Weidong, whose physical condition was much better than Su Feng remembered from his previous life, averaged 25.4 points in the five finals games against the Guangdong team.

After fulfilling the last dream of his career, Hu Weidong accepted the national team's call-up without hesitation this summer.

Because in Lao Hu's view, with his career about to end, he was definitely not going to make the last train to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

But...

Before retiring, he had to fight for the national emblem on his chest one more time.

Of course...

Hu Weidong's decision to accept the Chinese men's basketball team's call-up was also related to the emergence of several so-called "No. 1 Asian Guards" from the Republic of Korea recently.

For Hu Weidong, who always took everything to heart...

He also wanted to see just what kind of trash dared to call themselves the "No. 1 Asian Guard" in front of the World Championship and Olympic champion Chinese men's basketball team.

With these three great players holding down the fort, Su Feng wasn't worried at all that the Chinese men's basketball team would crash in this year's Asian Championship.

After all, Zhang Bin, the current head coach of the Chinese men's basketball team, was a famous coach he had personally cultivated.

Compared to the simple-minded Yao...

Yao's Ai-ge (Brother Ai), Su Feng's "Answer Younger Brother" was able to resist the temptation of summer parties with his friends this time...

Mainly because Iverson would be starring as an important character in "Sky High," which was about to be filmed in Las Vegas this summer.

In 1996, after Warner Bros. Entertainment released the movie "Space Jam," although the film later received only mediocre reviews, it grossed nearly $200 million worldwide at the time.

In addition, the film later won the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature.

Therefore, this summer, as Su Feng officially ascended to the throne, Lionsgate Films of Canada couldn't sit still.

Shortly after the Finals, Lionsgate's senior management contacted Su Feng through his agent, Duffy, hoping to make a realistic basketball film with him as the protagonist.

Unlike the idea of real people battling animated characters in "Space Jam," Lionsgate, the film company that would later turn "Uncle Drew" into a movie and put it on the big screen, hoped that this film, titled "Sky High," would showcase the basketball player's love for basketball through some documentary footage.

Su Feng was quite satisfied with the script provided by Lionsgate.

However, before deciding to cooperate with them, Su Feng made the following requests.

First, in order not to affect his training during the offseason, Su Feng demanded that they film on the grounds he provided.

Second, the NBA stars participating in this film must be chosen by him.

Third, since this film was about him, a Chinese star...

During and after the filming of this film, Lionsgate must strictly abide by Su Feng's "Du Wei Yan Zhi Bu Yu" (Don't say you weren't warned) important standards.

As someone who had been there, Su Feng knew very well what kind of stereotypes foreigners at this time had about the Chinese.

Therefore, in order to avoid many unnecessary troubles and out of caution, Su Feng felt that he had to lay down some ground rules with Lionsgate before cooperating with them.

Although Su Feng made many demands and conditions this time...

It was all because Su Feng was strong enough.

Therefore, after deciding that these conditions would not affect the production process of the film, Lionsgate quickly agreed to the requests made by Su Feng.

According to the first version of the script, in "Sky High," Su Feng will play an ordinary international student.

Kobe, on the other hand, is a talented basketball player at his school.

Because both of them have an almost crazy love for basketball, Kobe decides to help Su Feng gain the qualifications to enter the basketball team after learning about Su Feng's dream of playing basketball.

In this process, Kobe and Su Feng's alma mater will also face challenges from the outside world...

Because at the top of the American high school basketball world, there is a super powerhouse that simultaneously possesses Iverson, McGrady, Carter, and others.

In a match against this super powerhouse, Kobe and Su Feng's team were hammered 0-101.

"You guys are worthy of playing basketball?

Don't you know that on the basketball court, talent is far greater than effort?"

As a result, after this defeat, Su Feng and Kobe were ridiculed by the character played by Carter...

So, in order to find a way to defeat this super powerhouse in the upcoming state competition, Su Feng and Kobe embarked on a hilarious journey to New York's Rucker Park to find famous teachers.

Overall, the script was still quite old-fashioned.

However, Su Feng believed that the more old-fashioned the plot, the more likely it would become a classic in the future.

Because...

Isn't the reason why old-fashioned things are called old-fashioned because they are classics in themselves?

Moreover, Su Feng also liked the lines in this movie very much.

For example, when he first met Kobe, because he was always abused by Kobe in one-on-one matches, Su Feng would say the words he had said when he first met Kobe when Kobe defeated him again and again...

"I can play with you all day!"

Kobe would also say a very classic line when the two kept running into walls at Rucker Park.

"The reason why people are not blinded by the darkness is because we all have a heart that yearns for the light and pursues dreams."

In Su Feng's view, the plot of an excellent film is secondary.

Because in this world, even the best plot will inevitably have loopholes.

However, these characters shaped through classic lines will always live in people's hearts.

Su Feng believed that after "Sky High" was released, no matter what its reputation was, the spiritual chicken soup in this film would definitely inspire the next generation.

And that...

Was enough in Su Feng's view.

Let's set aside the filming of "Sky High" for now.

New York, Madison Square Garden.

As predicted by the media, the Spurs, who won the No. 1 pick, used it to select Andrew Bogut, a "White Duncan" from Australia.

Since the "Airlines Center Arena" incident, Popovich, who had learned his lesson this season, decisively chose to step back behind the scenes.

As a reasonable president, Stern finally didn't give Spurs fans any more trouble.

But...

Because the Spurs had announced that "Little General" Johnson would be the team's head coach next season...

So, in Su Feng's view, the combination of Bogut, Johnson, and Popovich...

Was a perfect match!

Whether in his previous life or this one, Bogut was a player who was difficult to like.

Because before the draft, Bogut was exposed for punching Luc Longley.

Earlier, at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Bogut had also made outrageous remarks about the American men's basketball team.

Unfortunately...

Looking at Bogut's career, you will find that he, who thought he could kill the sky, the earth, and the air, had always been a blue-collar player since entering the league.

And as for his low-post offensive skills that he thought could kill all the centers in the league...

Just asking.

Who was that idiot who wanted to steal the show in Su Feng's previous Chinese Derby, but was blocked three times by Yao as soon as he came up?

Miami, just as Su Feng and a group of friends were chatting about the interesting things that had happened this past season...

Madison Square Garden, just after walking onto the center of the stage, Bogut showed the world how brain-dead he was during this period. (Reader: Don't make it sound like he won't be brain-dead in the future!)

"I don't know who Su is.

I also don't know who Shaq is.

As for Kobe, Vince, and Tracy?

People say this is an era dominated by outside players.

But...

That's only because Andrew Bogut hasn't joined the league yet!"

In front of the TV, after hearing Bogut's rampant remarks, half of the league was furious at one time.

The angriest player that night was probably Iverson.

Because in Bogut's speech, he didn't even mention Iverson's name!

"Guys, let's make a bet." Holding his fist, Iverson said with a fake smile.

"Allen, although I don't know what you want to bet on, I'm in on this bet with you."

On the side, after Carter, who always liked to be ridiculed by Terry, was disgusted by Bogut, Carter, who was already angry, couldn't bear it any longer.

"If I don't dunk this guy back to Australia next season, then you guys can pretend you don't have me as a brother!"

After rubbing his knees, McGrady opened his sleepy eyes.

At the same time...

Su Feng felt that his upgrading Iron Smelter System was also roaring angrily in his mind.

Good heavens!

Does this mean that...

If you weren't upgrading right now, you would have issued a mission to me immediately?

That night, watching the TV screen, Su Feng didn't know what others were thinking...

But Su Feng really wanted to give Bogut, this "good kid", an award.

Because in recent years, as his strength has become stronger and stronger, the opportunities for Su Feng to improve his strength have been constantly decreasing.

But as long as iron idiots like Bogut haven't died out...

Then why would Su Feng worry about not being able to upgrade in the future?

Let's temporarily return the camera to Madison Square Garden.

After Bogut angered half of the NBA, the Jazz then used their second overall pick to select Deron Williams.

This was also a choice that people knew before the draft began.

In this year's March Madness, although Williams' alma mater lost to North Carolina in the final, Deron Williams was indeed the most stable point guard throughout the event.

The Hawks narrowly escaped a disaster.

Because under the leadership of Wade, they completed their reconstruction ahead of schedule and perfectly avoided the wrong answer, Marvin Williams.

As the second overall pick in Su Feng's memory, the main reason why this Williams failed to meet people's expectations was that he lacked the necessary hardware.

Playing the four, Williams only had a height of just over 2 meters, which lacked height.

His model also determined that he couldn't find another way like Su Feng and Barkley, who were elbow-and-butt men.

But playing the three...

Williams' speed wasn't fast enough.

If he had been born ten years later, then maybe Williams would have been very suitable for the future version of basketball.

But in this era where there were still O'Neal, Duncan, Yao Ming, Garnett, and others in the interior...

No matter how hard Williams tried, he was destined to fail to meet people's expectations.

So...

Jordan, who had already set his sights on the Bobcats this summer, stood up.

With the third overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, the Bobcats unhesitatingly selected Jordan's younger brother.

With the fourth overall pick in the first round, the Bucks selected Charlie Villanueva, nicknamed "The Eraser."

With the fifth overall pick in the first round.

Because Paul had already participated in the draft last year, the Hornets, who were planning to build around the point guard, had to choose Jordan's other younger brother...

"New Bee King" Raymond Felton.

With the sixth overall pick in the first round, Yi Jianlian, who was highly anticipated by many Chinese fans, was selected by the Chicago Bulls.

This was a somewhat surprising choice.

Because before the draft, the Bulls had not invited Yi Jianlian to participate in their separate trial training.

They had also never expressed their desire to choose Yi Jianlian to the outside world.

Therefore, just as the CCTV commentators, who were also broadcasting this year's draft, were discussing what would happen to Yi Jianlian after he went to Chicago, Su Feng had already begun to patiently wait for the team that truly wanted Yi Jianlian to appear.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, the commentators of major American television broadcasters reported to the fans in front of the television a trade that had just occurred.

In this trade, the Utah Jazz would send out their outside star Michael Redd and the team's first-round pick next year.

The Bulls would package Ben Gordon and Yi Jianlian together and trade them to Utah.

Looking at the chips provided by both sides of this trade, the Bulls and the Jazz got what they needed.

Because since Jordan angrily went to the North, the Bulls had always been looking for Chicago's next Jordan.

In the past two consecutive seasons, Redd had averaged 20+ points.

Therefore, the Bulls believed that this star player, who was ranked ninth among the league's shooting guards by ESPN, had a better future than Ben Gordon.

And the facts proved...

The Bulls management was right this time.

Because although Ben Gordon had been active as the Bulls' best sixth man for several seasons in Su Feng's memory, compared to Redd, who had been selected to the NBA All-Star team at his peak and won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics...

Ben Gordon was not the core player to build the team around.

In Su Feng's view, compared to the fact that there would be some accidents in the draft in previous years, this year's draft was more about a sense of destiny.

In fact, before this year's draft, it was no longer a secret that Sloan wanted to bring Yi Jianlian to Utah.

After the team selected Deron, Redd's living environment on the court would inevitably be further compressed.

In Su Feng's original timeline, many people believed that Redd was just a pure shooter.

But in the NBA...

Have you ever seen a pure shooter who could score nearly 30 points per game for the team?

In Utah, in addition to his accurate shooting skills, Redd would also take on the responsibility of organizing and breaking through for the team when necessary.

Therefore, in Sloan's view, after the Jazz selected Deron, Redd's living environment on the court would undoubtedly be very embarrassing.

So, after careful consideration, Sloan finally made a phone call to the Bulls' front office.

What was obvious was that...

Besides giving the Bulls a star player who could save their box office to some extent...

The Jazz successfully completed their reconstruction in the lineup.

In the starting lineup, next season, this Jazz team not only had Boozer, Deron, and Kirilenko.

And in the substitute lineup, they also had young players like Ben Gordon and Yi Jianlian.

Su Feng knew that after this trade, it was only a matter of time before the Jazz rose.

It was worth mentioning that because Phil Jackson had been constantly criticized from the outside world in the past year, Jerry Buss did not bring Jackson back after Tomjanovich stepped down as the Lakers' head coach due to health reasons this summer.

As a result...

Andrew Bynum, the "Little Shark" who was favored by the "Zen Master" in Su Feng's memory, also fell to the eighteenth pick in this year's draft before being selected by the Cavaliers.

It must be said...

The 2005 NBA Draft was indeed a draft that produced a lot of idiots.

Because in Su Feng's previous life, regarding Bynum's idiotic deeds on the court...

Only the Lakers' "true love fans" could say that the Lakers' future two consecutive championships were all due to Bynum's contribution.

In Su Feng's memory, Bynum not only had a bad reputation off the court, but also on the court, when his teammates were posterized, he was filmed by the media covering his mouth and laughing on the court.

During the Lakers' two consecutive championships in the future...

Looking at the data sheet that Bynum handed over at the time...

Seriously, wasn't it because the teammate he was mocking was working desperately that he wasn't so embarrassed?

As the saying goes, Chinese fans have never randomly given nicknames.

Although in Su Feng's view, the nickname "An Zhu" that Chinese fans gave Bynum was a bit of an insult to pigs...

But compared to "Little Shark"...

Just asking.

How much humiliation did O'Neal suffer on the court because of these brain-dead juniors all those years?

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