Chapter 17: Attribute Radar Chart
On Sunday, April 21st, Li You and his friends witnessed the Chicago Bulls clinching their 72nd win of the regular season.
With a score of 103-93, the Bulls effortlessly defeated the Washington Bullets on the road.
The NBC broadcast clearly showed some Washington fans joining in the celebration.
Last season, the Bulls were eliminated by the Orlando Magic, but this year they made a triumphant comeback.
Michael Jordan was displaying an extraordinary form this season; the revenge saga was about to begin!
That evening, Li You and Alvin watched the game at a bar. Everyone seized the opportunity to celebrate wildly—72 wins and 10 losses, a record so staggering it left everyone in awe.
“God, Michael Jordan really did it. Now I finally understand why so many people love watching him play!” Alvin, who usually didn’t follow the NBA much—especially after Jordan’s retirement—had started watching again since Jordan’s comeback whenever he had time.
Li You could feel Michael Jordan’s immense popularity firsthand. The Connecticut Law School wasn’t far from New York, and most of the bar patrons were die-hard Knicks fans...
Watching Jordan calmly high-five his teammates on screen, Li You whispered to himself:
“Not just 72 wins; maybe they can win even more.”
Fueled by alcohol and the excitement over the 72 wins, the bar’s atmosphere grew heated. Some fiery African American men, emboldened by the drinks, began shouting insults about Jordan trying to shed his Black identity:
“They only care about making money. Both Michael Jordans are the same. Maybe in a few years, Jordan will turn white too!”
The more outrageous the remarks, the more popular they seemed. Last year at the MTV Awards, Michael Jackson nearly turned the stage into his own concert.
His fifteen-minute performance was electrifying, but many Black fans complained that their star was becoming “too white.”
Li You patted his friend, signaling it was time to leave.
As they exited, Alvin suddenly remembered that the Bulls would likely get a late first-round pick this year and teased under his breath:
“If you get drafted by the Bulls, don’t forget to get Michael Jordan’s autograph for me!”
Li You gave a helpless smile, feeling his friend was turning into a blind fan:
“I have no interest in going to Chicago to hang out with that old guy!”
“...”
On the afternoon of the 22nd, Li You resumed basketball training with Ray Allen and Knight.
Their routine was simple: shoot 100 shots, interspersed with shuttle runs to boost cardio and simulate game conditions.
Big man Knight struggled with this regimen; after several shuttle runs, his mid-range jump shots became off-target. He leaned on his knees at the free-throw line, gasping heavily.
Coach Calhoun, besides polishing trophies and chatting with friends daily, made time to check on his players’ physical states.
If all three were drafted in the first round, it would set a new record for the University of Connecticut.
Ray Allen’s shooting was almost robotic, releasing the ball at the highest point, whereas Li You shot quickly with the ball held above his head.
“Don’t be discouraged, Knight! What you need now is to maintain your physical condition and showcase your talent during tryouts.”
“The NBA isn’t college basketball; your role will change. Rebounding and defense are what rookie big men should focus on.”
Coach Calhoun didn’t offer empty encouragement but gave Knight a harsh reality check—offense would be the last thing on his mind in the NBA.
Knight, disappointed with his physical skills, shuffled over to the coach, ran his hand through his long hair, and whispered:
“Being drafted is enough. Coach, I’m mentally prepared.”
After training, Ray Allen was slightly out of breath. He had noticed recent changes in Li You.
“If you stay another year in the NCAA, your stats will definitely hit 20-plus!”
After his final shot swished through the net, Li You quickly replied:
“Unfortunately, NBA scouts don’t care much about stats, so I plan to try out for multiple teams. The more, the better.”
Ray Allen shrugged. He wouldn’t bother with tryouts because refusing solo tryouts signals the player’s attitude:
“I don’t want to play for you!”
As a top prospect in this draft, Ray Allen had the confidence to do so.
Coach Calhoun handed them water bottles and told Li You:
“Make sure to seize the tryout with the Knicks. I predict their draft pick won’t be very high this year.”
“In New York, there’s a solid fan base. You can always come back to Connecticut. It’s definitely a good choice!”
Li You nodded. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, had given similar advice. Having a fan base nowadays was indeed crucial.
Playing under the spotlight inevitably meant media scrutiny. The NBA was, after all, entertainment. Li You’s unique skin color meant any poor performance would have predictable consequences...
Due to broadcasting limitations, local fans mostly watched their home team’s games and were generally more forgiving of their own. New York was indeed the best option for now.
“I also plan to try out for several teams. Hopefully, I won’t fall to the second round. I prefer a guaranteed contract.”
Big man Knight shared the same approach—preparing to rely on quantity to ensure success.
Li You patted Knight on the shoulder to comfort him; the white big man’s competitiveness was indeed a bit lacking...
After the afternoon’s routine training, Li You returned to the law school and buried himself in the library. By month’s end, he would need to focus fully on preparing for tryouts.
Fortunately, his new talents had progressed somewhat, boosting his confidence.
Before resuming his coursework, Li You called up his rudimentary talent panel again:
Allen Iverson’s “Exceptional Ball Sense” had turned from gray to green;
Ray Allen’s “Outstanding Explosiveness” was half gray, half green;
The “Sharpshooter” talent still shone brilliantly in purple.
The talent wheel then morphed into the name “Li You,” with the three talents arranged in a clear mind map.
With a focused thought, “Li You” transformed into an eleven-sided radar chart measuring attributes:
Athleticism: 84;
Drive: 80;
Inside Scoring: 52;
Post Moves: 51;
Mid-Range: 90;
Three-Point: 94;
Playmaking: 90;
Interior Defense: 50;
Perimeter Defense: 80;
Steals: 63;
Rebounds: 60.
After toggling through the data repeatedly, Li You shook his head—his dream of being a versatile polygonal warrior was shattered...
But with over half a year until his nineteenth birthday, he felt time was on his side:
“As long as it’s not a bottom-tier team. I need more championships to unlock more talents.”
While Li You studied, trained, and prepared for tryouts, on April 30th, the 17-year-old Kobe Bryant held a press conference.
Dressed sharply yet still youthful, Kobe smiled confidently and declared:
“I’ve decided to skip college and bring my talent straight to the NBA!”
Though the media had somewhat anticipated this, the announcement electrified the room.
Kobe had started every game for four years in high school. In his senior year, he averaged 30.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game!
He scored a total of 2,883 points in high school, hailed as the greatest high school player, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring record in Pennsylvania.
No one doubted Kobe Bryant’s talent, but some reporters whispered:
“Will any team really draft a high school guard so high?”