"Refuse?" In the Houston Rockets general manager's office, the Rockets general manager looked in disbelief.
"Yes, the other agent rejected our trial invitation," the staff member responsible for the matter replied.
"Did the Chinese go to that team for a trial before we sent out the trial invitation?" the Rockets general manager asked.
"I checked, he was training with the Lakers when we sent out the invitation for a trial." After receiving Holtz's rejection call, the staff member immediately checked Li Hao's situation.
"It seems that he has reached an agreement with the Lakers." As long as you know where Li Hao went for a trial training, it is not difficult to guess.
"What should we do? If he doesn't come to trial training, we won't be able to make an accurate judgment," the staff asked.
"I'll call and ask about Yao." The general manager immediately thought of Yao Ming. He was very aware of Yao Ming's status in the Chinese basketball circle.
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When Yao Ming received the call from the general manager of the Rockets, he was confused because he had never heard of a player named Li Hao. However, after hanging up the phone, Yao Ming went to check it out, but he still couldn't find it.
In fact, it is normal that Li Hao was not found. Li Hao is not a player within the system. Yao Ming naturally cannot find Li Hao. However, as a player who has played in the NBA for almost ten years, it is still easy for Yao Ming to check Li Hao.
"Thanks, Bill" ended the phone call with his American agent, and Yao Ming quickly received information about Li Hao.
In addition to Li Hao's basic information, there is also a video of Li Hao's 18-minute NCAA game. This is all the information that Li Hao can find so far.
Li Hao is too mysterious to many people. Although he is a player for the UCLA Bruins, he has hardly played in games. Apart from this, there is no other information about Li Hao playing games.
This also made Yao Ming more and more interested in Li Hao, and the information Bill Duffy gave Yao Ming was very complete, including Li Hao's phone number.
"Yao Ming? I still have Tracy McGrady~~~Dududu" Yao Ming looked at the hung up phone with a wry smile with an emoticon on his face.
"You're done, right?" Li Hao's voice on the other end of the phone was a little angry.
"Brother, don't hang up the phone yet. Add my phone number on WeChat and let's video chat so you can tell whether I am Yao Ming or not," Yao Ming said.
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"Is it really Yao Ming?" With such doubts, Li Hao increased this person's prestige.
"Fuck, emoticon." Seeing the face that often appeared in the QQ chat group, Li Hao finally believed that this person was really Yao Ming.
"You now believe that I am Yao Ming?" Yao Ming didn't care about the emoticon.
"I believe it, brother Yao, why did you call me? Do you know me?" Before today, Li Hao had only seen Yao Ming on TV.
"I know you from the general manager of the Rockets. My agent in the United States helped me find your phone number," Yao Ming replied.
"Rocket? Brother Yao, you are not working as a lobbyist for the Rockets, are you?" Li Hao had just rejected the Rockets not long ago.
"That's what they mean, but don't worry, I'm not here to be a lobbyist. I just know you from them, so I'm a little curious about you," Yao Ming said.
"Li Hao, can you tell me about your situation?" Yao Ming asked directly.
"Me? I came to the United States last year and am currently studying at UCLA. However, I have decided to participate in the draft, so my college career is basically over," Li Hao said.
"Basketball, why did you only play 18 minutes in the NCAA?" Yao Ming is obviously more concerned about Li Hao's basketball situation.
"The head coach thought I was too short before. When I first arrived in the United States, I was only 175. In recent months, I suddenly jumped to 195." It is not uncommon for players' heights to suddenly skyrocket, but most people suddenly skyrocket in high school. Li Hao is relatively rare. He only got the salary increase when he was in college, but there are many examples of this.
Now Yao Ming understood why Li Hao only had 18 minutes of game time. Asians have no physical advantage, let alone being only 175cm tall.
"At that time, the team was eight points behind. The head coach knew that I was good at three points, so he replaced me and took a gamble," Li Hao said.
"I failed in the Elite Eight, the NCAA game ended, and then I participated in the draft," Li Hao continued.
"That means you participated in this year's draft after playing 18 minutes." Yao Ming was shocked.
Yao Ming really wants to ask Li Hao, who gave you the courage to participate in this year's draft?
"Li Hao, you have never thought about playing another year in college. Based on your performance in the last two games, the head coach will definitely give you more opportunities next season." Li Hao was born on August 8, 1995 , He is not even 19 yet, so he can definitely stay in college and play for another year.
"The head coach actually talked to me. He promised me to be the main player next season, but I refused because I wanted to participate in the draft," Li Hao said.
Yao Ming really didn't know what to say now. If Li Hao played a full season and performed well, he would have participated in the draft. But in fact, Li Hao only played two games. 18 minutes.
Li Hao knew what Yao Ming was thinking, and even a normal person knew how to choose, but Li Hao didn't, and he couldn't tell anyone about this.
"You have made your own decision, and I can't say anything. But since you chose to participate in the draft, you should go to a few more teams for trial training. Didn't your agent arrange it?" From Bill Duffy's information, Yao Ming knew that Li Hao signed Got an agent.
"There was originally such an arrangement, but it is no longer needed," Li Hao said.
"Why?" Yao Ming knew that there were some things he shouldn't ask, but he still couldn't help but be curious. Yao Ming was also afraid that Li Hao would be deceived.
"Well~~~The Lakers have promised me that they will select me in the next draft." After hesitating for a while, Li Hao said directly.
"So you rejected the Rockets' invitation to try out?" Thinking of the call that the Rockets general manager made to him, Yao Ming immediately understood everything.
"Compared with the Rockets, the Lakers are more suitable for me now." Rockets Harden is a ball-handling core. In addition, there is also a "tactical core" Happy Beast, and the Rockets will compete for the championship in the next few years. It certainly won’t give newcomers too many opportunities.
"Brother Yao, I need to level up through games now, instead of going to a strong team to work as a bench for two years of salary," Li Hao continued.
Yao Ming really wanted to say, since you want to level up through games, why not play one more year in college?
"Li Hao, you have to know that verbal agreements are the most untrustworthy," Yao Ming couldn't help but remind him.
"I know, so I will go to the joint trial and then see if there is a suitable team." Li Hao said his original plan.
"Do you want to serve the country?" Knowing that Li Hao did not hang himself from a tree, Yao Ming did not dwell on this topic.
"Of course I want to, but can I wait two years?" It is the dream of every Chinese to play for the country.
"Why do you have to wait two years?" Yao Ming asked curiously.
"I want to practice in the NBA for a while and wait until I make a name for myself before joining the national team. I don't want to rely on connections." Basketball is still cleaner than football.
"Okay, okay~~~ Let's keep in touch. I have something else to do, so I'll hang up now." After all, the two of them had just met.
