The 2003 NBA training camp date was set for October 4th, and the Bulls held the training camp on September 28th.
Players came back from all directions to gather here.
The Bulls did not make any large-scale signings this offseason, but only signed back the second-in-command of two three-peat dynasties, Scottie Pippen.
This is because the Bulls boss wanted to make up for Pippen's "tragic" contract. They gave Pippen a two-year, $8 million pension contract in his later years.
Everyone knows that the 38-year-old Pippen can no longer play in the NBA. Years of fighting and frequent injuries have meant that he no longer has the court ability he once had. The Bulls invited him back, and his main role is to maintain the locker room and teach young people experience.
Su Feng joined the training team and was assigned to the shooting guard group.
There are many players participating in the Bulls training camp, but there are few players in the Bulls shooting guard group. Su Fong, Kendall Gill, Roger Mason.
This is the least competitive grouping.
The current Bulls team has many centers, many forwards, and few guards.
Eddy Curry introduced Su Feng ceremoniously in the locker room, and he showed the atmosphere of "I am protecting this little brother."
Eddy Curry was the fourth overall pick in 2001 and one of the core members of the team. His words carry weight.
This saved Su Feng a lot of trouble, and his first meeting with his new teammates was quite harmonious.
Presumably to add some experience to the weak shooting guard position, head coach Bill Carlwright placed Scottie Pippen in the No. 2 group.
Pippen joined the training. He just started running a few return runs. After the warm-up, he stopped training. Instead, he held a water bottle and watched Su Feng and others training and running on the sidelines.
NBA training is very detailed, and trainers and assistant coaches pay great attention to details. They need to make sure they understand what each player is good at, and then they can arrange corresponding tactics for the players.
Kendall Gill is an experienced and extremely strong defensive player. He was the No. 5 pick in 1990. He once served as a franchise player for the Hornets and averaged 20+5+4 per game in his peak period.
However, what is most impressive about him is steals. He is the steal leader and has a triple-double. His defensive area is very large, and his defensive posture is very fierce.
He is a serious man, and few people dare to mess with him whether it is in the training camp or on the court.
Because this guy's fists and kicks are also very good. After retiring at the age of 37, he entered the professional boxing ring after a year of special training and KOed his opponent in his first game.
His relationship with Su Feng progressed around noon, when he asked Su Feng about 'Chinese Kung Fu'.
This... happened to be Su Feng's specialty. Grandpa Su Feng was a famous boxer from all over the country. When he was young, he relied on boxing and kicking skills to support his family. Later, he enlisted in the army and made military exploits. Su Feng's Bajiquan is a pure boy's skill.
He gave Kendall Gill a beating, and the beating was fierce.
This has never happened before.
After Su Feng's three physical talents of explosive power, agility, and strength improved by leaps and bounds, his boxing style also reached incredible heights.
Kendall Gill was so full of praise that he had to compare notes with Su Feng.
To be honest, his boxing pace is very good and he also has strong practical ability. But the space in the locker room was small. Su Feng saw the opportunity and punched him. The punch knocked him back three meters and he fell on the seat in the locker room. He couldn't speak for a long time.
That's what Americans are like, if you win over them, they will worship you.
After Kendall Gill regained his composure, he saluted Su Feng on the spot and insisted on calling him brother-in-law.
Using force to make friends, we quickly became familiar with each other.
During the afternoon training, Kendall Gill began to give comprehensive guidance on Su Feng's defense. He was very enthusiastic.
When Jaylen Rose came to cause trouble, he deliberately stood in front of Su Feng.
"Hey, rookie, buy me a donut." Jaylen Rose came over and handed Su Feng a note with $100 written on it. "Remember to change."
This is an unspoken rule of the NBA. No matter how big-name a newcomer is, he will have to accept being 'bullied' by veteran players when he arrives in the NBA. It ranges from backpacking and running errands to stuffing your car with popcorn, and even worse, putting your underwear in the freezer so you can fight in the Air Force.
"I suggest you don't cause trouble with Tony." Kendall Gill took the piece of paper and tore it up directly. He said: "Tony is my teacher. If you want to eat donuts, I will buy them for you."
Of course Jalen Rose wouldn’t dare ask Gil to buy him donuts. Gil is older than him, has better punches and kicks, and is also the leader of the locker room. He doesn't want to be unhappy.
He was very depressed. He didn't expect that Su Feng would be able to let Jill protect him when he first arrived. What kind of 'man-killing' character is this guy? How come you can always be protected by strong men?
He could only give up in frustration, losing 100,000 US dollars and a gold Rolex watch, and couldn't even get back a 100-dollar donut meal. Hold back, bow.
"I'll give you a suggestion, you'd better not provoke Tony, you won't be able to handle it."
As he was leaving, Kendall Gill also gave him a heartfelt piece of advice.
Jaylen Rose definitely wouldn't listen. He didn't take Su Feng seriously, and he didn't think Su Feng could do anything to him. There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with him in the future.
Looking at Jalen Rose's disapproval.
Kendall Gill didn’t say much, and it was hard to persuade the damn ghost with good words.
No one can avoid the losses that should be suffered. A life that has not been destroyed by Bajiquan is incomplete.
…
On October 4, the media open day of the Bulls training camp, Su Feng officially put on the No. 30 jersey and appeared in front of the media.
Due to the arrival of Su Feng, many Chinese reporters poured into this year's training camp.
After all, this is the first shooting guard in Chinese history to officially log into the NBA. (Hu Weidong has not played an official game on behalf of the Mavericks, nor has he participated in a training camp.)
The arrival of Chinese reporters made the Bulls media open day more lively, which is what the club hopes to see. They are also ambitiously carrying out their Asian promotion plan. Over the past season, the Rockets' success in Asia has been the envy of other teams in the league.
However, there has to be a premise: Can Su Feng gain a foothold in the NBA like Yao Ming?
This is also what Chinese fans and Chinese reporters are most concerned about. After all, Su Feng's starting point is lower than Yao Ming. Moreover, Su Feng's position is the most competitive in the NBA.
"I said that he will be one of our long-term plans, and I am extremely satisfied with his training in the past few days. I am sure that he will appear in our squad for the new season. I have not sent him to the NBDL. plan of."
Head coach Carl Wright gave Chinese reporters reassurance.
Then Kendall Gill also gave interviews to Chinese media. "Of course, I'm very optimistic about him. His shooting and positioning are the best I've ever seen."
The indifferent Gill showed a rare smile when facing the Chinese reporters, showing his kindness in loving Wujiwu.
But his smile was a little stiff, and Chinese reporters thought it might be a remark to show off.
In contrast, Jaylen Rose praised Su Feng unparalleledly: "Thank you for sending us a super genius. He is the strongest among the new generation of guards. I think he is greater than the chosen son James. He is Syracuse's most outstanding player, and I mean he's far more talented than Carmelo Anthony."
"He will definitely lead the Bulls to new glory. He is the only person on this planet who has a chance to surpass Michael Jordan. I'm sure of it!"
Jaylen Rose not only said this to Chinese reporters, he also boasted in front of the Chicago media.
Chinese reporters all sighed: This sounds right.
What they want is this kind of exaggerated effect. Only in this way can the domestic fans be excited.
They don't care whether such flattery is distorted or not.
The Chicago media was obviously not impressed, while Chinese reporters hoped that Jalen Rose would say more.
Jaylen Rose clearly knows what he is doing. He just wants to praise Su Feng. He just wants to make Su Feng the target of public criticism.
It's best to be the opposite of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony: Then when everyone praises these two geniuses, they have a mocking role.
James and Anthony are the most popular and most watched super talents in the 2003 class.
Anthony is the first super small forward in history to win the NCAA championship and be elected MOP in his freshman season.
James has a greater background. He is directly called the chosen one. Nike gave him a historic US$92 million sponsorship contract that far exceeds that of any NBA player. The league has been building momentum for him since he was in high school.
The American basketball circle is waiting for him to join the NBA like a king. Everyone generally believes that he can become the ruler who succeeds Jordan.
All the rookie media space was taken away by the two of them.
In front of them, Hinrich, the Bulls' No. 7 pick, has no star power.
Not to mention Su Feng.
Therefore, Jaylen Rose placed Su Feng with them in such a high-profile manner, purely to praise him, and put Su Feng on the fire.
Both Chicago media and Chinese media highlighted the news.
In China, fans are excited and looking forward to it.
But in Chicago, and across America, that's not the case with fans. Bulls fans think this is nonsense and think it is impossible. But not sarcastically.
Fans elsewhere clearly took this as a joke, and the piece of media even made it onto national media outlet ESPN's 'Parlor Room'. The host read out Jalen Rose's comment, and then several basketball experts called it: a joke in front of a national audience.
No one regarded Su Feng as the Bulls' hope for revival. No one thinks Su Feng can be compared with James and Anthony.
Their most optimistic prediction is: "...if the Chinese defender can finish his first season without being waived, he will have far exceeded expectations. I am not being too high-minded, nor am I being arrogant. But... The position of defender is not naturally suitable for yellow-skinned players, they don’t have this ability.”
These people were laughing and joking, treating the news as a joke. Then they started talking about LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
This is the highlight in their eyes, this is the super rookie who can affect the league structure in their eyes.
"LeBron James is here to dominate this league. He is a monster armed to the teeth. He will devour all opponents in his first game in the NBA. His talent is like the scorching sun, capable of melting everything. Disrespectful.”
"Carmelo's scoring methods are like the stars in the sky. He is rich and delicate, and his talent is amazing. I have a feeling that they will become gods in the East and West. The Nuggets and Cavaliers will be brilliant because they got them in this year's draft. "
"This is the Bird vs. Magic Johnson battle of the 21st century!"
"..."
Su Feng changed the channel. He would rather watch the premiere of Avril Lavigne's new song MV on the MTV channel. I don’t want to hear these things anymore.
He felt uncomfortable, even though he knew these people were telling the 'truth' in their hearts. But this is too disrespectful...
Su Feng was full of expectations for the improvement of his own strength. He hoped that he could quickly absorb all three super talents copied from the 'fallen players'.
He couldn't wait to win 'respect' and prove those conclusive judgments wrong.
“…Topping this week’s MTV charts is Hilary Duff…”
A voice came from the TV.
This made Su Feng feel a little lower.
Avril Lavigne is not number one?
Who is Hilary Duff?
That little Disney princess?
This song is simply a copy of Avril Lavigne! She is plagiarizing Avril Lavigne’s creative ideas.
Why is she first?
Just because she is an idol artist in a big company?
Just because she is highly praised and very popular among teenagers?
Damn!
Su Feng was inexplicably irritable and turned off the TV.
“What’s on TV these days is bullshit!”
He complained angrily.
There was no news that pleased him.
…
The Bulls practiced for two weeks before preseason arrived.
Preseason results are not included in the regular season results. This is the final buffer for NBA teams to make adjustments.
Because many NBA players are out of shape after a long offseason and need some games to recover. At the same time, the preseason is also a window for the team to adjust its lineup.
They will give more opportunities to fringe players and rookies to see if they can adapt to the NBA rhythm and integrate into the tactical system.
If it doesn't work, they will be cut before the start of the regular season or transferred to the NBDL. Whenever the team thinks about it, they will recall it.
Many second-round rookies are thrown to lower leagues like this and stay idle for a season. By the time they came back, the day lilies were cold.
Although coach Carl Wright said that he would not let Su Feng go, what if he doesn't play well?
The Bulls' first preseason opponent is the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks and the Bulls are a pair of bad brothers, both hanging out at the bottom of the league.
However, they all want to change this situation in the new season.
It's a pity that in the predictions of major media, they are still at the tail end and are still considered to have no chance of returning to the playoffs. Let's continue to fight for the lottery pick.
What if they get lucky like the Cavaliers and draft a super rookie like LeBron James.
Anyway, the weak team wants to turn around. Either rely on big trades, or rely on picking super rookies.
From the current point of view, these two teams neither have the conditions for a big deal, nor have they selected a super rookie in 2003.
…
