NBA: I'm really just an ordinary coach

June 26, 2002.

New York.

Madison Square Garden.

This venue, known as the holy land of basketball, once again welcomed the annual grand event.

The 2002 NBA Draft.

On this day, the eyes of countless fans around the world were focused here.

Many rising stars in the basketball world either came here or in front of the TV, waiting for that moment to come.

Whether they can enter the NBA through the draft, or at which pick they will be selected into the NBA, are what they care about most.

Different picks bring them different status, as well as the length and size of the most realistic contract years.

This day is especially important for those young people who have come out of the slums, hope to change their destiny through basketball, and have been working hard for this from beginning to end.

Similarly.

This day is also a great test for the management of each NBA team.

There are many standards for the strength of the management, and among them, the draft is a very important, even the most important indicator.

Even the team that got the No. 1 pick is somewhat nervous at this moment.

Apart from those few super rookies, even the top pick may be a dud before they play well.

If the top pick is a dud, then not only the dud himself, but also the team management will face countless ridicule and mockery.

The one known as the God of Basketball is the best example.

Kwame Brown, who just finished his rookie season, now has the hat of a"dud top pick" on his head.

Through trades with the Cavaliers and the Knicks, the Trail Blazers got this year's No. 6 and No. 7 picks, as well as No. 34 picks.

Plus the Trail Blazers' No. 21 pick.

With four draft picks in hand, including three first-round picks, Tang Feng naturally did not dare to neglect it. Together with Pritchard, he came to this historic arena.

At this moment, there is still some time before the draft officially begins.

The arena seems a little deserted.

However, the arrival of Tang Feng and Pritchard still made the originally quiet arena lively.

Since the Trail Blazers’ official announcement, the words Trail Blazers, Pritchard, and Tang Feng have been mentioned by countless people in the past few days.

Among them, the one mentioned the most is Tang Feng.

A 23-year-old young man, an ancient oriental country, and an NBA head coach. When these three are combined together, it is enough to make those who don’t care about the NBA have a strong interest in it.

The first to rush up were the reporters with cameras.

Although they didn’t know Tang Feng, Pritchard’s photo, and even his background, had been memorized by them in the past few days.

Seeing Pritchard walking into the arena with a young man, they could already conclude that this was the newly appointed Trail Blazers head coach.

"Mr. Tang, may I ask how you became the head coach of the Trail Blazers?"

"Mr. Tang, what is your relationship with Mr. Allen?"

"Mr. Tang, does the turmoil in the Trail Blazers' management have a direct relationship with you?"

"..."

Facing the machine-gun-like questions, Tang Feng smiled.

He had experienced such a wave of questions outside the stadium.

The difference was that the reporters outside the stadium were more direct, and the questions they asked were more explicit, even aggressive.

The reporters here were more reserved. After all, not just any Tom, Dick or Harry could enter the scene for an interview.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have to say that I am somewhat flattered by your enthusiasm, and I am very grateful for that."

As Tang Feng spoke, all the reporters fell silent.

"I personally like dealing with journalists very much, and I am also happy to share my stories with you.

However, the protagonist today is not me, but the young people sitting there who are about to enter the league.

This is the most important day in their lives.

On this special day, I don't want to, and I can't, steal their limelight.

I don't want them to explode and kick our asses when they meet the Trail Blazers after the new season starts, making the Trail Blazers their background.

Of course, I also know that as a friend, you want to get to know me better.

There is a long way to go, so there is no need to rush.

Portland is a hospitable city, and as a member of the Trail Blazers, I can also tell you responsibly that the Rose Garden welcomes you and I am waiting for you there."

When he finished speaking, Tang Feng secretly winked at Pritchard.

Then, the two of them worked together to"fight" a bloody path through the long guns and short guns in front of them, and quickly walked towards the seats belonging to the Trail Blazers management.

The management and head coaches of various teams, including the Knicks, had not arrived yet, which was also intentional by Tang Feng.

Come early and find your seat to sit down, so as to avoid being seen as a giant panda by a group of curious people when you are late.

After sitting down, Tang Feng's eyes turned to the direction of the small green house.

It is called a small green house, but in fact, it is not a real house, but a There is an area enclosed by a fence at the front of the stage. There are round tables corresponding to the number of rookies entering the green room. There are chairs around the round tables for the rookies, their agents, and their families to sit.

At this moment

, quite a few people have come to this area. Those who are invited to enter the green room are all ranked very high and have a high probability of becoming potential stars in the lottery.

Of course, there are exceptions to everything. There are also some rookies sitting in the green room who were not selected until the second round.

When Tang Feng looked over, the people in this area , most of them were looking at Tang Feng.

Some were curious, some were arrogant, and some were disdainful.

Tang Feng didn't care, his eyes were fixed on a familiar big man.

This is also the only person in the small green room who impressed Tang Feng.

Nene Hilario.

A beastly inside player who came out of the football kingdom, and one of Tang Feng's goals on this trip.

With the trade of Randolph and Dale Davis, the Trail Blazers' inside player only has Rasheed Wallace and the aging Sabonis.

In this era when Dampier can get a big contract, for the current Trail Blazers, it is difficult to get a big contract. The best way to strengthen the inside line is to do so through the draft.

Stoudemire was the first choice for the Trail Blazers, and Nene was not originally in Tang Feng's plan. However, the Knicks took the initiative to offer him, so he became interested. Nene looked at Tang Feng with some curiosity, not knowing that she was already Tang Feng's target.

Noticing Tang Feng's eyes on her, she was slightly startled, then smiled and nodded at Tang Feng.

Tang Feng smiled and nodded.

The subtleties of behavior can best reveal a person's character.

Just to say that the behavior shown by Nene at this moment made Tang Feng very satisfied.