CHAPTER 1280: CHAPTER 517: ANOTHER "STRONGEST YOUTH ARMY" AGAIN?

At the Las Vegas Summer League, Matthews matched up against the Knicks’ number 5 pick. His proud long-range shooting seemed so clumsy in front of that guy who looked incredibly thin but could sink threes no matter how strong the opposition.

However, facing Curry, Matthews only realized what was the ’ceiling of shooters’ among rookies, and just by observing Zhang Yang’s training, merely training, he understood what ’era-defining three-point shooter’ meant.

It wasn’t just about accuracy! Zhang Yang, once he got the ball, immediately got into the zone, ignoring everything else, focusing on shooting... he was completely free-spirited, which gave Matthews a small shock.

After the initial shock, Matthews was not discouraged. He immediately threw himself into training.

The difficulty was immense, so much so that he himself felt it was impossible, but he had to set such a goal—to seize the starting shooting guard position!

Just in terms of three-point shooting alone, the gap was like a chasm... Iron Man: Then train! As long as the training doesn’t kill you, train to the death!

Over on Zhang Yang’s side, naturally, he didn’t know that just the feeling of making every shot in a couple of explosive instances would make the already obsessive Matthews become even more aggressive. He also got into training mode, warming up his shooting with set shots, then practicing catching and shooting from long range while running, without fixed positions, just catching and throwing the ball.

By 9 o’clock, the coach and teammates also gradually arrived at the training ground.

The players were not only the 13 who already had contracts but also 7 training camp contract players, without exception, retired veteran point guards and athletic small forwards without teams. For the past week, the coaching staff invited trial players and accepted trial applications, all of which were of these two types of players, with clear goals.

As for the small forwards, besides Adam Morrison who was cut by the Celtics, Zhang Yang couldn’t recall the names of the other three. He only knew they had all played on an NBA court but hadn’t secured a spot, mixing in the development league.

For the point guards, all names were recognizable: Jason Hart from the class of ’00, who didn’t play last season and played a year in the Japan J League; Bobby Jackson, once the best sixth man among the Kings’ five tigers, returned to the Kings last season and had a good season, averaging 9.2 points per game thanks to Rondo, and was the most capable among the training camp contract players; the last one, Zhang Yang’s old acquaintance—Coach Lue.

Zhang Yang didn’t care who the team would sign. Maybe they would fill all two vacancies at once, maybe they wouldn’t sign any. When Tyronn Lue came, Zhang Yang stopped his training to chat with Lue sir, for Lue sir was a pleasant talker.

The team’s two most important acquisitions of the summer—the Hacker and the Big Shark—arrived late, being the last to arrive at the gym.

However, the reasons for their late arrival were completely different.

Marion was ordered by Carlisle not to come too early or train for too long, while O’Neal...

Once Marion signed at the end of July, he couldn’t wait to start training, as if wanting to make up for what he hadn’t practiced in the past one and a half years.

Marion indeed regressed significantly, not to mention his physical fitness. Regarding three-point shooting, the former Hacker, although not a top-tier shooter, definitely didn’t hold the team back, achieving over one three-point field goal per game for 7 consecutive seasons, with a highlight season averaging 1.7 threes made per game at a 38.7% shooting rate alongside Kidd, Marion, Nash.

Yet during his time with the Miami Heat, his three-point shooting percentage fell to 25%, but he was still taking 3-4 shots per game. Though not regressing in ability at that time, he was completely shooting wildly, and when with the Toronto Raptors his three-point ability was gone, averaging 0.5 three-point attempts per game and under 0.1 makes per game with a 15.4% shooting percentage.

After Marion’s diligent training for a few days... Bickerstaff called in the psychologist again, for even if it’s not clinical, this could genuinely lead to a clinical condition.

Seeking respect and joining a strong team ignited his passion, which was a good thing, yet just like when he was immediately emotionally overwhelmed after being ’abandoned,’ his emotional high now was a bit too intense.

Upon the psychologist’s suggestion, Marion moved out of the hotel and settled near Freedom Park in the southern suburbs, where the environment was good... mainly because the sanatorium was nearby, making it convenient for the doctor to talk to Marion daily.

After discussions among team doctor consultant Thomas Carter, Marion, the psychologist, Bickerstaff, Jordan, and others, restrictions on Marion’s training time, arrival time at the gym, etc., were arranged.

As for O’Neal, after attending Yao Ming’s birthday party, Boss Qiao brought him back to Charlotte on the 14th. Anyone else calling him wouldn’t have worked, only Jordan could, but as for the effectiveness... Zhang Yang heard it was mediocre; on the 16th, Jordan took O’Neal to train, and that night the two of them went to Church Hill for fun, later staying at Jordan’s place. The greatest player in history and the most dominant center in history ended up playing well together.

Once everyone assembled, routine work of the training camp began, such as body measurements, physical examinations, ability tests... Seeing the steadily rising indicators of Zhang Yang, the staff was numb. If one day the indicators didn’t rise, it would surprise them instead.

In addition to testing, Zhang Yang observed new and old teammates with Felton.

Three new rookies all worked hard, and that might be because among them emerged someone like Matthews, who pushed the limits.

The Big Shark overall looked good, at least healthy after playing one and a half years with the Phoenix Suns, and he was still under Thomas Carter’s care.

Hill, being one of the ’Double Guns’, was a bit of a worry due to his motivation after winning the long-desired championship ring.

However, Hill seemed to have not changed much from last season, maintaining good shape and performing up to standard during tests, though he appeared more easy-going.

The veteran, neither of the ’Double Guns’ could manage, and even someone as rambunctious as Felton wouldn’t say anything to Hill. It would naturally be ideal if Hill maintained his previous level of effort in the new season, but otherwise, he would still make a great locker room leader.

After everyone’s basic skills and technical tests ended, Zhang Yang went to the head coach’s office to check the test reports. He was very satisfied with the overall results; there’s no reference point for the rookies, so it’s hard to say, but the improvements compared to last season’s return tests for the ’Three Youngs’, Millsap, Afflalo, and Ibaka were very significant, especially for Ibaka, who started at the lowest point.

After going through the test reports, Zhang Yang discovered something astonishing, and as he counted on his fingers... their team currently had 13 people, with an average age of 26! They became a youth army again!