The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 52 - 51 Special Agent 99

Chapter 52: Chapter 51 Special Agent 99

"Welcome to Indiana!"

On the training court, Su Wan also met Rick Carlisle.

As a representative of the Academic School of coaching, Carlisle’s only problem might be a lack of authority, which meant he couldn’t always control his players. This was the case during his time with the Pacers, and later, even as the "Champion Coach" with the Mavericks, his inability to control Doncic led to his dismissal.

But setting that aside and just talking about his understanding of strategy and the ability to build a roster, he was among the league’s best.

Anyway, Paul Silas couldn’t hold a candle to him in this regard.

Rick Carlisle’s impression of Su Wan was also very favorable, not just from this meeting but from the season opener game against the Cavaliers where Su Wan made a deep impression. — Standing boldly at the scorer’s table tossing up magnesium powder before the game, and during the match relegating Stephen Jackson to the bench — it was hard for such a rookie not to make a lasting impression.

Suddenly learning he would coach such a talented rookie, Rick Carlisle locked himself in a dark room early in the morning and watched Su Wan’s games over and over again, feeling more and more that he was an endlessly potential "treasure boy."

In a few minutes, the rest of the Pacers team arrived in twos and threes, and training began.

Tomorrow, the Pacers would be hosting the Seattle SuperSonics at home, their last game in November.

It would also be Su Wan’s debut as a Pacers player.

To better integrate him into the Pacers’ tactical system after the warm-up, Rick Carlisle arranged for Su Wan to practice strategies with the starters. Then, he arranged for Stephen Jackson still under suspension and little O’Neal to lead a team and play a practice game against the Pacers’ starting lineup for tomorrow’s game.

He was surprised to find that today, for some reason, everyone was full of energy.

This was an atmosphere he was familiar with; before the incident at Auburn Hills, the Pacers’ team spirit was like this:

Active and full of fight.

However, after the Auburn Hills incident, the team suffered a devastating blow, and the atmosphere became deathly somber.

Could Su Wan’s arrival have really had such an effect?

He didn’t know what had happened in the locker room. Not just him, there were no outsiders in the locker room at the time, just the Pacers players. According to the unwritten rules of the locker room, what Su Wan did and said wouldn’t leave that room.

That’s also why Su Wan didn’t hesitate to take action at that moment.

The surprises for Rick Carlisle kept coming:

Just as the practice game ended, a figure walked into the training room, with heavy steps, a serious face, and...

That striking Pacers jersey number 23!

Ron Artest?

He actually came to train?

Something felt off to Rick Carlisle, extremely off.

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong!

The others looked at each other in disbelief, clearly not expecting Artest to show up for training either.

Su Wan was a bit surprised as well.

But upon closer thought, Artest did have the quality of the "Reformed."

He wasn’t a complete reprobate.

The key was...

To evoke his sense of responsibility!

It seemed that Su Wan’s words had sparked his accountability. — Some people are like that; all it takes is one kick for them to understand everything.

Indeed, after warming up, Artest approached Su Wan on his own initiative: "Tell me, what can I do right now to help this team?"

While speaking, his eyes were evasive, and he didn’t dare to make eye contact with Su Wan. Perhaps a bit embarrassed, his hands unconsciously scratched his cheek.

When someone is guilty, they really do have a lot of little nervous tics!

Su Wan said, "It’s simple, practice with me!"

"What, you want me to practice with you, are you kidding?" Artest’s face was full of resistance.

Su Wan patiently explained: "There won’t be any other changes to the Pacers this season, among the remaining players, who do you think is most likely to fill your shoes?"

"You think you can do it?" Artest was skeptical.

Su Wan admitted that he couldn’t replace Artest right now, but as long as he kept earning zone points, he could continually enhance his potential. With Artest, the "Best Defensive Player," as practice partner, he believed that by the time they reached the playoffs, even if he couldn’t completely replace Artest on defense, he could definitely shoulder the offensive responsibilities.

That’s precisely what the Pacers were lacking — offensive ability! frёewebnoѵēl.com

So he confidently said, "As long as you’re willing to keep practicing with me, you won’t need me to tell you, you’ll know whether I can make it!"

...

Artest didn’t say a word, but from the flickering in his eyes, everyone could tell, don’t bother him—he was thinking!

"Okay, I agree, but let’s get one thing straight, I’m not going easy on you!"

After wrestling with it for two or three minutes, Artest finally agreed.

Su Wan had no intention of wasting time, "Then let’s start now!"

Watching the two engage in an intense one-on-one, Rick Carlisle was surprised by Artest’s enthusiasm. In his memory, Artest wasn’t an easy person to get along with. When Carlisle first joined the team, Artest was quite resistant to him.

The other players who knew what had happened in the locker room were even more surprised.

Reggie Miller looked worried; he feared that the two might end up fighting again.

Su Wan was completely absorbed in the one-on-one, oblivious to everyone else’s stares.

Artest was indeed the previous season’s "Best Defensive Player Award" winner, and when it came to defensive ability among active perimeter players, he was either the best or second best.

Especially one-on-one, with no screens, no pick and rolls...

Facing him, Su Wan, without "The Zone" mode, found even dribbling the ball challenging.

Artest’s aggressive defense occasionally caused him to stutter in his movements or to contort awkwardly.

The first round of one-on-one ended.

to 21.

A crushing defeat!

Su Wan felt as though his entire body had turned to wood.

As Artest looked at Su Wan’s grimacing face, he couldn’t hide his smug smile, "How about it? Huaxia rookie, can you still hold up?"

One-on-one defense was his forte. Tracy McGrady, the League’s "Scoring King" for the past two years, how about him?

He defended him too!

Artest thought Su Wan would surely back down.

But ten minutes later, after taking a swig of Gatorade, Su Wan put down his cup, "Let’s continue!"

After two more rounds, Su Wan looked at his bruised chest, cracking a slight smile, unsure if he was happy or in pain.

Out of nowhere, Artest got an ice pack and handed it to him, "Kid, put this on so you don’t perform poorly tomorrow and blame it on me."

Then without waiting for Su Wan to say anything, Artest left somewhat hastily.

His disappearing figure was slightly flustered.

Indeed, "tough guys have a tender side," and often, it was awkward for them.

The next afternoon, when Rick Carlisle took part in an interview, he unexpectedly found many reporters waiting for him, an unprecedented situation for him. It wasn’t until the interview officially started that he learned they all wanted to know how Su Wan and the other Pacers had meshed during the first day of training.

"I know everyone outside says Uncle has a boisterous personality, that the Pacers’ old-timers will definitely look down on him, but actually, you’re all wrong. Uncle has integrated very smoothly, he’s even become quite chummy with Ron, their relationship is very good!"

Hearing this, the Indiana reporters felt a sense of unease.

Wait...

Was becoming friends with Ron Artest really a good thing?

Erin, thanks to her better media relationship with Su Wan, got the opportunity to interview him alone in the locker room.

Before she could ask him anything, Su Wan asked her, "Erin, weren’t you the Cavaliers’ beat reporter?"

Erin: "You’re not with the Cavaliers anymore, how could I stay there? I applied for a transfer with my boss, and he agreed without hesitation!"

Su Wan nodded, signaling that the interview could begin.

Erin wasn’t in a hurry to start the interview, but instead shared some news with him, "Did you know? Now Pacers fans are calling you ’Special Agent 99’!"

"Why?"

The "99" Su Wan understood, that was his number.

But this "Special Agent," where did that come from?

Erin reminded him, "Didn’t you say that winning a championship for Indiana was your mission? That makes them feel like you’re a special agent on assignment."

"Alright then!"

As far as his first nickname in the NBA went, Su Wan was quite pleased.

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