Recruitment

Goodwin arrived at the training gym half an hour early in the afternoon.

It was completely empty!

"Looks like I'm the first one here. I'll start by putting up a few sets of shots."

Time shouldn't be wasted; instead of waiting for them, he might as well continue his daily training. After all, he still had 300 mid-range shots and 300 three-pointers left to finish.

And so, Goodwin began his training.

As time ticked by, many first-year rookies and second-year players arrived one after another. Seeing Goodwin training alone, they were slightly surprised.

Goodwin would pause to greet them.

After the greetings, he would simply go back to his training.

The rookies who arrived early also joined in one by one; after all, when one person grinds, everyone else feels the pressure to grind too.

After that, almost every rookie who walked in looked bewildered. Why was everyone already training? Especially the second-year players, who remembered clearly that when they came here last year, they just chatted and got to know each other.

The second-year players had no choice but to join the training as well.

Just then, a massive figure slowly walked through the door, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

It was last year's number one overall pick—Yao Ming.

He was the starting center for the Houston Rockets and also the starting center for the Western Conference All-Star team this year.

His immense popularity eclipsed every other center in the West; even Shaquille O'Neal, who had won three consecutive championships, had admitted he couldn't mess with him.

Of course, this wasn't to say that Yao Ming was better than Shaquille O'Neal, but rather that his popularity was greater.

After all, Yao Ming had 1.3 billion fans behind him.

Yao Ming hadn't let his fans down either; this season, he was averaging 17.5 points, 9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game, with a field goal percentage of 52.2%. Keep in mind, he was only in his second year—his potential was limitless!

Yao Ming's arrival made all the rookies on the court pale in comparison.

"Hello, Yao Ming!" "Yao Ming!"... Except for Goodwin, every rookie rushed over to greet him.

Yao Ming smiled and responded to each of them.

Goodwin had originally wanted to go over, but seeing the crowd rushing toward him, he decided not to join the commotion.

There would be plenty of chances to chat with Yao Ming later.

Yao Ming also noticed this unique player and took a few looks.

Oh, so it was him—Goodwin.

Yao Ming still had vivid memories of the NCAA finals from the previous year.

At the time, Yao Ming had hoped the Houston Rockets would draft this savior from the University of Kansas, but his wish hadn't come true.

The team hadn't chosen Goodwin, opting instead for the Senegalese professional basketball player Malick Badiane, as the front office believed Malick Badiane had better athletic ability than Goodwin.

Yao Ming secretly felt it was a pity. If the Houston Rockets had added a three-point threat like Goodwin, the entire offensive spacing for the Houston Rockets would have been completely different, and opponents wouldn't have even dared to double-team him.

What a shame, what a shame.

But now that he had the chance, he might as well ask him what he thought of the Houston Rockets.

If the Boston Celtics knew Yao Ming was coming over to poach their player, they would surely rush over to protect their own.

After responding to everyone, Yao Ming strode directly toward Goodwin.

Tap, tap...

The sound of footsteps reached Goodwin's ears, and he couldn't help but stop his movements and turn his head to look.

"Hello, Goodwin! My name is Yao Ming. It's a pleasure to meet you," Yao Ming said, taking the initiative to greet him.

A brilliant smile appeared on Goodwin's face.

In the distance, Carmelo Anthony watched the bright smile on Goodwin's face and couldn't help but feel like he was seeing a ghost. He had never seen Goodwin smile so brightly before, and he felt a bit sour inside. FUCK, I was the one who met you first...

"Yao Ming, it's a pleasure to meet you too."

The familiar native tongue reached Yao Ming's ears, and for a moment, he was stunned.

Goodwin couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face, which was practically a ready-made meme.

"Yao Ming, no need to be so surprised. Just because you can speak English, doesn't mean I can't speak Chinese, right?"

Yao Ming quickly shook his head and said, "No, that's not what I meant. I'm just very surprised. You know, our country's language is the hardest in the world to learn, yet you can speak it so fluently."

"If I didn't look at your appearance, I would have really thought you were my countryman!"

In my past life, I was!

Goodwin thought to himself silently.

"Did you study abroad in China?" Yao Ming guessed.

Goodwin shook his head: "No, I taught myself. My talent isn't bad, is it?"

Yao Ming gave Goodwin a thumbs up.

For Yao Ming, this was an unexpected surprise. He knew that coming all the way here to integrate into the local culture had been an incredibly arduous experience, and all the bitterness and joy were things only he himself truly understood.

Hearing Goodwin speak such familiar Chinese now, it felt like the old saying: "When fellow countrymen meet, their eyes fill with tears."

This made Yao Ming even more certain of his inner intention: to recruit Goodwin.

The two of them then began chatting with their arms draped over each other's shoulders.

This left everyone at the scene completely bewildered.

"Anthony, are they that familiar with each other?" LeBron James couldn't help but ask Carmelo Anthony beside him.

Carmelo Anthony looked slightly annoyed: "I don't know!"

LeBron James: ?

Just then, the coaches walked in one after another.

"Gather up!"

The first-year and second-year players gathered on their respective sides, looking toward their own coaches.

After the coaches from both sides said a few words, they let the players train on their own.

The coaches didn't take the Rookie Challenge seriously at all; in their eyes, it was nothing more than an exhibition game.

And that was indeed the case!

After being dismissed, Goodwin wanted to go find Yao Ming, but he was suddenly blocked by Carmelo Anthony, who asked: "Goodwin, did you know Yao Ming before?"

"We only met today, but we hit it off immediately." After saying this, Goodwin brushed past Carmelo Anthony and walked toward Yao Ming.

Carmelo Anthony gritted his teeth as he watched Goodwin's back, as if his favorite toy had been snatched away.

Yao Ming happened to be planning to come over to find Goodwin as well, as he hadn't even brought up the recruitment yet.

The two met up quickly, and Yao Ming got straight to the point: "Goodwin, what do you think of the Houston Rockets? Do you want to come to the Houston Rockets?"

In an instant, Goodwin was stunned.

Is Yao Ming inviting me to the Houston Rockets?

Goodwin really hadn't considered teaming up with Yao Ming. After all, it was the Houston Rockets, which had a lot to do with the team's owner, Alexander; Alexander was unwilling to spend money on the Houston Rockets. Secondly, the Houston Rockets' medical staff were known as "veterinarians."

Taking all of the above into account, Goodwin apologized and rejected Yao Ming: "I'm very sorry, Yao Ming, I don't want to leave the Boston Celtics. Because when no one else would pick me, it was the Boston Celtics who chose me. So, as long as the Boston Celtics don't abandon me, I will not leave the Boston Celtics."

Yao Ming wasn't surprised by this at all. Upon hearing Goodwin say this, he actually liked Goodwin even more.

"It's alright, I understand. However, the doors of the Houston Rockets are always open for you."

"Thank you, Yao Ming."