NBA Draft

"Goodwin, over here!"

"Goodwin!"

As soon as Goodwin entered the arena, he heard someone calling him. He looked toward the sound and saw two upperclassmen: Collison and Hinrich.

The two upperclassmen were wearing suits, looking sharp!

You had to admit, basketball players really knew how to fill out a suit.

Goodwin walked over to them. When he reached them, he complimented them, saying, "You guys look really sharp today!"

As soon as he said that, Collison and Hinrich rolled their eyes at him. Collison even punched him in the chest and snapped, "Goodwin, are you making fun of us?"

"Who here could possibly look better than you?"

Even the self-absorbed Collison thought Goodwin was seriously handsome, like Leonardo DiCaprio of the basketball world.

Sometimes Collison even fantasized about what it would be like if he looked like Goodwin. Would he have to chase girls? They'd be lining up to wait for him to lavish his attention on them!

But what did Goodwin do with his looks? He was either at the gym or the weight room. What a waste! Collison would occasionally drag him out to have fun, but halfway through, Goodwin would leave, saying he had to get back to training. Collison was left speechless.

He had no idea how lucky he was!

Goodwin's lips curved up slightly as he answered honestly, "That's right. You can't envy me into looking this good. I was born this way." Then he struck a handsome pose!

Collison: "..."

Hinrich: "..."

If the circumstances had allowed it, the two upperclassmen would definitely have shown Goodwin what a real suit-wearing bruiser looked like!

"Goodwin, did you come by yourself? Your parents didn't come with you?" Hinrich asked curiously, seeing that Goodwin had arrived alone.

After all, people usually came to an occasion like this with their parents, so they could share in the special moment.

Collison's expression changed instantly. He jabbed Hinrich hard in the arm.

Hinrich: ??

Why are you jabbing me? Did I say something wrong?

Goodwin noticed Collison's movement and said, "It's okay. My parents have passed away."

Just a few days before Goodwin arrived, his parents had died in a car accident.

After inheriting the original owner's memories, Goodwin couldn't help thinking that the parents of transmigrators really had a dangerous job.

"I'm really sorry, Goodwin. I had no idea. I'm sorry," Hinrich said hurriedly. He felt as though he'd just rubbed salt into Goodwin's wound.

On the team, only Collison and the coach knew what had happened to Goodwin's parents. The rest of the teammates had no idea.

"Who do you two think will be the first pick this year?" Goodwin asked, changing the subject.

"Carmelo Anthony!" "LeBron James!"

The 2003 first pick could only be one of those two.

One was an NCAA superstar, the other the top high school player in the United States. They were evenly matched, and either one would have deserved the top spot. It all came down to whom the Cleveland Cavaliers, who held the first pick, would choose.

"What do you think, Goodwin?"

"LeBron James." Goodwin answered without hesitation, having already read the script.

"Why? I think Carmelo Anthony has a better chance," Hinrich immediately argued. As his opponent, Hinrich knew all too well how formidable Carmelo Anthony was.

He had not only physical gifts but also top-tier skills.

And in Hinrich's view, LeBron James's skills weren't as good as Carmelo Anthony's.

Goodwin shook his head. "Their commercial value is different. Besides, the Cavaliers favor LeBron James more."

Not long ago, LeBron James had just signed a huge 90-million-dollar deal with √, shocking the entire country. His games were even broadcast nationally, just like NBA games, and superstars like Shaquille O'Neal had even attended in person. It was truly astonishing.

Given all that, would the Cleveland Cavaliers, holding the first pick, really need to hesitate? They would be wise to take the prodigy without a second thought!

The three chatted, and before long, time flew by. At the staff's call, the two upperclassmen said goodbye to Goodwin and headed to the Green Room!

What was the Green Room?

The Green Room wasn't an actual room or the name of a particular room. It referred to a section of the draft venue where players, their families, and their agents sat and waited for the NBA commissioner to call their names.

The list of Green Room players was determined by a vote. Before the draft, the league invited team presidents or general managers to vote for the players they believed would be selected in the first 25 picks. The results determined who made the Green Room list.

Both upperclassmen were on the Green Room list.

Before long, all the lights in the arena dimmed, leaving only one spotlight trained on NBA commissioner David Stern as he slowly walked onto the stage.

Standing at center stage, David Stern smiled warmly. "Welcome, everyone, to the NBA's annual draft..."

After a brief opening speech, he got straight to the point.

"With the first pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers select LeBron James, from St. Vincent–St. Mary High School!"

The 2003 NBA first pick had been announced!

The confident young LeBron walked onto the stage and hugged David Stern, then accepted the cheers and congratulations of the fans. Even his biggest rival, Carmelo Anthony, offered him congratulations.

When it came to the second pick, the choice was unexpected. Nobody had thought the Detroit Pistons would pass on Carmelo Anthony and select Darko Milicic instead.

The talented young player from Yugoslavia walked onto the stage with a light step.

Down below, Goodwin couldn't help shaking his head. What a shame that this talented young player had wound up with Brown, the head coach who was worst at developing rookies.

But there was nothing Goodwin could do about it. He had enough to worry about himself. Although he had worked out for many teams, none of them was willing to make him a promise!

At that moment, he was feeling very uncertain.

As time passed, the stars he'd once watched on TV walked onto the stage one after another. Before long, all 29 picks in the first round were over.

Of the three players from the University of Kansas who had declared for the draft, two had successfully made it to the NBA!

Hinrich was selected seventh by the Chicago Bulls, and Collison was selected twelfth by the Seattle SuperSonics (the Seattle SuperSonics were the predecessor of the Oklahoma City Thunder).

The two upperclassmen quietly came to stand beside Goodwin. Neither said anything. At that moment, they didn't know what to say; they could only stay by his side in silence.

Second round, tenth pick:

"With the tenth pick in the second round, the Boston Celtics select Nima Goodwin, from the University of Kansas!"