In August, the Mediterranean Sea heat was kept out by the glass windows of Milan, but the training hall of Olympia Milan was still stuffy.
In the center of the court, 19-year-old Tyson Chandler Chandler, hands on his knees, was panting heavily. He had just completed a series of lateral slides and jumps under the basket.
Opposite him, Celtics legend Robert Parish held a sponge slap pad and stared at him expressionlessly.
"Straighten up, Tyson Chandler. Don't lose your balance. You didn't brace your hips properly during that contact, and your legs felt weak." Parish's voice was steady. "In the NBA's paint, a single hit with that stance will injure your back."
Chandler wiped the sweat from his face, straightened up, and pulled his protective gear up a little.
As a nationally acclaimed high school prospect, Chandler had actually planned his professional career before coming to Boston. He was tall, had a long wingspan, and was agile, making him an absolute prodigy among his peers. At Dominguez High School, he was used to dribbling and passing the ball, and he was used to moving to the high post to handle the ball.
Moreover, when he learned he was coming to Boston, he was filled with anticipation. Kevin Garnett, the all-around warrior who could do everything on both ends of the court, was his idol. He dreamed of playing the power forward position in the NBA and felt that he could be like Garnett, receiving the ball at the high post, facilitating, and helping on defense.
In reality, during his first lesson in Boston, the coaching staff didn't arrange a single minute of tactical drills, nor did they let him handle the ball at the high post. Instead, Parish had him practice the most basic positioning, cutting to the basket, and rim protection every day, and he wasn't even allowed to dribble the ball more than once in practice.
Parish looked at the mixture of exhaustion and defiance on Chandler's face, then tucked the foam pad under his arm. He knew all too well what these young men were thinking.
"You think these things are too rigid and don't match your talent? You think you're being used as a laborer?" Parish pulled up a chair and sat down, his tone calm, as if he were stating a very objective fact.
Chandler moved his lips but didn't speak, but his eyes betrayed him.
"It's normal that you want to learn from Kevin. But you need to look at your physical attributes and ball handling skills first, and figure out what you're best suited for." Parish pointed to Chandler's thighs and ankles. "You're 2.16 meters tall, with a long frame and long limbs. What does that mean? It means your center of gravity is naturally higher than others."
" Kevin can handle the ball because his ball-handling skills and body coordination have been exceptional since he was a child; he can stop and change direction suddenly while dribbling. And you?" Parish shook his head. " Tyson Chandler, you're a big man. Your big hands give you an advantage in catching the ball over a wide area and jumping with high speed. But if you dribble more than two times, or insist on trying to drive to the basket like an outside player, your high center of gravity will become your Achilles' heel. As soon as you encounter contact, the ball will immediately fall or be stolen by the opponent."
Chandler paused, opened his mouth, wanting to refute but unable to say anything. In high school, he did often get the ball stolen from him because he dribbled too high, but he managed to get away with it thanks to his height and wingspan.
"The coaching staff isn't discouraging you from developing your talent; they're letting you use it in the right places." Parish stood up and tossed the ball to Chandler. "Your physical attributes are best suited for finishing. You have a long wingspan and great explosiveness. After a pick-and-roll, you can get the ball when others can't reach it, and you can grab rebounds when others can't reach them. That's your foundation."
Parish paused, his tone becoming serious. "Finishing the offense is only the first step. Now, let's talk about defense. That's where you need to work the hardest."
Chandler straightened up and listened attentively.
"You were really good at blocking shots in high school, right?" Parish asked.
Chandler nodded.
"But in professional games, if you act like a reckless novice every time your opponent drives to the basket, waving your arms down or jumping blindly, you'll foul out in less than three minutes." Parish pointed to his chest. "The first lesson in defense is called vertical jump. Plant your feet firmly on the floor, raise your arms straight, and stand like a post. You don't need to knock the ball away every time; as long as your opponent misses a shot due to your arm interference, your job is done."
Next, Parish led him through the most tedious practice of positioning.
"Don't always think about grabbing rebounds with your jumping ability. You're tall, but your lower body isn't solid enough. Boxing out isn't about pushing with your hands; it's about using your hips and core to stick to the opponent's waist. Keep them out of your line, and the rebound will naturally be yours."
Parish personally demonstrated a standard positioning maneuver, lowering his shoulders, exerting force, and firmly planting his lower body on the ground, causing Chandler's center of gravity to sway.
"Once you understand the details of defensive positioning and boxing out, you'll be able to truly help Kevin on the court," Parish patted him on the shoulder. "Defense isn't about talent or brute force; it's about brains and positioning."
A few steps away, on a folding chair at the edge of the venue.
Lin Qi and head coach Rick Carlisle were watching this scene unfold.
Seeing Chandler's thoughtful expression, Rick Carlisle turned to Lin Qi and said, " Robert hit the nail on the head. That kid always thinks he's an all-around forward, and he almost developed his strengths in the wrong way."
Lin Qi, holding a paper cup, calmly watched the court. "The biggest problem with high school students is that they can't distinguish between 'what position they want to play' and 'what position the court really needs.' Tyson Chandler has excellent talent, but he has to accept reality and step out of the bubble the media has created for him."
"As long as he's quick enough to cut to the basket, maintains good defensive positioning, protects the rebounds well alongside Kevin, and develops his strength and physicality to a top-tier level, he'll be Kevin's perfect inside partner."
Inside the arena, Parish clapped his hands when he saw that he had finished hammering.
"Alright, stop standing there thinking. Come here..."
Chandler took a deep breath, suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind.