In 2008, Shanghai boy Lin Yifeng became the second Chinese No. 1 Pick in NBA history and was selected by the Houston Rockets. McGrady's pull-up, indiscriminate finishing with left and right hands - his template is the peak T-Mac, and his ambitions don't stop there.
Less than a month after the draft, he put on the national team jersey and stood on the stage of the Beijing Olympic finals. Facing the American Dream Team 8 led by Kobe and Tracy McGrady, he made all three free throws in the last 0.3 Seconds of regular time, forcing Kobe to score a buzzer-beating three-pointer. In overtime, the ball missed the basket. The Chinese team won silver at home, but the whole world remembered one name.
McGrady hugged him after the game: "Come to the Rockets and win together."
From that moment on, the eighteen-year red journey began.
FMVP in his rookie season, four championships, three consecutive championship dynasties. On the day Yao Ming retired, he took over the leadership responsibility with red eyes. After McGrady left, he carried the Rockets through the darkest rebuilding period alone. He followed Kobe's entire career—from his Olympic opponents to his master in the training gym at four in the morning, to the fate-changing phone call in 2020.
Thirty-six years old, winning the seventh crown. On the night of his retirement battle, the No. 1 Jersey was raised from the Toyota Center dome, and Kobe stood on the sidelines and applauded.
At the end of the story, in 2035, Lin Yifeng's daughter Lin Nianyao stood in the small green room of the WNBA draft, with Kobe sitting next to her.
Team for life, red forever. A basketball is the dream of three generations.
Reader comments
I have a question. The protagonist, the No. 1 Pick in the 2008 NBA draft, was only 14 years old if he was 5 years old in 1999. I should have been 5 years old in 1996, 15 years later in 2006, and went to the United States to study and play for 2 years in 2008. He was the first pick in the 2008 NBA draft at the age of 17, so he should participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Very nice! But the age is wrong.
I have a question. The protagonist, the No. 1 Pick in the 2008 NBA draft, was only 14 years old if he was 5 years old in 1999. I should have been 5 years old in 1996, 15 years later in 2006, and went to the United States to study and play for 2 years in 2008. He was the first pick in the 2008 NBA draft at the age of 17, so he should participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Very nice! But the age is wrong.