msmithbooks Chapter 136 Newcomer Appears
Chapter 136 Newcomer Appears
Chapter 136 Newcomer Appears
The media day of the Kings still attracted some media.This team is poor on paper, and it is not a team in a big market, but they also have something to attract the media.One is Xie Kai, a Chinese second-year rookie, the other is new coach Paul Westphal, and the third is this year's No. 2 pick Tyreke Evans.
Xie Kai, wearing the No. 22 home jersey of the Kings, took a set photo at the request of the media.Obviously, this year he is more confident than he was a year ago, and he is more natural in front of the camera.In addition to this, his figure is also much stronger than last year, with obvious muscle lines, which is obviously due to a lot of hard work during the offseason.
Tyreke Evans was grandly launched by the team on the media day. As the team's highest-ranked rookie in the past ten years, he was entrusted with the hope of the team's revival.
Judging from the attention he received on the media day and the filming and interviews the team arranged for him, as a rookie, he seems to be on an equal footing with Kevin Martin.
Seeing this scene, Xie Kai felt emotional: the top 5 lottery picks are indeed higher than other players in terms of attention and training resources.This Evans has already received the treatment of the boss of the team without playing a game. If he plays an outstanding performance, the team will probably directly train him as the core of the team!
Xie Kai thinks about himself, even if he plays better than Evans, the team may suspect: This guy's performance is probably extraordinary!How can an Asian perimeter player be used as the core of the team?
If you want to change all this, you need to speak with the game. In the history of the NBA, there are many parallel imports, let alone the No. 4 pick.Therefore, it seems too early to determine the core of the team's future!
Xie Kai has never been afraid of competition. If he was afraid, he would have quit the NBA long ago. Wouldn't it be easier to go to the CBA or other low-level leagues.
On the media day, new coach Paul Westphal and No. 4 pick Tyreke Evans received concentrated interviews from the media, but there were also many reporters who interviewed Xie Kai.There is no way, the popularity is there, the label of yellow + rookie, attention is indispensable wherever you go.
Veteran Bobby Jackson's contract has expired, he will not appear in the Kings team in the new season.Xie Kai knows that he is likely to announce his retirement soon.
In the past season, this veteran gave Xie Kai a lot of care and help, and he is really grateful to him.Now that he wasn't there on the media day, he realized that Bobby Jackson will definitely not be fighting alongside him in the new season.
A female reporter from the local media in Sacramento - "Sacramento Little Bee" interviewed Xie Kai.
"Hello Kane! The new season is about to start. I heard that you have done a lot of training in the off-season. How do you feel now?" asked the female reporter.
Xie Kai replied with a smile: "I feel good. My body is much stronger now than it was a year ago. I feel great! I am very confident about the new season!"
"Next season the team's head coach has been replaced by coach Paul Westphal. What do you think about that?"
"I'm looking forward to working with the new coach. Paul is a great coach. I've known him since he was in Dallas. He was a great player as a player. I hope working with him can produce a good result." Chemical reaction!" Xie Kai replied.
"What do you think of this year's No. 4 pick in the first round, Tyreke Evans?"
"I watched Tyreke's game at the University of Memphis. He is really talented. He can play three positions and has a strong body. I am looking forward to working with him in the new season!" Xie Kai said.
"You performed well last season and were finally selected to the All-Rookie First Team. What are your expectations for the new season?"
"I am very confident in the new season, I will have a better performance in the new season, please wait and see!" Xie Kai said confidently.
"Do you think you have the ability to start?" The reporter continued to ask.
Xie Kaixin was like a mirror. This is obviously a topic of saliva, and his answer is also very "official": "As for the starting issue, this is something that the coaching staff needs to consider, not me. I am just a player and I can do it. The most important thing is to follow the coach's personnel arrangement and try to show the best of myself after playing."
The female reporter couldn't find anything to break the news from Xie Kai's mouth. She knew that there would be no results if she continued to ask, so she ended the interview.
On the second day, the Kings' in-team training camp started.
At present, 14 people have been identified in the Kings team, namely: center - Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, power forward - Sean May, Jon Brockman, Kenny Thomas, small forward - Omika Sby, Andy Snotcioni, Francisco Garcia, Desmond Mason, SG-Kevin Martin, Xie Kai, PG-Beno Udri, Tyreke Evans, Seymour Sergio Rodriguez.
The Kings lineup has people at every position, and the small forward position is especially well-managed.But on paper, Kevin Martin is the only one in their team who can really contribute 20 points per game.At least from the perspective of the lineup, they are still one of the worst teams in the league.If this situation is to be changed, the young people in the team need to grow up as soon as possible.
The management and fans of the Kings have a good mentality. They have basically accepted that the team is completely a rebuilding team. They don't want to have the idea of hitting the playoffs at the beginning of last season.The difference from last season is that this season the team has more young people, the average age has become younger, and there are more expectations.
Xie Kai found that in the 14-man roster of the Kings, there are 6 foreign players alone——Xie Kai (China), Beno Udry (Slovenia), Omi Caspi (Israel), Sergio Lo Driggs (Spain), Francisco Garcia (Dominican Republic), and Andis Nocioni (Argentina), more than 1/3, are comparable to the Spurs and Mavericks, known as the "International Column".
When the Kings played the popular "Princeton Offense" in the league, Divac and Peja in the team were also foreign players.This team also has the habit of using foreign players in the league.
Coach Paul Westphal let Xie Kai quickly have a good impression.This coach pays great attention to the training of young players, pays great attention to basic skills, and formulated many offensive tactics for the team in the training camp.
Obviously, the current Kings team needs to make use of their strengths and avoid weaknesses. They don't have the ability to become a top 10 defensive team in the league, and offense is the only thing they can develop.
(End of this chapter)