The gymnasium was filled with the sweat of the Chinese players, the air thick with the scent of masculine hormones.
Li Feng's training was even more intense. Not only was he more aggressive on the court than his teammates, but he also held himself to extremely high standards off the court.
For instance, during the grueling shuttle run drills that made most players' scalps tingle, Li Feng would run three extra laps after completing seventeen.
He only stopped when his legs felt like jelly and he was gasping for air on the floor. A large amount of sweat poured from him, making onlookers feel a pang of sympathy.
Head coach Jonas watched from afar, his expression one of immense surprise mixed with deep respect.
Li Feng, despite his heroic performance in the previous game, showed no signs of arrogance or diva behavior. Instead, he led by example, training with such strict self-discipline.
Jonas didn't say much, merely walking over to pat Li Feng's shoulder during a break.
"Well done. The national team needs players like you. Your future stage will be even grander. Keep it up!"
Just as Li Feng was about to respond with modesty, the gymnasium doors were pushed open, and a foreigner walked in.
Jonas also noticed the man, and his face immediately darkened.
He was known for his strict coaching style, never allowing outsiders to disrupt practice. Moreover, with the Olympics in full swing, any external interference could cause psychological fluctuations among the players. This was something Jonas could not tolerate.
"Security! What's going on? Get this person out..." Jonas ordered the guards.
The foreigner who had entered quickly plastered a smile on his face and hurried to Jonas, presenting his business card and introducing himself.
"Coach, I'm Leo Brown, a scout from the NBA Knicks."
Jonas raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from displeasure to a more favorable one. He had just been encouraging Li Feng, hoping he would achieve great things in the future; his ultimate wish was for Li Feng to play in the NBA. The NBA was the highest stage for any basketball player, and he believed Li Feng could make a name for himself there. And here was a scout – Jonas inwardly rejoiced at the perfect opportunity to facilitate this.
"Oh, a scout. You two discuss it then!" Jonas said, wisely stepping away. Before leaving, he patted Li Feng's shoulder again, his eyes full of encouragement.
Li Feng wasn't surprised. He nodded at Brown and took his business card.
"Leo Brown? You're from the Knicks?"
"That's right. I believe you have immense potential. Come to our Knicks, and you'll definitely become a core player. My judgment is never wrong!" Brown wasn't just making empty promises; he was genuinely smitten with Li Feng. Furthermore, scouts had performance targets, and recruiting a future superstar would significantly boost his salary.
Li Feng smiled. "I haven't made up my mind yet. Right now, I'm solely focused on the Olympics. I'm sorry."
Brown wouldn't give up. "You know, Li, the Knicks are the highest-valued team in the NBA. The owner is willing to spend money, and you'll make a lot of it!" Brown was undeniably skilled at communication and understanding people's psychology. He assumed Chinese players were motivated by money, especially Li Feng, who was currently just a reserve for the national team and had only average performance in the NCAA. Therefore, Brown intended to use financial incentives to win Li Feng over.
However, he was mistaken.
Li Feng snorted and shook his head. "I haven't considered the money at all. Excuse me, I'm training. You should leave first."
Brown was taken aback, then his eyes glinted with a new idea. "Li Feng, I heard you have a good relationship with Stephen Curry. He's going to play for the Knicks!"
To his surprise, he was wrong again.
"Curry? Our relationship is good, but he might not report to the Knicks!" Li Feng said with a slight, mischievous smile. As someone who had transmigrated, this was no secret. The Knicks would miss out on this seventh pick, a future superstar, and Curry would remain an eternal White Moonlight in the Knicks' hearts!
Leo Brown seemed to hear a fantastical tale and burst into laughter. "Haha, Li Feng, are you joking? Curry coming to the Knicks is a done deal. Don't you know that?"
Li Feng didn't want to waste any more time with him. He nodded. "Alright, I promise. As long as Curry goes to the Knicks, I definitely will!"
Brown's eyes lit up. This was exactly what he wanted to hear.
"Then it's a deal. Shall we pinky swear?" Brown, surprisingly familiar with Chinese culture, proposed a pinky promise.
"You're so childish. Since I promised, I won't go back on my word!" Li Feng was getting impatient; he still had training to do. According to the system's rules, he could improve his attributes through intense training, and time was of the essence!
Seeing that Li Feng had given his word, Brown felt his objective for the day had been achieved.
"Alright, alright, I won't bother you anymore. I hope you play better and better in the Olympics!" Brown left satisfied, and Li Feng continued his intense training...
The Chinese team's next group stage opponent was Lithuania. Lithuania was a formidable force in international basketball, known for their tough play and solid fundamentals, their strength surpassing that of the Chinese team. Furthermore, there was a personal connection: the Chinese team's head coach, Jonas, was Lithuanian. Jonas had a poor reputation among Lithuanian players because he had previously coached the Lithuanian national team. His brutal training methods had caused immense suffering to the Lithuanian players, so they all disliked him. Consequently, facing the Chinese team, the Lithuanian national team didn't need any extra motivation; the players were already eager. "Hmph, we must show the Chinese team what we're made of!"
At the pre-match press conference, the Lithuanian head coach made a boastful statement.
"The Chinese team? They are not even in our consideration. We are aiming for the Olympic championship. Only the USA team is our final opponent!"
"The outcome is beyond doubt. You reporters should be asking how many points we will win by, haha!"
This arrogant declaration quickly reached the Chinese men's basketball team. At the Chinese team's press conference, Jonas was interviewed, and he specifically brought Li Feng with him. In previous press conferences, he had always brought Yao Ming. This time, Yao Ming willingly let Li Feng participate, showcasing his magnanimity.
When the reporters relayed the Lithuanian head coach's bold statement to Jonas and Li Feng, Jonas's face turned red with anger. Li Feng, however, remained unfazed, his expression calm.
"I want to tell the Lithuanian head coach that our Chinese players are excellent and cannot be treated lightly by them. We'll see you on the court!"
One reporter wanted Li Feng to say a few more words. Li Feng calmly stated, "I have great respect for the Lithuanian national team, but I want to say: I'm sorry, we will definitely defeat you!" His words, though few, carried immense weight and conviction. The reporters were captivated by Li Feng's dominance.