Chapter 167 The Spurs Trio

Tang Tian hadn't expected Popovich to come.

This was an unexpected surprise on this trip to San Antonio.

And it looked like Popovich had come specifically for him.

This unconsciously reminded him of the scene four years ago when Popovich had gone to New York to see him alone.

Time really was the fastest and most imperceptible thing.

Lunch was made at the auto repair shop. Duncan was truly just a hobbyist; he even had a cafeteria in the back of the shop.

Judging by how familiar Popovich was, he probably came to freeload often.

Pouring red wine, they ate, drank, and chatted.

Everything seemed to go back to the Spurs days, except that Davis couldn't hold his liquor and passed out after a while.

Then came Duncan, and finally only Tang Tian and Popovich were left with flushed faces.

"You're really ruthless, kid. You put together a four-star lineup, and it's Walker and Butler. You're forming a clique!"

Popovich, drunk, was saying everything.

"I was forced to. I didn't want to. Otherwise, you can ask Xiao Hua to go back?"

Tang Tian was also speaking without restraint.

Popovich laughed out loud after hearing that.

"That's true. I also like Tatum. If that Leonard kid hadn't gotten injured, you might not have had a chance to win the championship last season."

Popovich said, taking another big gulp of red wine.

Speaking of the return to early 21st-century basketball, the Spurs were the biggest beneficiary.

The two of them were really drunk.

"But Old Man, speaking of that Leonard kid, you have to pay more attention to his injury. He's the face of the Spurs for the next ten years. You have to care more about him."

Tang Tian had this on his mind when he got off the plane, and now he said it all.

"He's fine. He'll probably be able to play at the start of the season."

Popovich didn't think much of it.

"I'm serious."

Tang Tian's expression suddenly became serious.

He didn't care at all about the Spurs' management and owner, but he cared a lot about Leonard and Popovich.

Especially Popovich. Tang Tian knew how sad and heartbroken he was in history after Leonard left.

With their current mentor-friend relationship, he didn't want to see Popovich become like that.

"It's very common now for players to request trades during their contract period, and you've also seen what happened to Howard. You should pay more attention to him, take care of him, he will become your next Duncan."

Tang Tian said very seriously.

Popovich put down his wine glass, the drunkenness mostly gone.

What Tang Tian said were indeed facts.

"I will."

Popovich nodded in the end.

A bunch of people drank until they were dead drunk, and when they woke up, it was already night.

Tang Tian took Davis on a tour of the San Antonio River, introducing the local scenery like a native, and recounting the scenes of his championship parade here.

The next morning, they first returned to New Orleans, and Tang Tian also announced that the new phase of the Hard-Work Brothers training camp would officially begin at his own manor.

Walker, Butler, Davis, and Tang Tian started first, and Irving, Thompson, Drummond, Lamb, and Napier would arrive in a few days.

This year's training camp started early, and there would be a lot more people than in previous years.

On the first day, Procopio was helping the four of them with technical detail corrections.

There was basically nothing to change for Tang Tian and Davis, but for Walker and Butler, it was their first time receiving Procopio's guidance, and the effect was obvious.

Especially Butler, who once again started his Mike K training method.

And whether it was because Cecilia was often wandering in and out of the arena, Butler was full of hormones during training.

Speaking of Cecilia, her looks and figure were too lethal to men.

And in their Hard-Work Brothers group, Butler was the only one who was still single.

So, as soon as Cecilia appeared, they started whistling at Butler, which made Cecilia embarrassed.

Tang Tian knocked each of them on the head with a chestnut to quiet them down.

His nutritionist was not someone to be flirted with casually.

On the third day after the training camp started, Duncan arrived.

This was also the time that Tang Tian had agreed with Duncan before.

But what Tang Tian didn't expect was that Duncan wasn't the only one who came.

There was also Parker!

"You don't mind one more person at the training camp, do you?"

Duncan asked with a smile as he came in.

"Of course not, all-inclusive!"

Tang Tian smiled and went up to greet Parker.

Parker's arrival was definitely an unexpected surprise.

Not just because of Parker's relationship with them.

It was also because back in his NCAA days, Walker had told Tang Tian that Parker was his idol!

If you paid attention, Walker was jumping up and down with excitement in the back at this moment.

Although they had played against each other many times as opponents on the court, just like Davis seeing Duncan before, meeting in private was different!

Especially meeting your idol!

"Tony, since you're here, I'll leave Kemba to you. He sees you as his idol."

Tang Tian was also very direct, pointing at Walker when he greeted him.

"No problem, I also enjoy playing against him on the court."

Parker said with a smile.

There weren't many short guards in the NBA, and they all had a very good impression of each other.

Just like Iverson and Paul, Little Thomas, and Nate Robinson, the former had always encouraged and admired the latter, and the latter had always regarded the former as role models.

After Tang Tian finished speaking, Walker had already run over excitedly.

"Tony."

Walker greeted him, but was as shy as he was back in his NCAA days.

"Kemba, be gentle next season."

Parker was very open, joking as soon as he came up.

Everyone laughed along.

Since the Pelicans formed a four-star lineup, the word "gentle" was probably going to become a catchphrase for their opponents next season.

After a round of greetings, they soon started training.

Walker and Parker were sitting and chatting about some technical issues, while Duncan had already started guiding Davis in practicing low-post techniques.

The remaining Tang Tian and Butler started a one-on-one directly.

Like Walker, Butler also had a career peak last year, especially in the playoffs, becoming a synonym for toughness.

But his offense and defense were still completely below Tang Tian's.

But just like protagonists in anime need to level up by playing against stronger opponents, one-on-one with Tang Tian was the best way for Butler to continue to evolve.

This principle also applied to Tang Tian.

Butler didn't have great physical talent. His defense relied on aggressive, clingy defense.

Facing such defense, the ball-handler's ball-handling skills were very important.

Tang Tian had exposed his weakness in ball-handling skills in last year's Western Conference Finals and Finals. In addition to using skills points, he also had to improve his basic attributes.

There was no faster way to improve his speed than to play against Butler.