Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 508 - 168: The Return of the GOAT (Adjusting ideas today, only 1 update, sorry)_3

Chapter 508: Chapter 168: The Return of the GOAT (Adjusting ideas today, only 1 update, sorry)_3
However, even without Qin Yue and Yao Ming, the Chinese Team easily crushed all the Asian powerhouses at the Asian Championship in Tianjin.
Last year’s Olympic victory led by Qin Yue has quietly changed the spirit of this team.
Additionally, "European Caesar" Yonas, who chose to renew his contract with the Chinese Basketball Association after the Olympics, is in a league of his own compared to Guo Shiqiang of that period.
Yi Jianlian earned the MVP title of this Asian Championship with an outstanding average of 22 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Compared to last year’s Olympics, Yi Jianlian’s progress is visibly apparent.
Although in Minnesota, Yi Jianlian hadn’t completely let go of his naive idea of being the main force in the NBA.
But during last year’s Olympics, Yi Jianlian, who was scrutinized daily by Qin Yue, developed a heart stronger than ever before in history.
The final was against Iran Team.
Facing Iran’s star player Hamed Haddadi with his provocative defense, just as Qin Yue remembered, Yi Jianlian repeatedly drove aggressively to the basket and decisively drew fouls, causing significant damage to Iran Team’s interior.
"Yi’s style of play surprised me," Haddadi said after the match. "He is a worthy opponent, and I believe he will have a bright future in the NBA."
It’s worth mentioning that another NBA player from the Chinese Team, Sun Yue, also had several standout performances in this Asian Championship.
Although this summer, the Lakers had no intention of renewing their contract with Sun Yue, he still managed to secure a minimum salary contract from the Heat due to his excellent performance in the previous Olympics.
Qin Yue wondered if Pat Riley, known for developing role players, could slightly change Sun Yue’s personality, which even Kobe and he found challenging to handle.
But considering the Heat’s excessively demanding daily training routines...
In Qin Yue’s view, even if he couldn’t secure playing time with the Heat, it would be better than returning so young to play in the CBA.
...
To obtain more training time, Qin Yue canceled a series of commercial activities this summer under Jeff Schwartz’s mediation.
Qin Yue’s status in the basketball world has gradually allowed him to be capricious.
Nonetheless, Schwartz inevitably became the target of various sponsors’ frustration.
"They dare not vent their anger on you, so they take it out on me," Schwartz told Qin Yue. "They even threatened me, saying they would no longer work with my players in the future."
Upon hearing this and knowing Schwartz was complaining to expedite the renewal of their contract, Qin Yue laughed and said, "Jeff, I’ve had a very pleasant cooperation with you over the past four years, so I’ve decided to renew your contract for another four years."
Schwartz was overjoyed and said, "It will be my great honor to continue serving you."
Unlike other agents in the league.
During his collaboration with Schwartz, Qin Yue has fully experienced the personal charm of this future GOAT of NBA agents.
Take this time for instance, Schwartz was willing to take the blame for him in front of major sponsors, whereas any other agent would have likely discouraged him from such an idea.
But Schwartz wouldn’t do that.
Because in Schwartz’s view, compared to immediate interests, Qin Yue currently needed more time to adequately prepare for the upcoming new season.
Schwartz understood well...
Though the NBA is a commercial league, if players wish to maintain their commercial value consistently, they must ensure they can continually deliver satisfactory performances on the court.
And compared to previous years, due to an extraordinarily bustling free agent market next summer,
many NBA teams aiming to clear salary cap space to attract superstars are currently preparing for next year.
This has made this year relatively quieter in the NBA in recent years.
However, amid this rare quiet, the impending comeback of the GOAT in the new season has kindled a different level of anticipation throughout the basketball world.
After being away from the court for a year, can the GOAT maintain his dominance?
Have the Warriors, who unknowingly completed a transition, remained the formidable team they once were?
The entire summer, everyone speculated what performance Qin Yue would deliver in his first season back from injury, and what record the Warriors would achieve under his leadership.
In August of this year, Sports Illustrated dedicated their cover to the GOAT sweating it out on the training ground, "The King of the NBA mountain is ready for his return!"
The basketball world awaited Qin Yue’s return more than ever.
Even Stern, who left the first round of labor negotiations with the players union in discord, considered Qin Yue’s imminent recovery as the only good news he’s heard lately.
Of course, if Qin Yue’s season-ending injury last year made NBA teams feel energised, and each thought they had a shot at the title,
then at this moment, for those championship-contending teams, the prospect of the GOAT’s return is undoubtedly what they least want to see.
Moreover, as Qin Yue’s training performance has improved significantly recently,
Grover, knowing that the other side had never been so eager for the new season to start, once again felt firsthand how much energy Qin Yue had accumulated during his long recovery period.
"I have no doubt that season will become the outlet for his emotions."
Grover recalled later, "He had enough of the restrictions that injuries brought him, and that summer, he focused all his attention on improving his skills. He longed to play basketball and to return to the center of the basketball world, as in his eyes, that was a spot meant solely for him."
...
PS: Today, I adjusted my mindset, so there’s only one update, and it’s late, sorry!