Chapter 11

With 2 minutes and 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the score stood at 93:84, with the Pistons holding a 9-point lead—meaning they had the upper hand. As the game continued, we awaited to see if Zhou Yi could win this Chinese derby.

Chapter 66: The Decisive Shot

With 2 minutes and 51 seconds remaining, Zhou Yi took a deep breath and dribbled carefully, guarding against Walton’s attempts to steal the ball. He passed the ball to McGrady, who organized the offense, broke through, and passed to Monroe. The Wizards’ defense had become much stronger; Monroe was too deep and had no chance to attack. So he passed the ball to Zhou Yi, who was just inside the three-point line. Zhou Yi changed direction, broke through, then suddenly stepped back, delivering the ball directly to Prince, who was cutting in from the side, allowing him to score an immediate layup.

Walton’s face was covered in sweat—not only from exhaustion but also because of Zhou Yi. Though annoyed, Walton wasn’t reckless. After dribbling across half-court, he quickly passed the ball to Sinrich. Sinrich had excellent shooting form and hit another three-pointer from beyond the three-point line. This shot clearly served as a boost for the Wizards’ players, who played even more strategically.

Hamilton tried to respond with a three-pointer from outside the line, but it didn’t go as planned. At this point, every rebound was crucial for the Wizards. So Yi Jianlian jumped hard and managed to secure the defensive rebound above Monroe and Prince. He carefully passed the ball to Walton. Now, any mistake could be fatal for the Wizards. Therefore, every player on the team was highly focused, refusing to make even the slightest error.

Walton broke through, with Zhou Yi closely following him, not giving his opponent any chance. Zhou Yi’s hands moved like lightning, snatching the ball away when Walton wasn’t looking. But it was immediately reclaimed by Sinrich, who passed it to Nick Young, who was at a perfect angle outside the three-point line. After adjusting slightly, he shot a jump shot.

“It has to go in, it has to!” Walton muttered, staring at the basketball spinning high in the air.

With a swish, the basketball went through the net. Thanks to Nick Young’s three-pointer, the Wizards narrowed the score to just 5 points behind. On the Wizards’ bench, the players clenched their fists, their eyes filled with excitement.

Zhou Yi’s palms were sweaty; he wiped them on his jersey before catching the ball sent from the baseline by Prince and dribbling toward the front court.Worl kept trying to stop Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi’s ball-handling skills were exceptional, on par withWorl’s. Zhou Yi passed the ball to Prince, who broke through and passed to Monroe. But just as the ball was about to reach Monroe, Yi Jianlian, who was behind him, stretched out his arm and deflected the ball to Nick Yang. After catching the ball, Nick Yang rushed toward the opponent’s half like a wild horse unchained.

Nick Yang stopped just outside the Pistons’ three-point line, took a quick glance, then shot. All the fans in the arena prayed that the shot wouldn’t go in. But miracles do happen—Nick Yang’s three-point shot bounced a few times before reluctantly falling through the net.

The Pistons were now only 2 points ahead. Koostert quickly called a timeout. With 1 minute and 11 seconds left in the game, the Pistons still had a slight advantage. Yet even so, Koostert didn’t dare let the players keep playing and instead called a timeout to make adjustments.

Sanders said to the Wizards players with a relaxed expression, “Give it your all in this game. I’ve told you before—during preseason, I don’t care if you win or lose. I only care if you give your best effort. Go ahead, guys!”

The players from both teams returned to the court one after another. It was the Pistons’ turn to possess the ball. Prince went over to the referee, chatted with him for a few moments, then sent the ball from the sideline. Zhou Yi caught the ball and immediately started organizing the team’s offense.

After dribbling for a while, Zhou Yi checked the 24-second timer, then passed the ball to McGrady. McGrady broke through, stopped abruptly, and tried to shoot, but the ball hit the edge of the backboard and went out of bounds. McGrady’s face darkened as he sighed in frustration. Zhou Yi patted his shoulder and said with a smile, “It’s okay.”

It was the Wizards’ turn.Worl organized the team’s offense. Whether his stamina had recovered or he had given it his all, his speed reached its peak once again. After getting past Zhou Yi’s defense, he rushed straight to the basket. Monroe hurried over to cover him, leaving Yi Jianlian unguarded behind.Worl passed the ball sideways to Yi Jianlian, who immediately jumped up and scored with a dunk.

After such a long time, the scores were tied again. There were 25 seconds left in the game. Koostert didn’t call another timeout—not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t, as the team’s timeout count had already been used up.

Zhou Yi took a deep breath, took the inbound pass from Prince, and organized the team’s offense. After half-court, he passed the ball to McGrady and moved around actively. ButWorl stayed close to Zhou Yi, preventing him from breaking free. The other teammates also failed to find scoring opportunities, and McGrady couldn’t escape the defense of the opposing players. As the 24-second clock neared its end, Prince quickly rushed over to provide a screen for Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi swiftly moved to an open spot outside the three-point line. McGrady had already noticed his movement and passed the ball to him.

At that moment, Zhou Yi was filled with complex emotions, but there was no time to think. He jumped and shot. Everyone on the court watched intently as the ball was released. People had mixed thoughts—some hoped it would go in, while others, mostly the Wizards players and a few fans, hoped it wouldn’t. Zhou Yi nervously watched the ball in the air and, in a flash, rushed into the Pistons’ paint right as the shot was taken, aiming to grab a rebound for a second chance if it missed.

But Zhou Yi didn’t get that chance, because the ball went in…

Sanders immediately called the final timeout of the game, giving the Wizards 3.5 seconds. Zhou Yi roared and pounded his chest with his fists. He felt an unprecedented excitement—because if the Wizards failed on their last attempt, his shot would be the game-winning one. The Pistons players rushed around Zhou Yi, surrounding him, their faces filled with excitement.

Soon, the timeout ended. McGee inbounded the ball from the sideline. The remaining four Wizards players—Yi Jianlian, Nick Young,Xinrichi, andWorl—all could shoot threes. They had to take threes in the short time left.

Monroe waved his arms, trying to block McGee’s inbound pass. McGee glanced around before passing the ball toXinrichi.Xinrichi had a high shooting percentage throughout the game, including from three-point range, with 3 out of 5 attempts, a rate of 60%.

After receiving the ball,Xinrichi dribbled once before shooting a jump shot from outside the three-point line under McGrady’s defense. As soon as the ball was released, the referee’s whistle blew. IfXinrichi’s shot went in, the game would go into overtime; otherwise, the Pistons would win.

Everyone in the arena held their breath, especially the Wizards players and Sanders. The basketball spun in the air, and with a thud, it hit the backboard before bouncing out. Although the Wizards players didn’t look completely devastated, their expressions were certainly grim. In contrast, the Pistons players were all smiling, even Kuster, who was standing in the coaching booth, looked overjoyed. Zhou Yi kept punching the air to vent his excitement. The Pistons players surrounded Zhou Yi, pushing him to the ground and piling on top of him, clearly showing that he had earned the respect of his teammates and fully integrated into their group.

The Wizards left the historic and somewhat violent-looking arena without lingering. Chinese player Yi Jianlian went over to Zhou Yi before leaving, hugged him, and whispered in his ear, “Zhou Yi, you did an excellent job. We all need to work hard to bring honor to our country!” Zhou Yi nodded in agreement.

In this game, Zhou Yi not only won the Chinese derby but also outperformed Wall in their matchup. More importantly, he earned the respect of his teammates. This game had a profound impact on him.

Statistics showed that Zhou Yi played for about 27 minutes, taking the most shots of any player in these preseason games—17 attempts, with 10 hits, including 5 three-pointers. He also received 6 free throws, making 5 of them. In total, Zhou Yi scored 30 points, setting a new record for preseason games. Additionally, he contributed 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. His turnovers and fouls were fewer than in the previous two games—only 2 turnovers and 1 foul. Although Wall also performed well, he was far behind Zhou Yi.

Another Chinese player, Yi Jianlian, also had a solid performance: 6 out of 9 shots, including 2 three-pointers, and 3 out of 4 free throws, scoring 17 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, coming close to a double-double. Moreover, he was effective on defense, recording 3 blocks. Both Chinese players delivered satisfying performances, especially Zhou Yi.

In short, the biggest focus of this game was Zhou Yi. Not only did he deliver impressive statistics, but he also scored the game-winning goal at the last moment to save his team. Now, his ability to deliver crucial plays has become well-known. Zhou Yi, an 18-year-old from China, has already gained fame in the NBA. Although he hasn’t yet fully established himself, he has already won people’s hearts.

Chapter 67: Preseason Ends

Days passed, and the preseason was coming to an end. On October 22, 2010, around 10 p.m. local time in Detroit, the Pistons narrowly defeated the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 2 points after extra time. The end of this game also marked the conclusion of the Pistons’ eight preseason games this season.

Zhou Yi performed exceptionally well in these eight preseason games. Although he had a disappointing performance in the sixth game against the Bobcats due to six fouls and was forced to leave early, overall his performance satisfied both the team management and fans. Over these eight games, Zhou Yi averaged 17.6 points, 8.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks, helping the Pistons achieve a record of 6 wins and 2 losses. For this reason, he was named the team’s “MVP” of the preseason by head coach Kusturica. Of course, this was partly due to the Pistons’ focus on developing new players during the preseason. The team’s players had no complaints about this, as Zhou Yi’s performance was evident to everyone. Even players like Starks and White, who had previously been critical of him, had changed their attitude toward him.

After the preseason ended, the Pistons held a press conference to officially announce the conclusion of the season’s preseason. Then, Dumars gathered all the players and coaching staff for a meeting, with Blake also in attendance. At the meeting, Dumars and Kusturica summarized the eight preseason games. Dumars particularly praised Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance.

“Guys, as we all know, our team is currently in a rebuilding phase, so our goal this season isn’t to win the championship. Don’t get me wrong—winning would be great, haha. But we have to face reality. Last season, the team finished last in the Central Division with a record of 27 wins and 55 losses, the worst record we’ve had since 1994. As a result, we missed the playoffs last season, which was the first time since 2001. To be honest, I’m very dissatisfied with last season’s performance. I know the main reasons for such a poor record were the lack of major changes to the team and injuries to some key players. So what I’m saying is that this season we need to give it our all, with the minimum goal of making it back to the playoffs. Of course, the ultimate goal is to win the championship. Even though the chances are slim, we still need to strive to go as far as possible in the playoffs.” Dumars fell silent for a moment, glanced at the players and coaches sitting around, then continued, “This season, there are many talented young players at the top of the league. Well, I’ve said all I need to say. Guys, it’s up to you to help the team rise again this new season.”

After saying that, Dumars stood up to leave the meeting room, with Blake following him. Blake gave Zhou Yi an encouraging look before leaving with Dumars.

Next, Koester and a few assistant coaches reviewed the eight preseason games, then spoke to the players about their expectations. After about an hour, the meeting finally ended.

Zhou Yi and his teammates walked out of the meeting room when a woman who stood out vividly in Zhou Yi’s memory—Jessica—came rushing toward them. Zhou Yi and his teammates greeted her, but she only responded politely before hurrying past them.

“Zhou, we can finally get some proper rest these days, hehe…” Bynum stretched and said to Zhou Yi with a smile.

Zhou Yi let out a soft sigh and replied, “Yeah, these past few days have been really tough. But you must be used to it by now! As newcomers to the NBA, it’s impossible for us to adapt to such intense competition so quickly. To be honest, I’ve never been this tired in my entire life.”

“Of course, the intensity of NBA games is well-known. Otherwise, why would so many talented rookies hit the rookie wall every year?” McGrady said to them with a smile.

Zhou Yi nodded in understanding; he knew a bit about the rookie wall. “I hope I don’t run into that damned rookie wall,” Zhou Yi said gloomily, looking at the two of them.
“Good luck, Zhou. But to avoid the rookie wall, you need to train moderately and get enough rest. Only then won’t you face it in the later part of the season. It’s usually in the latter part of the season, around the All-Star Game, that many rookies encounter it. So, you need to be careful,” Maddie said, patting Zhou Yi’s shoulder concernfully.
Zhou Yi nodded and said, “Hmm, thank you!”
Unnoticed, the three of them, along with the other Pistons players, had arrived at the gym entrance. At the entrance, Blake was standing there, clearly waiting for Zhou Yi.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Zhou Yi followed Blake home.
Back at home, Zhou Yi and Blake prepared some simple food for dinner. Although it wasn’t very elaborate, they enjoyed it thoroughly.
After dinner, Zhou Yi tidied up briefly before heading back to his room.
“Xiao Yi,” Blake said, sitting on the sofa with something in his hands—seemingly some documents.
Zhou Yi turned around, frowned slightly, and walked back to Blake, asking curiously, “Uncle, what’s up?”
At Blake’s gesture, Zhou Yi sat down next to him, his gaze fixed on the documents in Blake’s hands.
Blake smiled slightly and said, “No need to guess. These documents are all about you. To be precise, they contain all your performance data from training camp and preseason, along with some observation reports.”
Zhou Yi remained silent, waiting for Blake to continue.
“Your performance has left those old-timers in the team speechless. So, I have some good news for you,” Blake said mysteriously.
“What good news?”
Blake chuckled and replied, “The team might make a trade soon, and you’ll be the direct beneficiary.”
Hearing this, Zhou Yi pondered for a moment before asking, “Could it be the team is trading White?”
Blake burst into laughter and replied, “You’ll find out when the time comes. You’re going to be surprised, hehe…” With that, Blake stood up and headed to his room, leaving Zhou Yi sitting there alone.

When he reached the upper floor, Blake lowered his head and smiled at Zhou Yi, saying, “Alright, stop thinking about it. You’ve been quite tired these past few days. Take some good rest in the next few days, adjust your condition, and get ready for the regular season!” With that, Blake disappeared from Zhou Yi’s sight.

“Is it not trading White, but trading Bynum?” Zhou Yi exclaimed.

Chapter 68: Is This Considered Rest?

Zhou Yi stretched and jumped up from the bed. Today was the second day of his rest. He would return to the team the day after tomorrow to continue training for the upcoming regular season.

“I’ll rest another day today and train alone tomorrow,” he murmured to himself, slowly pulling back the curtains. Sunlight poured down on him like a waterfall, feeling warm and pleasant.

After taking care of his personal hygiene, Zhou Yi slowly walked down the stairs. At that moment, Blake was sitting in the living room, reading a newspaper while smoking a cigar. After several days of rest, Blake’s illness had fully recovered, and his complexion looked very healthy, no longer pale as before.

Seeing Zhou Yi come down, Blake smiled slightly and said, “Why not sleep a bit longer? Why get up so early?”

“I’m used to going to bed early and getting up early,” Zhou Yi replied, sitting down next to Blake.

“Hehe, just like your father,” Blake said with a smile, taking a sip of water from the glass beside him.

Zhou Yi looked at Blake’s face and said with a smile, “Uncle, your complexion looks so good. You must be fully recovered!” Blake shrugged helplessly and said, “These days have been tough for me, but luckily, with your care, I recovered so quickly.”

“That’s great! Hehe, I’m so hungry!” Zhou Yi rubbed his stomach and said to Blake with a grin.

Blake pointed at Zhou Yi with his finger and said, “Go have breakfast quickly!” Zhou Yi responded with an “Mm” and rushed to the dining room, devouring his food.

After finishing his meal, Zhou Yi patted his stomach. After tidying up the mess on the table, he slowly walked back to the living room.

“Xiao Yi, I need to go to the company in a while. You stay at home and rest well. If you feel like it, go out for some fresh air. After more than two months, you should be somewhat familiar with Detroit now!” Blake said, crossing his arms and smiling at Zhou Yi.

“Mm, I’m very familiar with the surroundings around here, but I’m not so familiar with places further away,” Zhou Yi replied shyly.

Blake shrugged and smiled, saying, “How about your uncle gets you a car? It’ll be more convenient to go to the gym too, no need to drive back all the time. By the way, you should have no problem with your driver’s license, right?”
“There’s no issue with the driver’s license, but the problem is, I don’t have that much money. My dad didn’t give me much when I came here,” Zhou Yi said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Blake narrowed his eyes and said to Zhou Yi, “Are you still talking about money with your uncle? I’ll get you a car tomorrow.”
“But Uncle, I really can’t accept it. How about I pay you back after I get my salary?”
Seeing Zhou Yi’s firm and unyielding gaze, Blake sighed and replied, “Alright! If you insist, I can’t say no.”
Zhou Yi smiled, sat down next to Blake, and said cheerfully, “Uncle, don’t be angry. I appreciate your kindness.”
Blake turned his anger into a smile, sighed slightly, and said, “You’re exactly like your father.”
Hearing Blake’s words, Zhou Yi laughed heartily and replied, “I’m his son, he’s my dad—of course I’m just like him!”
Blake rolled his eyes, checked the time, and said to Zhou Yi, “Alright, I’ll stop talking to you. I need to go to the company. Have fun by yourself!”
“Mm. Be careful on the road,” Zhou Yi said concernfully.
Blake nodded, took out the car keys from his pocket, and headed outside. Soon, the sound of the car starting up could be heard. Zhou Yi rubbed his slightly sore calves and headed back to his room.
Over this period, Zhou Yi’s body had indeed been struggling a bit, with occasional aches in certain areas. But it wasn’t a bad thing. After all, the intensity of NBA play was extremely high, so it was normal for him to experience physical discomfort. Zhou Yi lay on the bed, recalling all the events that had happened since he arrived in the U.S. He gave a bitter smile, turned over, reached out to turn on the computer on the desk by the bed, then got up to pull the curtains shut.
He browsed through some things casually, but nothing caught his interest. Perhaps after nearly a month of training and games, Zhou Yi’s mood had become a bit restless. Helplessly, he turned on the music player, trying to relax by listening to some piano music.
Listening to the beautiful and melodious piano pieces, Zhou Yi was completely immersed in them. However, this brief moment of peace was soon interrupted by a phone call.

“Hello, is this Zhou Yi?” Xiang Yun’s sweet and playful voice, like that of a wind chime, came through the phone.
Zhou Yi’s lazy voice echoed in the room, “Yes, miss. Another interview?”
“Interview? Ha! I think you’re even worse than Huang Shiren. Don’t you know it’s Sunday?” Xiang Yun snapped back at him.
Zhou Yi glanced at the time on his computer screen and laughed heartily, “It really is Sunday. So, miss, what’s the matter? Could it be about the meal I owe you from last time?”
Xiang Yun was taken aback but instead of getting angry, she smiled sweetly and said, “You didn’t mention it, and I almost forgot. Well, there’s probably nothing to do today, right?”
Zhou Yi wished he could slap himself—she was just looking for trouble! He sighed inwardly and forced a smile, “Hehe, nothing much!”
“That’s great. Then wait for me at the entrance of Auburn Mountain Palace Gymnasium! I guess you’re not very familiar with other places either. No problems, right?” Xiang Yun said happily.
“Uh, no problem. I’ll be there in a bit,” Zhou Yi replied, looking helpless.
“Okay, bye!”
“Bye.”
Ever since the incident with Phoebe, Zhou Yi had become extremely sensitive when it came to relationships, which was why he didn’t want to get too close to Xiang Yun. Since meeting her, he had never taken the initiative to contact her. Occasionally, he would notice a look in her eyes that resembled the one Phoebe used to give him. Though he wasn’t sure, to avoid future trouble, he decided it was better to keep his distance. In fact, there was another reason—he found Xiang Yun to look very similar to Mo Keer. The more time he spent with her, the more he realized her face resembled Mo Keer’s.
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yi slowly got dressed and left Blake’s house, heading toward the gymnasium. About half an hour later, he was already at the gym entrance, waiting for Xiang Yun to arrive.

Zhou Yi glanced around, then took out his phone to call Xiang Yun and let her know he had arrived. But the moment he dialed, a sweet and gentle voice came to his ears. Zhou Yi quickly turned his head and found himself face to face with Xiang Yun. They were so close that he could clearly hear her breathing; her breath smelled like orchids, emitting a refreshing fragrance that filled his nostrils, causing his body to tremble slightly and his eyes to blur.

“Hey, what are you staring at? Did I grow flowers on my face?” Xiang Yun laughed at Zhou Yi’s dazed expression.

Zhou Yi quickly regained his composure, the blur in his eyes disappearing. He took a deep breath, turned his head away, and pretended to ask casually, “What should we do now?”

“I’ll take you to eat something. It’s not as delicious as the snacks back home, but it’s still okay—there are a few really good dishes. You’ve only been in Detroit for a short time, right? I’ll treat you to something nice today. The regular season starts in a few days, so you should relax too.” Xiang Yun grabbed Zhou Yi’s arm and cooed, full of energy and cleverness.

Zhou Yi glanced at the delicate hand holding his arm, feeling a bit uneasy. But he didn’t show any discomfort and smiled, “Sure!”

So, guided by Xiang Yun, Zhou Yi headed to a well-known restaurant in the area. Along the way, he kept thinking about one thing.

“I guess I should gently let her know I already have a girlfriend,” he murmured to himself.

“Is this considered resting?” Sighing inwardly, Zhou Yi followed behind Xiang Yun.

Chapter 69: Did I Overthink It?

As night fell, Zhou Yi spent the entire day with Xiang Yun, visiting every famous snack spot she knew. By the end of the day, Xiang Yun showed no signs of fatigue and seemed even more energetic. Zhou Yi self-mockingly thought, “Sigh, after today, I’m not even tired—more tired than after playing games. Xiang Yun has such great stamina; she doesn’t even feel tired. Heh, it seems girls are more talented at shopping!”

Suddenly, Xiang Yun, who was walking in front, stopped and turned to Zhou Yi with a sweet smile. “Never mind. It’s getting late today. The regular season is about to start in a few days, and I can’t let you miss out on rest because of me. Zhou Yi, thank you for accompanying me today!” Xiang Yun pushed aside her hair that fell across her forehead, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhou Yi.

During his time in the United States, even Zhou Yi himself didn’t realize that his personality had changed slightly—he was no longer the naive boy who used to be so innocent about matters of the heart. Moreover, his character was subtly influenced by the local cultural environment; he became more relaxed in his speech, speaking freely and jokingly, which could be seen in his conversations with friends around him.

Zhou Yi felt a bit uncomfortable under Xiang Yun’s gaze and pretended to check the time to avoid her look. He glanced at the night scenery around them and said to Xiang Yun with a laugh, “Well, it’s really getting late. Shall I take you home?”

“Mm, okay,” Xiang Yun nodded, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks, though Zhou Yi didn’t notice it in the darkness.

Actually, Zhou Yi didn’t really intend to take her home; he just wanted some freedom. Xiang Yun’s place wasn’t far from there, and it wouldn’t take long to get there.

After about twenty minutes, the two of them arrived at Xiang Yun’s rented apartment. At that moment, Xiang Yun’s delicate hand was wrapped around Zhou Yi’s strong arm.

“We’re here,” Xiang Yun said, her tone tinged with reluctance.

Zhou Yi nodded and said with a smile, “Your place has a really nice environment.”

“Do you want to come in and sit for a while?” Xiang Yun asked, hope shining in her eyes as she looked at Zhou Yi.

“It’s getting late. No need. You’ve been on your feet all day—go rest early,” Zhou Yi replied with a smile.

Xiang Yun didn’t insist any further. After nodding at Zhou Yi, she headed toward her apartment. Just as she turned around, Zhou Yi took out his phone, pressed the call button, and spoke into the phone in front of Xiang Yun, “Hello, is it Keer? Why aren’t you asleep at this late hour? Hehe, I forgot—it’s morning where you are.”

Xiang Yun turned her head and glanced at Zhou Yi in confusion. Zhou Yi whispered to her, “My girlfriend.” Then he continued talking on the phone, his words filled with affection. Both his tone and expression showed the kind of look only someone in a relationship would have.

Xiang Yun watched all this with a half-smile, then whispered “Good night” to Zhou Yi before turning and walking back toward her residence. During the time Zhou Yi was on the phone, he carefully observed Xiang Yun’s reactions, being extremely cautious so as not to be noticed by her.

After Xiang Yun entered her residence, Zhou Yi put away his phone and instinctively wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his right hand. It was his first time acting in front of others, so he was naturally very nervous. After taking a glance at Xiang Yun’s residence, he let out a deep sigh and headed in the direction of the Black family’s home.

In a dark corner of Xiang Yun’s residence, a figure stepped forward. Its dark eyes stared in the direction Zhou Yi had gone, with a somewhat enigmatic smile on its face—part mockery, part sigh, and a hint of faint admiration and affection.

“Heh, his acting is really terrible, heh. But it seems he really does have a girlfriend, the Keer he mentioned. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have conveyed this message to me so subtly. Zhou Yi is so naive, heh…”

……

In the room, Zhou Yi was lying on the bed, looking up at the ceiling as if deep in thought.

“Judging from her expression, it seems nothing has changed. Could it be that her personality is like Phoebe’s—someone who explodes suddenly?” Zhou Yi murmured to himself.

“If that’s really the case, could something be wrong with her?” Suddenly recalling Phoebe’s sudden outburst that day, Zhou Yi’s heart trembled, and cold sweat appeared on his face.

Zhou Yi quickly took out his phone, found Xiang Yun’s number, hesitated for a moment, then dialed it. After just one ring, the call was connected.

“Hello, is this Xiang Yun?” Zhou Yi’s voice carried a hint of concern.

“Yes, it’s me, Zhou Yi. What’s up? Did you miss me as soon as we parted?” Xiang Yun replied with a teasing giggle on the other end.

Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief and came up with an excuse, saying with a smile, “Why aren’t you asleep yet? It’s not good for girls to stay up late. Be careful your double eyelids turn into crow’s feet!”

The biggest difference between Xiang Yun and Mo Keer was that Xiang Yun had noticeable double eyelids, which might be mistaken for crow’s feet at first glance, but they weren’t; Mo Keer, on the other hand, didn’t have them.

“I just finished taking a bath and was about to go to bed when you called. You didn’t call just to ask if I’m asleep, did you?” Xiang Yun replied with a hint of meaning.

Zhou Yi was stunned, not knowing how to respond. After thinking for a while, he finally made up an excuse.

“By the way, I wanted to ask you—will you be there for the first game of the regular season?”

Xiang Yun smiled and replied, “Of course. The first game of the regular season is very important, especially for you. I guess they’ll send me to interview you that day. You’d better cooperate with me then.”
“Okay,” Zhou Yi answered promptly and decisively.
“Well, if there’s nothing else, good night. I don’t want my crow’s feet to be called eye bags,” Xiang Yun’s sweet laughter reached Zhou Yi’s ears once again.
“Mm, good night.” Zhou Yi wished he could hang up the phone right away.
It wasn’t until the call ended that Zhou Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at his phone, placed it on the computer desk by the bed, and fell deep into thought once more.
“Why didn’t she show any reaction? Could it be I’m overthinking it? She doesn’t have such feelings at all; it’s just me being delusional. Heh, I’m too narcissistic!” Zhou Yi joked with himself.
But then he thought again and murmured, “Then why do I always feel that the way she looks at me is so similar to the way Phoebe looked at me back then? Could it really be fear?”
“Never mind. What’s there to fear? As long as I don’t have those thoughts, nothing will happen,” Zhou Yi said firmly.
Zhou Yi turned over and lay on the bed, staring at his phone on the computer desk, and continued, “Could it really be that I’m just overthinking it?”
After a while, Zhou Yi opened his closed eyes, his gaze firm.
“It seems I really am overthinking it!”
Chapter 70: The Big Deal (Part 1)
The next morning, Zhou Yi woke up very late. After waking, he felt some pain in his eyes, so he gently rubbed them. After getting dressed, he slowly made his way to the bathroom and glanced at the mirror casually. At that sight, he couldn’t help but gasp, staring fixedly at his bloodshot and slightly swollen eyes in the mirror.
“Ugh, I stayed up too late last night. No wonder my eyes hurt.” Zhou Yi didn’t dare rub his eyes anymore, fearing it might cause some problem. He certainly didn’t want to go blind.
It wasn’t surprising that Zhou Yi was in this state—he had been thinking about Xiang Yun all night, not falling asleep until around 3 a.m. Zhou Yi had a habit of going to bed early and waking up early. Staying up this late was the first time it had happened to him since he was a child. Even when he heard the news that he’d be joining the NBA, he hadn’t stayed up late out of excitement.

Zhou Yi was truly terrified by all these matters. Not to mention Xia Tingting, even Phoebe alone gave him a lot of headaches. Now, with Xiang Yun appearing as well, he was naturally very frustrated. Moreover, he had a vague feeling that Mo Keer had become somewhat cold toward him lately. That’s why Zhou Yi was so troubled by these issues.

“There’s no time to think about these things now. As long as I don’t harbor such thoughts, nothing will happen. Right now, the most important thing is the regular season. I guess Coach Koester won’t let me play much time during it, after all, this isn’t preseason—it’s the real regular season. So, in the first few games, I need to make use of that limited time to prove myself, so the Pistons can firmly establish themselves. Anyway, although my dream isn’t fully realized yet, it’s not far away. I still need to work hard.” Zhou Yi murmured to himself while looking at his reflection in the mirror.

Suddenly, he remembered a well-known saying and couldn’t help but smile, blurting out, “The revolution is not yet complete; comrades must keep working hard. Hehe…”

After having breakfast, Zhou Yi said goodbye to Blake and headed to the basketball court inside the villa. He would start training with the team the next day to make final preparations before the game. So, he wanted to use this limited time for individual training. As he walked toward the court, Zhou Yi said to himself with a hint of regret, “It would be great if someone could pass the ball to me during practice.”

After saying that, Zhou Yi thought of that girl who was clearly too tired to stand but refused to rest and help him train. Zhou Yi sighed and entered the basketball court.

“I’ll pass the ball to you,” came a masculine voice that sounded extremely familiar to Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi turned around and said with a smile, “Uncle, don’t you have to go to work?”

Blake smiled slightly and replied, “I’ve taken care of everything at the company yesterday. I’ve heard about your situation from Koester, and I’ve also read that observation report about you several times. Didn’t you just say you need someone to pass the ball to you? Can’t I do it?”

Blake wasn’t wearing a suit but sportswear, making him look even younger. Zhou Yi glanced at Blake, nodded slightly, a hint of joy appearing on his face, and said with a smile, “Of course! I’d be grateful for that!”

“Hehe, you’re getting more slick and cunning these days, but uncle really likes you as you are now.” After saying that, Blake felt something was off and chuckled awkwardly. “Xiao Yi, don’t get it wrong. I mean, compared to before, your personality is better now, which will help you integrate into your surroundings better and is good for interacting with others.”
Zhou Yi almost choked laughing, trying hard to hold back his smile as he said to Blake, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” But he couldn’t help laughing again.
Blake looked helpless and pretended to be angry. “Hurry up and train!” he said, picking up a basketball from the side, walking to beyond the three-point line, and throwing it. The basketball traced a beautiful arc in the air, but… it missed completely.
Blake glanced at Zhou Yi sheepishly, his face turning red. Zhou Yi tried to hold back his laughter but couldn’t help it and laughed again. He knew Blake wasn’t the kind to get angry easily, so he didn’t pretend in front of him and showed his emotions freely.
“Training, training… I’m not in good form today,” Blake joked, picking up another basketball and tossing it to Zhou Yi.
“Uncle, I’ll do some warm-ups first. Do you want to warm up too?” Zhou Yi asked with a smile.
Blake nodded and, along with Zhou Yi, did some stretching and other warm-up exercises before training. After a while, Zhou Yi said to Blake, “Uncle, in a bit, I’ll move around, and you pass the ball to me.”
“Hehe, got it,” Blake said with a grin, showing a row of white teeth.
…
Three hours later, two figures left the basketball court.
“Well, my passing skills aren’t bad, right?” Blake asked, hugging Zhou Yi and smiling.
Zhou Yi was momentarily stunned before smiling and saying, “They’re quite good, really.”
Blake smiled and, chatting along the way, hugged Zhou Yi as they returned to the living room. In fact, Blake’s passing was really not that good for Zhou Yi—far worse than McGrady’s, since Blake hadn’t learned professional basketball skills. Zhou Yi couldn’t disappoint Blake, so he had to make do with the training, though the results were much worse than before.
“But it’s still much better than having no one to train with,” Zhou Yi thought to himself with a smile.

The two talked for a while before going to take baths separately. As he walked away, Blake shook his head and sighed helplessly at Zhou Yi, who was following behind: “Sigh, time really takes its toll. In the blink of an eye, we’ve both grown old. Now even a little exercise leaves us tired. Sigh…”
Zhou Yi glanced at Blake, lowered his head in silence, and slowly headed toward his room.
After dinner in the afternoon, Zhou Yi went to the gym. He had firmly developed this habit during this period. If there were no team training sessions or other commitments, he would spend his afternoons at the gym. This was also why his physical condition improved so rapidly in such a short time.
…
The next day, Auburn Hills Palace Gymnasium.
On the training court, the Pistons players were sweating profusely as they trained.
“Zhou, it won’t be long before major changes happen to our team,” Bynum whispered beside Zhou Yi.
“Oh? How do you know?” Zhou Yi asked, surprised, looking at Bynum.
Bynum wiped the sweat from his face, glanced around, and said in a low voice to Zhou Yi, “Look who didn’t show up for training today.”
After hearing Bynum’s words, Zhou Yi glanced around and replied doubtfully, “It’s just Stuckey and Hamilton who didn’t come, right? Didn’t they ask for leave because they weren’t feeling well? Everyone else should be here, right?”
“Not feeling well? Asking for leave? Heh, you’re too naive,” Bynum sneered, his laughter carrying a hint of mockery. Clearly, he was used to all of this.
“Naive? Why do you all say I’m naive?” Zhou Yi murmured, puzzled.
Zhou Yi watched Bynum quietly, clearly waiting for him to continue.
“It’s a conspiracy, a conspiracy,” Bynum said solemnly, glancing at Dumars standing by the court.
Chapter 71: The Big Trade (Part 2)
“A conspiracy? What conspiracy?” In fact, Zhou Yi already had a vague idea, but he wasn’t sure.
Bynum threw a ball, which spun in the air before swishing through the net. Bynum smiled, his laughter tinged with resignation and sadness.
“They’re going to be traded,” Bynum said indifferently, glancing at Dumars again.
“How is that possible?” Although Bynum’s words matched Zhou Yi’s suspicions, he still couldn’t believe it.

“That’s the business world; no one can guarantee they’ll stay with the team for life. Hamilton was also a key player in winning championships, but… well, this is the NBA. You just have to get used to it.” Bynum fell silent for a moment, then continued, “I only heard about this news today. I arrived early at practice today, and as I passed by Dumars’ office, I overheard him talking to a team executive, though very indirectly. It was only after learning that Hamilton and Stakki were sick and on leave that I became sure.”
Zhou Yi frowned slightly, thinking to himself, “No wonder uncle said there would be trades in the team soon, and I’d be the direct beneficiary. I had guessed it might be White being traded, or at most Bynum, but I never expected it to be Stakki. Heh, it seems I’m one step closer to achieving my dream. I hope the team doesn’t trade Bynum—he’s the first friend I made in Detroit.”
With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Yi stood there in silence. Bynum frowned and said to Zhou Yi with a smile, “What’s wrong? Are you happy? If Stakki gets traded, you’re probably the best candidate for the starting point guard position.”
“I wouldn’t dare think that. I’d be satisfied if I could just establish myself on the team,” Zhou Yi replied helplessly, patting the ball.
Zhou Yi was right. Although he had performed very well in the preseason, he couldn’t be sure he’d secure a spot on the team—after all, it was just preseason. Throughout history, there have been many players who performed well in preseason but eventually faded from the team.
After hearing Zhou Yi’s words, Bynum smiled without saying anything. In his opinion, if Stakki really got traded, Zhou Yi would definitely be the ideal candidate for the starting point guard position. He knew well his own capabilities. Since the team had the courage to trade Stakki, Zhou Yi was undoubtedly the core of the team’s rebuild.

“Starky was selected by the team in the first round, 15th overall, in the 2007 draft. Shortly after joining the team, he showed outstanding talent on the basketball court, and General Manager Joe Dumars had a high opinion of him, believing him to be the cornerstone of the Pistons’ rebuild. To that end, he was even willing to trade away the Finals MVP, Chauncey Billups, just to create a favorable environment for Starky to grow. But if the team were to trade Starky, it would mean there was a player even more talented than him who caught the team’s interest. Obviously, that player couldn’t be me, nor could it be White, nor any player from another team, because other teams wouldn’t give up their top guards so easily. So it could only be Zhou Yi, who had delivered stunning performances in the preseason. Haha, I didn’t expect him to take over as the starting player so quickly.” Bynum bit his lip, a sense of bitterness rising from deep within him.

Bynum felt a hint of reluctance, but after considering Zhou Yi’s abilities, he had to suppress that feeling. With a swish, another three-pointer was made. Bynum smiled and whispered to Zhou Yi, “I wonder who else might be involved in this trade.”

Zhou Yi was also thinking about this. If there was a trade, it wouldn’t just involve Hamilton; other players might also be involved. After all, this was a significant trade. Hamilton’s contract was for 3 years and $37.5 million, signed with the Pistons on November 3, 2008, taking effect in the summer of 2010, with a salary of $12.5 million for the new season. Starky’s contract was smaller, a rookie contract of 4 years and $7.83 million, signed on July 6, 2007, expiring in the summer of 2011.

“Who knows? We can only wait and see.” Zhou Yi smiled helplessly and took a jump shot, hitting the ball.

Bynum also smiled helplessly and continued his training. For now, they could only wait for the final outcome.

……

The next day, a stunning trade swept through the entire league, causing a huge stir. And indeed, the main players in this trade were Starky and Hamilton, as Bynum had said.

It wasn’t one team but two that traded with the Pistons. The Pistons sent Stakowski, Jerrebock, and Jason Markfield to the Pacers in exchange for Taylor Hansbrough, selected 13th overall in the 2009 draft, James Posey, and a first-round draft pick in 2011—though the top five picks in that draft were protected. Additionally, the Pistons sent Hamilton and White to the Kings to acquire Haitian center Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert’s salary this season is around $13.4 million, and it’s also the final year of his large contract. Hamilton’s salary, as mentioned earlier, is $12.5 million, so there’s a salary mismatch, which is why the Pistons used White as an additional asset to complete the deal.

In both transactions, the Pistons aimed to get rid of Hamilton and Stakowski, so they still suffered losses in these deals. However, they also gained a lot, though slightly less compared to the other two teams.

In fact, there were significant differences in negotiations with the Kings. The Kings’ request was simple: they wanted to trade Dalembert for some players with expiring contracts to maximize flexibility in their salary structure. Dalembert has an expiring contract worth $13.4 million, and it wasn’t easy for the Kings to find a buyer for him due to salary matching issues. But the Pistons were eager to get rid of Hamilton and Stakowski before the new season started, so they made this decision. From these two transactions, the Pistons strengthened their interior play, especially by acquiring Dalembert, who will effectively reinforce their paint defense and improve overall defensive quality. Dalembert’s large contract expires at the end of this season, so the Pistons don’t have to worry about him taking up too much of their salary space in the long term. Dalembert is tall and experienced, with blocking as his strength. He averages 8.2 rebounds per game in the NBA and is also good at protecting the rim. What’s most reassuring for the Pistons is that Dalembert has been healthy for four consecutive seasons, and since his contract expires next year, it gives them more financial flexibility for actions in the upcoming season.

However, many teams in the league are worried about the Pistons giving up their core player for rebuilding, Stakowski. After all, since two years ago, the Pistons have relied on Stakowski as the foundation of their rebuild, even going so far as to trade away former Finals MVP Billups.

The Pistons’ management turned a deaf ear to all the reactions from the league. What concerned them now was whether that young guy could truly lead the Pistons back to the top and bring substantial profits to the team.

Chapter 72: Analysis

The two trades the Pistons made before the start of the regular season caused quite a stir throughout the NBA. One was a key contributor to past championships, and the other was a rising star—this inevitably led to much discussion, with various opinions, but most were worried about the Pistons.

At that moment, Zhou Yi was in Blake’s home, sitting together in the living room.

“Tonight, the first game of the regular season starts. Are you ready?” Blake asked Zhou Yi with a half-smile.

Zhou Yi’s previously furrowed brows relaxed as he replied to Blake with a smile, “Hehe, I’ve been looking forward to it for ages.”

“Hmm, hehe. I guess you’ll start as a starter today. Do you believe that?”

Zhou Yi shook his head, glanced outside the living room, and said with a laugh, “I definitely won’t be the starter.” His tone carried certainty.

“How do you know?” Blake asked, giving Zhou Yi a look and smiling.

“Intuition. I definitely won’t start today,” Zhou Yi replied with a smile.

Blake shrugged, as if thinking of something, and his worried expression turned into excitement as he said, “So, what’s your opinion on the team’s trades?”

Zhou Yi frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and replied, “The Pistons are the biggest winners from these trades.”

“Oh? Why do you say that?” After hearing Zhou Yi’s words, Blake raised his eyebrows, first surprised, then looking at Zhou Yi with interest and asking with a smile.

“I’ve been thinking about these trades all along. It was only while talking to you just now that I suddenly understood why the team made these moves.” Zhou Yi’s eyes were clear, as if he saw through everything, completely different from the naive boy he used to be.

“Hehe, go on then!” Blake pretended to be attentive, watching Zhou Yi quietly.

“On the surface, the Pistons are definitely the biggest losers in this trade, as we’ve lost two starting players, one of whom is an All-Star and a key contributor to the team’s championship in 2004. Although Hamilton is older, he’s still in the prime of his career, and his stats haven’t declined due to age. The other player, though not an All-Star, has been the core of the Pistons over the past couple of years. His stats last season were career highs, and he was just short of earning the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title. So, on the surface, many people think the Pistons are losers while the other two teams are winners.

The Pacers have always lacked excellent guards, so Starks’ arrival will surely address that weakness and provide significant help to Danny Granger. The Kings also lack a quality shooting guard; their only scoring star, Kevin Martin, was traded to the Houston Rockets. Although Tyreke Evans can play shooting guard, he’s primarily a point guard, so Hamilton’s arrival will undoubtedly ease the pressure on Evans. Moreover, Hamilton’s style is very different from Martin’s—Martin needs to drive to attack, while Hamilton doesn’t. Hamilton’s most skilled and well-known offensive move is to use off-ball movement to bypass defenders, then receive a pass from a teammate before taking a quick stop-and-shoot from mid-range. Therefore, the Kings don’t need to worry about Hamilton competing with Evans for ball possession.” Zhou Yi paused, clearly needing to organize his thoughts and rephrase his conclusions.

Blake didn’t interject. Watching Zhou Yi remain silent, he stretched out his hand, signaling for him to continue.

“Hehe, that’s why many people think the Pistons lost out. But that’s not the case. The Pistons are actually the biggest winners in this trade. There are three reasons for that:”

First: The Pistons have wanted to get rid of Hamilton for a long time, but just haven’t found the right opportunity. This time, not only have they gotten rid of Hamilton, but they’ve also acquired Durham Porter, who can be considered a top-tier center in the league. His arrival will surely strengthen the Pistons’ interior game. The Pistons don’t need to worry too much about his performance in the new season, for two reasons. First, Durham Porter is in his contract year, so he’ll definitely strive to perform well in order to secure a lucrative contract. Second, even if Durham Porter performs poorly in the new season, the Pistons can choose to part ways with this Haitian center next summer when his contract expires, giving them significant salary flexibility to make moves at that time.

Second: The Pistons’ frontcourt is far too weak. Ben Wallace is getting older, and although Markieff Morris is in good physical condition, he is merely a laborer-type player with almost no offensive capability when far from the basket. His height is a major issue as a frontcourt player, making him as good as useless to the Pistons—useless if kept and a waste if traded, which is why the team decided to part with him. Willcox is one of the best big men in the league, with excellent jumping ability and strength, skilled in aggressive play in the paint, and capable of providing solid defense to secure rebounds. However, his basic skills are rough, his mid-range shooting is weak, and he makes many mistakes during attacks. Monroe, my teammate among the rookies, is definitely a future star—talented both defensively and offensively. He meets the standards for a frontcourt player in terms of physical fitness and height. The only downside is that he is still a rookie. Other than that, the Pistons have no other true frontcourt players. But through this trade, they acquired Drummond and Hansbrough. Drummond’s abilities are well recognized, but Hansbrough is also a rookie with great potential. Last season, he averaged 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 17.6 minutes per game. He is tough and skilled in physical confrontations. With the Pistons in a rebuilding phase, he will be a valuable addition. Additionally, the Pistons got James Posey, whose experience is unmatched by many veterans, and whose defensive skills are highly praised. He played a key role in helping the Heat and Celtics win championships, and his experience, along with McGrady’s, will help us young players. The Pistons also received a first-round draft pick from the Pacers. Although it’s protected in the top five picks, the team can still select a solid rookie next summer.

Third: Stakley isn’t suitable for the Pistons. What the Pistons need are playmaking guards like Billups or Paul, and that’s exactly the type of player I am. Although I’m far behind top point guards like Paul, I believe it won’t take long before I grow to be like them. So, the team is betting that I can lead them back to greatness. Even if I can’t bring them to the top, the Pistons will value the huge market behind me. Think about what Houston was like before 2002 and what it is now. Hey, you’re also a businessman—no need for me to explain further!

Blake stared motionlessly at the young man before him, then suddenly burst into laughter. He asked Zhou Yi, “How did you come up with all this?”
Zhou Yi smiled slightly and replied, “I’ve spent these past few days thinking about this deal while I had free time. I read a lot of information and reviewed many comments on it, so I summarized it carefully. Hehe, I’m right, right?”
“Hmm, your summary is exactly what Dumars and those old guys were thinking, though there are a few minor errors. What surprised me is that the simple boy I knew has changed so much in such a short time. You’re quite smart, kid!”
Zhou Yi rolled his eyes and said gloomily, “I’m already smart. Fine! I just don’t want to overthink things. I just want to play basketball well. Overthinking is troublesome and exhausting.”
“Hehe, the Pistons really made a lot of money from this deal. In fact, the biggest benefit for the Pistons is that it provided you with room to grow. So, you must not disappoint me or Dumars. It was me and Dumars who worked hard to get this deal done so quickly. We really had to persuade the team’s higher-ups.” Blake looked at Zhou Yi intently, revealing the truth without any concealment.
Zhou Yi also looked at Blake and nodded firmly. He now fully understood Blake’s intentions. To help him achieve his dream, Blake had done so much for him.
“Uncle, don’t worry. I definitely won’t disappoint you,” Zhou Yi replied firmly, clenching his fists.
Blake nodded, his eyes gleaming. He thought to himself, “Zhou Miao, I’ve done my best. As for whether Xiao Yi can succeed, it depends on his own fate.”
Chapter 73: The First Game Approaches
October 27, 2010, local time in Detroit—this day was extremely important for Zhou Yi, as it marked the true beginning of his NBA journey.
After finishing his conversation with Blake, Zhou Yi followed him to the Palace of Auburn Hills. The weather wasn’t good today—overcast and oppressive. Zhou Yi glanced at the dark clouds in the sky and smiled helplessly at Blake beside him. “Sigh, it seems it’s going to rain! What bad luck on this away game!”
Blake smiled and said, “It seems your first regular-season game won’t go as well as you hope!”
Zhou Yi shrugged and got into the car with Blake. Along the way, he had no interest in enjoying the scenery. All he could think about was the game that night.

Time passed slowly, and before long, the two of them were already at the entrance of the gym. Blake checked the time—it was already 11:30 a.m. They quickly made their way to the player assembly area, where many people were already gathered.

Blake and the other person found a spot to sit and waited for head coach Kuster to arrive. About half an hour later, all the players had arrived, including the newly acquired players Durham Porter, Hansbrough, and Posey. Nearly another ten minutes passed before Kuster appeared with Dumars in front of everyone.

After the trade, the Pistons’ roster for the new season was finalized.

Ben Wallace: 2 years, $3.97 million, signed on 2010/8/3, expires in summer 2012, salary for this season: $2.07 million;
Tracy McGrady: 1 year, base salary, signed on 2010/8/16, expires in summer 2011, salary for this season: $1.35 million;
Chris Webber: 2 years, $6 million, signed on 2009/7/18, expires in summer 2011, salary for this season: $3 million;
Tyreke Evans: 5 years, $47.5 million, signed on 2005/10/31, expires in summer 2011, salary for this season: $11.15 million;
Ben Gordon: 5 years, $58 million, signed on 2009/7/8, expires in summer 2014, player option in summer 2013, salary for this season: $10.8 million;
Charlie Villanueva: 5 years, $37.7 million, signed on 2009/7/8, expires in summer 2014, player option in summer 2013, salary for this season: $7.02 million;
Will Bynum: 3 years, $9.75 million, signed on 2010/8/1, expires in summer 2013, salary for this season: $3.25 million;
Austin Daye: 4 years, $8.37 million, signed on 2009/8/7, expires in summer 2013, team options in summers 2011 and 2012, salary for this season: $1.8 million;
DeJuan Summers: 2 years, base salary, signed on 2009/8/7, expires in summer 2011, salary for this season: $0.76 million;
Greg Monroe: 4 years, $13.11 million, signed on 2010/7/6, expires in summer 2014, team options in summers 2012 and 2013, salary for this season: $2.8 million;
Samuel Durham Porter: 6 years, $64.77 million, signed on 2005/8/2, expires in summer 2011, salary for this season: $13.4 million;
James Posey: 4 years, $25 million, signed on 2008/7/23, expires in summer 2012, salary for this season: $6.48 million.

Taylor Hansbrough: 4 years, $9.05 million, signed on 7/8/2009, expires in the summer of 2013, team option in the summer of 2012; salary this season: $2 million.
Finally, Zhou Yi: 1 year, $200,000, no guarantees, signed on 8/24/2010.
Overall, the roster for various positions is quite good.
Center: Ben Wallace, Durham Porter; Power forward: Monroe, Hansbrough, Wilcox (can also play center); Small forward: Prince, Villanueva (can also play power forward), Daye, Posey, Summers; Shooting guard: McGrady (can also play small forward and point guard), Gordon (can play point guard); Point guard: Zhou Yi, Bynum.
Actually, the Pistons have an excess of players at the small forward position, while they lack players at shooting guard, and Gordon is also injured. However, most of these players who can play small forward can also fill in as shooting guards, so there’s no need to worry too much. It’s just that the Pistons are short-staffed at the point guard position; if either Zhou Yi or Bynum gets injured, it would be tough for the Pistons. Fortunately, McGrady has excellent playmaking skills, so he can step in as point guard if that happens.
After a brief meeting with the players, Kuster led everyone on their way to the Continental Airlines Center.
……
The Continental Airlines Center, the home arena of the New Jersey Nets. At this moment, the arena, which can hold 20,049 people, already has quite a few fans. Although the team’s first regular-season game of the new season isn’t until two and a half hours later, enthusiastic fans have already arrived at the arena.
Right now, Zhou Yi and the others are on the bus heading to the Continental Airlines Center. Zhou Yi is sitting with McGrady; Blake is not on the bus. When they arrived at the hotel, Blake separated from Zhou Yi and went somewhere with Dumars.
“Zhou, this is your first regular-season game—don’t get nervous, haha!” Bynum sat behind Zhou Yi, patting his shoulder and laughing loudly.

Actually, after the Pistons made those two trades, Bynum was also one of the beneficiaries. After all, the only players who could play point guard for the team were him and Zhou Yi. Although Bynum understood that Zhou Yi was the player the team focused on developing, it was undeniable that Zhou Yi was still young and lacked experience, so Bynum got much more playing time than before the trades. It was even possible that Kooster might start Bynum.

Zhou Yi shrugged and said with a smile, “To be honest, I’m definitely nervous, but I guess I won’t be once I’m on the court!”

“Good luck!” Bynum put his headset on and listened to his favorite rock songs.

Taking this opportunity, Zhou Yi closed his eyes for a moment. By the time he woke up, the bus was almost at the Continental Airlines Center. About five minutes later, a magnificent gym appeared before them.

Zhou Yi and his teammates got off the bus one after another, with Kooster being the last. Clearly, the older players were more familiar with the place. Soon, everyone entered the gym and headed to the visiting team’s locker room.

They gathered in the locker room, with Kooster among them. Obviously, Kooster wanted to give a speech before the game, probably to encourage the players to give their all and secure a victory away from home.

“Guys, our first game of the new season is about to start. This isn’t a preseason game, so I expect everyone to give their best effort and win this game to get off to a strong start. Although the Nets had a poor record of 12 wins and 70 losses last season, our performance wasn’t much better. So, in this game, no, throughout this entire season, the Nets will definitely fight hard because they want to avenge last season’s failure. Guys, we did well in the preseason, and I have to praise you. But now is the real test—show your passion and effort and win this game!” Kooster spoke with great enthusiasm, igniting the players’ passion.

“Okay,” the players replied enthusiastically.

Kooster stretched out a hand, his eyes shining as he looked at the players around him. Seeing this, the players became even more excited and reached out to place their hands on Kooster’s.

“Go!” they said in unison.

Chapter 74: Pistons vs. Nets

“Huh,” Zhou Yi let out a soft sigh, lifting his head to glance at the crowd in the stadium. By now, the Continental Airlines Center was packed to capacity, and describing the scene as bustling with noise and a sea of people was no exaggeration at all. This atmosphere was more spectacular than even the preseason games. Zhou Yi swallowed hard, trying to suppress the nervousness and excitement in his heart.

At that moment, the home team’s cheerleaders were wildly shaking their sexy hips on the court to celebrate the start of the new season. The fans in the stands cheered continuously as they watched the alluring dancers perform.

Soon, the celebrations for the new season came to an end with the end of Nets’ new owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s speech. Players from both teams stepped onto the court simultaneously to begin their pre-game warm-ups.

As Zhou Yi ran and caught a pass from McGrady, he immediately jumped and shot—the ball swished into the basket. Despite being a bit nervous, Zhou Yi felt no fear at all; instead, his fighting spirit grew stronger. While players from both teams were warming up, Blake, who had separated from Zhou Yi at the hotel, was now sitting in the Pistons’ coaching booth.

In the first row of the stands were the two commentators for the game: Marv Albert and Reggie Miller. The two referees for the game also stepped onto the court and made some gestures to the players, signaling that the game was about to begin.

The big screen displayed the rosters of the two teams, with the starting lineups appearing next.

Home team, Nets:
Center: Brook Lopez; Power Forward: Joe Smith; Small Forward: Travis Outlaw; Shooting Guard: Anthony Morrow; Point Guard: Devin Harris.

Away team, Pistons:
Center: Ben Wallace; Power Forward: Greg Monroe; Small Forward: Tashawn Prince; Shooting Guard: James Posey; Point Guard: Will Bynum.

Neither Zhou Yi nor McGrady was on the starting lineup; they were listed among the bench players. Bynum stared at the big screen in surprise, then looked at Zhou Yi, a look of delight appearing on his face.

“Will, how did you know? I told you I wouldn’t be in the starting lineup—your turn as point guard,” Zhou Yi said cheerfully, showing no sign of disappointment at not being on the starting team.

“Oh, God, Zhou, how did you know?” Bynum asked in astonishment.

“Intuition. Alright, go out there quickly. Go for it!” Zhou Yi patted Bynum on the shoulder and went to sit on the bench.
Blake looked at Koester in surprise, clearly not expecting that Koester wouldn’t start Zhou Yi. Koester smiled slightly and explained to Blake, “It’s not time for him to start yet. Don’t worry; I’ll give him just as much playing time as the starters.”
After hearing Koester’s words, Blake’s expression improved a bit, and he stood up and walked over to Zhou Yi.
“Xiao Yi, how did you know?”
“I told you before—intuition,” Zhou Yi replied, tapping his head and smiling at Blake.
Blake shrugged helplessly and then whispered to Zhou Yi, “Coach Koester said he’ll give you more opportunities to show yourself. If you perform well in the first few games of the new season, starting will be just around the corner.”
Zhou Yi nodded slightly, staying silent as he focused his gaze on the court. Blake also turned to watch the game intently.
The starters for both teams were already standing near the midcourt, while Darbon and Lopez were stretching, getting ready for the tip-off.
The referee glanced at Darbon and Lopez, got their affirmative responses, then gently threw the ball into the air, officially starting the game.
Lopez had a clear height advantage, but he lacked experience compared to Darbon. Using his years of experience, Darbon passed the ball to his teammate. After catching the ball, Bynum organized the Pistons’ offense.
Zhou Yi concentrated, carefully observing the situation on the court. What he needed most now was experience, so how could he miss this chance to gain more?
Bynum drove repeatedly before passing the ball to Posey. Posey quickly passed it to Darbon, who took on Lopez one-on-one at the low post, tried a hook shot, but missed. Monroe then dunked the ball into the basket over Lopez’s head.
“Good shot,” Zhou Yi murmured excitedly. Reggie Miller on the sidelines also couldn’t help but praise the rookie.
Harris dribbled extremely fast and soon reached the front court. Facing Bynum’s close defense, Harris smirked, then changed direction to get away from Bynum’s defense, stopped abruptly, and attempted a jump shot, but missed too. Prince grabbed the rebound in the backcourt and passed it to Bynum to organize the offense.

Bynum adjusted his pace and played methodically. His speed wasn’t as fast as Harris’s, so he couldn’t compare his weaknesses to others’ strengths. Just past the halfway mark, Bynum passed the ball to Prince. Prince drove and passed to Posey at the baseline; Posey took a jump shot from high up and scored, making it 4–0.

Harris stared at Bynum with a dark expression, then feinted, but Bynum wasn’t fooled. Instead, he seized the opportunity to steal the ball. Seeing this, Prince rushed to the opponent’s half at lightning speed. Bynum understood and passed the ball long to Prince, who, after catching it, glided inside the free-throw line and dunked successfully.

At the start of the game, the Pistons took a 6–0 lead over their opponent. The Nets’ head coach, “Little General” Johnson, watched the game coldly without taking any action.

Harris drove with the ball and made a clever pass; Lopez caught it and dunked with one hand, finally breaking the Nets’ scoring drought. Prince’s jump shot from beyond the three-point line missed. Josh Smith grabbed a rebound and passed it to Harris, who rushed into the Pistons’ paint. Seeing Prince out of position, he quickly passed the ball to Morrow outside the three-point line. Morrow adjusted slightly before shooting a three-point jump shot. With a swish, the ball passed through the bottom of the rim, and Posey secured the rebound.

After halfway, facing Harris’s defense, Bynum stopped abruptly and shot a jump shot, hitting it. With a smile of excitement, he retreated to defend. Zhou Yi couldn’t help but laugh at this sight; their eyes met, and they nodded at each other.

Lopez moved to a high position to set a screen for Harris, who moved to the other side of the three-point line and shot directly. This time, the Nets’ offense finally scored again.

Bynum contributed once more by driving and forcing Lopez into a defensive foul, earning two free throws. Bynum took a deep breath and didn’t waste either free throw, adding 2 more points for the Pistons.

In no time, 7 minutes had passed. Koostert called a timeout while Prince forced a foul on the opponent’s defender, preparing to make lineup changes. At that moment, the score was 15–12, with the Pistons leading by 3 points.

Soon after, the timeout ended. Koostert replaced Bynum with Zhou Yi, McGrady replaced Posey, and Durham Porter replaced Big Ben. The Nets also made changes, with Chris Humphries replacing Josh Smith and Terrence Williams replacing Otero; nothing else changed.

Zhou Yi’s debut in the regular season is about to begin!
Chapter 75: Debut in the Regular Season
Zhou Yi walked onto the court with excited steps, Maddie by his side. Noticing his nervousness, Maddie patted his shoulder and said with a smile, “Hey, relax!”
“Mm,” Zhou Yi nodded and quickly headed toward the middle of the court.
The game continued. Prince took two free throws. He made the first, but missed the second, with Humphries grabbing the rebound in the backcourt. Harris dashed like lightning toward the Pistons’ half. Zhou Yi stuck closely to Harris, not giving him any chance.
Although Zhou Yi had gained considerable fame in the NBA thanks to his outstanding performance in the preseason, Harris, as an All-Star player, clearly didn’t take this young man seriously. He simply shot a jump shot from beyond the three-point line. With a “swish,” Harris’s shot was blocked by Zhou Yi and sent back to the Nets’ half. Zhou Yi rushed over like thunder, picked up the ball, and quickly drove into the Nets’ paint—where there was no one—enabling him to score easily with a dunk.
“Oh my God, this Chinese kid is performing amazing!” said commentator Marv Albert.
Harris clearly didn’t expect Zhou Yi to block his shot so easily, let alone have this undrafted kid from China deliver such a perfect block and dunk combo.
In fact, the block wasn’t easy for Zhou Yi, as his agility was roughly on par with Harris’s, but Harris was 3 centimeters taller. Yet Zhou Yi managed the block thanks to his excellent defensive awareness.
“This guy must have stepped in dog shit. I don’t believe he can pull anything off,” Harris thought angrily.
Harris still controlled the ball but immediately passed it to Lopez, who was looking for the ball inside, after half a court. Lopez tried to take on Durham Porter but missed, with Monroe grabbing the rebound in the backcourt.

Perhaps a bit nervous, Zhou Yi’s drive resulted in the ball hitting his own foot. Fortunately, the ball then hit Harris’s calf and went out of bounds, so the Pistons still had possession. Prince served from the sideline; after receiving the ball, Zhou Yi passed it straight to McGrady. Zhou Yi started moving around to look for an offensive opportunity. Although Harris was fast, Zhou Yi’s speed was comparable to Harris’s as well. Thus, Zhou Yi quickly found an open spot, and McGrady swiftly passed the ball to him. Zhou Yi took a jump shot—thud—and it missed; Humphries grabbed the rebound.

Harris drove past Zhou Yi at the baseline and then stopped abruptly to take a jump shot. Zhou Yi failed to follow up with a block, so he could only watch as the ball went into the basket. Harris gave Zhou Yi a mocking look before passing by him, seemingly bumping into him intentionally or not.

“Newbie, this is just the beginning, haha…” Harris sneered as he passed by Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi ignored him, caught the ball from Monroe at the baseline, and focused on organizing the team’s offense. Durham Porter was excellent in both offense and defense; after receiving a clever pass from Zhou Yi, he played one-on-one with Lopez and scored by turning and driving to the basket.

Kuster was very satisfied with the players’ performance on the court. From the coaching bench, he enthusiastically discussed the game with several assistant coaches from time to time.

After all, Zhou Yi was still a rookie, so he appeared inexperienced on defense. After Harris passed the ball inside, he cut through the middle and, after receiving a pass back from Lopez, scored with a smooth drive. Regarding this issue, Kuster could only shake his head helplessly—such defensive experience had to be gained through games. So, he wasn’t disappointed in Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi executed a clever change of direction in his drive, leaving Harris behind. But Williams quickly rushed over to help defend. Zhou Yi remained calm, passing the ball to Prince, who was in an open spot. Prince shot a three-pointer, giving Zhou Yi another assist.

Seeing that Lopez was starting to run out of energy, “General Johnson” quickly made a substitution, taking Lopez off the court to rest. Johhan Petro replaced Lopez, while Harris was replaced by Jordan Farmar. The Pistons also made substitutions—Prince and Monroe were replaced by Daye and Hansbrough, respectively.