If you're a Duke player, then you must be white. If it weren't white, then the height would definitely be 2.03 meters. If you shoot accurately, then you definitely can't shoot three points. If you're accurate with threes, then the mid-range shot is certainly not good. If you're good at three-point and mid-range shooting, you're not in shape to play in the NBA.

It's a joke, but most Duke basketball players fit the bill.

So today, Link was in the training ground of the FedEx Arena and saw the Duke player who was 2.03 meters tall and had mediocre physical fitness, but his shooting was quite accurate. Battier.

Battier is a typical Duke player, not very physical, but with a top basketball IQ, high tactical accomplishments, a gentle but combative personality, and a tough guy. How so? All sides and Grant. Hill is all alike, and it can be said that it is a perfect inheritance of Duke's fine tradition.

That's right, Link's idol and the master he is now capable of, Grant. Hill, also produced by Duke.

"Hello, Link. Hahahaha, I didn't expect that we would become teammates again. Seeing Link walk into the training ground, Battier smiled kindly.

Link didn't know what Tabit was like when he reported to Houston, but Battier, this guy was natural, as if he was a member of the Grizzlies.

Speaking of which, though, Battier did once be a member of the Grizzlies.

In the '01 NBA Draft, Battier was drafted by the Grizzlies. And, he played for the Grizzlies until 2006. After that, Battier settled in the Rockets.

So, it's a return to his home for Battier. He was no stranger to this place, and although many things had changed, there was still a sense of intimacy.

"Sean, come so early?" Although Link and Battier are former teammates, they really didn't have much in common with the Rockets. Faced with Battier's enthusiasm, Link didn't know what to say for a while, so he could only ask casually.

It stands to reason that the deal has just been completed, and Battier doesn't need to rush to the training ground. He shouldn't have settled in Memphis first and then had a press conference. Wait until everything is arranged before you start playing. A few days ago, Anthony went to New York, and he went through these processes.

"Is it early? I heard that the team's training started at nine o'clock, and now it's eight o'clock. I don't want to be late for the first day of training, hehe. ”

Battier waved his hand and went to the locker room to change.

Link scratched his head, this guy is too professional! He was suddenly traded in the middle of the season, but it didn't seem to be affected in the slightest, and he still had to do what he had to do. I didn't do anything superfluous when I came to Memphis, I came to the training ground directly, and I came an hour early!

No wonder Coach K once said of Battier: "He gave the best definition of a basketball player." ”

Looking at Battier, who was old but still working hard, Link somehow suddenly remembered Brother Mayo. So, sometimes, attitude is more important than ability.

In the time that followed, the Grizzlies players arrived at the training ground one after another. Battier greeted everyone warmly, and although he had just arrived with the Grizzlies, he didn't seem to feel alienated from everyone.

This guy is very affable.,It's the kind of character that people can't hate.。 Battier has always been such a good gentleman image, and this image is not pretended. Take his marriage as an example, Battier and his childhood sweetheart, who has been in love for 13 years, have never had any scandals after entering the marriage hall.

This kind of thing is really enough for NBA players.

Finally, at nine o'clock in the morning, "Uncle Mayo" and the team's head coach Lionel . Hollins stepped onto the pitch together. The first thing Hollins did today was to introduce the new players.

"Sean. Battier, Mr. 'President'! I believe you don't need me to introduce you, you all know him, right? When I was an assistant coach, Sean played for the Grizzlies! ”

"Hahahaha, don't call me so old, Hollins. Hello everyone, I hope to finish on the unfinished business here and help the team win the playoffs. I believe we can do it, as long as we all work together! ”

After Battier finished speaking, the players applauded. This guy is too leader-like, no wonder he can hold down the locker room in the Rockets.

You must know that the captain of a team is not someone who has good ability. First of all, you have to have qualifications, and secondly, you have to have people serve you. Of course, leadership skills have to be good. Come to think of it, if the Nuggets had used Anthony as their captain in the first place, the team's locker room would have been messed up. And in the Heat, with the Big Three in the situation, Haslem is still the captain.

It can be seen that this captain is not so easy to be. It's not always easy to be the captain of a team.

Seeing Battier, Link understood the truth.

"Okay, from now on, we will be partners who fight side by side. Now, let's start training. You all know, our next opponent is the San Antonio Spurs! Spurs, who are currently ranked first in the West! If you don't want to be torn to shreds, you'd better work hard while training! ”

After Hollins finished speaking, he clapped his hands, and today's training officially began. Instead of immediately attending training, Battier was called into the head coach's office by Hollins.

"I met him when I came today, does he come so early every day?" In Hollins' office, Battier appears casual. After all, he and Hollins are also old acquaintances. As Hollins just said, when he played for the Grizzlies, Hollins was still here as an assistant coach.

"He's the first player to come every day, and I'm not talking about every day, but literally. Since he signed with the Grizzlies, there's not a single day that has come later than anyone else. Hollins replied with a smile, and the guy always smiled from ear to ear at the mention of Link.

"Sean, if we can, we need you as Link's replacement. I know, he's just a rookie, but ......"

"It's okay, I'll listen to you." Before Hollins could begin to explain, Battier replied with a smile, "I accept the role of a substitute, and it is indeed more appropriate for him to play as a starter. ”

Battier is the kind of player who is willing to be absolutely obedient to the manager's dictatorship, even if the manager's arrangement is to reduce his playing time and shots.

"Uh...... One more thing, in fact, we want you to coach Link more in training to help him improve faster. You're one of the best defensive No. 3 positions in the league, Sean, and that kid learns things very quickly, and he can teach them as soon as he teaches them. ”

"Me? Teach Link? Battier pointed to himself and frowned, "I don't know if he needs my guidance, Hollins." The kid he ...... He's already perfect. You know, most players his age go through a process of going from boy to man when they come to the NBA. But it seems to me that he is already a man. But if the team needs it, I'll do everything I can to teach him. The premise is that he really needs to learn. ”

Battier gave Link a high rating, because for some reason, the more he looked at Link, the more he felt like a Duke player. And once Duke players are produced, they are often very mature......

※※※

Link's offensive pace is actually much better than his peers, after all, Hill in his twilight years, the offensive pace is also a must.

But even so, Link still felt that he was not perfect. He spends his days practicing what Kobe Bryant has taught him, and technique is important to Link now that his physical fitness is not as strong.

"You've got enough offense to surpass most rookies, Link." Battier walked over to Link with interest, he had been watching Link for a while.

"But I'm not just against rookie players, Sean. Now, I can't beat Tony with my feet. Alan. Link replied with a smile, but the movement of his hands still did not stop.

"Beat Tony. Alan? Battier thought to himself, it was the most terrifying perimeter defensive gate in the league. This guy if to Tony. Allen's defensive standard to practice offense, that's really ...... It's horrible.

"Don't think about Tony, or you can try to beat me first." Battier suggested that once the team gave him a task, he wouldn't procrastinate, just do what he had to do.

So Hollins asked Battier to coach Link, and he started right away.

"Huh?"

"What, look down on the defense of the old players?" Battier made a joke.

"No, then...... You're welcome, Sean. ”

"Don't worry, I can still bear it."

In this way, Battier began to attack and defend one-on-one with Link. Seeing this scene, Tony. Aaron let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, Link won't be "tormenting" him alone in the future.