The referees blew the whistle for the end of the game, the Chesapeake Energy Arena erupted in cheers, home fans celebrated their team's reach for the Western Conference Finals, and the Dallas Mavericks were once again the underdogs in the playoffs.

The goal of working hard for a whole season was shattered, and in an instant, Yiyang's brain went blank, he looked at the big screen blankly, and then stood on the sidelines blankly. Even walking towards Westbrook, whom he wanted to hug, Yiyang didn't see it.

Is this what it feels like to fail? Last year, the Mavericks went all the way and defeated one strong opponent after another. As everyone knows, when he loses, Yiyang can't stand it in his heart.

Jubilant Thunder players, frustrated teammates, Durant shrugging shoulders and smiling disdainfully, Carlisle closing his eyes in agony, and Nowitzki trying to comfort his players...... These people surrounded Yiyang tightly, making him feel tightness in his chest and shortness of breath.

Yiyang's heart suddenly tightened, he didn't want to admit one thing, but he had to admit it - this season is over!

"It's ...... for the Dallas Mavericks It seems a little too tragic. They gave everything they had, but in the end they were defeated by a stronger opponent. Barkley was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly lost his voice. He didn't know what to say about the Mavericks, who lost the game but earned the respect of their fans and opponents alike.

Yiyang mechanically hugged his opponents one by one on the court, Westbrook, Durant, Harden and even Sephorosa. Every time I hugged them, the other party seemed to whisper something in Yiyang's ear. Yiyang didn't listen very carefully, it was nothing more than those comforting words. If he is the one who makes the cut, of course he will say nice things about it. They do it just out of politeness and don't really have any expectations for your future.

After hugging a few Thunder players with a blank face, Yiyang still stood on the court in a daze, standing in this happy world that was incompatible with him.

The fans in the stands were cheering wildly, and last year in Dallas, the Mavericks eliminated the Thunder, and Durant comforted the unwilling Westbrook and took him off the court.

In Oklahoma this year, Yiyang finally experienced Westbrook's mood at that time. How he wanted to play one more minute, how he wanted to have a few more shots. If he could, he'd put all those missed basketballs in that damn hoop. But in the professional arena, there are only results, no ifs.

"Let's go, man, this is not ours." Nowitzki appeared next to Yiyang, a German who had worked hard in the alliance for more than ten years, and had long looked down on "life and death". But the second-year guard next to him, who experienced defeat for the first time, may not be so mature.

"Is that the end of the year? Dirk. Instead of taking a step of his own, Yiyang asked a question that sounded silly.

"You're right, that's how the year ended. But you also have to know that this is not the end of your career. We still have a chance to start all over again, big men, we have to afford to lose. Nowitzki patted Yiyang's shoulder, and then dragged Yiyang away with a force.

The two walked in the players' tunnel, without saying a word all the way. Yiyang is not afraid of failure, but what makes him unwilling is that he has tried his best, but he will still fail.

"Dirk, how did you deal with failure before?" As he walked, Yiyang asked Nowitzki a question. Although the German has been playing in the NBA since '98, he didn't lift the O'Brien Cup with him until last year. It's really hard for Yiyang to imagine that Dirk had spent more than ten years in this kind of painful failure.

Dirk smiled after hearing this, how to deal with it? What else can you do but persevere?

"Keep working hard and then believe that you can succeed. If you fail, get up again and keep fighting! After Dirk finished speaking, the two also came to the door of the locker room. Coincidentally, both stopped.

"Are you ready to face your teammates? No one is allowed to cry after entering. ”

"Damn, Dirk, do you think I'm going to cry?" Yiyang lowered his head and quietly wiped his eyes. "Let's go, let's go inside."

※※※

It's been twelve hours since that thrilling series, although Yiyang has recovered from the shadow of defeat. But when he dreamed that night, Yiyang still dreamed of the scene of the team being eliminated.

The team has finished all of the season's games, although the Mavericks fought until the tiebreaker before losing. But no matter how sad the result is, the season is over.

The morning after the game, after meeting at the American Airlines Center arena, Carlisle announced that the team was disbanded on the spot. From now until the new season, the players will enjoy a long vacation.

A day later, the outcome of another game of the NBA Western Conference Finals was also decided. The once-invincible Los Angeles Lakers lost to the San Antonio Spurs, and Bryant's championship dreams were shattered once again. And the Thunder and Spurs, the old and young combination, will bring an unprecedented beautiful scenery to the Western Conference Finals.

As a fan of the Lakers and Kobe, Yiyang naturally followed this game. Bryant played a historic performance, but once again failed in the Western Conference Finals. What happened to Yiyang and Kobe Bryant this year is really unexpectedly similar.

Just two hours after the Spurs eliminated the Lakers, Yiyang, who was already preparing to wash and sleep, received a text message.

Yiyang picked up his phone and gasped when he saw the name of the person who wrote the letter.

"You see we're missing something from the championship, we need you, let this happen!" It's a simple sentence, but it contains a huge amount of information. If this text message is known to reporters, it will definitely cause an uproar in the alliance!

Because the person who sent the text message was called Kobe. Bryant!

"Yiyang, what's wrong with you?" Wen Xue heard the sound of the water running in the toilet and never stopped, so she asked with concern.

Yiyang, who came back to his senses, hurriedly turned off the faucet, and then agreed. He picked up his phone again and looked at the text message. Kobe, what exactly are you trying to plan?

Every time the playoffs are over, it means that the league will have a huge personnel change. Every team that has been eliminated from the tournament will be looking to strengthen themselves with summer trades and signings.

Teams that have managed to turn around in one fell swoop through a summer of operation are not a minority in NBA history. Last year, there was a Heat Big Three, and in '08, there was a precedent for the Celtics Big Three to get together to win the championship.

For a giant like the Lakers, a season that doesn't win a championship is a losing season. And they don't have the patience to slowly rebuild like other teams.

Last year, Bryant invited Yiyang at Venice Beach Stadium. But at the time, Yiyang just took Kobe's words as a joke.

But it seems that this time, Kobe Bryant is real.

Just when Yiyang was full of thoughts, the mobile phone in his hand vibrated again. It's still a text message, and the person who sent the text message is still Kobe Bryant.

"You don't have to rush to reply to me, and you don't have to rush to give me an answer. We will take the initiative to come to you. ”

Well, it seems that Kobe Bryant is serious this time.

※※※

After both the Lakers and the Mavericks were eliminated, Yiyang didn't watch the NBA games again. Because no matter who goes to the end in the future, Yiyang will definitely not be happy.

He first rested at home for a few days, after all, the consumption of this series on Yiyang was indeed too great. After that, Yiyang took his mother to Dallas shopping in major shopping malls. During the playoffs, Yiyang was so busy that he didn't even spend much time at home, let alone accompany his mother. Now that I have time, of course I have to make up for everything.

Subsequently, Yiyang accompanied Vignari to play in Dallas for a few days. Yiyang, who was not in the mood to have fun, was also a lot happier in the company of Vignarie.

By June, the NBA's Eastern and Western Finals were already in full swing. And Yiyang also ended his playtime after the season, and his agent Bill. Together, Duffy began to make plans for the summer.

Duffy arrived at Dallas on the morning of June 2, and when he arrived at Yiyang's house, Wen Xue prepared his favorite snack for Duffy as always.

When Duffy saw Yiyang again, the Chinese defender's mental state was much better than when he had just lost. Young people, as long as you cross that hurdle, there is nothing you can't get over.

"Looks like you've been doing well?"

"It's okay, after half a month of rest, I feel like my whole body is going to rust." Yiyang smiled as he led Duffy into the house.

"Hey, Mr. Duffy! It's hard work, and it's hard work for you to run so far. While the two were chatting, Wen Xue, who was wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen and greeted Duffy very politely.

"No trouble, ma'am. For a bite of your little snack, a trip to Dallas is well worth it. "Bill. Duffy also bowed to Wen Xue very gentlemanly, and Yiyang shook his head, he, a guy who grew up on the streets, would not do this.

Yiyang and Duffy sat on the balcony on the second floor of the villa, and after Wen Xue served coffee and snacks, she didn't disturb the conversation between the two men.

Yiyang has already experienced his second NBA season, and he is no longer a child. He can make many decisions on his own, and he no longer has to have his mother by his side like Stevens looked for Yiyang in college.

"Did the Chinese Basketball Association text you?" Duffy looked out the villa window and lit a cigarette.

"It's done, the London Olympics, they seem to take it very seriously."

"Hmm...... The Olympics are a big stage, man. Behave well and don't mess up. With you and Yi Jianlian here, it shouldn't be difficult for the Chinese team to break into the top eight. Duffy smiled confidently, in the international arena, he didn't have to worry about Yiyang at all.

"There is only one year left on the contract with Adidas, and they intend to renew it with you early. Of course, signing a new contract this time is not a small fight of millions. I'm talking to them, if I can......" Duffy paused deliberately and glanced at Yiyang. But Yiyang's kid didn't have any expectation on his face.

"Hey, aren't you curious about your new contract at all?" Duffy spread out his hand, Yiyang's attitude towards money was not like this before.

"Huh? I'm curious, you say, Mr. Duffy. Yiyang's calm and watery tone made this lie have no credibility.

"If I could, I might be able to get you a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars this time! Adidas is already planning to push you as their main spokesperson, and the next collaboration is likely to be a long-term contract. Duffy smiled proudly, which is why he was willing to let Yiyang sign Adidas at a "low" price of 3.3 million.

For the sake of big contracts in the future, a three-year "probationary period" is nothing at all.

Hearing the words "100 million yuan contract", Yiyang's expression changed with a smile. Soon, however, he regained his composure.

"In July, a mobile phone brand in China had a business event that wanted you to participate in ......"

"Wait Mr. Duffy, let's put the Olympics and the commercial contract aside." This time, before Duffy could finish speaking, Yiyang interrupted him.

"Oh? So what do you want to talk to me about? "Bill. Duffy looked at Yiyang with interest, probably the first time in his long history as a manager that a player would appear impatient on the topic of money.

"How about we jump straight to Brickley and arrange training for me?" When it came to the topic of training, Yiyang finally smiled.

The breeze hung on the balcony of Yiyang's villa and blew the collar of Duffy's shirt. The manager took the cigarette in a trance for a moment, confirming that he was indeed in reality.

He was stunned, as if he was digesting what Yiyang had just said. After a few seconds, Duffy came to a conclusion.

"You know what? You're a madman! ”

But as Barkley said when commentating on the game, from the beginning of this season to now, when has Yiyang been "normal"?