Chapter 393: Dreaming Back 12 Years

When Fan Xi entered the training camp, the Clippers' coaching staff and the conditioning trainer were conducting routine physical data tests on Huaiti Seda and Mili Xiqi, having them demonstrate their athletic ability and basic skills such as shooting, layups, and drives.

When Fan Xi walked in, he radiated superstar brilliance, and the crowd let out an involuntary wow… That's how a superstar is; every move you make provokes an extraordinary reaction from the audience.

Huaiti Seda got very excited upon seeing Fan Xi arrive, while Mili Xiqi remained calm.

Just like in his previous tryout drills, he seemed unremarkable, neither overly eager nor particularly lazy, simply handling it normally.

Huaiti Seda, on the other hand, fought with great enthusiasm and effort, unwilling to forgo any sliver of opportunity.

Therefore, in Mai Ke Bulang's notebook, his assessment of Huaiti Seda is higher than that of Mili Xiqi; Mai Ke Bulang is a defensive coach who naturally favors players with strong athleticism, good physical gifts, and a vigorous fighting spirit.

Mili Xiqi and Huaiti Seda have different mindsets. Huaiti Seda is now giving his all to earn a contract to stay in the NBA.

Mili Xiqi, however, doesn't love basketball much; he has already earned more money than he could ever spend, and he wants to leave the basketball career and go to his damn basketball.

So, for him, it's just going through the process.

Fan Xi walked over to Ku Pu Qie Ke and Bilupusi, and Ku Pu Qie Ke frowned, saying, "Both of them are pretty average. One is brainless, the other is unhappy."

Fan Xi chuckled, thinking that Ku Pu Qie Ke actually had a hint of humor.

He didn't dwell on that, but asked Bilupusi, "What do you think?"

Bilupusi frowned, "Hard to say."

He is a cautious person.

Fan Xi glanced around, then asked Ku Pu Qie Ke whether they could hold a full-team joint practice.

Ku Pu Qie Ke ran over to discuss with their agents; Huaiti Seda barely hesitated and immediately agreed. Mili Xiqi hesitated for a moment, persuaded by his agent.

Fan Xi then invited Bilupusi to join the court and selected three players from the national team.

Fan Xi chose Guo Ailun, Zhu Fangyu, and Han Dejun, pairing them with Huaiti Seda; Bilupusi's side led Ding Yuyuhang, Wang Shipeng, Yi Jianlian, and Mili Xiqi.

Before the game, Bilupusi chatted with Mili Xiqi for a while; they had once been teammates and got along well. As Bilupusi stepped onto the court, he said to Mili Xiqi with deep meaning, "Da Ke, we know there's still fuel in your tank, and we know there's untapped talent in your body. I want to tell you, if you still love basketball and want to reclaim the hopeful version of yourself, seize this chance. Trust me, Kuaisuan will be the place that lets you soar. This isn't Detroit; here the growth environment is the most relaxed."

"I'll pass you the ball."

Bilupusi patted Mili Xiqi's shoulder.

Mili Xiqi looked at Bilupusi with mixed emotions, the former big brother.

Reclaim the hopeful version of yourself? Is there really still a chance?

Mili Xiqi asked himself honestly, feeling no confidence at all. A heavy gloom still shrouded his heart, but Bilupusi's words were undeniably a breeze, beginning to peel away some edges.

That's probably why Fan Xi paired Mili Xiqi with Bilupusi.

Bilupusi is a smart person; when he heard Fan Xi's arrangement, he ran over and said those words to Mili Xiqi.

If Fan Xi hadn't had that intention, he wouldn't have said that.

After all, in the adult world, it's always better to have fewer complications.

In contrast to Mili Xiqi, Huaiti Seda excitedly ran to talk to Fan Xi, stating he could do anything. Fan Xi looked at the eager Huaiti Seda and said seriously, "You don't need to excel at everything. Guard the basket, execute solid help defense, and fight for rebounds."

"If you want to establish yourself in the NBA, first master these three to perfection."

Fan Xi said this to the ambitious, desire‑driven center.

Huaiti Seda seemed thoughtful.

The game started quickly.

The tryout consisted of a 20‑minute game under FIBA rules, with no halves, no shot clock—just a 20‑minute countdown, and when it ended, it was over.

Fan Xi's side started with the jump ball; Fan Xi drove the ball into the frontcourt, then passed it to Guo Ailun. Facing Wang Shipeng's defense, Guo Ailun made a daring crossover and directly beat Wang Shipeng… causing the national men's basketball team on the sidelines to gasp.

Although Guo Ailun's style has always been very American, he rarely attacks so boldly and without reservation; now he's pursuing the extreme.

That may not be a good basketball habit domestically, but Fan Xi strongly encouraged him, because he'll later face opponents beyond the domestic scene.

He beat Wang Shipeng, drove into the paint, and when Yi Jianlian came to defend, he passed the ball to Huaiti Seda.

Huaiti Seda faked once, then obediently passed the ball to Han Dejun.

Han Dejun is a big, overweight player with very slow movement.

When Mili Xiqi faced him, he initially looked down on him, thinking the Clippers had assigned such a player to try out against him as a sign of disrespect.

But when Han Dejun received the ball, Mili Xiqi helped on defense, then faked a shot; his chubby form made the fake surprisingly realistic. Mili Xiqi jumped, Han Dejun brushed against him, pressed him, and scored the basket.

If this were an official game, it would be a 2+1.

But there's no official referee here.

Han Dejun was thrilled after scoring; Mili Xiqi, even though he's called a dud, is still a man who can outmuscle Anthony Wade and Bosh.

He's a player not from a domestic youth training team; to have this scene, can he not be excited?

Fan Xi smiled and gave him a high‑five.

Watching him retreat on defense like Kung Fu Panda.

Mili Xiqi looked at the chubby guy with some gloom, while Fan Xi whispered in his ear, "Do you think his talent is poor and he's useless?"

Mili Xiqi froze for a moment; he hadn't expected Fan Xi to voice his inner thoughts.

But Fan Xi's next sentence steadied him.

"However, since entering the camp, he improves every day, never slacking on his training. He uses his clumsy, slow movements to seek experience and better himself."

"So he treats every simple score as a treasure. You can attack him later; after you score over his head, he won't get discouraged or complain. Why? Because he loves basketball and keeps his position low."

"I've heard your story. Forget all the praise you once received, learn from him, and start loving basketball anew, just like him."

Fan Xi said a lot.

Then he ran toward Bilupusi.

Mili Xiqi had heard many similar sermons before; his ears were calloused. This time, Fan Xi's words still didn't open his heart; he even curled his lip, and stepped toward the frontcourt.

He arrived at the frontcourt's paint.

Bilupusi passed the ball to him.

Facing Han Dejun's defense, he only gave a light fake; his innate physical gift made his technique feel naturally flawless. Han Dejun fell for it, and he smoothly drove into the paint, slamming the ball with his left hand.

After the basket, he shouted excitedly.

He intended to suppress Han Dejun.

But Han Dejun just smiled, looking endearingly clumsy; he didn't treat this scrimmage as a life‑or‑death battle, nor did he see Mili Xiqi's dunk as any mental blow to himself.

He was thinking that if his center of gravity hadn't risen so much earlier, Mili Xiqi wouldn't have gotten in.

Seeing Han Dejun like that, Mili Xiqi was a bit stunned.

Turning back, Fan Xi tore through the defense, drawing a double‑team, then passed to Zhu Fangyu. Zhu Fangyu surged into the paint; faced with a blockade by Mili Xiqi and Yi Jianlian, he distributed the ball to Han Dejun.

When Han Dejun received the ball, a true NBA player or an athletically gifted player would have dunked outright.

But his speed was slower; he moved like a lag.

As he bent his knees, Mili Xiqi defended, and Han Dejun pressed his bulky body against Mili Xiqi, relying solely on weight to snag a sliver of chance; Han Dejun's hook shot was easy… when the ball left his hands, his lower body couldn't hold, and his body fell to the ground, reading book.

He is a player whose physical talent is utterly mediocre.

Yet the ball went in.

Then he clumsily got up, his face beaming, waving his fist toward Fan Xi as if seeking credit.

Fan Xi gave a thumbs‑up.

The national team players on the sideline loudly cheered for Han Dejun.

The atmosphere was very lively.

After all, everyone thought Han Dejun's presence on the national team was just for show. Yet now he kept scoring.

Mili Xiqi stared intently at Han Dejun, feeling somewhat angry.

He didn't know why he was so angry.

He also didn't realize that behind this anger lay a hint of jealousy; he envied that dead‑fat guy, whose talent was so poor and performance so bad, yet he remained so proactive and upward‑moving.

That struck a chord in him.

It was like a billionaire in business who had hit a snag and was downcast, watching migrant workers on the street laughing, carrying bricks, chatting and full of vigor.

They originally had no intersection, yet now they compete on the same court.

Mili Xiqi returned to the half‑court and began to actively request the ball.

Bilupusi passed the ball to him; he kept one‑on‑one with Han Dejun, using a graceful spin to get past the slow Han Dejun, but when he rose in the paint to dunk, Huaiti Seda burst out from the side and slapped the ball onto the backboard.

The play startled Fan Xi as well.

Huaiti Seda's help‑defense awareness was excellent, and his judgment of shot‑blocking was superb.

He anticipated everything from Mili Xiqi; it was a perfectly clean block.

Huaiti Seda also retained possession, passing the ball to Fan Xi with pride; Fan Xi nodded in approval. At that moment Guo Ailun and Zhu Fangyu were already sprinting on a fast break, their fast‑break awareness fully manifested.

Fan Xi sent a long pass forward; the two advanced on dual lanes, Guo Ailun drew Wang Shipeng's defense and tossed the ball upward, and Zhu Fangyu leapt to slam the ball into the hoop.

Both players had excellent physical qualities, peak among Asians; their speed and explosiveness were no worse than average Black athletes, lacking only some hidden talent. That's unavoidable, but fortunately their frames were solid.

While they were dunking, Huaiti Seda trash‑talked Mili Xiqi: "Don't even think of dunking in front of me; you're no longer the talent who stood alongside James."

American basketball is full of competition and encourages it; Huaiti Seda's words to Mili Xiqi were ordinary and normal, as they were already rivals.

However, Mili Xiqi felt a huge stimulus; he glared at Huaiti Seda and pushed him away.

Fan Xi saw the scene but said nothing.

The two did not further enlarge the conflict.

After all, this was a tryout.

Huaiti Seda certainly didn't want a single brawl to ruin his NBA dream.

Turning back, Mili Xiqi reached for the ball; Fan Xi gave Bilupusi a signal, and Bilupusi didn't pass it in.

Instead he set a pick‑and‑roll with Yi Jianlian; after cutting into the paint, he passed to Yi Jianlian at the high post, who is a mid‑range shooter, though his shooting speed isn't fast.

Bang!

The ball missed.

Mili Xiqi suddenly surged, grabbing the ball.

Then a feint shook Han Dejun away.

But as he prepared to lay‑up, Huaiti Seda, like a Mountain Cat tiptoeing, slipped behind him, spreading his arms to block again.

Huaiti Seda's positioning was extremely precise; whenever Mili Xiqi shot, he would definitely be contested.

Yet at that moment Mili Xiqi faked; while tricking Huaiti Seda behind him into shifting his weight upward, he executed an incredibly agile and imaginative behind‑the‑back pass, flicking the ball from his waist backward… It was a exquisitely beautiful behind‑the‑back pass; Ding Yuyuhang was stunned when he received it, unable to fathom how the ball arrived.

Instinctively he followed into the paint and, in the flow, dropped the ball into the hoop, as Huaiti Seda still hadn't refocused.

"you, good, nice, pass!"

Ding Yuyuhang raised his thumb, using his simplest English to praise Mili Xiqi.

Mili Xiqi was moved by this plainness; it reminded him of when he first joined the league, when his English was at that level.

So he smiled. "you, good, shoot!"

Their communication had no barrier at all.

Fan Xi's mouth corner lifted in an unintentional smile.

His tryout purpose was actually fulfilled at this moment.

However, subsequently the two gave him new surprises.

Joy beyond his expectations.

Fan Xi originally wanted to see whether Mili Xiqi still possessed any drive, any lingering spark of talent.

This pass perfectly displayed that; the Kuaisuan's four interior players this season—Yao Ming, Nowitzki, Xiao Qiaodan, Kuameibulang—have never, in this life or any future, delivered such a pass.

Kuaisuan now lacks an interior player who can orchestrate.

If Mili Xiqi can develop this, signing him would be definitely valuable. Moreover, given his current reputation, signing him would require no mid‑range budget—three years for 8 million, and he would gladly accept.

Huaiti Seda also showed an extremely strong blocking instinct, Fan Xi thought, Huaiti Seda stays as a contingency, signing him for three years at four to five million, and in the first year he could even play in the NBDL. The chance of retaining Kuameibulang for the season after next is low; Kuameibulang's market value is rising very fast, his agent is happy about it, and after the finals he boasted that Kuameibulang can be said to be a top‑five center in the league.

Fan Xi doesn't mind these things, but being prepared in advance is a quality a manager must have.

So, at this moment, Fan Xi already intends to secure these two.

But then the game took a dramatic turn.

When Fan Xi drove to the basket and passed the ball to Huaiti Seda, Huaiti Seda was about to dunk, and Mili Xiqi appeared behind him like a phantom; he didn't even jump, he reached out and blocked the ball directly from behind Huaiti Seda's head.

It's talent, that's the "spirit" domestic basketball commentators love to talk about.

Mili Xiqi executed it effortlessly, yet he managed to complete the block lightly.

A born sensitive blocking instinct.

After Mili Xiqi secured the ball, he immediately made a long pass to the frontcourt… In a match of this level, his long pass is threatening, precisely leaping over Zhu Fangyu, delivering it to Ding Yuyuhang's hands; Ding Yuyuhang caught the ball and dunked again in the frontcourt.

"Good, pass!"

"Good, dunk!"

The two exchanged smoothly.

Understanding smiles intertwined.

At this moment, Mili Xiqi actually found the feeling of playing youth games back then; his coordination with Ding Yuyuhang reminded him of his own 14‑year‑old self. At that age, his opponents and teammates were probably at that level.

Now, after a 12‑year cycle, he is back at the starting point.

The gloom in his heart slowly dissipated in Ding Yuyuhang's smile.

He seems to have found his old feeling.