Chapter 621: What still looks like a young team?

The Clippers' training camp opened in October.

Fan Xi arrived at the arena early in the morning, strolled around the locker room, then went to inspect the venue. Back in Los Angeles, he was no longer just a player.

He also needed to take care of everything.

The first person Fan Xi saw was Leonard, who now had an air of authority. Although he was still as reserved and low-key as usual, when he saw Fan Xi he let out a hee-hee-hee laugh, and he and Fan Xi were enthusiastic.

Fan Xi said to him: "This season you must strive to make the All-Star team again; only then can you earn a supermax contract."

This is Fan Xi's new-season demand of Leonard. Although it is easily achieved, Leonard activating the supermax is just a matter of time.

This is also the problem of Fan Xi not letting the team sign him to an extension early.

Fan Xi intends to give Leonard a supermax contract, and moreover, if there is a suitable team, Fan Xi intends to send Leonard out to gain experience.

Fan Xi never intended to keep any player by his side for too long, because as a superstar he needs to use the ball, which is detrimental to Leonard's growth.

Then Fan Xi saw Giannis again; Giannis seemed to have grown a bit taller, his physique already trained to be excellent, unlike last year's draft when he was still somewhat thin.

Fan Xi told him: "Kobe said you have a chance to become a superstar, and I also think you can become a superstar. This season you need to show more ability. This is already your second season, and my second season I was already able to stand on my own."

Fan Xi used his own example to encourage the Greek little monster.

The little monster was flattered and surprised; he didn't expect Fan Xi's expectations of him to be so high.

Then Fan Xi greeted JR Smith who had come from New York, and then met Rubio, Arenas, Capela, and Huaiti Seda, giving each his expectations.

Then he chatted for a while with Isaiah Thomas, the new player signed by Ku Pu Qie Ke.

Isaiah Thomas is a small player; he played for the Kings last season, delivering many excellent performances, his offensive firepower is strong. However, because his height is the lowest in the NBA, this is an innate defensive disadvantage.

Finally, Fan Xi found Mili Xiqi and Jokic.

These two Serbian centers are now the Clippers' two centers. In many commentators' predictions, this position is considered the Clippers' weakest spot for the new season.

"Dako, you can't just think about having kids, look at the flab on your belly now, can you still run?" Fan Xi teased Mili Xiqi, who recently made Eva's belly grow again.

His second child is now on the agenda.

Mili Xiqi hehe-laughed: "Before the regular season starts, I will definitely be able to reduce my body fat to the normal range. However, this guy after two weeks of training in the US got fat again."

He patted Jokic's little belly.

Jokic spread his hands helplessly: "I can't give up hamburgers and cola."

At least he is honest.

However, Fan Xi had previously watched this little fat guy's training; his training was without compromise. Moreover, Fan Xi discovered something that made him extremely delighted: although Jokic is fat, this guy's physical condition is not bad. He can keep exercising for a very long time, this endurance is somewhat anti-scientific.

This will be a great boon for the Clippers.

"Jie Ke, I heard you're about to become a dad too? Is Si Jia Li's child really yours?" Mili Xiqi was discussing the recent rumors.

Si Jia Li was caught in a pregnancy photo, her belly already very obvious. She became pregnant during last season's playoffs; now the new season has arrived, her child will be born before 2015.

This made Si Jia Li very delighted.

At the same time, Liu Yifei domestically will also give birth.

Next… Megan Fox and Anne Hathaway will also be scheduled.

During the Spring Festival, Fan Xi will have five children.

More than his championship rings.

Fan Xi does not want to discuss this issue with Mili Xiqi.

Just as Kobe and his wife emphasized they would never leak secrets, but not long after, information still leaked out, Jieke Fan acknowledged that Jennifer's child was his.

Although this seems to have become public knowledge.

But when such news appeared in the media, it still made Fan Xi suspicious and paranoid.

Fan Xi now completely focuses his energy on games; he does not want to return to family life.

Games are his refuge.

Of course, to the other 29 teams in the league, Jieke Fan is their nightmare.

Fan Xi is like a blade hovering above their heads.

This has caused many strong teams to ramp up their arms race; after the Miami Heat obtained the final year of usage rights for Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, they went on a wild bidding spree in the free market, and they will soon have new results.

They are like Nokia in its final moments of madness, they are going all-in.

Similarly, there are the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls also do not want to waste Rosa's youth and prime, and they never use the fact that Rosa is still young to deceive fans.

After all, Fan Xi is younger than Rosa.

The Bulls, Spurs, and Rockets' three-way trade is still under discussion.

They all hope to complete this trade before the new season begins.

Chris Paul did not even attend the Rockets' training camp; it is obvious he has already made the mental preparation to leave.

Moreover, the Golden State Warriors in this season are also under intense scrutiny. Because Curry hit two three-pointers at the world's final moment, everyone thinks Curry has the chance to play the role of a sniper against the Clippers in the West.

Nowadays, the pattern of the East being strong and the West weak seems to be forming.

At the subsequent media meet-and-greet.

Fan Xi was surrounded by reporters asking many questions about the new season.

The reporters who were let in after layers of screening were still somewhat savvy; they did not ask Fan Xi embarrassing questions about pregnancy and childbirth.

"Jie Ke, how does it feel to be back in Los Angeles? Last season you won the championship with the New York Knicks; this season, do you have confidence to continue your championship momentum?"

The first question was direct and clear.

Fan Xi spread his hands, adopting a strong posture. He said: "Returning to Los Angeles is like returning home. I am very familiar with everything here; although we have some new players, the team has not yet conducted a new chemistry experiment. But I believe this is not a problem. We have always excelled in this regard."

"Regarding, you ask me if I have confidence to continue my championship momentum. The angle of this question is wrong; you should go to other teams hoping to win the championship and ask them if they have confidence to block my championship momentum."

Fan Xi wore a confident smile.

"Who do you think has the ability to block your championship this season? Or which team do you think is stronger?" another reporter asked.

"I don't know; I don't pay attention to other teams. My opponent is only myself." Fan Xi said this as a platitude.

"So, if you win a personal five‑peat this season, do you think you could completely surpass Michael Jordan to become the league's number one, the basketball goat?"

"Hmm… my answer doesn't count for this question. It's like many people now say I'm already the greatest in basketball history, while some say Michael still occupies that spot. It needs a public consensus, but you have to know that creating one is very hard; I must do something thirty percent greater than Jordan to generate a brand‑new consensus."

Fan Xi said frankly.

This is his perception.

It's also more fair.

"But when we look at Jordan's résumé, we find many records you still haven't broken. In the new season, what are your personal expectations?" the reporter asked.

Fan Xi said, "I won't deliberately chase any records. But if possible, I want to be the scoring champion."

On the first day of the new season's training camp, Fan Xi openly declared his aim to win the scoring title.

That's a bit reckless.

And the reporter worried, "We know Leonard and Giannis are promising newcomers; they both want the ball. In this situation, would winning the scoring title be harder?"

"I don't do things that aren't difficult."

Fan Xi still wore a confident smile.

At that moment, a reporter suddenly said, "A trade happened. Chris Paul was dealt to San Antonio, Tony Parker went to the Bulls, Luo Er Deng to the Rockets… My God, the Western landscape has changed dramatically. Jie Ke, what do you think of this trade?"

Fan Xi was calm and said, "I don't look."

Fan Xi was that composed.

Elegant.

Meanwhile, the new‑generation Los Angeles Kuaisuan JR Smith was exchanging experiences with Arenas, who has officially retired and become a member of the coaching staff; he will assist Michael Brown together with Bilupusi.

He mainly handles shooting drills, while also systematically studying tactical knowledge.

It's hard to say whether Arenas can become a competent head coach, but he will certainly become a bigger mouth.

For example, in training camp he launches outright sarcasm.

"The Spurs establishing the Vick Forest system now—don't you think it's too late? Duncan is old; no matter how you brag about his lithe physique, he's already at retirement age. How much stronger is Chris Paul than Tony Parker? I don't know, but in front of Jie Ke, their strength or weakness makes no difference; it's all crushing!"

"Houston only looks strong; they look strong every season. Last season, without Paul, could they have reached the Finals? They wouldn't even make the Western Conference Finals."

"The Chicago Bulls need not even be mentioned. What can I say? I wish them good luck."

"That's my view on this three‑team trade."

Arenas spoke at length.

JR Smith, in comparison, was the epitome of sarcasm: "If they can beat us, why even make the trade? I never think about opponents; I just follow Jie Ke's steps."

"I think there's no opponent in the West worth our attention, and the East is the same."

"My only hope now is that our new‑season championship ring be solid gold; I don't like excessive designs, I prefer returning to the essence of gold."

These two guys are hyping the Kuaisuan new‑season training camp to a fever pitch.

The attention is hard to miss on the Kuaisuan.

They immediately launch map‑shots; who can stand it.

But what's even more unbearable is that even though ESPN despises Fan Xi and loathes Kuaisuan, they still have to rank Kuaisuan first on the new‑season power rankings, listing them as the top championship seed.

And the reason they give is especially thorough: Jieke Fan!

Just that name, unlike other teams, isn't a long‑winded discourse.

They have a bit of a back‑handed praising vibe.

But the fans can't sense it; they think it should be that way.

Even if Kuaisuan's new season is essentially a rebuild, there are more new players than veterans.

…

As the training camp convenes, the preseason quickly approaches.

Fan Xi skipped the preseason, even though his hands were itching. Yet he still followed the basic rule, letting the youngsters go first while evaluating players on training‑camp contracts.

The first game was against the Mavericks.

Many wanted to see Jokic's jokes.

Kuaisuan started Jokic; the chubby rookie was a bit unsettled at first. But when Lu Biao came on and ran pick‑and‑roll with him, he was instantly activated.

The Dallas 'little Jordan' was upset about being sold off; he wanted to vent his anger on Jokic.

But he could only prove… Kuaisuan's trade was correct.

Jokic possesses a unique talent in the high post; he isn't fast nor can he jump high. Yet his passing penetration is extremely strong, and he also has the ability to punish opponents from long range.

He becomes a pick‑and‑roll blade.

Although his interior defense is average, little Jordan also lacks offensive ability.

And as Lu Biao distributed Jokic's usage manual, the subsequently fielded Isaiah Thomas also used it perfectly.

This diminutive player's shooting after pick‑and‑roll is very threatening, and his previously poor passing vision has been fixed; he can now feed Jokic.

Jokic becomes his long‑arm jurisdiction.

Another standout is Giannis, who attacks from the wing; his player‑ball synergy keeps improving, his drives are huge, and the Mavericks can't stop him.

Moreover, his fast‑break defense is ferocious, even reminiscent of Le Bu Lang Zhang Si.

Leonard sat on the bench beside Fan Xi and said, "I feel Giannis's talent surpasses Butler."

But he added, "However, Butler's fighting spirit and toughness are things Giannis lacks. If it came down to life‑or‑death, I'd pick Jimmy."

Jimmy Barlett became Kuaisuan's opponent in the next game, leading the Mountain Cat with fierce momentum, and entered the starting lineup without any sportsmanship.

This game, Kuaisuan lost.

Barlett scored 49 points, roaring in the Staples Center.

He was venting.

But Fan Xi just smiled and watched him.

The fans didn't boo him either.

After all, Butler is just being tsundere.

Everyone is reluctant to part with the tsundere Butler.

The upcoming preseason was uneventful, with wins and losses. Fan Xi sat on the bench to watch, and he roughly got a sense of his teammates' traits.

He had a new plan for the new season.

He felt that perhaps they could aim for the season win record again.

Although it's hard to reach that season's level, getting 70 wins would also be good.

When Fan Xi announced this plan, he received unanimous approval.

Everyone believed this goal could be achieved.

I don't know where they get their confidence; they hardly look like a young team anymore.

…