NBA: Warrior godfather.

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Liam Gonzalez was feeling a bit hungry. He picked up a piece of boiled meat, took a bite, and smiled:

"What you're saying is that you can't eat at any time... I usually know what you're thinking. You don't want to go back to China, right?"

"Of course not. Who would want to go back to China if they can play in the NBA?" Yi Jianlian replied without hesitation.

Hearing this, Liam's expression turned serious as he said earnestly:

"In that case, I'll make you a promise. After your rookie contract ends, I can offer you a contract, regardless of whether any other team signs you or not."

Yi Jianlian, who was picking up vegetables, froze for a moment. His hand trembled, and the shrimp dumpling he was holding fell onto the table, but he didn't notice. He looked at Liam and said in a trembling voice:

"Brother Liam, what... what did you just say? You'll give me a contract?"

"What, you don't believe me?" Liam said with a smile.

Yi Jianlian shook his head vigorously:

"No, no, no..."

At that moment, Yi Jianlian recalled Liam Gonzalez's other identity: the owner and head coach of the Warriors.

A promise from Liam carried more weight than anything else in the league.

Just as a smile of joy appeared on Yi Jianlian's face, Liam added with a grin:

"Of course, the Warriors aren't a charity. I have a few requirements. If you can meet them, you'll get this contract."

Yi Jianlian immediately perked up and listened attentively.

"Ah Lian, you need to shift your focus. Stop overtraining your interior footwork and skills. You can gain some weight, but your main goal should be to build core strength and explosiveness, not just lower body strength. Work on your finishing ability in the paint, extend your range, practice your shooting—especially three-pointers—and improve your shooting speed. These are your priorities for this season."

Yi Jianlian looked a bit confused:

"But I'm a power forward; I need to play one-on-one inside..."

Liam smiled faintly:

"Nowitzki is also a power forward, and he rarely plays in the paint. Ah Lian, you have athleticism and shooting talent. You shouldn't sacrifice your strengths completely. The best development path for you is to balance interior finishing with long-range shooting. This won't necessarily make you a superstar, but it will make you a high-quality role player that every team desires."

"That's enough for me. I know my limits. I'm not as talented as Yao and can't become a superstar. I'll be satisfied if I can secure a place in the NBA," Yi Jianlian said honestly.

In the past two seasons, he had deeply realized how brutal the NBA was. His ambitions from before the draft had been completely extinguished.

Every year, more than a dozen lottery picks entered the NBA, but only a few turned into successful players. Many disappeared after their rookie contracts expired, including some who were drafted first or second overall.

Now Yi Jianlian had only one thought: to secure his place in the NBA—not just for himself, but also for the countless fans in China who had always supported him.

As a proud talent, he joined the national team at 17 and followed Yao Ming's footsteps into the NBA. He carried not only his parents' hopes but also the high expectations of a nation that dreamed of basketball's revival.

He had to stay in the NBA.

Liam smiled and said:

"Don't worry. This isn't something that can be achieved overnight. You won't see results this season. It requires a full offseason of training. But don't be idle—start working in this direction now."

Yi Jianlian nodded firmly:

"Brother Liam, thank you for your guidance. I'll train hard when I get back!"

With Liam's promise, the confusion in his heart dissipated, and his motivation returned.

"Of course, if another team is willing to sign you, you're free to decide. But as long as you pass the Warriors' tryout training, this contract will always be here for you," Liam added.

Yi Jianlian took a shrimp dumpling, chewed it thoughtfully, and said in a low voice:

"Brother Liam, if I can train well, I'll go with the Warriors. If I can't, I'll stay in Yangcheng. I won't join any other team!"

Liam laughed and said:

"Alright, let's eat. You just need a clear direction. Practice hard when you go back. Everything else is secondary. Only the skills and conditioning you develop will truly matter."

Yi Jianlian responded gratefully:

"I understand, Brother Liam. Please visit Yangcheng sometime in the future. I wasn't thoughtful before and never came to Indiana to find you. Thank you for helping me this time..."

Looking at Yi Jianlian, who was slightly flustered in expressing his gratitude, Liam chuckled and said:

"Ah Lian, since you call me Brother Liam, I can't let it be in vain... With Yao injured, you're the only pillar of the national team now. There are responsibilities you must shoulder, Ah Lian."

Liam's voice turned solemn, and Yi Jianlian replied with equal seriousness:

"Brother Liam, don't worry. I know my responsibilities!"

"Alright, let's eat. Let's not dwell on heavy topics. Let's talk about something fun. Tomorrow, we play the Knicks. What do you know about this cross-town rival?" Liam asked with a smile.

Yi Jianlian chuckled and said:

"The Knicks? Play however you like against them. No offense, Brother Liam, but these two New York teams are the worst in the league!"

The two continued eating, enjoying the authentic Chinese restaurant. Liam had never eaten Chinese food before.

Afterward, Yi Jianlian dropped Liam off at his hotel. Watching Liam's figure disappear into the lobby, Yi Jianlian secretly resolved to train diligently according to Liam's instructions.

The next day's game against the Knicks proceeded smoothly, with the Warriors dominating from start to finish. Curry played just 30 minutes, scoring an effortless 39 points. However, Liam deliberately kept the victory margin reasonable, aware of the Knicks' valuable draft picks.

Even so, New York fans were livid. Watching Curry dominate while their own players floundered reinforced their frustration. Yet, when the next game came around, these same fans obediently bought tickets again.

The Warriors ultimately won by 23 points (121-98), securing their third consecutive victory.

After the game, Liam remarked to his assistant coach, Silas:

"As long as Warriors fans criticize the team while rushing to buy tickets, I'll never worry about revenue."

Silas could only smile wryly at Liam's candid humor.

With their focus now on the Bucks, the Warriors prepared for another game. Little did they know, Brandon Jennings was about to make a name for himself that night...

End of this chapter

Chapter bullshit

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