Although he had experienced countless dynasties as a keyboard man in his previous life, when the NBA truly stood before him, Su Feng originally thought he would feel nervous, anxious, and restless...
However, on September 5, when Su Feng walked into the 76ers' training room, he realized he had been overthinking.
There was no tension, no nervousness, and no restlessness.
As the 76ers gathered, Su Feng felt like a wealthy local inspecting a group of "lambs" awaiting slaughter...
Oh, these **** tools!
Why are all the iron values rated so low?
It is said that going from frugality to extravagance is easy, but from luxury back to frugality is hard. Su Feng had clearly forgotten the monsters he had trained with over the summer...
By the end of summer, before they parted ways, Bryant's iron value had risen to 4,700 points.
Ben Wallace had climbed to 3,500 points.
And AI had reached as high as 7,000 points...
This kind of toolset that keeps growing—if nothing else, Su Feng wanted to give the system just one word:
Atmosphere!
It is worth noting that when the Iron Triangle group entered the training hall, they undoubtedly became the most dazzling figures in the entire room.
After Coleman was traded for Su Feng, the 76ers made some minor adjustments to the roster over the summer.
Overall, in Su Feng's view, the current 76ers perfectly embodied everything required of a rebuilding team.
Well...
Su Feng was very satisfied.
...
After the 76ers' players arrived at the training hall one after another, head coach John Davis, along with his two assistants, asked the players to introduce themselves.
After all, compared to last season, the 76ers' lineup had changed significantly.
While introducing himself, Su Feng noticed two particular players.
One was Clarence Weatherspoon, who claimed to be 201 cm tall but was actually shorter than Su Feng even with shoes on, and whose elbows were no less dangerous than Wallace's.
The other was Stackhouse, who had been staring at him since the moment he walked in.
As the No. 9 pick in the first round of 1992, Weatherspoon—nicknamed "Big Spoon"—averaged 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last season. He was a stout forward with impressive athleticism.
Su Feng remembered him because, in his previous life, Weatherspoon had been a teammate of Yao Ming and a member of the old "Rockets" group.
And Stackhouse, back when Su Feng and Kobe were still in the "Novice Village," had already been tested through two rounds of tea breaks.
"Hey, Jerry's bullfighting iron value has risen to 5,800 points?"
Su Feng was shocked—he never imagined Stackhouse would understand him so well.
In Su Feng's view, Stackhouse must have anticipated being "named" by him and had diligently practiced all summer.
Perfect logic.
Impeccable.
Therefore, when he saw Stackhouse's unfriendly eyes, Su Feng strangely felt it was no big deal even without Kobe around.
He decided that if he had the chance, he would call Stackhouse's name and develop him into his number one grind value during the season.
Although AI's iron value was impressive, Iverson's defense was truly lacking.
And as for Big Ben, Su Feng had to wait for him to level up and build his reputation.
Because the iron value given by the system was based on comprehensive evaluation.
On the court, since it wasn't media open day, Davis decided to have the players undergo a physical test before arranging the next stage of the training plan.
In fact, most of the time during preseason training camp, the coaches' main job was simply helping some undisciplined players lose weight.
For example, Barkley, who was panting on a treadmill in Space City.
"Su, it looks like you trained hard this summer."
Jason, Su Feng's physical assistant, laughed as he looked at Su Feng's muscles and prepared to set up his regimen.
As the saying goes, a rich man delights in capitalism—you simply can't imagine...
Su Feng found his joy in training halls, trainers, and basketball practice.
Forget that glory and wealth!
After ten minutes...
"Oh, no!"
"My God!"
"This is real, this is real!"
As Su Feng's physical examination began, the 76ers' coaches all wore expressions of complete disbelief...
And many young players shared the same astonishment.
Although in the NBA, players who further unlock their physical potential are not unheard of...
But Su Feng—his strength, his speed...
Especially the speed test, which left almost everyone stunned.
"What's so strange about this? Su was originally a sprint genius. His sprint coach even said that if he didn't play basketball, he could definitely break the world record in the 100 meters."
Off to the side, Iverson spread his hands and looked at the crowd with a kingly attitude.
Because Su Feng had been improving every day during summer vacation, Iverson saw his progress as nothing unusual.
The same was true for Ben Wallace. At that moment, watching the sly coaches, Big Ben suddenly felt he wasn't so foolish after all...
Overall, Su Feng's 89-ball running speed and 93-limit sprint speed were outstanding even by NBA standards.
After witnessing Su Feng's speed and strength test, Stackhouse's eyes widened.
This...
This is impossible!
Back in '95, I was Stackhouse, Jordan's younger brother...
This must be an illusion!
"Ha ha..."
After the physical examination, Su Feng had become a positive example for the 76ers' coaching staff.
Look—this is what happens when you train hard in the summer.
Look at your big bellies, one by one. Do you really dare call yourselves NBA players?
Listening to John Davis lecture the other players, Su Feng felt like he had swallowed a bitter pill...
Sure enough, the fact that Davis only lasted one season as head coach in his previous life was not without reason.
His "Emotional Quotient" and "Positioning" were clearly only half-learned!
Su Feng noticed that even Weatherspoon's eyes turned unfriendly after Davis finished his speech.
And at that moment, Iverson was already standing behind Su Feng.
"Don't panic. Those rookie unspoken rules won't apply to us." Iverson patted Su Feng's back.
"..."
Well, since you've already helped me offend most of the league, why should I care about these people?
Let the artillery fire come even harder. Let them see.
If I take a step back, then I'm not Iron Man!
Generally speaking, it's not a good thing for a newcomer to appear too arrogant.
But Su Feng realized that, for him, this kind of "forced arrogance" was actually an opportunity.
Because at the very least, it saved him from wasting time talking nonsense.
And just like that, Su Feng happily began his preseason training camp...
…
Los Angeles—after finishing the first day of training at the Lakers' preseason camp, Bryant fell asleep as soon as he got home.
In his dream, Kobe once again saw himself wearing the Lakers' No. 8 jersey, dunking over Su Feng's head.
"Hey, hey..."
But just as Kobe's dream reached its sweetest moment, he was suddenly woken up by his mobile phone.
"Damn!"
Kobe cursed under his breath in slang, then answered the call groggily.
"Hey, Kobe, go buy some beer for us and bring it over..."
"..."
Well, no one can escape the traditional ritual of NBA veterans bullying rookies.
Although Kobe complained inwardly, he knew that if he refused the older players today, he would likely be isolated.
Running errands for veterans is normal for rookies in the NBA. Generally, as long as the requests aren't excessive, rookies won't refuse.
So, Bryant got dressed and drove out.
However, unfamiliar with Los Angeles, Kobe found himself embarrassed when he arrived at a store...
Because the clerk told him that this shop only delivered food.
Yet, instead of being frustrated, Kobe suddenly saw an opportunity...
"I'm a Los Angeles Lakers player," Kobe said, pulling out his driver's license.
Although Kobe was just a rookie at the time, the clerk was clearly a Lakers fan.
Through the glass window, Bryant noticed he was wearing a Lakers No. 32 jersey...
"Then what are you doing standing there? Come in!" the clerk said excitedly, opening the door for Kobe.
Kobe thought to himself, If Su were caught by the veterans, wouldn't he think of this method too? He smiled happily.
Well...
Well.
It's a pity Su Feng didn't know Kobe's thoughts at that moment, otherwise Su Feng would have told him: I really don't have that kind of wit.
Because...
You may not believe it, but Su Feng never even had the chance to show his wit.
The next day, at the 76ers' preseason training camp, after a half-court three-on-three, Ben Wallace shocked the audience.
His elbows and his explosive leaps after every rebound made some veterans—who had originally planned to tease Su Feng—tremble...
Because this man, who looked like he could kill a cow with one punch, actually behaved like a kitten in front of Su Feng?
And most importantly, after Weatherspoon and Big Ben clashed, Weatherspoon looked at him with admiration and asked, "How do you train your muscles?"
Scratching his head, Big Ben smiled and said: "I didn't understand back in high school. I had a fight with Brother Charles, and afterward he taught me how to train my strength properly."
Weatherspoon asked curiously: "Which Charles?"
Big Ben replied seriously: "Charles Oakley."
Weatherspoon was stunned.
Charles Oakley?
That infamous enforcer?
Why would you dare fight him in high school?
But looking at Big Ben's expression, how could this kid be lying?
And after seeing Weatherspoon's reaction, Ben added disdainfully: "What's the matter? Su also fought with Charles Barkley in Phoenix."
Weatherspoon: "?????"
Alright, please forgive Big Ben.
Because when Su Feng said he had "done it" with Barkley, in Big Ben's naïve mind, "done it" meant fighting.
So, after glancing at Su Feng, Weatherspoon took a deep breath.
"Are young people nowadays really this bold?"
As for Iverson, needless to say—after the Hampton case, he was already an idol in the eyes of many Black fans.
And with his status as the No. 1 pick, Weatherspoon wasn't foolish enough to ask Iverson to carry his shoes.
Originally, Weatherspoon was still skeptical about Su Feng and Barkley's encounter.
But...
Su Feng's current style of play could be summed up in one word: Turtle!
This kind of Middle Eastern-style breakthrough—don't let him in or out—made him look like a ruthless competitor.
Well, not the veterans of the 76ers, but rather the Philadelphia Triangle. Who would dare be the first bird?
When Weatherspoon and the others thought about confronting such a ruthless man, they concluded he must be a true master of fighting!
"Strange... why is it that when I want to help them carry bags and show my EQ, they don't let me?"
On this day, Su Feng felt he had taken the wrong path, because this wasn't the NBA he thought he knew...
Actually...
Su Feng misunderstood his group of "cute" teammates.
It wasn't that they didn't want to exercise their veteran privileges—the key was that Su Feng was always standing beside a certain man, and Iverson occasionally glanced at him as well...
Who would dare make him carry bags?
Frankly speaking, the 76ers were different from the Lakers.
The Lakers had many star players, and Kobe was naturally at the bottom.
But in the 76ers...
At 183 cm tall the most powerful person was Iverson.
Don't ask—it's brother basketball.
Meanwhile, Stackhouse, who had been watching secretly, was stunned.
Last year, when you made me carry bags, you weren't so cautious!
In Stackhouse's view, this wasn't the kind of excitement he wanted to see.
Especially when Iverson was chosen as the top pick to assist Su Feng, Stackhouse felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
"This guy is too arrogant! I must crush him!" Stackhouse thought angrily.
While Stackhouse wondered how to "trick" Su Feng, he never expected Su Feng to approach him first...
"Hey, Jerry, long time no see. I didn't get to chat with you yesterday," Su Feng said with a smile as he walked over.
Stackhouse: "..."
"I remember when you came to Lower Merion last time, you gave Kobe and me a lot of basketball tips," Su Feng continued.
Stackhouse: "..."
On the sidelines, many curious onlookers gathered at that moment.
Stackhouse felt utterly humiliated, because being defeated by two high school students last season had become a stain on his career.
However, just as Stackhouse clenched his fists, preparing to find an excuse and challenge Su Feng to a rematch, Su Feng spoke first:
"It's been a while since we played. Let me see how much you've improved."
"..."