On May 24th, Li Liang got up early.

Yesterday, he accompanied Wei Dazhi to pose for a photo.

Sometimes I run on the streets of Los Angeles, sometimes I shoot in the training hall, sometimes I lift dumbbells in the gym, and sometimes I eat in the restaurant.

The boy wrote a script for his documentary and took the shots according to the script's plan.

Although Li Liang was not quite flattering to Wei Dazhi's photography level, he still supported him as a friend. After all, this is a journalist who will be used in the future.

After the shooting, Li Liang controlled his diet at night and did not enter the system for training. He needed plenty of energy.

So when he woke up on the morning of the 24th, Li Liang felt very energetic and full of strength.

He took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and kicked Wei Dazhi out of the bed.

The two went out for breakfast, and Zhu Shu was already waiting for them downstairs.

She made an appointment for a taxi two days in advance because the trial training was arranged in UCLA's arena, which is far from Inglewood.

After getting in the car, Zhu Shu looked at Li Liang and said, "How is it, do you have confidence?"

Li Liang grinned and said, "Of course, with your support, I am absolutely confident."

As a novice agent, Zhu Shu's various auxiliary tasks are already in place.

Wei Dazhi, who was standing aside, made a "vape" expression when he heard the conversation between the two. He had already faintly smelled the stench of dog food.

The bus got on 405 Avenue, drove for more than 40 minutes, and arrived at UCLA University, a famous NCAA school.

In terms of the total number of championships, the entire NCAA is only UCLA that can beat Kentucky where Li Liang graduated.

This school, which once gave birth to many legends, has been in decline in recent years.

Since 1995, I have never touched the NCAA championship trophy again.

The status of a prestigious school in the NCAA is also surpassed by Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and other schools, and is no longer the first choice for some talented players.

Even so, UCLA has produced outstanding players like Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook in recent years, and the foundation of a prestigious school still exists.

In Los Angeles, there is a close relationship between the Lakers and ULCA.

In the summer, Lakers players often train in UCLA's stadiums, and the Lakers often use UCLA's stadiums to hold training camps for trial training.

Their own new training hall is still under planning, so this trial was arranged at UCLA.

The taxi stopped at the entrance of the UCLA Stadium, and Ryan West was already waiting for them at the door.

Seeing Li Liang, West took the initiative to move forward and shake hands with him.

Ryan is already full of expectations for Li Liang's trial.

It’s not that Li Liang is so important, but in fact, West arranged this trial by himself.

The Lakers management just informed and learned that there was such a person coming to try out, and they were not interested in knowing who it was.

The Lakers have a strong vision of being a big player, and the talented players who have been with him in history are like the summer night Fanxing.

Players who come to try out every summer are like cross-river. After all, the Lakers are always prosperous in the NBA and have cultivated a group of fans.

Nowadays, many of the league's stars have grown up watching the Lakers' ball.

How could an NCAA small bench who came to try out for a second round pick or even a 10-day short contract? How could it be seen as the Lakers' management?

After being eliminated by the Thunder this year's playoffs, the Lakers have begun to make a big deal to inject fresh vitality into Los Angeles.

There is no time to keep in mind the diary and trial training.

So, Ryan West contracted the matter.

As a scout on the team, he is still very responsible.

He doesn't care about trading, but drafts and trials are his responsibilities and he has to do something.

The Lakers' scouts are really hard to do, and they don't have high draft picks, so they are always digging gold in the cesspool.

Ryan West hopes that he doesn't miss it. Li Liang can be a piece of gold wrapped in manure!

Of course, after calming down in the past two days, West also reminded himself not to have too much hope.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

A few years ago, the Lakers tried out another Chinese player, Sun Yue, who participated in a group trial at that time.

He showed good competitive form during the trial and did not lose the advantage in playing ball against black players.

Later, the Lakers chose him with the second round draft pick, but unfortunately Sun Yue did not get any chance in the Lakers.

His offensive and organizational advantages are of no use under the intensity of the NBA's confrontation.

However, his defensive loopholes were fully exposed, and once he played, he would be the weakest link.

One attack and one defense are basically side effects.

This is also the reason why many European players cannot survive in the NBA.

The offensive advantage is not obvious, and the defensive disadvantage is too outstanding.

Unless it can be almost unsolvable on the offensive end like Nowitzki and Yao Ming.

It can become the core of offensive tactics, and at the same time, it does not drag down the defensive end.

Otherwise, NBA teams would rather be named an unknown black player than a well-known overseas star.

The reason why Ryan West is optimistic about Li Liang this time is undoubtedly because he is attracted by his defense.

He just hopes that Li Liang's defense in New Jersey is not an accident.

Li Liang followed Ryan West into the gymnasium, and the Lakers' trial trainers in the hall were ready.

The night before yesterday, Li Liang summoned Dalius Morris in the [Personal Training Center] and asked him about the process of the Lakers' trial.

So at this time Li Liang was confident and didn't panic at all.

In addition to Wei Dazhi, two other reporters from local media in Los Angeles also came on the scene.

The NBA has always been very open to the media. It can be said that every detail of each team is obliged to show it to the media.

Generally speaking, if it is a big-name rookie trial, it must be a rumbling drum and crowded with people.

If you are an ordinary rookie, there are seven or eight media outlets.

Someone like Li Liang came out of nowhere and was still a Chinese. It would be good if you had two families.

Many Chinese fans often overestimate the commercial value of Chinese players in the NBA, thinking that which team has Chinese players will have an increased commercial value opportunity.

So if any Chinese players go to the trial, it will definitely attract media attention.

But the reality is actually very cruel. If a Chinese player does not have the strength, his treatment will be the same as those unknown American players, and even worse.

Because the basketball world is extremely realistic, fans only recognize their strength, and Chinese fans are the same.

Only when you are a Chinese player while you are a Chinese player will Chinese fans support you. Otherwise, there will be no bonus except for more attention just based on your identity as a Chinese.

Who is not unique to China’s population of more than one billion?

Li Liang was clear about this, so it was normal that there was no media interview.

In this way, he can concentrate on the trial training.

Li Liang took off his sports jacket and warmed up for half an hour under the leadership of the trial trainer.

Body stretching, back-to-back jogging, catch the ball and shoot, and layup in the 8-character circle.

These are all basic warm-up items for basketball, and Li Liang did it very smoothly.

From this point of view, we can see that this guy is at least a professional basketball player.

After the warm-up, the formal trial training began. At this time, except for Wei Dazhi, two other reporters were invited out of the training hall.

Formal trials will avoid media interference, and specific projects will be kept confidential to prevent some players from taking "targeted exams".

Of course, this is also inevitable, otherwise many teams will not misunderstand it.

The first project Li Liang conducted was a four-way running test.

The Lakers' trial trainer is Tim DiFrancisco, a white bearded man.

He set up four sensors in the square three-second zone and then let Li Liang stand in the upper left corner.

"I will give you instructions, front, back, left, right, and then you make corresponding movements. During the movement, your hand must be opened and touched the sensor at the four corners before the movement is successful. Are you having any questions?"

"No."

This is a project that tests players' ability to move on the field, including horizontal movement and vertical movement in defensive state.

Because in Ryan West's scout report, Li Liang's strength is defense, so he must test his defensive movement ability.

This is absolutely impossible to defeat Li Liang. At this time, his outside defense ability has reached the basic level of the NBA.

For those players who have not been baptized by the NBA intensity, except for star newcomers, it will be difficult to score under Li Liang's confrontational defense.

So, what Ryan West saw in rookie training camp was not luck, but strength.

Sure enough, Li Liang completed the four-way running very well.
To be continued...