Just like that, in his sophomore year, Kwame Brown still improved enough to play as a key reserve, averaging 22 minutes per game with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block.
But at that time, Jordan didn’t think this improvement was enough. With the talent at hand, he continued to apply pressure.
During the off-season, Kwame Brown practiced on his own, making rapid progress. Under Jordan’s guidance, he started the season averaging 6+6, and by the end of the season, he averaged 7+5, showing almost no progress during his sophomore year campaign.
After Jordan retired, Kwame Brown made rapid progress in the first half of his junior year, and after the All-Star weekend, he replaced Brandon Haywood, who had been pressuring him for two and a half years, on the bench, establishing himself as a starter.
Throughout his junior year, Kwame Brown ranked fourth in low post defensive efficiency in the league, trailing only behind O’Neal, Marcus Camby, Eric Dampier, and Duncan. Even Ben Wallace’s low post defensive efficiency was only on par with him.
By his senior year, Kwame Brown missed half the season due to injury, but still managed to secure a 3-year, 24 million US dollar contract from the Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal, based on his junior year performance.
Although a 3-year 24 million US dollar contract was on par with Marcus Camby’s in terms of salary, considering the exceptional defensive talent Kwame Brown demonstrated in his first three years, his second contract should have been much more, with a doubled tenure and triple the salary – that would’ve been the fitting wage.
Encountering another high school player with explosive talent, Jordan learned his lesson and decided to exercise greater patience.
The team was just in its second year and had no pressure to perform.
Not only was there no pressure to perform, but they also needed to continue piling up losses to accumulate talent, so Jordan was even more patient.
And besides... It wasn’t him who was being bogged down by a high schooler.
Encountering a Jordan with such an attitude, a certain 17-year-old high school rookie took the initiative to treat Kwame Brown to a meal.
On the 10th, the second day back in Hidden Mountain, Zhang Yang was up early to start practicing basketball.
DeRozan got up even earlier than Zhang Yang, while the two love-to-sleep-in, Harden and Tatum, also got up at 6:30 in the morning to train, stimulated by their buddy.
Last night, they stayed at Zhang Yang’s newly rented house, which had the benefit of three spare bedrooms in the bigger space.
Before Zhang Yang went to Charlotte, the three of them would stay at his house and train together.
Individual training, one-on-one, two-on-two... Time passed day by day.
On the 16th, when the last summer league game started, Zhang Yang wasn’t present, sparking a wave of heated discussion.
However, it’s not uncommon for rookies to skip the summer league. The Lakers didn’t have Andrew Bynum participate either.
Los Angeles media revealed that Kupchak had brought in Jabbar to coach Bynum’s training.
In fact, if it were any other rookie not participating in the summer league, it wouldn’t attract much attention, but Zhang Yang’s controversial nature fanned the flames of interest.
Soon though, people’s attention shifted to the 40th pick of the second round, Monta Ellis, exploding against the 6th pick, Martell Webster, the 8th pick, Channing Frye outshooting top draft pick Andrew Bogut into questioning his life, Deron Williams facing Chris Paul and scoring 39 points... among other news.
By the 20th, Zhang Yang bid farewell to friends and family at the airport, took care of his mountain of luggage, and headed to Charlotte to start a new journey.
After seeing off Zhang Yang, DeRozan, Harden, and Tatum also left Zhang Yang’s house and returned to Compton to fight for their dreams, all eagerly awaiting their next encounter with Zhang Yang on the court!
Vote for the monthly ticket, vote for the recommendation! Today we still have 11,000 words, a joyous occasion ~ let’s continue to strive!