When Miley Cyrus's agent received the YSL lipstick endorsement contract, she found it absurd. She never expected that two kisses courtside would result in a 3-year endorsement deal worth a total of $1.1 million.
Snoopy felt the same. After training, he received a call from Edward, who had returned from Texas. He brought back two draft guarantees. San Antonio told him that as long as Snoopy declared for the draft and completed the summer workout, they would use their late first-round pick to select him.
The other came from the previously silent Dallas Mavericks. GM Donnie Nelson personally promised Edward that if Snoopy declared, he would use a late first-round pick on him.
"I think Dallas is even more sincere than San Antonio. In Donnie Nelson's office, I saw your highlight reel and a detailed data analysis model. And that was before your game-saving block on projected No. 1 pick Derrick Rose."
After Edward's brief summary, Snoopy finally exhaled. With two draft guarantees, he felt far more secure.
He became even more determined to declare for the draft after the NCAA Championship.
During this time, he had been calling his mother frequently. Although she kept saying she was doing well and his father's business was fine, the calls always ended quickly, she was constantly working: either in rehearsal or getting makeup done.
This made him extremely anxious. He knew his father. If it hadn't reached a critical point, he would never send his wife out to earn money.
After saying goodbye to Edward, Snoopy received a call from Hollywood Records. They informed him that his post-tax copyright payment had been deposited into his reserve account. They also decided to release his duet with Miley Cyrus early on April 20th to push for chart success!
Snoopy had no objections.
After hanging up, he realized the championship game was on April 19th, a seamless transition.
When he returned to the dorm, Russell Westbrook immediately dragged him to the computer.
"Listen, listen to what that jerk Darrell Arthur said."
Russ opened an interview video featuring Darrell Arthur wearing his No. 00 jersey.
"Of course I've heard of him, Snoopy, right? Haha."
Arthur's laugh made his attitude very clear: disdainful, mocking.
"He's hot right now. He's blocked the Lopez twins, Michael Beasley, Joey Dorsey, and Derrick Rose. Since yesterday, every basketball media outlet has been reporting on him. Everyone is calling him a legend, acting like he's done something incredible."
"But, aside from all the hype, including that YSL lipstick mark on his forehead, he's just a 6'3" undersized center with no ball-handling, slow mobility, who only knows how to jump in place. You think he can guard me?"
"Basketball is getting faster and faster. I believe that soon, stationary centers will be eliminated. They'll be replaced by stretch bigs like me. I can set screens, rebound, block shots, cut off the ball, hit long-range jumpers!"
"Of course, I won't say something arrogant like 'I'll destroy him'… but I definitely won't let him guard me!"
Darrell Arthur wore full confidence on his face.
"And Kansas will be this year's national champion! That's undeniable!"
The video froze on his smiling face.
Westbrook turned around, but Snoopy had already walked away.
"So, Snoopy doesn't care about Darrell's trash talk at all?" Russ asked, confused.
"Actually, it would be very hard for Snoopy to defend Arthur," Kevin Love analyzed calmly. "I think Kansas did this deliberately, to provoke Snoopy and the coaching staff into assigning him to guard Arthur. But realistically, Luc Mbah a Moute is a much better matchup to defend Arthur."
Westbrook frowned deeply. He didn't think that far.
"If I were Snoopy, I'd go straight at Darrell Arthur in the game, block him a few times first, then talk."
Kevin Love gave a helpless smile.
"Snoopy probably won't get many minutes in the championship."
Westbrook didn't get it.
He liked playing with Snoopy because Snoopy would let him grab rebounds.
While the two discussed, Snoopy returned to the gym.
Arthur's comments weighed heavily on him. His heart felt as if a hand were squeezing it tight.
He really disliked Arthur's arrogance.
But he had to admit, there was some truth to what he said.
With that frustration burning inside, he began practicing his shooting.