After winning the NCAA Championship, all the players of the Duke University basketball team became absolute stars on campus.
And Kai Chen, who won the MOP, received widespread attention from alumni.
According to the President of Duke University:
"Regardless of Kai Chen's future development,
at least during his college career, Kai Chen is the most shining star!"
After the NCAA season ended, although Kai Chen stated he would directly enter the NBA, he remained at Duke University for classes and team training, as the season had not yet fully concluded.
With the NCAA Championship winner announced and receiving significant attention, various NBA teams also began their intensive preparations for this year's draft.
On April 16th, US time, the NBA 2017–2018 regular season officially concluded.
Before the thrilling NBA playoffs began, teams that did not make it to the playoffs gathered at the NBA Draft Lottery.
The three teams favored to win the first overall pick became the media's focus that day.
When interviewed by the media, the lottery representatives sent by the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks were all asked, without prior coordination:
"If you have the first overall pick, will you choose Deandre Ayton, Trae Young, or Kai Chen!?"
"Who will you choose after winning the first overall pick?"
"That's a very good question, but we'll have to wait until we win the first overall pick first!"
"That's right. Before we get the first overall pick, our choice can't be taken seriously."
The lottery representatives for the Kings and the Hawks were clearly old foxes, not giving any hints to the media.
After all, 2018 was widely considered a strong draft year.
Besides Kai's sudden emergence, some other rookies were already well known.
For example, "Little Curry" Trae Young from Oklahoma State University, Dončić, who was already famous in Europe, and Deandre Ayton, who was hailed as "the next O'Neal" during his college days.
Among such a promising group of rookies, the choice at any draft position could very likely change a team's future trajectory.
Furthermore, this year's major tryouts had not yet begun.
These teams holding lottery picks indeed dared not make decisions too early.
"Deandre Ayton will be our first choice!"
Unlike other teams, the Phoenix Suns announced their top draft pick early on.
From this, it was not difficult to see their infatuation with Ayton.
Soon, the final lottery order for the 2018 Draft was announced!
13th Pick: Los Angeles Clippers
12th Pick: Los Angeles Clippers
11th Pick: Charlotte Hornets
10th Pick: Philadelphia 76ers
9th Pick: New York Knicks
8th Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
7th Pick: Chicago Bulls
6th Pick: Orlando Magic
5th Pick: Dallas Mavericks
4th Pick: Memphis Grizzlies
3rd Pick: Atlanta Hawks
2nd Pick: Sacramento Kings
1st Pick: Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns ultimately became the owners of the first overall pick!
They will have the opportunity to be the first to select the most talented and skilled young player from the 2018 rookie class to become the cornerstone of their team!
The team's then-general manager stated in an interview after the Draft Lottery:
"We will only invite Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, and Jaren Jackson Jr. to participate in the team's individual tryouts!"
"As for everyone else, we won't consider them at all!"
As soon as the Suns' general manager's words came out, they immediately caused a huge stir.
The lottery representatives for the Kings and the Hawks were also very surprised.
But upon closer thought, the Suns already had Devin Booker, and Booker's performance over the past two seasons had already made him the team's primary core on the perimeter.
And now, what the Suns needed to do was find a big man to partner with him.
Kai Chen, who watched the lottery live stream at school, didn't have any particularly strong feelings about it.
The draft order was exactly as he remembered, with no significant changes.
But the final draft results would definitely be vastly different from what Kai Chen remembered!
As for what those differences would be, Kai Chen couldn't predict.
Before the combine, Kai with nothing else to do, watched a few playoff games with Grayson Allen.
Although he knew that the Golden State Warriors would ultimately defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals to win the championship, revisiting the NBA during this period was still very enjoyable.
If one were to ask, besides the 1996 Chicago Bulls, which other team in NBA history could exert immense pressure on their opponents, then that team would undoubtedly be the 17–18 Golden State Warriors!
In the 16–17 season, the Golden State Warriors achieved 73 wins in the regular season but fell short in the NBA Finals.
During the offseason, they made further acquisitions, letting go of Barnes, a key player in their 2015 championship, and, under global attention, the biggest star in the free market—Kevin Durant—joined the Golden State Warriors!
With the addition of Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, and Iguodala, the Warriors' strength was greatly enhanced.
Because all the players on the team were stars in their prime, this year's Warriors were hailed as the "Cosmic Warriors"!
In last season's All-Star Game, Durant, Curry, Thompson, and Green were all selected as All-Stars.
They also achieved a regular-season record of 67 wins and 15 losses this season, the best record in the entire league.
The core quartet not only had no issues with their chemistry but also partnered extremely well.
The perimeter trio all had excellent individual statistical performances, coupled with other role players fulfilling their duties, allowing the Warriors to navigate the regular season very smoothly; most games for the Warriors were basically like practice sessions in terms of intensity.
They could average a terrifying 115.9 points, with astonishing shooting, three-point, and free-throw percentages of 49.5, 38.8, and 78.8, respectively.
Opponents had almost no power to resist them.
In some games, the outcome was already decided by halftime.
This was common for the Warriors that year.
They averaged a net winning margin of 11.6 points per game, and with Durant's arrival, the team's system and tactics became even more robust.
The team averaged 30.4 assists per game, and in other statistical categories, the Warriors also comprehensively outplayed their opponents!
However, this season, Harden and Westbrook both put up historical individual statistics.
This also led to both Durant and Curry being selected to the All-NBA Second Team.
However, after what the haters called the "73-win NBA Finals runner-up," they no longer focused their attention on the regular season.
The playoffs were their main priority.
==========
Thank you for the support.
100 power stones = Bonus Chapter
Check my P@treon for 25+ advanced chapters
[email protected]/JustTranslate