Sports Medicine Master System

Chapter 409 - 347: Will You Think I’m a Hypocrite?

In the hotel room.

Goodwin hadn’t left yet and was watching the live broadcast of the Phoenix Suns game with James.

"The Suns are so strong," James couldn’t help but remark.

Watching the entire game, he felt like the Phoenix Suns hadn’t even broken a sweat, yet they were already wiping the floor with the Pioneers.

Goodwin thought, ’Of course they are. They’re the Phoenix Suns, the defending champions.’

"They have a great chance of defending their title this season," Goodwin said after a moment of reflection.

The West was packed with powerhouses, but looking at the landscape, the Lakers were definitely not contenders. They’ve gambled on the future.

As for the Kings, they weren’t a match for the Phoenix Suns last season, and with the Suns’ roster evolving yet again this season, the Kings have even less of a chance of stopping them.

The only real threat was the Spurs.

The thought made Goodwin find the situation somewhat amusing.

The Spurs were so strong this season, and Duncan deserved most of the credit for that.

And Duncan... he had been healed by Chen Yu’s own hands.

In a way, Chen Yu had single-handedly created a formidable rival for the Phoenix Suns.

On the television, the game was drawing to a close. It was undoubtedly going to be a twenty-point blowout.

"I wish I could go to the Phoenix Suns," James said suddenly.

With the Suns’ strength and my talent, a three-peat would be within reach.

Plus, the Phoenix Suns have Chen Yu. He could guarantee I’d stay healthy throughout my career and play for a long, long time.

Goodwin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "LeBron, stop daydreaming. Last year was a fluke. There’s no way the Phoenix Suns are getting the number one pick this year. Besides, you can only grow quickly and become a superstar by going to a weaker team."

If you go to the Phoenix Suns to play second fiddle to O’Neal and Hardaway, how long would it take to make a name for yourself?

James just smiled. He was only thinking out loud.

"All right," Goodwin said, getting up. "You should get some rest. We still don’t know what kind of tests Chen Yu has planned at the training camp tomorrow."

James nodded.

Since there was a game today, Chen Yu hadn’t been at the sports lab. Instead, other staff had led them through some routine physical tests.

James had a feeling the real tests would begin tomorrow. He couldn’t stop wondering why Chen Yu had them form teams of three and what he was trying to test by doing so.

The next day, James woke up early, called for Anthony and Bosh, and they took a car to the sports lab.

When it came time to form their own teams, James had immediately thought of Anthony.

’I’m a guard and Anthony is a small forward. It’s a perfect fit and a powerhouse combination.’

James guessed that Chen Yu might have them form teams to compete, testing everyone’s abilities through live-action scrimmages.

’47 people, split into 16 teams... that’s just right for a knockout tournament.’

Therefore, the last spot had to be a big man.

James naturally chose Chris Bosh, a highly sought-after big man.

Bosh didn’t refuse. Everyone wanted to team up with the strongest players.

While they were chatting in the car, Anthony said, "I’m starting to regret this. Coming to this training camp, I mean. It doesn’t feel special at all, just like any other tryout."

There’s no brutal training, just physicals and a bunch of tests. To be blunt, it’s exactly the same as the draft combine.

Beside him, Bosh nodded in agreement. He felt the same way. The media was always saying how Chen Yu was a training expert with all sorts of strange methods, like having J Kidd practice with iron balls or adjusting O’Neal’s free-throw form.

But now that they were actually here, it was just the same old routine.

"Well, what were you guys expecting?" James retorted.

"It’s called a ’potential assessment,’ but it’s really just a tryout."

"And tryouts have been run the same way for years. They use the same methods because they’re the most scientific. No matter how good Chen Yu is, what kind of new tricks could he possibly pull out of his hat?"

"If Chen Yu could actually come up with some special, groundbreaking tryout methods, maybe the NBA Draft Combine would have to change its ways in the future."

"In any case, we just have to give it our all."

James’s head was clear. To be blunt, the whole point of being invited here was to ride on Chen Yu’s coattails and get more media attention.

’As for the results... is one little test really going to cost me the number one draft pick?’

Inside the sports lab, Chen Yu had already arrived.

The 47 rookies trickled in. Because of the team assignments, they naturally gathered in their groups of three.

Only two people were left, looking awkwardly out of place.

Point guard Pachirisu Morrende and shooting guard Elijah Taylor.

For a three-man team, a big man was indispensable. As a result, the frontcourt players were the most sought-after and had been invited to teams early on.

That just left two guards, and surprisingly, nobody wanted them.

Both came from lesser-known universities, were on the older side, and their draft stock wasn’t high.

When Chen Yu appeared, the two of them looked miserable.

Out of so many people, they were the only two left over. Skill aside, it was at least a testament to how unpopular they were.

Chen Yu didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He had to go film a weight-loss show soon and had to be back at the clinic for surgery in the afternoon. He was a busy man.

"Let’s begin."

Chen Yu nodded at Nelson, signaling for him to begin immediately.

"Just as I thought. We’re going to compete," James murmured from the crowd, a knowing look on his face.

A Trainer joined the two-man group, forming a total of 16 teams. Then, Nelson told them to find an opponent and play for ten possessions.

"So who should we pick?" Bosh asked.

Anthony asked tentatively, "Should we pick a weaker team?"

If Chen Yu was planning a mini-tournament, it wouldn’t be wise to face a strong team right at the start.

But James shook his head. "No, Carmelo. I think we should pick the strongest opponent. This must be a test, an opportunity for us to show what we’re made of."

In his mind, winning or losing wasn’t what mattered; the main goal was to showcase their talent.

"I think Dr. Chen is running this test to assess our ability to work as a team. So, when we play, we can’t be selfish. We have to cooperate," James added.

In the NBA, individual heroics are valuable, but teamwork is even more critical.

Anthony and Bosh exchanged a look and nodded in unison.

The sports lab had two full-sized basketball courts, which meant four half-court games could be played simultaneously.

James’s trio was the first to play, and they chose the team composed of Kaman, Wade, and TJ Ford.

James had given his choice of opponent careful consideration.

That team was running a two-guard lineup, and since TJ Ford was only five-foot-eleven, they were at a serious height disadvantage. James’s team should have a huge opportunity.

Sure enough, right from the start, James used his powerful physique to bully TJ Ford, driving past him for a successful layup.

His physical advantage was immense; the whole thing was almost effortless.

But just as that thought crossed his mind, the possession changed, and James was promptly taught a lesson.

TJ Ford took the ball, used a screen from Wade, and drove straight to the basket with terrifying speed.

Facing help defense from Bosh, TJ Ford didn’t panic. He leaped, changed direction in mid-air to avoid the block, and dished the ball to Kaman.

Kaman caught it and threw down a powerful dunk, hanging on the rim for a moment.

James frowned slightly. ’Figures. None of these lottery-pick rookies are pushovers.’

The two teams traded baskets.

James couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Wade.

The guy with the puffy cheeks supposedly had a knee injury, yet he was still lightning-fast. He’d blown by Anthony several times, and his shot was accurate, too.

After ten possessions, James’s team barely scraped by with a 10-8 win.

The moment it was over, with no time for reflection, James immediately went up to Wade and gave him a hug. "Dwayne, you were incredible."

Wade patted James on the back a bit awkwardly.

He’d always felt this guy was a little too friendly. Sure, they had similar backgrounds—both grew up poor in single-parent households—but Wade didn’t see that as something to be proud of or to build a connection over.

What also made him uncomfortable was that even though he was two years older than James, whenever they talked, James always seemed to be the one dominating the conversation.

It was just... awkward.

In total, there were 16 matchups. With each one lasting only ten possessions—just a few minutes—all the groups finished their games in under an hour.

Just as James and Anthony were discussing who to pick for their next opponent, Nelson stepped forward and unexpectedly announced that the games were over.

Then, he handed every player a document and told them to fill it out individually.

"What the hell is this?" Anthony’s brow furrowed deeply. Writing, studying... these were the things he hated most.

James read the paper; it was a questionnaire.

The very first question was: Are you satisfied with the teammates you chose?

The second question: What was your reasoning for choosing your current teammates?

There was a whole slew of questions after that, asking things like how you see your role on the team and what you believe your teammates’ strengths and weaknesses are.

There were about ten questions in total, with the last one asking: If you were to form a new team, is there anyone you would hope to partner with?

Holding the pen, James was stumped.

’This isn’t what I expected at all.’

"No talking. Answer these on your own. Think carefully. Your answers will affect your final evaluation," Nelson said as he walked among the players, having them spread out and sit on the floor to write.

As soon as he heard it would affect their final evaluation, James began to agonize. He didn’t know whether he should be diplomatic and praise his teammates or be brutally honest and write down his true feelings.

’What if I’m not honest and Chen Yu thinks I’m a phony?’

Some players scribbled away with carefree expressions, while others scratched their heads in frustration.

"Chen, what exactly are these psychological tests for?" Nelson asked quietly, standing beside Chen Yu.

The three-man teams, the game, and now this questionnaire... Nelson couldn’t figure out Chen Yu’s real intentions.

Chen Yu’s gaze swept over the players. "Their psychological makeup, of course," he said.

There’s already a draft combine, and teams run their own tryouts. Chen Yu had to do something different.

A crucial part of that was testing the rookies’ mental fortitude.

In Chen Yu’s opinion, for a player to gain a foothold and truly succeed in the NBA, three types of ability were essential.

First, their physical attributes. That’s the foundation for everything.

But their physical condition was already thoroughly assessed at tryouts and by scouts; there was no need for Chen Yu to re-test it.

Second was their skill, which Chen Yu would evaluate comprehensively.

And last was their mentality.

This was an aspect Chen Yu cared about deeply. A player’s ability to handle challenges, adapt to new environments, and live up to their potential was all tied directly to their mental fortitude.

As he was speaking, Chen Yu’s phone vibrated.

He pulled it out and saw it was a call from Burnett.

"What’s up, Mark?" Chen Yu answered.

Over the phone, Burnett mysteriously asked when Chen Yu would be arriving at the set, saying he had a big surprise waiting for him.

"A big surprise?" Chen Yu repeated, momentarily stunned.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. "Mark," Chen Yu exclaimed in disbelief, "you didn’t actually get Michael to come, did you?"

The only "big surprise" he could think of was Michael Jackson.

Burnett just chuckled slyly and, without confirming anything, urged Chen Yu to hurry over to the set.

After hanging up, Nelson asked curiously, "Is Jordan coming?"

"Not that one. The *other* MJ," Chen Yu replied, his own heart starting to pound. He truly hadn’t expected Burnett to pull it off.

The other MJ?

Nelson was stunned for a moment before asking tentatively, "Michael Jackson?"

When Chen Yu gave a slight nod, Nelson’s eyes went wide. A "Fack!" slipped out, catching the attention of every player in the room.

"No way, for real?!" Nelson was beside himself with excitement.

That’s *the* Michael Jackson!

"What do you think?"

Chen Yu was getting impatient himself. He thought for a moment and said, "I’m heading to the set. You keep an eye on things here and stick to the plan."

After they finish the questionnaires, there was still the team reshuffle and the skill improvement plan to get to.

But with Nelson watching over things, he didn’t need to stay for the whole thing.

With that, Chen Yu turned and left, unable to wait any longer.