Chapter Thirty-Four: Providence Favors the Prepared, Selected for the NBA

The joy of victory shone on the players’ faces, but it was fleeting—what next? This was the question every player had to face.

Yang Li sought out Lin Fei for a conversation. “You’re the smartest, fastest, and most accurate shooter I’ve ever seen,” he said, pausing as if these three qualities best expressed his recognition of Lin Fei. “What are your plans?”

“None, really. I just want to study hard! My parents are still waiting for me to graduate—they’re both working outside right now.”

Yang Li looked at Lin Fei, his lips moved twice, seeming to have something to say but finding it difficult.

“Coach, please speak. Or maybe you have some advice?”

Yang Li gazed deeply at Lin Fei, lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and exhaled a dense cloud of smoke. “Have you ever thought about continuing to play basketball?”

“Of course I will.”

“No, I mean professionally.”

Lin Fei was dumbfounded. He had always studied to get into university, then to find a job after graduation. He’d never considered becoming a professional player. If he did, wouldn’t all those years of hard study feel wasted? Besides, his family had always viewed his love for basketball as neglecting proper work; they would certainly object.

“You mean keep playing for the college team, or...?” Lin Fei asked, a little puzzled. He knew what “professional player” meant; he was asking just to ease the tension in his heart.

“A professional player—joining a professional league! It’s the dream of many athletes. But you weren’t trained professionally from the start; you’re a latecomer. Still, I’ve seen your extraordinary talent for the game, so I’m asking.”

“Am I capable?”

“My old teammate is a coach now. I told him about you and Yun Zhongyue. He’s short of players, especially top-tier point guards. If you’re willing, give me your answer within three days. Honestly, I don’t want you two to leave. You’re only freshmen, and if you go, our school’s basketball will definitely drop a notch. But I have to think about your future—it’d be such a pity if you didn’t take this chance.” Yang Li spoke with calm force.

“Alright, thank you for your trouble,” Lin Fei replied, his mind a blank.

Lin Fei wandered the campus alone. An opportunity had dropped from the sky, but he knew accepting it meant losing a great deal. He took out his phone, unsure who to call. His parents? They would surely object. Friends? He didn’t know how to explain. In the end, he decided to call Yun Zhongyue; the coach must have talked to him as well.

“Hey, what did Coach say to you?”

“He wants me to try out for the CBA. What about you?”

“Oh, I’m not like you. I’m not a professional athlete—just an amateur.”

“Amateur? You’re tougher than most pros!”

“You flatter me. Got time to talk? I’m feeling pretty lost.”

“Sure, let’s meet at the court!”

Two young men strolling across the basketball court—it was a rare sight.

“We should go for it! Opportunities like this are scarce. Our college team only has you and me.”

“There’s so much I’m reluctant to let go of. Why did I work so hard to get into university? If I’d trained like you guys from the start, I’d be at a much higher level now. Why did I kill myself studying in high school?” Lin Fei said with some frustration.

“Haha, you’re really something. Your intelligence on the court is beyond most professionals, and your composure is unmatched. Maybe your studies didn’t directly improve your skills, but they shaped your character, making your vision sharper and your mind calmer on the court. That’s what the coach values most in you!”

Lin Fei felt as if he’d been enlightened. So it was true—his reading and learning hadn’t directly impacted his game, but unknowingly, they’d given him a calmness and changed the way he saw the game compared to when he first started.

“Alright, let’s go see the coach together. We might as well ask about the details.”

They ran off to find the coach, asking him to help them out and see what the situation was.

Yang Li smiled—these two, really, left him speechless.

The tryout was held at a stadium in Shandong. Lin Fei and Yun Zhongyue’s physical tests were nearly on par with professional athletes. Now, their abilities on the court were to be assessed.

Lin Fei dribbled from half court, darting straight to the basket for a layup. The coach was amazed—he’d never seen anyone dribble so fast. Yang Li cheered from the sidelines, “Show them something even tougher! Lin Fei, shoot a few long-range threes for your future coach!”

Lin Fei dribbled to the three-point line, didn’t pause, glided through the air, released the shot—swish. Then he tried several three-pointers from different spots, leaving the CBA coach stunned. Genius! Shooting threes on the move, eight out of ten—unbelievable! “No need to continue! I want him! No more talking, Old Yang—I’m taking this kid!”

Next up was Yun Zhongyue. He tried several fast-break dunks, then some jump shots from the three-point line, prompting the coach to sigh, “He’s got a great foundation too. No wonder you, Old Yang, had such a spectacular season in the college league!”

“Didn’t I just bring them to you? You, Old Chen, owe me a drink—these two, I really hate to see them go!”

“No problem, drinks are on me. In a few days, we’ll have a friendly game against the Shanxi team, just a training camp. An NBA scout is coming to see their new star, Chen Zhiming, and I plan to include your two players along with a few of mine to round out the numbers.”

“Oh? You got an invitation? Why pick your team?”

“Who knows, maybe they think my team is easy to beat. I don’t care; I’ll bring a few rookies and show them we’re not pushovers.”

“Alright! But first, treat us to a meal.”

Yang Li really was reluctant to part with his two best players—they had fulfilled his dreams, but now had to pursue their own paths.

Lin Fei and Yun Zhongyue trained for two days, barely getting to know their new teammates before they had to play a game—a game meant to showcase someone else. This match was designed to highlight Chen Zhiming, a figure who dominated last year’s CBA, standing at 217cm, widely regarded as the next Yao Ming.

The game excited the two newcomers—they were about to face a near-NBA-level player.

As the match began, Lin Fei and Yun Zhongyue were both starters. The tall opponent was obviously Chen Zhiming, an extraordinary presence.

From the outset, Chen Zhiming played aggressively: scoring, rebounding, assisting, blocking—he did it all. Even Lin Fei, with his astonishing speed and quick release, was blocked twice, making it clear Chen Zhiming was head-and-shoulders above the rest. Applause erupted in the stands, undoubtedly from the scout.

Minutes ticked by. Lin Fei and Yun Zhongyue, new to the lineup, were still unfamiliar with their teammates. But being so thoroughly suppressed by Chen Zhiming was unbearable—he seemed to be aiming for a quadruple-double!

“Brother, are you just going to take this?” Lin Fei asked Yun Zhongyue on the bench.

“It’s fine, the coach just wants us to see the game, to set the stage for that guy. Don’t worry about it.”

“I can’t stand it! If you won’t go, I will. I can’t bear someone being so arrogant in front of me!” Lin Fei said angrily.

“Coach, I want to play!”

The coach glanced at him. In his mind, the game didn’t matter. He called a timeout and sent Lin Fei in.

Once on court, Lin Fei transformed. Crossing half court, he immediately rose for a three-pointer—his signature move. The scout applauded.

Next, Lin Fei dribbled rapidly, weaving through five defenders, the last being Chen Zhiming under the hoop. Lin Fei stopped abruptly, Chen Zhiming lost his balance and fell, and Lin Fei gently tipped in the basket, seeming to have all the time in the world.

The scout stood up, dazzled by Lin Fei’s performance. In another sequence, Lin Fei crossed half court with Chen Zhiming guarding him. A quick burst of speed left Chen behind, not even sparing his dignity. Lin Fei looked back, jumped, shot—score.

Now the scout was totally stunned. “Who is he? He’s incredible. Can you help me contact him? He’s exceptional!”

Unexpectedly, Lin Fei became the star of the day. But fortune favors the prepared. Lin Fei seized the opportunity and fought for it, earning unexpected rewards.

The next step: Lin Fei would enter the draft.