One Year Left to Play-Chapter 213 - 71: I’ve Missed You So Much
Although everyone was a bit uncomfortable, they had to comply with the league's arrangements.
Zhang Hao just thought it was a bit of a hassle, but it's only for a day, so whatever. This kind of situation was unforeseeable, but now that it's happened, he's not really surprised.
The vibrant scene, with nations gathered in tribute...
...
...
The Palace of Auburn Hills was the first privately owned stadium in North American sports history. The Pistons' Jewish owner spent 70 million US Dollars to build it. That same year, the New York Knicks were valued at 61 million US Dollars, and the Lakers at 52 million US Dollars.
This reflects how wealthy Detroit once was.
This stadium witnessed both the peak and decline of the Bad Boys and is destined to be remembered in basketball history.
The negative impression left by the Bad Boys still affects the Pistons, but now, in the hearts of all basketball fans, the Pistons have welcomed a savior—Grant Hill.
On the way to The Palace of Auburn Hills aboard the team bus, Zhang Hao read newspaper articles and scouting reports about the Pistons. Both the media and their Brooklyn Nets scouts had nothing but overwhelmingly positive evaluations of Grant Hill.
From the Pistons' introductions, Zhang Hao learned that the city they were headed to was originally called Pontiac Township, a village in the Detroit suburbs with a population of merely a few dozen. However, due to the construction of The Palace of Auburn Hills and the high popularity the Bad Boys once had in the Detroit Region, it has become the wealthiest city in Detroit. The population has now surpassed twenty thousand, and the average annual income is over 60,000 US Dollars.
The area of Auburn Hills isn't large, comparable to a big domestic town. The closer it is to The Palace of Auburn Hills, the more frequent Grant Hill's billboards appear. After entering Auburn Hills, the flow of people clearly increases, and police could be seen everywhere on the streets. Thankfully, it's no longer just a road full of African-Americans.
When they reached The Palace, the basketball fans in Auburn Hills were much more enthusiastic than those in La Village. The Brooklyn Nets' bus was warmly greeted by Pistons fans outside The Palace.
Auburn Hills is relatively safer than other parts of Detroit, but living here still requires a strong mindset that eventually leads to a rough style of talking and acting.
Only then can one feel a sense of security in this place.
Who says Americans only use flattering words?
Even inside the bus, Zhang Hao could hear Kenny Anderson's ancestors being outspokenly "greeted" by fans.
Some even cursed at rookie Mr. Zhang!
Kenny Anderson, though, seemed unperturbed: "Don't be surprised—you're a rookie, and Hill is only in his second year. They see you as Hill's competitor."
Once inside the stadium, the Brooklyn Nets conducted a basic tactical training session and quickly reviewed it before ending their pre-game training.
It's the first game of the new season, and both teams have changed lineups, so training isn't particularly targeted.
To preserve their energy for the evening match, the training was kept very light, and most players didn't even break a sweat.
When training ended, Butch Baird said: "Gather at three in the afternoon. You can go out and stroll around, but don't leave Auburn Hills."
Once in Auburn Hills, everyone could relax a bit.
It's almost lunchtime, and the filming by Imperial Channel temporarily stopped. The coaching staff invited them out for lunch. As for Zhang Hao's lunch shoot, there's already enough footage, so piecing it together won't be a problem.
Having changed his clothes, Zhang Hao was just about to find Vaughn Fleming or Kenny Anderson for a meal, when the cellphone inside his locker bag rang.
Who would call at this time?
Pierce wouldn't call—he's broke. Aprile Clark wouldn't call on a match day. His parents are busy with work and usually call once every six months if nothing's wrong, and if there's something urgent, they'd contact his agent first, who's currently in Detroit…
He answered the phone, and a familiar voice came through.
"Aix, you're in Auburn Hills, right? I'm here too. Do you have time for lunch together?" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
It's his high school head coach, Scott Collins! The same guy who tricked him into the draft!
"Coach, it's you! Of course, I have time! You don't know; I've missed you so much..."
