One Year Left to Play-Chapter 214 - 72: The Pioneers of the First-Generation Organization

Auburn Hills, after all, is a "city" built on a rural foundation, and it's a very small place.

But even though it's small, it has all the essentials for the locals' everyday life and entertainment.

Moreover, there are many highly-rated restaurants here... These days, most of the famous restaurants in Detroit are concentrated here.

Opening a business in other parts of Detroit won't survive if you offer credit!

Don't offer credit?

Then you're accused of racial discrimination.

As for when to repay... The debt is based on skill, it's not that it won't be repaid, just leave it owed for now.

After greeting the coaching staff, Zhang Hao arrived at Michael Simon's BBQ restaurant in Auburn Hills.

The restaurant is simply named Michael Simon's BBQ.

Having inquired with Vaughn Fleming, it turned out this place offers the best BBQ locally. The Italian and French cuisines are also good, and the steak, imported from Kobe, is quite popular.

Looking at this restaurant, Zhang Hao's feelings were complex.

Thinking back a few months ago, when the trial was just over, he almost wanted to strangle his high school coach.

Yet, a few months later, meeting again, there's a feeling of deep longing.

The draft application form Scott Collins handed him at the time solidified his idea of skipping college, and now he very much appreciates Scott Collins' advice back then.

As he walked through the restaurant's door, he immediately saw a familiar face.

"Aix, you're right on time!" Coach Scott Collins greeted him, "Haven't seen you in months, it's really unusual..."

"Yeah, it feels like winning the California championship was just yesterday..."

Zhang Hao hadn't seen Scott Collins for half a year, and he missed him dearly, so he went for a hug.

Both felt a little off; they also hugged when winning the California high school league at the beginning of the year, but it felt very different now.

"Oh, I just remembered that I've grown taller. Didn't notice when using the Growth Card."

"This kid's grown so tall! If I knew earlier, I would have shamelessly forced Doug for an 8th pick trade. He pairs too well with Grant... Who knew he could be a lottery pick..."

Having not met for quite some time, they both had mixed feelings and, after a hug, they headed into the restaurant.

As soon as they walked in, a waitress came up. Scott Collins said, "I reserved a spot. The waitress will take you there; I need to use the restroom first."

Zhang Hao acknowledged and followed the waitress to the second floor, arriving at a window-side table where someone was already seated... That wasn't important; what was important was the person sitting there...

Zhang Hao's eyes widened—does our coach engage in cutting-edge tech borrowing schemes?

While going upstairs, he looked back and saw Scott Collins heading toward a room marked "Restroom." There seemed to be only one staircase to this second floor, so what was going on?

The seated Scott Collins had a faint, unnoticed smile, looked towards Zhang Hao as if noticing him for the first time, and stood up with a surprised expression: "Aix, you're right on time!"

Speaking, Scott Collins stood up to greet Zhang Hao.

"Haven't seen you in months, it's really unusual..."

Zhang Hao was stunned. This sounded very familiar as if he'd just heard it. He replied, "Yeah, it feels like winning the California championship was just yesterday... Wait! Who are you?"

Just as he was about to hug, Zhang Hao suddenly realized, although the person looked like Scott Collins, very like, with the same dress style—suit jacket and striped shirt without a tie—there was a subtle difference; the man in front of him had a flamboyant red lapel pin on his chest pocket.

And his demeanor, deliberately making a "we're very familiar" expression.

Doug Collins realized he couldn't keep it up and called toward the stairs, "Scott, your student is too sharp; I can't handle him!"

From the stair corner, Scott Collins walked over and complained, "Doug, how long did you last? Ten seconds maybe?"

Doug? Right!

Zhang Hao suddenly recalled, the Pistons' head coach is named Doug Collins, and during the team's tactical meetings, they had posted photos of every opponent's player, but not of the coaches.

While playing, the opponent's coach is important, but how they look doesn't matter at all.

Doug Collins, Scott Collins, looking exactly the same... Our high school coach is twins with an NBA coach!

However, listening to their conversation made Zhang Hao feel something was off...

...

The world is full of wonders... But twins are not really something rare.

Just a little unexpected.

However, Zhang Hao once heard Scott Collins mention that their father was an athlete, so it's not surprising both twin sons entered the sports field.

After getting acquainted and ordering food, the atmosphere became lively.

This kind of reunion experience was indeed quite unique.

Scott Collins complained to Zhang Hao: "Didn't expect you'd be picked at the 9th position, do you know I had to humble myself to become Doug's assistant for you to enter the NBA?"

"I begged you to be my player development coach, didn't I? All you did was nod."

"Doug, can you let me pretend to be aggrieved for a bit..."

Now that they were no longer coach and player, PE teacher and student, Scott Collins was noticeably more humorous than in school, no longer trying hard to maintain his authority. Otherwise, he wouldn't have played this reunion prank with his brother.