One Year Left to Play-Chapter 282 - 98: This College Student Is Unusually Popular
Arriving at the hotel in Inglewood Town, this was Zhang Hao's second time staying at this hotel, the last time was for the McDonald's High School All-Star Dunk Contest.
After putting down his luggage at the hotel, Zhang Hao took the gifts he brought from La Village to the apartment he had lived in for three years.
Looking at this familiar apartment, Zhang Hao felt deeply emotional. If there was a place where dreams began, it must be here.
This six-story building carries most of the memories in Zhang Hao's era since he came to the United States.
"Aix!"
An excited voice called out to Zhang Hao, and he lowered his neck to see a well-built girl running towards him.
Quickly putting his things on the ground, he went up to embrace her tightly.
After the hug, the two exchanged glances...
Zhang Hao could feel the other's thoughts, but he chose not to understand them now.
He picked up the few bags placed on the ground, took out a beautifully packaged one and handed it to Aprile Clark: "Aprile, this is a dress I bought for you last time I went to New York; I remember you said before that you wanted a dress like this."
Aprile Clark subtly scrunched her nose, happily accepting the gift, eagerly opening it as she went upstairs.
The reunion was naturally joyful, but everything was ordinary after the meeting; everyone was too familiar with this environment.
Pierce's mom prepared a table of dishes to welcome Zhang Hao.
At the dinner table, Aprile Clark and Pierce's mom chatted endlessly, while Zhang Hao, as usual, mainly listened.
Aprile Clark talked about the differences in college life, saying who pursued her and she rejected them.
Pierce's mom bragged about Pierce being one of the most notable freshmen in the Big Twelve Conference, along with Chauncey Billups from the University of Colorado.
In the afternoon, Zhang Hao and Aprile Clark strolled on familiar streets, where Zhang Hao bought Aprile Clark some sweets and some small accessories costing less than 100 USD in total; Aprile Clark did not even enter expensive shops, just glanced at the windows before pulling Zhang Hao away.
By evening, after dinner, Zhang Hao escorted Aprile Clark back to the apartment.
"Aix, come up and rest for a while before leaving."
"No, I still have to go back and discuss tomorrow's game with my teammates."
Aprile Clark could only helplessly bid farewell to Zhang Hao.
Watching Zhang Hao take a taxi and leave, after the tail of the car disappeared, Aprile Clark stomped her foot: "Game, game, all day just thinking about games."
Muttering, Aprile Clark couldn't help but laugh again.
Looking at her right hand... Sister, you've suffered...
On the other side, in the taxi, Zhang Hao leaned back against the seat, his mind complex; he almost agreed to go up and rest for a while just now... he could see, if he went up, it probably wouldn't be just for a while.
Not returning to the team tonight wasn't really a big deal; he could tell the rule of must-return on the night before away games didn't apply to him.
However... remaining lifespan 443 days...
"Aprile is a good girl, I, not knowing which day I might kick the bucket, should not waste her time..."
...
First, play the Celtics, then the Lakers, both away games; if this were ten years ago, it would be every team's nightmare.
But in the last decade, nearly every team has had this kind of away journey once.
This was a popular away schedule combination in the mid-80s.
The Brooklyn Nets were ending their continuous away games with these two matches.
On the evening of November 26, after Zhang Hao and his teammates prepared, they entered the Great Western Forum.
Los Angeles Lakers, one of the two giant teams in the NBA.
In Zhang Hao's memory of this era, he had countless times dreamed of joining the Lakers after college.
But life's trajectory is always quite different from expectations.
On the Brooklyn Nets' side, whenever they played playoff-level teams, they put themselves in a lower position to prepare, strive, and fight hard.
They knew playing against the Lakers would be tough, but at 8 PM, when the game began, the difficulty was far beyond their expectations!
The Lakers played against them as if facing the Celtics, everyone was desperate!
The difference in strength was already great; Lakers were third in the West with 10 wins and 3 losses, the Nets were eighth in the East with 6 wins and 5 losses, and the game quickly became a blowout.
Divac played at an All-Star level, Sibaros was madly pounding toward the basket, Zhang Hao had decent rim-protection ability, but facing Sibaros's All-Star-level powerful forward...
Before the game, Lakers coach Del Harris fervently motivated the players: "They just beat the Celtics, we cannot lose to them, don't underestimate this team, we must give it our best and defeat them, proving we are stronger than the Celtics!"
This reasoning seemed senseless but did indeed stir up the Lakers players' spirits; before Jordan's time in the NBA, the main theme was the yellow-green battles, and over the past 49 seasons, Lakers and Celtics claimed 27 championships, more than half of all NBA championships.
Even though both teams have declined in recent years, mentioning competition with the Celtics still riles up Lakers players.
