One Guard

phone-reading

The appearance of the American Airlines Center Stadium looks very different from the home stadiums of other NBA teams. There are no huge fan squares around the arena, but empty parking lots.

Of course, the parking lot outside the stadium will only be vacated when there is no competition. If it’s a race day, it’s almost impossible for you to find a parking space near here.

The top of the stadium is arc-shaped, which is the same as most stadiums. However, the four sides of the stadium are designed in ancient American style. Adding the brick-red wall makes people feel that this building is not a stadium, but more like a university teaching building or library.

Mudiay carried his schoolbag and looked up at this majestic building with his mouth open. Of course, there are countless more majestic buildings in Dallas. But for someone who loves basketball and likes to watch the Mavericks games, the majesty of the American Airlines Center Stadium is unparalleled!

Mudiay checked his watch. It was only six o'clock in the afternoon. And he has been wandering in front of the gymnasium for half an hour. In order not to be late, he arrived at the gate of the American Airlines Center Arena an hour in advance. After all, in order to see your idol, an hour in advance is nothing at all.

Thinking of the experience last night, Mudiay still finds it very incredible. All the Mavericks appeared in front of him, and Yiyang also gave him a ticket for an NBA game.

Although tomorrow's Mavericks vs. Nets game is by no means the most exciting game in the entire league, Mudiay is still very excited to be able to watch an NBA-level basketball game on site.

At this time, in the gym, Yiyang is still polishing his shooting skills. Since the last game against Curry, Yiyang has deeply realized that his shooting percentage from beyond the three-point line is far from enough.

The guy Curry made almost 100 3-pointers in his warm-up shots, but on the court, his 3-pointers per game were "only" close to 45%. Yiyang can't even hit a hundred shots in training now, knowing that his three-pointers in the game are still not threatening enough.

In the past, Yiyang's benchmark was Hayward, and Hayward was the representative of Yiyang's three-pointers with sufficient accuracy. But now, a guy more accurate than Hayward appeared, and Yiyang's goal was naturally set higher than before. This guy doesn't want to fall behind to anyone on the court.

Yiyang always has high demands on himself. It is precisely because of the demands on himself that Yiyang did not degenerate after entering this drunken world, but instead progressed at a faster rate.

"Also, the ticket owner put it in front of your cabinet, remember to take it when you leave!" When Yiyang was shooting, Terry, who had changed his clothes and was about to leave the gym, opened the gate of the training ground and stretched his head in to remind Yiyang.

Yiyang nodded slightly in response, and did not stop the movement in his hands. Terry closed the gate of the training ground with a smile, it's better not to disturb this guy's training.

Finally, at 6:17, Yiyang completed all the shooting tasks he set for himself today. The scattered basketballs and vests that have long been completely soaked in sweat have become daily routines in the American Airlines Center Arena.

After returning to the locker room, Yiyang immediately took a shower, changed clothes quickly, and picked up the ticket that Cuban had placed there. At 6:30 in the afternoon, Yiyang drove his heavy pickup truck and appeared in front of Mudiay on time. Mudiay was a bit shy. This black boy seemed to be quieter than Yiyang thought.

Yiyang beckoned and signaled Mudiae to get in the car quickly.

"Hello, sir!" Mudiay showed his shy smile after getting in the car, and Yiyang looked at the expression of the black child. This guy is better than himself, at least he doesn't look like someone who will rob...

"Don't be so restrained, na, the ticket." Yiyang held the steering wheel with one hand, took the ticket from his pocket with the other, and handed it to Mudiay.

Mudiay took the ticket with both hands and happily said thank you. For today's meeting, he learned a lot of Chinese etiquette on the Internet last night.

"Where do you live, I'll take you back."

"No need, sir, I..."

"It's okay, I want to talk more with you too."

Hearing what Yiyang said, the embarrassed Mudiay had no choice but to "obediently".

"I live in the Ellington area, it's still a bit far from here, hehe." Mudiay smiled. If his family can live near the US Airline Center, he probably won't need work-study programs.

It's been a while since Yiyang came to Dallas. Although he didn't dare to say that he was completely familiar with the city, he still knew about the Ellington District. This place is a typical working-class black gathering area in Dallas. Although the environment there is much better than the Wood District, for the city of Dallas, the Ellington District can be regarded as a "slum".

Outside the car windows, bustling streets, lively shopping malls, a large number of pedestrians flashed by one by one. In this prosperous city, under the sun of the 21st century, few people can imagine that there are places like slums on the land of the United States.

But it is indeed here, in this city, in this country. Yiyang will never forget his experience growing up in a slum area in this life.

The scenery outside the car window gradually changed. After passing through the middle of the most magnificent residential area, the appearance of the city of Dallas seemed to be different.

The luxuriously decorated buildings outside the car windows disappeared, replaced by dilapidated brick houses, graffiti-filled walls, and messy streets. As Yiyang continued to drive deeper, more dilapidated houses gradually increased, and pedestrians on the street also cast hostile eyes on the high-end pickups that are not common here.

If Hapi was in the car now, he would definitely have a feeling of empathy. Because the situation when he went to the Wood District was almost exactly the same as it is now.

Yiyang looked at the world outside the window. In Dallas, one of the world's largest cities, there is actually a "Wood District". Everything around did not disgust Yiyang, who had already lived a different life, but instead reminded him of a lot of things back then.

"You... why do you work?" Yiyang asked knowingly.

"Because I was responsible for the burden of the family, my father died in the war when I was one year old. My mother had no books and had to go to the hospital as a nurse. I went out every night and went home from get off work in the morning. Moreover, The salary is not high. So, my two brothers and I can only work while studying, and we can share some of them.” Mudiay said about this, and the smile that had been on his face gradually disappeared.

He lost his father at the age of one and dragged three children. It seems that Mudiay's mother may have worked harder than her own.

"Want to leave this place?" Yiyang pointed to the world outside the window that seemed to be abandoned by people.

"No, I just don't want my mother to have to work so hard. I just want to let her not go through so many hardships." The quiet and shy Mudiay seems to have become mature now. What he most hopes is not to live a good life by himself, but to lead a good life with his mother.

"You know what, Moody, I also came out of this place."

"Really?" Mudiay looked at the young man in front of him in disbelief. NBA flower show, professional player, holding millions of dollars in annual salary...This kind of person actually comes from the slums?

"Of course it is true. The place where I live is more shabby than here. On the street, you can even see drug dealers and gang members who are waving pistols across the city at any time. Compared to where I live, Ellington is simply heaven... .... By the way, Moody, how are you playing basketball?"

"My middle school team has the most victories in Dallas so far! If this continues, we may even win the continental championship! And, I am now the team’s number one scorer, no, it’s the entire Dallas middle school league. The first scorer!" At this point, Mudiay showed a proud look.

"Really? Have high school and college scouts come to you?" Yiyang thought of Harpy, who was robbed by him.

"There are, but they are all less well-known schools. And, what if there are? I can't go to the NBA like you." Mudiay's excitement gradually faded again.

"Knowing that it is not well-known is not important to Moody, the important thing is to stick to your dreams. Don't give up the kid, who said you can't play the NBA? The world will not bury gold, and you can't bury yourself." Yiyang may be the first. I can talk so much at a time with someone who has not known me for 24 hours at a time. But he always feels that he has an obligation to guide this child who is very similar to himself to chase what he wants.

"I want to see you play. Is there a basketball court near here?"

Yiyang's proposal shocked Mudiay. An NBA player wants to watch himself play? Isn't this a plot only found in novels?

"I have one in my backyard...but it's not a formal..."

"A basket is enough."

At the destination, Yiyang parked the car. A group of children seemed to want to come up to Yiyang to ask for money, but Mudiay waved his fist and the group of children dispersed.

"Moody?" A woman's shout came from the hut in front of Yiyang.

"It's my mother, we have guests."

"Are there guests?" The hostess pushed open the door, her shabby skirt was covered with stains, and her eyes were full of exhaustion.

"Also, the star guard of the Dallas Mavericks!" Mudiay proudly introduced the big yellow man next to him. In fact, Yiyang is not a "star guard" yet. And Mudiay's mother stayed completely in place.

That yellow-skinned guy, isn’t it the guy on the poster in Mudiay’s room? ?

"I'm sorry, sir! The house is messy!" Therese Mudiay, little Mudiat's mother, is hurriedly cleaning the living room at this moment, and it seems that he is also worried about how to entertain Yiyang in front of him.

Yiyang scanned the surroundings, and in fact, the house had been cleaned up quite neatly, and it looked very rigorous. Black sofas, medium-sized TVs, and oriental carpets covering the entire floor. Here, it is more than twice as good as the apartment where Yiyang once lived.

There are not many decorations in the house. The only thing that can imply that this is an excellent student-athlete house is a square plaque, which is the most outstanding player award awarded to Mudiay by an unknown basketball training camp.

"Don't bother me, Madam, I'll leave in a while. Is my mother waiting for me to have dinner at home?" Yiyang Chong Mudiay's mother squeezed a smile, because Yiyang is really not used to smiling at others.

After that, Yiyang and Mudiay picked up the basketball and walked towards the backyard.

In the backyard of the house, there is a basketball court paved with small stones, but it is less than half the size of the court. It is here that Mudiay learned to play basketball.

"Are you the team's number one scorer?" Hearing Mudiay's experience of playing in middle school ~www.novelmtl.com~Yiyang increasingly feels that basketball is likely to become the touchstone for this kid.

"That's right!" Mudiay said, imitating Fischer with a left-handed shot. The basketball crossed an arc and fell into the hoop without a net.

After that, Yiyang played with Mudiay. It is no exaggeration to say that Mudiay is now stronger than Yiyang at the same age.

Whether it is explosive power, speed or jumping ability, they are all excellent. And this kid also has a strong body that Yiyang envy. You know, he is just a child!

The two played together for an hour, but Yiyang decided that it was not early, so he planned to go home.

But before leaving, Yiyang left his private number to Mudiay. "I will always pay attention to you in the future. Maybe I will ask you to train together? Anyway...Don't give up, kid." Yiyang is willing to help "the other self" through basketball. Change his life.

When Yiyang left, Mudiay and his mother Theresa stayed at the door until they watched the heavy pickup truck leave before entering the house.

"Why did you come back so late?" Wen Xue checked the time, and it was already eight o'clock in the evening. The food on the table has long since cooled down.

"I went to see a friend." Yiyang thought of Mudiay's family, as if she had seen herself and her mother.

Therefore, the tall flower-seeking show hugged his mother tightly.

"Thank you, Mom." A few simple words made Yiyang, a guy who is not good at expressing his emotions, say what he wanted to say the most for many years.

"I'm going to warm up the food." Wen Xue smiled softly, as long as you can succeed, everything is worth it.

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