Almighty Coach

“Some of the players on my list used to be superstars, some were even All-Stars. Others on my list were players who never had the chance to show their full potential due to injury, age, or some other reason. All in all, none of the ever had a secure footing in the NBA …

“What I want to do is to bring these former stars together and have them join the Clippers. I will train them so that they will be as good as they used to be. I’ll return them to their prime. The Clippers will have a team filled with superstars. Not only will we be able to make the playoffs, but we will be able to go even further…

“I call this plan, the ‘Nirvana Project.’ The team will be like a phoenix, reborn. The stars who have been eliminated by the NBA will be reborn as well!”

Dai Li eloquently introduced his “Nirvana Plan” in the conference room.

“Coach Li, I admire your imaginative thoughts, but I don’t think this is feasible. The players on your list had a glorious past, but they won’t be able to adapt to the current NBA. Even if you got them to come back, they won’t be able to play in on the court again. They couldn’t bear the intensity of a current NBA game.” Johnson, the team manager, was the first to object.

“So they require my training,” Dai Li admitted. “Rehabilitation is what I am best at. I’m confident that I will be able to return them to their prime. In fact, I accomplished similar feats in the last Olympics.”

Johnson shook his head. “Every injury is different. You might be able to help track and field athletes recover from their injuries, but you can’t guarantee that you can do the same for basketball players. These injured superstars have already gone to many well-known doctors. In the end, they had to leave the NBA. Their injuries must be incurable.”

“I can guarantee that they will recover,” Dai Li said resolutely. His answer demonstrated his self-confidence. Johnson was speechless. It didn’t matter how reasonable he was being, he clearly wouldn’t be able to convince someone so sure of himself that he was wrong.

Dai Li went on. “My ‘Nirvana Project,’ if successful, will greatly benefit the team. We don’t even need every player to return to their prime. As long as two or three people on this list recover fully, we can make it back to the playoffs. Don’t forget that all of them are superstars!

“If my plan fails, we won’t lose anything. At most, the team’s record will be worse. In that case, we could deliberately tank the season and get a good draft pick next year. The players on the list are former stars so, as long as they come to the Clippers, this will benefit us. Los Angeles needs stars!”

His last sentence clearly struck a chord with the management of the Clippers.

A star player could bring a lot of benefits to a big city team. The arrival of star players could mean more expensive tickets, higher attendance, more broadcast income, and better jersey sales. Teams could depend on star players to make a fortune.

Although the players that Dai Li wanted to recruit for his “Nirvana Project” were unlikely to succeed in the current NBA, they were still undeniably very famous. Some were even former All-Stars. In smaller cities, such players would be seen as ex-athletes who were no longer valuable. In a big city like Los Angeles, they could develop their commercial value and increase their popularity.

This was Los Angeles after all. Stars were all over the city. However, stars were what the Clippers needed most.

…

The team management finally approved Da Li’s “Nirvana Project.”

As Dai Li said, the Clippers were not expecting an incredible result this next season. Recruiting star players had no downsides and a guaranteed return. If the “Nirvana Project” was successful, the Clippers would naturally benefit. If the “Nirvana Project” failed, the Clippers could deliberately tank and get a good draft pick next year. This was a very cost-effective transaction, so the management was happy to implement it.

Dai Li wanted to recruit the players on the list personally and Johnson, the team manager, tagged along.

Johnson was extremely reluctant. He did not agree with Dai Li’s plan at all, but the team manager was responsible for signing players. In the end, Johnson had to pack his luggage and set off with Dai Li.

“Coach Li, where is our first stop?” Johnson asked. His voice indicated a sense of resignation.

“To Seattle. This guy is a Seattle native. I heard that he just became a high school basketball coach,” Dai Li said.

“Are we going to see Nathan Hall? He used to be known as the ‘Yellow Mamba!’ Unfortunately, the two menisci in his knees were removed. I heard that he had a knee replacement surgery on both his legs. They implanted artificial menisci, but they did not help. He could not handle the intensity of an NBA game, so he had to retire,” Johnson said sympathetically.

Dai Li nodded, “Yes, we are going to meet him. There have been cases in which players have had their menisci removed and been able to get back to the game, so I think I will be able to help Nathan Hall recover.”

“I really don’t know how you’re so confident.” Johnson shook his head in disdain. The confident look on Dai Li’s face made Johnson think that Dai Li was bragging again.

In fact, Dai Li was extremely confident in dealing with a missing meniscus. The Athlete’s Patch could easily solve this problem. With the help of the Athlete’s Patch, a person with no feet, such as Philip, could run faster than a normal person. Not having any menisci would be a relatively easy problem to solve.

…

Nathan Hall was a shooting guard. He was a relatively younger player who had only played seven seasons in the NBA. In one of these seasons, he was absent because of his injury. In another, he had only played five games because he had not fully recovered. In reality, he had only played five full seasons.

In these five seasons, he had managed to be named the NBA Rookie of the Year, be selected for the NBA All-Star team three times in a row, and be put on the All-NBA team. People gave him the nickname “Yellow Mamba.” This implied that he would become the successor to the “Black Mamba” of the NBA.

His knee injury ruined him and his arthritis restricted the amount of time he could play. His knees were constantly swollen and he had to have the water that built up in his knees taken out from time to time. He had to take anti-arthritis drugs frequently. In the end, he finally had to undergo arthroscopy surgery on both his knees, but the surgery did not cure his arthritis. One of his menisci was being worn out and the remaining meniscus was not enough to act as a buffer. They had become a hindrance to his physical ability. He had no choice but to remove both. After every operation, he would have to go back to the hospital.

Losing his menisci ruined his career. Every time he played, every step he took, every jump, and every confrontation on the court, caused him unbearable pain in his knees. Even after he put in the artificial menisci, he couldn’t bear the intensity or pace of the NBA.

He had to retire at only 25 years old.

Shooting guards were not even in their prime at 25. A player who made three All-Star games before the age of 25 was destined to become a superstar. However, a knee injury ruined his chances.

…

Dai Li and Johnson arrived in Seattle.

“Are we going to the high school where Nathan Hall is working? It is summer vacation, so we may not be able to find him at school,” Johnson said.

“Of course we can’t find him at school,” Dai Li said. “Think about what we are doing. Hall is currently the coach at a high school and we are here to recruit him. How can we go to the place where he works? I have already arranged to meet Hall in the reception room at a hotel. So let’s go there and rest first. We will join Hall for afternoon tea.”

After a few hours, Dai Li met Nathan Hall in the reception room.

“Coach Li, I really didn’t expect you to come to Seattle personally. I also didn’t expect you to come to see me.” Hall obviously knew who Dai Li was. Although he had left the NBA, he still cared about it. He was familiar with every team and Dai Li was a candidate for “Coach of the Year.” Hall certainly knew who he was.

Hall continued, “Are you interested in any of the players at our high school? To be honest, I just became the head coach of the team this summer, so I am not familiar with the players. I am afraid I don’t have that much information for you.”

Dai Li shook his head. “A few years ago, when the NBA allowed high school students to participate in the draft, I might’ve been here to recruit students. Now that the NBA has banned high school players from participating in the NBA draft, however, I would’ve gone to a college to recruit students.”

“That is true. Why are you here then? What is this for?” Hall asked.

“I want to invite you to join my team,” Dai Li said.

“You want me on your coaching staff?” Hall was a little flattered. Joining an NBA team’s coaching staff was much better than becoming a high school coach.

Dai Li shook his head again. “Nathan, you misunderstand me. I want you to play for my team. We need a shooting guard.”

“You want me to play for the Clippers!” Nathan Hall exclaimed. He expressed his disbelief by saying, “Coach Li, you’re joking, right?”

“Do you think that the team manager and I flew all the way to Seattle to make a joke?” Dai Li said with a smile.

Nathan Hall became serious. He realized that Dai Li was being honest. He then asked, “Why me?”

“Why not you?” Dai Li replied.

“I have already announced my retirement. Why did you come looking for me?” Hall asked.

“You are still very young and should not retire,” Dai Li replied.

“But my knee has been badly injured, I can’t deal with the intensity of the NBA.” Hall shook his head and said, “I only played five games in my last season in the NBA. Every time I sprinted or jumped, I’d be in unbearable pain. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I chose to retire.”

“What you need is one of the world’s best rehabilitation trainers,” Dai Li said. He took out a brochure for his physical training center and handed it to Hall. He then said, “Look at this. The athletes here have suffered serious injuries and they have all returned to their peak condition. They did so by relying on my rehabilitation training.”

Hall took the brochure and read it page by page. When he read the real cases, he was obviously affected.

“Nathan, I know that you have removed the menisci from your knees, but there have been cases in which athletes have come back from that. This is why I came to you. I think you will be able to return to the court after training with me,” Dai Li said.

Hall hesitated for a long time, then let out a sigh. He closed the brochure and handed it back to Dai Li. He shook his head and said, “Even if I could return to the court, I wouldn’t be able to play like I used to. Without the menisci, my knees are useless. I can’t sprint, do a crossover, or jump. I can’t do any of the technical moves that used to be easy.”

“That’s the next thing I wanted to talk to you about. I can get you back to your peak condition. I can even make you stronger than before!” Dai Li stared at Hall and continued, “When did you peak? Were you 22 or 23 years old? It’s was probably when you were on an All-Star team three years in a row. However, most shooting guards are just beginning their careers at 20. You have not yet reached your peak, but you have already retired. If you had not been injured, you would have become stronger.”

After listening to Dai Li, Nathan Hall lowered his head to hide the unwillingness in his eyes.

“Nathan, you are still young. Don’t waste your time. Your career shouldn’t have ended. You can work hard again. You should be on the court to compete, not teach high school students how to play!” Dai Li advised.

Nathan Hall took a deep breath. “Coach Li. Give me some time. Can you let me think about it?”

“No problem,” Dai Li handed his business card to Hall and said, “This is my contact information. I am looking forward to your reply. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. If you join the Clippers, you will get a fully insured contract. I can guarantee that.”

…

Nathan Hall took Dai Li’s business card and left the hotel.

“Do you think he will agree?” Johnson asked.

“Yes. He definitely will,” Dai Li replied.

“Why dare you so optimistic?” Johnson asked, puzzled

“Because of his love for basketball.” Dai Li turned to look at Johnson. “Some basketball players just regard basketball as a job, others have a deep passion for basketball. Basketball will always be a part of their lives.

“Nathan Hall is such a person. He loves basketball. His knees were injured, but he insisted on staying on the court. Every time he got injured and after he had his surgery, he always returned to the court as soon as possible. He eventually lost his menisci, but he still tried to play. When he had to leave the NBA, he did not leave basketball. He became a high school coach instead. When other stars retired they chose a life of riches.

“Hall has no bad habits. He earned tens of millions of dollars in his career, so he is not short of money. He went to a high school because he couldn’t bear to leave basketball. I know that he is really passionate about the sport. He won’t ever be able to stay away from the court. I firmly believe that he will agree because of his love of the game!”