Chapter 1114: Chapter 620: Not That Regret_3 Chapter 1114: Chapter 620: Not That Regret_3 But for young players, being linked with a superstar is undoubtedly an honor.

The top draft spot for Simmons was secured after his first NCAA game.

Ingram, dubbed Little Durant, never came close.

European wunderkind Dragan Bender was shrouded in too many uncertainties.

None of the remaining players could challenge Simmons with raw talent for sale, and as for instant impact? That was even less of a consideration. Simmons’ top draft position was stable due to his peerless combat power at his age, coupled with high talent.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ unrestrained tanking led to a 15-win season and, as they wished, the top draft pick.

The cost of doing so was the league’s resistance to “Trust the Process” architect Sam Hinkie, who was fired after the 76ers secured this year’s top draft pick.

Of course, this was never admitted.

Hinkie’s resignation letter also completely avoided the issue.

But the 76ers fans who had once bitterly criticized Hinkie would not forget that without that man bearing the burden of humiliation, they could never have gotten the Australian Xiao Yufei.

Thereafter, the draft proceeded methodically.

The 76ers used the top pick to choose Ben Simmons.

The Nuggets, with the second pick from the Brooklyn Nets(1), chose Brandon Ingram.

(1) In 2011, the Nets traded three first-rounders to acquire Anthony.

The Phoenix Suns used the third pick to select Dragan Bender.

The Celtics chose Jaylen Brown with the fourth pick.

Then, the Nuggets picked Jamal Murray with the sixth selection.

After that, the others were not worth mentioning.

When the draft reached the 26th pick of the first round, the Memphis Grizzlies’ draft war room contacted the Clippers to inquire who they planned to pick.

Trem immediately gave the name as instructed by Yu Fei.

Pascal Siakam, an inconspicuous older rookie, was selected by the Clippers.

No one thought this pick would bring any changes.

Just as the Clippers finished their selection, the Toronto Raptors’ draft war room was plunged into chaos.

As Trem was about to use the 30th pick on his favored candidate, Yu Fei suddenly realized that the team’s first-round pick was still available and proactively called the draft room.

Perhaps because the GOAT was getting older, he now preferred players who could contribute immediately, opting for older rookies.

Choosing the 1994-born Siakam didn’t seem enough; just as the Clippers were about to make the 30th pick, he suggested the team pick Malcolm Brogdon from the University of Virginia with this selection. Brogdon, born in 1992 and two years older than Siakam, was one of the oldest players in the draft.

“Are there any other possibilities?” Trem was somewhat allergic to these veteran rookies.

“No,” Yu Fei replied firmly, “Just pick him.”

Trem had no power to resist the orders of the Player GM.

In the end, as Yu Fei wished, the Clippers first selected Siakam and then Brogdon.

This seemed like a perfectly normal decision to the outside world. After all, the Clippers were contenders for the championship; when competing for the title, one cannot always pick saplings that need time to mature–it’s best to decisively choose these ready-to-fight veteran rookies to maintain combat readiness.

The Clippers’ draft work was over.

Heading into the second round, the draft had essentially entered garbage time. Due to the overall low talent, NBA teams did not hold high expectations for the second-round players of this draft.

But this is from the perspective of the NBA hierarchy. For Chinese basketball, the 2016 NBA Draft was a year to be remembered.

This year, three Chinese players were selected, namely Zhou Qi (Rockets) as the 10th pick of the second round, Hu Jinqiu (Warriors) as the 27th pick, and Wang Zhe Lin (Grizzlies) as the 30th pick.

More interestingly, Wang Zhe Lin claimed he was selected by the NBA in his sleep. He was completely unprepared for this event beforehand. After being selected, he filmed a short video in the Grizzlies jersey sent to him, greeting the Memphis fans across the ocean as if he were truly preparing to enter the NBA.

But ultimately, that was the only NBA-related thing he ever did in his life as a would-be NBA player.

He never attempted to challenge the NBA.

Until one day, fans realized he would never go.

This is not an uncommon story; many players selected like Wang Zhe Lin had an NBA connection but never tried to challenge the league. Initially, their excuse was that they were still young and needed experience. Ten years later, now mature, they began to openly admit their inability to play in the NBA, a sobering acknowledgment. What could be more valuable than realizing oneself?

In the end, a career that began with being selected by the NBA but never involved with the NBA ended in mediocrity, leaving the fans of that country with a fruitless regret.

However, Yu Fei was happy that Hu Jinqiu was selected.

He would not be that regret.