If you are a Duke player, then you must be a white person. If you are not a white person, then your height must be 2.03 meters. If you are accurate in mid-range shots, then your three-pointers must not be able to do it. If you are accurate in three-pointers, then your mid-range shots will definitely not be very good. If you are accurate in three-pointers and mid-range shots, then your figure will definitely not be suitable for playing NBA.

Although this is just a joke, most Duke-produced basketball players really meet the above conditions.

So today, Link saw the Duke player who was 2.03 meters tall, average physical fitness, but accurate shooting, in the training ground of the FedEx Arena, Sean Bathir.

Bathir is a typical Duke player with poor physical fitness, but has top basketball IQ, high tactical cultivation, gentle personality but full of fighting spirit, and is a tough guy. How to say it? It is very similar to Grant Hill in all aspects, and it can be said that it has perfectly inherited Duke's fine traditions.

That's right, Link's idol and his current master Grant Hill are also produced by Duke.

"Hello, Link. Hahaha, I didn't expect that we became teammates again." Seeing Link walk into the training ground, Bathir laughed friendly.

Link didn't know what Tabitt looked like when he went to Houston to report, but Battier, this guy was very natural, as if he was originally a member of the Grizzlies.

But speaking of this, Bathir was indeed a member of the Grizzlies.

In the 2001 NBA draft, Battier was selected by the Grizzlies. He also played for the Grizzlies until 2006. After that, Battier joined the Rockets.

So, for Bathir, this is back to his former residence. He is no stranger to this place. Although many things have changed, he still feels intimacy.

"Shawn, come so early?" Although Link and Bathil were former teammates, they really had no intersection when they were on the Rockets. Facing Bathil's enthusiasm, Link didn't know what to say for a moment, so he could only ask casually.

Logically speaking, the deal has just been completed, so Bathir doesn't have to rush to come to the training ground. Shouldn't he settle in Memphis first and hold a press conference. He will only start playing after everything is arranged. Anthony went to New York a few days ago and walked through these processes.

"Are you early? I heard that the team's training started at 9 o'clock, and it's already 8 o'clock. I don't want to be late for the first day of training, hehe."

Bathil waved his hand and went to the locker room to change his clothes.

Link scratched his head. This guy is too professional! He was suddenly traded in the middle of the season, but it seemed that he was not affected at all. He still did whatever he should do. When he came to Memphis, he didn't do anything extra. He went directly to the training ground and came to train for an hour in advance!

No wonder coach Lao K once commented on Bathir: "He gave the best definition of a basketball player."

Looking at Bathil, who was still working hard despite his old age, Link suddenly remembered Brother Mayo for some reason. So, sometimes, attitude is something more important than ability.

In the following time, the Grizzlies players arrived at the training ground one after another. Bathir greeted everyone warmly. Although he had just arrived at the Grizzlies, he seemed to have no sense of estrangement from everyone.

This guy has a strong affinity, and he has an unpleasant personality. Battier has always been like this kind of good-looking man, and this image is not pretended to be. Take his marriage as an example. After Battier's childhood sweetheart who had been in love for 13 years entered the marriage hall, he never had any scandals.

This kind of thing is really good for NBA players.

Finally, at about nine o'clock in the morning, "Mayo" and the team's head coach Lionel Hollins stepped into the court. The first thing Hollins did when he came today was to introduce new players to everyone.

"Shaan Bathir, Mr. 'President'! I believe I don't need to introduce it, you all know him, right? When I was an assistant coach, Sean played for the Grizzlies!"

"Hahahaha, don't say that I'm so old, Hollins. Hello everyone, I hope to complete the unfinished career here and help the team win the playoffs. I believe we can do it, as long as everyone works together!"

After Bathir said that, the players applauded. This guy is so leader-like, no wonder he can even suppress the locker room in the Rockets.

You should know that the captain of a team is not something that anyone with good abilities can be. First of all, you have to be qualified, and secondly, you have to make people convince you. Of course, the leadership must be good. Think about it, if the Nuggets used Anthony as the captain, the team's locker room would have been in chaos. And with the Heat, Haslem is still the captain when he owns the Big Three.

It can be seen that this captain is not that easy. People who can be captains in a team are usually not too simple.

Seeing Bathil, Link understood this truth.

"Okay, everyone will be partners who fight side by side in the future. Now, start training. You all know that our next opponent is the San Antonio Spurs! Currently ranked No. 1 in the West! If you don't want to be torn to pieces, it's best to work hard when training!"

After saying that, Hollins clapped his hands and today's training officially began. Bathir did not participate in the training immediately, but was called into the head coach's office by Hollins.

"I met him when I came today. Does he come so early every day?" Bathir seemed casual in Hollins' office. After all, he and Hollins also had an old acquaintance. As Hollins just said, when he played for the Grizzlies, Hollins was still working as an assistant coach here.

"He is the earliest player every day. I'm talking about every day, but literal. Since he signed with the Grizzlies, no day has come later than others." Hollins replied with a smile. When he mentioned Link, the guy always smiled from ear to ear.

"Shawn, if you can, we need you as a backup for Link. I know, he's just a rookie, but"

"It's okay, I'll listen to you." Before Hollins began to explain, Bathir replied with a smile, "I accept the role of substitute, and it's indeed more appropriate for him to play..."

Bathir is the kind of player who is willing to absolutely obey the head coach's arrangement, even if the head coach's arrangement is to reduce his playing time and shooting rights.

"Well, there is one more thing. In fact, we hope you can coach Link more in training to help him improve faster. You are one of the best defense in the league. Sean, that kid learns things very quickly and will teach you once."

"I? Teach Link?" Bathil pointed to himself and frowned. "I don't know if he needs my guidance, Hollins. He is already perfect for that kid. You know, most players of his age have to go through a process of becoming a boy into a man after they arrive at the NBA. But in my opinion, he is already a man. But if the team needs it, I will teach him as much as possible. The premise is that he really needs to learn."

Bathil gave Link a high evaluation because for some reason, the more he looked at Link, the more he felt like Duke players. Once Duke players were produced, they were often very mature.

※※※

Link's offensive steps are actually much better than his peers. After all, Hill's offensive steps were also excellent in his twilight years.

But even so, Link still feels that he is not perfect enough. He spends time practicing what Kobe taught him every day. Now that his physical fitness is not that strong, skills are very important to Link.

"Your offensive steps are enough to surpass most rookies, Link." Bathir walked to Link with interest. He had been observing Link for a while.

"But my opponent is not just a rookie player, Sean. Now, I can't beat Tony Allen with my steps." Link replied with a smile, but the movements in his hands still did not stop.

"Defeat Tony Allen?" Bathir thought in his mind. That was the most terrifying outside defense gate in the entire league. If this guy practices offense based on Tony Allen's defensive standards, it would be terrible.

"Don't think about Tony, or you try to defeat me first." Bathil suggested that once the team gave him the task, he would not delay, and do it directly if it should.

So Hollins asked Bathir to coach Link, and he started immediately.

"ha?"

"Why, I look down on the defense of the old players?" Bathir joked.

"No, then I'm welcome, Sean."

"Don't worry, I can still bear it."

In this way, Bathir began a one-on-one offense and defense with Link. Seeing this scene, Tony Allen breathed a sigh of relief.
Chapter completed!