Chapter 587: Untamed Horse
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Dai Li was no longer paying attention to Ronny’s situation. The summer was long and Dai Li had plenty of time to deal with the Ronny situation.
The Clippers’ next focus was the NBA Summer League. Throughout the Summer League, new players could be examined. First and second-year rookies, as well as free agents who had not been selected, could be watched closely.
This was usually handled by a.s.sistant coaches. The head team coaches mainly watched from the sidelines. They usually didn’t give any personal guidance to the players. If a head coach was in a good mood, he might go to the summer league to provide some a.n.a.lysis for the players.
Dai Li handed the responsibility of the summer league to Ca.s.sel. He only went occasionally to observe.
Among the Clippers’ players partic.i.p.ating in the summer league, Kelz-k.u.mar was the only one that could surprise Dai Li.
In fact, this was not unexpected. The NBA had the best talent scouts in the world. Even if one or two scouts missed a rookie, he would not be overlooked by 30 scouts at the same time. A rookie who was unsuccessful definitely lacked talent.
Dai Li showed up on the training ground one day. Although he was just simply observing the training, it excited the players. They all tried their best to showcase themselves, hoping to gain Dai Li’s favor and stay on the Clippers.
Dai Li looked at these hard-working young men, feeling helpless.
“These young men are really working hard but, unfortunately, effort alone isn’t enough to make it in the NBA. There are too many talented players here,” Dai Li said to himself.
His mobile phone rang and broke Dai Li’s train of thought. He took it out. Blake’s name was on the screen’s display.
“Randy, is there anything going on at the training center?” Dai Li asked immediately after picking up the phone.
“I just got a customer. He wants to come to us for rehabilitation training, but there are some small issues with this person,” Blake said.
“Who is it? A celebrity?” Dai Li asked.
“He’s a well-known athlete, but he is riddled with bad press,” Blake continued. “You are now a coach in the NBA. You must have heard the name Osef?”
“Him!” Dai Li said. He could not help but look towards Kelz-k.u.mar.
In the rookie’s draft report, it said that he most resembled Osef!
…
Osef was born into a single-parent family. When he was a child, his mother died. He grew up with his grandmother and aunt. Before the second year of high school, Osef was short and very thin. He had no advantage when he got into fights. When he played as a point guard, he often relied on his brains.
In the second year of high school, he suddenly grew 8 inches. He soon grew to 6.7 feet. His body became strong. Suddenly, he had the potential to become a superstar. He was a point guard with good technique. As a result, he was already a player who was difficult to defend against in high school games.
Osef later entered the NBA as a fourth-round pick. This was very impressive. The team that selected him had high hopes for him. Osef did not let the team down. He showed great potential in his rookie season. It wasn’t hard for him to get a triple-double.
Osef reached his peak with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won two champions.h.i.+ps with them. He also won best sixth player once. He averaged 14+9+5 per game. As a subst.i.tute, he could get ten triple-doubles in a season. At the time, Osef was hailed as a point forward.
Osef was a rare player in the NBA in that he could play all five positions. As a subst.i.tute, his adaptability made him better than an all-star player. At the time, many opponents treated Osef as an all-star.
It was a pity that such a player was eventually ruined by drugs and women.
In fact, Osef constantly had trouble off the court. He smoked marijuana, was charged with drunk driving, and got involved in a shooting. What really ruined his career was the drugs. After becoming addicted, Osef’s condition declined. He was eventually kicked out of the NBA. Later, he went to a drug rehabilitation center, but it didn’t help.
It was also around that time that Osef’s wife cheated on him with another man. This made Osef indulge himself in women and become more dependent on drugs. He even overdosed from taking too much of an aphrodisiac. He had to be kept alive using a ventilator and kidney dialysis.
After a while, there wasn’t any news about Osef. He only recently announced he wanted to make a comeback after the last regular season ended. There wasn’t any other news after his announcement. Dai Li didn’t expect Osef to go to his training center on his own.
…
Dai Li rushed back to the training center and met Osef.
Before Dai Li arrived, the training center had already given Osef a medical examination. What surprised Dai Li was that, based on the results of the physical examination, Osef was still stronger than most people, even after having used drugs for such a long period of time. His strength shocked even Dai Li, someone who was experienced in this field.
Putting down Osef’s medical report, Dai Li asked, “Mr. Osef, are you really going to return to the NBA next season?”
“Of course. I have made up my mind. I want to go back to the NBA. That is why I came to you. You have the best physical training center in the United States, especially in rehabilitation,” said Osef.
“Mr. Osef, please forgive me. If you really want to return to the NBA, my training can only help a bit. The more important thing is self-discipline,” Dai Li said.
“I know. I have already planned to stop drinking,” Osef replied immediately.
“Not just alcohol.” Dai Li shook his fingers and lowered his voice. “You have to stop taking drugs as well. Otherwise, you can’t qualify as a professional athlete.”
“I used to take drugs, but that was a long time ago. I have quit,” Osef replied.
“Is that so?” Dai Li smiled and stared at Osef. From what Dai Li saw, Osef looked uncomfortable.
Dai Li knew that Osef was lying; he had not stopped taking drugs. Dai Li had learned through the detector that Osef’s body contained traces of drugs. This meant that he was still taking something.
Dai Li did not reveal that he knew. Since Osef wanted to conceal it, he had no reason to reveal it.
…
“Do you think Osef really wants to make a comeback?” Blake asked.
Dai Li shook his head. “He is still taking drugs. Do you think any serious professional athlete would become a drug addict? If he really wants to make a comeback, he has to get sober first.”
“As I thought. I knew that this guy couldn’t make it.” Blake shook his head disdainfully and then said, “He has said that he wanted to make a comeback in the past. He released a few photos of his training but, after a few days, he was sent to the hospital because he took too much of an aphrodisiac. You heard about this, right?”
Dai Li nodded. At the time, there was a lot of buzz about Osef. Some of the press even said that Osef was braindead. Of course, Dai Li had heard.
“Osef was not really sincere about wanting a comeback. Maybe he just came because he was feeling emotional. What should we do about his training?” Blake asked.
“Just do what we need to do. He paid the money and he is our customer. Even though he is not sincere, we need to provide good service.” Dai Li sighed and thought for a few seconds. “There is nothing for me to do with the Clippers recently. I can handle Osef’s training myself.”
…
“Whamp! Whomp! Whump!”
The smas.h.i.+ng sounds came from the training room.
Dai Li rushed over and saw several coaches standing at the door. None dared to go in.
“What’s wrong?” Dai Li asked quickly.
“It’s Osef. He is breaking things,” one coach replied.
“Why?” Dai Li asked.d
“Because of this.” Someone handed Dai Li a sports magazine. “This is the magazine we order. I usually show it to customers when they take a break. This was just sent in the morning. There is an article about Osef and his wife. When Osef took a break, he took the magazine on the shelf next to him. He then started breaking things in anger. d.a.m.n. I really shouldn’t have let Osef see the magazine.”
Dai Li looked at the magazine. The picture was a woman with a bust and hips that she could be proud of. This woman was holding a strong black man.
“This person is Osef’s wife. I heard that she had trouble with Osef and that they are going through divorce procedures,” the coach explained.
“I know this woman,” Dai Li nodded.
According to the rumors, she had cheated on Osef a few times when he was still playing in the NBA. Later, when Osef entered the hospital, his wife went to the hospital with her new boyfriend to visit Osef. Thankfully, Osef was unconscious at the time. Otherwise, he would have seen his wife with another man. It would have definitely made him angry.
“I should’ve known not to take on this client!” Blake rushed over. He went to Dai Li and asked, “What is Osef mad about? Did he take drugs again?”
“It is this.” Dai Li handed the magazine to Blake.
“Hey, isn’t this Osef’s wife? Their divorce procedures aren’t finalized yet, are they? Let me see what is written here. Wow, she said that her boyfriend is much better than Osef in bed! No wonder. I would also go crazy over this.” Blake shook his head.
“Yeah, this wife of Osef is not your typical woman.” Dai Li smiled and said, “She is a wild untamed horse.”