NBA's King of Talking

"Of course not, but it will be soon," Jia Fei said.

"You're nervous about the preseason game tomorrow?" Kemba Walker asked with a smile.

"Yeah, I'm definitely nervous. I probably won't be nervous during the regular season because I probably won't get to play," Jia Fei said. This was indeed the case. He would definitely play in tomorrow night's preseason game; as one of only two rookies on the team, he would certainly get a chance to be evaluated. But during the regular season, it would be difficult for him to make the rotation unless the team experienced a large number of injuries.

"Our game is the day after tomorrow, I'm not nervous. Maybe I'll be a little nervous when we play in the playoffs!" Kemba Walker said confidently.

Jia Fei didn't think Kemba Walker was bragging. Indeed, for someone who had played several seasons in the NCAA Tournament with his team, even reaching the Finals and winning the Most Outstanding Player award, it was hard for an NBA preseason game to make him nervous.

“Jia, I have a great way to make you less nervous!” Kemba Walker said mysteriously.

"What method?" Jia Fei was also very curious about what brilliant ideas his former teammate had.

"Just don't put any pressure on yourself. You don't need to play tomorrow's preseason game like it's your last game. That might actually make you more nervous and cause you to overexert yourself. Just think, 'At worst, I'll go back to the NBDL, at worst, the team will give up on me.' If you have that mindset, I think you won't be nervous!" Kemba Walker said.

Jia Fei thought Kemba Walker made a lot of sense! The reason he was nervous was because he was afraid of not making the roster if he didn't perform well. If he had thought about the worst possible outcome, then there would be nothing to be afraid of, and he could have just gone for it.

"Thank you, Kemba, thank you for your great idea!" Jia Fei was indeed very grateful to Kemba Walker for calling him the night before the preseason game.

"It's okay, we are good friends!"

On the 19th, Jia Fei played his first preseason game in his professional career.

Kemba Walker's advice was quite effective; Jia Fei kept giving himself positive self-talk, which actually made him feel less nervous. Reggie Jackson, on the other hand, seemed quite nervous. Watching him fidget in the locker room, constantly pursing his lips and searching for his socks, it was clear he was struggling to manage his anxiety.

In the locker room, Westbrook remained his usual optimist, acting like a child with no worries whatsoever. Durant and Harden, on the other hand, seemed more reserved, neither of them being particularly talkative.

Perkins was quite an interesting person; he had a憨憨 (simple-minded) expression, but when he started telling jokes, he could string them together one after another. Jia Fei thought of Erpang (a character from a popular TV series) in his previous life who became a full-time commentator after retiring from the military, and he was also full of outrageous remarks. This made him think that many people are indeed born to do this job; personality determines everything.

Jia Fei opened his locker and saw his number 3 jersey, which suddenly filled him with a sense of happiness. He had finally become an NBA player and was number 3 for the Thunder!

Even though it was just a preseason game, the Ford Center was packed that night. Jia Fei could feel the enthusiasm of the fans as he walked through the player tunnel.

It's here! My first preseason game is finally coming!

Jia Fei's heart began to burn. This feeling was too wonderful. He finally had the opportunity to stand on the NBA court, even if it was just a preseason game.

In his excitement, he received a basketball from a staff member on site. He immediately started diagonally, jumped on one foot, and easily completed a 360° double-handed back dunk!

Westbrook saw the dunk and ran over with a grin, like a kid, like a football player, carrying the basketball and charging to the basket, and also delivered a powerful one-handed dunk!

Westbrook's physical attributes are truly explosive. His jumping height isn't actually that exaggerated, but his strength is too good. Jia Fei thinks that among the point guards in the league, there are probably only a handful who can withstand his impact.

"Jay, one more!" Westbrook bounced the ball to the ground!

Jia Fei strode forward, jumped on one foot, caught the ball in mid-air with one hand, and slammed it into the basket!

"Yay—" Westbrook stepped forward and gave Jia Fei a high five, excitedly saying, "Jia, your dunk was amazing! You have the ability to blow the judges' minds in the dunk contest!"

Jia Fei smiled and nodded. He also liked dunking, but he didn't think winning a dunk contest would help him much. Many dunkers had faded out of the league. To survive in this league, a ground-based style wasn't necessarily inferior to a high-flying style.

Durant was there too, wearing a hoodie with the hood pulled up over his head, looking like a wizard. He's from Washington, so perhaps he was paying homage to his hometown NBA team!

In terms of temperament, Durant is truly unique! Jia Fei thinks that if Durant weren't so good at basketball, he would definitely be a complete loser.

The players from tonight's opponent—the Dallas Mavericks—are also here.

The Mavericks, the defending champions and the team that defeated the Thunder last season, quickly arranged for the two teams from last season's Western Conference Finals to play two consecutive preseason games, which shows the league went to great lengths. For ratings and to generate buzz, the league is really going all out.

After practice, the match was about to begin.

The Ford Center instantly went dark, and Jia Fei knew the entrance ceremony was about to begin. The NBA's starting lineup entrance ceremony is indeed very ceremonial, with top-notch prestige. The CBA really should learn from this.

The Thunder's starting lineup is the same as last season's regular season starting lineup, still consisting of Durant and Westbrook, plus Perkins, Ibaka, and Sefolosha.

The opposing Mavericks' star player, "German Machine" Nowitzki, will miss this game due to a foot injury, as will their starting point guard, Kidd. Odom and West will start in their place.

After the game started, perhaps because of the loss in last season's Western Conference Finals, Durant and Westbrook were unhappy and launched a crazy offensive from the start, almost breaking up the Mavericks' makeshift lineup.

Jia Fei, watching from the sidelines, felt like Durant was playing an overtime game of the Western Conference Finals. This was just a preseason game, but he kept driving into the opponent's paint and tried to dunk over the opponent's center, Haywood, several times. My god!

Thanks to the efforts of Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder took control of the game. Midway through the first quarter, they began making substitutions on the sidelines. Harden came in first, followed by veteran Mohammed, and then Collison, Eric Melo, and Daequan Cook.

The Thunder's rotation is basically the same as the regular season rotation, and it's clear that the team still needs to use the regular rotation in the first half.

Jia Fei and Reggie Jackson were both sitting by the water cooler, their ears perked up, waiting for head coach Brooks to call their names.

However, the first half ended without either Jia Fei or Reggie getting a chance to play.