One Thousand and Twenty-One: Just Like Link Back Then

In August, when most stars are still participating in business activities around the world, or traveling around the world.

In Memphis, Link training camp has officially opened.

This time, Link did not choose to go to Los Angeles for training because most of the people invited to the training camp by Link this year were the Grizzlies' own players.

Josh Richardson, Spencer Dinwiddie and Harrell naturally cannot escape.

Jokic was unable to report because he had to participate in the Olympics. But being able to experience in the international arena is also good for Jokic.

Conley, who was reimbursed last season, also hopes to start training early this summer and regain his form as soon as possible.

Gasol originally wanted to come with Conley, but also because of the Olympics, he could only focus on the national team's tasks.

These four people, including Link, mean that the Grizzlies alone have five people joining the training camp this year!

Therefore, Link simply moved his training location to Memphis.

Being in a small place like Memphis also helps the players concentrate on training.

After all, Los Angeles is a metropolis, and the world of flowers is very exciting. Link is not worried about the others. It is hard to say whether the three young people can endure it.

But in Memphis, you can’t find a place to go out for fun.

So choosing Memphis is a win-win situation.

As for the trainer, Link's old friend Chris Brickley naturally brought his team to Memphis to continue assisting Link.

Brickley works with Link every summer, and the two are already old friends.

Although now as Brickley's fame grows, more and more people make reservations for Brickley, but he will always leave time in the summer for Link.

Of course, in addition to the people from Brickley, this year's training team also includes the Grizzlies' new player development consultant Steve Nash!

Since the Canadian team did not advance to the Olympics this summer, Nash is temporarily free this summer.

Although he will have to prepare for another four-year cycle of the Olympics in the future, at least now, he can devote himself wholeheartedly to the training of the Grizzlies.

The dual-core trainer lineup of Brickley + Nash ensures the consistent high-level training quality of Link training camp.

On August 4th, everyone gathered and began a month and a half of special training.

Special training for the championship!

Link was never careless. On the first day, he was the first to arrive. As the biggest and most successful player in the entire training camp, Link is the one who works the hardest.

But what made Link happy was that the next day, he was no longer the first to arrive.

The next day, before Link entered the training hall, he heard the sound of basketballs colliding with the wooden floor and the beautiful note of the tumbling nets.

Link opened the door and saw that Dinwiddie was already practicing his three-point shooting.

You know, it's only half past six. But it looks like Dinwiddie has been training for a while.

After the early morning in Los Angeles, is there another early morning story in Memphis?

"Morning." Link said hello to Dinwiddie. He was very happy that he was no longer the first one to come.

"Good morning, Link!" Spencer Dinwiddie, the defender with a retro afro, waved energetically to Link.

Then, continue to invest in your own three-point practice.

This summer, the thing that Dinwiddie most urgently needs to improve is his three-point shot!

last season,

Dinwiddie's three-point shooting percentage is less than 20%. For comparison, Rondo, who has always been considered unable to shoot three-pointers, shot 35.2% from three-pointers last season.

In today's league where even big men are starting to shoot three-pointers, if a guard can't shoot three-pointers, his threat will plummet.

Therefore, on the first day of training camp, Dinwiddie began to focus on three-pointers under the guidance of Nash.

Fixed-point three-point practice is something that even Link has never experienced. After all, his three-point skills have been on fire since he entered the league.

But it is not difficult for Link to imagine how boring the practice of fixed-point three-pointers is.

No confrontation, no dribbling and no overly complicated moves.

All you need to do is try to put the ball in the basket from beyond the three-point line over and over again.

Let your muscles form memory so you can shoot quality shots without having to think twice.

However, Dinwiddie injected all his enthusiasm into this boring training.

Yesterday, Dinwiddie was the last one to leave the arena. Today, he was the earliest again.

This energy made Link extremely happy.

Link knew that Dinwiddie was also holding back his energy. His rookie season was basically spent in the Development League, and Link is well aware of the thoughts of players who play in the Development League.

If possible, Dinwiddie can choose to go to a foreign league, play easily, and make money happily.

But just like Link and Upshaw, every time this thought comes up, they ask themselves, "Is this what you really want?"

Then, they will bite the bullet and continue to prove themselves in the Development League.

The Dinwiddie of today is the Link and Upshaw of the past!

Moreover, Dinwiddie also suffered something that neither Link nor Upshaw had experienced - a major injury.

In fact, Dinwiddie was very good in college. Both academically and basketball performance are quite excellent.

His meticulous thinking and studious personality since he was a child made his total SAT score reach 1400 points!

So much so that his family once urged him to attend Harvard University.

If it weren't for a better basketball environment, Dinwiddie might have been another Harvard top student.

After choosing the University of Colorado, Dinwiddie's performance on the basketball court did not disappoint.

By his sophomore year, Dinwiddie had grown to 1.98 meters. At that time, not only could he continue to serve as the number one position, but he could also defend the small forward.

A tall number one position with excellent scoring and organizational skills is what all teams in the league dream of.

At that time, Dinwiddie's predicted pick once reached the lottery. Unfortunately, a torn anterior cruciate ligament shattered his dream of stardom in an instant.

This kind of college genius died due to injury, which may be even more unacceptable than Link and Upshaw, who were very mediocre in college.

Therefore, Dinwiddie's motivation is not inferior to that of Link and Upshaw.

He doesn't believe in fate, he believes that he can control his own destiny.

Link did not continue to disturb Dinwiddie, but silently started shooting in the other half.

With the help of Nash, if Dinwiddie keeps practicing like this, his three-point shooting percentage will definitely improve.

Last season, Dinwiddie's breakthrough finishing ability was already outstanding. His smart and calm mind also makes his organization very smooth. With a height of nearly 2 meters, he also has a great advantage when defending the first position.

Dinwiddie is actually close to being complete. As long as he can use the three-point skill, Dinwiddie will definitely be able to soar into the sky!

The two of them spent about twenty minutes without saying a word.

At this time, Dinwiddie suddenly spoke.

"Otherwise, let's compete in three-point shooting, Link."

"Huh? Are you sure?" Link looked at Dinwiddie with a smile. His courage deserves recognition.

"Without competition, I don't feel that I have enough motivation. We compete with 100 three-pointers every morning, and the loser stays after training and practices 300 more shots. What do you think?" Dinwiddie scratched his head. The head seems a little shy.

But Link knows that Dinwiddie is reserved but extremely competitive!

Otherwise, he might have given up on himself after the serious injury.

"Okay, congratulations first. Because from now on, you have to stay and practice every day, Spencer." Link tilted his head and walked confidently to Dinwiddie.

Unknowingly, Link found that he had reached the age of bringing in new people...

In the past, the scenes of Tony Allen, Battier and others training themselves seemed like yesterday. But in the blink of an eye, the next reincarnation has already begun.

Taking the young people you trained to compete for honor?

Well...it should be quite a sense of accomplishment...

From now on, at 6:30 every morning, the sound of shooting will be heard in the training hall on time.

After every day's training, Dinwiddie was forced to stay and practice 300 three-point shots.

But as the days passed, Link found that it became more and more difficult to win against Dinwiddie...