581 An Entire Team of Training Partners (2/2)

”What do you mean?” Wood asked.

”I mean the team needs you. I'll let you continue to start and make you the core of the team,” Dai Li answered.

”Are you kidding? Me? You know my situation. Do you like messing with me?” Wood became even more furious.

Dai Li was incredibly calm. He looked at Wood and said, ”Of course, right now you wouldn't be able to start. You might not even make it into the bench. That's why you need to recover and return to your peak condition.”

”Impossible. Even if I wanted to, my body couldn't do it. My knee is history!” Wood said, shaking his head.

”That's why I'm here today,” Dai Li said. He pulled out a booklet from his bag and gave it to Wood.

”Coach Li's Physical Fitness Training Center's promotion booklet? Coach Li, this is your physical fitness training center, right?” Wood looked at Dai Li. He originally thought that Dai Li was there to talk about a buyout. He never would have imagined that Dai Li was there to look for business for his training center.

Looking for business for his own training center while being the head coach of the Clippers? Isn't this wrong? He wants to make money off of me when he knows I can't get better. I never would have thought that Coach Li was this sort of person.

”Look inside. This is training for those who have experienced serious major injuries or for athletes with old injuries that failed to heal. It's a promotion booklet printed especially for those types of athletes,” Dai Li said.

Wood opened the book. The beginning was a normal introduction saying that Dai Li's training center had the best equipment, professional coaches, and experience with rehabilitation therapy training.

The second part attracted Wood's attention. It listed real cases in which athletes who had trained at Dai Li's center had returned to their peak condition. Among these cases were several very famous world-class athletes who Wood had heard about.

”You don't have to doubt the the accuracy of this book. These athletes all underwent the rehabilitative training at my place. Their success and results can all be found online.” Dai Li paused for over a minute. He waited for Wood to read through at least half of them and then continued. ”Your situation is terrible, but I have methods to help you recover. You can be just like the other athletes you've just read about.”

”Really?” Wood's eyes showed his anxiety and his breathing became more hurried.

Dai Li nodded. ”Of course, however, you will need to contribute.”

”How much do you want?” Wood asked immediately. He thought Dai Li had come to personally profit, so he asked the price directly.

”What the hell are you thinking? You are my player. Why would I take your money?” Dai Li was dumbfounded. ”When I said 'contribute,' I meant you'd have to contribute time and effort! You need to listen to me and work hard in the rehabilitative training!”

”I'm sorry, I misunderstood.”

Dai Li then went on. ”The regular season just ended, so the teams in the playoffs are still playing games. We have been dismissed because we didn't qualify. The training camp for next season begins in October. However, I need you to start training now, not in October. There are six months from now until the season starts. I'm confident that in the next six months, I can return you to your previous condition. This arrangement will mean that your vacation is over. Over the holiday, the other players are all off. They will go to nightclubs, fish, surf, date beautiful stars, and enjoy time with their sons and daughters. You will have none of that. You can only train and sweat. Every day will be repetitive and boring. Are you willing to accept that?”

”Of course I'm willing! As long as I can recover, I'm willing to do anything.” Wood's eyes showed a sense of impatience. He was already raring to go.

Dai Li said, ”Apart from that, I also found you an entire team to be your training partner.”

”An entire team of training partners?” Wood stared at Dai Li in confusion.

”It's an entire team, from the point guard to the center. Every position will be filled and if we decide to scrimmage I've got players we can play against. Considering your current body condition, I'm afraid you will have difficulty adjusting to the physicality of the NBA, so I found you these training partners. They are weaker than NBA players. I believe that, in your current condition, they will be the perfect partners for you,” Dai Li said as he started to smile triumphantly.