590 The Power of a Role Model (2/2)

There was suddenly a knock on the door. Dai Li shouted, ”Please come in.” Wood entered.

”Wood, what do you need?” Dai Li asked.

”Coach Li, I want to talk with you about the recent situation with training.” Wood sat down, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally said, ”Coach Li, I feel that your training is very effective. I feel that I have recovered a lot. My knees are much better than before, but they are too damaged and it's impossible to return to my previous condition.”

Dai Li thought for a second and asked, ”Is the effect of the recent training not meeting your expectations?”

Wood did not answer but, from his expression, Dai Li could tell he was right.

According to the promise Dai Li made, Wood's knees would be restored to their pre-injury state. Now, it seemed that this recovery was somewhat slow. It seemed that a full recovery was far away. Thus, Wood already started to give up.

Dai Li laughed involuntarily.

Wood's knees had suffered multiple injuries, and most of the damages were irreparable. Some of their functions had stopped working. To get Wood's knees back to their pre-injury state, an athlete's patch was required.

Since an athlete's patch could only last for twelve months, Dai Li did not immediately use one for Wood. He hoped to wait until the start of the season to use it. It seemed that Wood was getting impatient waiting.

”Wood, our training has only just begun. We will only start to see the results in early September. If you gave up now, wouldn't it be a pity?” Dai Li asked with a smile.

Dai Li's confident smile affected Wood, but he still seemed somewhat uncertain.

Dai Li asked, ”Wood, tell me why you wanted to become a basketball player in the first place?”

”Michael,” Wood replied without hesitation.

”I almost forgot, you are from Chicago. When Michael was creating the Bulls Dynasty, you were still a child, right?” Dai Li asked.

Wood nodded, ”Michael has greatly influenced me. In fact, at the time, Michael was the idol of every child and teenager. We dreamed of becoming like Michael when we grew up, of becoming the 'The God of Basketball.'' If it weren't for Michael, I might not have played basketball. I might have gone to college like an ordinary person and found a regular job after graduating.”

”After you were selected by the Bulls, I guess you felt that you were getting close to your idol?” Dai Li smiled casually. ”It seems that he is not only your idol but also your role model. You must've wanted to become just like him.”

”When I first entered the NBA a few years ago, I used him as my goal. The longer I stayed in the NBA, however, the more I discovered how great he was. No one in this world can surpass him,” Wood sighed.

”So you are not going to chase after your role model anymore? Although you may not achieve all that he did in his career, you have always been on the path to catching up with him. Now that you realize you may not be able to surpass him, you gave up?” Dai Li asked solemnly.

”No, I didn't give up!” Wood said without hesitation.

Dai Li changed his tone of voice. ”Since you have not given up on chasing your role model, what are you doing here? You should be sweating on the training ground right now. Your leg injury is as such. I think you can be completely rehabilitated, but you have no confidence. The possibility is right in front of you. Even if it is only a small possibility, you should try very hard. If you try, you won't be mad that you failed. You won't feel any regret!”

...

Wood left Dai Li's office. The image of Wood's back when he was leaving emerged in Dai Li's head.

Because of the power of a role model, Wood had embarked on the path of basketball. Although Wood could never surpass the ”God of Basketball,” the ”God of Basketball” had planted a conviction in Wood's heart. Dai Li believe that a person with conviction would not give up.

Dai Li suddenly had a bold idea.

Wood needs an athlete's patch to restore him to his previous condition. There should be a lot of players like Wood in the NBA. Instead of focusing on one player, why not go all out?

Dai Li picked up the phone and dialed the number of the team's data analysis group.

”This is Dai Li. I need a list. I want a list of players who have gotten worse because they faced certain issues or retired for various reasons in recent years. It is best if they were stars or superstars. I want those who were the best players. Don't miss anyone!”