Chapter 46 Coach, My Goal Is Not to Become a Blue-Collar Worker

Before taking the court, head coach Allan Bristow said to Tang Bei, "Tang, the interior offense will be handled by Larry Johnson. Your job is to control the rebounds, protect the rim, and score on second-chance opportunities."

Hearing this, Tang Bei felt somewhat displeased. After all, these were the typical chores of a blue-collar center. As the prestigious second overall draft pick, was this all he was going to do?

Having been in the NBA for a few months, he knew that blue-collar players did not achieve much; only by becoming a star could one truly make a name for oneself.

Furthermore, today's opponent was shorter than him, weighing only 110 kilograms. He definitely had the advantage in the low post, so why wasn't he allowed to be the primary offensive option? What use was that short guy Larry Johnson?

Staring directly at Bristow, he said, "Coach, I am the second pick in the first round. My goal is not to become a blue-collar worker, and I believe the team's expectations for me are not just that either."

Bristow was extremely surprised, but he had to admit that Tang Bei was right. The front office definitely did not wish to develop Tang into a mere blue-collar player.

The reason he asked Tang Bei to do the dirty work wasn't to suppress him—the management would never allow him to do that. He simply wanted to give the rookie a period of adjustment.

He just hadn't expected this young man to talk right back to him. With a personality as difficult as Larry Johnson's, he was going to be a handful.

Tang Bei continued, "Besides, today is my debut, Coach. I hope to get more shot attempts and tactical support."

Everyone else was equally astonished, including Larry Johnson and Kendall Gill.

They never expected that a rookie, especially one of Chinese descent, would dare to demand shot attempts and tactical status from the head coach on his very debut. They themselves had not dared to be that bold during their own debuts.

"This rookie is trying to compete with me?"

Larry Johnson felt a pang of irritation. Tang Bei's boldness provoked him.

Kendall Gill was also somewhat puzzled. Did the China Tang want to join the fray between him and Larry Johnson? Did he currently have the strength to do so?

Noticing Larry Johnson's sour expression, Bristow found himself in a difficult position. No matter how important Larry Johnson was to the team, he could not simply ignore Tang Bei's demands.

This was solely because Tang Bei's draft position was high enough. As the glorious second overall pick, ranking right behind Larry Johnson, it gave Tang Bei a very high status within the team.

Moreover, Tang Bei was the rarest kind of talented heavyweight center—the most scarce type of player in the league. The front office held equally high expectations for him and planned to invest substantial resources into his development.

Glancing at Larry Johnson, Bristow considered the matter and replied, "Alright then. Although your shooting has improved, it's still not reliable enough. As long as you get close to the basket and establish deep position, I authorize the perimeter players to pass you the ball."

"Thank you, coach."

Tang Bei said excitedly.

However, Larry Johnson's expression darkened, and the annoyance in his heart deepened.

As a rookie, openly competing for shot attempts in his very first game—what would happen in the future? He knew he had just acquired a new rival.

Moreover, this rookie was a center, the person closest to the rim. The threat he posed to him was far greater than that of shooting guard Kendall Gill.

He was also somewhat displeased with head coach Bristow. By granting Tang Bei's request, Bristow was only fueling the rookie's arrogance, in his view.

Yet, despite his fiery temper, he had to hold it in for now. He wanted the leadership role and could not afford to throw a tantrum easily, lest people perceive him as lacking magnanimity.

At eight o'clock, the game commenced.

For the tip-off, Tang Bei and Pervis Ellison stood at the center circle.

Ellison was no nobody. In his freshman year, he had led Louisville to the NCAA championship and was adept at using psychology to analyze opponents.

At the same time, over his four years in NCAA, he had polished exceptional small forward skills. His offensive repertoire was extremely comprehensive.

He could score effectively both inside and outside, and was even proficient in the fadeaway jumper—a technique once praised by Michael Jordan as "the violent aesthetics of geometry."

Selected first overall by the Kings in 1989, he was unfortunately injury-prone. He played only thirty-some games in his rookie season before suffering a severe knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year, leading to a trade to the Bullets at the end of the season.

After joining the Bullets, his performance in his first season was average. However, after recovering from injuries last season, he erupted with an All-Star performance, becoming the scoring leader for the Bullets.

Averaging 20 points, 11.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 2.7 blocks, he entered the 20+10 club and was named the league's Most Improved Player last season.

The only drawback was that he stood at only 206 centimeters. Lacking an elite center on the roster, the Bullets were forced to deploy him as their starting center.

Facing Tang Bei, the 110-kilogram Ellison appeared thin and small, looking like they belonged to entirely different weight classes.

At this moment, Mike Breen remarked, "The physical disparity is immense. Back in the CBA, China Tang injured quite a few players with his collisions.

The Catbirds alone had four or five players sidelined. His ability to absorb contact is terrifying, and Ellison's physique is prone to injury; he needs to be careful."

Tom Tolbert commented, "China Tang himself stated that he is extremely strong, and his physical contact capability is number one in the NBA."

Mike Breen laughed, "Whether his contact ability is number one, I don't know, but he has already managed to anger the Mailman, Karl Malone."

"Haha, well, he'd better watch out then," Tom Tolbert chuckled.

"Whack!"

Just then, the basketball was tossed high into the air. Tang Bei easily batted the ball away over Ellison's head, then immediately sprinted toward the frontcourt paint.

Pervis Ellison reacted quickly, trying to push Tang Bei outward, but he was bounced right off upon initial physical contact, failing his very first physical duel with Tang Bei.

Tang Bei seized the opportunity to dash into the paint, planting his right elbow against Ellison, who was trying to front him, and raised his left hand high to call for the ball.

"Ball!"

Simultaneously, on the right wing low post, Larry Johnson posted up Tom Gugliotta, who was a head taller than him, and roared, holding out his hand for the pass.

"Oh no!"

When Allan Bristow saw that not only had Larry Johnson failed to clear out after Tang Bei established position in the paint, but he was also demanding the ball in the low post close to the basket, he knew trouble was brewing.

When a center establishes position in the low post, the power forward should appropriately clear out to prevent the center from facing a double-team.

Especially when the center is right under the rim, the power forward is expected to clear space to create a one-on-one opportunity in the paint.

Now, instead of clearing out, Larry Johnson was demanding deep post position close to the basket. This was undoubtedly a petty contest of egos with Tang Bei.

General Manager Twersky frowned immediately upon witnessing this scene.

Internal discord was the ultimate taboo for a team. A team plagued by infighting and locker room chaos possessed no combat effectiveness; he was well aware of this fact.

He was already aware that Larry Johnson and Kendall Gill were vying for dominance.

However, Kendall Gill's personality was not overly assertive. Leaving aside individual talent, this trait alone made him unsuited to be a team leader.

He believed that Larry Johnson would ultimately prevail, and due to Kendall Gill's personality and position, it would not trigger excessive infighting or cause catastrophic damage to the team.

If worse came to worst, they could simply let Kendall Gill leave once his rookie contract expired. Perimeter players like him were a dime a dozen in the league.

However, if Larry Johnson and Tang were to engage in infighting, he believed the destructive impact on the team would be far greater.

He had thoroughly investigated Tang Bei before drafting him. Tang Bei was not the type to back down or be submissive; he had already thrown punches on the court during CBA games. Faced with Larry Johnson's dominance, friction—or even direct conflict—was entirely possible between the two.

Yet, he could not easily give up on Tang Bei. Tang Bei was no Kendall Gill; such a heavyweight center was a rare commodity in the league. Letting Tang Bei go meant they might not find a replacement for the next decade.