One Year Left to Play-Chapter 130 - 41: I Want to Wear Number 8
Zhang Hao replied: "There isn’t any special reason. If I had to name one, it’s that there are 8 players picked before me, and I’m curious why they are considered better than me. Other than that, it’s not really important. I just want number 8!"
"That’s really... Haha, let’s go get your physical measurements done to customize your uniform and training gear." The boyish demeanor made Butch Baird, who was once an NBA player, unable to suppress a laugh.
Zhang Hao nodded and followed Butch Baird to the training facility, where the assistant coach had already prepared for the physical assessment.
Watching Zhang Hao go for the tests, Butch Baird felt that special feeling again. The last time, during the day after the draft while discussing the contract, he felt Zhang Hao had a maturity in his speech far beyond his peers.
Neither arrogant nor timid... From a psychological standpoint, many players who enter the NBA after college can’t compare to Zhang Hao.
After undergoing measurements for height, wingspan, weight, and reach, Zhang Hao went to do his warm-up. He was wearing athletic clothes and sneakers, and even though he hadn’t received the team’s training gear, it didn’t affect his warm-up and assessment.
When the trainer instructed Zhang Hao on warming up, he noticed that this rookie’s warm-up was exceptionally professional!
Not only professional but patient, as if considering himself a veteran over 30 years old, with no hint of negligence, and fully focused on warming up.
Having worked with the Brooklyn Nets for over ten years, it was the first time he encountered a rookie who placed so much importance on warming up!
Most newcomers, due to their youth, do not emphasize this aspect at all. Some are casual even during pre-game warm-ups, leading to frequent injuries early in their NBA careers related to this lack of emphasis.
While the trainer found Zhang Hao surprising, on the other hand, Butch Baird, reviewing Zhang Hao’s static body test records, had a question in his mind – did we draft a small forward but ended up with a power forward?
Nowadays, with Zhang Hao’s height, most would play the power forward position, and some even play center.
Height: 206 cm, Wingspan: 216 cm, Weight: 96 kg, Reach: 272 cm...
This static physical attribute, aside from the weight being too light, is a solid power forward!
A beautiful static physical attribute, but might this impact Zhang Hao’s mobility?
Butch Baird was concerned about this. There have been cases where players played as guards in high school, grew taller in college, and later played as centers after graduation. Some even transitioned from point guards in early high school to centers by the end.
He valued Zhang Hao’s athleticism and shooting. Now he wondered if he might have made a mistake or if Zhang Hao entering the draft right after high school was a mistake. Zhang Hao might have benefited from playing in amateur leagues for two to three more years, adapting to physical changes before entering the draft, or even adjusting in college.
On Zhang Hao’s side, after nearly an hour of warm-up, he began the dynamic physical test.
Experienced and familiar, Zhang Hao was already very well-versed in these assessments, keeping a calm mindset. After all, he was already selected; the contract was signed, and most of his advance salary was spent, so there was nothing to worry about. He just needed to showcase his full potential.
During the assessment, Zhang Hao felt quite good, with his performance not varying much from his prior tests in Los Angeles.
At the technical testing stage, mainly focusing on shooting, Zhang Hao also felt in great shape, showcasing his abilities well.
He had done his best and didn’t know how his test results would be perceived by the NBA team’s coaches, nor what the few new teammates, who arrived later to observe, thought about his performance. Regardless, he gave it his all.
Unbeknownst to him, Butch Baird, looking at the three aspects recorded in Zhang Hao’s latest test report, was filled with questions.
Just while watching Zhang Hao’s strength and dynamic tests, Butch Baird found it incredible. When he noted Zhang Hao’s shooting test results being as outstanding and even more stable than during his trials with other teams, he felt as if he were dreaming!
