LRAB Chapter 1 Rebirth: The Number 1 Jersey
Chapter 1 Rebirth: The Number 1 Jersey
Frederick Douglas Avenue, 155th Street, Harlem, 2022
Rucker Park, located in the heart of Harlem, is the soul of New York's street basketball culture. Revered by basketball enthusiasts, it's a sacred place where legends are born and celebrated. From early pioneers to modern stars like "The Bone Collector" and "The Professor," and even retired NBA player Ralph Alston, Rucker Park has witnessed it all.
This park is renowned for its exhilarating atmosphere—fancy dribbling, lightning speed, explosive dunks, and the deafening cheers of the fans combine to create an unforgettable experience. Amidst this hustle and bustle, a gentleman seated on a bench draws attention. He seems out of place, yet perfectly at ease. Casually reclining, a beer in hand, his open black sweater revealing well-defined chest and abs, he exudes power and charisma. His angular features and handsome face further enhance his unique charm.
This is Lian Dao, a Chinese choreographer and basketball coach. Born in 2000, he came to New York at the age of 14 to attend Harkley High School. He excelled academically in China and was therefore very excited to come to the birthplace of basketball to study.
Standing at 183 cm tall with a 203 cm wingspan, Lian Dao was selected for the school basketball team in his first year of high school. However, his playing style, influenced by streetball—flashy dribbling and accurate mid-range shooting, but weak defense—was not favored by the coach, who limited his playing time for two consecutive years.
In 2016, his parents' company moved to Silicon Valley, and Lian Dao transferred to Whitney High School in California. He joined the school's basketball team and helped the team achieve its best record in school history (20 wins and 8 losses) in his senior year, reaching the Southern California State League semifinals. This achievement attracted the attention of some NCAA universities.
Despite his impressive height and wingspan, and excellent ball-handling skills, Lian Dao's average physique and lack of physical strength deterred several universities, including Arizona State University and Stanford University. Ultimately, he chose the University of Southern California (USC) because of its strong basketball team and top-ranked School of Cinematic Arts.
Troy coach Tim had mixed feelings about Lian Dao's physical fitness test results. Lian Dao's height and wingspan, coupled with his excellent ball-handling skills and three-point shooting percentage, made him stand out in high school. However, on the stage of the NCAA, which gathers top talent, his performance appeared mediocre. Compared to those more muscular players, his stamina and resilience were slightly lacking.
Standing at 203 cm tall with a 223 cm wingspan, Lian Dao's physique alone would have been enough to attract the attention of NBA scouts. But basketball isn't just about height and wingspan; physical fitness and talent are equally important. Despite his concerns, Tim decided to keep Lian Dao on the team.
Unfortunately, during his sophomore year in college, Liam suffered a severe ankle fracture, forcing him to leave the college basketball team. This was undoubtedly a heavy blow for Tim, as he had already lost several key players due to scandals and desperately needed fresh blood to fill the void.
His teammates' taunts followed: "Your shooting percentage is as low as a plumber's! You might as well stay home and take care of the kids. I could make that shot with my eyes closed." These words made Lian Dao even more frustrated and made him start to doubt his own skills.
Lian Dao chuckled and shook his head, reminiscing about his former energetic self. He finished his beer, easily crushed the can, and tossed it into a trash can a few meters away. As he straightened his sweater, preparing to leave, he noticed an old jersey draped over a bench. The prominent "1" on it puzzled him. He hadn't noticed the jersey before, and it seemed unlikely that someone would have left it there without his knowledge.
Not far away, a man wearing a Lakers jersey with the number 24 was the very embodiment of the Mamba Mentality. Lian Dao looked around and, apart from a few strangers who smiled and nodded at him, didn't see anyone else wearing a number 1 jersey. Suddenly, a passerby smiled at him in a friendly manner, which surprised Lian Dao slightly.
Lian Dao quickly grabbed the jersey from the bench and hurriedly left the stadium. He walked briskly out of Rucker Park with the jersey in hand, only realizing as he opened the car door that he had taken a jersey that didn't belong to him. But without bothering to find the owner, he casually tossed it onto the passenger seat.
Back home, Lian Dao lay on his bed, his head spinning. He attributed it to the beer and drifted off to sleep. Unbeknownst to him, his jersey began to disintegrate and dissipate, transforming into countless shimmering particles suspended above him. These particles twinkled like fireflies, outlining the jersey's silhouette as it floated in the air.
Suddenly, the ethereal jersey slowly fell, merging with Lian Dao's body and disappearing without a trace.