Y13 [EN]: Chapter 32

Y13-32 Draft Day

June 24, 2010, New York.

The 2010 NBA Draft Day begins at Madison Square Garden.

From one-and-done players entering the draft right after their freshman year, to players who completed four years and earned a bachelor’s degree, to players over 19 years old playing in overseas leagues such as Europe… countless players participate in the draft day.

Whether you make it into the top 60 (the NBA draft only conducts 2 rounds for each of the 30 teams) or not. Among them, whether you are a first-rounder or a second-rounder is decided, and if you are not selected, you face the unfortunate reality of signing as an undrafted free agent or not being able to sign with an NBA team. It is a day where heaven and hell coexist.

“Today, we are about to witness the birth of another legend.”

Commissioner David Stern. He started working in the NBA as a consulting lawyer, served as the NBA’s Executive Vice President in 1980, and has been the NBA Commissioner since 1984. He was one of the legends who firmly supported and developed the current NBA by recognizing his amazing ability to capture changes in the times, his ability to deal with the media, and his excellent ability to deal with sudden events.

“Finally, the NBA Draft, which heralds the beginning of the 2010 NBA season, has begun. Starting today, we can directly witness the birth of a new legend, but we will also feel the sadness of the players who were not selected.”

Commissioner Stern put strength into his words and was not at all nervous in front of hundreds of people and dozens of cameras looking only at him.

“But we have felt it while experiencing the NBA. Failure is not an unconditional failure, and success is not an unconditional success. The draft is also a place where such trivial failures and trivial successes coexist. However, I think that these trivial things gather and become experience and can become a legend. I hope that all the players who participated in the 2010 draft will cry and laugh in this trivial place, but in the future, it will become an asset for the players. Let’s start this trivial event where legends are born from now on.”

Clap clap-

The players, who had been very nervous at Commissioner David Stern’s speech, seemed to have relaxed to some extent and gave Commissioner David Stern thunderous applause.

[Hello, the 2010 NBA Draft, which is being broadcast exclusively on ESPN, has finally begun. Starting with Commissioner David Stern’s speech, the highly anticipated first round, first pick selection has begun.]

[The draft method is that each team is given 5 minutes, and the team notifies the desired player via telephone within 5 minutes. And from the moment the player of that pick is named, the team that owns the next pick is given 5 minutes.]

The commentators from ESPN began to focus on the prospective superstars who were expected to be in the top 14 lottery picks among the players participating in this draft, just before the first pick nomination began.

“Hoo.”

And at a table slightly to the right from Commissioner David Stern’s perspective, Youngjae was unable to calm his trembling heart and sighed.

“Haha! The great Y13 is so nervous. I wanted to see this side of you in a game.”

The Aztecs members sitting around the round table were amused by Youngjae’s nervous appearance and were teasing Youngjae. Bill Duffy, who was next to them, did not join the conversation, perhaps because he was with the Aztecs members, and he seemed a little more relaxed than usual, showing a side of himself that was appropriate for his age.

“I’m not in my right mind right now…”

Even when Gae was teasing him, Youngjae didn’t react, but just stared blankly and kept swallowing dry saliva. As if knowing Youngjae’s feelings, Leonard tapped him on the back and nodded.

“2010 NBA Draft. 1st pick, Washington Wizards. John Wall!”

It was an expected result. So much so that the 2010 draft was later called the ‘John Wall’ draft, so John Wall’s first pick nomination was not surprising at all. Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty was so happy that he named the day ‘John Wall Day’. John Wall got up from the table, put on a hat with the Washington Wizards logo on it, and wore a happy smile on his face.

After that, the 2nd, 3rd… the same results as in the past hit Youngjae’s ears. Evan Turner of the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 2, Derrick Favors of the New Jersey Nets at No. 3… By the time No. 21 was called, Youngjae’s throat was so dry that he had no choice but to keep drinking water.

“2010 NBA Draft. 20th pick, San Antonio Spurs. James Anderson!”

‘It’s the same up to here.’

“2010 NBA Draft. 21st pick, Oklahoma City Thunder. Craig Brackins!”

Now was the real game. For some reason, Youngjae felt a little strange that the results of the 2010 draft suddenly came to mind, but he decided to ignore it for now.

“2010 NBA Draft. 22nd pick, Portland Trail Blazers. Dominic Jones!”

“?!!”

Youngjae almost stood up without realizing it.

‘The past has changed.’

Youngjae had vague memories of his past life, but he was someone who had faithfully watched the NBA draft. Of course, he felt strange that he remembered even these ambiguous 20th numbers, wondering if his memory was that good, but he didn’t have time to worry about that.

The important thing was that the past had changed. Finally, the past had changed. This was a lifeline that had come down to Youngjae, who had never been so crazy about basketball or anything else as he had been this time. Because he received favorable reviews in the final Mock Draft [a simulated NBA draft used to predict player selections], with predictions that he would be nominated in the late first round or early second round, Youngjae couldn’t help but have greed. He wanted to go to a slightly better team, a team he wanted to go to even a little bit. To do that, the present had to change, and he had to dig into that change.

And the results of the past and present have changed.

“……”

Dominic Jones, who was smiling happily and walking out with his hat on, seemed to recognize Youngjae, glanced at Youngjae, and then quickly passed by and stood on the platform. He was saying something, but Youngjae couldn’t hear it. Next pick, next pick… Youngjae’s throat was parched because his name was not called.

Eventually, the 24th pick of the Atlanta Hawks was called, and finally the 25th. It was the Memphis Grizzlies’ pick, but the Dallas Mavericks acquired the 25th pick through a cash trade. Youngjae, who didn’t think 5 minutes would be this long, kept drinking water from his cup because he felt like his throat was burning, and when the water in the cup ran out, he anxiously swallowed dry saliva.

Mark Cuban’s promise and handshake that he would pick him. Youngjae was even more restless because it was the turn of the Dallas Mavericks, one of the four teams he wanted to go to.

‘Jae…’

‘Young…’

The surroundings were clearly filled with various stories, but to Youngjae’s ears, it only echoed like a voice coming from a distant place.

“Youngjae!”

“Ah, uh?”

Youngjae was startled and quickly turned his head to the side where the voice came from. Thomas looked worried and said, ‘Are you okay?’ but even this was hard to hear, so he had to pull himself together to barely hear it.

“Don’t be nervous. It’s still number 25.”

Leonard, who had been silent, didn’t say anything more and just sat next to Youngjae, watching the remaining time pass with his own eyes. It was as if he was sitting in Youngjae’s seat next year and feeling that time passing by himself, engraving this moment in his mind.

‘That’s right. It’s still number 25…’

Only then did Youngjae relax a little, wet his dry lips with saliva, and calm down.

[Well, the first round is coming to an end. It’s the Memphis Grizzlies’ turn at number 25.]

[In the case of the Memphis Grizzlies’ 25th pick, the rights have been transferred to the Dallas Mavericks through a cash trade with the Dallas Mavericks. In the end, you can think of it as Memphis picking the player that Dallas requested.]

The commentators also analyzed the remaining two minutes fiercely and in depth.

[What position would the Dallas Mavericks need?]

[Considering the Dallas Mavericks’ team color, they will most likely prioritize players with offensive basketball, long shooting range, and good shooting percentage. But, on the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks don’t have a ‘good slasher’.]

[Ah, you pointed out that if you watch the Dallas Mavericks’ games, they mainly focus on pass-oriented early offense.]

[Yes, so a shooting guard with a breakthrough option is also attractive. In fact, the remaining positions are evaluated to have sufficient depth. It is difficult for DeShawn Stevenson alone to fill the void of Jason Terry, who is aging, and Jason Terry, who is said to be insufficient to play as the second starter.]

[Rookie Rodrigo Beaubois in his second year is not enough. Besides, a rookie’s second year is tough. It is questionable whether they will be able to overcome this sophomore slump.]

The commentator rummaged through the data in front of him and exclaimed with admiration and regret.

[James Anderson, who the Dallas Mavericks were likely to pick, was nominated by the San Antonio Spurs with the 20th pick, and Dominic Jones was selected by Portland with the 22nd pick.]

[I think Dominic Jones was the player they coveted the most, and his ability to break through the defense, his ability to get free throws, and his physical abilities were the most outstanding in the 20th pick. James Anderson, who was selected for the 2010 NCAA All-America 2nd-Teams (best 2nd team by position), also seemed like a good fit for Dallas. But that doesn’t mean there are no alternatives. An alternative that the Dallas Mavericks can pick is Youngjae Yoon, a Korean-American player called Y13.]

[Ah… Ah! This player is Y13. He is the best player in the Mountain West Conference and has swept the conference awards. As the starting guard for San Diego State University, the Aztecs, he led the team to victory against Maryland in the first game of March Madness [the annual NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament]. In addition, he was selected for the All-America 2nd-Teams. This means he is one of the 11 best players in the 2010 NCAA.]

After that, the explanation about Youngjae seemed to continue, but at some point, the time stopped at 0 seconds.

“2010 NBA Draft. 25th pick, Memphis Grizzlies.”

That one moment. It was the moment when everyone’s attention was focused on David Stern’s lips.

“Youngjae Yoon!”

Oooooo!!!

A thunderous roar. And the people who remembered the Aztecs and the name Y13 chanted Y13! and applauded. The Aztecs members, forgetting that they were wearing suits, jumped up and down as if it were their own business, patted Youngjae’s back with a dumbfounded expression, and high-fived him.

“……”

The bear logo hat that I only wear today. Now this ‘bear’ will soon become a ‘horse’ and become a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Youngjae felt like he was dreaming and walked onto the platform where Commissioner David Stern was, as if walking on fluffy clouds, and shook hands.

(The Dallas Mavericks’ logo is a ‘horse’. This is because the meaning of Mavericks is ‘untamed colt’.)

“A word of impression, please.”

“Ah…”

Youngjae’s heart was so full that he wondered if there would ever be such a touching moment again. It was such a blissful and touching moment that he couldn’t say anything, and he just wanted to accept this moment with his whole body. All the spotlights were on Youngjae, and thousands of spectators and tens of millions of viewers were looking at Youngjae, wondering what he would say.

“I don’t know what to say… I’m just… I’m just grateful. I will always think that I am immature and lacking, and I will do my best for the team and run and run again.”

However, Youngjae felt a word lingering at the end of his throat and tickling his throat, and he closed his eyes slightly. It’s as if the Youngjae before regression is demanding something from him, and he keeps tickling his throat.

‘You’re not this kind of guy.’

The Youngjae of his past life was not this kind of guy. He has changed a lot, but the Youngjae of his past life was also his appearance, and his other appearance. It was the back of the coin.

Before the injury, he just blamed it on bad luck. He envied other people’s efforts, and even though he said he could do better if he did it, he ended up avoiding his shortcomings by only training what he wanted to do. After the injury, he struggled to get back on his feet, but he collapsed in reality. After that, the taste of money, the taste of pleasure. Alcohol, drugs, women… He fell for all kinds of temptations and didn’t appreciate everything. Vanity and inferiority complex soared high. But even that Youngjae from his past life was his appearance. He wanted to hide it. But he didn’t want to hide his true nature.

Youngjae smiled and slowly opened his eyes.

“I will be a curse. Like Friday the 13th. Until I can relentlessly and terribly crush my opponent, I will make them feel suffocated just by hearing the name Y13.”

The last word.

That was the only common nature shared by both the Youngjae of his past life and the Youngjae of now.

It was venom.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

★Thank you for the sponsorship coupon, abcdganadarara!!

★Thank you to those who gave me advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

@I ended up going to my previous team and my biggest rival. Will we be able to continue the Texas rivalry represented by Duncan and Nowitzki?? With this, the hellish Southwest Conference will become hell of hell.

Southwest Conference Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans.

There is a high probability that all five teams will advance to the playoffs this season. If New Orleans is confirmed to be in 8th place, as far as I know, this will be the first time since the division reorganization that one division has advanced to the playoffs with a winning percentage of 50% or higher.

@The 25th pick this year was Memphis’ pick, but Memphis sold it to Dallas for 3M (3 million dollars, about 3.3 billion won). In reality, Dallas nominated Dominic Jones with the 25th pick, and he was judged to be a failed player.

Keok…:;nim/// Congratulations on your first comment.

Harem Wannabe nim/// ㄷㄷ, I’m sorry. I ended up going to Dallas…O.J. Mayo actually comes to Dallas later, but I’m thinking about what will happen in the novel. I knew that Mayo couldn’t grow and was unstable, so I sold it, but Tony Allen and I didn’t get along.

AdYang nim/// Thank you. Have a good night’s sleep today~

Kundara nim/// Thank you.

Lafir and Jinteu nim/// Yes. As you said, Beaubois ruined the season due to injury, and Barea was also cancer in the first half of the yearㅋㅋ. He got better from the second half and became Bareaverson in the playoffs…

dydqlsl nim/// Maybe better results than expected will come out??

luxOAOnox nim/// Hmm, this part is our lack of delivery. I’m sorry. It meant that we can quickly maximize the player’s potential through the league’s leading coaching staff and training and medical facilities. Even in the NBA, prospects often fail to grow or are꺾by injuries in clubs with incompetent coaches or poor facilities.

Ultra 10 nim, Noh Yeo Yeon nim /// You have joined us. Thank you.

abcdganadarara nim/// Thank you for the coupon!!

Wooyudongja nim/// The abbreviation for Mavericks is Mavs.

SPARTANS nim/// Thank you. I will update it steadily every day because you paid for this work.

Dangun Joseon nim/// Thank you for the comments you left on several episodes. The main character will grow quite a bit compared to his previous life.

SPARTANS nim/// That’s right. If he is a player from the NBA, even if he regresses, he will be easy at the college level.