Especially the A+ speed rating performance in the tryout surprised Brian Carter a lot. When he saw the A+ speed, he already knew he was fast, but even the assistant coach with the stopwatch, Dan D'Antoni, showed a look of astonishment. He realized he really was that fast.

Internally grumbling, Brian Carter put on a smile and said, “Got it, coach, I’ll work hard.”

Gentry, who had been watching Brian Carter’s expression the whole time, felt that this kid was hardworking and honest, truly a good kid—just like he was back in the day: so hardworking, so down-to-earth. Even if he didn’t make it through the tryout, he should at least be given a chance to stay and work in the NBA...

Chapter 0011: Kid, you set me up!

Gentry looked at Brian Carter. He actually didn’t care much about the physical test; he didn’t think Brian Carter had the ability to play in the NBA. What he really wanted to see was Brian Carter’s technical tryout in the afternoon.

If it was really like what he saw in the video, with those textbook fundamentals, Gentry was willing to give Brian Carter a chance to stay with the team as a trainer. Gentry did have that authority.

As for whether he could become a qualified shooting coach... maybe not for now. But Gentry himself wasn’t exactly a qualified assistant coach back then either. When he finished grad school at just 26 and, through the recommendation of his cousin, Skywalker David Thompson, went to work as an assistant under Larry Brown at the University of Kansas, he got yelled at every day. It wasn’t a big deal. Gentry thought everyone started as an intern, so why not give him a chance?

Besides, most NBA teams’ dedicated shooting coaches aren’t that great, except for a few teams. For example, the Magic’s shooting coach Patrick Ewing—sure, he was an outstanding player, but as a shooting coach... well, Howard’s free throws are still pretty good, slightly better than O'Neal’s.

Most of the really great shooting coaches are private coaches, and the money they make is on a whole different level. The difference between a special hire making ten or twenty thousand dollars a week and a regular salary of a few thousand a month is huge. Most teams, even with a shooting coach, will still hire private coaches for their core players.

After finishing a muscle-relaxing massage, Brian Carter took a shower, changed into the training gear from the locker, and, led by the Suns staff, arrived at the players’ cafeteria. He went to his assigned seat, and the Suns’ chef brought out the nutritious lunch, introducing each item to Brian Carter.

“Hey, hey, hey... what is all this...”

Brian Carter looked at the pile of white meat, vegetables, and low-sugar fruits...

“Is this even food for humans? This is basically feed! If you eat this without training, you’ll turn into a fat guy anyway!”

Americans are strong from a young age, partly because of their good welfare. Even kids from the slums can get high-protein food from the government. It’s not great stuff, and if you only eat this, you’ll probably get fat. But most Black kids, who love to run around or have to in order to survive, grow up strong eating this stuff.

Although NBA nutrition meals have more vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, and the protein is higher quality, the taste... For Brian Carter, trying it for the first time, it was really hard to swallow.

But how could Brian Carter lose face in front of the cameras? He forced himself to take a few bites with a blank expression and swallowed them down.

There was a fat guy who loved being on TV—just like a certain future retired player who, after getting fat, always did all sorts of things to get in the news. O'Neal deliberately moved his seat next to Brian Carter, put on an act of enjoying the food, and swallowed several bites of plain boiled chicken breast. He said to Brian Carter, “Noah, NBA nutrition meals taste great, right? I heard you’re also a student at the University of Phoenix. I did my master’s there—we’re alumni!”

So we’re alumni! And you’re still asking if it tastes good?

Brian Carter was annoyed. He picked up another piece of white meat, didn’t even dip it in cucumber sauce, shoved it straight into his mouth, and, after putting on a look of enjoyment and swallowing, said, “That’s right, Big Shaq, this is delicious! I bet you eat it every day, right? Mr. Reporter, you guys should really come film Big Shaq eating nutrition meals every day. I think just watching him eat makes everything look tasty!”

Hearing this, and seeing the cameraman and reporter get interested—after all, wherever O'Neal goes, there’s news—O'Neal almost spat a mouthful of food all over Brian Carter’s face!

O'Neal grinned wickedly, put his arm around Brian Carter’s shoulders, and said, “Kid, you set me up! The Diesel’s getting mad!”

“No, no, no, not at all... my bad...” Brian Carter was about to deny it, but then felt that shark arm start to tighten, so he quickly begged for mercy.

At this moment, the reporter following the cameraman saw the “interaction” between the two, turned to the camera so the cameraman could get her, Brian Carter, and O'Neal in the same shot, and said, “Oh... we’re seeing the Suns’ team spirit and camaraderie. Noah, who just ‘joined’ the Suns, is already getting along so well with the big brother...”

Hearing this, Brian Carter really wanted to snap at the reporter: I’m about to be murdered! I’m really about to be squished flat!

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