"Life Goes On"
Thirty minutes — that's the time this exchange took.
Last week, in just half an hour, my mood shifted from being in Sacramento for the next ten years to the biggest surprise of my entire life.
It all started at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, when there were only two days left before the trading deadline.
My agent called me, and I was having breakfast at home and saw him calling me, and the first thing that came to my mind was that he was calling to tell the mainland king the inside scoop on some of the players he was looking for.
But that's not the case.
"Hey, bro, I called you because I thought you might be traded."
At first, I thought he was joking with me. My thought was: Don't mess with me, the team won't trade me. But after two seconds, things started to get serious, and he really didn't want to be joking...
I mean, I know it makes me sound a little dramatic, but do you know the feeling that your heartbeat seems to stop for a few seconds when you get the news that something bad has happened to your family or very good friend? Is it like the feeling of the body being hollowed out? That's how I felt at the time.
After hanging up the phone, I went into the bathroom and sat quietly on the counter by the sink. A few minutes later, my girlfriend came in and asked me what was wrong. When I told her I might be traded, she didn't believe it at first. But as soon as he saw my expression, she started to worry a little. So I said, "Let's wait and see what happens in a few days, it's not a big deal." ”
Less than five minutes later, my agent called me again.
"Indiana," my agent said. "They seem to be trading you to Indiana."
"What?"
"I'll keep you informed when there's any progress."
About a minute later, at most 90 seconds, my phone suddenly lit up. I clicked on the screen and it said Monte (King General Manager Monte McNair). I'm not going to lie, and when I saw the name pop up on my phone, my mood dropped instantly, and I knew it was all over.
It was a quick conversation. It's very simple.
"Hey, man, I just want you to know that we just made a deal and we're going to send you to Indiana. I wish you all the best. ”
After that, we probably talked to each other for a while, and we both said thank you to each other.
Then I hung up the phone, put it down, and couldn't help but start crying.
Finally, I picked myself up and sent a text message in our Kings player base so they could know the message. I sent a short, sweet text: "I've just been traded to the Pacers. I love you. ”
Everyone's answer was almost exactly the same.
"Shut up you!"
"Don't make a fuss!"
"What are you kidding?!"
"You're lying!"
"Kick this guy out of the group chat!"
But TT also texted in the group chat saying he was also traded. I think at the time, everyone had realized that it was true.
Minutes later, reporters tweeted the deal to the world.
In this way, the transaction was completed within 30 minutes from "impossible", and this speed, I spent more time in the Cold Stone than this.
As soon as the news came out, the next few hours became more and more blurry. I received tens of thousands of texts and phone calls from my family and friends already. David Mitchell was the first person to call me. I had a chat with Hield and my good brother Rico Hines. Coach Gentry and Coach Wharton also showed concern for me. I also talked to Fox for about half an hour. Barnes also called me, and his call was one of the most encouraging and supportive I've ever received.
Then Meitu also video chatted with me to comfort me. Usually, this is not a big deal. But at this moment, my tears will still secretly flow down. I thought, do I really have to let this man see me sitting here crying so ugly right now? So, I picked up the phone, I put it on the counter, and then I pointed the camera at the ceiling. It wasn't my best moment... But sometimes life is like that, you know what I mean?
Before I knew it, friends started coming to my house to see if I was doing well — IY (our video coordinator and one of my best friends), Miggy (our equipment manager), Joel (our assistant coach), Lucas (our assistant equipment manager). They all showed up at my door and sat down with me. By the end of the night, there was a mess in front of my house, and there were a lot of people coming, and the support of these people was particularly significant.
None of us believed I was really leaving. I promise, if you did a survey in our dressing room that morning and asked, "Which player on this team would most like to stay in Sacramento"... Everyone will say it's me. I guess that's why I'm going to bring those tears and emotions to explode.
It felt like something I cared about came to an end in one fell swoop.
I really, really, really love Sacramento and I'm not shy about it. I would tell people bluntly, "I want to be the next Weber in this city." "That's my mindset. I want to be a player who makes my mark in a place where I'm chosen, both in life and in the game. I want the people of Sacramento to know that I'm right there for them and I'll always help them.
One thing that saddens me about this deal is that I'm just starting to make some lasting connections with people within my community. I've come to know many dedicated and inspiring leaders in the city: heads of nonprofits, outstanding students dedicated to changing communities (a tribute to my little brother At Christian Brothers High School, Mourning-Crowder!). Every day there are people who are willing to spend their precious time making life better for everyone in this community. I love being with people like that, and I have a lot of cool ideas I want to share with them and do my best to help them.
So I'm sad to leave the Sacramento community.
You don't really understand this until it happens to you, but are traded... It's not just as simple as "being traded", it will hit you in a variety of different ways. Honestly, it's hard not to doubt myself, am I playing badly? Am I not doing enough? Did I do something wrong? I knew in my heart that I hadn't done anything wrong, and I knew that I had been working diligently and diligently, and I was growing and getting better and better. But in moments like these, it's hard to forget these things, and these things pop up in your head from time to time.
Another thing I've been thinking about is this: I'll miss everything Sacramento. Don't lie to you, I was sitting on the couch watching TV, and all of a sudden, I had a sudden thought: Damn, Kevin... That guy was the best barber I'd ever seen, and he was very good at cutting his hair, and he kept saying little mutterings that no one else understood. I'll miss that guy! I would be on the plane, not knowing why, thinking about how much my dog (Ames) would miss his friend Rover.) These things came to my mind over and over again.
But at the same time, I knew I had to face reality and I was going to move on. As sad as I am to leave the team and city I love, I am also excited about what comes next.
As a Midwestern, it's hard not to get excited about playing for the Pacers. Indianapolis is not far from my hometown of Oshkosh, and I know my family is happy that I can play close to home.
But that's not the most important thing — although I'm closer to home, it's the victory that matters most. The Pacers have a long history, and I remember it as a team that's been able to make the playoffs for the rest of my life, a team that knows how to win.
Plus, having the opportunity to play for Carlisle, a championship-winning coach and coaching some of the top players is significant to me.
I also liked our Pacers players. Turner is a generalist who will protect our rebounds and solidify our defense. Also, I can't wait to play with Stephenson because I grew up watching James football as a James fan... I used to despise Stephenson, but it's also the job, he's done a really good job of getting done, so it's cool to be his teammate now.
And rookie Duarte... I've been observing his style of play and I especially enjoy watching him play. Bro, I tell you, I can name all the members of our team. I think we're going to be a team in the East that the other teams find big trouble.
Now, I feel like I'm valued by this team, and I'm so grateful to the Pacers for their trust in me, and I'm honored to be able to swap with an All-Star like Sabonis, and I know this team isn't going to give up a player like Sabonis for a bad player. I feel like I'm part of the Pacers' future core, and it's incumbent upon me to reinvigorate the glory of walking horses.
I am serious and serious about this goal, which means that more responsibility will be on me, but it is this sense of responsibility that I aspire to, which is the goal I have pursued all my life.
I'm ready to start this new journey.
I came to Indiana to make my mark and help this team do something special.
I'm here to make a mark that Pacers fans are proud of.
I'm here to be the best Halliburton I can be!
Translation --- (Skill Jun)
Author--- (Halliburton)