Sports Medicine Master System

The opening ceremony later would have to be re-filmed. Some of the higher-profile players, even the seeded ones, also had to pose for promotional photos.

All the remaining players had to film an individual VCR introducing themselves.

It was a TV show, after all. This was just how they were filmed.

The overall program flow was actually similar to the hit show of the last couple of years, *American Idol*—just like a reality show.

"I imagine what you’re all most curious about right now is who I’ve chosen to be your mentors."

Finally, Chen Yu got to the main point.

This was also the main promotional point during the show’s advertising phase.

Chen Yu would be inviting five top-tier basketball superstars to appear in person and personally guide these kids.

At the mention of this, the crowd of kids in front of him couldn’t help but stir. Some of the more boisterous ones even let out excited whistles.

"So, let’s begin the reveal."

Chen Yu pointed to his left.

In one corner of the venue, a stage had been set up.

The lights now focused on it, revealing five numbered booths.

Behind each booth, a person’s silhouette could be seen standing in the backlighting.

Obviously, these five were the basketball superstars Chen Yu had invited.

In the crowd, Harden grabbed DeRozan’s shoulder and craned his neck to see, trying to figure out who it was from the silhouettes.

The shortest one, Westbrook, was so anxious he started jumping up and down, finally just hopping onto Holidays’s back.

The cameras and dolly tracks were already in position.

The show’s chief director, Steven Ernest, was in the center, coordinating everything.

"Chen, who did you invite? Is the tallest one Patrick? It doesn’t really look like him," Brian asked curiously beside Chen Yu.

Even he didn’t know the specific list of invitees.

Even their itineraries had been kept secret; they had arrived in Phoenix under a veil of mystery.

It was all for the sake of the show’s dramatic effect.

"Take a guess."

Chen Yu just smiled without answering. ’I had to call in a lot of favors and make so many calls just to get all of them here this time.’

Seeing Ernest give him a signal to indicate that everything was ready, Chen Yu took a deep breath and walked onto the stage.

After filming a few shots according to the teleprompter, Chen Yu turned the stage over to the host.

The production team had even specially invited Ryan Seacrest, the host of the hit show *American Idol* from the past two years.

However, he would only be hosting the first three episodes covering the audition phase. The subsequent stages of the show wouldn’t need a host.

At the end of the day, it was still a sports program.

He expertly hosted the stage, interacting with the young players in the audience. Finally, after reading off the sponsors and title partners, he excitedly drew out five envelopes.

"To be honest, even now, I still don’t know whose names are in these five envelopes."

He carefully tore open the first envelope, glanced at it, and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Chen, you’re incredible!"

He gave a thumbs-up from across the way to Chen Yu, who was off-stage.

Then, under the watchful eyes of all the players, he announced the name of the first mentor.

"He is the number one draft pick of ’79, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, the youngest Finals MVP in history, and an inductee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame."

He paused, then smiled. "You’ve all probably guessed who it is already, haven’t you?"

Below the stage, nearly three hundred young players were already starting to shout uncontrollably.

Behind the first booth, the silhouette played along and waved in response.

"Then, let’s all shout his name together! He is the greatest point guard in history, the magnificent Magician, Earvin Johnson!" Ryan Seacrest pointed behind him.

Fog billowed, lights flashed, and the spotlight focused on door number one.

The next moment, door number one slowly lowered.

Dressed in a suit, Earvin Johnson emerged, waving his arms with a broad smile.

"Fuck."

Even Brian couldn’t help but exclaim, "Chen, I was just wondering if it might be him, but I can’t believe you actually got him. So who’s behind door number two?"

He looked toward door number two.

His eyes darted, and he raised an eyebrow. "It couldn’t be George Gervin, could it?"

Chen Yu froze for a second.

"Holy shit, I actually guessed right?" Brian was stunned, immediately giving a thumbs-up. "Chen, you’ve got some serious pull."

On stage, Earvin Johnson offered a few brief words of encouragement, sparking a round of screams from the players below.

Ryan Seacrest then asked Johnson who was behind door number two.

He squinted and said, asking tentatively, "He looks a little familiar, but I’m not sure. George, if that’s you, give us a wave."

The figure behind door number two immediately waved his arms in denial.

Below the stage, the crowd of players couldn’t control themselves and started screaming again.

They couldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams that they would one day be this close to these legendary superstars.

"Ice Man!"

Below, many people began to chant the Ice Man’s nickname in unison.

Having already neatly torn open the envelope, Ryan Seacrest’s eyebrows shot up as he bellowed, "Then, let’s welcome the four-time scoring champion, Hall of Fame inductee, the Ice Man, George Gervin!"

Door number two lowered, and George Gervin, also in a suit, walked out with a smile.

Amidst a sea of screams, he greeted the players and offered some words of encouragement, then turned to look at door number three and said with a smile, "I have a feeling he’s very familiar, I just don’t know if it’s really him."

Behind door number three, the silhouette shifted, as if laughing.

As everyone craned their necks to watch, door number three slowly lowered.

"I knew it!"

George Gervin walked up with a grin and embraced Dr. J, Julius Erving.

His nickname, "Ice Man," had come from Erving.

In the crowd, DeRozan was trembling with excitement. "Number four is next! Who could it be? For power forward, the Mailman, Carl Malone?"

"Definitely not. Carl Malone hasn’t retired yet, and the media has been saying he and Chen don’t get along," Holidays quickly denied, then thought of a name. "Could it be Big E Elvin Hayes!"

"That’s possible," Little Fatty Harden nodded repeatedly.

On stage, Ryan Seacrest had already opened the fourth envelope. A look of surprise crossed his face, and then he announced loudly, "Let’s welcome a 5-time All-Star and a Finals MVP winner."

He paused, drawing out the suspense.

No one could guess who it was. Those few honors were nothing special when compared to superstars of this caliber.

"He is ’the Bone Crusher,’ Wes Unseld!"

Through the smoke, door number four lowered, and a broad-bodied Wes Unseld, dressed in a suit, slowly walked out.

Brian’s eyebrow twitched; he had guessed wrong too, having predicted Elvin Hayes.

"Why didn’t you invite Big E?" he asked, turning his head.

Chen Yu clapped as he replied, "It’s all the same. The main reason is he wasn’t free and didn’t want to come."

Brian said, "Oh," and looked toward the final door, number five.

Seeing the bald head of the silhouette, his heart skipped a beat and he blurted out, "It couldn’t be Kareem, could it?"

Jabbar was bald now, and skinny.