The Delightful Massive Mountain (2)
Suddenly, I recalled something Chang-min had said.
"Baseball's got it rough, rough—but basketball's the real shitshow."
Back then, I'd countered that other unpopular sports were in the same boat, but now it was hard to argue.
The national team's schedule was pathetically bare.
[Send-Off Ceremony: None]
[Exhibition Schedule: None]
[Team Assembly & Training: 5 Days Before Tournament]
[Departure: 3 Days Before Tournament]
Was this really a national team?
The association provided almost no support. Even airfare and accommodations during the tournament were covered by the hosts, so all they'd done was assign a head coach and two assistants.
The reason boiled down to money, of course.
We weren't the kind of team other countries invited, so arranging exhibitions meant either flying in overseas teams or traveling abroad ourselves—racking up travel and lodging costs that the hosts wouldn't cover.
From the association's perspective, it was inevitable: Win or lose, results are shit anyway—why waste cash? Especially on a youth tournament no one cares about.
And that's how we ended up like this—operating strictly within the hosts' budget.
Even so, they could've at least scheduled friendlies against domestic college teams.
If they couldn't even manage that, it meant zero interest. Seeing Chang-min bouncing around, thrilled just to make the national team, left a bitter taste.
Anyway, five days out, we assembled for the first time at some indoor gym in Seoul run by the association.
Twelve players lined up in a row, head coach in front, flanked by two assistants.
Head coach Kim Kyung-min was from Hwiun High, who'd taken them to the quarterfinals in last year's Ssangyong Cup. The assistants coached middle school teams.
Kim stood before us, looking exhausted as he spoke—like this was a job dumped on him, not something he wanted.
"Hey, everyone. Some of you know my face, some don't. Anyway, let's stay healthy, avoid injuries, and wrap this tournament up right. Today we'll do light training, tomorrow a scrimmage, then head out the morning after as planned. Let's get to it!"
The players were fired up, at least.
The roster: nine seniors, three college freshmen. The centers stood out especially.
Yongseon High's Shim Hyung-chul, college bigs Jeong Ho-young and Choi Yong-jin—all over 2 meters. Thanks to them, I could slide to power forward instead of center like at Sangwon High.
Yongseon High's Lee Young-jun and Lee Hae-young also shone, and by the next day's scrimmage, the best five had emerged.
This lineup crushed the scrimmage opponent by 26 points, earning starting spots.
Sucks that Chang-min didn't crack the starting five...
He took it in stride, though—claimed his real value shone as a sixth man and laughed it off.
We ran through triangle offense sets like back at Sangwon High, drilled basic patterns.
Short prep done, we jetted off to Czechia.
The U-19 Basketball World Championship in Czechia.
The format was bizarre from the jump.
Six European, four American, two African, four Asia/Oceania teams—16 total. But preliminaries first: four groups of four, bottom seeds (13th-16th) eliminated early.
Then the top 12 split into two groups of six for round-robin, top eight to quarters.
You can guess.
Yeah—weaker nations get pruned fast. You're just here to participate; pack up quick. Basically what they were saying.
They can be this blatant?
It was so overt, it almost felt comical now.
Anyway, prelim groups followed continent-based seeding, not strength.
Europe's six teams meant two Euro-heavy groups, but otherwise one per continent.
Luck could land a dream group—like for us:
[Czechia, Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire, South Korea]
A weak group—maybe even 3-0 possible.
But no such luck. Group A: us with two Euros—Spain and Croatia. Mid-tier squads. Spain's seniors with the Gasols were beasts, but youth team? Middle of the pack.
Not bad for us. Brazil or Argentina (50/50 odds) would've been ideal, but instead...
1/4 shot: the powerhouse landed.
[USA, Spain, Croatia, South Korea]
1 powerhouse, 2 mids, 1 weakling.
Strategically solid, though. If USA went 3-0, we beat one mid-tier for third and advance.
Now I get why that Song Kyung-bae prick said I'd 'wake up to reality.'
First matchup: the final boss. Draw was set; he figured I'd get schooled.
USA, huh...
Soccer equivalent? Brazil. Nah, from what others said, USA in basketball was Brazil + France + Argentina. Messi, Maradona, Pelé, Zidane—all in one.
Exciting. Didn't feel this much underdog against Germany in the World Cup.
Heart pounding. Chang-min yapped nonstop about them too.
"Dude, heard USA's sharpening their knives this time?"
"What?"
I showed interest; he chattered to kill the flight boredom.
"USA half-asses FIBA events usually. Olympics? Dream Team tradition. But FIBA Worlds? B or C squad."
That's why they weren't all-time FIBA Cup kings. Youth Worlds? Tops, but not untouchable.
"Funny part? Lose with scrubs, rage, send elites next. That's this USA squad. Tanked two years ago."
"That bad?"
"Disaster. Missed podium, fifth place."
"Who won?"
"Lithuania."
"...?"
"Random, right? Coach said some Jonas Valančiūnas dude wrecked shop."
"Valančiūnas..."
Never heard of him.
"Anyway, USA stacked it hard this time. High school Big 5, all the names."
"Big 5? Who?"
Might recognize from my past life—Mitchell, Edwards, Tatum, Haliburton maybe.
But nah, all unfamiliar.
"Top dog's Andrew Wiggins—Canadian, but whatever, biggest name. Then..."
"Nah, pass."
Didn't know the best player; why bother with others?
"C'mon, listen."
"I'm sleeping. Jet lag prep."
Bored, he bugged Subin next—but Subin shut eyes, ignored him.
USA high school Big 5... World’s top prep talent, basically.
Perfect chance to gauge the world's peak.
We hit Czechia, unpacked, battled jet lag.
No exhibitions—others were finalizing post-friendlies; we just arrived.
Arrival day: light session to shake fatigue. Two days out: full team practice at the venue gym.
"Hoo! Hoo...!"
Condition solid—optimal, even, thanks to steady tension.
Three hours team, two personal.
Personal? One focus.
Today's chisel: threes...
Training evolved—no more volume grind, now feel-based.
Meditate eyes closed, snap open and fire. Or stare rim five minutes for one shot.
From hundreds hourly to thirty min—quality over quantity.
Now!
Instinct hit; I leaped, released. Swoosh! Clean nets.
One hour: fifty makes, 70%+. Quality focus spiked it.
"Whew!"
Mentally draining despite easy body load.
Dropped ball, checked phone vid vs. Kyle Korver's form.
Subin appeared silently beside me.
"Hyung, why obsess over threes?"
"Huh?"
"You don't need 'em. Post-ups and drives crush everyone."
"It's... an investment in the future."
Vague past-life hints. Not going full Curry/Harden, but trends screamed threes.
NBA loving 3&D lately—defense plus spacing. Minimum value boost meant mastering it.
Subin puzzled more, eyeing my vid.
"Fine, but why Korver? Some average joe's form? Tons of others."
"Like who?"
"Kobe Bryant. Michael Jordan."
"Forms are slick, yeah. But Kobe's pull-up path's too unique. Jordan..."
I didn't know my words struck a raw nerve.
"Jordan couldn't shoot threes."
Crack! Like thunder.
Subin unleashed machine-gun fire.
"Hyung, wrong. Jordan could nail threes. He was so efficient it wasn't worth it. Shortened line? 40%. Means he chose not to. Post-shortening, if threes edged mids/drives? He'd bomb 'em efficiently. No need—mids and drives destroyed enough. Jordan could shoot; he just didn't need to. Got it?"
"..."
"Got it?"
"Yeah, got it. Sorry, misspoke."
This guy dumped more words than a month's worth.
"Jordan's too elegant for normies to copy. Korver fits my style better."
Praised Jordan; he reverted to stoic.
Anyway.
"Jordan fan, huh? Explains midrange obsession. Why no threes?"
"I shoot when needed."
"Once a game? Perfect—join my three drill."
"..."
Hated it. I shoved his back anyway.
"You said it: Jordan could but didn't. Build the skill anyway, right?"
"...Fine."
Worked. He toed the arc, fired.
Then—
"Guys! USA intel's here!"
Coach with opponent packet—recent exhibitions. Outlined their best five, my matchup.
Players swarmed. I wrapped Subin session, sauntered over.
USA's lineup...
Twelve total.
Best 5
Subs
Michael Frazier (G)
Elfrid Payton (G)
James Robinson (G)
Montrezl Harrell (F)
Justise Winslow (F)
Jarnell Stokes (F)
Mike Tobey (C)
No familiar names.
I set the paper down, back to threes.