On the training gym's projection screen, footage of the 2012 Olympics played—LeBron making four consecutive passes against the zone defense, each time faking with his shoulder in the opposite direction before passing. Lin Mo's notebook was filled: "1st fake left shoulder, passed to right corner; 3rd fake right shoulder, passed to left 45 degrees..."
LeBron sat beside him, spinning a water bottle: "The system will tell you my shoulder fake was 37 degrees, but not that it's because my grandma always said 'shoulders are more reliable than eyes.'"
This meeting was arranged after Lin Mo mustered the courage to send a message. LeBron didn't talk about tryout skills, only showing him three videos: his own rookie year games being shut down by the Pistons, training clips from the 2016 Finals when they were down 1-3, and defensive footage of Davis getting blocked constantly as a rookie.
"The NBA doesn't lack talent; it lacks people who know where they're 'stuck,'" LeBron said, handing him a video tape. "This is footage of you defending Gobert in the finals. Scouts say you relied on the system, but I saw you changed your breathing rhythm on the seventh defensive possession."
Lin Mo froze—he hadn't noticed himself, but to hold against Gobert's post-up, he'd switched from holding his breath to short diaphragmatic breathing. The system had never提示 (prompted) this detail.
As he left, LeBron patted his shoulder: "At the tryout, don't try to prove anything to the system. Prove it to the kid who used to sit on the school team bench." The system suddenly vibrated: [Unlocked "Legacy Imprint"—can call upon 1 key experience from a specified player (current: LeBron's focus in the 4th quarter of 2016 Finals G7)], but Lin Mo put his phone in his pocket, gripping only the video tape.
That night, he messaged the assistant coach at Chase the Light Training Camp: "Tomorrow, teach the kids about breathing. Don't hold your breath when defending."