PrologueThe alarm clock was ringing loudly
Damn, shut up Gilbert said and turned it off. It was 6am, he got to get up early this morning, because off, as he thought, a stupid press-conference, he had to attend. That's why Gil had to rearrange the workout earlier today.
He got out of bed and went to the kitchen, where he saw the poster with him, Jamison and Butler, which he hang there a couple of years ago. He looked at it with a regret
This year will be much different than the last, Gilbert thought to himself.
Last year, here were my friends - Antoine, Caron, all the fans were eagerly waiting for my return ... now they’re waiting for that boy’s first game on the NBA fields, Gilbert took a look on Washington Posts sports page, where, with big letters, was written - the Washington Wizards drafts John Wall with the number 1 pick.
Another kid who had a great year in NCAA and now thinks he can outplay all of the NBA, Gil was thinking, but that’s ok, let’s see, what he will think after the first month,Gilbert smiled to himself and put away the newspaper. It was time to get ready and go to the gym.
***
15, 16, 17, 18, dammit Gilbert cursed loudly after his made three point shot series came to an end.
Relax, you're in great shape, said one of the Wizards coaches, who volounteraly helped Arenas to get into shape before the training camp starts.
I do not want to be in a great shape, I want to be in the best shape, bitterly replied Gilbert and started the next shoot-out series.
They were the only two persons in the gym, Gil worked on his shot and the coach was helping him by passing the basketballs to him.
Remember that you have the press conference tonight, the coach said after a while.
Yeah I know, but I don't want to go, cause I’ll have to answer to these stupid questions like, ''How do you feel Gil?'' ,or, ''How do you think how awesomely great will John Wall be?'', Gilbert laughed.
And why do I have to be there anyway, I thought it is a press conference in which our manager will represent the fans with our new „superstar” Wall? You see Gil, they want to show that you two get well together so that the fans think that this year the team will play better and so that they’d buy tickets.
Well if I had a choice I wouldn’t be near that conference, replied Gil
***
Gil, what do you expect from this season? asked one of the reporters.
I expect a good game from our team, I guarantee that we'll give every effort in all of the games and hope that we will get into play-offs. What do you think about teams additions?
The team has added sufficient power. Yi is a really good player, he will mash well in our backcourt. Kirk has already proved playing for the Bulls that he can play both – the point guard and shooting guard positions, he will play an important role in our team.
But how about John Wall?
John, of course, has excellent potential, but he still has much to learn about the NBA to play just as great as he did at his university. After this answer Gil took a quick look at Wall, who shook his head, showing that he disagrees with the answer Gilbert gave.
What do you think of the main opinion that the Wizards will no longer be your team, but Wall’s?
I’m no longer 20 years old and I simply don’t pay attention to these sort of things. It does not matter whose team this is, or who is the best scorer, or maybe, who drinks the most water bottles during the game. The most important thing is how the whole team plays and where our team will stand after the last regular season game. At this point journalists began to ask questions to Flip Saunders and John Wall, and Gilbert left the room, thinking to himself,
No kid is going to be the alpha dog here, this is still my team and I will prove it, no matter what.