250 pounds, 206 centimeters, with rock-like muscles and tattoos all over his body, Rockets young player Tarik Black is the established image of professional athletes in the minds of ordinary people, or to put it more directly, the stereotype, a martial artist with no muscles, Black I also know that this is the first impression most people have of him or other players. But Black is different from other players. He doesn't let people define him by his appearance. He uses messages and communication to subvert the established impression.
"Oh! He's a basketball player."
"When you walk into an elevator or a room, most people's instinctive reaction will be like this. But I know that my appearance completely fits the image of a basketball player, with a height of over 200 centimeters and a strong body. I also There are tattoos. But when you can communicate and talk with people, nothing will be different. I like to get close and talk to people, and through this, exchanges and communication can be generated, so that the distance between each other can be shortened and we can understand each other better."
"So when I open my mouth to talk to people, I can change other people's ideas, and I will be promoted from the function of signing to a promising, thoughtful, and brainy young man who takes basketball as his career. I will not be restricted by frames. , I can express myself through conversation.”
And Black doesn't just talk, he actually takes action to improve himself, starting in high school.
In 2010, Black was consensus among the top 50 players in the country, and ESPN ranked him 54th. He participated in the state trials in his senior year and averaged 16.2 points and 21.6 rebounds. However, Black rejected many prestigious universities. Just to go home to play and join the University of Memphis, his dream school, "It means a lot to me to be able to play in front of my family, and my family is not just my family, but also all the locals in Memphis and those who stayed in my hometown. The decision to surpass the Blue Players has always been a driving force buried deep in my heart.”
In high school, there was an important figure beside Black, Willie Gregory, Nike's senior director of international social impact department. He often gave Black advice and direction. When he first entered college, he was convinced that Black had the potential to play in the NBA, but Gregory did not. He reminded Black not to limit his vision to the framework of professional basketball, and analyzed for Black the benefits of completing college as soon as possible.
Black also took Gregory's advice to heart and used his free time during the summer to make up for his credits when he was a freshman. "Gregory asked me to challenge myself to complete college in three years. Although I was one of the top 50 players in the country at the time, And it is a super hot topic that attracts attention, so graduating from college can give you more security. My mother also agreed with his advice and asked me to adopt his advice no matter what."
Black started every game in his first year at the University of Memphis, and the next year he averaged 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. However, in his third year, he did not get along with coach Josh Pastner and even missed practice for this reason. His performance also regressed, with only 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds left.
Black believes he bears the greatest responsibility for this year's setbacks, "My junior year everything went crazy, I panicked, my numbers dropped, I was no longer a starter and my playing time was reduced by more than 10 minutes. At that time, I was too young, too immature, and didn't know how to deal with all situations, so I had friction with the coach, so I don't blame the coach, but it's not entirely my problem."
However, despite the loss on the court, Black's academic performance gradually improved. Not only did he obtain a university degree in the organizational leadership program in his junior year, he completed the challenge set by Gregory, and he also received the Tiger Academic 30 (Tiger Academic 30) with the highest average grade. Memphis Scholarship), Black announced in April 2013 that he would go to another university to finish his senior year and pursue graduate school.
But for Black, leaving this beloved city is something he is extremely reluctant to do. Memphis has always been the pillar of his heart and the support of his soul. "Leaving my hometown and team is the most difficult thing in my life." Something, but it will always be with my heart and soul."
But for Black, he wanted to use this unprecedented opportunity to gain new things and ideas. After announcing his transfer, Black immediately received invitations from many schools, including the powerful Kansas and Duke. Black's mother also continued to receive phone calls and text messages. Many schools wanted to use warmth to launch an offensive. In the end, Black decided to join Kansas, and the two at the time Big super newcomers Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid reunite.
In order to apply for business school, Black also used the time while waiting to transfer to take the GRE exam. However, Black miscalculated his time and mistakenly believed that he had two chances to take the exam. In fact, he only had one chance. Therefore, Black was not fully prepared. By a few points, he failed to enter the University of Kansas with business school qualifications in the 2013-14 season.
However, Black chose African-American Studies as his master's major at the University of Kansas. Although he failed to enter the business school, Black believed that studying African-American Studies was more meaningful. He hoped to help the lower class society and urban life in Memphis in the future. A struggling ethnic group.
"My dream and passion is to engage in charity activities in this city. Memphis has had many human rights or slave fighters in the past. I hope to continue their ideals." Black's mother was once a member of the Memphis National Human Rights Council. The museum guide said, "Memphis is also the site of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and shelters in the United States in the 19th century. It was used to help African-American slaves escape to free states and Canada and achieve the goal of abolition." Therefore, as a member of this city with a long history, I should have a deeper understanding and return to my hometown to help young people. This is my true passion and also A kind of feedback."
That year, Black was selected as the Big 12 Conference's preseason rookie champion, but fell into a slump at the beginning of the season. He only had 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 13.5 minutes of playing time. He was reused until Embiid was injured. The NCAA tournament averaged 15 points.
Without Embiid, the University of Kansas lost to Stanford University in the NCAA tournament and was eliminated in the second round. "After Embiid was absent, I played more selflessly, but my selfless play made my results better. You see, I am in the NCAA." I can score 15 points per game in the playoffs!"
In the draft that year, Wiggins, who was from the same school, became the top pick in the draft, and Embiid was selected with the third overall pick. However, after 60 names were called, Black never appeared. After the draft, Black was disappointed, but his agent, Michael Lelchitski, told his client that it was a good thing not to be selected in the second round, so that he could choose the team that suits him. So shortly after the draft ended, Black chose to join the Rockets.
Black performed well in the summer league, averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes of play. The Rockets also signed a non-guaranteed contract with him in August 2014. Black also strived to be included in the 12-man roster at the beginning of the game. "I have always believed in my abilities. I believe I can survive in the NBA, and I have proved it. The only difference is whether my name is called in the draft or not."
Black's career debut was on October 28, which happened to be the first time that Dwight Howard, who was still in the Rockets at the time, returned to Los Angeles. Black played 24 minutes that night and scored 2 points and 2 rebounds, but the focus was of course on the love-hate relationship between Howard and Kobe Bryant. Love and hatred, and Lakers rookie Julius Randle breaking his leg, "My first game was really shocking, Staples Center? I was in Staples Center?" Black said, "Coming to Los Angeles to play the Lakers in the first NBA game , I was still a rookie at that time, and I was extremely ignorant.”
On Christmas Eve of that year, the Rockets' Christmas gift was about to sign free agent Josh Smith, but Black was facing termination. However, four days later, the Lakers immediately took over Black.
After joining the Lakers, Black averaged 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds, with a shooting percentage of 60.51 TP3T. He was promoted to the starting lineup at the end of the season until the end of his rookie season. Black continued to play for the Lakers in the 2015-16 season, which was also the 20th and final season of Kobe Bryant's career.
While many Lakers and NBA players want Kobe to sign autographs or take photos for them, Black’s demands are higher. He hopes to get Kobe’s private tutoring time. “I can’t let him leave like this before I squeeze him dry. "A lot of people didn't take advantage of Kobe," Black said. "Being on the same team with him, a lot of players just thought it was cool to be on the same team with him. At the beginning of that season, I sent a message to Kobe and asked him if he could play on every road trip." I can find time to talk to him, whether it's over dinner or on the plane, as long as he can give me some advice, it doesn't have to be about basketball, any advice will do." Kobe is really not only about basketball. Mention Black, "Once we were talking about family and living expenses on the plane, and we also talked about how to run a household, do business, and invest. Kobe's investment and financial management capabilities opened my eyes. Once we were talking about Kobe, he suddenly asked me to give him He looked at my bank account and after reading it, he told me to learn how to manage money well. Then he gave me some books and told me that I should start reading and learn something."
While Black was quietly learning from one of the NBA's greatest players, he also earned a master's degree from the University of Kansas.
In the summer before his rookie season, Black spent a lot of time taking classes and reading. In the summer of 2015, he took more classes and completed the proposal for the 2015-16 season. Not long after, Black's academic advisor called him, and Kansas would help him pay full tuition and provide him with various academic assistance.
"I always get help from many people. Without help and promotion from all sides, I would not be able to achieve what I am now. I am very happy to get a master's degree. Nowadays, a bachelor's degree is no longer valuable, it is almost the same as a high school degree. , especially for me, a 24-year-old black player, this master's degree is a great honor."
"Being an African-American and getting a master's degree is very attractive to me, but I shouldn't be a special case. I'm not the smartest among African-Americans. I've met many people who are better than me. For more outstanding talents, what they lack is opportunities.”
For a young man with financial means, Los Angeles is a very attractive city. Las Vegas is just around the corner, and all the latest, fashionable and popular things in the world are available as soon as the door opens. However, in addition to the court, Black focuses on meeting with big figures in the Los Angeles business community. “Everyone thinks that staying in front of the spotlight is the most promising,” Black said. “But they don’t understand that big figures behind the scenes have influence. power, but they don’t appear in the spotlight or the flashbulbs of paparazzi.”
After Black reached a two-year, 12.85 million yuan agreement with the Lakers, he signed a 3.2 million contract with the Rockets in July this year. Black used his salary and his own name to create a foundation whose mission is to provide opportunities and training for Memphis' young players. In addition, Black also invested in "OjO Electric Scooter", a start-up company that manufactures electric bicycles.
Black knows that the knowledge contained in books is far greater than the surface. Black, who is only 26 years old, knows that there are many new chapters waiting for him in life, including the NBA, career, foundation, investment, and even running for mayor of Memphis. "Now , I am a role model for many young people and the goal I pursue. I have experienced a lot and seen a lot, but I am not qualified to boast about my achievements."
"I don't want young people to follow me. Everyone should find a way to find their own path, but my story may be the best reference for everyone."
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