What are the unspoken rules for treating rookies in the NBA

"If I want to go to the store to buy something, Zhou Qi has to run errands for me. Clean the room, carry my bags, buy coffee, etc. This is part of being a rookie, carrying my bag every day," Rockets star James Harden said in an interview in China.

In the summer of 2017, Zhou Qi signed a four-year, $5.57 million contract with the Rockets. He also became another Chinese player to join the Rockets after Yao Ming.

Later, a reporter interviewed Yao Ming, the current chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association. While giving Zhou Qi his blessing, Chairman Yao also reminded Zhou Qi: "Buy a sandwich and carry a bag for your old teammates. Carrying a bag or a newspaper will help develop your shooting touch."

Obviously, Yao Ming, who has been playing in the NBA for many years, is well aware of the "unspoken rules" in the league. As a rookie on the team, these are all. Required course.

In fact, for Yao Ming, he was not "bullied" by his senior teammates during his rookie season. This was also due to his super high emotional intelligence and communication skills. As soon as he entered the team, he was bullied by the boss Francis. He also called Yao Ming his little brother, but other stars in the league were not as lucky as Yao Ming.

"My teammates asked me to do some work at that time," James said, "I did it, and then I was not bullied again." As the first player in the league today, he entered the NBA as the No. 1 pick. James did not escape the fate of being "bullied" by the old players. After the team training, James would be ordered by the old players to buy bread and donuts.

It can be seen that no matter how high your draft pick is in the NBA, as long as you are a rookie on the team, you must serve the older players, even if you are over thirty.

Huertas, known as "Brazilian Nash", was treated the same way when he first joined the Lakers. When everyone on the team boarded the bus, Huertas was alone. He had to carry all his teammates' luggage bags into the trunk of the car. Huertas was already 32 years old at that time.

Speaking of carrying bags, Paul, as the top point guard in the league, is not immune. In 2008, Paul was selected for the U.S. Men's Basketball Team for the first time, and was subsequently "bullied" by his teammates. After a training session, Anthony, Wade and others shouted in front of everyone, "Rookie, come here and carry your bag!"

Everyone immediately hung their luggage around Paul's neck. It seems that the "rookie culture" of American basketball is not limited to the NBA.

In addition to working, being teased by veteran players is also an inevitable thing for rookies.

In the summer of 2007, Yi Jianlian was selected by the Bucks as the sixth overall pick. Then he was "molested" by his teammates in his home debut that season. The veteran players of the Bucks told Yi Jianlian that this was the first home game of his rookie season and that he should be the first to play, followed by other players. But when the Arab League was the first to rush onto the court, no other players came on the court for two minutes, which made him feel very embarrassed.

As a newcomer in the team, it is inevitable that you will encounter difficulties from the old players. As long as there is no malicious discrimination or bullying, there is nothing wrong with obeying the rules. After all, this is what every player has to experience when growing up. .