Chapter 15: The Best Sparring Partner.
Contrary to popular belief, just like the imperial guards in ancient times didn't necessarily need to be the best fighters, a ball boy's top requirement isn't being great at basketball— it's being obedient.
Thanks to Rondo's referral, Han Sen presented himself as polite and well-mannered during the interview, easily landing a role as a "temporary ball boy" for the Miami Heat.
This role was more of a supplementary position without a fixed salary, but it came with the perk of watching games courtside for free.
Most ball boys hired by teams are between 12 and 18 years old, but the upper age limit for temporary ball boys is more flexible, usually extending up to 22. The goal behind this is to engage local college students and build a connection between the NBA and the university crowd.
Teams typically have a fixed number of full-time ball boys. For example, the Heat have 10 permanent ball boys, with 8 actively working during games (4 for each team), while the remaining 2 are on standby.
There's no set limit on the number of temporary ball boys, who mainly step in when extra help is needed, particularly after games.
Although Han Sen's role as a temporary ball boy wasn't exactly what Rondo had described, it seemed more suited to his needs. After all, his primary goal was to interact with NBA players.
But after starting the job, he realized things weren't going as he had hoped. The NBA players, even the role players, kept their distance from the ball boys.
In hindsight, this was understandable. Most NBA players are millionaires, some even billionaires, and wealth tends to create a natural barrier between them and ordinary people.
It wasn't until he had been on the job for over a week that he finally found his opportunity.
Wade, who had a habit of staying late for extra practice after games, presented that chance. It was probably one of the reasons why Wade had maintained his peak form throughout the season.