NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 584 Necessary "Sacrifice" (Daily Chapter)

On Wednesday, July 2008, 7, before the ESPY ceremony began, a large number of celebrities gathered on the red carpet in front of the Nokia Theater.

The 16th ESPY Awards Ceremony, like previous years, opened voting on June 6, and fans can vote for their favorite sports stars before July 26.

Where there are stars, there are fans. This year's host is the extremely popular Justin Timberlake. In order to catch a glimpse of their idol, many people came early to watch.

Singer Ashanti Douglas and actor Greg Kinnear from New York made fans shout when they appeared;
After actors Sophia Bush, Zac Efron, and Kristen Bell appeared one after another, fans screamed even more.
Although these big stars are not big names and some have only become famous in recent years, the atmosphere group has created a feeling of an international superstar appearing.

Kate Walsh, who became famous for "Grey's Anatomy", appeared on the scene in a purple off-shoulder dress, and fans cheered even louder.

Fergie, who was dressed in a black dress, is from Los Angeles. This big singer, who topped the Hot 100 Singles Chart last year and won the MTV Video Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, once brought the atmosphere to a climax.

After so many years of development, ESPY has changed from a simple sports awards ceremony in the past to a popular party today. Celebrities and young models all like to join in the fun, and its influence seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

Originally, the outdated O'Neal was not supposed to attend this year's award ceremony, but for the sake of the show's effect, the old shark happily went, if for no other reason, he just wanted to see his little brother's ugly face in person.

O'Neal appeared on the red carpet in a black striped suit, accompanied by a petite black girl with big tits. The two smiled happily in front of the camera:
"Has anyone seen my little brother? I've been looking for him for a long time!"

"Tell Kobe that I love him and I will always support him. Stop reporting those boring news. I swear, that was just my improvisation!"

In a brief interview with an ESPN reporter, O'Neal joked about the recent news about himself in a gruff voice, but from the smile on his face, anyone could tell that the old shark was mocking his former partner.

Everyone laughed at the hesitant O'Neal. Two minutes later, Kobe, dressed in a black suit, appeared in front of everyone with Vanessa, who was wearing a white dress.

Despite losing the finals, Kobe's popularity has rebounded since he became captain of the United States. As the host, he also received a lot of cheers from the audience. Fans still like the special Mamba.

From the 21st to the 24th, the US men's basketball team will hold a training match with the rookie team in Las Vegas. Interestingly, Rajon Rondo of the Knicks has also received an invitation.

After the news broke, New Yorkers who were eager to watch the fun were all discussing one thing:

“Are Rondo and Kobe going to throw punches at each other again?”

Although tonight is an awards ceremony, ESPN reporters are fearless. When Kobe stopped to take pictures, a reporter quickly asked an inappropriate question:

"Kobe, Rajon Rondo was selected for the reserve team. Will this further deteriorate your relationship?"

Kobe, who had always been smiling, frowned slightly when he heard the name. He didn't like being compared with a rookie. His expression immediately became serious and he showed the dignity of a captain:

"If he performs really well, I will accept him into the national team."

"I hope every player who comes to the training camp can cherish this opportunity and work hard every day. We haven't done anything yet."

"There is less than two weeks to the Olympics. Everyone must stay focused. I will supervise them and take on the responsibility of a leader."

After saying this, Kobe did not give other reporters a chance and quickly left with Vanessa, which made the ESPN reporter even more dissatisfied. You know, according to the voting results, Kobe had no chance of winning at all:
"He really thinks of himself as a superstar, damn it! When will he learn to respect us?"

An ESPN reporter who had been about to ask a question could not help but complain loudly. The surrounding media laughed quietly, and finally a few people from Fox News joked:

"Man, because you guys always put him down, if I were Kobe, you wouldn't be getting any news from me!"

Everyone was chatting and laughing, pressing the shutter in their hands from time to time, and Kobe in the front was particularly unhappy at this moment. It was obvious that he had already been recognized by the coach, but others still did not accept his leadership.

"I insist that you should have surgery earlier."

Noticing her husband's change in mood, Vanessa whispered softly, but the stubborn Kobe did not respond. He had too few honors, and an Olympic gold medal would not bring him closer to his "mortal enemy."

The two dressed up and smiled brightly in front of the camera, but when they entered the theater, they soon noticed some unfriendly looks, and some celebrities seemed to be laughing at their joke.

Vanessa was upset. She didn't like this kind of environment. Her eldest daughter was laughed at by other children. She had never told her husband about these things. She smiled but began to pray in her heart:
"Let all this pass."

At 21 p.m., the Nokia Theater was packed. With a familiar sound of music and a bunch of titles, Justin Timberlake, wearing New York's away blue training uniform, jumped onto the stage:
"Let's welcome the 12th All-Star and 10th NBA champion."

"Come on! Man! Don't say my name wrong!"

The DJ, who was imitating Knicks broadcaster Mike Valchevsky, stopped abruptly at the last moment, said sorry, and then stretched out his voice to call out "Justin Timberlake."

Amid the laughter, Justin Timberlake stopped in the center of the stage, put his right hand to his ear, made a listening gesture, and then tore off his training clothes, revealing a white suit:

"I'm sorry that my good brother God-Lee couldn't be here tonight. Salute to him, the King of New York, the GOAT of modern basketball!"

Since 06, Justin Timberlake has completely bid farewell to his curly hair. At this time, he tried hard to imitate Li You's posture, but the difference in body shape was a bit big, which made the scene laugh again.

"I have a good relationship with Lee, but the tickets to Madison Square Garden have become more and more expensive in recent years. I asked my management team why I couldn't get front-row tickets?"

"They told me to get in line! A damn line! And then I went to Los Angeles!"

"OMG! That was an impressive finals. I love Kobe, but I think Shaq is right. Without him, Los Angeles can't win the championship!"

"Shhh!!"

There were boos in the theater, and then laughter. The director turned the camera to Kobe, who had a dark face. Justin Timberlake shrugged his shoulders on the stage, saying it was his fault, and then he said loudly again:

"Shaq, I know you were there! What I'm trying to say is that your improvisation sucks!"

O'Neal, who was sitting near the front row, was grinning so hard that his mouth almost reached the back of his head. In the director's camera, the old shark was laughing and stroking his chest to express his apology, and he was shouting:

"Forgive me, my little brother, forgive me, Kobe!"

"."

There was even louder laughter in the theater. The fun of this year's finals has continued to this day, and the "best player" has become an abstract joke.

Kobe in the camera did not have a smile on his face. If his agent had not suggested that he come to accept the trophy, he would definitely not attend such a boring ceremony. He tried hard but was still laughed at, and he secretly remembered everyone's faces in his heart.

The host always tells a joke at the beginning. After Justin Timberlake teased Kobe, he also made a joke about the New York Giants.

This year, New York Sports beat MA again. In the American sports circle, the two teams are very popular.

Garnett was also at the scene. After coming to Boston, his popularity increased further. However, when he heard "The Celtics were beaten to pieces," he was also so angry that his face turned black amid the laughter of everyone.

The awards ceremony was interspersed with Justin Timberlake's personal performance. The atmosphere was lively and the results of various awards were announced one after another. It was not until the result of the best NBA player was announced that discussions began to emerge in the theater.

In the past few years, Li You has almost won this award and has many trophies piled up at home. If the voting results are used, there is still no suspense about whether he will be the best NBA player of this year.

However, ESPN considered the program effect, and after a brief communication with Li You's agency team, it quickly pushed Kobe to the stage.

When Kobe walked onto the stage with a serious expression and raised the trophy amid the discussions, applause gradually broke out in the theater and then grew louder and louder, as if everyone was infected by his confidence.

"This is the first time I have received this award! I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me. You have always been my motivation to move forward."

"I know a lot of people are laughing at me, but that's how I play and I know how hard I worked to get back to the Finals."

"I am undoubtedly the best player in the league! I have devoted myself to basketball, and for this, I can't even take care of my family. I want to say sorry to Vanessa, but I will not stop."

When the director pointed the camera at Vanessa in the audience, she covered her mouth and cried when she heard her husband's words. She knew what she had been through in the past few years.
Thinking of his struggles with the Lakers over the years, Kobe was a little emotional. No one understood him, and only this year's trophy was a recognition of him:

"Basketball is sacred to me, it is everything to me! God will not let down children who work hard! May God bless you too."

The applause in the theater rang out again. Kobe on the stage pursed his lips, trying to control his excitement, and raised the trophy high. At this moment, he really felt that God saw his efforts.

The awards ceremony was still going on, and Justin Timberlake also did something abstract. In the presence of Victoria, he smelled Beckham's right foot.
In the joyful atmosphere, only O'Neal was a little unhappy. He didn't expect that Kobe would win everyone's recognition with his strong self-confidence. He wanted to see the joke of his little brother!
After the award ceremony at 23:, there will be a small party for sports stars to communicate.

When the sports reporters saw O'Neal walking towards Kobe, they all surrounded him excitedly. Others also showed expressions of watching the show. It was obvious that everyone was looking forward to the old shark's performance.

"Hey Bro! You haven't been answering my calls, I just want to explain to you that the news is full of bullshit."

"I'm so sorry you lost the finals, you know I've always been there for you, you'll always be my little brother!"

The black girl next to O'Neal almost laughed out loud. These past few days in the hotel, the old shark sometimes humiliated his former partner at night, but she didn't believe such nonsense.

Seeing O'Neal's "sincere" look, Kobe still had a cold face and responded casually, intending to take Vanessa away. O'Neal saw that his partner ignored him and immediately became anxious:

"Dr. Buss won't offer Duncan a big contract! He's not as generous as you think!"

"Captain America? You will be humiliated by Lee again next season. He will keep humiliating you! You have no chance of winning this game!"

"Oh"

Some people gasped when they heard what O'Neal said. No one expected the old shark to be so straightforward. The reporters who heard "Li You humiliated Kobe" were even more excited. They didn't have to worry about tomorrow's news.

Kobe's face darkened as he stopped. At this moment, it seemed that everyone was looking at him. The mocking eyes of the crowd almost made him lose his defense on the spot:

"Only cowards give up! I'm not interested in discussing this with cowards. I will win the championship!"

"My career won't end at 36. I won't be panting when I run like you!"

Kobe's words immediately made O'Neal very angry. He wanted to continue to fight back, but Vanessa held her husband, said sorry and quickly left. The former partners were quarreling with each other, and the theater was also in an uproar at this time.

The girl with a pair of black balls was so happy that she clung to O'Neal and posed in front of the camera. O'Neal regained his composure. He liked to be the focus:
"Yes, I'm 36! I'm old, but he's only 30!"

"I'm not going to get lectured in the finals when I'm 30 years old. My little brother doesn't seem to realize that he can't do anything without me!"

O'Neal mocked his partner in front of ESPN reporters, which made the reporters burst into laughter. For the first time, they felt that the award ceremony was so exciting.

If this segment could be shown on Saturday, the ratings would definitely explode. The old Shark is too suitable for TV. The other party can always make things happen.
"Shaq, would you consider joining ESPN after retirement? I think sports fans love you!"

O'Neal, who had hugged the girl, felt a little proud when he heard such praise. He didn't know what humility was. At this moment, he continued to brag:
"Get ready! Even if I leave the NBA, I can still make a lot of money!"

"I've already started thinking about what to do after retirement. Maybe commentating on the Lakers' games would be a good choice. You know, I'll always support my little brother!"

"."

Kobe had regained his composure when he returned to the car after leaving the theater. The driver noticed that the two were in a bad mood and kept silent. The night in Los Angeles seemed to have turned into a man-eating monster. Vanessa became more and more worried about her husband's mental state:
"Let's quit the national team! Get the surgery early and spend time with the kids. You should rest now."

After his knee injury, Kobe has lost weight and his physical condition has declined. Vanessa is worried that the US team will lose, and there was an expectant look on her face when she said this.

"I'm going to talk to the team tomorrow and I'm going to make it happen!"

Kobe simply responded to his wife and stopped talking. The old shark was right about one thing. The Buss family was indeed not as generous as he imagined. In this respect, they were indeed not as generous as New York.

On Thursday, July 7, the Los Angeles Times was the first to break the news about last night’s ESPYs. After reading the newspaper, many people left comments under the ESPN news, saying they wanted to watch the unedited awards ceremony!
El Segundo, Toyota Center training hall, old Buss, who read the newspaper in the morning, was so angry that he scolded O'Neal for being "ungrateful". If he had not reached a consensus with Tim Duncan, he would definitely fight back immediately.

At 10 o'clock, Duncan appeared in the office with his wife Amy, agent Ron Scott Barbee and investment advisor Charles Banks.

Bobby is a latecomer, graduating from Yale Law School. He once served as the agent for Ray Allen, Grant Hill and others.

He is now 58 years old, no longer young. He wears glasses and has a decent smile on his face when meeting people.

Charles Banks has gray hair. He acquired several wineries in 06. He currently has a big name in the wine industry. His career is developing smoothly and he looks extremely strong.

Kupchak and the old Buss father and son stood up to welcome them. Everyone hugged each other warmly, and Duncan's wife Amy also had a smile on her face.

"Tim is willing to make concessions, but we need a contract of at least four years, Dr. Buss, I understand your concerns, but you also know that the MVP should get the maximum salary." Ron Scott Barbie sent out the "notice" after he sat down. Old Buss laughed and expressed his agreement, but Kupchak secretly complained that the Lakers' salary could not be sustained:

"We hope Tim can understand the team's difficulties. I know this contract seems to lack sincerity, but the team needs to be strengthened and advertising will make up for some of the losses."

"The window to win the championship is only in these few years. I don't want to deceive everyone."

Although Kupchak spoke sincerely and even had a pleading look on his face, Amy frowned. The Lakers were cutting their own flesh!
As a veteran who has played in the league for more than 10 years, Duncan is eligible for a starting salary of 35% of the salary cap, and the maximum salary increase can reach 12.5%.

By this calculation, Duncan will get 2053.8 million US dollars next season, and the four-year contract is 4 million US dollars.

Considering that Duncan is already 32 years old and his salary in the last year of his contract is more than 2800 million, the Lakers are reluctant to buy it. They don't want to offer too high a salary to an older player.

If calculated based on 105% of the previous contract, the starting salary would be US$1996 million, and the Lakers would save some money.

Kupchak even wants Duncan to take less, as the team's salary cap is really insufficient and it is difficult to strengthen the team at the moment.

Among the current league superstars, only Li You enjoys a starting salary of 35% of the salary cap. In addition to the "Li You clause", it is also James Dolan's sincerity that other teams cannot poach him.
When Long Scott Babby heard this, he frowned. When he looked at Duncan, he found that his employer did not refuse immediately. Instead, he asked calmly:
"I want to hear the team's detailed plan. You know, I was in San Antonio some time ago."

"We will sign a good big man with a mid-level contract. The team will not trade Lamar. Phil thinks he can be the sixth man."

Perhaps because he felt that this statement was not convincing enough, Kupchak had to continue to add:
"Phil and I both think that keeping the starting lineup is the best option. If you have players you want to recruit, you can always provide them to us and the team will meet all your requirements."

"But given the current salary structure, you know Tim, the job we can do is difficult and we have to stick together."

If Duncan chooses the maximum salary, then combined with the salaries of Kobe and Odom, the total salary of the three will reach 5595 million, which almost fills the salary cap. The previous offers from the Los Angeles media were all nonsense.

Amy was worried that her husband would compromise, so she poked him twice secretly, but Duncan asked in detail and seemed very concerned about the substitute lineup.

After listening for a while, Ron Scott Babby also frowned. The Lakers had previously insisted on the length of the contract and were now holding on to the starting salary. In his opinion, this showed a lack of sincerity.

"It's a very good plan. I will reconsider it. If possible, I hope to get a list of signings."

Duncan did not agree immediately, but made another request. Kupchak was relieved about this, as he felt that the other party would definitely accept such a plan.

Although the third round of negotiations still failed to finalize the contract extension, old Buss and his eldest son still smiled. After Duncan left at noon, the father and son fell silent.

"I don't think they'll agree. It's going to be hard for us to sign a great big man with a mid-level contract in free agency."

"And the Knicks rejected all our trade requests. They even said David Lee is not for sale and he will be the main player of the Development League team next season!"

"Fuck! The Alliance should sanction them!"

Jim Buss became furious when he thought of the tone of the old man Donnie Walsh, who said, "I'm not interested in doing business with you." Phil Jackson was not a pushover either, and he sided with Odom.

Seeing the eldest son's angry look, Old Buss didn't care. He was concerned about the team's revenue. Although the championship was good, it couldn't lose money. He didn't say anything about it, but just asked:
"Did you guys sign that dunker? I think the fans will like him."

"."

Jim Buss was speechless for a moment. His father was talking about Gerald Green. This signing was just to sell tickets. Thinking that the team had not made any other moves in the free market, he could only nod and respond:

"His agent has verbally agreed."

Old Bass nodded with satisfaction, as if he had seen what the eldest son was thinking. He leaned back in his chair and said seriously:
"I have talked to many people, and no one will take the initiative to trade with the Knicks. In the next few years, they can only absorb rookie players in the late first round and the second round."

"In two years we will have our chance. I know many young players' contracts expire in 2010. You should know what this means."

Looking at his father's meaningful eyes, Jim Buss took a deep breath. It was obvious that the previous negotiations were just big cakes.
Duncan and his team were warmly received by the Buss family during lunch. Jeanie Buss kept speaking for the team and even took the initiative to talk about Phil Jackson's tactical changes for next season.

Amy enjoyed this kind of life very much. When she returned home in the afternoon, she suggested loudly without waiting for her husband to sit down:
"We need more salary, Tim. You should get a maximum salary like Lee did. The Lakers will agree to it. Maybe we can go to other cities to look around."

Charles Banks, who had not given any specific advice, suddenly spoke up. As an investment consultant, he agreed with Amy's point of view from another perspective:
"There are many high-quality properties in Los Angeles that are being sold at reduced prices. Tim, this is our opportunity. If we buy these high-quality assets, they will appreciate in value in less than two years!"

“Maybe we can open a gym, I think that’s a good business!”

Amy took over the conversation again and asked Duncan to talk about the gym business. Duncan nodded in agreement to his wife's suggestion, but he still hadn't made up his mind to ask for the maximum salary:

"We have enough savings now to open a gym, and Charles will help you choose the property you want."

As Grant Hill's former agent, Ron Scott Barbie saw Duncan's inclinations. The old man was very kind and had to say the unpleasant words in advance:
"Tim, players shouldn't compromise on salary. In New York, this never happens. Lee can even help role players get higher salaries."

"If you choose to take a pay cut, no one will be grateful to you, and some people may even look down on you! This is the NBA, don't empathize with the team."

"We can definitely leave Los Angeles. I've received an offer from Portland, and the Trail Blazers have already accumulated excellent talent."

Amy's eyes widened when she heard about the move. She loved life in Los Angeles too much. Noticing his wife's gaze, Duncan waved his hand and explained in an inexplicable tone:

"I just want to give myself one last chance, and if I have to go to another team, I would rather go back to San Antonio."

"."

Ron Scott Barbie stopped giving suggestions. The old man sighed silently. Women were the cause of trouble. He didn't like the attitude of the Buss family, and he didn't like Kobe's poor performance in the finals even more.

Duncan was influenced by his wife's good mood. He was willing to make sacrifices for his family. He immediately texted Kobe back:
"Everybody has to make the necessary sacrifices, man, and I think we can be successful."

The fun in Los Angeles has also spread widely in New York, and on YouTube, a grainy video of O'Neal and Kobe arguing at the Nokia Theater has appeared.

Li You didn't care about this at all. His income had reached the most critical moment, and he had been running between Manhattan and Greenwich for the past half month.

Just last night, I accepted John Paulson's invitation and brought the little ones to a family gathering. This afternoon, a group of people from Axis Capital visited Paulson's hedge fund together.

Paulson's hedge fund also made a profit during the Wall Street crisis. Although it earned a lot and controlled over 90 billion dollars in funds, its office after moving to opposite the Radio City Music Hall was still as simple as before.

There were no artworks or luxurious office suites, but the old black sofa and a large number of folders surprised everyone in the group.

Compared with Ax Capital which has nearly 200 people, there are only two or three big cats and small cats here, and not many employees, which is completely different from everyone's expectations.

The management team that followed was communicating freely. Li You took off his suit jacket and went into Paulson's office with Bobby, who was dressed casually in a black short-sleeved T-shirt. When he saw the photo on the table, he joked:

"Paul told us that you used to be popular at Wall Street parties. Now I believe it. When you were young, you looked cool!"

The photo is marked with the time. Paulson, 28, and Paul Pellegrini, 25, are holding champagne and laughing wildly. They look completely different from the image of 50-year-old men. Now both of them have problems with their hair volume.
Bobby was also looking at the office. It was so plain that it made him feel sad. Perhaps he understood the meaning of the look, and John Paulson smiled self-deprecatingly:
"I'm behind the times. I've always fantasized about getting my moment, but it didn't work out this time. Paul made the right choice."

Although the amount of hair on his forehead has decreased, Paulson with his black hair still looks very gentlemanly. When he smiles, he can be described as an old handsome man, which is much better than the Italian who is mostly bald.

Pellegrini heard his old friend's joke, took off his black-framed glasses embarrassedly, and said tiredly:
"I'm sorry about the Bear Stearns thing, we really can't help, it's not in our interest."

When he was in Boston Consulting Group in his early years, Paulson made friends with many "big shots" on Wall Street. Bear Stearns held a consulting meeting in Boston not long ago, and his old boss asked for help, but the meeting ended in a bad mood.

"They are still very confident. We have calculated that Bear Stearns announced huge losses in two of its funds, and next quarter, earnings will see a huge decline."

“I don’t know how they plan to survive this crisis. The federal government? The Federal Reserve? They won’t make it to that point.”

Bobby looked at the other party and explained earnestly, which was basically a generous admission that Ax Capital would continue to short them. It was very arrogant of the other party to try to solve the problem instead of solving the problem.

"I know. Lee told me last night, but I still have illusions. Now I just want to know the news from the federal government and what you will do next."

Hearing Paulson change the subject, Bobby shrugged his shoulders. There were not many short sellers who made huge profits. In fact, everyone knew the choice the federal government would make in the end.

"There's a good chance that the Oversight Committee and the House will hold a hearing, and whoever makes more money should bear greater responsibility."

Li You spoke in a relaxed tone, and seeing Paulson's ugly face, he added another stab:

"It's like a superhero. In times of crisis, we have to show up. We will agree to do it, and then buy high-quality CDOs to fulfill the requirements of the federal government."

“They are ripping off taxpayers!”

Paulson had an angry expression on his face. The so-called financial crisis started with the collapse of offshore hedge fund companies playing financial games. The ones who suffer the most are always the grassroots taxpayers.

Everyone in the room condemned the dire situation that the American people were about to face, and then turned around and started planning how to continue making money:
“How about targeting British banks?”

Bobby suddenly gave a suggestion in a deep voice. Paulson thought about it and nodded slowly. This time the short sellers spontaneously formed an alliance, and now they have to advance and retreat together.

Pellegrini breathed a sigh of relief. Ax Capital had expanded wildly in the past two years. By the end of the year, the funds it controlled might exceed 300 billion. It had now completely completed its transformation and was no longer overly dependent on insider trading.

Li You didn't want the atmosphere to be too tense. After all, "family culture" is the foundation of Axe Capital. As long as they make money together, they are all "family":
"I love Britain! When I went to Manchester two years ago, some people protested against my acquisition of Manchester United."

"Now it's time to awed them! I love revenge scenes like this."

"You are such a devil!"

The old man Pellegrini praised with a smile, and the tense atmosphere was swept away. Li You just raised his eyebrows. He thought it would be a good idea to make some money from the British bank first, and then invest in the Carrington Training Center to get a loan.

Make money in the UK and spend a little bit in the UK. Maybe when Manchester United fans see the news and mention the red football capital again, their eyes will probably be full of awe.

On Friday, July 7, the Knicks, who had been so popular in the summer league, finally made their voice heard in the free market. Detailed information appeared in a New York Times column early in the morning:
"General Manager Donnie Walsh has finalized two trades that will see Ron Artest and Raja Bell continue to play for the team in the future."

"The former will accept a contract with a starting salary of 800 million US dollars, and the latter will accept a contract with a starting salary of 600 million US dollars. The two sides have entered the final negotiations."

The issue of the length of time has not been finalized yet, but there is no doubt that next season, the Knicks' salary will officially exceed 100 million, surpassing the Mavericks and becoming the highest-spending team in the league.

Since both of them were represented by the same agent, Matt Bartelstein, the New York reporter did not ask any further questions about the vague answer. In any case, it was most likely Li You's idea.

Flattery is still useful. Li You doesn't mind raising the salary of his brothers. As for the situation of "I have the money, so what's there to be afraid of", his former good brothers have already set an example.
The summer league in Las Vegas is about to end, and Patrick Ewing Jr.'s "superstar" performance is also coming to an end. The rookie Chalmers is already jealous. This second-round pick is completely unreasonable.

Early in the morning, a bunch of reporters surrounded Patrick Ewing Jr. Under the siege of microphones, the son of a superstar showed a determined look on his face and said seriously:
"Yes, I saw the news and I can't wait to welcome the new season with everyone!"

"It is my honor to be coached by Uncle Lee. I will devote all my time to basketball. I believe the Knicks will continue to win championships!"

"."

Chalmers has discovered a pattern. The man who got in through the backdoor always calls himself "Uncle Lee." This makes him begin to doubt the atmosphere in the Knicks locker room. It seems that Gary Neal did not lie to him.

The "veteran" who was exercising couldn't help but shake his head secretly when he saw the newbie's envious look. He moved closer to the other party and Gary Neal quickly gave his opinion:
"Dude, I'm not kidding you! As long as Li is happy, you can be included in the 12-man activation list. Practice your orange juice squeezing skills more, you will thank me!"

"What?"

Chalmers had a puzzled look on his face. The 12th man? He had seen the news in the newspaper that Jose Barea was likely to go to Dallas to play, and he could compete with rookie Rondo!

The US team's mini training camp is also currently in Las Vegas. As the captain, Kobe was in a bad mood when he saw the news about the Knicks early in the morning. When he saw Rondo's sour face, his face became even darker.

Iguodala and others who were invited also arrived at the training camp in advance. At this time, Rondo was "preaching" without paying any attention to Mamba's emotions:

"We have a high probability of not being able to enter the national team, but we can let the coaching staff see who is a fake!"

"Don't be polite to him! We must unite and sacrifice for each other. I will teach you how to win! I will share my championship experience without reservation."

"."

(End of this chapter)