Chapter 113: Farewell
The Spurs won the championship and attracted the attention of all sides, but at this time, a more exciting news came out!
In this year's NBA series, the Los Angeles Lakers are undoubtedly the most disappointing team. The gorgeous lineup and poor performance of the pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info shattered the Lakers' championship dream, and Lakers head coach Jackson was under tremendous pressure after the game.
At the end of the season, Horace Grant, who could no longer do much for the Lakers on the court except as a cheerleader, left behind a sentence that now seems quite memorable - "I don't think there is a second coach in the league who can pinch together Kobe Bryant and O'Neal like Phil Jackson and win so many championships." ”
On June 20, 2004, the day after the Spurs won the championship, the Lakers' civil unrest that shook the league began.
Phil Jackson announced his departure after meeting with the team's owner, bringing his Lakers coaching career to an end. The Lakers announced in a statement that the team's current head coach, Phil Jackson, will not be the team's coach next season.
In his statement, Jackson said: "The last five years with the Lakers have been very precious and great to me. We won the NBA championship three times, and we had a chance to win a fourth championship this year, but we failed. It's hard to describe the ending, with some bitterness in the sweetness, but it's time for me to stop and reflect on myself. I don't have a grudge against the Lakers, I like some of them, including the players who have fought with me, the fans who have always supported us and the club, even the owner Buss. ”
Although the Lakers also said in their statement today that Jackson agreed to Lakers owner Jerry Buss' request to stop him from coaching the Lakers. At the same time, Buss also offered Jackson another job with the Lakers. But Jackson's departure from the position still makes the current Lakers panic, and the team's future is beginning to worry.
After the team's announcement, the Lakers' absolute main Kobe Bryant and O'Neal both expressed their intention to leave the Lakers in the media, saying that they could appear on any team next season.
O'Neill said: "Now I don't see where the team is going and I'm going to make the best decision for myself. ”
And another superstar of the team, Kobe Bryant, said the same: "After this season, he will be a free agent without restrictions, and the Lakers will no longer be his choice."
The Associated Press even released a report, saying: A grapevine from within the Lakers said that O'Neal has submitted a letter to the team requesting a transfer.
Meanwhile, as is customary, after a parade with all the San Antonio Spurs players and the entire team will show the championship trophy to the public, Chamberlain walked into Popovich's office!
He's here to say goodbye to Popovich!
Maybe not saying goodbye is a relatively decisive way, but anyway, after all, it was Popovich who brought him into the NBA, and Chamberlain felt that he had to express this kind of gratitude!
Sitting in his chair, Popovich, who was a little old, didn't have much joy to win the championship. He was quietly sorting out the documents, and when he saw Chamberlain coming in, he stopped his movements!
"Please take a seat."
At this time, Popovich's voice was not as high-pitched and full of air as it was on the field, and it seemed much gentler!
"I'm here to say goodbye to you, sir."
Chamberlain did it on the sofa, and he was no longer like he was procrastinating, and decisively expressed his intentions.
After saying this, he paused slightly, and then continued his train of thought: "Thank you very much for bringing me into the NBA, and for your help and teaching me over the past year, thank you, sir!" ”
"I'm glad you were here today and didn't make me wait in vain! You're a very talented player and you have the ability to attract attention even without me. ”
Popovich said and walked to the opposite side of Chamberlain, and the old fat body slowly sat down before he spoke again: "Although I already know your intentions, I still want to ask, are you really planning to leave the Spurs?" I said yes if you get a raise? ”
"I admit that the salary is part of it, but not all of it, sir, I.... I don't feel like I'm a good fit for Spurs, and I want a team that can play with my skills! ”
"Salary, core, I can promise you, you see, even in the finals, I gave you the same shot rights as Thiem. You also got the championship through your own hard work, isn't that what a player dreams of? The technical characteristics you mentioned, what I would like to say are; God didn't give you a perfect body, you can't change the world, Zhang, you need someone to help you, just like Tim! ”
"I understand everything you say, but I want to try, I'm sorry sir, I don't want to live in anyone's shadow!"
Euphemism may make things more complicated, and Chamberlain chooses to expose his true thoughts, hoping to get Popovich to stop persuading!
"Well, what a stubborn young man! Then don't you mind telling me which team you want to go to, maybe I'm an old man who can help you in your choice! ”
Popovich didn't dwell on the failure of retention, although it disappointed him!
"Kings and the Hypersonics, and the Celtics who just contacted me." wave
Povich's request, Chamberlain did not refuse, he could clearly feel that the old man was just a little unwilling!
"It's not going to be all, I think there's going to be a lot of interest in you?"
"Yes, there's New York, the Sun, the Magic, but I don't really want to go there."
"Oh, now that you've made your choice, let's take a look at the three teams you've chosen! You can rule out the Celtics, Pierce is like Thiem, the SuperSonics have Ray Allen, maybe the Kings can, Chris's injury is your biggest chance, and their tactics are good for a center like you, and the Magic are also good, and their rebuilding this year is also a good opportunity for you. ”
"Thank you very much for your suggestion, sir, I will consider it seriously, then I won't bother you, I wish you good health."
Satisfying an old man's competitive curiosity, Chamberlain politely chose to leave, because he had made an appointment with Yao Ming to rush to Houston today!
"Good luck too!"