John. Newell, NBA Principal Advisor.

A white man, about 50 years old, with a bloated body and full of silver hair, he looks like an official.

However, Newell was kind and kind, and had no pretensions at all. In his words, "Aren't we still a bunch of people working for the team, the team owner asked us to help manage the league, the team owner stopped playing, and I was the chief consultant." ”

With just one joke, Newell managed to close the distance between him and Link.

Link is actually reluctant to have any contact with the league's top brassiers, because after all, the league executives are businessmen, not just basketball practitioners.

Basketball and business are inextricably linked, but if business goes too far, it will definitely go bad. And some of the top echelons of the alliance always think very highly of themselves, which is disgusting.

As a result, Link has never had much contact with the league's top brass. Pay the fine when it's due, and accept it when you accept the compliment. Other times, we don't see each other at all.

But Newell was an example, because sitting with Newell, Link felt like he was just gossiping with an uncle who loved basketball.

"You've been amazing this season, Link. 23-1, oh my God, it's 2014 and you've only lost one game! LeBron won't be on his laurels for Christmas, how are you preparing? Newell and Link chatted a lot about what they didn't have, and then they started to get closer to the topic.

"Well prepared, by the way, John, you said that the alliance has something to ask me, what is it?" Link listened to Newell's preparation for the subject, so he went down the slope and continued.

"Hey," Newell said, waving his fat palm, "it's a little sad to say. You know, the impact of All-Star Weekend is not as good as it is a year after year. ”

Hearing Newell talk about All-Star Weekend, Link probably had a score in his heart, it turned out to be this thing!

However, Link did not "rush to answer", he was waiting for Newell to continue.

"In the past, All-Star Weekend was a carnival for fans. But now, All-Star Weekend has been labeled as nothing new, boring, etc. In fact, we are also trying to save the situation, and last year, we changed the slam dunk contest, the skill challenge, and the three-point contest to the format of the East and West confrontations. In the early years, we also moved away from splitting the Rookie Challenge into first- and second-year teams, but mixed teams. But all we did was in vain, and the fans didn't buy it. ”

Newell said, glancing at Link. Link nodded slightly, motioning for Newell to continue.

"Later we found out that it wasn't a matter of rules at all. People don't like to watch All-Star Weekend not because they are disgusted with the current rules, but because they don't see the stars on All-Star Weekend anymore! Think about the dunk contests of the '80s and '90s, where you could see MVPs perform violent dunks in front of you. Three-point contest, you can see Larry. A legendary superstar like Bird! But what about now? Who remembers the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest winner Jeremy. Who is Evans? After the slam dunk contest roster was announced, fans even said they didn't know who was participating. ”

"So?" Link finally answered.

"So, we're going to change direction. We want some real stars to be part of All-Star Weekend, especially the highest-profile dunk contest. People are not disgusted with the slam dunk contest, but they are disgusted with watching the shrimp soldiers and crabs participate in the slam dunk contest. Dwight. When Howard participated in the slam dunk contest, the effect was very impressive. But he didn't participate in the third year, and the competition immediately dimmed again. When Griffin participated in the slam dunk contest, the action was not very novel, but because he was a star player, everyone bought it. We need a real superstar for a slam dunk contest Link, like a great superstar like you! ”

After waiting for a long time, Newell finally said the purpose of this conversation. Link wasn't surprised, and the result was just as he expected.

And this also explains why Link has been treated so well for the past two days.

Do you think the league doesn't want its stars to participate in the slam dunk contest? Surely they want to, too. But there is no doubt that the big-name stars have turned down the league's offer. Only those newcomers who have not yet become famous and hope to gain popularity by relying on the slam dunk contest will wade into this troubled water.

That's why the league will do its best to Link this time. The purpose is to increase Link's goodwill and hope that he will accept the invitation to participate in the slam dunk contest.

Kneeling and licking by the Alliance...... Link believes this experience is not for all superstars.

"The dunk contest needs to be saved again, Link. And the person who can save the slam dunk contest is only you in the whole league! If you were to participate in the slam dunk contest, I'm sure you'd be like Vince in 2000. Carter went down in history! I am sure that your fame will be further enhanced. I am sure that you will become the most popular athlete in the whole league! Of course, I know you don't need to prove yourself in a slam dunk contest anymore, and I know you're already the best athlete in the league. It doesn't hurt to elevate your place in history, right? ”

Link could hear that Newell was speaking very carefully. No wonder the Alliance sent Newell, a kind old man, to talk to Link, just for fear that he would annoy Link by not saying anything right.

This is if it were to send Adam. Silva's iron and honest come, it is estimated that "if you like to participate, you will participate, and if you don't participate, you will be pulled down." ”

It's not Link smearing, Adam. Silva's level of negotiation really sucks.

"Link, please! Think about it, the dunk contest needs you, the fans need you. ”

Newell used the word "Please," and Link would not be exaggerating to interpret the word as "please" in Chinese.

To be honest, Link really doesn't hate participating in the slam dunk contest, he's always wanted to have fun.

But in the face of Bill. Simmons' provocation and the fans' expectations, Link has not made up his mind.

This time, the league actually came forward to invite Link to participate in the slam dunk contest, and it was with such a humble attitude.

I have to say that Link still has a good impression of this.

"I'll think about it, Newell. Give me some time and I'll get back to you. ”

"Really?" Newell probably didn't expect Link to agree so quickly, although he only agreed to consider it, but things have gone much smoother than he imagined.

When the league invited other stars in the past, others basically refused outright. The most tactful, at most, is to find some excuses.

It's the first one like Link who simply said he wanted to consider.

"Of course it's true, but I'm not sure I'll end up participating. The only guarantee I can be that you will get my reply by mid-January. ”

"Thank you so much, Link! I believe that the 2014 slam dunk contest will definitely go down in history! ”

Link said goodbye to Newell with a smile, and then immediately went with Jeff. Austin discussed. Of course, don't forget to inform Pera and Jogger.

In the afternoon, Link, along with Durant, James, Harden, Rose and Curry, participated in the filming of the Christmas War commercial.

The ad was very creative, and the staff placed five basketball hoops inside the basketball court, each next to each other and horizontally on the bottom line.

Then, the net is filled with bells, which ring whenever the players are able to throw the ball in.

The bells hung on the nets of each basketball hoop are different, so the sound produced is also different. If you throw the ball into the corresponding basket in order and rhythm, you can play a simple "Jingle Bell" with the different silver colors emitted by the bells.

Playing music with basketball is a really great idea.

Several superstar players wore short-sleeved jerseys from the Christmas game and shot in turn, hitting in turn. The shooting of the commercial went very smoothly and it took only three times to finish. Among them, the main ones were Rose and Harden who missed one shot each, and the others did not have any surprises in the shot.

After the advertising shooting, Link wanted to "catch up" with Durant.

James, however, was the first to come up.

"Link, we're not too idle this Christmas."

James is smiling, and unlike Kobe, he is not the kind of player who can even ignore his teammates because of his anger.

But Link knows very well that under this mature smile, what awaits him will be a tougher challenge than Kobe.