Not renewing Hollins was a tough decision and we respect his work in Memphis. But after careful consideration, we made a better development plan for the future of the team, and the decision was not easy. "Grizzlies' new owner, Robert Brown. Pera replied to reporters after the news broke.

"I want the outside world to look at things from my point of view, but I don't want to coach any other team, I want to stay with the Grizzlies. Even in my exit interview, I said that as long as the team offered me a suitable contract, I would immediately agree. But the Grizzlies have made a decision, and I can only accept it, and hopefully the Grizzlies will get better and better in the future. Hollins, a tough guy, looked lonely in front of the camera, and his dream with Memphis came to an abrupt end.

At this time, the Finals are in full swing, so few people will care about such a thing as whether the Grizzlies coach leaves. After all, Hollins is far from a famous handsome. In coaching circles, there is no comparison between coffee and Popovich.

If Popovich leaves, it is estimated that the whole league will have to explode.

But Link is very concerned about this matter, how much care? After hearing the news and confirming it by phone, Link immediately flew back to Memphis from Los Angeles.

"Don't be sad, I've already received interviews from three or four teams. Maybe we'll meet again next season, and we'll be rivals, hahahahaha. Watching Link appear on his doorstep, Hollins' eyes reddened slightly.

But in order not to make the atmosphere too sad, Hollins decided to make a joke to lighten the mood.

Link looked at Hollins with mixed feelings.

Indeed, Hollins is far from a famous coach in the entire history of the NBA. Link didn't even know the man before he crossed over. It can be said that Hollins' fame in coaching circles is only slightly better than obscurity.

But at this time, the "unknown" coach is leaving, and Link is still a little sad.

After all, he was Link's initiation coach in the NBA. The impact of an enlightenment coach on players is still very huge, without the trust and reuse of Hollins, Link would not be selected for the double-second team now, and even whether he can play steadily in the NBA has to put a question mark.

Hollins turned Link from an obscure draft pick to one of the league's best No. 3 players, and although they only got along for just two years, Hollins still has a very high status in Link's heart.

Although Link himself worked hard and had the help of the system. But Hollins also witnessed Link's growth, and if you want to say that he didn't take any credit for cultivating Link, it's unlikely.

"Did you get the news a long time ago? Why not tell us? ”

"Tell you in the playoffs that I'm probably going to leave this summer? Haha, I'm the head coach and I have to make sure the team is the result first. And to tell you that in the playoffs is not good for the team. It doesn't matter, business is business, the team is stagnant, someone has to be responsible. Hollins patted Link on the shoulder, "Next, you have to keep doing it." ”

Link nodded slightly, now is not the time to be hypocritical. This is the NBA, and here it speaks for itself. When a team wants to go further, sometimes it just needs to change. As a professional, Link has to get used to that rhythm.

Later, Link had dinner at Hollins' house, and the two talked a lot, everything from basketball to life.

When he finally left, Hollins only said one word to Link, "Link, you must win." Memphis' honor depends on you. ”

This is Lionel. Hollins, can give Link the final "deployment".

Parting, that's part of basketball.

Walking on the way home, Link was not so sad. If you think about it, sometimes, separating may be a better option for both parties. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and maybe even a good thing.

A few years ago, when the Mavericks players were ready to regroup with full firepower, the Mavericks management sent away the "little general" Avery who had allowed the Mavericks to win 60+ games in the regular season for two consecutive seasons. Johnson.

At that time, all the Mavericks said, "We work well together, and we are reluctant to accept this coach." ”

At the time, Mavericks fans said that Cuban was too hasty, and let the little general try more to ensure that it would work.

And then Rick. Carlisle came, and last year, the Mavericks lifted their first championship trophy in franchise history. From taking over the team to winning the championship, it was only three seasons.

But if you let Johnson try three more seasons, will he really lead the team to a championship?

Thinking of this, Link was relieved a lot. But the most important thing now is, who will the Grizzlies hire as head coach next season?

Promoting an assistant coach? Then you might as well use Hollins. Now two assistant coaches on the Grizzlies coaching staff, Elston. Turner and Dave. Joggle is a very good assistant coach, but he doesn't have the ability to do it on his own.

Link then went home and called his boss Robert directly. Pera, it stands to reason that who the team hires as the head coach has nothing to do with the players. Link really didn't want to interfere with the team's selection, but he should have the right to know.

"To be honest, we have a lot of spare candidates. Spurs coach Alvin. Gentry, assistant coach Dave. Jogle, once the model of Kombat Whirlwind, Mike. D'Antoni and Rick, who played the Princeton system with the Kings that year, also had a Princeton system. Adelman and others will all be interviewed with the team. On the other end of the phone, when I heard Link ask about the head coach, Pera was not angry, but very happy.

The core players can care so much about the construction and development of the team, and Pera is naturally very happy.

"Uh......" Link listened to the shortlist, these coaches are certainly good coaches. But I always feel like it's all bad......

"Oh, by the way, there's a very special candidate, I don't know if you recognize him. In the past two years, he has been very popular in the American basketball world. ”

"Who?" Hearing that there was such a mysterious candidate, Link suddenly became interested again.

"He never coached in the NBA, not even as an assistant coach in the NBA. However, I think he is a very good candidate to consider. He is the current coach of the Butler University Bulldogs. Stevens. He has agreed to come to the team for an interview, which shows that he is eager to enter the NBA. I don't know if the Cinderella myth he created in the NCAA can also be played out in the NBA. ”

Listen to Robert. After Pera finished speaking, Link was stunned.

Do you know Stevens? It's an old acquaintance, okay! He and George spent a lot of time training at Butler University last summer.

What impressed Link to this day is that Stevens had his players simulate the tactics of the Grizzlies and Pacers in order to give Link and George better training results. As it turns out, Link and George did get into form early at the start of the season.

These are inseparable from Stevens's help.

I thought that Stevens and Stevens would only be friends, but now it's okay, Link and him will have the possibility of teaming up!

May Robert. Pera, make the right decision.