"Hey, Tim, how have you been lately, you're so old, don't toss yourself too much, you can't compare with those young people now, pay attention to take care of your body, don't retire, you're getting an injury。。。。。。"

One day in August 2012, after Odin's national fan meeting, Meng Xu came to San Antonio alone, and while cleaning up the "old house", he dialed Tim Duncan's phone.

"My own body, I know better than you, believe it or not, I can still hang you now, just talk about things if there's something, I'll hang up if it's okay, I'm going to train soon." After the phone was connected, before Meng Xu could finish chattering, Tim Duncan directly interrupted Meng Xu.

"I heard you're reinforcing now? You know, I've got a lot of All-Stars right now, and just a couple of contracts are expiring, do you think you're interested? ”

Maybe it's fate, or maybe it's God's will, after Meng Xu retired, another of the two heroes of Wake Forest also began to walk down the altar and fell into a low point in his career, and was also selected for the double team in the 07-08 season, ranking in the top five of the regular season MVP list, Tim Duncan, in the 08-09 season, his state decreased greatly, and the data fell across the board, and the average data per game last season has fallen to an average of 14 points per game and 9 rebounds, although this is also related to the change of the Spurs' offensive core, But Tim Duncan, who has missed the All-Star team for two consecutive seasons, now feels like it's really not good.

Affected by Tim Duncan's declining state, the Spurs' record is also worse year after year, after reaching the Western Conference finals in the 07-08 season and being eliminated by the Lakers, the Spurs have not passed the second round for four consecutive seasons, the 08-09 season was defeated by the Mavericks, the 09-10 season was swept by the Suns, and the 10-11 season was completed by the Grizzlies in the case of the first record in the West, and this season finally reached the second round, and was eliminated by the Thunder, the Spurs who have won the NBA championship three times, The encounters in recent seasons can only be described as miserable, unbearable, and ghostly crying, so after the end of this season, the Spurs have strengthened everywhere in the free market, hoping to win the championship again while the GDP still has the strength to fight.

"It has nothing to do with me whether I make up for it or not, and I'm not the general manager of Spurs, if you talk about business, then you're looking for the wrong person, if you don't have anything else, I'll hang up first." Hearing Meng Xu say that he was going to introduce players to the Spurs, Tim Duncan on the other end of the phone was also very disappointed, and after hanging up the phone, Tim Duncan shook his head, looking like he was thinking a little too much.

"This guy." Listening to the beep on the other end of the phone, Meng Xu dialed Popovich's phone after complaining, ready to introduce the players under his command to him.

。。。。。。

"Long time no see, Greg." After walking into the Spurs club with ease, Meng Xu came directly to the door of Popovich's office, and after a few gentle knocks on the hidden door, Meng Xu pushed the door open and walked into Popovich's office.

"Welcome home, Meng." Popovich, who was sitting at the desk, saw that it was Meng Xu who walked in, so he stood up directly from his seat, walked to Meng Xu, and gave Meng Xu a deep hug.

"Yes, Greg, every time I come here, I feel like home." After separating from Popovich, Meng Xu unbuttoned his suit and sat on the sofa in Popovich's office.

"Say, Meng, who are you going to introduce to us? You know, we've never had a lot of money, and we probably don't have an advantage over other teams in terms of contracts, but we're going to try to offer the most of our salary space. Before Meng Xu came, Popovich had spoken to Meng Xu on the phone, so after a few polite words, Popovich was very straightforward and straightforward, and the Spurs are now in urgent need of reinforcement to deal with the newly rising Thunder and the Lakers who are still fighting hard.

The Odin brand controlled by Meng Xu now has more than a dozen All-Stars and quasi-All-Stars, including Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, these superstars, so after hearing Meng Xu on the phone that he wanted to recommend a free agent with an expired contract to the Spurs, Popovich was very excited, and even inquired about Odin's players whose contracts expired.

There are really a few stars under the Odin brand whose contracts have expired this season, Russell Westbrook of the Thunder, Andre Iguodala of the 76ers, and Andre Iguodala of the 76ers are now free agents, especially Andre Iguodala of the 76ers, who is the player Popovich has always wanted.

However, these players have their own agents, although Meng Xu's opinions can also influence their stay or not, but generally speaking, Meng Xu will not interfere with the renewal of their contracts with their respective parent teams.

"Hurry up." Looking at Meng Xu, who had been sitting there laughing, Popovich finally couldn't help it, who the hell is it, you give me a letter, I've been preparing for this for a long time, why don't you even let out a fart.

"Greg, what do you think of me!" After feeling that Popovich's appetite was almost gone, Meng Xu finally sat up straight, and then spoke seriously.

"You?" After listening to Meng Xu's words, Popovich was directly stunned, and even plucked his ears with his fingers, for fear that he had heard it wrong: "Meng, who did you just say?" Are you saying it again? “

"Me, who else but me." After saying the answer in a serious manner again, Meng Xu couldn't help laughing anymore.

"Don't bluff me, I'm afraid my heart can't stand it." For Meng Xu, Popovich has always regretted it, for so many years, Popovich has repeatedly dreamed in his dreams that when Meng Xu was still in the Spurs, and even after waking up from the dream, Popovich has to close his eyes and reminisce for a while, because only then will Popovich see the scene when Meng Xu and Duncan fought side by side, although Meng Xu only played for the Spurs for two seasons, but it was those two seasons that left the Spurs with good memories and endless regrets. If Meng Xu hadn't left the Spurs back then, what would the Spurs with a complete Wake Forest duo be like, and the Spurs No. 5 jersey left by Meng Xu is still empty and no one dares to wear it.

"Greg, I'm not kidding you, Tim has always said that I owe San Antonio a championship, so I'm here to pay off my debts." Seeing Popovich's serious and expectant look, Meng Xu also put away his smile, straightened his clothes, and said to Popovich with a serious face: "I want to bring a championship to San Antonio." “

"Good, good, good。。。。。"

After making sure that Meng Xu was not joking, Popovich said several good words in a row, then got up and walked to his desk, took out a key from his jacket pocket, and opened a small locked drawer on the desk.

"You can take a look at this contract, and if there are no problems, you can sign it." After taking out a stack of A4 paper from the small drawer, and picking up the marker pen on the table and lightly scribbling on it, Popovich handed the stack of A4 paper to Meng Xu.

"This contract?" Looking at the stack of A4 paper in front of him, which was already a little yellowed, Meng Xu's thoughts went directly back to the scene more than ten years ago, when he was talking about the renewal of the contract with Popovich and RC Buford, who was the general manager of the Spurs at the time, in the conference room next door, the Spurs provided Meng Xu with a 4-year contract extension totaling $40.6 million when the contract expired, but Meng Xu rejected it, but he didn't expect that the text of the contract at that time, Popovich has kept it until now.

"Isn't this contract going to be too big?" Seeing that the 4 in the age column has been painted into 2 by Popovich, Meng Xu asked Popovich rhetorically, 2 years and 40.6 million US dollars, such a contract is definitely a big burden for a team like Spurs that does not pay luxury tax, and Meng Xu is not short of money now, 20 million and 2 million are no different for Meng Xu, so Meng Xu hopes that Popovich can reduce the amount of the contract a little.

"Meng, this is what you deserve, if you agree, you can sign your name here, and then I will send you the official text of the contract." Popovich shook his head and rejected Meng Xu's hint that he was willing to take a salary cut, the Spurs' salary space is not sufficient, but for a player of Meng Xu's level, the Spurs will never give him a contract that embarrasses everyone.

"Okay." Taking the marker pen handed over by Popovich, Meng Xu signed his name on the last page of the contract.

"Welcome back, kid, I've been waiting for this day for 11 years!" After the contract was signed, Popovich grabbed Meng Xu's hands tightly, and his eyes were not shining with crystal light.