Long Beach, California.

As soon as Li Wei and the team's president Xia Cuirong got off the plane, they saw Mike D'Antoni, who had arrived here early and was waiting to be picked up outside.

Beside D'Antoni, a dark and tall guy ran over quickly, ignoring the dissuasion of the bodyguards, and picked up Li Wei's bag.

"Alright, let him carry it!" Li Wei waved his hand to the bodyguards, and then looked at the black man with the bag: "Young man, you are very diligent, what is your name?" ”

The black man smiled, showing two rows of snow-white teeth: "Hello coach, my name is Bruce Bowen." ”

"Hmm." Li Wei nodded.

The famous Uncle Bao, how could he not know him? It's just that now as a head coach, he also has to pay attention to aura!

Looking at the third uncle who looked like a fart, Li Weiyun said lightly: "Bruce, how old are you this year?" Where did you play before? It seems that you are very familiar with this kind of work! ”

Bowen said with some embarrassment: "I was an undrafted pick in '93, I'm 26 years old, I used to play in France, and I signed a temporary contract with the Heat in March this year and played in one game. ”

"Heat!" Li Wei's gaze froze.

I have to admit that Pat Riley is a great president, and he discovered many powerful players first. For example, in his previous life, Haslem, the soul of the Heat, was dug up from the undrafted, and in the 03 draft, he boldly chose Wade, who was not favored by the media. As for the signing of the big white side who was abandoned by the NBA in 14 years, Hassan Whiteside, it is even more miraculous.

If Li Wei is not reborn, his sincerity is too far from others.

"Bruce, you're 26 years old and you're not too young, I'm sure you can understand that you can't be a star in the NBA."

"Hmm." Bowen nodded bitterly.

Li Weidao: "We just signed a free agent with a salary of four million for two years, and he, like you, was also undrafted in '93, do you know who he is?" ”

Bowen said: "I know, he's Bo Oterlo, the Clippers off the bench, and he's very good defensively! ”

"Hmm." Li Wei responded, "Bruce, I tell you clearly, if you want to gain a foothold in the league, you have to be like him and become a defensive giant, and this is your only way out." I'll watch you carefully in the summer league, and if your defense is satisfactory to us, I'll suggest that the general manager of the team give you a contract. ”

Bowen blinked his eyes and said excitedly: "Coach, I must remember your words and work hard to defend!" ”

Li Wei nodded, this kind of talent can't be drafted, and being able to return to the NBA depends on the attitude of being a person.

Bowen has been out there for four years, changed five teams, and has gone through hardships, but his temperament has been grinded out. Just by his attitude, he could dump Stephen Jackson several streets.

Why does Bowen play with so many small movements, which makes people disgraceful and scolded?

That's because he knows that his physical condition is not good, and only if he is yin enough, dirty enough, and ruthless enough, can he prevent the other party.

It doesn't matter if others scold him, the manager likes him. Only if the head coach likes it, he can stand in the NBA!

"Play well, you're a bit old, I hope you can have a chance to sign a big contract in the future!" Li Weidao.

"Yes!" Bowen continued to nod.

Li Wei pointed out Bowen's life path, and was pointing happily, when a group of reporters surrounded him.

No way, who made him a celebrity?

A reporter shouted: "Mr. Lee, the former assistant coach of the Knicks, Mr. Don Cheney thinks that you are not suitable to be a head coach, what do you think?" ”

"Don Cheney?" Li Wei blinked.

Don Cheney, the former No. 1 assistant coach under Van Gundy, also participated in a TV show after leaving his job. Since he was not appointed as the head coach and lost the position of the first assistant coach, he was very angry and hacked Li Wei fiercely in the show.

However, at that time, criticizing Li Wei was the general trend, and the media were busy hyping up the contradictions between Larry Bird, Larry Brown and Li Wei, and as for Don Cheney's criticism of Li Wei, it really didn't cause any repercussions.

How is it that at this time, the reporters are bringing up the old story again?

Mike D'Antoni saw that Li Wei was a little confused, so he hurriedly leaned over and said: "Don Cheney is now the assistant coach of the Magic team, and the first opponent we faced in the summer league was the Magic, and Don Cheney led the team. ”

"What, Don Cheney leading the team?" Li Wei blinked, "This is really not a rivalry!" ”

Li Wei also has some understanding of the situation of the Magic team. Since he hired Chuck Daley in advance, the Magic hired another coach - Hubie Brown!

Hubby Brown coached the Knicks for five seasons in the 80s and is considered an old Knicks coach. Since his departure, he has been working as a sports commentator, and now that he is back in charge, it is natural to organize a team of assistant coaches, and the experienced Don Cheney has become his choice.

This summer league, they were led by Don Cheney!

Li Wei looked at those reporters who were afraid that the world would not be chaotic, and said lightly: "Don Cheney is an excellent coach, and I have no personal conflicts with him. At the Knicks, we're more about coaching philosophies. As for whether I am a qualified coach or not, it is not up to him to decide, but to the team's record. ”

A Turner TV reporter asked, "Mr. Lee, did you come to Long Beach to lead the Knicks to a fight to the death against Don Cheney?" You're going to defeat the Magic team he leads? ”

Li Wei raised his eyebrows and laughed: "What are you kidding, President Xia and I are here for a vacation, and we will take a look at the ball by the way." The Knicks' Summer League coach is Mike! ”

After a pause, he said again: "I think Don should be careful when he speaks in the future, if you want to question my coaching ability, let's beat my assistant Mike first!" ”

"Hahaha!" Many reporters laughed in unison.

Another reporter asked loudly: "Mr. Li, do you think Coach D'Antoni can beat Coach Cheney?" Can an Italian coach who has never coached in the NBA beat Don Cheney, who won the league's best coach trophy? ”

Li Wei said: "This is certain, New York will win!" ”

After the reporters dispersed, D'Antoni smiled bitterly: "David, don't brag in front of the reporters, the game hasn't been played yet, and the outcome is unpredictable!" ”

Li Weidao: "It's okay, it's your responsibility to lose, and it's my credit to win." As a manager, I still have this responsibility. ”

D'Antoni: "......"

Li Wei saw the other party's bitter face and chuckled: "Haha, just kidding." I'm just going to put a little pressure on you, if you're even afraid of Don Cheney, then how are we going to play Pat Riley and Phil Jackson in the future? ”

D'Antoni blinked and nodded: "You're right, I shouldn't be afraid of them, I want to lead the team to fight hard!" ”

Long Beach Coliseum.

The Magic's players were preparing on the court, and their assistant coach, Don Cheney, the head coach of this summer league, was walking around the sidelines, shouting out something.

A group of reporters came to Don Cheney and interviewed: "Coach Cheney, Knicks head coach Mr. Lee said that you only deserve to comment on him if you win his assistant coach, what do you think?" ”

Don Cheney was stunned for a moment, and then smiled: "His statement is too cunning, I believe that the coaches of the whole league dare not say that they can win Chuck Daley!" ”

The reporter who interviewed him hurriedly said: "No, no, you are mistaken. The assistant coach Mr. Lee is talking about is not Mr. Daly, but the Mike D'Antoni he hired from Italy, your next opponent is D'Antoni, can you win him? ”

"Mike D'Antony?" Don Cheney's black face turned purple all of a sudden.

He has been in the NBA all his life, and Li Wei actually said that he is not as good as an Italian rookie?

Is it tolerable or unbearable!

"I'm very happy that Mr. D'Antoni is coming to the United States, and as a league veteran, I will tell the new rookies what the NBA is!"

"You mean the Magic are going to win against the Knicks today?"

Don Cheney said: "If Chuck Daley leads the team, then the outcome is unknown." But Mr. D'Antoni, hehe! ”

The reporters were overjoyed to hear such an answer. Summer league has always been lacking in spectacle, because it doesn't matter if you win or lose, and you can only comment on the performance of the hot rookies.

But now, the Knicks and Magic are pinching each other, and the head coaches of both sides are ready to teach each other how to behave, which is so interesting!

"Knicks abandon handsome Don Cheney to educate rookies!" 》

"The Italian head coach may not be able to stop Don Cheney's anger!" 》

Shocked! Ousting Don Cheney and hiring D'Antoni, a generation of famous coaches vows to make the Knicks pay! 》

As soon as the media hyped it, the Knicks vs. Magic game immediately became popular!

Other competitions are crowded, only theirs are crowded!

"Look, that's Don Cheney, the Celtic legend, Olajuwon's mentor! I really don't know why the Knicks fired such a good coach! A spectator said.

Another viewer said disapprerovingly: "Don Cheney is not good, is he?" With Olajuwon, he couldn't enter the playoffs, but he was replaced by Tang Shuai and won the championship directly! ”

Another viewer said: "No matter how bad Don Cheney is, he is still a famous coach who has been in the league for 30 years, and he is better than that Italian, right?" Can Italians understand basketball? They probably don't even know if the basketball is square or round! ”

As soon as he said this, everyone agreed: "It's also true, what can the Italians do except wave the white flag in the two world wars?" How did they hire such a teaching assistant? ”

"If there is a head coach, there is an assistant coach, you have never seen their head coach, only one meter four or five, and a part-time player, haha, it's funny!"

"I think it's kind of inspirational for a dwarf to play basketball, but it's kind of funny that he's a head coach!"

It is inconvenient for dwarfs to play basketball, but laymen can coach the team to be black, and everyone quickly shifted from criticizing D'Antoni to criticizing Li Wei.

Don Cheney has been playing in the NBA since the sixties, from player to coach, and no one thinks that the Italian guy can beat this guy who has dominated the league for 30 years!

"Look, the Knicks are in!" Someone suddenly shouted.