In the 90s, the NBA was the world of the Bulls, and Jordan and his teammates could do anything. In the 80s, a decade ago, it was the Lakers and Celtics who competed for yellow and green, and the pattern of two heroes competing for supremacy.

The Celtics team in the 80s had the strongest forward line in history composed of three stars: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, and Danny Ainge and Dennis Johnson on the defensive line.

Dennis Johnson is a six-time All-Defensive First Team, a first-team All-Defensive team, a three-time champion and a five-time All-Star.

The classic confrontation between Dennis Johnson and "Magic" Johnson in 1984, the fourth dedication kill in 1985, and the defeat of the Pistons by completing the "thief of the century" with Bird in the fifth game of the Eastern Conference Finals in 1987 are all classic memories in NBA history.

Peerless superstar Larry Bird said: "Dennis Johnson is the best player I've ever worked with in my life. ”

Skywalker David Thompson said: "Dennis Johnson and Michael Cooper are two of the toughest defenders I've ever faced. ”

Johnson, the all-time playmaker, his old rival Magic Johnson, said, "Dennis Johnson is the best backcourt defender ever." ”

However, with Dennis Johnson's resume, Li Wei did not fancy him.

This person is a good player, but a good player does not necessarily make a good coach. What Li Wei likes is his connections in the Celtics, which have a long history and are full of talents!

In the NBA, the Celtics and Lakers are the two most powerful giants, and I don't know how much management talent has been sent to other teams. For example, Dennis Johnson's teammate Kevin McHale is the general manager of the Timberwolves, while his other teammate Danny Ainge is the head coach of the Suns.

Despite the team's glorious history, the current Celtics have hit rock bottom with the retirement of Larry Bird, McHale, Dennis Johnson and others. Last year, they finished second-to-last in the league in the Battle of the Bad. Cardinal Auerbach is very confident that as long as they draft Duncan this year, the Green Army will make a comeback!

It's a pity that God wasn't on their side, and the third-to-last Spurs drew the top pick. The Green Army wants to exchange this pick, and as long as they can get the top pick, they are willing to pay any bargaining chips, even if it is to trade the entire team.

It's a pity that Popovich is not stupid, he told the Celtics very calmly: "Duncan is ours!" ”

Unable to choose the chosen one who could change the team's fate, Celtics management had to completely rebuild. They brought in the University of Kentucky coach who was thriving in the NCAA (National Collegiate League) - Rick Pitino!

Rick Pitino, a first-generation coach, used to coach the Knicks before falling out with management and the two parted ways. This time he coaches the NBA again, and he demands that everything on the team be in his hands!

The Celtics agreed to his terms, so Rick Pitino, like Pat Riley, served as president, general manager, and head coach, with monopoly and arbitrary power, and the original coaching team and management team of the Celtics were all disbanded!

After Dennis Johnson retired, he worked as a scout for the Celtics and later as an assistant coach. Now that Rick Pitino has come to power, he has become a son of heaven and a courtier, and he is also among the dismissals!

It's a great time to be a player, but as an assistant coach, Dennis Johnson really doesn't have much to do. The Celtics have also been a bad team in recent years, and when he submitted his resume to the Knicks, he had no hope at all.

But he never thought that as soon as he submitted his resume, the call came: "Hey, is it Dennis Johnson?" Our President, Li Wei, would like to interview you. ”

Dennis Johnson's news was a little lagging behind, and he asked in surprise: "Isn't your president Ernie Grunfield?" ”

"Oh, Mr. Grunfield has left the company, and the current position of president is temporarily held by Mr. Li Wei."

Dennis Johnson ignored the Knicks' top management changes and came to the interview in a hurry. Anyway, it's good for him to get a job as an assistant coach. The NBA is one of the most competitive sports leagues in the world, and it is really difficult for him to find an interview team because he can't get his coaching results.

When he arrived at the Nix's president's office, he met the short, yellow president.

Li Wei was very enthusiastic about Dennis Johnson: "Dennis, I'm your fan!" ”

Dennis Johnson excitedly said, "That's a great honor. In fact, I am not only conscientious as a player, but also have a lot of experience as an assistant coach......"

Li Wei hurriedly stopped his self-recommendation: "Dennis, I understand your strength, but don't you think that a great person like you is too condescending to be an assistant coach?" ”

Dennis Johnson slammed into the game, as assistant coach Qu Cai?

Does the president want to appoint me as head coach?

His eyes were wide open, and his face was full of disbelief!

After retiring as an assistant, he only worked as an assistant coach for four years, and the team's record was still a mess, can he be hired as a head coach with this kind of qualifications?

It's unheard of!

This Mr. Li is small, and his IQ is so weak?

Li Wei patted his hand and said in a deep voice, "Dennis, what is your expression?" Do you want to be an assistant coach for the rest of your life and not want to take on other challenges? ”

Dennis Johnson hurriedly shook his head and said, "Mr. Lee, I have always dreamed of a stronger challenge. Please enjoy and give me other heavier burdens! ”

Li Wei said: "I'm relieved if you say that." Are you familiar with McHale? ”

"Of course familiar, we're teammates!"

"Danny Angie, are you familiar?"

"Of course familiar, we're teammates!"

"Are you familiar with Larry Bird?"

"It's so familiar, we ate together yesterday!"

Li Wei said: "Haha, then it's no problem." Dennis, I announce that you will be the general manager of the team from today onwards! ”

"What? Managing director? Dennis Johnson's eyes widened in surprise.

The NBA's division of responsibilities between the president and general manager of the basketball operations department is actually very arbitrary. Some teams only have a president, and some teams only have a general manager. Like the Knicks, there used to be both a president and a general manager, the general manager was responsible for specific affairs, and the president only controlled the general direction.

But last year, President Ernie Grunfield was dissatisfied with the job of general manager Dave Chacurt and fired him, and there was no general manager for the rest of the day. Or rather, the general manager was concurrently taken over by Ernie Grenfield himself.

Now Li Wei is the president himself, and he wants to find a general manager to help, so he takes a fancy to Dennis Johnson in front of him!

Dennis Johnson didn't expect that he applied for an assistant coach, and the other party actually threw a general manager!

There are a lot of black coaches in the NBA, but there are so few who are general managers. He was dedicated to coaching, and he never thought that one day this kind of position would fall on him!

"What's wrong? Happy silly? Li Wei asked with a smile.

"This, this ......" Dennis Johnson's forehead actually oozed cold sweat, "Mr. Li, I am still very experienced in the evaluation of the strength of players, after all, I have also been a scout." But in terms of the team's line-up and the evaluation of player potential, I have a little bit of experience...... Shortcoming. In the past few years at the Celtics, I had several children who I was optimistic about, but none of them made a result. ”

Li Wei smiled: "Dennis, you are really an honest person, I still like your temper." It doesn't matter, you are the general manager, as long as you are responsible for the scouting report, video analysis, etc. The trading of the team, the selection of rookies, the selection of coaches, and the formation of the roster, everything is up to me. ”

"What? It's up to you to trade the team, the rookie selection, the coach selection, and the formation of the roster? Dennis Johnson's eyes widened.

If Li Wei does all these things, what else can he, the general manager, decide?

It seems that nothing can be decided!

Isn't that like a secretary?

If you are a qualified and well-connected general manager, when you hear such a request, you will definitely immediately brush up your sleeves - I am doing the work, but the power is all in your hands, how can you play this?

But Dennis Johnson is different, he has never been a general manager, and he is most afraid of making bad decisions. You must know that once the general manager makes a wrong decision, he may be fired at any time!

Now that Li Wei has taken all the power, he is completely irresponsible. Just an errand runner, he's afraid of a bird?

Thinking of this, he began to like this position of general manager a little. In any case, the title of general manager is so high that I don't know where to call an assistant coach!

Black general manager, let's show our faces for the black brothers!

"Mr. Li, if you say so, I really dare to be this manager. But the ugly thing is ahead, I don't have much experience in this area, and I can't give too good advice when it matters, so don't blame me then. ”

Li Wei smiled slightly, thinking that I just don't need your advice. Like that Ernie Grunfield, he slaps the table with me on every transaction, it's really tiring!

"Dennis, don't worry, the two of us can definitely become the best president and manager combination in the whole league, and you will also be the best general manager!"

Dennis Johnson smiled and said secretly in his heart: You just arrived in the NBA, what can you understand, I just eat with a mouth, and it's good not to be scolded to death.

Just thinking about not being scolded, Li Wei suddenly opened his mouth and said a proposal that would definitely be scolded to death by the fans: "Since McHale, the general manager of the Timberwolves, has a good relationship with you, ask him, does Ewing want it?" ”