The 1997 NBA Draft came to an end, with the Spurs, Nets and other teams coming home with a full load, and the New York Knicks also used their second-round 14th pick to select Stephen Jackson from Butler Community College.

As for Li Wei, a graduate of Harvard University, like thousands of other American college graduates, he was not named in the draft and became a loser in the draft!

Of course, this result is not surprising at all, it is big news that someone is willing to choose him!

The losers in the draft are theoretically free agents who can sign with any team, and Li Wei is naturally one of them.

"Next, it's time for us to think about free agent signings." Li Wei sat behind his desk, flipping through the tactical information given to him by Jeff Nick. "I'm sure I'm going to be the Knicks' first big signing this summer!"

Dennis Johnson shook his head and said with a wry smile: "David, I think David Stern's hair will stand on end in shock when he hears the news!" ”

KC Jones said: "David, Dennis's words make sense, before you sign with the team, it's best to discuss with Stern, after all, your status is a bit special. ”

"Okay, then I'll give him a call."

I made a phone call, asked David Stern to have dinner with him, and Stephen Jackson came to report to the team.

The martial saint was born in a small Texas town named Porter Arthur, where the Black (Harmony) gang was rampant. As a child, Jackson washed dishes, cleaned tables, and worked as a waiter in his grandfather's restaurant every day. At the age of 16, he witnessed his 25-year-old brother being shot in the head.

Like many low-level black players, Jackson's poor living conditions made him feel like a gangster. Fighting, brawls, that is a compulsory course every year, buddy righteousness, black (harmonious) gang rules, and social norms that must be observed from childhood to adulthood.

However, Jackson is not one of those real villains, and he is only at the bottom of the oppressed base of the community in which he lives. Lord Martial Saint is insecure, eager to be famous, eager to be rich, eager to get ahead, and raised his eyebrows.

When he met Li Wei, Jackson's attitude was similar to Garnett's, and his attitude was very respectful.

Under the propaganda of major media, Li Wei, who directly sent the villain Oakley to the hospital, has become the biggest villain in New York. Jackson was misled by these public opinions, and naturally regarded Li Wei as a gang brother!

Li Wei is the eldest brother, so of course he came here to be the younger brother!

He knows the rules of the way!

"Mr. Li, I'll play hard. I understand that you are the boss of the team, and everything is up to you here! ”

Dennis Johnson was surprised to see Stephen Jackson's attitude.

When I was interviewing in Boston, this kid didn't train me as a superstar, so I wouldn't hang you. How did you get to New York and your attitude turned 180 degrees?

Could it be that after this guy fell to the second round, he finally became sensible?

Dennis Johnson didn't know that Stephen Jackson would have this gesture in New York.

In his previous life, he reported to the Suns, but he was directly swept away, and since then, he has been forced to make a living, and can only wander in Australia, Venezuela, Dominica and other national leagues!

After experiencing the hardships of life, he learned to be well-behaved!

But even if he learns to be good, compared to other NBA players, he is still a villain. The fight in the palace of Auburn Hills, the gunfire at the door of the nightclub, all kinds of evil deeds, are stains that he can't wash away!

Li Wei was very satisfied with Stephen Jackson's attitude and chatted with him a few more words.

Stephen Jackson quickly expressed his desire to become a superstar, and even felt that he could become a star in the ring.

Li Wei frowned and said directly: "Stephen, maybe you will become a superstar, but not in New York." If you want to play in New York, you have to do what I have to do and be a defensive striker, a role player. I've always positioned you as a role player, and there can't be more. ”

Stephen Jackson said unwillingly: "Coach, I won't be worse than anyone!" ”

Li Weidao: "I know you're no worse than anyone else, but you're not the target of our training, understand?" What we're missing at the moment is role players. ”

Stephen Jackson was like a defeated rooster, standing there with his head hanging and not saying a word.

Li Wei sighed secretly. He has already seen that although this kid is obedient on the surface, he has a mentality in his heart that he wants to prove himself, and if he doesn't beat his arrogance, he will definitely fight for the ball in the team in the future, fight for his hands, and affect the atmosphere in the locker room.

"Well, if you're not convinced, you can go to another team. Although we drafted you with draft picks, we can trade you out at any time as long as other teams want to, and I won't stop you from going elsewhere. ”

"Really?" Stephen Jackson's eyes lit up.

Li Wei said: "I always mean what I say, you go, go wherever you want, I will agree to any offer about you." But if you want to stay with the Knicks, there's only one option, be a role player and play exactly as I set it to! ”

Stephen Jackson quickly left, and as he left, he excitedly chatted with his agent about what it would be like if he was traded to another team.

In his opinion, Li Wei has eyes that don't know gold and jade, and he doesn't know how to cherish him, a future superstar, and sooner or later he will regret it. He wants to find a team that values him and is willing to cultivate him, and then slap Li Wei in the face!

Li Wei shook his head. With his temper of wanting to be the boss, other teams are willing to blame, but he still doesn't know the situation!

If any team really likes him, how can he fall to the 14th pick in the second round?

Young people, you always have to suffer some setbacks to grow!

Seeing off Stephen Jackson, Li Wei came to the training stadium. In addition to Nash, Garnett, Big Z and others on the court today, there are two more faces, one black and one white.

Chuck Daley was chatting with the two players, and when he saw Li Wei coming over, he waved his hand and said, "David, here, let me introduce you!" ”

"Haha." Li Wei smiled lightly.

A team's squad usually has fourteen or five players, and Li Wei traded Ewing and others among them, and the others remained in the team. It's the off-season and all the players are on vacation, but if people want to go to the gym or practice, the team is definitely welcome.

The two players, who didn't need to be introduced by Chuck Daly, knew each other, and the taller black man on the left was Alan Houston.

At the beginning of the 21st century, after Reggie Miller and others grew old, there were two of the most well-known superstars known for their projection, one was named Ray Allen, and the other was Alan Houston.

Houston was originally on the Pistons, and Grant Hill was known as the hope of the Pistons' rise, but after his contract expired last year, he did not stay with the Pistons, but came to the Big Apple!

As soon as Houston came, the team's main scoring guard, former No. 2 scorer, Jordan terminator Starks could only play off the bench, and then angrily won the league's best sixth man award, and I don't know whether to cry or laugh!

In Li Wei's previous life, after New York traded Ewing, he was ready to use Alan Houston as a core training, and gave him a sky-high contract of hundreds of millions of yuan.

It's a pity that after getting the sky-high contract, this guy started to get injured, and most of the time he wore a suit and tie, sat on the sidelines, and watched the game with the highest salary on the team!

The Knicks' slump began with Houston's long-term injury!

New York is the largest market in the United States, and David Stern is also very anxious when he sees that the Knicks are getting worse day by day. In '05, a rule known as the Alan Houston Clause was enacted to get New York to pardon Houston's sky-high contract!

Funnily enough, after the Houston clause was introduced, Knicks owner James Dolan did not pardon Houston, but insisted on fulfilling the contract and letting him get his full salary!

Why did the league help the Knicks, but the Knicks didn't appreciate it?

The answer is that Houston's character is too good.

Although this guy is also black, he is not like Garnett and Stephen Jackson, who came out of the rotten environment of the slum and is more or less ruffian.

He's a gentleman!

Houston's father was a basketball player who later coached the college basketball team. From childhood to adulthood, Houston had a good tutor, so he was humble, polite, and personable!

It can be said that Houston and Charles Oakley are completely two different kinds of people, just like the top and bad students in school!

Because Houston is a humble gentleman, he is appreciated by his boss James Dolan, and the two are very good friends. Even if he can't play, Dolan is willing to give him all the salary of that big contract!

"Hello Alain, I'm David!" Li Wei greeted Houston.

"Hello, Mr. Li, I'm glad you can be our coach!" Alan Houston was very polite and authentic.

Li Wei shook his hand, then looked at the other white player next to him.

The white man standing on the right of Houston is 1.8 meters tall, which is tall compared to ordinary people, but he is too short compared to Houston at 1.98 meters.

Li Wei is actually more familiar with this person than Alan Houston, because he is the mentor of the future Thunder Sanshao, a generation of famous coach Scott Brooks!

"Haha, Scott, hello, I'm your fan!" Li Wei greeted.

Scott Brooks was stunned, then flattered.

Brooks wasn't a famous player when he was a player, just a 10,000-year substitute. At his peak, he was only averaging five or six points and two or three assists per game. Now in his thirties, it's useless, and last year the Knicks took him in, just to let him get together and take care of the water cooler.

Li Wei was able to recognize him at a glance and say that he was a fan, which was so surprising!

"Hello Mr. Li, I'm also your fan!" Brooks hurriedly said.

Thus began a cordial conversation between several people.

Alan Houston, as a good student, doesn't talk and behave like a black person at all, he is definitely a good employee of the company and a good subordinate of the boss, so he doesn't have to worry about Li Wei at all.

Scott Brooks, as a wandering fringe player, certainly knows that the owner can't be offended. In the current alliance, old and frustrated people like him grasp one piece at a time, and a serious attitude is the foundation of his foothold!

It's hard for three people like this to get together and talk about it, not to mention that there is a Chuck Daley next to him who is the best at communicating with people!

After getting acquainted with each other, Li Wei smiled and said, "Scott, you are not young anymore, how long are you going to fight?" Have you considered the matter of retirement? ”

Brooks smiled wryly: "If I can play for a long time, of course I want to play for a longer time, but when the contract expires next year, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to get another contract." Mr. Li, would you like to give me another contract? ”

Li Weidao: "I would like to give you a new contract, but not a player's contract, but a coaching staff's contract. The Knicks are a rebuilding team that needs to develop young people, are you willing to use your experience to help young people? ”

Brooks hurriedly said: "Of course I do, I am a veteran who has been in this alliance for ten years, and I like to mentor young people the most!" ”

Houston said: "I've heard that Jeff Hornacek has been promised to stay with the team, and Scott has been envious. Coach, don't worry, this guy can always get along with the youngsters! ”

"I'm relieved if you say that, haha." Li Wei laughed heartily.

In his previous life, Brooks was indeed known for being good at bringing newcomers, and he brought up the three young Thunder who changed the pattern of the league. If he's willing to do his best with the Knicks, this team will definitely take off!

"Mike D'Anthony, Tom Thibodeau, Scott Brooks, Jeff Hornacek, ......"

Thinking about the members of his coaching staff and future members, Li Wei smiled again.

The famous handsomes of the future generations are all under your command!

Get another Steve Cole in the future, and you'll be live!

The short head coach couldn't help but fantasize: "Ten years from the NBA, the Celtics, Lakers, and Spurs are all weak, only the Knicks are the real giants, and the world's famous coaches are all my Li Wei's disciples!" ”