Happy times are always short-lived, and after Li Wei coached all the stars in the infinite scenery, he started a new journey.

On February 15, the Knicks came to Toronto and narrowly defeated the strong Toronto Raptors away from home.

On Feb. 16, the Knicks returned home to back-to-back victories over the Timberwolves.

That night, Li Wei received a phone call from Bruce Bowen.

"Coach, I beg your pardon, I don't know how to call you, but I really want to hear you scold me now, really...... When I was with the Knicks, I did a lot of things wrong, I didn't feel like I was wrong at the time, I didn't work hard enough, and now that I think about it, I'm really ashamed......"

Li Wei was slightly stunned: "Bruce, have you drunk too much?" ”

Bowen said: "No, just drank a little, a little!" ”

Bowen didn't just drink a little, he definitely drank too much. Li Wei chatted with him for a few words, and quickly understood the reason for this inexplicable phone call.

After the All-Star break, the 76ers made a big trade, and after giving away some chips, they got the Bulls' current big man Tony Cooke.

For the Bulls, trading Kukoc can further empty the salary space, facilitate the summer operation, and at the same time give Artest and other newcomers in the team more playing time to exercise, for the 76ers, getting such a strong and powerful player as Kukoc, can also greatly improve their strength!

In the summer, Bowen signed a two-year, non-guaranteed base salary contract with the 76ers, and the team would not have to pay the remaining salary if he was cut halfway through. So in this trade, he was used as a small chip to match the salary and threw it to the Bulls.

The rebuilding Bulls clearly have no interest in such a mediocre talent, nearly 30-year-old draft, and they only want a young player with potential. On the first day Bowen came to the Bulls to report for duty, he was laid off!

The man is thirty years old, and Bruce Bowen is 29 years old, but he is still adrift.

Thinking about his wandering life over the years and the current situation of unemployment, Bowen was very depressed, so he went to the bar for two drinks, and somehow, he called Li Wei!

"You wake up first, and then contact me when the wine is sober!" Li Weidao.

Bowen couldn't remember when he fell asleep, and woke up the next day with a splitting headache.

"Ouch, a little too much!"

Rubbing his head, Bowen remembered something terrible, he seemed to have made a lot of phone calls after drinking too much last night!

After a quick flip through the communication logs, Bowen immediately felt like crying.

He really drank too much, and everyone was harassed!

After looking at it again, he found that one of the unread text messages was sent by Li Wei, and the content on it was: "If you want to be scolded, get back!" ”

"What does that mean?" Bowen read that text message several times, and then his heart fluttered!

Li Wei told him to go back, is it back to the Knicks?

Could he still be expected to be reemployed at the Knicks?

But the Knicks' roster is full!

After struggling with unease for a long time, Bowen finally decided to visit the Knicks. He feels that if he has the right attitude, even if there is no place for this year's Knicks, he will probably be able to try him out next year!

In these years, it is not easy for a marginal player to eat, he has to rely on his own efforts to find opportunities for himself!

Bowen booked a train ticket for the day, and the next morning, he waited in front of the Knicks training gym early.

"Bruce, why are you here?" A lot of the Knicks staff know Bowen because he played for the team for two years.

Of course, Bowen was embarrassed to say that he was cut by the Bulls, but said, "Coach Li called me here." ”

Everyone immediately understood that this kid was eighty percent unemployed and wanted to find some more work!

When Li Wei came to work, he saw Bowen salivating and leaning in front of him: "Coach, I'm here to be scolded, I haven't heard you scold me for a long time, it's really uncomfortable!" ”

"You!" Li Wei shook his head, "If you want me to scold you, it depends on whether you are qualified or not, participate in the team trial in a while, let me see how many pounds and taels you have!" ”

"Okay, you just see, I've realized this time, I can't become a star in this life, I will focus on the defensive end in the future, like you taught me in the past, to be the best defensive player!" Bowen said.

"Are you really enlightened?" Li Wei looked at the defensive warrior in front of him who had terrified the entire league in his previous life, and his eyes lit up slightly.

Bowen said: "I will do my best, of course, you have to beat me from time to time, scold me, spur me, after all, my skin, three days without cleaning up is a bit tight, hehe!" ”

"Look at your!" Li Wei couldn't laugh or cry.

On that day, Bruce Bowen participated in the team's practice, and the Knicks' assistant coaches were amazed together.

"Bruce's motivation is surprisingly high today!" Mike D'Anthony Dao.

"Compared to last season, it's like heaven and earth, and it's different in every way!" Heberdu Road.

"If you want to find a job, can you not work hard!" Byron Scott chuckled.

"I think we need to test it and see if he's doping!" Herb Williams Dow.

"He's in good shape, I think he should be left behind!" Scott Brooks Road.

Li Wei said: "Everyone thinks we should leave Bowen's raised hand!" ”

Almost all of the teaching assistants raised their hands.

"Then it's decided, I'll go to President Xia and Dennis to discuss."

In this era, the team's roster is up to 15 players, and the Knicks' roster is full, and if you want to sign a new player, you have to cut an old player. It wasn't long before Earl Boykins was called to the general manager's office.

Boykins signed the same contract as Bowen, with a two-year salary, but there is no guarantee, and if the team lays him now, they only need to settle his salary until this week, and the rest of the contract will not have to be paid.

In the case of a fully guaranteed contract, even if you lay off the player, the salary for the remaining contract period should be paid back, and the contract cannot be violated. Part of the guaranteed contract means that the team will pay a part of the salary after the layoff, and the exact amount depends on the outcome of the negotiation when you sign the contract.

The Knicks signed Boykins because the point guard position was relatively weak, and Li Wei himself was unsure and wanted to learn some experience from Boykins.

Now, three months into the season, Li Wei has grown, and Boykins doesn't mean much to the Knicks. Both of them are strong in attack and weak in defense, and their roles are similar, but Li Wei's attack is stronger and the effect is more prominent.

On the other hand, Dabo, Stephen Jackson and others left the team, Garnett went to play power forward again, and only Maddy was left in the Knicks' defensive stalwart on the wing.

Dennis Johnson said to Earl Boykins: "Earl, you're a very good player, and we're grateful for your contributions to the Knicks, and we're confident you'll succeed in the NBA. However, the team is now short of defensive players and we have to make a dilemma and your contract will end here. We hope you understand the team, and we welcome you back to the Knicks family the next time you get the chance......