The All-Star Weekend in 1998 didn't have as many events as later generations, so the rookie game was also held on February 7, which is Saturday (Saturday night, U.S. time, Sunday daytime in China).

It wasn't until 2004 that the rookie game was put on Friday, which is Saturday in China time, and the All-Star Weekend became a three-day event.

The NBA rookie game in this era is not coached by assistant coaches like in later generations, and the people who are responsible for leading the rookies are super celebrities.

At the Cleveland All-Star Game in 97, the coach of the Eastern Rookie team was even more terrifying, he was the most legendary coach of the NBA, the president of the Celtics at the time, Cardinal Auerbach!

Of course, the coach of the Western Conference rookie team is not a weakling, but Reed Holzman, one of the top ten coaches in the league and leading the Trail Blazers to the championship!

The rookie game of this era is not a game between Team USA vs. Team World, nor a game of abuse of children in the second grade, but all the players are composed of rookies of the year and are grouped according to the division to which the team belongs!

Eastern 1st graders vs Western 1st graders!

Last year, two famous coaches coached the young golden generation, and the game was very good, but unfortunately No. 4 rookie Stephen Marbury and No. 9 rookie Samaki Walker were unable to compete due to injury. The East team finally defeated the West team 96-91, and Allen Iverson scored 19 points and 9 assists to become the MVP of the rookie game.

This year, the All-Star Weekend was held at the home of the New York Knicks, and David Stern specially invited two famous players of the Knicks to be the head coaches of the rookie teams in the East and West!

Responsible for coaching the rookie team in the West is the champion center of the Knicks in the 70s, and after retiring, he served as the head coach of the Knicks, Nets and other teams, and is now the vice president of the Knicks - Willis Reed!

Responsible for coaching the rookie team in the East is the Knicks' championship power forward in the 70s, who served as a head coach before retiring, and is the youngest head coach in history before Li Wei, and the current senior advisor to the Knicks, Dave Debusschel!

When the host introduced the head coaches of both teams, the entire Madison Square Garden erupted in earth-shattering cheers.

These two are the pride of the Knicks, and they have won only two championships for the Knicks in franchise history, and their jerseys are flying over Madison Square Garden!

Li Wei walked forward, hugged Reed and Da D, and then took Da D's hand and said, "Dave, how are you doing lately?" ”

Big D sighed: "It's still like that, the heart strikes at every turn." Luckily, it was an entertaining rookie game, and if it was an official competition, I wouldn't even dare to stand on the sidelines! ”

Li Wei said: "Haha, I think you are very tough. What, please, you can press the playing time of Big Z in the game for a while, don't let him play for too long. ”

Big D was stunned for a moment, and then chuckled: "Absolutely impossible, I want to defeat Willis today and win glory for the east, you will take turns anyway, and you will rest in turn, and you will not miss me." ”

"Alright then, I wish you a successful start." Li Weidao.

Compared with last year's star-studded 96 Golden Generation, this year's rookies are much inferior. The best rookie in the West should be Tim Duncan, but he was drafted into the All-Star Game, and he didn't have to play the rookie game, and the best card in Willis Reed's hand was Bobby Jackson, the No. 23 rookie who averaged 11.6 points per game!

Unlike Reed, the cards in the big D's hand can simply crush the opposite side.

Big Z and Van Horn are both in the East, Brevin Knight is a rookie, but he already has very terrifying organizational skills, and Ron Mercer, Rick Pitino's favorite general, is also in the East Army. The only one who was close was Tim Thomas, who was very good offensively and terrible defensively, but who cares about your defense in this kind of game?

On the bench in the East, there are Billups and others, although Billups's performance is sorry for his rank, but it is barely at the level of NBA starters, and it is not a problem to beat the substitutes opposite, such as Alvin Williams, who averages 6 points per game.

Before the game began, Bill Wharton came over to interview Li Wei: "Coach Li, what do you think of this rookie game?" ”

Li Wei said: "The two strongest rookies this year can not participate in the rookie game, which is probably the biggest regret of this game." ”

"The two strongest?" Bill Wharton raised an eyebrow, "Who else but Tim?" ”

Li Wei pointed to his nose: "Of course it's me!" Even me and Tim didn't participate, and the excitement of this game was greatly reduced! ”

"Hahaha!" Bill Wharton laughed, "Coach Lee, you're so humorous, which side do you think will win in the East or West?" ”

The strength of the two teams is too one-sided, if nothing else, it will definitely be won in the east, Li Wei said: "I have always believed in one thing, the team with a big z will not lose!" ”

The game started, and Big D's command was very bold, and he casually drew five tactics for the players to take turns scoring.

That's what the All-Star Game is all about – it's not about winning or losing, it's about getting everyone to score and everyone to be happy.

The rookie game ended 80-85 with the East Force winning!

Big Z played 24 minutes, scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, in addition to 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, and was elected MVP of the rookie game!

Isaiah Thomas said: "Big Z got the MVP, it's incredible. He should be the first international player in NBA history to win an MVP, even though it's not a regular season MVP, it's not a Finals MVP, or even an All-Star Game MVP! ”

Bill Wharton said: "But MVP is MVP, I firmly believe that this young man will continue to work hard and will get more MVPs, including the All-Star Game, the Finals, and even the MVP of the regular season!" ”

Costas said: "Isaiah, shouldn't it be a big dream to be the first international player to win the MVP? Regular season MVP in '94! ”

Isaiah Thomas said, "Haha, I guess someone will ask this question. Da Meng got American citizenship in 93, so he was an American when he was elected MVP, not an international player! ”

The audience at Madison Square Garden screamed in unison when they saw Big Z take the MVP.

This is the MVP that belongs to the international players, and it is also the MVP that belongs to the fans of New York, Big Z has brought too many surprises to New York this season, and the fans firmly believe that he is the future of the team!

In the VIP seat on the sidelines, a blind old man lifted his sunglasses and said loudly: "Wayne, Big Z won the MVP?" ”

A black man next to the old man nodded and said, "Yes, he performed amazingly in the rookie game and won the MVP!" ”

The old man clenched his fists and said with great annoyance: "Why did we trade him last summer? I remember you told me a long time ago that this Eastern European has a lot of potential! ”

Reed and Big D coached the rookie game, and Big Z won the MVP, which also happened during the All-Star Weekend in '98, and the only change was that Big Z changed teams.