At the Staples Center, Chu Xuan was sitting in Kupchak's office. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

"Chu, it seems like it's been a long time since we've had a good chat together, and I still remember what you looked like when you first came here. Haha, honestly, I didn't have the slightest bit of a good feeling about you at the time. Kupchak drank with a glass of water, chattering like an old man in his last years, he was recalling the first time he met Chu Xuan three years ago, everything seemed to be still within reach, but it turned out that a long time had passed, which made Kupchak feel angry, time flies really fast, how many times can he see the Lakers win the championship again?

Kupchak didn't know, he just fixed his eyes on the person in front of him, as if he was expecting to find the answer in the person in front of him.

"Mr. Mitch, in fact, your opinion of me must have changed completely after that, otherwise you wouldn't have been so quick to support me to the throne. You know, it's a big adventure. Chu Xuan squinted his eyes and showed a faint smile.

In the history of the NBA, or in the entire history of professional basketball, there has never been a case in which a non-professional with such young qualifications has become an NBA head coach. Chu Xuan's situation was unprecedented, and his success was destined to be impossible to replicate.

As the outside world has been praised, Chu Xuan's coaching career only exists in a dream, and he didn't take a step forward, he was creating a unique legend. But if he can become the greatest manager in history, he is destined to be the most special one.

Kupchak laughed: "The adventure is worth it, there is nothing more worthwhile than that one." Even if I had to do it again, I think I'd do it anyway. Your three seasons with the Lakers have been the easiest for me and the happiest for me. ”

Hearing Kupchak's emotion, Chu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle and said, "So what? ”

Kupchak was stunned for a moment, and quickly laughed: "So I hope you can stay with the Lakers all the time, and together we will be able to create a great Lakers dynasty, surpassing the Lakers of the showtime era and becoming the best Lakers in history." ”

"Mitch, of course I want to stay with the Lakers all the time. But you have to know that I can't be a manager all the time. I admire the people who have been able to do coaching all their lives, and their persistence is beyond my limit. This is my third season as a manager, but I'm already feeling bored. So, I can only tell you frankly that I will not be in the coaching industry for 5 or even 10 years all at once. When I feel like I've done what I can and what I want to do, then I'll leave satisfied. ”

This was the first time Chu Xuan had spoken his inner thoughts, and it was also the first time he had said it to Kupchak.

It's true that as he said, he doesn't want to be a manager all the time, if he can, he wants to be like Jerry West, try to be a player, a coach, a general manager, or even a little bigger, a boss.

According to Chu Xuan's plan, his next step is to be an NBA player, after all, his age is not young, and it is impossible for him to play in the NBA at the age of thirty or forty. In terms of his current physical condition and basketball skills, he has improved a lot compared to three years ago, and he has fully reached the NBA level, which can be reflected from the amateur battles between Chu Xuan and LaVine and other guards on weekdays.

If he had been three years ago, he would not have been able to become an NBA player. But three years later, his connections and status in the NBA are completely different from what they used to be, and he is 100% confident that he can function as an NBA player. According to long-term consideration, Chu Xuan plans to give up the position of head coach within three years, and then transform into a player.

Kupchak was shocked by Chu Xuan's sudden words, he didn't expect Chu Xuan to think like this at all, there were still people who didn't want to ask for an NBA job? And is it the head coach job of the Lakers, a super team? It's simply incredible.

Kupchak calmed down and said slowly: "Chu, it's very normal for young people to always have this kind of mentality. I can understand that, but I still want you to be the head coach of the Lakers all the time. You know, there are definitely countless people all over the world staring at this position, so I hope you can cherish it and not give up easily. ”

Chu Xuan was just laughing, Kupchak was right, if he didn't be the head coach of the Lakers, then there would definitely be countless people who wanted to do it. But how could Kupchak understand what was really going on in his heart?

Kupchak seemed to suddenly think of something: "Chu, if you don't be the head coach of the Lakers, then what will you do after that?" I'm really curious to see if there are any jobs that appeal to you more and are a good fit for you. God, you can think about it, how can you give up so easily when you build such a super team? ”

"Mitch, of course I won't give up on the Lakers, even if I don't become a head coach, I still want to stay with the Lakers, and I can do something else." Chu Xuan smiled mysteriously.

Kupchak was stunned: "Do you want to score the team's management?" Well, if you really have that, I think I'll help you. However, only if you get our hands on our treble first...... I've been waiting for this day for more than 10 years. Now everything is so within reach. ”

In fact, Kupchak is a relatively successful person, as a player, he won 3 championships, and since 2000 as the general manager of the Lakers, the Lakers have experienced three consecutive championships of the OK combination, experienced two consecutive championships of Kobe and Gasol, and now two consecutive championships in the post-Kobe era. In other words, in Kupchak's 15 seasons as Lakers general manager, the Lakers won seven championships, and if the Lakers can continue to win championships this season, then the ratio will reach 50%......

As ESPN said of Kupchak, calling him "the best team general manager in the NBA." It's not an exaggeration at all, in the decades history of the championship, what general manager has been able to win two triple championships and one double championship in 16 seasons? This is an unimaginable achievement.

"Mitch, this won't be a problem. While I wouldn't tell the outside world that the Lakers will win three consecutive championships, all I can say in front of you is that this year's championship is in my pocket. Chu Xuan chuckled and said, "Do you think there is a team in the league that can match the Lakers?" ”

Chu Xuan's slightly teasing confident words made Kupchak laugh and shake his head: "No, of course not." For a team that is determined to break the 72-win record, if it can't win the championship, I think it will become the biggest laughing stock in history. So no matter what you do, I don't want anything to happen to the Lakers. The championship is a must. ”

Judging from the Lakers' current record, breaking the Bulls' 72 wins is already a foregone conclusion. Before the All-Star break, the Bulls lost five games at the time, while the Lakers only lost two. After the All-Star, the Lakers' roster gradually became fuller, and even if they had to consider resting players to keep them in the best shape to play in the playoffs, the Lakers would not lose eight games after the All-Star. Almost all the media outside also believe that the Lakers will break 72 wins, but how many wins they can break the record in the end depends on how the Lakers management and coaching staff think about it.

And today, Kupchak is talking to Chu Xuan, so naturally he has to talk about this issue.

"By the way, Mitch, speaking of which, I think I need to know what management thinks. Have you discussed the final results of the team? You know, now that it's March, I have to prepare for the playoffs. Chu Xuan asked.

Last month, Chu Xuan had a discussion with Kupchak about the record, but Kupchak's response at that time was that the management would only decide after discussion.

"In the history of the NBA for so many years, there have been endless excellent teams, but the highest record is only 72-10 created by the Bulls, which shows how difficult it is to play a good record. We now have the opportunity to make history, which is very, very rare, and if we miss it, it's hard to have it again. ”

Chu Xuan asked: "There is definitely no problem with surpassing 72 wins, what I want to ask is whether we can selectively give up the game on the basis of breaking the record, after all, our biggest goal is still the championship." ”

Kupchak shook his head: "No, you have to go all out, and you can win as many victories as you can." In fact, in a sense, this year's final result is more important than the championship. ”

In fact, if a team can win 75 or more, it will definitely be a difficult record to break. It's a great way for a team that wants to be remembered in history. As for the NBA championship, after all, as long as the strength is strong enough, there will be opportunities every year. And if you want to break the number of wins in a single season, it is absolutely impossible to have the overall strength of the sky, at least the strength of this team needs to be one level higher than the other teams in the league.

Therefore, the strength of the Lakers today may be difficult to replicate in the future, and this opportunity to create a new history may really only be once.

"Is this what you think?" Chu Xuan frowned slightly. If the Lakers go all out to win every game, they could create an unimaginable record. However, the impact of months of exhausting battles on Lakers players is absolutely unimaginable, and if you don't look at it objectively, it may even affect the success rate of three consecutive championships. Moreover, if the Lakers go all out to break the historical record, then the other 29 teams in the league will definitely try 100% to stop the Lakers. As the saying goes, even if the Lakers make history, when they reach the playoffs, how much strength can they show to hit the triple championship?

Overall, Chu Xuan is ready to break 72 wins, but he does not support going all out to win higher.

"It's not just my idea, it's the idea of everyone in management. By the way, the owner also thinks the same way, and he wants the team to get a crazy record. Kupchak said.

"Aren't you worried about the injury potential of the players after two more months of high-intensity play?" Chu Xuan asked.

Kupchak laughed: "This is your coaching staff's business, how to arrange the players to play, how to ensure the health of the players, these are all things you think." I'm just communicating the final decision of the management, so, Chu, here's your challenge......"

Under Kupchak's scorching gaze, Chu Xuan couldn't help but burst out foul language: "It's really terrible, Xie Te!" ”

These guys want a record, a healthy player, and a championship...... It can only be said that the difficulty is really not small.

"Well, Mitch, you did have a problem for me. I'll do my best, though. Chu Xuan said helplessly.

Kupchek smiled, his eyes full of trust and appreciation: "Chu, I knew you were fine. I'm waiting for June when we all have a party celebration. ”

……

Time passed quickly, and the two of them kept talking.

After a long time, Kupchak stretched, got up and made a cup of coffee, then returned to his seat, took out a document from the drawer, and handed it to Chu Xuan with a smile on his face.

"Chu, if there is no problem, I think you can choose to sign your name on this, and then my work will be done."

This is a new contract extension, and as long as Chu Xuan signs it, the Lakers will terminate the old contract and start executing the new contract next season.

The terms of the new contract were much more generous than the old one, but Chu Xuan didn't care about it, all he cared about was the string of Arabic numbers. The Lakers offered an annual salary of $18 million for a contract extension, which is the first time in NBA history that a coach has received such a high salary. The length of the contract is 6 years and it is a fully guaranteed contract. In other words, as long as Chu Xuan can serve as the head coach of the Lakers in the next five seasons, then he will be able to earn $108 million, which is an unimaginable number. If you take into account the growth of his business economy, then after six years, Chu Xuan will be a real billionaire.

In the face of such a high salary, Chu Xuan certainly had no opinion. You must know that the most expensive coaching contracts in the NBA today are about 10 million annual salary, and now Jim Bass directly gave him an annual salary of 18 million, which is completely a manifestation of deep pockets.

Although he didn't know how many years he would be the head coach in the next few years, Chu Xuan still signed this "deed of sale".

Seeing that the location of the signature had the word Chu Xuan signed, Kupchak couldn't help laughing: "Okay." Chu, congratulations, this is a historic moment, hehe, by the way, I took a commemorative photo. ”

When Chu Xuan heard this, he couldn't help but shake his head and laughed: "Once this deed of sale is signed, there is always a feeling of unsteadiness. Maybe, tomorrow my phone will be flooded. ”

"Chu, that's for sure. This is the most expensive coaching contract in NBA history, and it is also a 100 million yuan coaching contract that has never been seen before. There's no suspense, you're going to be in for the headlines tomorrow. (To be continued.) )