On February 11, 2002, after the Philadelphia All-Star Weekend, the sports media began to focus on the trade movements of the teams.

Before the All-Star break, most teams only confirmed the contract of the atmosphere group, and if they want to see a major trade, they have to wait until after the All-Star break.

The Knicks wanted to trade for a superstar and build a star roster, but they are currently No. 1 in the East, and no one is interested in trading with New York.

The most important thing is that there are no big fish in the market, and there are too many "not for sale".

The Lakers also want to supplement the lineup, the bench pulls the hips inside, and the outside projection does not have the desired effect, and they need outside defenders and reliable backup centers.

It's just that all teams are having fun, and the Lakers' draft picks may be worth more than the Knicks' picks, but in general, they still have to scratch the lottery.

After an "intentional" round, general manager Kupchak finally signed veteran Brian Shaw back

After the All-Star Game, Lee Woo did not stay in Philadelphia, the city did not welcome him, and flew back to Manhattan overnight to prepare for the Upper Deck event.

The limited edition "Gold Card" released this year still needs a wave of publicity, Ray-Ban also has charity activities, and Sports Illustrated has an exclusive interview, and Li You's itinerary has long been full.

O'Neal, who is recovering from an injury in Los Angeles, also frequently appears at sponsors' events, and seeing his brother's outstanding performance in the All-Star Game, the sharks sent sincere wishes:

"It's great to see Kobe Bryant win an MVP-level award!"

"It's a recognition of him, and the fans in Los Angeles don't have to worry, I'll be back in the team soon!"

There is only one letter difference between AMVP and MVP, but the gold content is absolutely different.

ESPN has recently started gossiping about the internal conflicts of the Lakers, and O'Neal has been pinching his little brother, and every time the Lakers lose, he keeps talking about yin and yang.

O'Neal is clearly obsessed with the MVP rankings, and he doesn't like to be challenged for his position as the boss, and he doesn't like it when someone on the team goes against him.

Although Phil Jackson lost his position as the head coach of the Western Conference All-Star again this year, as a championship coach, he wants to pursue a championship more.

In order to balance the relationship within the team, the old man of "KFC" also worked hard, but fortunately, the Lakers did not win the championship, and everyone could still cooperate, otherwise O'Neal mocked Kobe Bryant in a weird manner, and the two would have "fought" a long time ago.

On the morning of the 11th, Jeff Van Gundy also opened the third negotiation with general manager Grenfield.

The Knicks have no intention of reinforcing and signing all the short-term contracts they have signed, as long as they hold on for another half a season, the team will be able to harvest a batch of new ones in the draft!

In addition, the Suns' first-round pick is likely to be a high pick, and patience is the best choice.

With the salary cap full in the future, and the bench to be supplemented with mid-level contracts, biennial exceptions, and base-salary veterans, Grunfield has already made plans for the future for a general manager who intends to stay with the team all the time.

During All-Star Weekend, Jeff Van Gundy didn't get a good rest, and after coming to the Tarrytown Training Center, he greeted the staff and came to the general manager's office.

General manager Grenfield is looking at the report submitted by the scouts, crazy March is coming, before the draft begins, there is also a Chicago training camp, if you want to scout the players, you naturally have to prepare in advance.

The trophy for the best manager in the league is placed in the office, and the rest is the championship photo and the player photo.

"Jeff, we're not going to sign any more players this season, but with injuries in the second half of the season, add some minutes to Lee."

"According to the current trend, Lee should be able to win a scoring title, and it seems that there is a chance to win other honors."

"To be able to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, even if the task is accomplished, even the discerning New York fans will be satisfied with the result."

General manager Grenfield thought that the bald young coach wanted to sign Charlie Ward, and he certainly knew that this signing was more of a coach who wanted to show his prestige, but he was not a soft persimmon and was not interested in ceding power.

Jeff Van Gundy didn't have much expression when he heard the other party comforting him, and after sitting down, he looked at the photo of Li You and Grunfield holding the trophy on the desk, and suddenly whispered:

'Ernie, I'm going to leave the team, I want to spend more time with my family, I've been under a lot of pressure over the years and it's time to take a break.'

Hearing this, General Manager Grunfield was also stunned for a moment, and then showed an expression of disbelief and asked in a low voice:

"Why? We're number one in the East, you're getting the best salary in the league in New York, you're winning championships here, you're on the team and you're the best in the league. ”

"You're only 40 years old, and you can grow up with Lee and the team, just like Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan!"

At the mention of Phil Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy immediately shook his head and didn't say much, reiterating his choice again:

"I love New York, I've achieved everything here."

"But I'm too tired, I need more time to spend with my family, Tom is a good coach, he's ready, the team's record won't slip, Lee can hold up the Knicks' floor."

"It's just my personal choice, it's not about the salary!"

Taking a deep look at the bald young marshal, there were no dark circles under his eyes, his figure was a little rounder, and he was dressed in a straight black Armani suit, Grunfield didn't feel tired of the one in front of him:

"Jeff, I respect your choice, you can calm down a little longer, Mr. Dolan definitely doesn't want to lose a good coach like you."

After saying his decision, Jeff Van Gundy only felt comfortable, and then looked at the serious expression on the other side, and suddenly smiled:

"I've been thinking about it for a long time, and thanks to this experience, I'll always love New York."

“.”

After leaving the office, Jeff Van Gundy only felt that he was in a particularly beautiful mood, and the stone pressing on his heart seemed to disappear, and he only felt free at this moment.

With a warm smile on his face, Jeff Van Gundy said goodbye to the staff one by one, and when the equipment manager Mike Sr. heard the bald young marshal's decision, his eyes subconsciously widened:

"Why, Jeff? Look at this training gym, and then look at the championship banner in the training gym, you've won it all here! ”

Jeff Van Gundy's smile became brighter and brighter, he put his arm around old Mike and said with emotion:

"yes, I've won everything here, it's time to leave and move on to the next phase of my life!"

“.”

On the afternoon of the 11th, when Li You was still participating in the sponsorship event, he soon received a call from the general manager and the bald young marshal.

The former consulted assistant coach Tom Thibodeau about the situation, and the latter smiled goodbye:

"Li, thank you for your support in the past few years, I want to spend more time with my family in the future, and it's a pity that I can't go on with the team!"

“.”

When Li You returned home in the evening, Jeff Van Gundy's happy tone seemed to echo in his ears.

Mike, who was wearing glasses, reading the newspaper on the first floor, and listening to the radio, noticed that Li You's expression was a little strange, and then turned his head and said:

"You're not a sword, so you can't make everyone like you, and I've worked in Philadelphia for many years, and I don't like the opposing team."

Old Mike, who almost forgot that he was in charge of his own security, was also a Philadelphia fan, Li You shook his head, took off his coat and said simply:

"I didn't care about All-Star Weekend, it was just a little bit of a situation on the team and the head coach suddenly resigned."

Picking up the newspaper again, Mike nodded in affirmation with a smile, then pouted and quipped:

"It looks like Van Gundy fired the Knicks! It's a man's decision! ”

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, there were no major trades in the NBA, but with the Knicks announcing the departure of head coach Jeff Van Gundy, the sports media exploded.

In the morning, Jeff Van Gundy will hold a personal press conference, and several mainstream media outlets in New York rushed to the Tarrytown Training Center for the first time.

The bald young marshal still maintained his handsome demeanor, and he also calmly stated in an interview:

"It was an unforgettable experience, and while I achieved a lot, the pressure of life has also increased over the years."

"In the future, I want to spend more time with my family, and I want to take a good break."

New York reporters smelled the gossip, everyone scrambled to hand the microphone, and finally the New York Post seized the opportunity to ask questions:

"Jeff, do you plan to continue coaching in the future? Is the departure from the team related to the management? ”

Hearing this question, Jeff Van Gundy pondered a little, and then didn't say anything to death:

"I don't know, I didn't think about it that much, I chose to leave more for life, I need to let myself relax."

'I have to stress again that I get along very well with the players, the management, all the staff in the team, we are like family!'

"I love New York, I've won everything here, there's no need to over-read it, it's just my personal choice."

The bald young marshal answered a bunch of questions, and General Manager Grunfield also expressed regret on behalf of the management:

'Jeff's departure is a big loss for the team and parting ways with a championship coach is something that no one in the team wants to see.

"The Knicks will always have their doors open to him, and the New York fans won't forget Jeff's contributions, and this will always be his home!"

“.”

General manager Grenfield was naturally surrounded by the media, constantly talking about the scene, just answering like this, but some sports reporters scratched their hearts and livers, always feeling that the Knicks had big melons.

The video class in the morning was also canceled, and the sports media will not forget Li You at this time.

Seeing the Knicks players, everyone immediately gathered around, and the New York Times reporter was the first to ask a question:

"Lee, what do you think of Coach Van Gundy's departure?"

Everyone handed the recording equipment and microphone to Li You, who was wearing a training uniform:

'I only regret and surprise that everyone is rooting for Van Gundy.

"But everyone also respects the head coach's choice, life is bigger than basketball, and we all understand the head coach's choice to accompany his family."

Seeing the regretful expression on Li You's face, the sports media around him also nodded slightly, after all, Van Gundy is the only champion coach in the league!

Grant Hill only got the news in the morning, and at this time he was still in a state of confusion, and for him, the choice of the bald young marshal was too sudden:

"Family is the most important thing, but I still hope that Coach Van Gundy can continue to choose to coach in the future, and losing him is a loss for the league!"

The remarks resonated with the sports media again, and Grant Hill was right that as the youngest champion coach in NBA history, Jeff Van Gundy's coaching career was clearly just beginning.

If he withdraws from this, it will indeed be a loss for the alliance, and everyone is expecting the bald young marshal to achieve a thousand victories.

The new Pau Gasol was also blinded, obviously everything was fine with the team, and the record was also the first in the East, but the head coach resigned?

This operation really made the newcomers of the Knicks incomprehensible, and in addition to expressing shock, everyone was also curious about Van Gundy's next choice.

At noon on the 12th, the news that the championship coach left the Knicks swept the league!

The New York media regretfully announced that "the era of Van Gundy as a head coach is over".

Los Angeles fans are happiest at this time, and if there is one word to describe it, it is "living room slip kneeling".

The opposing head coach is gone, and the probability of the Lakers winning the championship has skyrocketed.

The Eastern team also seems to see the hope of "overthrowing the rule", and everyone gloated and expressed "regret" in interviews.

TNT's show didn't let go of this hot spot, and the trio kept up with current events, and after the reporter sent back the news, they began to discuss the impact of Van Gundy's departure in the studio:

"It's unbelievable that the manager leaves the team suddenly in the middle of the season!"

"I don't know why the Knicks are in this situation, but their record is bound to fluctuate."

Kenny Smith continued to express his shock, while Charles Barkley on the side grinned solemnly:

"I understand Coach Van Gundy and it's definitely not a pleasure to coach Lee!"

"I've said it a long time ago that Lee is not an easy person to get along with on the basketball court, he likes to control the team, and the coach will probably compromise with him."

"I don't mean anything special about the fact that all the traces of the Ewing era are gone, but judging by the results, it took Lee a few years to completely clean the team."

"When we think of Phil Jackson, we think of the triangle offense, which is the offensive philosophy that helped Mick and the Bulls win championships."

"But when you think of Van Gundy as a manager, what comes to mind? I only think of Lee, it was his appearance that changed the Knicks. ”

When Ernnie Johnson heard such a view, he subconsciously asked rhetorically:

"Do you think Lee caused Coach Van Gundy to leave? Together, they won four consecutive championships! ”

Charles Barkley did not intend to let go of Li You, and continued to say seriously in front of the camera:

"Yes, I think Lee is the root cause, he doesn't need those complicated tactical systems to win the championship, do the Knicks have any special tactics on the offensive end over the years?"

'Give the ball to Lee and he will solve the problem, which is why Coach Van Gundy left, he doesn't want to adapt to the players anymore.

"No manager likes to work with a player who wants to be in control!"

Kenny Smith pretended to take out his phone on the side, and after taking a long breath, he said with a smile:

"Good news, Chuck, I didn't get a text message from Lee and his agent, you can continue the conversation!"

Everyone in the studio laughed along with it, and there have been too many complaints lately.

On the night of the 12th, the Knicks will host the Raptors at home.

The bald young marshal announced his departure in the morning, but there was no change in the afternoon training session, and after the tactical class, Li You took everyone to practice shooting.

At this time, the whole league followed the crazy melon eating, and the sports media entered carnival mode.

Tom Thibodeau, who became interim head coach, was more nervous than the player.

The afternoon session was led by assistant coach Don Chaney and several others on the coaching staff, and Thibodeau was too nervous to know how to get along with the players

Coming to Jeff Van Gundy's office, Tom Thibodeau suddenly felt a little excited, and this place will belong to him from now on!

After straightening his suit in front of the mirror and brushing the thinning hair on the top of his head, Thibodeau kept taking deep breaths to cheer himself up:

"No problem! I'm the head coach and Lee will lead the team to win games! ”

“.”

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(End of chapter)