Champion Creed
Chapter 356 - 356 145 Sometimes we really can't afford to upset Roger requesting monthly tickets!_2

356: 145: Sometimes, we really can’t afford to upset Roger (requesting monthly tickets!)_2 356: 145: Sometimes, we really can’t afford to upset Roger (requesting monthly tickets!)_2 The talent of these six individuals was considered far superior to the other rookies, making them six players that simply couldn’t be missed in this year’s draft, all certain to be selected in the top six spots.

As for Kobe, because of the changes Roger brought, most people viewed him as the player closest to the superstar rookie group in this year’s draft.

Firstly, Roger had proven that a high school guard could succeed in the NBA, and secondly, the one-on-one challenge between Kobe and Jerry Stackhouse sparked by Roger last year had made Kobe’s name well known.

This led to Kobe’s predicted draft position remaining high even though he did not perform spectacularly at the recently concluded McDonald’s All-American Game, where he was overshadowed by players like O’Neal, Tim Thomas, and Mike Miller.

Therefore, the Lakers needed at least a seventh draft pick to get Kobe, not the thirteenth pick they historically had.

By this pick, a Divac was definitely not enough.

The Lakers could only try their luck with the seventh pick by giving up the already well-established All-Star forward Ceballos.

Even so, the Lakers were still not secure.

The seventh pick was merely the highest draft right the Lakers could trade for, but it did not guarantee that Kobe would definitely be secured at that spot.

Because Philadelphia and Boston could very likely forsake a player from the superstar group to choose the high school talent.

Kobe was immensely popular in Philadelphia and was the pride of Philadelphia fans, many of whom hoped he would play for the 76ers.

Auerbach thought highly of Kobe as well, knowing whether he wanted to create a Kobe + Duncan duo.

And the phrase Roger said might increase the likelihood of those two teams choosing Kobe.

This was why West was so annoyed with Roger, feeling that his plans had become extremely precarious because of that guy.

However, fortunately, the thing West was worried about did not happen.

An hour later, at the Continental Airlines Arena, the first name David Stern announced was Allen Iverson.

The general manager of the 76ers, Pat Croce, had struggled for a long time between Kobe and AI, but eventually, three reasons led him to choose the bulldog from Georgetown University.

First, the 76ers believed AI’s talent was no less than Kobe’s, and having gone through the rigors of college basketball, he was a safer choice.

Secondly, AI had only worked out for the 76ers, showing his confidence, respect, and loyalty to the 76ers.

The third point, during the interview, Croce asked AI whom he admired the most in the league, and AI did not answer Jordan or Roger, but unexpectedly said, Gary Payton.

A poor DPOY who had just been schooled by the scoring champion in the finals.

“He’s not the tallest on the court, nor the fastest, but he’s tough, he doesn’t fear any opponent, no matter how strong.

He’s a fighter, and so am I.”

This answer reminded Croce of a long-circulated story about Roger from the 1993 draft.

Back then, the general manager of the Nuggets, Bernie Bickerstaff, had asked Roger: “In the NBA league, whom do you admire the most?”

Roger’s answer was equally unexpected: “Reggie Miller, he’s tough.

If someone scores on him, he immediately responds.”

As Roger became famous, this story became almost universally known among NBA fans.

The similar response from AI made the 76ers believe that he also possessed Roger’s indomitable spirit.

They did not look up to superstars, they made enemies of them!

On the basketball court, they respected no one!

And such players, they were bound to succeed!

With the sixth pick, the Boston Celtics still went for the safer choice, Antoine Walker.

Only Talent knew what got into the Celtics because Auerbach had always been a risk-taker.

He was the first professional basketball coach to start five black players and the first to dare hire a black coach.

The words “conservative” seemed never to appear in the dictionary of Auerbach and the Celtics.

But this time, the Celtics oddly chose conservatively.

Just like that, it was the seventh pick.

Kobe had a smile on his face, feeling as if he had been picked himself when he heard Antoine Walker’s name called for the sixth.

At that moment, Jerry West handed his old teammate Elgin Baylor a small note, his only movement of the night, which read: “Use that number seven pick to help us choose Kobe Bryant, then let’s finalize this deal.”

Sure enough, the seventh pick, the Clippers, chose Kobe.

He hugged his family, then stepped up to the stage to shake hands with David Stern.

On TNT live commentary, Ernie Johnson spoke to his co-host Hubie Brown: “Hubie, this kid wasn’t picked by chance.

As a high school player, he was considered the strongest player outside the group of six.

He’s both a mentor and a friend to Roger; he challenged NBA player Brian Shaw to a one-on-one at the age of eleven, and last summer he devastated Jerry Stackhouse in a one-on-one.

He’s incredibly talented, people think he will be the next Roger!”

Roger was only 21, yet he had already begun to have a successor.

Hubie Brown nodded: “Yes, Jerry West told me this morning that this kid will make a mark, his future is immeasurable.

I trust every word he says about this kid.”

As he said this, Hubie Brown suddenly caught himself.

Oops, he seemed to have slipped out more than intended.

But no matter, it was going to happen soon anyway.