Champion Creed
Chapter 498 - 498 184 About the Future Asking for Monthly Pass!_3

498: 184: About the Future (Asking for Monthly Pass!)_3 498: 184: About the Future (Asking for Monthly Pass!)_3 The draft was the next big event.

Tim Duncan’s story began to receive increasing media coverage, with the entire league preparing for his arrival.

Spurs fans cheered in advance, believing Duncan could immediately return the team to championship contention.

Because he was not just a player with mature skills.

He was also a player with a mature mindset.

A widely circulated story goes like this, a reporter asked Duncan, “You were already the number-one college player in your junior year, why didn’t you enter the NBA a year earlier?

That way, you could have earned millions more.”

Duncan’s measured response was, “I recommend you read the story of ‘The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains.’ It has taught me a lot.”

He was never in a hurry, he was mature and steady.

His answer was reminiscent of the Admiral.

Back in 1987, ten years ago, the Spurs had drafted David Robinson with the No.

1 pick and offered him an annual salary of one million dollars, only to receive his astonishing reply, “I am going to serve in the Navy, serving my country is my honor.”

And in 1989, when the Admiral was determined to enter the league to play basketball, a 13-year-old Tim Duncan stood on the shore, gazing confusedly at the azure sea.

A hurricane had destroyed the only swimming pool in the area, and he didn’t want to swim in the sea.

That year, he made a decision—he wanted to play basketball, with his innocent smile.

David Robinson and Tim Duncan, it was as if the Spurs were experiencing a cycle of renewal.

They were selected exactly a decade apart, they had similar characters, and they even decided to commit to basketball in the same year.

The whole world was discussing Duncan’s story, discussing the twin towers combination with the Admiral.

Although the draft had not yet started, unless Popovich was kidnapped by the second-placed 76ers, the Spurs would not miss out on Duncan.

The first pick was a foregone conclusion, but the battle for the second pick was fierce.

1997 was in fact a weak draft year, and if it wasn’t for the presence of Duncan, a bug-level rookie, this draft wouldn’t have received so much attention.

The 76ers were very unlucky, having received the second pick and missing out on the most worthy player of this year’s draft.

They had thought that an AI+Duncan combo could lead to a league finale.

As it turned out, the Spurs got lucky.

Philadelphia fans were frustrated, why could the Magic get the No.

1 pick two years in a row, and we couldn’t?

Damn David!

After missing out on Duncan, there really wasn’t anyone else the 76ers were too keen on picking.

Keith Van Horn?

The strongest forward from the University of Utah besides Ma Jian?

(The two really were teammates) The guy touted as the “next Larry Bird”?

Give me a break, he’s not worth wasting that pick on.

The 76ers’ newly appointed general manager and head coach Larry Brown knew very well that the nickname “the next Larry” was nothing but a farce coined by Auerbach to fool people.

There could never be a second Bird in this world.

Nor could anyone come close to him.

Moreover, Keith Van Horn’s attitude toward basketball during his interview was quite infuriating.

“I love basketball, but when I think of Amy (wife) and the kids, my life goals change.

The thing I can’t tolerate the most in this world is fathers not playing the role they should in life.

I want to be a qualified husband and father, not just someone who brings home a paycheck.

Family is always more important to me than basketball, no matter what.”

Without a doubt, Van Horn was a model good man.

A good husband.

A good father.

His wife and daughters should feel happy to have such a pillar in their family.

To put it more bluntly, this is the difference between white and black players.

As a husband and a father, he was perfect.

But as a basketball player, Van Horn seemed somewhat soft.

He is not the type like Roger who would say, “I respect Reggie Miller because he’s a fighter.”

Nor is he a player like AI who would claim, “On the basketball court, I don’t respect anyone.”

He’s not ruthless enough.

Especially after the 76ers got AI, Van Horn’s temperament was even less in line with the team.

His responses seemed to tell the 76ers: “I just want to make some money and take care of my family.

Championships?

Trying hard?

Reviving Philadelphia’s glory?

Forget about it.”

The 76ers didn’t fancy Van Horn; they were looking for a tall, tough center, ideally with an imposing nickname like “Emperor,” for instance.

High school student T-Mac?

Larry Brown would never trust a high schooler.

As a result, the 76ers, facing a lack of options, were actively trying to sell their No.

2 draft pick.

There were quite a few teams making offers, with the New Jersey Nets being the most eager.

They were willing to give up Jim Jackson, once part of the Dallas 3Js, and the seventh draft pick.

Even though Jim Jackson was a difficult player to coach, he indeed had talent.

Did Larry Brown still lack difficult players to coach?

If he could manage AI next season, he might be able to handle Jim Jackson as well.

In that case, the 76ers would acquire a backcourt duo brimming with talent.

However, the offer from the Hawks made Larry Brown hesitate.

The Atlanta Hawks were willing to give up the 13th draft pick, last season’s All-Star Christian Laettner, the solid and experienced defensive guard Tyrone Corbin who earned less than $500,000 a year, and swap next year’s draft picks (the first-round swap could ignore the rule against trading picks in consecutive years).

Laettner and Corbin might not have the talent of Jackson, but their tough style was something Larry Brown really liked.

Moreover, these two didn’t need any coaching and could contribute immediately.

True, they didn’t have the offensive power of Jim Jackson.

But when it came to taking shots, having AI was enough.

And the draft pick swap for next year was also a positive condition for the 76ers, as no matter who the Hawks picked, their performance next season was unlikely to improve much.

On the other hand, if the 76ers could add immediate combat power like Laettner and Corbin to pair with AI’s scoring ability, Larry Brown believed that with his own level, he could make a push for the playoffs.

Considering that the Bulls with 36 wins had reached the playoffs this season, that goal didn’t seem too hard to achieve.

With the Hawks’ draft pick swap, next season the 76ers would be able to get another lottery pick.

So, Larry Brown decided to accept the trade offer from the Hawks.

When he asked Hawks general manager Pete Babcock who they wanted to pick in the second spot, Babcock only replied, “You’ll find out when the time comes, for now, let’s not reveal any information about the trade.”

Hmm, keeping it mysterious—who cares?

Larry Brown really didn’t care.

Whoever Atlanta picked wouldn’t affect the league’s landscape.

This summer would be quite calm.

—————–

What are the chances that Michael will renew his contract with the Knicks?—The New York Times.

Will Tracy McGrady be chosen at the No.

2 spot?

We will wait and see—Philadelphia Record.

Shaquille O’Neal has announced that he will opt out of his contract this summer, testing the free agency market for the second consecutive year.

Where will the three-time champion superstar center’s next stop be?—USA Today.

The Atlanta Hawks are actively trying to trade up in the draft.

Who is their target?

Keith Van Horn?

Tracy McGrady?

Chauncey Billups?—Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Scottie Pippen has been placed on the trading block by Jerry Krause, seeking a lottery pick.

Who will take the risk on a Scottie who is bound to be out for half the season?

The Boston Celtics are currently leading in the trade.—Chicago Tribune.

People say that last summer’s transfer market was the craziest in history, but I have a feeling that this year will also be a year of major league shake-ups.

Michael’s future, Shaq’s next destination, the trade of Scottie Pippen, the future of Magic Team…

we are witnessing history.—John Anderson, SportsCenter.