Champion Creed
Chapter 657 - 657 229 Another arms race has begun Request for monthly tickets!_2

657: 229: Another arms race has begun (Request for monthly tickets!)_2 657: 229: Another arms race has begun (Request for monthly tickets!)_2 The Lakers made a move as soon as the lockout-shortened 1999 season ended; rookie coach Kurt Rambis immediately lost his job.

Because after being swept, Shaquille O’Neal told the media, “We need a coach who has respect and championship experience.”

This statement received support from most Los Angeles media and fans.

After Pat Riley, the Lakers had recruited Mike Dunleavy and Silver Fox Harris, but neither was capable of commanding the whole situation.

Then, a name emerged in the media — Phil Jackson.

Phil Jackson had signed a five-year contract with the Knicks, but after Jordan retired, the Knicks also fired Jackson.

He became the first coach in NBA history to be fired in the season he was named Coach of the Year.

After that, Phil Jackson began traveling around America, nearly cut off from the world.

Until one day, he received a call from Jerry West.

Jerry West never believed the triangle offense was magical, but one thing he was certain of — Phil Jackson excelled in manipulating people’s hearts.

The Lakers exactly needed such a master to control the locker room so Kobe and Shaq could achieve a combined effect greater than the sum of their parts.

The Zen Master didn’t refuse the job; he could see the potential in Shaq and Kobe.

The Zen Master always followed championships, and indeed, he profoundly missed the taste of winning it all.

After verbally agreeing with Jerry West, the Zen Master made a request, “Let Shaquille O’Neal come to see me in Montana.”

—————–

Phil Jackson was a master of manipulating people’s hearts.

He knew that O’Neal was going to be in Montana for a charity rap concert soon, and the venue was only 30 kilometers from the Zen Master’s lakeside home.

So O’Neal would surely be in Montana soon, and having him drop by wouldn’t be troublesome; Shaq had no reason to refuse or fear losing face.

Although Shaq was just making a detour to see the Zen Master, it was also a way for the Zen Master to assert his authority.

Regardless, it wasn’t he who was going to Shaq, it was Shaq coming to him.

The difference in these dynamics was significant.

Securing the team’s allegiance, the most crucial part was to win over the star player.

Today was the first step for the Zen Master in securing the star.

When O’Neal arrived at the Zen Master’s home, he discovered that the Zen Master was not there.

A phone call revealed that the Zen Master had gone to the hospital for a physical examination with his daughter — Phil Jackson was nearly 60 years old, and he certainly didn’t want to faint in the Staples Center; he needed to ensure his health metrics were normal.

When Phil Jackson arrived, Shaq was heavily engaged in playing with the neighbor’s kids.

The Zen Master could see that O’Neal wasn’t bad-tempered; he was actually a very affable person.

His inability to succeed was because he wasn’t as obsessive as Roger and Jordan.

The two went to sit by the lake and drink coffee, and Phil Jackson asked Shaq, “How did you get here today?”

“Drove, damn, I accidentally ran a red light just now.”

“What music were you listening to in the car?”

“Snoop Dogg’s music; hey, his West Coast style is the purest.

Are you interested?” Shaq got excited, thinking the Zen Master was trying to find common interests to bond over.

The Zen Master coolly replied, “Not at all.”

O’Neal was left speechless.

Then why the hell did you ask!

Following that, the Zen Master noticed the bread crumbs and tomato sauce stains on Shaq’s stomach: “Had a burger?”

“Yes, I grabbed a burger from McDonald’s on my way over.”

“Look, you were driving at 50 kilometers per hour, listening to music, your phone ringing, one hand on the steering wheel, the other eating a burger, and then you had to clean the ketchup off your clothes.

You looked up, saw the red light, and then you couldn’t brake in time and ran it.”

“What exactly are you trying to say, Phil?”

“What I’m saying is, life has too many complexities.

To win a championship, we need to keep things simple and focused.

If you want to be a champion, OK.

Stop making movies, stop recording rap albums, stop living the high life.

You need to focus on basketball, and solely on basketball.

I know you’ve been told this before, Jerry.

West couldn’t have not warned you.

You must have agreed wholeheartedly but then forgotten as soon as you turned around.

This time, Shaq, you’d better not be duplicitous with me.

I know it’s not funny, but if you lose again, you’re really beyond saving.

Who gets swept by Tim Duncan?

Even the Miami Heat made it to game six against them.

What?

Are you saying you’re worse than Alonzo Mourning?

Sorry, but it looks like you indeed rank lower than Alonzo Mourning on this year’s MVP list.”

If it were any other time, if any coach dared to be so impudent with Shaq, he would have exploded in anger, calling him an idiot and then stormed off.

But O’Neal was eager to earn another ring after leaving Roger, and if anyone could lead the team to that, it would certainly be Phil Jackson.

O’Neal had crushed Phil Jackson’s teams three times while he was with Magic, but that didn’t mean he didn’t respect Phil Jackson.

After all, Phil Jackson had also created the Chicago dynasty’s three-peat.

And besides, before Phil Jackson, Jordan hadn’t won any championships either.

“I’ll listen to you, Phil.

But I really can’t cancel tomorrow’s charity concert.”

Phil Jackson smiled, “You can wrap up these messy things before training camp starts, and by the way, I and my daughter will also be at your concert tomorrow.”

“Really?

Hahaha, I’ll send a car for you, Phil!”

In less than ten minutes, Phil Jackson had gotten O’Neal to accept the command to stay focused, while also endearing himself to Shaq.

Phil Jackson was a master at playing mind games.

Jackson, sipping his coffee, looking out at the lake view, picked up his phone.

Jeanie Buss, the Lakers owner’s daughter, had texted him again, since the Lakers and Phil Jackson had been in contact, he and Jeanie Buss had been in a flirtatious chat phase.

The Zen Master opened the text, Jeanie Buss was very bold: “Phil, have you heard the stories about Magic fighting in every room of the Lakers’ pavilion?

At Staples Center, no one has yet set such a record.”

“Oh Jeanie, I’m eager to be a part of that story myself.”

Hmm, just focusing on basketball per se, tricking players is enough.

A few days later, Jerry West announced to the media that Phil Jackson had become the new coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, and he would meet the media and fans officially before the start of the new season’s training camp.

On the night of the 1999 NBA Draft, the Hawks picked Shawn Marion from UNLV with the sixth pick in the first round.

A small forward with strong athletic ability who could shoot, defend, and also rebound.

TNT draft commentator Ernie Johnson told everyone:

“Shawn averaged 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game in his year at UNLV, as you can see, he’s a versatile defensive player.

Perhaps he can compensate for Big Ben’s weak offense at the power forward position and Clifford Robinson’s weak rebounding there.

Shawn combines their strengths.

Yes, the Hawks’ championship window has never been closed, and it’s even more so with Shawn’s addition.”

The Lakers and the Hawks formally completed their new signings on the same day.

While San Antonio fans were cheering for a victory, another arms race had already begun.

Shawn Marion, newly drafted by the Hawks, was extremely excited: “I think, I’ve got a chance to win a championship sooner than any rookie, maybe even in my rookie season.

God, it’s not impossible, my teammates are among the best players in the world!”

From Duncan to Ernie Johnson to Marion…

everyone believed Roger would quickly rejoin the ranks of the Finals.

Everyone believed that.