Champions Creed

Chapter 261 Chapter 260: Are you willing to take out all the money in the safe? (Monthly ticket requested!)
What would happen if Roger played internationally? This was a topic that fans talked about a lot in the summer of 2000.

Fantasy comes from unrealized expectations. It is precisely because the fans in Sydney in 2000 could not see Roger's performance on the international stage that this topic became so popular.

It has to be said that this is a pity. Since 1992, the top NBA stars have dominated the international basketball scene.

It was true domination. They not only won the game, but also made it impossible for anyone to see any hope of winning.

Before this, Americans could proudly say that the best professional players in the world were American players.

But now the situation is completely different. As Roger lifted his fifth championship at the Staples Center, a top star from outside the United States is dominating the NBA.

So, can he continue to dominate American players on the international stage as well?
Fans around the world are looking forward to this episode, just as gamers are already looking forward to "Black Water Margin: Golden Lotus".

In fact, Roger never completely closed the door to playing for the national team. When preparing for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Basketball Association still invited Roger.

This is the second time the Basketball Association has visited us.

But Roger's request remains unchanged - to only play in the Olympics, and he will not participate in team training on time. It is impossible for Roger to go to training right after the playoffs.

So the two sides still failed to reach an agreement, but considering that the country needs Roger's influence and promotion of basketball, even if the two sides failed to reach a cooperation, they still left each other with the greatest dignity and respect.

The Basketball Association takes the blame every year, saying that the team has already practiced together and submitted the final list, which cannot be changed. And the purpose of this tournament is to train young players, so it is very regrettable that Roger could not be brought along. I am delighted that Roger has a strong desire to serve the country, and I look forward to Roger and the Chinese team competing in international competitions next time and striving to achieve excellent results.

In the end, both sides agreed to declare in unison: Next time, definitely next time!
The Basketball Association is still very confident in inviting Roger, because Roger himself has always been willing to cooperate. Besides, this is only the second time.

It took three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage to invite him in.

Although Roger is not at this year's Olympics, the Chinese team is still attracting a lot of attention.

Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming have both become more mature, and the whole world wants to see whether they can be considered international superstars.

Roger looked at the newspaper and felt it was magical.

When did Chinese basketball go from striving for the top eight to not even being able to participate in the Olympics?
After that, I no longer paid attention to the Olympics or anything related to basketball.

As soon as the championship parade ended, Roger and Gisele Bundchen went to her hometown to enjoy the hot sun and gold coast of South America.

And the passionate Brazilian girl who completely let herself go after playing at home.

This was Roger's worst mentality ever. Screw the training, screw getting stronger, he just wanted to stay in Brazil until the pre-season training camp started.

It is normal for Roger to have this kind of mentality. A very scary fact is: from the first year of his professional career to now, for seven seasons, Roger has rested two months less than others every year.

Seven years adds up to 14 extra months of competition.

I guess no player in the NBA has a more busy schedule than Roger.

Roger felt this fatigue at the end of last season, but the frustration of losing in the playoffs overshadowed it.

So he gritted his teeth and pushed himself hard for another year.

But this year he has to relax and unwind.

As for the 2000 NBA Draft, the Hawks only had the last pick in the first round, so Roger didn't need to get involved at all, because there was only one goal and there was no need for too much discussion.

The quality of the 00 draft was not high, and it was even considered one of the worst drafts. Later, Sports Illustrated would call the 00 draft "the Great Depression on the basketball court."

Only three players in this draft eventually became All-Star level players, namely Kenyon Martin, Jamaal Magloire and Michael Redd. The middle one is another guy who was called "the worst All-Star in history."

Only three people have won individual awards. Turkoglu was named the Most Improved Player in 2008, Mike Miller won the Rookie of the Year Award and the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2001 and 2006 respectively, and Jamal Crawford has won the Sixth Man of the Year Award three times.

That's it for the 2000 draft.

The other names are barely worth mentioning.

Among the above players, the Hawks cannot choose anyone except Michael Reed.

So the target is only Reid, there is no other alternative.

Roger thought that the matter could be resolved after it was handed over, just like in the past.

But two days before the draft, Roger, who didn't want to be disturbed by basketball, was still disturbed.

He received a call from Pete Babcock: "I have been notified that I may step down."

"They want to use their own man, Billy Knight. Sorry, Roger, I'd love to continue working with you, but now I may have to find a job with the Toronto Raptors. My brother Rob Babcock is the general manager there, and he should be able to help me."

"Really? The new boss wants to replace people right after he takes office?" Roger, who was lying on a beach chair, took off his sunglasses. "But I also want to use my people! Pete, you stay in Atlanta and don't move around, let alone go to Toronto. Wait for me to make a few calls."

Roger immediately called Steve Bilkin's cell phone.

"During his time in Atlanta, Pete was widely recognized by fans for his positive contributions to the community. The state of Georgia named him Sports Person of the Year, and the mayor of Atlanta gave him the Phoenix Award, the highest civic award. He is a banner for Atlanta, and we cannot touch him. Most importantly, he is my man."

Roger deliberately emphasized the last sentence, which is the real point.

He wants to send a signal: You can't just replace the people in this team.

Steve Bilkin respected Roger's opinion and said that he had no idea about this matter, otherwise he would have informed Roger in advance.

Finally, he decided to call an emergency conference call to vote on the matter: "We will definitely support you, you can rest assured."

This is a fucked up situation. The team wants to change the general manager, but the owner didn't even know about it.

This is even more outrageous than the husband in the movie who falls asleep in the living room and doesn't know what his wife is doing.

This is the consequence of too even distribution of equity, where each boss feels he can decide certain things alone.

But the final result was satisfactory. Pete Babcock is still the general manager of the Hawks, and he also successfully picked up Michael Reed, who Roger needed, in the draft.

Roger didn't know the specific voting results, let alone the process.

He doesn't care either.

He just wants the end result.

After that, Roger once again immersed himself in his vacation and away from work.

During this time, the 2000 Olympic Games opened in Sydney.

The American men's basketball team, composed of NBA stars, is as confident as ever. They still feel that they live in an era where opponents will surround them and ask for autographs.

However, reality slapped them in the face. It turned out that the US team is losing its previous dominance.

The Dream Team's first game was against the highly anticipated Chinese men's basketball team. Because of Roger's influence, the Chinese men's basketball team received a lot of attention.

Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming are also being watched by the American media.

Unexpectedly, the Chinese team played quite strongly after the opening. Yao Ming blocked two shots of Payton in a row, and then blocked a UFO flying over North America. In addition, Wang Zhizhi, Zhang Jinsong and Sun Jun made decisive shots and hit three-pointers. The Chinese team actually led the US team in the first six minutes of the game!

This is too unbelievable for both Chinese and American fans.

But after the little surprise, it was the same old routine.

The American team used their excellent physical fitness to press the entire court, create turnovers, and counterattack, and the score gap was quickly widened.

The Chinese team does not have anyone who can control the ball steadily, and without control of the outside line, the advantage in the inside is like a sports car without tires; it cannot bring out its performance at all.

When the Chinese team had difficulty even dribbling across half court, no matter how hard Yao Ming tried to get into position, it was of no avail.

Although the US team still won a big victory, the first six minutes still gave people endless imagination: What if Roger was there?

This game was just a warning, and the US team learned what it was like to struggle.

Against Lithuania, the invincible Dream Team could not pull away and finally won by only 76 to 75. They also won by only 12 points against France. In the game in France, people only remember Carter's famous "death dunk", but ESPN pointed out that even the American men's basketball team composed of all NBA players has lost its absolute advantage in the international basketball arena!
After a 85-70 win over Russia, the United States faced Lithuania again in the semifinals.

This was the most intense and exciting game of this Olympics. With 20 seconds left, the score was tied at 83. At this critical moment, Kevin Garnett missed two free throws. The trait of becoming soft at critical moments was brought from Minneapolis to Sydney by KG.

Fortunately, Antonio McDyess made a tip-in, which gave the US team an 85-83 lead.

But the Lithuanian team still had a chance. In the last 4.6 seconds, they still had the ball, and the ball was handed to the European king Jasikevicius.

The Dream Team also paid enough attention to him, sending Kidd to guard the most terrifying killer in Europe. And at the moment when he shot, Antonio McDyess also made a defensive interference.

Finally, due to the interference of two players from the Dream Team, Jasikevicius' shot missed the basket.

The Americans finally felt relieved after hanging their heads for more than two hours. The American team composed of all NBA players almost lost the championship in 2000!
In the final, the US team defeated France again, but the difference was only 10 points and the process was very thrilling.

A 10-point difference is a lot, but compared to the Dream Team's average win of 43 points, this American team has absolutely no dominance at all.

Fortunately, the US team still won the gold medal with a perfect record. At least judging from the results, they still maintained their level.

But what if there is a superstar competing against the US team in an international competition?

Is it true that an all-American NBA lineup will lose the game?
After winning the championship, US men's basketball coach Rudy Tomjanovich encountered this problem.

"If we give the French or Lithuanian team a Roger, will the American team be in danger?"

Tomjanovich seriously imagined this possibility, and then he was shocked.

If a Roger is given to France or Lithuania, the American team will not only be in danger, but also be doomed.

No, even if Roger goes to the Chinese team, the US men's basketball team will have a hard time.

People say basketball is a team sport, which is true, but in a basketball game, the power of one person is enough to change the situation.

Tomjanovich just felt lucky that he was able to escape unscathed.

But the next head coach of the US men's basketball team may not be so lucky.

The gap between world basketball and American basketball is narrowing at an unimaginable speed.

Finally, Tomjanovich leaned into the microphone and said seriously, "It's a good thing Roger isn't here."

Yes, he didn't even have the courage to say "We can still win even if Roger comes."

From Chuck Daly sweeping the world without calling a timeout or making any tactics in 1992, to Tom Janovich losing confidence in 2000, this is enough to illustrate the situation of American basketball.

The Olympics ended and Roger also ended his vacation.

During this time he never paid attention to the Olympic Games, but after returning to the United States, Roger discovered that although he did not participate in the Olympics, the Olympics were full of his legend.

Tomjanovich's words "It's a good thing Roger is not here" have already explained the concerns of Americans.

Even in the offseason, Roger still spreads fear.

In addition to various news about the Olympics, Roger also received news about two personnel changes.

Eric Snow decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers because Larry Brown promised him a starting position.

For the past six seasons of his career, Eric Snow has been a substitute. Now that a team is willing to give him a chance to start, he naturally will not let it go.

The same reason applies to Clifford Robinson. He was the sixth man of the Hawks before, and he also likes the role of the sixth man. After all, he won the best sixth man award in the 92-93 season, which is a position that he is familiar with and comfortable with.

But after Shawn Marion joined the team last season, Clifford Robinson's playing order dropped one place, even behind Kurt Thomas, and he couldn't even keep his position as the sixth man.

The sudden decrease in playing time last season made Clifford Robinson decide to look elsewhere. The Detroit Pistons promised him a starting position and offered a good contract, which he gladly accepted.

This is a manifestation of greed. Eric Snow and Clifford Robinson both won two championships as substitutes. Such capital allowed them to obtain higher contract offers and more tactical positions, and also made them no longer interested in playing the role of "champion team substitute".

If other teams extend an olive branch at this time, the choice is obvious.

Roger certainly doesn't blame them. An unchanging championship iron formation only exists in fantasy. Personnel turnover is normal and inevitable. Otherwise, consecutive championships and dynasties would not be so valuable.

Every summer, the championship team must be prepared to face trouble from the moment they hold the trophy.

The departure of Clifford Robinson did not have a big impact on the team, but Snow's departure had a greater impact on the combat effectiveness in the transition period and the variables of the team's tactical choices.

When Roger is double-teamed and needs to play off the ball, Snow is the Eagles' best and most stable distributor, who can also take care of defense.

Now, the lack of that role means the Eagles have one less way to solve problems.

Although the Hawks picked up another guard, Michael Redd, in the draft, he is not a point guard. The team may have to change its play in the transition phase or make additional reinforcements.

Other than that, this summer is all about Grant Hill.

The most popular player in this year's transfer market is Grant Hill, who has become the focus of rumors.

Many teams, including the Pistons themselves, have the opportunity to get this popular superstar. Of course, the Pistons also welcome various sign-and-trade offers.

Although Grant Hill could only make it to the second round during his years with the Pistons, considering that he was almost always eliminated by Roger, this result was not unacceptable.

Last season, Grant Hill put up top stats of 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals. No team would not want to get such a player.

Speaking of Grant Hill, Roger suddenly remembered something.

Grant Hill is actually not a born glass man. From entering the league to now, he has only missed 5 games in total.

All the problems started in the middle and late stages of the 99-00 season. Grant Hill felt some pain in his ankle, but because the Pistons needed to fight for the last ticket to the playoffs, they allowed him to stay with the injury.

In the first game of the subsequent playoffs, Grant Hill sprained his ankle, but the Pistons still let him continue to play. As a result, after Grant Hill couldn't hold on in the second game, an MRI revealed that his ankle had already been fractured!

Due to the long delay, various soft tissue injuries in the ankle were too serious, and eventually this foot became the seed of destruction of Grant Hill's career.

But in the 99-00 season, the Pistons lost hope of entering the playoffs early, so they did not overuse him, nor did they let him play with injuries during the season.

This means that he has a good chance of staying healthy and saying goodbye to the bad luck that has plagued him throughout his career.

So, which team will a healthy Grant Hill go to, and how will it change history?
He will definitely not go to Orlando again. Ben Wallace, an important bargaining chip that the Magic acquired in the trade for Grant Hill, is now with the Hawks.

Phil Jackson, who was determined to continue to strengthen the team to challenge the Hawks, also got involved and sent an email to Jerry Buss.

"Jerry, open your safe and take out all the money inside. All we need to succeed is a guy like Scott Pippen, and he happens to be on the free agent market."

"Don't even think about it. We've discussed it. Trading Kobe for Grant Hill alone will never happen unless I die." Jerry Buss decisively refused.

The Pistons took the initiative to propose this deal in the middle of last season, but Buss rejected it at the time, and his attitude will not change now.

But the Zen Master's response caused Jerry Buss's brain to crash for about ten seconds.

"No, what I mean is that we can get him by signing first and then trading. Now that Grant Hill's contract has expired, the Pistons have no initiative. That means we can keep Kobe and Shaq while having Grant Hill! Believe me, this is a key step in our successful revenge!"
The only question is whether you are willing to take the money out of your safe. You know, Grant Hill definitely wants a long-term maximum salary contract. This means that in the next few years, we may face the problem of luxury tax.

The glory of Los Angeles is right in front of you, but the choice is yours, Jerry. It's all up to you."

After sending the email, the Zen master walked out of the house leisurely, looked at the lake view and breathed in the fresh air.

He knew Jerry Buss would not refuse. Although he was not the richest owner in the league, it was still a temptation that was hard for him to refuse.

As he imagined next season's roster and looked out over the Montana landscape, the Zen Master smiled.

Life is still good.

Especially without Jeanie Buss.

(End of this chapter)