Slam Dunk: Muguro

Chapter 357 Bird's Invitation!
After the McDonald's training camp ended, Larry Bird became an assistant coach for the Pacers.

The current head coach of the Pacers is Larry Brown, a coach who likes to reap the rewards.

A closer look at the year before and after the Pistons' championship reveals that Rick Carlisle was the one who truly laid the foundation for the Pistons' victory. He was the one who truly nurtured the Pistons' starting five and molded them into a cohesive unit.

Just when the Pistons were about to achieve results, Larry Brown stole the victory.

Given the Pistons' strength, it wouldn't be difficult for them to reach the finals if they changed coaches and maintained their original tactics.

The Pistons' championship victory was not only due to their strength, but also related to the serious internal strife within the Lakers.

In the 2004 NBA Finals, the Lakers, who had the "F4" (F4), were widely favored before the game, but ultimately lost to the Pistons 1-4.

那一轮总决赛，奥尼尔场均26.6分10.8个篮板1.6次助攻2.8次失误的数据，投篮命中率高达63.1%。

科比场均22.6分2.8个篮板4.4次助攻1.8次抢断3.6次失误的数据，投篮命中率只有38.1%。

Some might say that O'Neal couldn't receive the ball, or that his dominance had declined significantly.

The question is, why were the Heat able to beat the Pistons in 06?
In 06, O'Neal's decline became even more pronounced.

As for Larry Brown's coaching level, it can be described as inflexible.

From the beginning of his coaching career, Larry Brown's tactics remained largely unchanged, and he showed extreme distrust of rookies.

This can be seen from how he fared after leaving the Pistons; even his close associate Billups criticized his character.

Despite being just an assistant coach, Bird's authority was no less than Larry Brown's.

At this time, Larry Brown had not yet won a championship or the Coach of the Year award, and was still in the early stages of his coaching career.

Rumors suggest that Larry Bird could take over as head coach of the Pacers at any time.

Larry Brown probably never imagined that he would be the one to have his achievements stolen.

If the rumors are true, Larry Bird will become the Pacers' head coach two years earlier than previously thought.

It remains to be seen whether Larry Bird's appointment to coach the Pacers two years earlier will bring the team a championship.

Compared to two and a half years later, the Pacers roster for the 1994-1995 season was significantly better, with Miller still in his prime.

In addition, the Pacers also acquired Mark Jackson.

In the original history, the Pacers would lose to the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, until Kogure's arrival, the Pacers' situation remained extremely dire.

They didn't get a number one draft pick in 48 years, and it took them 25 years to reach the finals once.

What's remarkable is that the Pacers never tanked or formed superteams; in that turbulent era, they were like a breath of fresh air.

Unfortunately, they always lacked a bit of 'luck'.

As we all know, whether it's the number one draft pick or the championship, it may seem fair on the surface, but in reality, it's secretly controlled by the league.

Once 'jokes' gain popularity, this trend will become even more pronounced, and gambling will be introduced.

In the 16 NBA Finals, referee Dan Crawford went so far as to manipulate the game, allowing the Cavaliers to stage a 'comeback' from a 1-3 deficit, which was utterly shameless.

Sixteen years later, every NBA Finals has seen referee intervention.

Here's a brief mention of Dan Crawford, who started as an NBA referee in 1977. Coincidentally, he announced his retirement in 2016.

Data shows that he officiated 40 playoff games for gOat, during which gOat won 31 games, a winning percentage of 77.5%.

As for whether there's anything fishy going on, that's hard to say.

Don't even mention how strong gOat is; if he had that kind of strength, he wouldn't have become a slave to three different families.

To win the championship, you need to form a super team at its peak.

In the Finals, who is the superstar you most want to face off against?

I believe most people would choose gOat.

Don't ask why, the answer is that all the players who faced off against gOat in the finals saw a surge in their stats, and there's a good chance they'll win the Finals MVP.

Thanks to gOat's undercover nature, the historical status of players like Parker, Iguodala, and Durant who were matched up against him has been significantly elevated.

Not long after, Kogure arrived at the Farragut reception room and dialed back the phone number that Mitsui had copied down.

The next moment, Bird's cheerful voice rang out from the phone, giving one a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

He seems to have changed somewhat since becoming an assistant coach for the Pacers.

The two first chatted about their recent situations, and the atmosphere on the phone was relaxed and pleasant, as if the distance between them had suddenly shortened a lot.

Bird also mentioned his recent progress and some interesting things that have happened in the NBA recently.

One of them is related to Jordan.

That is, Michael Jordan's father, James Jordan, was tragically murdered.

James Jordan was robbed and shot dead by two youths while resting in his car after attending a funeral.

The killer initially intended to steal the car, but panicked and opened fire when James Jordan woke up.

This incident directly led to Jordan's first retirement, which prompted him to switch to baseball and join the Chicago White Sox in Major League Baseball.

As for Jordan's baseball skills, they were naturally amateurish.

If it weren't for Jordan's fame, the Chicago White Sox would have kicked him off the team long ago.

Kogure said with almost certainty, "I think Jordan might consider retiring!"

"Nani?"

Bird was taken aback, after all, Jordan was only 30 years old at this time, and was in the prime of his career.

"Of course, this is just my guess!"

Bird paused for a moment, then said, "That's quite possible!"

If Jordan were to actually retire, it would have a huge impact on the NBA.

However, for many NBA teams aiming to win the championship, this could be a good opportunity.

There's no way around it, the Bulls have been too dominant in recent years.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Bulls will win their third consecutive championship by the end of this season.

Without Jordan, the Bulls were like a toothless tiger, leaving other teams with a chance to win the championship.

Soon, Bird changed the subject and asked, "Kogure, I'd like to invite you to participate in the Summer League six months from now?"

Bird's voice carried a hint of anticipation.

Kogure was clearly taken aback. He had considered that the other side might have something to discuss with him, but he never expected that Bird would invite him to participate in the Summer League.

His heart began to race, and an indescribable excitement welled up inside him.

The thought of competing against outstanding players from all over the world filled Kogure with anticipation.

For international players, the Summer League is undoubtedly a rare opportunity to showcase their talents.

Players participating in the Summer League generally include fringe players from the team, free agents, players from the Development League, and international players.

The Summer League has a high turnover rate; a player can play for one team and then go to another team to represent another team.

These people have only one goal: to secure a contract through the Summer League.

Some highly promising high school or college players sometimes use summer leagues to prove their abilities, which can potentially boost their future draft prospects. Currently, there are three officially recognized summer leagues by the NBA: the Utah Summer League, the Orlando Summer League, and the Las Vegas Summer League.

These three events together make up the NBA Summer League.

Kogure took a deep breath, trying to calm his agitated emotions.

"Larry, I accept your invitation. I will do my best to perform as well as I can."

Kogure naturally agreed.

Although the Summer League isn't very intense, that's for NBA players.

For non-NBA players, this is a stage to promote themselves and an opportunity that could change their careers.

If you perform well in the Summer League, you have a chance to attract the attention of NBA teams and may even get a contract.

After hearing this, Bird smiled with satisfaction: "With your abilities, I believe you can do a great job."

Bird has a lot to say about Kogure's strength.

Even if Kogure joins the NBA now, he will be able to establish himself.

As for Kogure's outstanding performance in the Summer League, which has made him a hot commodity among other NBA teams, Bird doesn't have that concern yet.

This is mainly because Kogure is an Asian player.

In this era, no Asian player has yet proven themselves in the NBA.

Unfortunately, Bird's impression of Kogure was still based on what it had been six months ago.

A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days' absence, let alone after half a year.

Kogure's skill level has reached that of an NBA starter substitute, and putting up excellent stats in the uneven Summer League is definitely within his reach.

In addition, the Summer League is usually held in July or August, which is still half a year away.

At that point, Kogure might well have taken it a step further.

Moses Malone, also a high school draft pick, averaged 18.8 points and 14.6 rebounds in his first year in the ABA, earning him a spot in that season's All-Star game.

The most typical example is gOat, who averaged 20+5+5 in his rookie season.

However, compared to Anthony, gOat is inferior in all other statistics except assists.

In addition, Anthony led his team into the playoffs.

Unfortunately, just like Curry missed out on the Finals MVP, Anthony also failed to win Rookie of the Year.

Kogure doesn't think he's inferior to gOat during his draft days.

After hanging up the phone, Kogure stood by the window, gazing at the distant clouds, his heart filled with anticipation for the future.

Participating in the Summer League could very well be a major turning point in his basketball career.

He will definitely do his best to seize this rare opportunity and prepare for the draft in advance.

……

Time passed slowly, and before we knew it, another week had gone by.

During this week, apart from the friendly match against Farragut, Kogure frequently went out to communicate with Archibald.

As a breakthrough enthusiast, Archibald is almost obsessed with the pursuit of breakthrough techniques.

Therefore, he showed great enthusiasm and interest in 'Kogure Kiminobu's extraordinary talent'.

Therefore, when Archibald wanted his guidance, Kogure did not refuse.

First, Archibald had no competitive relationship with him.

Second, Archibald's promotion can further enhance his influence.

Third, both parties get what they need; while teaching, they can also increase the progress of the 'Little Elf' title.

Kogure began to provide Archibald with one-on-one instruction, starting with the basic movements and going into every detail, especially the point of force application.

Under Kogure's guidance, Archibald's skills improved significantly.

Of course, this is related to his well-founded and strategic approach.

After gaining a basic understanding of "Kogure Kiminobu's Overpowering Technique," Archibald began to use it in his duels against challengers.

Thanks to the promotion by legendary superstar Archibald, the influence of "Kogure Kiminobu's Superman" continues to rise.

This also passively increased Kogure's fame.

On the same day, Kogure finally activated the title of 'Little Fairy'.

The Sprite: Improves ball handling efficiency and reduces the chance of being intercepted.

As Kogure had expected, the effect of the sprite was indeed related to the breakthrough.

Surprisingly, the little elf also reduced the chance of being intercepted.

With this title, Kogure's breakthrough skills will inevitably be further improved.

Sure enough, in the next friendly match against Farragut Academy, neither Ronnie Fields, Garnett, nor any other player could stop Kogure's breakthrough.

They were greatly surprised by Kogure's further enhanced breakthrough ability.

They never expected that Kogure would make such significant progress in just a few days.

To avoid falling further behind Kogure, Ronnie Fields and Garnett trained even harder.

On the last day, Kogure finally activated the title 'Rocket' from Ronnie Fields.

Rocket (damaged): Slightly enhances jumping and speed.

Judging from the effect of the rocket name, it's no wonder Ronnie Fields is so good at jumping around.

Kogure tried it a few times and found that his jumping height had increased by about 5 centimeters.

The effect may seem small, but at his level, improving by even one centimeter is very difficult, let alone five centimeters.

Compared to his jumping height, his jumping speed varies even more, and his jumping speed is likely no less than Sakuragi's.

This makes Kogure even more excited for the effect of the completed 'Rocket' title!
But there's a condition: Ronnie Fields must not be seriously injured in another car accident, otherwise he might never have the chance to make amends.

In response, Kogure repeatedly emphasized that Ronnie Fields must concentrate fully while walking, keeping his eyes and ears open.

Whether Ronnie Fields listened or not is hard to say.

In just ten days, Kogure earned three titles, which significantly improved his strength.

During this time, Coach Stephen became increasingly convinced of Kogure's talent and potential, believing that if Kogure transferred to Farragut Academy, it would undoubtedly greatly strengthen the academy's strength.

At his urging, Ronnie Fields asked the question: "Kogure, have you ever considered transferring to Farragut Academy? There's a better coaching team, better training facilities, and more opportunities for you to showcase your talent."

Kogure was silent for a moment, then politely replied, "Ronnie, I appreciate your suggestion; Farragut Academy is indeed a wonderful place. However, I need to consider many factors, such as my studies, my family, and my friends here. I cannot make a hasty decision."

Ronnie Fields nodded understandingly. He respected Kogure's decision, but deep down, he still hoped to one day fight alongside Kogure.

That evening was also the day Kogure and the others returned to the island nation.

After saying goodbye to Ronnie Fields, Garnett, and Archibald, who had come all the way there, Kogure and the others boarded the bus to the airport.

(End of this chapter)