Basketball Terminal

Chapter 43 Signing a Contract
Steve Nash glanced at his phone. It was 11:15 AM Eastern Time, more than eight hours before the game against the Golden State Warriors that evening, and ten minutes had passed since the Long Island Nets' game against the Hornets ended. He stretched in his chair, trying to clear his mind.

As the team's head coach, he spent last night and this morning in his room preparing for the upcoming series of away games, and also took the time to hold two short meetings. He had never spent so much time sitting in front of his laptop screen looking at so many game videos and data analysis tables. The development of information technology has made it easier to obtain information, but it has also brought huge troubles to the extraction and filtering of information.

There is simply too much information, both in quantity and variety, to the point of being overwhelming.

Nash got up and made himself a cup of black coffee; he needed the caffeine to perk him up. During his playing career, Nash never drank caffeinated beverages, and his diet was extremely healthy and disciplined. Gluten-free cereal, almonds, broccoli, chicken breast, fish, fruit salad, and brown rice were regulars on his menu. He has maintained this habit to this day, along with a consistent amount of exercise every day, so although he is 47 years old, he still has the excellent physique he had as an athlete, even leaner than before.

This reveals an extremely stubborn and narrow-minded side to Nash's personality; otherwise, it would be difficult for someone to maintain such strict control over their diet and physique. Even Kobe Bryant, known for his obsessive nature, gained weight for a period after retirement, while Nash did not. It's just that Nash's humble, gentle, and debonair image in daily life has caused many to overlook this.

The bitterness of the coffee melted in his mouth, a rare stimulation that allowed Nash to escape the chaos slightly. Chaos, distressing chaos. Too much information and ideas were presented to him. He tried to recall his days as a basketball player: find a good opportunity, pass the ball there with unerring precision, turn the opportunity into a score, and everything would become clear.

When Sean Marks approached him to be the Nets' head coach, that's what Nash thought, that's what Marks thought, that's what owner Joe Tsai thought, and that's what the Nets' players, assistant coaches, and Brooklyn fans all thought.

After all, his playing career was so illustrious, and he was such a commanding presence on the court as a playmaker. Two-time MVP, pioneering the small-ball fast-break style of basketball, and the Phoenix Suns' phenomenal 2004-2005 season – these are all accolades bestowed upon him, and he deserves them. However, these accolades are utterly useless for his coaching career. The job of a head coach is also completely different from that of a point guard, at least in Nash's view, by a huge margin.

After taking another sip of coffee, Nash recalled the summer of 2004 when he had just returned to Phoenix. Perhaps when people are feeling lost and confused, they tend to think of the good old days.

Mark Cuban, concerned about Nash's injuries and age, and heeding a data analyst's report that "signing players over 30 to high salaries yields low returns," was only willing to offer him a four-year, $48 million contract. Meanwhile, the Suns sent a 12-person recruitment team to Dallas with a five-year, $65 million contract, hoping to bring Nash home, back to the place where he was drafted into the NBA in 1996.

Faced with these conditions, Nash's choice was clear: return to Phoenix. He still remembered his first training session in Flagstaff, a small town in Arizona, where the Suns had trained since 1986, and of course, in 1996 as well; the place was filled with the atmosphere of bygone days.

At that time, the Suns' coaching staff consisted of only 10 people: a head coach, three assistant coaches, three strength and conditioning coaches, two players, and a facilities manager. The video analyst was also an assistant coach, and the medical team was handled by Dr. Carter's medical center. The entire management team comprised approximately 20 core staff members.

Fewer people mean closer relationships; everyone can be very intimate and it's easy to become friends. There are many opportunities for private interaction, and some people wear many hats, their work is constantly connected to yours, making it impossible to distance yourself. In Nash's view, this is a true team, a collective philosophy of old-school basketball, bound by emotion.

He vividly remembers a summer when he, two friends, and a few teammates were looking for a place to have a drink during a break from training. He had returned to Dallas and decided to find bars on the street, drink only one beer at each bar, and then run to the next bar for another, until he had crossed the entire city.

Nash took the lead, being the first to cross Dallas. After finishing a drink at each bar, he would text his friends to let them know he'd had a drink at XX bar and they should come over. He ran 10 kilometers to the two furthest bars, turning drinking into a form of training and leaving a deep impression on his friends and teammates, strengthening their friendships.

Before joining the Nets, Nash held the same idea: to become friends with every member of the team and every player. He hoped to spend a lot of time together privately, to have heart-to-heart exchanges of ideas, and to fight for the ultimate goal. However, after actually getting involved with the team he was going to manage, this idea disappeared.

The Nets' coaching staff currently consists of 31 people: one head coach, eight assistant coaches, five scouts, five strength and conditioning coaches, one athletic coach, one performance coach, one shooting coach, one director of sports science, one director of sports medicine, three video analysts, one director of analytics, one equipment manager, and two player development coordinators.

The coaching staff is twice the size of the player roster, not including trainers, interns, the medical team, and various temporary workers. The core management team consists of 55 people, and including non-core staff, the total number is close to two hundred.

Although Nash knew that the number of coaching staff and management personnel in NBA teams had greatly expanded when he was working as a part-time consultant for the Golden State Warriors, he was not a core member at the time. Even when he won the championship, he could only secretly touch the trophy. He did not have a direct understanding of how to manage such a large team.

Now it's different. He's the head coach, the core figure of the coaching staff, at the very center. Everything revolves around him, everything is geared towards him. He doesn't have the chance to go out for a drink with the players, or sit down for a proper chat, because there are too many people to manage and too many things to handle. Especially after the James Harden trade, the pressure and information came from all sides.

Nash sadly realized that off the court, he could no longer be the respected and beloved gang leader he was as a player, but instead a busy, constantly issuing orders office manager. Because the roles were different, and the times were different.

On a familiar court, the situation is even worse. As a player, when he makes a good pass, his teammates will score immediately, giving him simple and clear feedback that he did the right thing.

But as a head coach, when he makes a decision, there's no immediate feedback; he has to wait. Sometimes he thinks he's wrong, but the results are actually quite good. Sometimes he thinks it's great, but nothing comes of it. Sometimes being right doesn't guarantee victory; the team's chemistry is unpredictable.

Moreover, data analysis always tells him, "Things aren't what you think," "The facts don't match your intuition," "Based on big data samples, we should do this..." As a former superstar, the intuition and experience he relied on for survival are also being overturned.

For a head coach, this feeling of being out of control is actually normal. But as a player, Nash was the one in control, and this sense of loss of control troubled him. No wonder it's often said that great players rarely become great coaches; some say it's because good players can't understand the thoughts of ordinary players.

This is probably only one of the reasons. Other reasons include the sense of disparity in role and identity, the lack of control over the game, and the fact that this era is changing too fast. Excellent players are more likely to become complacent in the time they have achieved success and find it difficult to adapt to the changes of the new era.

A cup of coffee was finished when a news report popped up on my laptop, related to the Brooklyn Nets: "Kyrie Irving tells James Harden, 'You're point guard, I'm going to play shooting guard,' Brooklyn Nets define team roles."

According to an ESPN report, during the team's practice yesterday, they had brief conversations and interviews with Nets players. The reporter definitely asked about the distribution of ball possession within the team, which is the most concerning and likely to raise questions since Harden was traded to the Nets.

With three players, is there enough ball to go around? This is a question Nash has been pondering. This report brought Nash back to reality. He clicked on the article and glanced at it; Irving explicitly stated he could play shooting guard, with Harden playing point guard. Since joining the Nets, Harden has averaged 11 assists per game, indeed excellent point guard stats. And Irving's scoring ability is certainly much stronger than his playmaking ability.

Nash has no doubt about this; Irving, Harden, and Durant have a very good relationship so far. Irving and Durant have agreed to play together with the Nets, and the relationship between Harden and Durant goes without saying. As head coach, Nash naturally gives his full support and praise to the three players in public; their performance on the court is indeed outstanding, making them among the best players in the league.

Privately, when Nash realized he couldn't be brothers or friends with everyone, he tried to build close personal relationships with the three most important players on the team, but without much progress. Whether it was due to age or differing values, Nash sensed a distance between them, a distance that made it difficult for them to truly connect.

Nash believes he can't truly understand this generation of players. Take Kyrie Irving, for example. He won a championship with the Cavaliers, then suddenly sought a trade to the Celtics, and then, unable to stay with the Celtics, chose to come to the Nets. And after arriving in Brooklyn, he inexplicably missed games and practices due to family reasons. This series of actions is difficult for an old-school player like Nash to understand; he doesn't understand what Irving is thinking.

Kevin Durant is a relatively straightforward person, but his decision to join the Warriors in 2016 earned him a lot of criticism. After achieving his championship dream, he left Golden State for Brooklyn, giving up a super team that could have built a dynasty. Nash can understand his desire to prove himself, but if that's the case, why did he go to the Warriors in 2016?

After James Harden joined the Nets, many discussed his connection to Steve Nash. Both had experienced a resurgence under Mike D'Antoni, delivering phenomenal performances at point guard, and Nash admired Harden's passing talent. However, as a former star player for the Rockets, Harden's often-criticized weakness in the playoffs, coupled with his behavior during the recent trade between the Rockets and Nets, made the whole affair seem like a farce.

Whether leaving the Mavericks or the Suns to join the Lakers, Nash maintained excellent relationships with his former teams. Cuban regretted letting Nash go, while the Suns wished Nash success in winning a championship with the Lakers. Harden gained everything with the Rockets except a championship, but like a spoiled child, he ruined his relationships with Howard and Paul, ultimately leading to a falling out with the Rockets.

In Nash's view, they were like children—self-centered, willful, and quick to anger. Their personal lives reflected this; all three were nearing 30, yet none were married, or even had a stable partner. When you tried to sit down and talk to them about family, children, and responsibilities, you'd suddenly find yourself at a loss for words—they had absolutely no interest in those things.

Of course, the basketball talent of all three is undeniable, and when they are on the court together, the team's offensive firepower is incredibly strong. In this era of offense-driven competition and unlimited offensive power, the three of them could defeat most opponents in the league with their offense alone.

But being able to defeat most opponents through offense doesn't guarantee a championship, as the Phoenix Suns did in the past, always falling just short. Nash believed the Nets lacked something, not just height, but also a spirit, a strength, something essential for a championship. But Nash himself couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, because he had never won a championship.

For some reason, Nash thought of Levi. Last night, he watched the video email McCalil sent him, filled with data and clips. To be honest, Nash wasn't particularly impressed, because he really didn't understand defense. If he did, he wouldn't have been such a bad defender during his playing days. However, this Victor also had something on offense; he was calm and collected, seized opportunities well, but his passing was a bit lacking.

From D'Antoni to Udoka, and other assistant coaches, everyone said his defense was very good; Udoka even said he was cheating. Cheating? What does that mean? In video games? Although Nash has filmed video commercials for EA SPORTS and FIFA 11, he himself isn't very interested in games. This is also the difference between the previous generation of players and this generation; now, almost every young player plays video games.

Nash initially intended to delegate the scouting and recruitment to the scouting team on a business trip to Disney and General Manager Sean Marks, not wanting to get involved. However, considering the attitudes and opinions of others, Nash felt he should perhaps be more actively involved, especially regarding defensive issues. In the current state of the Nets, too many voices were being heard, too many opinions were being voiced, and Nash felt his voice was being silenced within the team.

He wanted everything to follow the rules and procedures, but the problem was that the Nets were an environment where owner Tsai gave many people ample authority and freedom. Nash had a good relationship with owner Tsai and understood his style of doing things—a seemingly gentle but inwardly firm approach typical of the East. After firing former head coach Kenny Atkinson to welcome Nash, the rest of the team remained largely unchanged, without any major purges, which is why the Nets' coaching staff was so bloated and large.

Having figured this out, Nash decided to personally scout Levi, so he sent him a text message during the game. He had watched the entire game between the Long Island Nets and the Hornets; they did play very well, but he still didn't quite understand their defense—how could they make steals and blocks? Also, if Levi came, who would the team have to cut? Robertson? Would Kevin Durant agree?
Nash's phone rang. He glanced at it and saw it was a call from Levi.

"Hi, Victor, this is Steve Nash."

"This is Viktor. I'm sorry, I only had time to call you after I got back to my hotel room after the match."

"It doesn't matter…"

The two chatted briefly on the phone. Nash hadn't really decided what to test Levi on, so he just rambled on about a few topics. Levi, however, remained calm and composed, answering Nash's questions methodically and logically. There was no verbal sparring, no jokes, no witty banter, no movie-style quotable lines or witty exchanges; it was just a very ordinary and down-to-earth conversation.

How's the food at the park?

"The taste is okay, and the portion is generous, but it's a bit monotonous."

"The living conditions must be quite good, right?"

"Very good, the yacht club is very comfortable. The weather is also great, sunny."

"Um... Victor, let me ask you a question. If you were to come to the Nets, what do you think would be the biggest contribution you could make to the team?"

After some casual conversation, Nash asked a crucial question. It was actually a very pointless question; you're the player you wanted to sign, don't you know what he can bring? Why ask the player himself? But Nash still wanted to ask; he wanted to gauge the player's self-awareness and mental fortitude.

Most players will talk in generalities or boast about how they can bring a championship to the team. While that's not wrong in itself, it sounds too bureaucratic. As for him saying something like "I'm here to learn," you might as well leave now; this isn't school.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone before Li Wei replied, "My greatest contribution... is bringing racial diversity to the Nets."

Nash paused for a second, then, understanding Levi's words, burst into laughter, laughing uncontrollably. He even put the phone on the table, lay on the bed, covered his mouth, and laughed for a long time, until his face was red and he was panting. After a while, he suddenly stopped, staring blankly at himself in the full-length mirror, feeling somewhat unfamiliar. A wave of emptiness washed over him after the laughter. He took a few deep breaths, composed himself, and picked up the phone.

"Sorry, something came up. Are you still there?"

"Yes, I think I heard..."

No, you didn't hear me.

"Ok."

"Your answer was humorous, but we're not a stand-up comedy team. Your performance was well-received, but we're currently in California, and our 15-man roster is full. So, we'll continue to evaluate you and other players under contract to make comparisons. Sorry, that's a realistic statement, but that's how the NBA is—you have to compare before you buy."

"I understand."

“I’m sure other teams would want to sign you, and you could compare offers. But I want to say that the Nets are the best team, and your abilities will be best utilized here.”

"What skill? Stand-up comedy?"

"Heh~ Stop making me laugh, let's get serious."

Nash wanted to laugh again. Actually, Levi's joke wasn't particularly funny; it was just that Nash hadn't had a proper, hearty laugh in a long time since becoming head coach. Levi's simple joke hit Nash's funny bone, making him burst into laughter. If it were a stand-up comedy competition, Levi would definitely have impressed Nash.

But Nash isn't entirely sure about basketball. In fact, he trusts D'Antoni and Udoka's judgment regarding tactics and defense. The problem is, if he's going to cut players, he'll have to cut Robertson, who just signed recently. He was recruited by Kevin Durant.

Whether it's Nash or Marks, they must consider the opinions and thoughts of the team's star player. After all, no matter how good Levi is in all aspects, he is ultimately a short-term contract reserve player, and everyone will judge him by the standards of a short-term contract player. Durant, on the other hand, is the Nets' true franchise player, and his opinions and thoughts are the most important.
-
On the evening of February 13th, the Chase Center in San Francisco hosted a highly anticipated matchup. The Golden State Warriors faced off against the Brooklyn Nets. This marked Kevin Durant's first return to the Warriors' home court in a year and a half since his Achilles tendon injury in the 2019 NBA Finals, though not as a Warriors player.

In a pre-game interview, Kevin Durant commented on his time with the Warriors: "My time with the Golden State Warriors was very interesting. It was a very important learning experience, especially in learning how to play basketball. I experienced a completely different philosophy that I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

Three finals, two championships, two FMVPs, yet the only evaluations he received were "learning experience" and some "ideas," conveying a sense of distance and indifference.

The absence of fans significantly dampened the game's hype and buzz. At the end of the first quarter, a "Welcome Back KD" video was played on the big screen. The Warriors plan to play this video again when the game is played with fans present.

The Warriors, who once built a dynasty, fell from grace after the departure of Kevin Durant and the serious injury of Klay Thompson. Last season, they became a lottery team, hoping to revive their former glory with the second overall pick, but made the disastrous decision to select James Wiseman. There were also promotional images celebrating the Chinese New Year on the sidelines.

Wiseman has already shown signs of being a bust not long into the season. Although his stats are decent in some games, his overall performance has been terrible. He's strikingly similar to Anthony Bennett, the number one draft bust of that year, and both of them share the same agent—Jeff Schwartz.

Steve Nash could tell that Kevin Durant was very focused on this game. Durant missed all three of his shots in the first five minutes, including a fast break layup. However, Nash didn't discuss related topics with Durant before the game. When they won the championship in 17, Nash was also with the Warriors, and their relationship was much more relaxed then, with Nash acting as an advisor and player.

The game wasn't as intense as expected. The Nets took a large lead in the first quarter, and the Warriors' defense wasn't as fierce as it used to be. Draymond Green twisted his ankle and left the game early, allowing the Nets to further extend their lead. They scored a whopping 42 points in the third quarter, widening the gap to over 20 points.

James Harden orchestrated the team's offense with his passing, leading the bench players to an outstanding performance. The Nets ultimately defeated the Warriors 134-117, securing their first win in their consecutive road games. Durant only scored 20 points, shooting 8-for-19, a mediocre performance, but the team won.

Harden had the best performance, with 19 points, 16 assists, and 3 steals. His assists, in particular, completely orchestrated the team's offense, feeding Bruce Brown for 18 points and Jeff Green for 14. He was dazzling tonight, just like when he was with the Rockets, always shining against the mighty Warriors.

At the end of the game, Durant, wearing a mask, gave Warriors head coach Steve Kerr a light hug, concluding this lackluster comeback and revenge game. Back in the locker room, Durant didn't seem particularly excited about the team's big win; his face was expressionless behind the mask, but his eyes conveyed a sense of calm.

Nash believed that Durant, as the team leader, should have been excited and encouraged the best player on the team. But he didn't. He simply sat there, bumped fists with Harden, and said, "Good job, man." Perhaps he was dissatisfied with his own performance, shooting 8-for-19, a somewhat low efficiency.

On the way back to the hotel, Nash finally found an opportunity to say to Durant, "Kevin, we beat the Warriors by a lot today. Everyone played very well. You should...you should be even happier."

Durant said, "Oh... I'm happy, but I played terribly, 8 out of 19."

"It's not that important. Winning is the most important thing. You also played very well on the defensive end."

"No, this is important. I can already guess what people online will say, saying that I relied on Harden to beat the Warriors, otherwise we wouldn't have won. Damn it, I'm going to practice my shooting more."

As he spoke, Durant took out his phone and started browsing news and commentary about the game online.

Nash was speechless; he didn't know what to say. Durant's thinking seemed reasonable. As the team leader, it was indeed right to blame himself if the team won but he didn't perform well. But Nash remembered that in the NBA ten years earlier, as long as the team won, everyone would be happy and share the joy, regardless of their individual performance, especially the team leader who would encourage everyone.

Currently, a trend has emerged online that separates the evaluation of a star player's individual performance from the team's wins and losses. A good individual performance leads to a team victory, everyone's happy, and the team wins. A poor individual performance leads to a team loss, and the loss is the player's fault, they take responsibility. A good individual performance leads to a team loss because the teammates are too bad to carry the team, and the player doesn't lose. A poor individual performance leads to a team win, and the player benefits from the carry, getting carried to victory.

Of the four scenarios, only the first is ideal; the other three would damage an individual's reputation, which might make the sensitive Kevin Durant always feel attacked. Nash couldn't understand that back then, team victory was the only standard. Players and the team were one; everyone had good and bad days. The role of teammates was to support and help each other, to help one person when another failed, not to become a tool to attack someone.

It wasn't just Durant on the team who had this tendency; Kyrie Irving also had a strong sense of individual heroism. Otherwise, he wouldn't have jumped from the Cavaliers to the Celtics, and then from the Celtics to the Nets. He always wanted to be a hero, but in the kind of way that Nash couldn't understand.

Fortunately, the game was won. As long as you win, everything that is incomprehensible becomes comprehensible.

In the following days, the Nets were unstoppable in California, defeating the Kings and Suns in consecutive high-scoring games. However, Kevin Durant was forced to miss the game against the Warriors after failing a COVID-19 test. Following this, Durant suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season until after the All-Star break.

The Nets can only rely on Kyrie Irving and James Harden to carry the team.

In the game against the Kings, Kyrie Irving scored 40 points, while James Harden recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. Following that, against the Suns, Kyrie Irving was also sidelined due to injury, and James Harden led the team single-handedly, scoring 38 points and dishing out 11 assists to secure a victory.

While Kyrie Irving's, and especially James Harden's, performances were certainly inspiring, Nash knew that Harden's play at this pace might not last long. Durant's injury was more serious than initially thought, and after careful consideration, he would be sidelined until April, a considerable two-month stretch of games.

Robertson's performance in these two games has been disappointing; he has regressed too much and is no longer suited for the NBA. Furthermore, he is a purely defensive player with too little contribution on offense. The Nets need defense, but they also cannot afford to lack offense.

Nash thought of Levi, whom he had been following closely; Levi had been very consistent in the G League. Several teams were reportedly interested in him and had extended offers. However, Levi preferred the Nets, as his home was in New York, making it a good opportunity to sign him and give him a try.

With Durant sidelined due to injury, he can no longer protect Robertson. How can you protect your brother when you can't even play yourself?

So, on the evening of February 16th, after the game against the Suns, Nash called General Manager Marks and said that the team was short of players and was considering giving Long Island Nets player Victor Lee a 10-day contract so that he could quickly come to Los Angeles to join the team.

Max said on the phone, "Giving you a contract is no problem, but you should check the news about the Development League today to understand the situation there before considering whether to sign a contract."

Nash was a little puzzled. What news was coming out of the Development League today? He asked Max to send it to him.

Max sent Nash two news links. Nash clicked on them. The first one was: "Jamie Lin complains to G League organizers that some players discriminated against Asian players regarding the virus issue."

Even now, many Americans blame the pandemic on Chinese people and consequently discriminate against the entire Asian community because many simple-minded people cannot distinguish between Chinese, Koreans and Japanese, and simply discriminate against them all.

Nash shook his head. Such prejudice and discrimination were widespread; rumors always spread more easily than the truth. However, this news seemed unrelated to Victor Lee, so Nash clicked on the next one: "During the Long Island Nets vs. Erie Bay Hawks game, Victor Lee punched Hawks player Jordan Bell to the ground because he called Victor Lee a virus; Victor may face suspension."

"Shit...this guy..."

"So, Steve, are you still going to sign him?"

"Of course, of course we have to sign him. He's going to be suspended, if we don't sign him, where will he play? It's so pitiful."

"What did you say, Steve?"

"I'm telling you, you fucking get to Los Angeles right now and sign him! The Nets need talent like that!"

　To maintain the continuity of the story, I'm releasing it all at once without dividing it into chapters, and there's no clear point in finding chapter breaks. Please vote if you have any; it's the last day. Tomorrow is National Day, wishing everyone a happy holiday and a happy birthday to our motherland.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)