The rest is just noise

Chapter 281: All encounters in this world are reunions after a long absence

After that, Rudy Tomjanovich was in place.

According to Louis' plan, he became the Knicks' chief scout, and his annual salary increased from US$60,000 during the Celtics period to US$150,000.

Louis asked DeBusschere to notify the official players to come to the Blue Palace for a meeting. Some responded, while others did not.

Bernard King declined the invitation on the grounds of ill health;

Bill Cartwright seemed to be in really bad health and was getting checked out at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota;

Pat Cummings believes that there is no need to meet, and his merits cannot be seen in the meeting.

The three most famous players on the team refused to attend the meeting.

It's like a kind of proof of identity. Only the people who didn't come are the most important.

They didn't respect Louie, just like Louie never respected them. From the beginning, he treated every member of this team as commodities or trash.

Players who are qualified to be treated as commodities can be traded.

Players who are not qualified to be treated as commodities are the kind of players who have to pay for something before someone wants them.

It's a cruel view, but Louie has just arrived and hasn't yet established a connection with the people here, so before they become friends, they can think of Louie as Hubie Brown, another bombastic coach.

Louie can also treat them as merchandise and trash.

On the day of the meeting, Louis had to interview six people.

Six wannabe Knicks assistant coaches, including Phil Jackson.

The first person Louis interviewed was Jackson.

He wore a formal suit and even his beard was neatly trimmed. Louis had never seen a Zen master without a beard.

"Phil, I know you played for the Knicks, and this is your stepping stone, but if you want to stay here, you have to tell me what you can do for me." Louis needed a reason.

After Jackson retired, the argument that he was a charlatan and an opportunist continued because he always coached the best players. When he became the president of the Knicks in his later years and ran a team, he did a great job.

Oops.

But this failed experience will not make Louis look at Zen Master through colored glasses. It can only show that the other person is a great coach, not a godfather. That's all. Just because he can handle Rodman and control Kobe, you can

We cannot say that he is an opportunist.

"I can be your K.C. Jones in New York."

Jackson definitely came prepared, he knew what Louis needed.

He believed Louis wanted to replicate his success in Boston, so he brought Tomjanovich over.

Everyone knows K.C's role in the Celtics locker room, and Jackson knows very well that his coaching ability is not enough to impress Louis.

Therefore, he is willing to be the stabilizer of the locker room and the peacemaker who regulates the players' emotions.

Louis' face became several levels more serious, like a lion lurking under the grass, and his murderous pupils were bloodshot.

For a moment, Jackson thought he had screwed up.

"There is no better reason than this, Phil." Louis' expression was as unpredictable as the deep sea, and a playful smile suddenly appeared, "Welcome to join my team."

Jackson let out a long breath as if he had successfully defused a bomb.

"Thanks."

"Dave is waiting for you in the office with the contract right now, go ahead." Louis said.

Jackson nodded and said: "See you later."

Then Louis called in a second person.

He is the only Chinese on the list. He is a newly graduated international student named Zhao Yuanzheng.

The name sounds very domineering, but he has no basketball experience in China and no basketball experience in the United States. It seems that he came here just because of his passion.

Zhao Yuanzheng is about 1.8 meters tall, wears glasses, and has a very elegant appearance and demeanor. But as long as Louis looks at him a few more times, he will think of Qin Hao in "The Hidden Corner" and feel that it will take him a minute to go mountain climbing with him.

Being pushed down the mountain.

"Since you are Chinese, just speak Chinese." Louis said naturally.

"Your Chinese level is as good as the legend." Zhao Yuanzheng said.

Louis smiled and said, "Mr. Zhao, although you are Chinese, I can't give you a green light. If you want this job, you must first prove that you are qualified. Unfortunately, I did not find that you are qualified in your resume."

Information about this job.”

"Coach Lu, my situation is the same as yours." Zhao Yuanzheng seemed to be planning to use Louis' resume to cover himself.

Louis smiled and said: "I at least made the school team in high school and have a basic understanding of basketball, but there is nothing on your resume related to basketball."

"I said basketball is a sport where talent determines everything. Do you agree?"

“What do you think of a guy like Larry Bird?”

Zhao Yuanzheng teased: "He is not a human being."

"This is an answer that will give you a lot of points, continue." Louis said appreciatively.

Zhao Yuanzheng continued: "I did not join the school team because basketball is not popular in China, and my parents prefer me to get into a good university than playing basketball. When I came to the United States, I no longer had the qualifications to enter.

It’s the foundation of the school team.”

What he said was reasonable, and Louis especially understood him when he said he couldn't play basketball because of his parents.

"In that case, why are you qualified for this position?" Louis asked directly.

Zhao Yuanzheng smiled and said: "I have good data planning skills, and I usually play football and have a good sense of space. When I watch the game, I can often see the flaws in the defense in advance. I don't know if this can help. I

I have to pass the assessment through a paper, and then I can stand in front of you. Have you read my paper?"

Louis remembered that the person in charge of the assessment was Tomjanovich. Since Zhao Yuanzheng could pass the assessment, it meant that the quality of his paper was acceptable.

"Let's do this. You go back first. When the interview is over, I will take a look at your paper. Then, if I want you, someone will contact you."

Louis couldn't give the green light because of the other party's identity. After all, he had just arrived in New York and couldn't give others a thumbs up.

"Thank you, Coach Lu."

"fine."

The next four people are serious college coaches.

Two of them have good resumes, but their attitudes are too arrogant, as if they came to New York specifically to give advice to Louis.

Louis spent twenty minutes telling them both to get out.

The other two, Louis was a bit confused about.

Bobby Sharif, a coach in the third-level league, has no solid knowledge on the tactical level, but there is one thing about him that makes Louis very concerned. When he was in college, he was good at shooting. After becoming a coach, the players he brought out were also good at shooting.

This is obviously the wrong profession. He should not be an assistant coach, but a shooting trainer.

The other one is Ian Hart, an assistant coach at Georgetown University who is good at coaching players' defense and has met Louis several times.

Louis wants both of these two people, but as a result, the coaching staff will spend a lot of money.

The Knicks are going to be in trouble in the first two years. After such a big battle, the record will be a mess. Can the media spare Louis?

After Louis thought carefully, he left Sharif behind.

These days, it’s hard to find a full-time shooting coach.

After the interview, in the evening, Louis took Tomjanovich, Jackson, and Sharif to the meeting at the Blue Palace.

It was actually a party. It was originally intended to be a barbecue, but there was no barbecue place in the Blue Palace, so we prepared some food and drinks.

Among the players present was Rory Sparrow, a fourth-round pick in 1980. Players who have worked their way up from the bottom and established themselves in the league often have strong character.

Sparrow was one of the players who made the best impression on Louis that day.

Halfway through the party, Sparrow was obviously drunk. He took a bottle of wine and shouted: "Little Lu is here, and the future of New York is here!"

In good conscience, Louis is not that arrogant.

Sparrow's compliments made Louis unable to control himself.

Another person who left an impression on Louis was Trent TukeG, the Knicks' substitute second position. His shooting movements are extremely standard and he has the potential for continued development.

Louis promised him that if his outside shooting could become more stable, he would be given more playing time.

The last person to leave a good impression on Louis was veteran "Truck" Truk Robinson (T breasts kRonnsonPF).

When Louis first entered the industry, it was during Robinson's heyday. In his two peak seasons in New Orleans, he averaged 23+15 rebounds and 24+13 rebounds per game.

Although he is only a little over two meters tall, he is extremely strong, so he is called a truck. He has a very gorgeous jump shot, and his unique skill is to turn around 45 degrees from the left and right wings in the low post to hit the board shot.

Robinson was a first-team selection in 1978, but was struck down by injuries and never became a star again.

But it was him who made the Jazz regard Karl Malone as a treasure.

He was Karl Malone before Karl Malone.

Now it is difficult for him to play professional games again, and he has only one year left on his contract. If nothing else, he will retire after the new season.

His cheerful and bold personality endeared Louis very much, which was also the value of the meeting.

He spent one night determining the quality of the Knicks.

Except for Bernard King, Cartwright, and Pat Cummings who have not yet met but will basically not surprise him, no matter who leads this team, it will be a team that dives into the lottery area and has the courage to do so.

Team competing for the Ewing Trophy.

Thinking of Ewing’s place in history;

Thinking back to the time when I suggested that Ewing run for office early, he would not hesitate to turn against him;

Thinking that he is likely to coach Ewing in the future, his fate is really strange.

Mr. You, all encounters in this world are reunions after a long absence.