I was determined to be bad, but I went straight to the Basketball Hall of Fame

Chapter 571 What is the relationship with Karen Mok

One night in February 13, Livingston, who was already lying down to rest, received a call from his agent.

At this time he was living at home in Peoria, Illinois, alone and away from his parents.

This house is the house he bought in his hometown after he got the NBA rookie contract, and it is the last base of his life.

Livingston has struggled in the dark for five years since that dreadful injury hit in 2007.

For five full years, he went from Mr. Basketball in Illinois to the next Penny Hardaway, a talented high school player, and almost became a cripple who was about to be amputated. Off the edge of the player.

During that desperate, 16-month long recovery, he even thought about dying in the past, leaving this hopeless world.

But he still gritted his teeth and persisted, recovering a little bit, able to walk and play, thinking about returning to the NBA to fulfill his dream.

Of course, the NBA is a place that only believes in strength and does not believe in dreams. No matter how strong your willpower is or how great your dreams are, professional managers will only judge your value based on your strength and potential.

There are countless people who want to get a job, no one will show mercy to you because of your tragic experience, sympathy is always just lip service, reality is reality.

The 13 season is almost halfway through. Livingston has tried out several teams and signed several short-term contracts, but none of them stayed in the end.

When he was young, people described him as the second penny Hardaway. He was tall and elegant, and people looked at her potential.

But now nearly 10 years have passed, the so-called potential definitely does not exist. The team only needs experience, immediate combat power, and a reliable defender who can immediately provide firepower and organizational skills on the field.

Is Livingston reliable?In fact, he thinks he is reliable, but his height and style of play, after fading the aura of potential, is not very popular with the teams.

His three-point ability is very average, which is quite fatal in this era, and it is also an important reason why many teams do not renew his contract after the trial.

But for the three-pointer, it seems a bit too late to practice from scratch now.

Livingston lay on the bed, relaxing in the dark.

For a while he was very afraid of the dark, because he was very worried that he would not see the sun tomorrow.

It took him a long time to overcome this psychological barrier and allow himself to sleep peacefully.

And the manager's phone call woke him up immediately, who was a little confused just now. When he called at this time, Livingston suddenly had a premonition that something was going to happen.

He woke up immediately, connected the phone, and asked the manager what was wrong.

The agent paused, and said, "Uh... Sean, there is a job opportunity, I don't know if you want to go."

Livingston immediately replied: "Of course I want to go...but..." Livingston immediately emphasized, "I don't want to go overseas. I just want to stay in the United States and play in the NBA. I don't want to go to a European team to play."

The agent said: "It's not overseas, it's not Europe, it's...it's going to Los Angeles, and returning to Los Angeles to play."

"Back to Los Angeles? To the Los Angeles Lakers? That's a good idea. I can leave tomorrow morning."

"No, it's not the Lakers, it's the Clippers. Olshey just called me."

Upon hearing the names of the Clippers and Olshey, Livingston was furious immediately, and said directly: "No! No, I won't go to the Clippers to play, even if I don't have a job, I won't go back to the Clippers! That's it, I'm going to bed, I hung up!"

Livingston hung up the agent's phone and lay down on the bed angrily.

But he couldn't fall asleep, and his heart fell into hesitation and struggle.

For the Los Angeles Clippers, his feelings are extremely complicated.

This is the team that led him into the NBA and the first stop of his basketball dream.

But here he encountered the greatest setback in his life and suffered a fatal blow.

After the rookie contract expired, the Clippers gave Livingston a basic salary offer in an insulting gesture, and he liked to sign it or not.

Livingston was a very proud man, and he left in anger to continue his basketball career elsewhere.

He even went to the team that made him injured-the Charlotte Bobcats, and the Bobcats generously gave him a two-year 700 million contract.

But he couldn't forgive the Clippers. When he needed help and the most difficult time, the Clippers didn't give any support and comfort.

At the moment Livingston was injured, the short-sighted Clippers management had already planned to clear him out of the team.

Olshey was still the team's assistant coach at the time. This rough white man had always made Livingston quite unhappy.

Now that he is the general manager of the team, he came to ask for a contract, and Livingston just wanted to reject him and let him eat some ashes.

I was relieved, but after a while Livingston regretted it.

In five years, his arrogance had already been smoothed away.

From a half salary, basic salary, to a 10-day short contract.

His valuation in the NBA is getting lower and lower, and he cherishes every opportunity.

In fact, when any team called at this time, Livingston would immediately leave for a trial.

Why is it the Clippers?
Of course, Livingston knows the Clippers have changed dramatically over the years.

From a small belly to become the hottest championship team in the league.

The topic is constant, the strength is outstanding, and the team is full of elite soldiers. Compared with the past, it can be said that it has been completely reborn.

And all because of the team's new general manager, Smart Min.

Of course Livingston knows about Min Congda, this conspicuous bag is now recognized by everyone in the league.

In the match against the Clippers, Livingston could also feel that this team is really strong, very strong.

The style of play and style are completely different from other teams, and there is a feeling of being active in another dimension.

What would it be like to play on such a team?

Will the pressure be particularly high?

Is the team atmosphere still as free-spirited as it used to be?

Management is as stupid and arrogant as ever.

Certainly not, but what is it?
Why would they want to re-sign themselves?
Curiosity spreads like a weed in my heart.

Livingston regretted that he shouldn't have rejected the agent's invitation just now.

He was hesitating whether to make another call, when the agent sent a text message saying: "The Clippers are willing to provide a guaranteed contract for three years."

Seeing this text message, Livingston no longer hesitated, a three-year guarantee contract, not a 10-day short contract?

Then why is he so proud, and what resentment does he have?Millions of dollars, he also needs money.

Livingston immediately called back and said he accepted the Clippers' invitation.

Two days later, Livingston appeared at the Staples Center. Accompanied by Olshey and Ball, he held a press conference and announced the signing of Livingston, a three-year guaranteed contract, the first Three years as a team option.

Livingston felt like he was in a dream. After flying to Los Angeles yesterday, the Clippers immediately arranged a physical examination and a simple trial training for him.

After the physical examination and trial training, Olshey said, sign the contract. It was so exciting that Livingston felt unbelievable, so he signed it?
Olshey shook Livingston's hand and said, "Sean, welcome home."

As soon as these words were spoken, Livingston's eyes were a little sore.

Five years, five full years, he returned to the place where his dream began.

When facing a reporter's question, Livingston said bluntly: "It's crazy, it's really crazy, I... It's hard for me to describe my mood, it's like a dream. The Clippers are an amazing team. I'm going to be here and make my contribution."

Livingston said the truth, but after coming to the team, he has not seen the legendary Smart manager in person.

Min Congda did not come to the signing conference this time, the Clippers were playing away, and Min Congda went fishing in the Pacific Ocean.

After the press conference, Livingston asked Olshey, "When is Mr. Smart coming back, I think I should go see him."

When a team comes, of course they have to visit the pier. The boss and the general manager must meet, especially the general manager and the immediate boss.

He knew that this contract must have been given by Smart, and Olshey did not have this power.

Olshey said: "The day after tomorrow, the team will return to Los Angeles tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow will be training in the training hall. You gather with the team first, and then when you have lunch at noon, you will see Manager Smart."

"During dinner? Will Mr. Smart come to the training center for dinner?"

"The cafeteria in the training center is almost opened for him, he will definitely come, don't worry."

The Clippers ended a rather long road trip on February 2th, an eight-game trip!

Starting from playing the Timberwolves on January 1 (the Clippers often start their long-distance road trips from Minnesota), they ran the United States from north to south and from west to east.

Among them was a seven-game streak in the Eastern Conference, which can be described as a huge physical and mental exhaustion for the Clippers.

For two whole weeks, the team was on the road, flying, taking a bus, and staying in a hotel.

But in 8 games, the Clippers achieved a beautiful record of 7 wins and 1 loss, and the only loss was against the Galacticos Heat in Miami.

The Heat, who regarded the Clippers as their opponent in the finals, went all out and played their best. They used their home court advantage and relied on a strong defense to beat the Clippers in a thrilling 101:96, 5-point advantage, and won the key matchup. victory.

However, in this game, because it was just halfway through and it was back-to-back, the Clippers rested some of the starting players.

Curry, Randolph, and Anthony Davis did not appear.

After all, there are too many bloody lessons ahead, and the Clippers have the capital to manage the team's load.

The Clippers' behavior drew criticism from some expert commentators, fans and other team personnel.

They think that when fans buy tickets to watch the game, they want to watch the stars and Curry play.

As a result, you stopped playing in Curry. Didn’t they buy their tickets for nothing?

There are similar voices in the league office, who believe that the Clippers, like the Spurs, are creating a bad atmosphere.

Facing such criticism, how could Min Congda let go of such an opportunity.

Immediately stand up and sing against the league, saying that we just want to manage the load of the players and pay attention to the health of the players.

The media department and official website of the Clippers also posted a news, saying: "The Clippers re-signed Livingston, who had suffered fatal injuries in the Clippers. Now, the Clippers let him return to the place where his dream began. We pay attention The health of the players, only healthy players can give the fans more exciting games. For the sake of the outcome of one or two games, without long-term considerations, the fans, players, and the team can only lose three times..."

This kind of remarks also won the support of some people, especially the players.

In short, the league's public opinion field has launched a heated debate around the topic of rotation.

For Min Congda, the good thing is that Adam Silva fined him again!
Silva fined Min Congda $5 for inappropriate remarks and criticism of the league.

Now the alliance office is punishing Min Congda more and more heavily, starting at [-] US dollars at every turn, instead of [-] US dollars in the past.

This put Min Congda in a good mood, and he couldn't be too happy. He got cheap and acted like a good boy, saying: "I respect the views of the NBA. On the issue of rotation, if we do something wrong, we will correct it in time and accept it." all punishment."

Therefore, even if the team has 7 wins and 1 loss, Min Congda is still in a good mood.

$5, the Clippers can't even lose that much money after losing a season.

On February 2, after the Clippers returned to Los Angeles, despite a long road trip, the team still had to train.

Because there is almost no time for systematic tactical exercises in the away game, only by returning to your own training hall can you correct the problem.

Of course, because the players are very tired, there is not much training, just running positions and discussions.

Livingston returned to the Clippers for the first time to participate in training, and he felt that the place was both familiar and strange.

Every team in the NBA is an iron-clad camp with flowing soldiers. The basketball dreams of many young people start with one team.

Therefore, if many famous NBA players leave and choose their home team, they will often choose to return to their home team in the twilight of their careers, finish their careers and then retire.

When Livingston returned to the Clippers, he suddenly had a feeling that he might end his basketball career here.

The coaching staff and players of the Clippers welcomed Livingston very much. Everyone laughed and started training, and Livingston watched the first class.

He found that the training atmosphere of the Clippers did not seem to be like those championship teams at all. It was very serious and intense, but very relaxed. Everyone kept discussing and shouting, and everyone actively participated in it.

This feeling is different from the free and undisciplined Clippers in the past.

When it was time for lunch, Livingston finally met Min Congda.

Min Congda came late. With an income of [-] U.S. dollars, he decided to have Chaoshan beef hotpot for lunch today.

So Livingston saw that the famous manager Smart had a fire boiler in front of him, and a chef was giving him a slice of beef.

Tyronn Lu brought Livingston over and said, "Mr. Smart, new players report for duty on the first day today."

Min Congda looked up, frowned, and asked, "Huh? New player? What's your relationship with Karen Mok?"

Livingston was at a loss, who was Karen Mok?
(End of this chapter)