From sparring to superstar

Chapter 204 202. Returning to the God of Basketball, Can You Be More Confident?
The news of Jordan's comeback to join the Clippers spread like wildfire. After the Clippers confirmed the news and announced the time of the press conference, it ignited the world sports world.

All sports media and fans are hotly discussing this matter, not only them, economic, entertainment, social and other news are reporting this matter, large TV stations, newspapers, brokerage companies, basketball supplies companies, transportation and Shares in the travel industry... have rallied.

On the Internet, major sports forums have been down countless times, and the enthusiasm of the fans for discussions is higher than that of the Twin Towers being hit a while ago.

The god of basketball is back, this news is already sensational enough, and it is actually the Clippers?

Including the Clippers fans are joking: the god of basketball, if Spider-Man threatens you to join by breaking your ribs again, you can call the police!

At 2001 pm on September 9, 21, the Clippers held a press conference on time.

The majority shareholder of the Clippers Ballmer, owner Caesar Kanter, general manager Wally Walker, head coach Gentry and his coaching staff... and all the players of the team are here.

David Stern personally came to the press conference to watch the ceremony and got a lot of shots.

Ballmer announced that he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Michael Jordan.

This is the highest starting salary for an 11-year non-bird veteran under the salary cap for the new season, 30% of the salary cap, which is the maximum salary contract, which is enough for the basketball god.

Looking at the expectant eyes of his young teammates, Jordan once again said that sentence to the media cameras gathered from all over the world: "I'm back!"

Hearing this, everyone in the Clippers, including some reporters who came to the scene, began to cheer loudly.

Big Q is very nervous now, so nervous that he forgot his work, and the boss standing behind kicked his ass, so he hurried to Jordan and Ballmer, and took off the No. 23 jersey he was wearing Come down and hand it to Ballmer.

Ballmer took the jersey and sorted it out, handed it to Jordan and said, "Welcome you, our number 23."

Jordan took the jersey and said with a smile: "I can actually wear 45."

The reporter of ESPN took the opportunity to ask: "Big Q, there are rumors that you were originally the No. ?”

Big Q got angry when he heard this question, but he was too excited. He didn't know how to refute for a while, so he shouted loudly: "The god of basketball will always be No. 23!"

He was born in Chicago in 1980. As long as he can remember, he has been watching Jordan's games. He is naturally a Jordan fan. Since he was a child, his first choice for the jersey number in the general election is 23.

When he came to the Clippers last summer, someone wore No. 23. Veteran Derek Strong, he could only choose another number, so he took a 23 from No. 3. Before the start of last season, Derry Ke Strong, a veteran small forward, was waived because the forward position was crowded. He wanted to change to the No. 23 jersey, but he dared not tell the team. The boss knew about it and asked the team for help. He changed the number to 23.

Unexpectedly, the idol became a teammate!Not to mention the No. 23 jersey, if the boss didn't say it was unsightly, he would have taken off his shorts.

After this episode, the Clippers handed over all the shots to Jordan, and there were no interviews with other people. They were all used as the background. The major shareholder Ballmer said that everyone should not steal the limelight from today's protagonist.

It is definitely not to guard against a handsome dumb guy. Everyone is treated the same, and Ballmer himself does not have an interview session.

On Jordan's side, a half-hour question-and-answer session began.

When asked whether his comeback was related to the 911/[-] incident, Jordan replied: "I came back because of basketball. Basketball can bring people courage and hope."

The two-meter-old man in the last row crazily slanders, shameless!

Although he didn't admit it, he didn't deny it either.

When asked if he hadn’t played for 3 years and came back at this age, would he not worry about being defeated by young people? Jordan replied: “I kept winning until I retired. I won until the end and retired directly. This is very important for young players. It's not fair, I regretted it for a long time, I think I should give young players a chance to beat me.

From Russell to Abdul-Jabbar, from Irving to Magic, from Magic and Bird to me, the torch of basketball is constantly being passed, and rulers need to be defeated before new rulers can be born.

Now I'm back and right here. "

These words sparked cheers again.

Li Ao said "tsk tut" and defeated two of the four major centers in the playoffs. The two that were not defeated were because they did not meet each other. In the finals, they defeated the second shooting guard and the first power forward of two generations. , Two generations of top point guards... This year's GOAT is very different.

Did Joe, the wizard in the original time and space, stain God's career?Li Ao had always thought this way before, but now he thinks that it might also be another kind of greatness...

Without considering anything else, it is limited to basketball itself, and he has to put aside his team operations in those two years.

When the reporter asked why Jordan chose the Clippers, all the Clippers players focused their attention.

Jordan smiled: "The management gave me enough respect, they gave me a maximum salary, so that I can return to the game with dignity.

Here is my favorite pitcher, Steve Kerr, and my favorite coach, Doug Collins. Over the years, I have kept in touch with Doug. He inspires me and gives me strength every now and then, and I'm happy to be working with him again.

And here is Spider-Man, he is the most talented young player I have ever seen, I hope I can personally hand over the torch of inheritance to him..."

Hearing this, Li Ao finally understood.

It's all connected!
In mid-August, the contract renewal issue between Ruben Patterson and his home team, the Sonics, collapsed. The Supersonics gave up Ruben Patterson’s right to renew his home team. The blue-collar player who performed well last season was finally signed by the Trail Blazers for 8 years and $6 million in full middle class.

He initially thought that the team was worried that the thorn in Ruben Patterson would affect the atmosphere of the team. This is reasonable. They have a big Q that can be cultivated towards the 3D line, and they are younger and more talented.

But in retrospect, no!
Ruben Patterson is just a thorn, but it's not that he doesn't play well. Is his team afraid of thorns?
Moreover, he was worried about affecting the training of young players like Big Q, but sent out two players who were still holding rookie contracts in exchange for the veteran Lafonso Ellis.

The arrival of Lafonso Ellis will inevitably occupy the part of the playing time that Matt Harprin and his Spider-Man play power forward, and they will spend more time in the backcourt, which will also reduce the appearance of Big Q time

Sign Steve Kerr, sign Doug Collins...

These operations are all preparing for Jordan's comeback!Even a necessary link!

and many more!

Li Ao's pupils were shaken, what should he do with his plan to punch the nursing home?

The number one boss in the nursing home has become a teammate!

...

The god of basketball came back, and the cloud hanging over Yingjiang's head was washed away a lot.

Fans of other NBA teams came alive one after another, wanting to buy tickets for the home game against the Clippers, and wanting to see with their own eyes the basketball god who is back again.

Transportation, hotels, catering, retail...etc industries also benefit from it.

Of course, the Clippers will benefit the most. Not counting the preseason and playoffs, they have 41 home games. They have already opened up the ball market last season, and this season the ball market is even hotter.

At the beginning of last season, the average ticket price of the Clippers ranked 17th in the league, with an average ticket price of 27 dollars, which is almost only one-third of the average ticket price of the Lakers 79 dollars. You can buy tickets for $5.

By the end of the season, the Clippers' average ticket price of $45 was a little more than half of the Lakers' average ticket price of $89 in the latter part of the season.

On the second day after Jordan joined, the Clippers announced the ticket price for the new season. Some media calculated and reported that the average price was 91 dollars, which was exactly the same as the Lakers next door, second only to the Knicks with an average price of 99 dollars. .

The most expensive is the opening game ticket, with an average price of more than $300.

In mid-September, other teams have already announced their ticket prices for the new season. Except for the Knicks and Lakers who raised their prices, all others have lowered their ticket prices, which are lower than at the beginning of last season. The reason is naturally because of the three airplane.

Not only the sports industry, but all industries in the Yingjiang family have shrunk because of this incident, except for the group of people selling firecrackers.

Even if Jordan came back, the teams raised the ticket prices, but they did not return to the level of last season.

The Clippers here, good guy, just doubled!
But the price doesn't make people feel too expensive. With the super popular new star Spider-Man and the god of basketball, the Clippers have overshadowed all the teams at this moment.

When the Clippers became the most popular team at the moment, there were two other teams that were repeatedly mentioned by fans.

One is the Bulls that forced Jordan to retire in 98.

Another one... the Spurs are lying.

The Clippers gave Jordan, who has retired for three years and will be 39 years old in the second half of the season, a maximum salary contract, and the Spurs gave Duncan 3 million for three years.

The salary situation of the Clippers has caused fans of other teams to curse.

Jordan was given a maximum salary, but their salary has not yet filled the salary cap.

There are 5 predicted starters and 3 rookie contract players. Jermaine O'Neal, a center who averaged a double-double per game, will have a salary of more than 600 million dollars for two years. Li Ao's annual salary of 367 million dollars is the third highest in the team. The fourth tallest is newcomer Rafonso Ellis.

Judging from the current salary structure of the Clippers, by next summer, if Jordan, who has played for a year, retires again, the Clippers can still make room for a maximum salary!Even in 2003, while retaining the bird rights of Odom and O'Neal, there were still conditions to create maximum salary space.

The Clippers already won 51 last season!

Now the fans are discussing the most lively thing - how much success does the basketball god still have?How much improvement can it bring to the Clippers?
Anyway, fans of the Lakers, Pistons, Knicks, Pacers, Trail Blazers, Suns, Jazz and other teams have belittled Jordan, who has not played for 3 years.

And made a well-founded but malicious speculation-the God of Basketball and Spider-Man will have conflicts over the ball, and the God of Basketball will be retired again with broken ribs...

...

The outside world is constantly noisy. On Li Ao's side, after attending the press conference yesterday, he went home and entered the training mode to make up for the time wasted in the afternoon.

After the training, he called the neighbor next door to make an appointment for training time, but the other party rejected him, saying that he wanted to train with his teammates.

What a liar!
Anyone on the Lakers willing to train with Afro?
It was specified that he was in a temper again.

Without a training partner worth 50 achievement points, Li Ao could only regretfully call Jordan to make an appointment to train together, and the other party readily accepted.

This morning, Li Ao came to Jordan's clubhouse again. This time, it was a lot more casual. Except for the welcome and the bar, all the other waiters became serious people.

Li Ao is very sorry. Although he doesn't want to be like-minded with Jordan, he has to say that this LSP has a good vision, and those swimsuit models are very attractive.

This LSP fired all those people because they were worried about weak legs, bah, the god of basketball, can you be more confident.

Li Ao entered the training field, James Worthy, Skywalker, and Xavier Johnson were already preparing with their trainers, Cole put on his training uniform today, and he was also preparing for the new season, although it was foreseeable that he would Not many games, but you have to make a contribution when you play.

Jordan raised his chin and said to Li Ao, "Isn't it a surprise to be a teammate with me?"

"A little."

"Only a little?"

"Well, it's more a pity that I don't have a chance to beat you on the court."

Cole on the side was really sorry to see Spider-Man's expression. He turned his attention to the former boss and saw that the former boss's fists were tightened, and he felt instantly relieved.

Jordan was a little stingy, but he felt very relieved. He pointed at the court with a black face and said, "Go to training!"

Li Ao curled his lips, went to warm up preparations, and started the intensive training of passing control, back hitting, and mid-range shooting.

In the afternoon, it was time for sparring.

Li Ao's interest is not that high. Once he becomes a teammate, he can't trigger the individual training mode, only the team training mode, and he "looks down" on this achievement.

After practicing against Afro for so long, the reward for defending ten or so balls is higher than that of team sparring mode.

However, the elderly Joe began to reserve his physical strength for the new season, and the duel training time was shortened to one hour. In order to help the veteran teammates find their form, Li Ao chose to accept it. He cheered up and warmed up to prepare.

When he finished warming up and came to the field, he unexpectedly received a sparring reminder from the system!
"Excellent sparring:
Sparring object: Michael Jordan.

Rating judgment: 5 stars.

Training content: one-on-one defense.

Rewards for sparring: You can get rewards for 1 hour of sparring time. Every time you defend a basket attack, you will be rewarded with 10 achievement points. Every time you defend a mid-to-long distance shot, you will be rewarded with 20 achievement points.

Because the host is a 5-star player as a training partner, there is an opportunity to gain additional insight. After judgment, the direction of insight: post-up singles, fadeaway jumpers.

Note: Since the host has enough time to train with and learn from the players of the same team, the host is a teammate for team training. Only when the judgment level is 5 stars, the personal training mode can be turned on. If it is lower than 5 stars, the team training mode can be turned on. "

Li Ao was instantly refreshed!

Although it is not as expensive as Afro's 50 achievement points, God is a teammate, so there are more opportunities to make appointments for training, and Afro is still next door.
"Michael, 1 hour of duel practice is not enough, we will fight until dark!"

"?"

(End of this chapter)