Reborn as Kobe

　　 The day after the Lakers and Celtics game ended, Celtics general manager Kyle contacted Jerry West.

　　 "Jerry, Kobe Bryant, your team's rookie this year, we hope to get him, you can say your price!"

　　 Jerry West is considering the issue of Van Exel's trade at this time, because with Kobe, Van Exel is somewhat tasteless. After receiving a call from the Celtics general manager, Jerry West was puzzled because the two teams rarely had trades in history, but when he heard that the Celtics wanted Kobe, he chose Rejected.

　　 "Sorry old friend, Kobe is not for sale by the Lakers."

Auerbach next to Kyle answered the call, "Hello, Jerry, I’m Auerbach, we want that kid, so tell me the bargaining chip you want! The picks and the players you choose, I try my best Do it."

　　 Although the two teams are rivals, Jerry West respects the Cardinals.

"Mr. Auerbach, we all know what kind of player Kobe is. He is a leader player who can influence the league structure. Without discussing his talents, he will say that his current business appeal is that no team will let go. If it weren’t for us to start quickly and run into the Hornets’ idiots, Kobe wouldn’t belong to our Lakers. Sir, I’m very sorry, I would not do such a loss-making business.

　　 Auerbach put down the phone, with a very regretful expression on his face, and Kyle next to him said tangledly: "I'm sorry, teacher. I will submit my resignation tomorrow."

　　 Auerbach waved his hand and said, "I don't blame you for this matter. Although you chose it at the beginning, it was still my mistake. If you miss it, you will always miss it."

　　 Before the 1996 draft, Cardinal Auerbach had been promoted to the team’s president and number one legend. Not all decision-making powers are qualified to make a trip to Auerbach's office, but this time the decision was extraordinary.

　　 The entire fourth floor of Building No. 151 on Merrimack Street is only a stone’s throw away from the Fleet Center Arena. Along the gray walls at the corners of the office, almost every inch of space has a historical story. There are framed photos, badges, paintings, drawing boards, honorary certificates, trophies, magazine covers, collage newspapers printed with past championship experiences, a collection of famous letter openers, plus about two dozen pictures in all Behind all this is the portrait of Auerbach with a cigar mouth and a toothy smile. On the day when something happened at the Kelden Gate in mid-June, Auerbach, the charitable old man, was sitting behind a large wooden table in his office. On the wooden table hung a slogan that read: Think from the big picture .

　　 Auerbach has a way of thinking from the big picture.

In 1956, he won the draft pick of Bill Russell from St. Louis empty-handed; in 1962, he won John Havlicek with the last pick in the first round of the draft; In 1978, he selected Larry Bird and believed that he had the ability to play in the NBA in his junior year; in 1980, he carefully planned another unfair trade to give Celtics People got Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale. Each of the above operations has brought the team to glory again. In general, they have made Auerbach's legendary career: 11 championships as head coach, 4 championships as general manager, and one championship as a ball The president of the team, when he was the president, Kyle came to his office with the tenth overall pick of the Celtics in 1996, seeking his opinion of these future stars. Suggestions include a guard named Kobe Bryant.

　　 Auerbach has seen Kobe's video clips, and he has also seen the beautiful report edited by the team's scout supervisor Rick Weitzman, which says: This kid is omnipotent.

　　 But choosing Kobe is risky. Kobe Bryant jumped directly into the NBA draft from Raul Merion High School in the suburbs of Philadelphia. There are only a handful of players who dared to try this amateur to professional jump. In the 1970s, the typical player of this type was Moses. Malone and Darryl Dawkins, then this trend was curbed, it was not until the appearance of Kevin Garnett in 1995 that this jumping mode was reopened. But what is risk to the cardinal? He selected the first African American player in NBA history. He was also the first coach to start five black players and the first to hire a black coach. He once struck an old punch in the mouth of the boss of the opposing team because of a spat on the court caused by a referee's whistle. There is no word risk in his dictionary.

Auerbach and Kyle talked about how good Bryant’s shooting was. Kyle praised Bryant’s knowledge of his basketball background, and Auerbach was fascinated by Bryant’s size and athletic ability. Endless.

Auerbach told Kyle: "I think this kid will become a great weapon in the future, but choosing him may be harmful to the team and may be beneficial. He looks reliable, but he is only a high school kid. You have to Make choices based on your current needs. But I think he is a great player."

　　 After saying this, Auerbach took a deep sip of his cigar. It is said that he smokes six cigars every day. He likes the Oyo de Monterrey brand, and he especially likes to symbolically place a slender cigar after a hearty victory. This traditional practice is both to celebrate Victory is also to mock and provoke opponents.

　　 "Okay," Auerbach said to Kyle, "Now it's your turn to make a decision."

　　 The Celtics assistant coach Dennis Johnson was responsible for the trial training for Kobe. But this time, the person in charge of the trial training was replaced by Kyle. Prior to this, Kobe only tried out the three teams of the 76ers, Knicks and Lakers.

Although the Celtics have all those great historical traditions, at this time, Boston is a team with only 33 victories. They are looking for a new direction in the 1996 draft. Looking for someone who can save them.

Boston's analysis of the draft coincides with many other teams: There are six future stars in this draft that cannot be missed, that is, the "96 Super Six". They are known as Allen in the future. -Iverson, Marcus Camby, Sharif Abdul Rahim, Stephen Marbury, Ray Allen and Anthony Walker.

　　 The Celtics held the ninth round of the draft in the draft, but through a trade to promote their selection to the sixth round, it also ensured that they can get one of the six.

　　 In other words, although the Celtics were optimistic about Kobe from top to bottom before the draft, they can't wait and they want to recover as soon as possible.

　　 Now Auerbach really regrets it. He already knows that he missed the next Jordan.

After extinguishing the cigar in his hand, Auerbach stared at Kyle fiercely and said: "From the next game, the team is smashed. I don't want to hear any more news of a victory, and that Tim Duncan My child, I want to watch his trial in person."

　　 Kobe couldn't think of it at all, because of his stimulation, the cardinal began to give it a go. In fact, even if he knew it, Kobe wouldn't care because he believed that as long as he became stronger, everyone in the league would not become his obstacle. But now Kobe has encountered an opponent that is really worth facing since the start of the game-Grant Hill.