The god who strikes iron is here

Chapter 42 The Golden Age of the Draft

June 1996, 6, Continental Arena, New York, New Jersey.

The media and reporters who arrived early are everywhere here, and the small green room inside has also been set up early.

It's a pity that Zheng Tie didn't have the chance to enter that place. Only geniuses certified by the United States are eligible to enter.

But anyway, I'm alone, so it doesn't matter.

This place is full of blacks and whites, and as an oriental person, it is impossible not to attract attention.But Zheng Tie didn't intend to say anything more to anyone, and just sat there with his eyes closed.

It wasn't until Kobe Bryant and Nash came over to say hello to him that Zheng Tie stood up and talked to them.

But there are still other acquaintances, such as Camby and Stojakovic who have tried out together, and Lorenzen Wright, who was originally selected by the Clippers.But they are not familiar with each other, so there is no intersection at all.It wasn't until another familiar person came that Zheng Tie broke the silence.

He is the best tool Zheng Tie has used so far, and he has earned tens of thousands of points alone.

So for this kind of person, Zheng Tie is still friendly, and Walker also recommended his agent to him, which is not bad for him.

After chatting for a while, Walker also entered the small green room, and then Zheng Tie waited outside for the start of the 96 draft.

Zheng Tie didn't go for the physical test at all, because he was too lazy to go, and many stars in the future will not participate in the physical test. Of course, the key is... his static physical test is okay, and the dynamic physical test is of little value.It's too good now, so I didn't go at all in order not to be ashamed.

Anyway, the approximate data, as long as the Clippers have it, he doesn't need physical fitness as his selling point.

Of course—this is what Zheng Tie said about grapes being sour.

If his physical fitness is excellent, then he will definitely give it a try, that's for sure, but right now, he doesn't have any.

Then don't go.

If you wait any longer, you will be angry and looking for abuse.

Surprisingly, NBA Commissioner David Stern actually greeted himself before the start, chatted for a while, and then he said something meaningful: "Zheng~Welcome to the NBA family ~"

Ok?
???

Haven't you chosen it yet?Why are you congratulating me on joining the NBA?
This old man, isn't he going to engage in some black box operation?

Of course it's impossible.

Zheng Tie thought too much, how could Stern do some secret operations for him.Only the number one scholar, I am afraid, has this qualification.

He just received the news in advance, and there must be a team that chooses Zheng Tie.

That's it.

As for what Zheng Tie can become, he doesn't care at all right now. What he wants is someone to be a stepping stone to really open up the NBA's market in China.Obviously, Zheng Tie is a good choice.

Because of Zheng Tie's presence, Stern specially modified the process. Generally speaking, he only presided over the handshake and announcement of the first-round show Little Green House, and then handed it over to the vice president.But this year, because he wants to open up the Chinese market, Stern decided to select the second-round picks and do it himself.

Anyway, he is in this league now, that is the level of eloquence, iron fist is his label.

In the media area, Xu Jicheng and Zhang Weiping were watching here, turning their gazes to Zheng Tie from time to time.

"Old Zhang, this little guy's psychological quality is really good enough, and he can sit comfortably by himself."

"Premature maturity must have cause and effect. It seems that Xiao Zheng has suffered a lot. Otherwise, how could he be so stable."

"That's right. When we go back, we must publicize it well so that he can become a positive role model for Chinese basketball players."

"I agree, Lao Zhang, you and I have thought about it together. I have already thought of the name of the article, it is called Legendary American Chinese High School Student, and it is hard to be a master."

Good guy, this title really has a sense of the times, but before the emergence of new media in 96, Zhang Weiping also thought it was good, and it fit the domestic taste at this time.

……

Anyway, at this time, all the great masters gathered in the small green room, but it was a lot quieter here, and not so many media reporters were interested here.After all, second-round picks, how should I put it, are selected, but many of them can't play.

Even the Bulls have already said that they don't bother to ask for the first-round picks.

Well, since they are the last position in the first round, they naturally have no choice but to be extravagant and say that they are too lazy to ask for it.

The team is already strong enough and doesn't need any newcomers to reinforce it.

They won the championship with 72 wins and 10 losses last year, they are indeed qualified to say that.

No one can refute it.

The imaginary booing did not appear, and there was applause everywhere. It seemed that the things on the Internet were really unbelievable, and most of them were far-fetched jokes.Stern has made the league more and more profitable, making these stars more and more profitable. Do you think they don't know who is their "godfather".

Otherwise, Stern's mandatory orders, how to implement them, are mostly rebellious guys.

The applause arrived, the lights turned on, and the camera turned. NBA President David Stern immediately put on a professional smile, walked to the front of the stage, and then said slowly, the 1996 NBA draft, now begins .

The managers of each team are also starting to make preparations. After all, the start of the draft also means the opening of various rookie deals.

None of them can sit idle.

"The Philadelphia 1ers, who have the first pick in this draft, their choice is..." Stern paused deliberately after saying this. I really don't know if Hong Tao, the future general director of a domestic singer program, is It's the appetizing ghost routine that I learned here.

Stern has also conducted this kind of draft many times. He has a lot of experience, and the pause time is just right. Just when people relax a little, he starts again:

"Sophomore linebacker from Georgetown..."

Allen Iverson.

Zheng Tie muttered silently in his heart, there was no suspense about the No. 76 pick at all, and the 76ers almost let out the news early on that they would definitely win Georgetown University's superstar Allen Iverson.It was actually an "accident" for Iverson to participate in this year's draft, because he originally wanted to finish four years of college for his sick sister, so he had no choice but to choose to participate in the draft in advance.In addition, this year is also the year of NBA team expansion, joining the Raptors and Grizzlies, so the [-]ers' chances of getting the No. [-] pick are really a blessing from heaven.

And Iverson told a huge "lie" here, which is also a very important factor for the 76ers to choose him.

After all, the original choice was between Iverson and Marbury. They scored and thought that they had Stackhouse and others, and they needed a point guard.And what Iverson said at this time was - if they think I came to the NBA to score, they are totally wrong. My height determines that I can only play point guard. I am also here to give Stark House and Coleman created shooting opportunities.

To put it simply, he is here to pass the ball to the team's current two big men.

Look at what he said. In fact, Zheng Tie understands very well. Only if I believe you... will there be ghosts.

Then Iverson, who was still a flat-headed brother, went up to shake hands wearing a hat, and then expressed his No. 1.5 speech in front of [-] fans:

"I like Philadelphia, it's my favorite team in the NBA..."

"...Let us start a new era together, I will not let you down..."

In this way, the shortest No. 1976 pick in history was born. He is also the first No. 2 pick whose height is less than [-] meters since Lucas was selected by Houston in [-].Prior to this, the No. [-] pick was dominated by big men, and no matter how bad it was, it was at the striker level.Iverson ushered in a new era of guards.

After the No. [-] pick is the No. [-] pick, the second pick.

Stern continued to read from the stage:

"The newcomer Toronto Raptors with the No. [-] pick, the player they selected is..."

There was another slight pause. He is really a master of psychological control. No wonder so many people in the NBA were forcibly kneaded into a whole by him alone.Just waiting, everyone below swallowed a little.Apart from……

Zheng Tie.

He already knew who the Raptors would draft.

"Great big man from UMass - Marcus Camby."

Then it was the same situation as Iverson again, the relatives were crying with joy, the small green house applauded and congratulated, and the comparable NCAA game highlights were played outside.After shaking hands with Stern, there was an acceptance speech.

"With the No. [-] pick in the Vancouver Grizzlies, their pick is..."

"From the University of California, Berkeley - Sherif Hiram."

After going through the process again, basically the team building mode of the new Raptors and Grizzlies is still the traditional mode, giving priority to big men.

The person with the fourth pick is more familiar, that is "horse commissar" Stephen Marbury, who failed to compete with Iverson for the No. [-] pick.But he hadn't worn the Bucks hat for long when he immediately received the news that he was going to exchange clubs with the person selected by the Timberwolves.

The Huskies, no, the Timberwolves are simply overjoyed. They think they have Garnett, and now they have Marbury, so one inside and one outside, enough to make achievements in the NBA, and even dream of the Minnesota championship dream and the like .But this combination is actually doomed to fail.

It can even be said that at this time, if Iverson or Ray Allen go to the Timberwolves, they will also have trouble.

After all, Garnett's crazy contract at that time will block the salary space of others, and the salary cap back then was frighteningly low.And obviously, the Timberwolves can't afford two contracts of this kind.So separation is inevitable.

Whether it is Marbury, Iverson or Ray Allen, they will do this.

Even Marbury has the best relationship with Garnett among these people. They have known each other since the ninth grade, so they can't stay like this, let alone the rest.But now Marbury feels that he can play next to his good friends, and he is still very happy.

He also wanted to make a lot of money and win championships together, but unfortunately, others didn't think so.

The sixth pick...Zheng Tie could read it with his eyes closed. He is the best tool man he has right now, Antoine Walker.

Boston really didn't choose Kobe. They were really confident that they could trade with the Suns at the 15th pick. This one, Red Auerbach, was a mistake.He didn't expect that there would be a younger generation with the same vicious eyes and even more ruthless attacks, who would cut off the beard directly.

But without West, you really don't know how terrible the "Cardinal's" ideal is. He is planning to sign super NCAA star "Black Bird" Walker and then get Kobe with the 15th pick from the Suns, and then make crazy moves. Bad year, go get Tim Duncan, a super insider from Wake Forest University.In this way, a Big Three appeared directly.

A direct copy of the legend of the Troika in the 80s.

If you think about it, if it is really successful, it will not be scary.

I'm afraid that the green army will rise up all of a sudden, and even for a long time, no one else has anything to do.

It's a pity that this is not the 6718s anymore, and Auerbach is a bit old, and he can no longer crush the general managers of the entire league with a cigar as before.The failure of this decision in 96-97 directly led to the depression of the Green Army for many years.

Auerbach also completely lost his heart and never intervened in the team.

Zheng Tie knew some of these anecdotes, so before the Clippers' draft pick, he almost reviewed history in his mind without any disturbance.

At most, he only waved to Walker above to express his congratulations.

In the eyes of Xu Jicheng and Zhang Weiping, who fell to the side of this scene, they felt that Zheng Tie was really different because he was young and mature.

But soon, Zheng Tie will really get nervous, because the SSR effect card, whether you can take effect and whether you can have the most comfortable growth environment, the next few minutes are crucial.

Otherwise, with my own style of play, I am afraid that I will have to play as a substitute for a long time now.

It's not easy being a role player.

But now, Zheng Tie's personal thoughts are not like this.

(End of this chapter)