i am legend

Chapter 542 Summer League
In the media hall, all the reporters looked at Bruce and the others sitting on the stage in shock, especially Ma Long who had a moving face. I can't help admiring everyone for their support!

"Okay, gentlemen, why don't you let us continue?" Bruce felt that the atmosphere was a bit too serious, he knocked on the microphone with a smile, and said softly.

After hearing Bruce's words, the reporters in the audience seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, adjusted their sitting postures one after another, and quickly re-entered the press conference again!

"Gary, can you tell me why you joined the Warriors?"

As a reporter stood up and asked questions, Payton patted Malone on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Isn't every player eager to return to his hometown to play?"

"Ha ha!!"

There was a sound of good-natured laughter from the audience, and the atmosphere afterwards, amidst the blessings of the reporters, ended the press conference in an extremely rare and harmonious way!

The next day, as the major media newspapers finally changed their headlines in the topic of Kobe and Payton, the fact that Malone and Payton both joined the Warriors made the wind of the league suddenly turn to them!
In the basketball live room of ESPN Sports, Rick Barry and Kenny Smith talked and laughed and discussed the latest developments in the league. Among them, the changes of the Warriors were especially praised by them!
"Okay ladies and gentlemen, you're now watching ESPN's NBA Fun Facts for you!"

Kenny Smith was prompted by the staff, he immediately interrupted the discussion with Barry, and then slowly talked about the topic of today's NBA dynamics.

"Yesterday, the Warriors made a shocking signing of the league. Not only did they bring "Postman" Karl Malone, who was selected to the All-Star team for [-] consecutive times and was selected to the All-NBA First Team for [-] consecutive times, into the team. They even brought the top point guard Gary Payton into the team, and their free agent market this summer can be called the biggest so far!"

"Yes, the Warriors with Karl and Gary, they will follow Charles (Barkley) and Hakeem (Olajuwon) last season, a pair that will cause headaches for all teams. The combination!" Rick Barry's eyes flashed with excitement, he suppressed the excitement in his heart, and said as calmly as possible.

"Rick, you have the most right to speak about the Warriors. Can you explain to us the probability of them defending the title next season?" Kenny Smith asked with a smile after he had prepared the draft early on!
"For the Warriors, they basically maintained all the lineups from last season. Except for John (Starks) and Dell, Charles and Hakim are also very likely to choose to retire!" Rick Barry regretted Speaking, thinking of the contributions made by these veterans in the Warriors over the past few years, he couldn't help but regret and said: "If they finally confirm that they all retire, even if the Warriors lack some depth in the bench lineup, they will be able to do so now that they have After Carl and Gary, their lineup has become more and more exciting!"

"Hehe, according to you, is it possible for the Warriors to defend the title?" Kenny Smith looked at Rick Barry with a smile and agreed with his analysis very much!
"Yes, judging from the current reinforcement situation of the various teams in the league, unless there is a sensational trade between them, I think the team that will win the championship next season will still be the Warriors with an extremely stable lineup and mature tactics. Team!!" Rick Barry said with certainty, he is extremely optimistic about the future of the Warriors!
Afterwards, in the witty analysis of the two, the ratings of this program really increased a lot!

And Bruce, who was far away in Oakland, after completing the contract extension with Payton, he and West rushed directly to the Long Beach Division of the Summer League without stopping!

This year's summer league, after the participation of James and others, has been looked forward to by all fans.

Among them, especially this year's No. [-] pick, not only has it attracted the attention of a large number of fans, even the NBA has set James's game as a national live broadcast like a regular season for the first time!

And in the debuts of these favorites, some undrafted players and some free agents with limited abilities have become the biggest theme of this year!

In the Pyramid Arena of the University of California, Los Angeles, Bruce and West were sitting on the stands with a smile and talking about something!
Since the summer league started on the 7th, the performance of some players has really attracted the attention of NBA teams!
"Jerry, do you think we will win the Clippers very easily?" Bruce casually asked West beside him, looking at the players from both sides sitting in the rest area at the edge of the court, he couldn't help but Continued: "Will our three rookies perform well?"

"Hehe, you'll know later!"

After a period of buffering, West obviously completely came out of his previous emotions. Now hearing Bruce's inquiry, he looked forward to the Warriors' rest area with great anticipation!
"Gentlemen, although this is only the summer league, I hope you can use your performance to win the favor of some teams, even the Warriors!" Vinny Del Negro said to these rookies with a serious face. Talking to the invited players, now that he is dressed in a neat suit, he obviously already has such a trace of the demeanor of the previous NBA head coach!

"Sir, can you tell us about the Warriors?" Michael Pietrus looked at Negro eagerly, and the others watched him expectantly after hearing his words!

"Hehe, I can only say that this is the best team in the league!!" Negro said to them firmly with a flash of longing in his eyes!
Since Negro was invited by Mullin to join the Warriors' affiliated team, he has been appreciated by Mullin and affirmed by Bruce for his serious attitude and reasonable use of tactics!

After two years of coaching career, although his best result was just to bring the Warriors to the NBDL Western Conference Semifinals, some of his ideas in coaching, coupled with the fact that the Warriors deliberately brought Wilken Mullin was amazed at how quickly the rookie coach learned about his coaching style and team tactics!

And as Negro has gradually become proficient in using some tactics, he is not satisfied with training himself in the NBDL. What he longs for is to be able to join the coaching staff of the Warriors, or the coaching staff of any NBA team. , this is what he desires most now!
Now, after getting the opportunity to coach the summer league, Negro inquired a little bit, and he learned that Bruce and West will come to watch the game in person today!

With this opportunity, Negro told these players very seriously before the game. If he can lead the team to a certain level, he absolutely believes that the two of Bruce will further deepen their impression on him!

In the stands, Bruce saw at a glance the three of Pietrus, who had been picked in the draft before. Among a group of free agents, their bodies really looked so thin!
"Jerry, it looks like they're done with summer league and we have to urge them to put on weight and strength this summer."

Hearing Bruce's words, West nodded in agreement: "Yes, after all, their bodies still look a little thin!"

After that, as the arena referee blew his whistle, the main players of both sides stepped onto the court one after another!
Since this game was scheduled after lunch, it seemed that there were not many fans in the stands.

Among these few fans, Bruce gradually discovered that many Chinese appeared here!

When Bruce saw these Chinese fans, he still had some doubts in his heart, but after seeing the Chinese figures appearing in the Clippers lineup, he couldn't help but secretly scolded himself: "You really are You idiot, you forgot about him!!"

Wang Zhizhi walked to the court with other teammates in a depressed mood, because he was not able to participate in this year's Asian Championships because of some disputes with his home team in China.

Although his reluctance to return seems a bit selfish, after all, a player's future is more important than an Asian Championship. After all, it is every player's dream to stand on this world-class stage!
"Oh, I hope you can come back soon!"

Thinking of Wang Zhizhi's current dire situation, Bruce couldn't help feeling sympathetic!
After that, as the main players of both sides appeared on the stage one after another, the referee on duty immediately blew the whistle to start the game!

The summer league is a very good opportunity for every participating player to show themselves, especially the setting of as many as four divisions this year, which gives these players more opportunities and allows them to have more chances. There is a greater chance of being spotted by an NBA team!

As the game began, the undrafted rookie Anthony Naikos, who was the starting center of the Warriors, seemed to know that Bruce was on the court. show their abilities.

And Steve Blake, who was sent on the field, was affirmed by Negro in the previous training, and he was directly arranged as the starting guard in this game!
The main force of the Warriors, with Blake, the other two rookies, Korver and Pietrus, were also arranged by Negro at the positions of small forward and shooting guard respectively!

On the court, as Blake steadily brought the ball into the frontcourt, under the unspoken rules that the summer league defense was not serious, he hesitated for a moment, raised his leg and rushed to the inside!

And with Blake's rapid movement, the Clippers defenders quickly followed!
Under Blake's breakthrough, the rest of the Clippers players seemed to have no sense of defense at all, and subconsciously shrank to the inside!

And as Blake quickly entered the penalty area, except for Wang Zhizhi who actively went to defend, the rest of the players also inexplicably quickly surrounded him!

"STEVE!!!"

While Blake was about to be surrounded by as many as four players, Korver, who had already run to the left corner, yelled at him!
After hearing the shout, Blake was like a natural passer. He threw the basketball very accurately in the gap between the other two double-teaming players when Wang Zhizhi and others were about to completely block his passing route. To Korver who has already prepared!

"Snapped!"

After a light sound, the moment Korver received the ball, he quickly flew into the air!

And the Clippers players who suddenly realized that Blake didn't have a basketball in their hands, when they subconsciously looked towards the bottom corner, the sound of a basketball passing through the net really made them feel a little bit at a loss.

"Beautiful work!!"

Following the successful three-pointer, Pietrus, who was not far from Korver, laughed and threw him at him!

(End of this chapter)