The world's best combo guard

Chapter 26 25 [Riley's Laughter at the Draft]

Prior to this, Li Ning Sports has been his sponsor since Li Hao started playing professional games.

The latest contract was signed a year ago. At that time, Li Ning Sports obviously did not realize that Li Hao would achieve what he is today, so the contract was not signed for too long.

Compared with some top international and even domestic brands, Li-Ning Sports, which was established in 1990, is obviously much more immature. Apart from Li Hao, they don't even have a famous basketball player.

Therefore, now they attach great importance to renewing the new contract with Li Hao. Li Ning Sports is very clear about how much benefit Li Hao will bring to them by becoming an NBA player. Waiting for the contract to expire one year later before renewing the contract would be much more costly and difficult.

"Let's take a look at the content of the contract they gave. If we can meet our psychological expectations, then sign it. After all, Li-Ning Sports has supported me from the very beginning. We can earn a little less and treat it as supporting a national brand. Of course, if their offer is too different from our psychological expectations, then we should reject them first and wait a year before we talk about it.”

Li Hao is not that kind of "refinementist", so he doesn't want to care too much about these things.

…………

At 6:26 p.m. local time on June 8, at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA, the draft will begin soon.

When Li Hao and his team entered the arena, there were already many people in the arena, media reporters, draft players, family members of draft players, and some fans. In short, the atmosphere at the scene was very hot.

Participating in the NBA draft is undoubtedly an important moment in Li Hao's life, so his parents also came to him to witness this important moment with him.

When Li Hao and the others sat in the designated positions, the big screen at the scene began to show the rookies one by one, especially those lottery picks that were predicted by the media.

This year is recognized as a big draft year. LeBron James, the "little emperor" from St. Mary's High School, Carmela Anthony, the ace of Syracuse University, Milicic, a talented center of Serbia, etc., all have the halo of "the proud son of heaven". , Some experts even assert that this year's lottery pick is enough to win the No. [-] pick in any draft year.

As a rookie who can enter the first round of ESPN's latest mock draft list, Li Hao also got the attention of the live director afterwards. However, compared with those lottery picks, he received much less attention after all.

Perhaps because of Li Hao, many Chinese media reporters came to the scene today. In addition, many local Chinese fans in New York also came to the scene.

The moment the director showed the camera to Li Hao, they immediately shouted Li Hao's name and cheered loudly.

For a moment, Li Hao felt warm in his heart. In a foreign country, being able to get the support of the people of his country will undoubtedly move his heart.

After about 20 minutes, the entire arena gradually quieted down, and everyone focused their attention on the presiding stage, because Mr. David Stern, the NBA president in a black formal suit, walked up with powerful steps.

"Ladies and gentlemen, when NBA history continues to the 2002~2003 season, we must admit that this is one of the best seasons we have ever had..."

Following Stern's eloquence, the entire arena burst into loud cheers.

"The team that won the No. 2003 pick in the 5 draft was the Cleveland Cavaliers. They had [-] minutes to make their final selection"

Immediately afterwards, everyone tensed up, because the topic of the draft really came.

"I announce that the Cleveland Cavaliers' selection is LeBron James from St. Vincent St. Mary's High School"

The moment Stern made the official announcement, the entire arena erupted into cheers.

Then, LeBron James, who was sitting in the front row, stood up very excitedly. After hugging and celebrating with his friends around him, he put on the Cavaliers draft hat and walked to the host stage.

This should be the pinnacle of LeBron James' life. At this moment, all the cameras in the arena are shooting at him frantically.

Immediately afterwards, Stern announced that the Detroit Pistons selected Dak Milicic from Serbia with their second pick.

To be honest, the selection of Milicic by the Pistons is beyond many people's expectations, because they are now full of inside players and there is no shortage of big men. Although Milicic's athletic ability is exploding, what the Pistons need most should be outside players. I'm afraid they choose Carmela Anthony.

Of course, doubts are doubts. The reason why the Pistons management made such a choice must have their intentions.

Immediately afterwards, the Denver Nuggets, holding the third pick, chose Carmela Anthony.

"This guy should be an Allen Iverson fan," Li Hao guessed in his heart after seeing Anthony's hairstyle.

The Toronto Raptors selected Chris Bosh with the fourth overall pick. For the young Chris Bosh, this year was really the year when he reached the pinnacle of his life, because he was going to finish college, but he was in college. He decided to enter the draft on the spur of the moment and is now selected with the fourth overall pick.

"I announce that the Miami Heat with the 5th pick in the first round have selected Dwyane Wade from Marquette"

When Stern read out the draft results for the fifth time tonight, there was a huge din for the second time in the arena.

"God! Did Pat Riley give it a go? He actually chose Dwyane Wade, a little guy with only one meniscus now. To be honest, Dwyane's scoring ability is nothing to say, but, his Physical hazards make people afraid to bet big on him after all, well, this is a crazy night, we hope Pat Riley has a bright eye"

Li Hao saw Wade walking towards the host stage. He had seen this guy during his trial training at the United Center, but Korver told him at the time that Wade was likely to be selected in the 13th round in the first round. Unexpectedly, tonight he He was selected with the fifth overall pick.

However, compared to the doubts of many people at the scene, Li Hao felt that Wade was worthy of the fifth pick. He didn't know why, but it was just his intuition anyway.

In a box on the upper side of the arena, Riley, who had deep eyes and combed back hair, was finally relieved at this moment. He looked at the literary-looking little guy who was taking a photo with Stern at the moment, and smiled unconsciously.

Riley smiled, so happy and so real, which surprised the vice president beside him, Randy Fender. In his impression, the iron-blooded coach had never smiled like this.

"Randy, after the draft, contact Dwyane immediately, I want to have dinner with him"

Riley is in a really good mood at the moment. Others are not optimistic about Wade, but Pat Riley is optimistic about him. "Everyone, wait and see, Miami will rise strongly under the leadership of this kid," Riley said with a maniacal smile in his heart.

(End of this chapter)