Coach, I don't want to retire yet

Chapter 648: I have an appointment with Coach D!

The 2016 NBA Finals is over, but the impact after the finals is still fermenting.

The Bobcats won the championship at home, which was Charlotte's first NBA championship trophy. This championship was crucial for the Bobcats to take root in North Carolina, the NCAA's stronghold.

Again, no matter what sport it is, more than 80% of the fans are winning fans. Without a good past, how can people recall and miss it? This is human nature. Without such good memories and nostalgia, how can fans support the team day after day, and even the whole family support the team together?
Unless they are teams with very good local links, however, such teams are a minority after all, especially in the NBA, where there are almost no such teams. Therefore, looking at the NBA, teams with good markets are all teams that have had glorious histories.

Now that the Bobcats have won this championship, they have earned a very bright future for themselves.

So, there is no doubt that this championship is not what the NCAA wants to see, but it is what David Stern wants to see.

This is also the reason why David Stern was grinning from ear to ear when he presented the championship trophy to Du Kang. The GIF of David Stern grinning from ear to ear while presenting the championship trophy to Du Kang instantly became popular around the world.

It's rare to see David Stern lose his composure like this.

In particular, the whole world knows that the Lakers are David Stern's biological son, or even his biological father. For the Lakers, David Stern focused on the Celtics for 30 years.

There is no doubt that the team of David Stern's own son has changed hands, from the Lakers to the Bobcats.

When David Stern suppressed the Celtics and supported the Lakers, it was because David Stern wanted to win the big city of Los Angeles and wanted to make Los Angeles the second largest sponsor or even the largest sponsor in the NBA.

The Lakers' success is of historical significance to the NBA. Although Boston is good, how can it compare with Los Angeles?
Suppressing the Celtics and supporting the Lakers is out of the NBA's commercial considerations.

Now, supporting the Bobcats is not for commercial considerations, but for the status of the NBA, which is a consideration in the competition with the NCAA's first league.

The Lakers performed very well that year and achieved the goal of David Stern. Jerry West and old Buss won the city of Los Angeles for the NBA.

This time, Jordan had already failed, and the Bobcats had already failed, but the arrival of Coach D once again opened up the situation for the NBA, and finally allowed the NBA to turn defeat into victory in North Carolina.

How could this not make David Stern happy?

Of course, in today's NBA, although David Stern hopes that the Bobcats can succeed, he did not cause any trouble in the finals. Even in the post-match press conference, some reporters asked Popovich whether many of Thabeet and Beasley's defensive actions against Kobe were suspected of fouls in this seventh game, and whether Kobe missed a lot of free throws. Popovich's answers were direct and hard.

In this game, there were a lot of physical confrontations between Kobe, Thabeet, Beasley and other Bobcats defensive players. Such physical confrontations are actually the space for the referee to operate.

If you want the Lakers to win, then just give Kobe free throws, just like in the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and the Kings.

If you want the Bobcats to win, you can not give Kobe free throws, which is also the point these reporters want to stir up.

However, Popovich's answer disappointed these trouble-making reporters.

Popovich must be very upset after losing such a finals.

However, for him, he lost the finals with a sincere heart.

"There is no doubt about this finals and this game. If we look at it from the perspective of the finals, we may be the strongest team, but from this game, the Bobcats are undoubtedly the strongest team. We could not have lasted that long in this game, but luck was on our side. As many people joked, in Coach D's game, as long as it comes to the critical moment, God will definitely stand on the other side of Coach D. Tonight, I also felt the feeling of being blessed by God."

"Unfortunately, even God can't defeat Coach D."

After Popovich confronted a group of reporters who were making trouble, his jokes caused the entire audience to burst into laughter and applause.

Popovich loves to joke with a deadpan expression.

Obviously, this joke was of a high level.

Popovich said that the Lakers were able to force the Bobcats into this situation and play the game until the last second because of luck and because God was on their side. There was actually no problem.

Because when Kobe was interviewed by reporters Barkley and O'Neal on the scene, O'Neal asked Kobe a question, how did you get 65 points tonight?

You are so strong, are you planning to retire now?

Kobe's answer was equally direct.

"I was lucky to get 65 points tonight. If it wasn't for luck, I might not even get 30 points in this game, and it would be an extremely inefficient 30 points."

Kobe admitted that he broke the NBA Finals single-game scoring record due to luck under the watchful eyes of the whole world. This not only did not make him be laughed at, but made him more respected.

The audience is not blind. Judging from the magical shots that Kobe made in this game, it can be said that Kobe in this game was like God. If the opponent was not the Bobcats, it would not be difficult for Kobe to score 81 points in this game.

However, precisely because his opponents are Beasley and Thabeet, it makes it clear to the fans that Kobe, who has now lost his athletic ability, is still no match for Beasley and Thabeet even if he has practiced his skills to the extreme.

The gap is very obvious.

"I have said before that when my average points per game in the regular season is less than 20, I will consider retiring, because I think that if I can average 20 points per game, I will make a good contribution to the team. I am willing to contribute everything for the Lakers. Now I can still average 20 points or even 25 points per game in the NBA, but the current Lakers may not need my contribution. Even without me, the Lakers have many years of players who can score more points. My existence has hindered the growth of young players, which is not what I want to see. I will become weaker and weaker, and I hope that my young teammates will become stronger and stronger. The future of the team will always be theirs. I hope that Rickey, Dinwiddie, Ebanks, McCaw, Antetokounmpo, Jokic and others can defeat Thabeet, Beasley and all opponents in the finals and bring the Lakers to the peak again!"

Kobe very generously admitted that he is now not as good as Beasley and Thabeet, just like before the game started, Jordan admitted that he had been surpassed by Kobe.

Jordan's magnanimity and Kobe's magnanimity did not make them the object of ridicule, but even made people respect them more.

Leonard, who was in the audience, even looked dazed after hearing what Kobe said.

Yes, if Popovich understood this truth back then, he would not have left the Spurs.

No matter how strong the old veterans are, they will become weaker and weaker.

And young players are always getting stronger.

A team's resources are limited. If limited resources are invested in older players, the growth of young players will inevitably be affected.

In the NBA, the most hypocritical and fake phrase is "the old should guide the new".

The best way for talented young players to grow is to give Durant all the ball rights and shooting rights, just like the Thunder trained Durant, allowing Durant to play as much as he wants. There is no need for any mentoring or coaching. Ray Allen and Lewis have all left the team.

What people criticize him for the most now is his ball control and organizational skills. The reason why his ball control and organizational skills are so poor is that when he was young, he did not have the ball when he needed it the most.

Singles can be practiced quietly by yourself.

But organization requires the support of the team and the cooperation of teammates.

No matter how bad Durant's organization was, didn't he rely on unlimited ball possession to improve his performance to an average level? He also won two MVP awards.

Leonard has never denied the help from Popovich and Duncan.

When I was weak, Popovich and Duncan were very important to my growth and protected me.

However, when I had a certain level of strength, they became a hindrance to me.

The Thunder saw that Durant already had a certain level of strength when he entered the league and did not need any guidance or mentoring, only resources, so they decisively cleared out the team's stars.

The Spurs should have seen their own strength and potential at the time, and also realized that they needed resources, unlimited resources to grow, but Popovich insisted on giving the ball to Parker and Ginobili.

Veterans like GDP are holding on to the team's resources.

If he doesn't retreat when he should, then don't blame him.

In the NBA, player growth is always the right thing to do.

Any player who does anything for his or her own growth should not be blamed.

What's more, when he was at the peak of his career, he was delayed in the Spurs for two years by Popovich and GDP. In fact, everyone was a loser.

Therefore, hearing Kobe's answer on the spot really made Leonard feel mixed emotions. If Duncan could give up his position earlier, if Popovich had not been so stubborn and insisted on giving GDP a perfect farewell, in fact, the Spurs would have lived a peaceful life, and he would not have to leave the Spurs, nor would he have to wander around like he is now.

Many things just cause trouble to yourself.

If I had gone to the Lakers instead of the Spurs, and followed Kobe instead of Duncan and GDP, would things have been completely different?

Kobe's speech undoubtedly won applause from a large number of young players at the scene. Everyone can see Kobe's current strength.

Although Kobe may not be as strong as Thabeet and Beasley, he is definitely among the top ten active players in the league.

As long as Kobe is willing and stays with the team, he will always be the leader of the Lakers and have the most resources of the Lakers.

If he were more selfish, he could enjoy all this for granted.

Kobe, who was once considered the most selfish player in the NBA, is actually a player who sacrifices to this extent for his teammates and the team.

It reminds people of the finals against the Pacers. Kobe knew clearly that even if the Lakers won the championship, he would not get any honors and all the fruits would go to O'Neal. However, Kobe was still willing to fight for the team's victory, even if he had to play with an injury.

"At this moment, I can understand why Coach D said Kobe is the most selfless player in the NBA. At this moment, I understand why Coach D targeted LeBron James so much!"

“When you have a player like Kobe Bryant in your eyes, it’s really hard to look at a player like LeBron James.”

However, after Kobe insisted on announcing that he would definitely retire after this game, Coach D took the microphone and made a statement that stunned all the audience and star players present.

Of course, this also includes fans on the Internet and in front of TV.

"I told Kobe before that I hope he can play until he is 60 years old. I can understand why Kobe wants to leave now, but I think we will still be able to see Kobe in the NBA one day. Kobe has been in the NBA for 20 years. Now he needs to take a rest. Maybe after the rest, he will find the energy to come back again. So, I believe this is a farewell, not a farewell forever."

"I can now make a promise to everyone that when I return to the Los Angeles Lakers next time, I will definitely bring Kobe Bryant back. I hope I can fulfill this promise."

Du Kang said these words right next to Kobe, and Kobe himself was surprised.

If it were an ordinary person, they would definitely think it was crazy.

But, this is Coach D, because Coach D successfully brought Jordan back!
Jordan just stood there and watched Kobe say goodbye. When Kobe said goodbye, Jordan was like a rookie player, starting his own growth again in the NBA.

Kobe, does he really have the opportunity to return to the NBA like Jordan, restart his growth, and then, without taking detours, reach the highest point he can reach as if he were reborn?
Interestingly, Kobe did not respond, but O'Neal next to him had already spoken.

"Honestly, Coach D, I'm moved!"

"Coach D, I want to make such an agreement with you. I think I am more suitable to make such an agreement with you than Viper!!!"

Compared to Kobe, O'Neal feels that he needs to make a comeback more.

This comeback not only failed to quench his thirst, but made him even more thirsty!
If I could come back like Jordan and practice my shooting, then...

That damn kid Howard can even shoot three-pointers, how can I be worse than Howard?
With the help of Coach D, I am the strongest model in NBA history!
I have an appointment with Coach D!

It became the hottest topic after the NBA Finals.

(End of this chapter)