basketball kingdom

Chapter 53
ESPN's exclusive interview with Xu Tian was postponed until after the Lakers vs. Mavericks game.The next game after this game is a home game. There is no travel between two consecutive home games, which allows Xu Tian to have more time to deal with off-court affairs without rushing.

Kobe Bryant announced his retirement decision yesterday, which changed the mood of the Lakers players.Although they didn't say it clearly before, they were a little dissatisfied with Kobe occupying too much possession of the ball. Now that the legendary star is about to retire, the respect for him in his heart has overshadowed other feelings.

Many people in the team take Xu Tian's position as a matter of course, even Randall and Clarkson, who are both potential players, are no exception.The only one who was dissatisfied with Xu Tian being the boss was Hibbert, but he had no status in the team and could not influence the team's decision at all.

When Xu Tian came to Staples again, his mood was very different from that of the opening game.The Lakers were Kobe's team in the opening game, so it doesn't matter if he gets caught, Kobe has his back.But it's different now.

If Kobe had no idea of ​​retiring, the Lakers would always be his team, but now that Kobe is about to retire, Xu Tian has the potential to become the cornerstone of the team.Whether it is intentional or not, Xu Tian has become the Lakers' team leader and offensive core.

The average price of the Lakers' home game tickets has risen sharply due to Kobe's decision to retire, but this has not affected the enthusiasm of the fans at all. The tickets for this game have already been sold out.

Li Lang recently entrusted a local real estate agent in Los Angeles to help Xu Tian find a suitable house.Xu Tian's request to him is very simple, as long as it is close enough to the training ground Toyota Center and Staples, and has a private basketball court.

Xu Tian's annual salary is only one million dollars. If he is in the Rockets, because the tax rate in Texas is very low, he can get most of the annual salary.But in California, he has to pay a large amount of personal income tax, and there is not much money that can come to his hands.If he hadn't signed a large endorsement contract with Li Ning in advance, there is a high probability that Xu Tian would make do with Alice's house first.But since he has money, he still has to solve the housing problem first.

Boss Jin drove Xu Tian to the Staples Center.

Xu Tian helped Boss Jin get the sideline tickets for tonight's game. He could support Xu Tian and Kobe on the spot, so he handed over the business of the jewelry store to his wife who is not too enthusiastic about sports, and drove to the arena specially.

After breaking up with Boss Jin outside the Staples, Xu Tian quickly walked into the locker room from the player tunnel.After experiencing the King's away locker room, he felt that the Lakers' home locker room was extremely luxurious.

The equipment manager Carlos Maples has put the jerseys, sneakers, and wristbands and other equipment that the players will wear in the game tonight in their respective lockers, completing the preparations in advance.

The first thing that came into Xu Tian's sight was a few pairs of KOBE ZOOM I sneakers in front of Kobe's locker.After Kobe finished the pregame interview, he would sign the shoes and give them to the teammates on the team who asked him for them.

Xu Tian is Li Ning's spokesperson. Although he can't wear Nike sneakers, he wants a pair.

KOBE ZOOM I is Kobe Bryant's first generation of customized shoes after signing with Nike. Kobe wore this boot when he scored 81 points against the Raptors.The commemorative significance is far greater than others.

Nick Young arrives at the Staples Center with girlfriend Azalea.He was the third player who came to the arena today, and congratulated Xu Tian the first time he entered the locker room.

Xu Tian smiled and gave Nick Young a high-five, then pointed to the KOBE 8 in the home color before his locker, and said, "I remember you wore AIR Jordan X last time, why did it become a Kobe series this time?" ?”

Nick Young said: "The boss is about to retire, so I decided to wear Kobe series sneakers this season." Then he saw Xu Tian's way of Wade in front of Xu Tian's locker and asked, "Xu, why are you still wearing Kobe shoes?" The Wade series of sneakers, I'm afraid they don't respect the boss, right?"

Xu Tian laughed and said, "I'm Li Ning's spokesperson. Although I don't have customized shoes yet, I'm not allowed to wear Nike sneakers."

Nick Young sat on a chair in the locker room, shook his head and said: "Xu, I think your decision to sign Li Ning is very unwise. Now Nike occupies a large proportion in the NBA. If you don't sign with Nike, you will win many awards. There may be disadvantages in the selection."

Xu Tian walked to his locker and said, "Never mind him! At least they can't interfere with the score and victory. As long as there is victory, everything will come."

Nick Yang lamented Xu Tian's innocence in his heart, but he didn't say it out. Instead, he asked, "Xu, now that you are the captain and boss, how do you plan to lead the team?"

Xu Tian put on the sweater and jersey first, and then replied: "No matter how the outside world looks at me, I have only one goal this season, and that is to win. For this goal, I will continue Kobe's strong style, basically There will be any changes."

Nick Young spread his hands helplessly, and said, "Oh, man! Kobe is strict enough, if you are added now, then we won't be able to survive training."

Kobe just walked into the locker room at this time and took Nick Young's words, "As long as I'm still on the team, it's impossible to relax!"

Nick Young quickly put away his hippie smile and said, "I'm just discussing the style of leading the team with Xu, and he won't listen to me at all."

Xu Tian took a pair of KOBE ZOOM I and asked Kobe to sign it to divert his attention, and did not dwell too much on the issue of leading the team.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is being interviewed at this time, and the topic of discussion is naturally Kobe.

Cuban is the team owner who likes basketball the most. Since the 06 championship was in the hands of the Heat, he has competed with referees.However, in addition to competing with the referee, he and Kobe also sprayed each other many times.

When the Lakers were about to renew Dwight Howard in 13, Cuban threatened that the Lakers should lay off Kobe, which was silently recorded by Kobe.

On February 13, 2, when the Lakers challenged the Mavericks away, Kobe found a chance for revenge. He played 25 minutes in that game, scored 38 points, 38 rebounds and 12 assists, and led the team to beat the Mavericks.After the game, Cuban took the initiative to show his favor, and the two sides shook hands and made peace.

Now the reporter asked Kobe again, and Cuban was full of praise, bluntly saying that Kobe is "the symbol of the league."

When Dirk Nowitzki walked into the Staples Center, he was still feeling that Kobe was his contemporaries, and now it was time to retire, but this did not affect his fighting spirit.Kobe doesn't know how many records he has set for the Mavericks, and now, taking advantage of Kobe's decline, he wants to get them all back.

But it's not Kobe that is difficult for the Lakers now, but the newly traded guard Xu Tian.Nowitzki has watched the video of the Lakers' game against the Kings, and he still doesn't know how to limit this young and energetic point guard.

Rick Carlisle also had the same problem. What the defensive assistant said to him just now still lingered in his ears, which gave him a headache.But now the Mavericks don't have a good defender on the back line, and it's really not easy to restrict Xu Tian.

Scott was in a completely different mood.Now that Kobe has announced his retirement, he feels that the Lakers will no longer pursue results at all, so he didn't discuss tactics with Mark Madsen.

Most of the players on the Lakers think like this, and they are very lazy after coming to the arena.

Xu Tian looked at the lazy atmosphere in the locker room and shouted: "Guys, cheer up! The game will start soon."

After putting on the Nike sneakers, Randall asked, "Xu, don't you still want to win?"

Kobe was very dissatisfied with Randall's question, and asked with displeasure on his face: "Are you playing to lose?"

Xu Tian stopped Kobe and said, "No one wants to lose. Believe me, you will all fall in love with the feeling of winning."

Kobe looked at Xu Tian for a while, and suddenly realized that the Lakers are Xu Tian's team now, and he could be the shopkeeper, so he simply retreated to the locker to change equipment.

Xu Tian looked at his teammates in the locker room with a little resentment, knowing that they were very dissatisfied with being the boss.But he doesn't care!

After coming to the United States, I can't understand him much, but does it affect him?No!He is still advancing step by step, and his life is full of joy.

Kobe took an arm guard without a logo, and asked Xu Tiandao: "Xu, do you want to wear an arm guard today?"

Xu Tian waved his hand and rejected Kobe's proposal.He has only worn bracelets on his hands since he was a child, and he only wears knee pads for protective things, and he feels that the rest are redundant.

After Kobe walked to Xu Tian's side, the two walked to the court together. There was still more than an hour before the start of the game, and they could practice the ball again.

While walking in the tunnel, Kobe asked, "Xu, why did you choose No. 1? Tracy and Penny have both worn this number. It doesn't seem very good."

Xu Tian laughed and said, "It's just the jersey number, it's not important. Why are you wearing 24?"

Kobe said: "24 hours a day, 24 seconds of offensive rounds, I don't want to waste time."

Xu Tian smiled and said, "Then my number is to be number one."

Kobe patted Xu Tian on the shoulder, but said nothing.

The Lakers had a poor record last season, and Boss Kim has not been to Staples all season.Sitting in the auditorium again, the excitement of the past immediately filled his heart, leaving him with a smile on his face all the time.

The excitement in King's heart intensified when he saw Bryant enter the court from the tunnel.Kobe has spent 19 seasons with the Lakers. In the hearts of Los Angeles fans, he is the most shining superstar. Seeing him play, even Boss Kim, who has watched the NBA for many years, cannot suppress his emotions.

Xu Tian looked at the venue that was almost full of spectators, and couldn't help but sigh Kobe's appeal.There were not so many people in the opening game. Now these fans know that it is Kobe's final season, and they all come to the stadium to support the home team.

After Nowitzki walked into the arena, he took the initiative to talk to Kobe. During the conversation, he noticed Xu Tian who was always practicing shooting, and he was more worried about this rookie.

(End of this chapter)