November 2, Staples Center, visiting team locker room.
"Duen, you are well and welcome back!"
When Lakers general manager Kupchak learned that the Bulls and his team had arrived at Staples Center, he went directly to the visiting team's locker room to meet with Dunn.
"Dunn, you don't blame me for trading you, right?" Kupchak opened his hands and wanted to hug Duen.
When Du En saw this, he immediately stepped forward and greeted him with a smile: "How could it be? I want to thank you before it's too late!"
“We have an old saying in China, which is ‘don’t forget the man who dug the well when you are drinking water’!
I haven't forgotten that you were the one who traded me from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Likewise, it was you who sent me to Chicago and made me the boss of the Bulls!
I enjoy the treatment of the team I have now. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to get my wish and become the boss of an NBA team so quickly.
I love playing with my current teammates. Shaq and Kobe are so good and so big at the same time. I love being around young players. "
Dunn hugged Kupchak warmly, and then hugged Kupchak's shoulders, explaining to the Bulls players that Kupchak was the famous Lakers general manager.
"Okay, Duane, I have something to say.
I am coming to you now to inform you that you will be the first to go on stage to receive your championship ring in a while.
The Lakers will never forget your contribution last season!
You don't owe the Lakers, but we are very sorry for you! "
Kupchak took the initiative to apologize to Duane on behalf of the Lakers and his own position.
In fact, it doesn't matter if you tell Du En to collect the ring or just send someone over.
Kupchak came here specifically to inform Du En, also to leave a few traces of his behavior so that they could meet each other in the future.
Although the general manager of the Lakers has great reputation, he is not the team owner after all. One day he will be kicked out because he angers the boss or takes the blame for the boss.
For a potential stock like Duane who has already established himself as an All-Star and is beginning to make an impact on the top ten superstars in the league, Kupchak naturally wants to come here to make a good relationship.
"Haha, as I said just now, I still want to thank you!
Without the Lakers, I wouldn't be able to play well. Without you trading me to the Bulls, I wouldn't be the boss of an NBA team for the time being.
We have benefited from each other, so what can we owe each other?
Although, I originally thought about being able to retire my No. 31 jersey with the Lakers.
However, now that I can receive my championship ring, I am already satisfied! "
Although Du En was not as open-minded as he said, he actually didn't have much resentment in his heart.
After tonight's game, Dunn is planning to treat Kobe and Kupchak to dinner!
If Buss was interested, Duan would be willing to pay and even invite the entire Lakers management team.
Business is business!
The NBA is a business league, and players will inevitably be traded by teams after signing a contract.
To a certain extent, being able to be traded is also a reflection of the player's own value.
Duen's rookie contract has only been implemented for one year, and he was able to complete a blockbuster deal for five for one. This is already worthy of being recorded in Duen's career resume.
On the other hand, some players have a record of changing teams, but they have never been traded.
Is this because he himself is worthless? Do you need to keep looking for teams to mix salary like undrafted players and fringe role players in the NBA?
If not, he can live well in one team, and the team is not prepared to trade him. His salary and team status are sufficient, so why change teams again?
Could it be that you are addicted to job hopping?
"Duen, I'm going back first. I wish you a good night."
Kupchak didn't notice that Duen was unhappy, so he left the locker room in a happy mood.
Get busy with the upcoming championship flag-raising ceremony and championship ring awarding ceremony.
"Boss, congratulations, you are about to receive the championship ring!"
"Boss, we will definitely help you win the game tonight!"
"Dunn, we will also have our own championship rings in the future, right?"
After Kupchak left, bursts of celebrations and cheers erupted in the visiting team's locker room.
“The new season is about to start, and we will face challenges one after another in the regular season and win one victory after another!
We will make it to the playoffs and do well in the Eastern Conference!
We will reach the finals and win our championship!
I get the ring today! But in a year or two, I believe everyone will be able to receive our shared ring in Chicago!
Let us start from tonight and fight! By the way, I’ll treat everyone to a late-night snack tonight! "
Du En encouraged his teammates loudly, and also hoped that everyone could work together to help him win tonight's grudge match.
Dun doesn't care about what happened in the past, but he still cares about what will happen next.
It is said that everything is difficult at the beginning, so Dunn wants to lead the Bulls to win the first victory of the new season against the defending champion in the opening game!
"Tonight may also be the only time I arrive at the Staples Center this season, the only time I come to the Lakers' visiting team locker room!"
Duan knew very well that even if he faced the Lakers next time and won the game at home, it would not be as significant as tonight.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the more than two-hour pre-game warm-up session was over.
When the players from both teams retreated to the benches on the sidelines, the lights at Staples Center instantly dimmed.
Under the grand introduction of the on-site DJ, most of the Lakers' previous championship-winning team history players appeared on the stage one after another. In the end, Magic Johnson, as the representative, gave a long speech.
At this time, a Lakers staff member came to the bench to look for Duen.
"Dunn, we have prepared a purple and gold jersey for you. Are you willing to put on this jersey again and celebrate tonight's glorious moment with us?"
Duane is now the boss of the Bulls. If he wants to completely complete the separation with the Lakers, he can wear a Bulls jersey on the stage to receive a championship ring.
However, Dune was not prepared to do this.
It doesn't matter if you have resentment against the Lakers in your heart, but if you put your grudges on the table, you are losing your mind.
In addition, some Lakers fans are still dissatisfied with Duan being traded away by the management.
It is also because of this situation that I am more supportive of Du En who is far away in Chicago.
From a business point of view, Duan should also wear the Lakers' purple and gold jersey again to leave some memories for Lakers fans.
"No problem. After receiving the ring, can I keep it? I can pay the related fees."
Du En said this while holding the purple and gold jersey specially prepared for him by the staff.
In Duane's memory, players only have the right to use the team uniforms, but not ownership.
Stars who exchange jerseys with their opponents or tear up their own jerseys have to pay corresponding fees, which is equivalent to spending money to buy the jerseys.
The reason for this situation is that in the past, there were role players who were unhappy with their lives and made a fortune by reselling team uniforms, and the team suffered huge profit losses as a result.
If the league doesn't ban it, something like a Yin-Yang contract will happen.
After all, as long as the team acquiesces to certain players to deal with players privately, they can get a large amount of money in addition to the salary and bonuses stipulated in the contract, which undermines the basic operating rules of the league.
"This one is free. Just like the championship ring, there is no additional cost. You can also take it home and handle it yourself."
"Thank you, I understand! By the way, when will I go on stage to receive the ring?"
Seeing that the championship rings had already begun to be awarded, Du En asked while putting on the purple and gold jersey.
"When Phil Jackson receives the championship ring, the DJ will call you grandly."
The Lakers' head coach for the new season has been replaced by Rockets' meritorious coach Tang Shuai-Rudy Tomjanovich.
But tonight, Jackson still attended as the four-time head coach of the Lakers and the soon-to-be son-in-law of the team owner.
Not long after, Old Bass personally presented the championship ring to Master Zen, and it was finally Duen's turn.
Under the guidance of the staff, Du En came to the podium.
When the DJ started to introduce Du En, the lights also hit Du En at the same time.
"Let us invite, the hero of the Los Angeles Lakers' championship last season and now the Chicago Bulls player - Duane!"
"Duane, Duane, Duane!"
Many Lakers fans at the scene heard this and started shouting Duen's name. I guess they still miss Duen quite a lot.
Especially, seeing Du En wearing a purple and gold jersey made them even more unable to help themselves.
It is obvious that Doen and Kobe are unparalleled in the world when they work together, but what they least want to see happens is that they are kings separately.
When Duan heard the shouts of Lakers fans, he reached out and waved to the dark auditorium in the distance.
"Congratulations to Duane, your performance has exceeded my expectations. I hope you can achieve greater success with the Chicago Bulls."
League president David Stern took the initiative to shake hands and hug Duan, and then led Duan to Bass, who had already taken out a championship ring.
"Duane, thank you for everything you did for the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
I have to tell you, without you, we would not have won the championship!
You deserve this championship ring. Thank you for your previous contributions to the Lakers!
Also, we welcome you to come back if you have the chance. "
The old fox is indeed an old fox. Old Buss first affirmed Duan's achievements last season, and then insinuated that Duan was traded, passing the blame to Kobe, forcing him to make such a choice.
In this way, all of Dunn's resentment towards the Lakers management was transferred to Kobe.
At the same time, Bass also vaguely revealed that Duane will first train with the Bulls. When Kobe is old and the time is right, the Lakers management will welcome Duen back to Los Angeles and be crowned king.
"Los Angeles, your emperor is back?"
Dunn smiled when he heard this: "I once thought that I had the opportunity to be like Shaq and Kobe, and be able to erect a statue outside the Staples Center after retirement.
No matter what happens, there is still a chance to have his jersey retired by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Unexpectedly, after playing only one season, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls.
Just when my hopes were shattered, you gave me new hope. Thank you so much! "
Old Bass felt a chill in his heart when he heard this, and felt the irony in Du En's smile.
Others look down upon the Lakers, a wealthy team located in a big city, but now, why isn't Duan already in another big city, playing for the Bulls, which ranks third in terms of market value and number of championships?
That's right, the Lakers are the second best team in the league and are more popular than the Bulls.
However, with so many achievements of the Lakers, it is difficult to erect a statue in the Staples Center. It is already very difficult to have the jersey retired.
In this case, why would Duen return to the Lakers?
Go back to the Lakers, and then line up behind O'Neal and Kobe?
Come on, wouldn’t it be nice to erect a statue in front of the Bulls and retire their jerseys?
By then, Duane will no longer need to compare with Jordan, and Bulls fans will inevitably compare Duan with Jordan.
If Dunn can achieve more in the Bulls, Bulls fans may rebel against Jordan first...
After Duan took the ring and showed it to the camera and the surrounding audience, Duan returned to the Bulls bench with the ring.
At the same time, role players such as Walton Jr. also began to appear one after another. In the end, it was the current leader of the Lakers - Kobe Bryant.
"This is the championship ring. If you want to experience it in advance, come to him!"
Du En took off the ring and handed it to the keeper specially prepared for Du En by the bull.
The custodian also took out a Tiffany ring box to temporarily store Duan's championship ring.
Although rookies such as Ben Gordon are eager and curious about Duan's championship ring.
But he was worried that Duen's championship ring would fall to the ground during the fight for the ring. At the same time, he was worried that the light was too dim and the ring would fall to the ground and he would not be able to find it for a while. If someone stepped on it and broke it, it would be a bad thing.
Therefore, everyone was more restrained and just stayed around the custodian for the time being, without reaching out.
Of course, there are also those who show no interest in the ring, but are constantly flirting with Du En.
"I believe that as long as I can keep playing with the boss, I can also get my own ring."
"Starting from today, the alliance will enter a new era!"
"Boss, lead us to defeat the defending champion! I can't wait to defeat them!"
"If Kobe couldn't win, he would be embarrassed, right?"
When he saw Kobe Bryant receiving the ring and gesturing to him with four fingers from a distance, the fighting spirit in Du En's heart suddenly ignited.
“If you want to fight, I will fight!
I'm still young, I won't be ashamed even if I lose!
But if you lose, it will definitely be... exciting! "
Duan clenched his fists and looked at Kobe who turned around and returned to the bench after receiving the ring.
At the same time, Du En also had a question in his mind.
"Kobe played eight seasons and won four championship rings! What about me, how long do I need?"
(End of chapter)
