Chris Kyle's slightly flattering words made everyone in the Timberwolves lounge couldn't help laughing.
Wu Dao's words did not arouse anyone's resentment.
Garnett revealed what happened at the press conference in the locker room, mainly hoping to get the support of some teammates, so that Wu Dao can pay attention to the way he speaks when facing reporters and media.
It is true that Garnett recognizes the ability of martial arts. He hopes that when the outside world calls the Timberwolves, they can put martial arts behind him. Even if they are put together with him, Garnett can reluctantly accept it.
But Garnett will not accept fans putting martial arts ahead of him.
Ever since Leder left the Timberwolves, Garnett has been calling himself the team boss.
But facing Martial Arts alone, Garnett felt a little guilty. The reason is very simple, because from the beginning of the season to now, Martial Arts' statistics are too gorgeous.
It is difficult for him to say that martial arts is inferior to him from this perspective.
He just wants to use the strength of the team to put pressure on Wu Dao. As long as Wu Dao is not around and doesn't say anything in advance, Garnett believes that this trend will soon pass.
But what Garnett didn't expect was that even in the locker room, in front of so many teammates, Wu Dao didn't shy away from speaking at all.
This somewhat surprised Garnett.
Garnett overestimated his status in the minds of his teammates, and also underestimated the status of today's martial arts in the minds of his teammates.
We are all professional players, who doesn’t know who the other is?
Although Garnett, like Martial Arts, entered the NBA as a high school player, he contributed outstanding statistics of 10+6.3 and 17+8 in the previous two seasons.
But looking at the data alone, there is no way Garnett can be compared with martial arts.
In his first year with the Timberwolves, Garnett was just a substitute. Above him, Leder, Laettner who didn't leave, Tom, and even Sam Mitchell were all better than him in terms of statistics.
Last year, the team saw Garnett's talent, sent away Leder and Laettner, and brought in Marbury, just to make Garnett play more comfortably.
But even so, Tom still beats Garnett in terms of statistics.
From the perspective of other Timberwolves players, Garnett is a rising star with potential. Over time, he will definitely become the top inside player in the league.
But this kind of Garnett still cannot be compared with martial arts.
Budo entered the team as a high school player, and he was at his peak when he debuted. He has scored 40+ points in a row in previous games, not to mention his potential, that is, he has far surpassed Garnett in terms of combat power.
Anyone with eyes can see the future of martial arts.
Even though Garnett has played for the Timberwolves for two years, smart people know how to choose between Martial Arts and Garnett.
In today's league, the value of inside players is often higher than the value of scorers of the same level.
But if the scorer's ability reaches the level of martial arts, then there are two different things.
Coach Philip stood aside and silently observed the atmosphere in the team. Seeing that the team's atmosphere quickly relaxed, he was silently relieved in his heart.
After taking a deep look at Wu Dao, Phillip walked out of the lounge. After making a phone call, he went to find Garnett.
He could tell that although Wu Dao had not been in the team for a long time and had not played many games, most of the Timberwolves' players had been impressed by Wu Dao's ability.
Even the outstanding "old men" Tom and Marbury were quite convinced of this rookie Wu Dao. After hearing Wu Dao claim the title "Wolf King", they did not show much emotion.
At the moment, he only needs to appease Garnett, and this small earthquake caused by Los Angeles reporters to fight for the team boss can be passed smoothly.
NBA coaches, rather than arranging so-called skills and tactics on the court, have a more important role in handling the conflicts within the NBA players.
Anyone who can enter the NBA can be regarded as a proud man. In high school and college, everyone is a super genius who attracts attention, but after entering the NBA, many people need to adjust their mentality. If you adjust well, you will reach the next level. If you adjust poorly, you will leave the NBA early.
Moreover, these people are all energetic "athletes". It is the norm in the NBA to disapprove of anyone. In the history of the NBA, there have been countless strong teams that fell apart due to conflicts within the team.
Every team that wins the championship will not be the kind of team with sharp team conflicts. Even at the end of the OK combination, O'Neal and Kobe knew they had to work together on the court.
When Garnett left the lounge, his original intention was to leave the hotel where he was staying in the arena, but it was winter now, he was still wearing his jersey, and it was already very cold in the corridor of the arena.
But Garnett couldn't help but went back to the lounge because he didn't want to see martial arts at this time. So after leaving the lounge, Garnett went straight to the bathroom. While washing his face to wake himself up, he also hoped that he could be alone for a while and be quiet.
"Whoosh whoosh-"
The faucet of the pool was turned on, and the tap water flowed into the pool. Garnett stood by the pool, looking up at himself in the mirror, his brows tightening and relaxing, looking confused.
"despair--"
Footsteps sounded at the bathroom door. Coach Philip walked into the bathroom, stood next to Garnett, glanced at the sink in front of Garnett, and turned on the faucet.
"There's no way I can play with a guy who doesn't have teammates in his eyes!"
"My contract has not been finalized yet."
"If the team has no intention of renewing my contract, I will go to the free market to see if there is a team that likes me!"
Garnett noticed Phillip's arrival, looked at Phillip who lowered his head and washed his hands in the mirror, and said.
If he can't defeat martial arts, then he can only put pressure on the management.
What Garnett said were angry words and what he was thinking in his heart.
He wants the Timberwolves to be his own Timberwolves, and he doesn't want to play second fiddle to a rookie. Martial arts is indeed very strong, but young Garnett still cannot accept such a thing.
He can serve as second-in-command to Laird, because Laird has the ability and qualifications.
But martial arts is not good, because martial arts is too young!
In the final analysis, Garnett still has an obsession with the "team boss" in his heart and cannot accept that he is not even as good as someone younger than himself stepping on his head.
"The boss has made a concession and decided to offer you a six-year, sixty-two million dollar contract without any additional terms."
"There are player options starting in the third year, and team options starting in the fourth year."
"Starting next year, your salary will be increased to an annual salary of US$8 million, and will increase by 10% year by year."
Phillip let the cold water flow through his hands and said to Garnett without raising his head.
Big contract!
Absolutely big contract
In this era, for Garnett, a third-year student with no results yet, this is a huge contract.
You know, Tom Gugliotta, who is in his prime and has been selected as an All-Star substitute, only earns $5.5 million per year. Garnett alone accounts for nearly 1/3 of today's salary cap. The Timberwolves' sincerity towards Garnett is evident.
Of course, the original Garnett will receive a 6-year, 120 million super contract before the transaction ends in October 1998.
But that was before martial arts came into being!
Although the current owner of the Timberwolves, Glen Taylor, recognizes Garnett's ability and talent, he will never give Garnett such a high salary.
He must consider the thoughts of other players, and at the same time, he must also consider how many dollars he will need to spend to keep a super scorer like Wu Dao in the team after Wu Dao's rookie contract expires in the future.
Glenn Taylor, who would offer Garnett a salary of 120 million at that time in 1998, had a very long-term vision, and he had his own judgment on the league's future salary increases.
In Glen Taylor's opinion, Garnett is worthy of a big contract, but the Timberwolves will never overdraw the team's salary potential just because of Garnett. If Budao maintains such efficient performance, in the league Played for three years.
He must have a considerable degree of leverage to stay in martial arts.
"$62 million in 6 years!"
The amount is not small, but it is a long-term contract.
When Garnett heard this amount, his heart was pounding. On average, next year his annual salary would be tens of millions of dollars. In today's era, a player with an annual salary of about 5 million US dollars is already a very good player. Ten million US dollars The above players are basically the cornerstones of each team and "not for sale", they are the price of the stars!
Garnett originally planned to open his mouth with the Lions and wanted a three-year contract worth $35 million. On the one hand, he wanted enough respect, but on the other hand, he did not want to sign a long-term contract.
After all, after Pippen's child labor contract, NBA players were somewhat resistant to long-term contracts.
But in his heart, he also knows that the team will most likely not give him such a high salary. Garnett is actually very satisfied with an annual salary of six to seven million. After all, people like Tom only have an annual salary of more than five million.
The price offered by the Timberwolves is enough to show Garnett's status in the hearts of the team management. This price is indeed somewhat attractive to Garnett.
Reaching out and turning off the faucet, Garnett quickly calmed down his mood, looked at himself in the mirror, and thought quickly.
Going to the free market, an insider of his caliber should, maybe, be able to get this salary, right?
With this thought in his mind, Garnett couldn't help but shook his head.
NBA salary has not yet experienced a second expansion. In the 1997-98 season, based on the current market conditions, he may not be worth the price.
Olajuwon is only worth about $11 million, and the difference between him and the legendary center is only $3 million.
That Utah Jazz star, "The Postman" Karl Malone only has just over 5 million!
If he goes to other teams, he may not have such a high salary, and even if he goes to other places, he may not necessarily be able to get the "big boss" position.
But in the Timberwolves, although the media and fans have recognized Wu Dao as the young Wolf King leading the Timberwolves, Garnett can at least get a hefty salary, right?
Garnett has a dream, but now, the championship is still too far away, and the money is finally more affordable.
"I can feel that the team values me."
"But it's very difficult to work with players like Wu Dao who don't have a team in their eyes."
"I hope he can be more humble and play more selflessly."
"As for the contract, I will seriously consider it!"
Garnett did not immediately agree to the contract. He wanted to discuss it with his agent and adjust his posture. It would be great if he could use the management to persuade Wu Dao to relent.
Garnett is not stupid enough to ask the management to kick Wu Dao away. This is impossible even if he thinks about it. He just hopes that Wu Dao will not be so "crazy"!
"Well, it's good if you can think about it."
"Kevin, you are the player chosen by our Timberwolves. You are very talented and very strong. Neither the team nor I will treat you badly."
"Salary, tactical status, all these things will be available."
"But there are some things I want to explain to you clearly."
"You should be very aware of martial arts abilities, right?"
"At a young age, he can score 30+40+ or even 50+ in the regular season."
"For such a person, in the history of the NBA, only Chamberlain's rookie season can surpass him. (Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds per game in his rookie season)"
"From the current stage, Michael's rookie season was not as good as him!"
"We don't know how he will play in the future, but it is foreseeable that as long as he grows up smoothly, he will be the best scorer in the league, bar none!"
"You are the fourth position, you should know what kind of teammates you need."
"Kevin, for players, it doesn't make any sense if the team leader is not the boss. The championship is what young people like you need to chase."
"You and Wu Dao are the cornerstone of the Timberwolves' championship!"
"Think about it carefully, which is more important, the actual honor or the so-called boss of the team."
"If the team has no results, does the boss really have any meaning?"
"Who is the boss of the Grizzlies team?!"
Phillip talked a lot to Garnett in a serious and thoughtful manner, and at the end of his speech, he suddenly asked Garnett such a question.
The Vancouver Grizzlies were the last team in the Western Conference last year.
Hearing Phillip ask this, Garnett looked startled, a little dazed.
He suddenly found that he no longer had a big impression on the Grizzlies players. It seemed that the other team had a player who entered the best rookie team last year.
But that name was swallowed in his stomach.
No impression.
Seeing Garnett's appearance, Philip waved his hand and continued:
"After using the bathroom, go back to the lounge."
"We still have a lot of games to play next!"
With that said, Coach Phillip turned and left the bathroom, leaving Garnett alone.
In front of the sink, Garnett looked at himself in the mirror, took a few deep breaths, and then left the toilet.
In the lounge, Wu Dao had just packed up his things with his teammates when Coach Philip and Garnett came back to the lounge one after another.
After Garnett entered the lounge, he walked directly in front of Wu Dao, and his actions instantly attracted everyone's attention.
"You can be the Wolf King if you want to be one."
"I only have one requirement, and that is to win, keep winning!"
"If you can't lead the Timberwolves to win, consciously leave that position!"
Wu Dao sat in his seat, raised his head slightly and looked at Garnett with a serious expression, with a smile on his face:
"The strongest person is the team boss, that's a given!"
"If you are really stronger than me, of course this position will be yours!"
"But you can't, Kevin."
