Kim Hughes is in his fifties this year, but he still looks in good spirits.
He is extremely tall, 6 feet 11 inches, which is 2.11 meters tall, the standard height of a basketball center.
When he was young, he played in both the NBA and ABA. He also won the ABA championship with the Nets and was teammates with Dr. J. Irving.
His fate with the Clippers originated from the 1974 draft. The Clippers, then called the Buffalo Braves, selected the white center with the ninth pick in the third round.
In the 1970s, the NBA draft had as many as 10 rounds (in the 1960s, there were 20 rounds), and most of the players selected after the second round were unable to enter the NBA and either went to live overseas or worked hard in other leagues to make a name for themselves. There is a possibility of entering the NBA.
Hughes was selected by the Clippers, but did not play a game for the Clippers. After retiring, he still came to work for the Clippers.
He has been serving as the team's assistant coach. He is quite introverted, gentle and quiet, and is a good complement to the violent and authoritarian Dunleavy.
As the chief assistant coach, Hughes has always been responsible for leading and coaching the team in the summer league, so as to gain experience as a head coach in the future.
But on the afternoon of the 13th, Hughes' main job was to be the casino bodyguard for the new general manager Min Chongda. By the way, he led 12 players to the Caesars Palace casino to have a good time!
The players were summoned to the lobby and thought they were leaving for training. However, Min Congda waved his hand and everyone headed for the luxury casino in Vegas!
"What? Going to the casino? Is that okay?"
"Wow, then I need to go back and get my wallet!"
"Mr. Smart, will the team reimburse you if you lose money?"
"It's not impossible, but will you share some of the winnings with me? Haha..."
The young players became very excited, the atmosphere suddenly became lively, and everyone was in high spirits.
Although except for Curry, Gordon, and Jordan, everyone else has short-term contracts and there is a high probability that they will not stay with the team after playing in the summer league.
However, participating in the summer league is still a good treatment for them, with generous allowances, good accommodation and food conditions, and they can also receive NBA-level coaching and face-to-face competition with NBA rising stars.
Therefore, some fringe players appear in the summer league every year, not hoping to be drafted by an NBA team, but just to join in and enjoy the fun of basketball.
When the day comes when you can't play anymore and no one wants you, you can go to a lower level league to play until you can't play anymore. You can either return to society and be an ordinary person, or engage in basketball coaching related work.
In the future, I can brag to others that I have played with and been teammates with any NBA superstar.
Min Congda's generosity and open-mindedness brought the Clippers players' summer league experience to a new level.
Stay in the best rooms, eat at the best restaurants, and go to the casino to cool off before the game.
Is this here to play ball? Just here to play.
Some young players have already made plans to attend the Clippers' summer training camp next year to play in the summer league!
After leading this group of eye-catching young men to the casino, Min Congda was shocked by the hugeness of the casino.
Hundreds of slot machines are neatly arranged, and customers of all kinds linger in front of the various gaming tables.
Waitresses in colorful clothes shuttle back and forth in the casino, serving customers who need chips and drinks at any time.
"This is the gold-selling den of capitalism~ I wonder if I can win some money back?"
Min Congda looked at this colorful casino and felt dazzled. These things can not only double your wealth, but also make you clean and tidy in an instant.
Min Congda used to work in a financial institution and was not allowed to enter or leave the casino. Passports and passes must be collected to prevent people who go to casinos to gamble and come back to exploit loopholes and become rats in financial institutions.
It was different now. He could try his luck and see if the two hundred dollars in his pocket could create a miracle!
Everyone changed their chips at the front desk, but Stephen Curry was the only one who was unwilling to change, saying, "I just want to watch you play, I don't gamble."
Min Congda said: "You've come here, why not give it a try? Isn't a salary of 5 million a year not enough for you to lose?"
Curry shook his head and said: "My girlfriend doesn't allow me to gamble. I...I'd better watch you guys play. I'm not good at this."
After repeated persuasion, Curry insisted not to give up. Min Congda could only sigh and said: "I have become a strict wife at a young age. What will I do when I get married in the future?"
Curry asked curiously: "Mr. Smart, are you not married yet? Do you have a girlfriend?"
"..."
Not only does Min Congda not have a girlfriend, he has never even talked to her, but he still has the nerve to say that she is a strict wife at a young age.
Thinking of this, Min Congda shed tears silently in his heart. Even though he is a general manager, where can he find a girlfriend with only 200 yuan on his body?
Whether I can find a girlfriend in the future and establish myself in the United States depends on you, Stephen Curry.
"Okay, let's not talk about girlfriends. If you don't want to play, you won't play. What are you talking about... Now I have 200 US dollars in chips, let's witness the miracle of wealth!"
Fifteen minutes later, Min Congda lost only 50 yuan on the slot machine and blackjack...
"I owe Rosser these fifty yuan. I can't gamble anymore. If I gamble again, I have to go to the training center for breakfast."
Min Congda looked at the only 50 yuan left and cried silently in his heart. Sure enough, a fortune teller who told him before was right. He has no luck in wealth in this life and can only earn hard money.
The loss salary paid to him by the system should be hard-earned money, right? He must lose tomorrow and give him the 200 yuan back!
Curry comforted Min Congda on the side: "I told you not to gamble earlier. You are almost losing everything, right? But it doesn't matter. I only lost 150. Can I help you buy some chips?"
What's only 150? Of course you don't care about your 20 million contract, I only have 200 yuan in total!
Min Congda shook his head repeatedly. He couldn't help but not win the money, and finally expanded his debt.
Just accept it when you see it!
At this moment, a burst of hearty laughter came from the crowd, "Hey Hughes! Why are you, an Illinois country bumpkin, here too? How are you playing here? Did you win any money?"
An old blond man with a mustache walked towards Kim Hughes. Hughes was tall and stood out among the crowd, making it easy to see.
Hughes greeted the old man hurriedly: "Hello, Dr. Bass, I'm so lucky to meet you here. I'm not gambling, I'm here to accompany our general manager, Mr. Smart."
This old man with a mustache is none other than the famous Dr. Buss, the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
He is a legend among NBA owners. In 1979, he bought the Los Angeles Lakers and started the purple and gold dynasty era of the NBA.
As of 2009, it had been exactly 30 years since he bought the Lakers. He had already won 9 championships, and his net worth had doubled several times. He can be said to be an out-and-out NBA winner.
Dr. Bass is over 70 years old, but he still loves two things in his life: beauties and basketball, which he can never do without.
He goes to Las Vegas every year to have fun and gamble. This time the Lakers came to play, of course he came with the team.
Dr. Buss looked at Min Chongda and said, "Are you the Clippers' new general manager, the guy who didn't take Griffin in the draft but took Curry?"
Min Congda did not respond. His eyes were attracted by the two blond beauties next to Dr. Bass. He couldn't help it, the ball was really big, and Dr. Bass was an out-and-out ball game enthusiast.
"Huh? Are you talking to me? Who are you? Hughes, is this your friend?"
Min Congda thought Bass was looking for Hughes and didn't care that Bass was talking to him.
Bass's face darkened. He thought Min Congda did it on purpose. He snorted coldly and said, "Sterling actually found such a person to be the general manager. He must be out of his mind. Last year you competed for the No. 1 pick. Is that the plan this season? Quit the NBA."
When Min Congda heard how did you know, he couldn't reveal my plan in advance. He ignored Old Bass and ignored him because he was not familiar with the old man.
The scene became awkward for a time.
Kim Hughes on the side said hurriedly: "This is Dr. Buss, the owner of the Lakers. He is the most amazing and successful investor in the league, with nine championship rings on his hand."
The most successful investor? Nine championships? Seriously, stay away from him, don't take advantage of his blessing, then you will be unlucky.
Don’t teach me any successful experience, you don’t want to hear it!
Min Congda said a simple hello and told Hughes that he was going to have a glass of wine to calm down his shock. You two old acquaintances should chat slowly. This place is not suitable for me.
Faced with this kind of indifference and rudeness, Old Buss couldn't keep his face off. He is a famous legend in the basketball circle.
If Michael Jordan is the God of Basketball, then it would not be too much to call Jerry Buss the God of Basketball Owners.
This unknown guy dared to despise him like this. The elderly Bass was so angry that he drank Min Congda directly and said: "Hey man, you are really rude. I think it is necessary to teach you some basic skills." Only then can you survive in the NBA, otherwise you will have difficulty in this league, and no one will answer your call even if you want to propose a trade."
Min Congda stopped and thought that this old man was also an old PUA, so how could he talk to his former leader in such a virtuous manner.
Why do you have to be a good person in advance? If you don't know politeness and etiquette, it's hard to do anything. What's the matter? Do NBA stars get tens of millions in annual salary because they are polite and civilized?
Min Congda turned around and said, "So? I'm standing here listening to you, what can you teach me? What can you give me? Can you trade Kobe to me?"
Old Bass shook his head, showed off a championship ring on his hand, and said: "Of course not, but I can teach you how to become a manager of a championship team."
This ring is studded with diamonds and sparkles. It is the championship ring the Lakers just won in 2009!
Min Congda frowned, "Goodbye!" I don't want to be a championship team manager.
What is the concept of a championship team? If he wins 16 games in four rounds in the playoffs, the system will deduct $48,000 from him!
He only lost 50 yuan now, and he still won the championship, so he still had to go to his grandma's house.
Just go and stay where you are, and say goodbye!
"Haha, you should pass on your experience to your children. I can't afford it. Bye."
This time Min Congda left without looking back, really not giving Dr. Bass any face.
Instead, Old Bass laughed angrily, wondering if it was for the sake of Sterling and the team in the same city that he didn't bother to pay attention to a nobody like you. Didn't he expect that a legend like himself would be disliked?
How many young players and managers try to get close to him, but Bass may not be interested in them.
This brat doesn’t give you any face! In his heart, Old Bass felt that this kid was a bit interesting and he was a tough guy.
"Jin, who is this guy? Is he Sterling's illegitimate son?"
Kim Hughes spread his hands and said: "I don't know, he doesn't look like Sterling."
"Where did Sterling go? I heard that he has been vacationing in Hawaii and doesn't care about the team's affairs?"
"Yes Dr. Bass, leave it all to Mr. Smart."
"What do you think he did?"
"I think...it's hard to evaluate."
Then, Kim Hughes told Bass everything about what Min Congda had done recently, including raising wages for employees. Anyway, these were not trade secrets, and it didn't matter if they chatted in private.
After hearing this, Old Bas nodded repeatedly, and his impression of Min Congda changed greatly. His actions were very suitable for Old Bas.
"If you want to make money, you must first learn to spend money. It seems that the Clippers' new season is really worth looking forward to...ahem!"
When he first bought the Lakers, Buss was in debt. He borrowed money to buy the Lakers and gave Magic a big contract. In the end, he made a lot of money and turned defeat into victory.
He firmly believes that people who are reluctant to spend money cannot make big money.
Old Bass coughed twice, said goodbye to Hughes, and continued to gamble with the two beauties around him. He didn't have much left in his life, so he had to enjoy himself when he should.
