Chapter 10 The first player in Lakers history

That's right.

Jerry West noticed Kobe Bryant.

That was all because he saw the shadow of Lin Ran in this child.

Although only a little bit.

Just this little similarity has already made Jerry West decide to select Kobe and train him to become the next Lin Ran in Los Angeles.

Thinking of this, even the LOGO man who is used to seeing big winds and waves still feels a little emotional.

His thoughts went back to the 1990 NBA Draft.

That night when Lin Ran was chosen.

No one could have imagined that this young man who was selected at the end of the second round would actually take up the leadership banner of the Los Angeles Lakers in his rookie season.

And he carried this team on his shoulders for three consecutive years and led the team to the top.

It's a pity that Lin Ran retired. Otherwise, Jerry West would have no need to look for the next Lin Ran.

"By the way, our people also inspected Kobe at STC."

Mitch Kupchak is still reporting: "His skills are very comprehensive, but his movements are still a little immature in many cases."

"Speaking of which, he also fought against Lin in STC."

The first day of STC has just ended, and the management of each team has already received information about all the rookies.

The news that Iverson and Kobe Bryant played against Lin Ran respectively also spread to the management of each team.

"How's Kobe doing?"

Jerry West was a little curious: "Did he score on Lin's head?"

"21:0, sir."

Mitch Kupchak continued his report: "The high school kid from Philadelphia didn't score a single goal under Lin."

"Expected."

LOGO was not surprised: "If he can score under Lin's defense, then we won't be able to get this little guy."

How old is Kobe?

He is still just a child!

If the 17-year-old Kobe could score under Lin Ran's defense, he would do so in a highly exposed situation like STC.

If the Lakers want to add him to the team, it's not that simple.

"By the way, our people also said that Lin is in excellent condition."

In addition to Kobe, Kupchak focused on the hot man: "He showed a little bit of his abilities in STC, and he doesn't seem to have any regression from those years."

"Many people at the scene felt that even if Lin Ran comes back now, only Michael in the league can compare with him!"

Lin Ran's performance will always be the focus of Lakers scouts' attention.

After all, Lin Ran was the absolute core of the Lakers in the early 1990s. In the hearts of countless Lakers fans, he is comparable to Magic Johnson!

When Lin Ran won three consecutive FMVP titles in 1993, some Lakers fans even held banners saying:

Lin Ran is already the first player in Lakers history!

It is enough to show Lin Ran's importance in Los Angeles, especially in the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hearing Mitch Kupchak's words, Jerry West could only shake his head and smile bitterly.

On the one hand, he found this ridiculous.

Even if Lin Ran comes back now, Michael Jordan may not be his opponent!

Jerry West, on the other hand, was helpless.

If Lin Ran can come back, why would the Lakers have to work on finding the next Lin Ran?

As for now...

Jerry West still chose to think about how to use Kobe to run the team more realistically.

at the same time.

The management of each NBA team also received the STC first-day summary report from the team's scouting team.

They basically got detailed information on the rookies they wanted to inspect.

Some rookies received individual trial invitations from many teams due to their excellent performance on the first day of STC.

Their draft stock may also rise.

Some rookies have shrunk in physical testing data in the STC and their draft prices have declined. Even many teams that originally wanted to invite them to trial training eventually withdrew their decisions.

"This is the value of STC."

On ESPN's evening show, several senior basketball experts discussed the concluded 1996 STC Supernova Training Camp: "Those teams holding lottery picks need to comprehensively examine the young people participating in the draft."

"Many newcomers who have not shown their talents in March Madness also need a stage to show their talents and abilities."

STC is such a platform.

He can allow NBA teams to examine rookies more comprehensively.

Rookies who are covered up by March Madness can gain more attention, and rookies who are marketed by March Madness will gradually expose their hidden flaws.

"In addition, I think Lin Ran's condition is also the focus of many teams' attention."

Some experts said: "He has two months to go before he turns 25. No one believes that he will remain retired."

As analyzed by this expert.

Although Lin Ran has retired for three years, he is still young.

No one believed he would ever retire.

Many teams are waiting for the day he returns to the league.

You know, when Lin Ran was a rookie, he signed a 2+1 second-round rookie contract with the Lakers.

Third-year team option.

After the Lakers exercised Lin Ran's third-year team option, they prepared to extend Lin Ran's super-large contract through the Bird Rights in the summer of 1993.

As a result, Lin Ran announced his retirement in the summer of 1993.

This not only led to the bankruptcy of the Lakers' contract renewal, but also made Lin Ran an unrestricted free agent.

in other words.

If Lin Ran announces his comeback now, he can sign with any team.

As long as this team has enough salary space to sign him.

Under this premise, Lin Ran's status during his retirement period determines these teams' determination to win him.

Now, Lin Ran's performance in the 1996 STC is still top-notch.

The team waiting for his comeback is still determined.

If not this year, then wait for next year!

"The STC in 1996 has come to a successful end. Perhaps we should turn our attention back to the NBA."

Finally, an expert brought the topic back: "Michael Jordan has led his team to the Eastern Conference finals. He is one step closer to his third championship—the third consecutive championship!"

"Maybe now, we can discuss it..."

"If MJ really wins that damn championship, wins it for three consecutive years, and is elected FMVP for three consecutive years."

"Can he surpass Lin Ran and become the best basketball player in the 1990s?!"

Before Jordan won three consecutive championships and three consecutive FMVPs, this topic seemed uncontroversial.

But now, Jordan is just a stone's throw away from three consecutive championships and three consecutive FMVPs.

Who was the most dominant player in the 1990s, him or Lin Ran?

This topic can be brought to the table!