activa-t Chapter 951 The Dust Settles
Chapter 951 The Dust Settles
Chapter 951 The Dust Settles
Kobe did not forget that at the 76ers' championship party, Wei Xia was drunk and invited him to join the 76ers.
He thought that Wei Xia was drunk at the time, and he might just say it casually.
After the result, he really didn't mention it again.Gradually, Kobe began to think about retirement.Now Wei Xia brought up the old matter again, with a far more serious attitude than before, and he didn't drink alcohol.
He drank only four cups of camel milk.
Can camel milk be drunk?
Obviously not, which means that he is very sober now!
"You really dare to speak!" Kobe sneered, "Who do you think you are talking to? I have played for the Lakers for 20 years. No one has stayed in the Lakers longer than me. Why should I leave it all and go to Philadelphia?"
Wei Xia sarcastically said: "Jerry West dedicated 40 years to the Lakers silently. What did he get? A statue, a retired jersey."
Kobe said affirmatively: "I can retire two jerseys!"
"Okay, and then?" Wei Xia smiled, "Even if you leave the Lakers, they will still retire your jersey. In this way, the Lakers have successfully got rid of you, and you don't have to bear the notoriety of crossing the river and tearing down bridges. And you get the chance to compete for the championship again. Isn't this the best ending?"
"Get rid of me?"
Kobe didn't know whether to be angry or sad, "If I want to continue playing, even if I play for another ten years, they will agree!"
"Don't be kidding Kobe, at most three years, they will get tired of the old man who can't bring victory, but also affects the team's signings, and is strong, that is, you!"
Bryant was silent, the Lakers really need to rebuild.
And his existence has actually become a hurdle for the Lakers to introduce big-name players.
As long as he is still there, big-name players will carefully consider whether they have the strength to replace Kobe as the master of Los Angeles before joining the Lakers.
Even if there is, will Kobe cooperate?
There are sharks in the front, and Howard in the back. The cruel reality is in front of us. The peak sharks can't make the young Kobe willing to be small, and the peak monsters can't convince Kobe to concentrate on assisting.
Now he is three years older, but Howard's failure in the Lakers is enough to make all stars who intend to set foot in Los Angeles ask themselves whether they are sure to replace Kobe.
"You may be right, but these reasons are not enough for me." Kobe said, "I do want a championship, but I have won five championships, this cannot be a reason for me to leave Los Angeles. Apart from this, why should I leave Los Angeles, which I have fought for for 20 years?"
This is a problem that Wei Xia has long thought of. Although the champion is good, Kobe is not lacking.
What is he missing?That's exactly what he's been doing.
"Fighting for hometown, what's the reason?" Before Kobe responded, Wesha said first, "Don't rush to tell me what you think of Philadelphia. I remember when we played in Philadelphia for the first time in our rookie season, people booed you endlessly. You were greatly stimulated. We met in the gym that night. You pissed me off. If you want to say that you don't care about hometown, you may be lying to yourself."
Kobe didn't answer, he listened to what Wei Xia said seriously.
"There are not many players who can fight for their hometown. Now you have the opportunity and the ability. After you played for the Lakers for 20 years, you have nothing to give them."
Wei Xia paid great attention to Kobe's expression and confirmed that his speech did not cause the other party's dissatisfaction. Then he continued: "Last season, you still averaged 25 points per game. I have to admit that you are still one of the best players in the league. But now you can't lead the Lakers too far. Whether you choose to stay for loyalty or retire with dignity, it is a waste. This is my opinion."
Kobe was silent for about half a minute, then suddenly put on an indifferent face and sneered: "You once said that your cats have spent more time in Philadelphia than me. If you expect me to leave Los Angeles for this reason, you'd better change your reason."
Kobe was born in Philadelphia. When mentioning the basketball superstars produced in Philadelphia, besides Chamberlain, he will definitely be mentioned.
However, Bryant has been downplaying this fact.
He doesn't like to put the label of Philadelphia on himself. When he is out of the house, in interviews or TV interviews, he emphasizes the influence of his childhood in Italy.Yes, he's a Philly native, but he hasn't been in Philly very long.
When he returned to Philadelphia from Italy at the age of 13, he was actually almost the same as a black foreigner who came to the United States suddenly.
Still, does Philadelphia really not have as much place in his heart as he appears to do?
Wei Xia remembered many things.
Especially during the Lakers period, in his rookie season, when they first arrived in Philadelphia for the game, Kobe just came out of the shadow of Eagle County, and the welcome ceremony for him from his hometown was overwhelmingly booed.
Moreover, they gave a strong cheer to Wei Xia, who could only play as a substitute at the time.
Didn't this stark contrast hurt Kobe?
Doesn't he hope to get the support of his hometown people and treat him like they treat Wei Xia?
That night, Wei Xia met Kobe in the gym, and they had a heated exchange. At that time, Wei Xia didn't know why Kobe was angry, but now he probably knows.
At that time, he was a negative image of the NBA. The imprint of a rapist could hardly be erased.
In Kobe's heart, his hometown may not be as good as Italy, but it is definitely not an insignificant place.
"Well, then I only have one card left." Wei Xia smiled helplessly, "Back to Philadelphia, you can be closer to your family."
As soon as Kobe stared, Wei Xia went on to say: "I know that the relationship between you and Old Joe has almost been repaired, but I believe that this is not enough. When I go to your hometown during the holidays, I always use your name. Do you know? Except for Old Joe, everyone else has a very strange attitude. They don't want me to come, but accept my arrival, accept all the gifts I gave in your name, and say to me 'Let him come by himself next time'."
"Kobe, I'm an outsider. I don't know how much conflict exists between you, and I don't want to interfere with your family affairs, but I think that if you can return to your hometown, you may have more opportunities. Maybe one day, you will find the key to solve the conflict, but if you keep resisting this matter, you may not have any chance to turn back."
Wei Xia carefully controlled himself outside the penalty area, pushing all available factors to make Kobe make an amazing decision.
In recent years, Wesha has been trying to help Bryant and his family repair their relationship.Now the knot between him and old Joe has been untied, leaving only the conflict between him and his mother Pamela.
This contradiction is very special, Wei Xia is difficult to approach, touch and solve.He doesn't know how Kobe should reconcile with his mother, but he knows that if Kobe has been wandering outside, far away from his hometown, guarding the face of that helpless big man and not taking the initiative to ask his mother for mediation, there may never be a day of reconciliation.
Back in Philadelphia, he can not only join a championship team, but also fight for his hometown, so as to get the pure feeling that he never got in Los Angeles.And, the opportunity to reconcile with family members.
Kobe's long silence once made Wei Xia think that his plan had failed.
Suddenly, Kobe asked: "You said that if I join the 76ers, I can only play the sixth man. You said that I averaged 25 points per game last season. Who have you seen who averaged 25 points per game would play the sixth man? Isn't that ridiculous?"
Wei Xia said lightly: "There are no absolutes in everything. Perhaps Coach Wright will change the original system because of your joining. You may not be able to play the sixth man. Besides, even if there is a competition, although I like Gordon very much, I am not sure who is more capable of starting the game between you and him at the age of 37."
For Kobe, maybe he can't compete with Wei Xia now, but Hayward?He can't take the initiative to play the sixth man without competing.
If he wants to play the sixth man, he must show the strength to convince him.
As for now, his answer to Wei Xia is uncertain: "This is a big event, and I have to think about it carefully."
"When you think it through, give me a call." Wei Xia said.
Kobe originally thought that it would be over here, but Wei Xia picked up the knife and fork again after finishing speaking.
"Still eat?"
Wei Xia said as a matter of course: "Of course!"
They therefore remained in the restaurant for nearly half an hour.
Afterwards, the topic was not as sensitive as it used to be.
The meeting between Wei Xia and Kobe is not a secret.There are paparazzi tracking Wei Xia's whereabouts 24 hours a day, and it is impossible for him to have dinner with Kobe without being discovered.
This news provided a basis for those who like to spread rumors.
Rumor: Last night, Kobe used his personal connections to invite Wish to dinner, which may speed up the process of Wish joining the Lakers!
Although the free market has just opened, big-name players often negotiate their next home before the free market opens.
Many people have reached a verbal agreement.
Soon, there were only two big fish in the market, Wei Xia and Kevin Durant.
Many media people have speculated that Durant may follow the example of James in 2010 and join forces with Wecha in Los Angeles. Considering their personal relationship, this possibility seems to be getting bigger and bigger.
What Wei Xia didn't expect was that Durant would take the initiative to call him to find out.
"Wish, I suddenly discovered that there is a possibility of us joining forces, what do you think?"
He is such a fool, what is "sudden discovery"?Since the first day of the offseason, has the media stopped discussing the possibility of this matter for even one day?
Wei Xia regards public opinion as his own cover, and the greater the public opinion, the better for his plan in Los Angeles.
As for Durant, Wei Xia initially thought it was impossible for him to leave the Thunder.Because a few years ago, when James went to Miami to form a group, Durant once said on social media that he would not join forces with other superstars and wanted to create his own legend in Oklahoma City.
How high-spirited he was at the time made Wei Xia think Durant was an old-school star.
As a result, today's call shattered Wei Xia's fantasy.
Durant is leaving Oklahoma City, and he wants to join forces with himself.
If Durant wants to come to Philadelphia, he will definitely welcome him with open arms, but Wei Xia is still poaching the corner of the Lakers. Before the plan is successful, he cannot talk to Durant in detail.While he believed Durant could keep it a secret, a secret would cease to be a secret if too many people knew about it.
So for Durant's temptation, his answer is very ambiguous.
Then, Wei Xia finally wrote back to the anxious 76ers management.
To be precise, it was his private phone call to Xinji, and only Xinji knew about this news.
He told Hinkie to stay calm and focus on other people in the free market, and go back to renew his contract after he finishes his work in Los Angeles.
Moreover, he threatened Hinkie not to leak the news, otherwise he would really sign another team.
Of course, Hinkie didn't dare to joke about the team's future, so he didn't even make a memorandum on this matter, just pretending that nothing happened.
It was about two days after Wei Xia and Kobe had dinner together.
Wei Xia received a text message from Kobe.
"Tell Gordon Hayward the starter is fucking me! Smile #muscle#"
Wei Xia's heart was surging, and now, all his goals, all his plans, and all his efforts for it were not in vain.
He saved Kobe's Achilles tendon and extended his career;
He helped Kobe and his father take the lead in reconciling, and strengthened the importance of his family in his heart. This is definitely the key factor for him to choose to return to his hometown;
He poached the corner of the Lakers!
He played Jenny Buss!
He decided to delay for another day. There are not many good players in the free market.
That same night, Durant called again.
At the beginning, Durant asked Wei Xia politely about his recovery from the leg injury.
Then he couldn't help being blocked by Wei Xia's polite words, and said directly: "Wish, I decided to join the Lakers, and I heard that they have already settled Andre Drummond, and I also heard that you are ready to sign with the Lakers. Me, you, Andre, Kobe, the four of us can do something big!"
Wei Xia was silent like Kobe back then.
He underestimated the influence of big cities, and he paid the price for being too conservative. The Lakers actually used him to get Durant?
"How about it, we can definitely make the Lakers the best team!"
"Wish, are you listening?"
"Wish?"
Every player hopes to join forces with Kevin Durant, but rejecting Durant is not a difficult decision for Wesha.
"Kevin, I really want to join forces with you, but not in LA, sorry."
Wei Xia hung up the phone, but couldn't fall asleep. The arrival of Durant will undoubtedly greatly increase the competitiveness of the Lakers, but Durant alone will definitely not be able to win the championship.
Wei Xia couldn't sleep, so he called again, it was for Kobe.
"You better have something to do!" Kobe was obviously doing something very private, otherwise where would his anger come from?
Wei Xia said straight to the point: "I just got a reliable news that KD is going to sign with the Lakers, and the Lakers have also got Andre Drummond."
Kobe pondered for a few seconds, "Why did you tell me this?"
"If you choose to leave the Lakers because of lack of competitiveness, then maybe you should think again." If Kobe really wants to leave the Lakers, Wei Xia hopes that he will let go of everything, just like him at the beginning. "If you change your mind, I absolutely support you. With KD and Andre and your Lakers, it will be an awesome team."
For a long while—"Don't bother me with such insignificant things in the middle of the night!"
Probably because Kobe was so excited that he forgot to turn off the phone and yelled out the sentence that stunned Wei Xia: "Who the hell needs KD and Drummond?"
Wei Xia froze for a few seconds holding the phone.
What's wrong with this man?He obviously had good intentions and prepared that he might not be able to pry Kobe away from the Lakers, but he was scolded head and face and couldn't retaliate because the bastard hung up the phone!
A phenomenon, if James fans find out that someone has changed James' birth point from Cleveland to a team with a strong start like Detroit, they will be very happy.On the contrary, Kobe's fans, after all, Kobe himself called Zijin for one day and the Lakers for life.However, it does make sense from the perspective of signings. Los Angeles signings are much easier than Cleveland, and it is understandable that Jamie wants to change his background.But Kobe was tortured for at least 20 of his 12 years in Los Angeles (the book on how he was tortured in 04-08 is very clear. If there is a fate before 04, I can continue to tell you in future books), and two of them were only close to changing teams (04/07).So I don't know why Kobe fans have such a heavy Lakers plot, because I was never a Kobe fan.But the inspiration for this plot came from a book friend in the book friend group. He said that after James came, he began to hate the Lakers (originally the kind of support from Aiwujiwu).So I probably know that Kobe's fans are Kobe's personal honey. If it is because Kobe likes this team even if Kobe retires, I still like it even if James comes. I can't help it.This episode is like Wish leaving the team, I laid out the reasons (many) for Kobe to leave the team, and that's it.
(End of this chapter)