Will Michael Jordan join the inaugural BIG3 League?
As Zack, known for getting things done, quickly built the framework for the BIG3 League and meticulously laid out its rules, something dramatic happened. The "God of Basketball," Michael Jordan, submitted his registration form at the very last minute.
It seems the constant taunts from his old rivals might have been the main reason Jordan decided to play. For example, Gary Payton, who was among the first to sign up, scoffed, "Michael's old now, can he even play basketball anymore?"
Charles Barkley, always one to jump into the fray, said after submitting his form, "Michael doesn't have the guts to join the BIG3 League! Believe me, if he dares to come, he won't score a single point. Mark my words, not a single point!"
And then there's Scottie Pippen, who's always up for making some money. After registering, he complained, "The old Michael was definitely a lion, but now? I could probably handle him with one hand tied behind my back."
Even Reggie Miller, looking forward to experiencing the "four-point shot" in the BIG3 League, chimed in. In an interview, the legendary shooter, who's never had the best relationship with Jordan, said, "Even though the BIG3 League only allows retired players, it's still a professional event. I don't think Michael Jordan has what it takes to compete anymore."
Knowing Jordan's personality, would he tolerate such mockery from his old rivals? Of course not! So, after realizing the commercial potential of the BIG3 League and deciding to invest, Jordan submitted his registration, determined to re-educate those he'd defeated in the past while he could still play.
This "senior citizen" league, which Zack initially set up just for fun, unexpectedly gained incredible momentum. In Zack's past life, the BIG3 League certainly brought significant profits to Allen Iverson and his partners. But Zack, who was never short on money, never intended to profit from this event. His goal was simply to bless these retired players and earn a reputation for treating the old-timers well.
However, now that a bunch of these "old-timers" had turned the event into a "grudge match," the attention on the first BIG3 League instantly exploded. And, surprisingly, the NBA even helped promote this league, which is only held during the offseason and exclusively features retired players.
Why would the NBA help promote the BIG3 League? Because these retired NBA players help keep the NBA and the entire basketball world in the spotlight during the offseason. Plus, the BIG3 League, which needs to rent NBA arenas, means a substantial cut of ticket sales for the teams. So, it's a win-win for the league: teams make money, and the NBA can leverage the nostalgia of former players.
According to the schedule, the first BIG3 League would feature four teams, led by Jordan, Barkley, Payton, and Pippen respectively. After a total of six regular-season games, the teams would advance to the playoffs based on their rankings to determine the final champion. Watching this "for-fun" senior league became Zack's main entertainment during his break, outside of his own training.
During the regular season opener, Zack, having witnessed Barkley's team defeat Jordan's team, already had a strong feeling that Jordan's team might end up at the bottom of the standings. Jordan's skills were still impeccable in the game, even as an "old man." But… in the BIG3 League, with its four-point shot, you have to wonder, how many shots would Jordan need to make to beat Barkley's team, which had Reggie Miller?
"Three-pointers are already crazy enough, whose idea was the four-point shot?" Jordan grumbled after the game, frustrated with the rules, even though his team had made two more shots than Barkley's.
To that, Barkley taunted Jordan, "Four-pointers aren't exclusive to us. If you've got the guts, shoot 'em! What, can't make 'em?"
If Zack remembered correctly, most of the players who dominated the BIG3 League in his memory were those with excellent long-range shooting ability. After all, in a senior league with limited intensity and players whose physical abilities weren't what they used to be, shooting became the easiest way to score. Especially the highly efficient three-pointers and four-pointers. But these two were precisely Jordan's weaknesses throughout his entire career.
However, in subsequent games, Jordan proved Zack wrong. Aside from Barkley's team, which had the "BUG" that was Miller, Jordan's team, with its dazzling two-point shooting, managed to take down the teams led by Payton and Pippen. It turned out that in the previous regular season opener, Jordan's team had simply lost to Miller, who was consistently hitting four-point shots.
Yet, when Jordan's team faced Barkley's team a second time, Jordan, having learned his lesson, really taught Zack a thing or two. With limited defensive intensity, Jordan assigned one player specifically to stick to Miller. Even with the BIG3 League's relaxed defensive rules, Miller still got some shooting space, but even Miller couldn't be perfect from extreme long range. As a result, Jordan truly managed to win this revenge match with two-point shots.
After the game, Jordan poked Barkley's perfectly round belly and said, "Fatty, didn't you say I wouldn't score a single point? How did I manage nearly 60 points combined in two games?"
Exasperated, Barkley retorted, "If the game allowed me to play defense like I used to, you wouldn't score a single point!"
Jordan scoffed, "Defense like back then? Didn't I already win a championship in front of you with a series average of '40+' points?"
In later generations, many fans would argue that if Jordan had played in the small-ball era, he might not have been "Jordan." But after this BIG3 League, Zack was sure that if Jordan had been born later, even if he only scored two-pointers, he would likely have racked up astronomical numbers with the current defensive rules.
Just imagine, in today's NBA, where there's no Hand-Check rule, players are allowed to "stutter-step" with the new gather rule, and the verticality rule further restricts interior defenders' help-side defense... how would you stop a peak Michael Jordan, who drove like a leopard and consistently hit two-point shots? And, at his peak, Jordan didn't even have the concept of a "stamina bottleneck."
In the 1986-87 season, before the era of "iron and blood" fully set in, in the Bulls' high-paced offense of 87 possessions per game, Jordan played all 82 regular season games, averaging 40 minutes and an astounding 37.1 points.
Zack doesn't like to belittle the past. But the GOAT is the GOAT not because of his personality, his marketing, or the length of his career... but because he was strong enough.
In the first BIG3 League, even though Barkley's team ultimately won the championship with Reggie Miller as FMVP, Jordan, who clinched the scoring title with 24 points per game, still taught Zack, the new GOAT, a valuable lesson. Perhaps age and time will one day take away your raw talent, but your skills and experience will never fade. Only those who can stand the test of time, resist its erosion, and pass on their exquisite techniques to future generations truly deserve the title of GOAT.
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The first BIG3 League concluded successfully, and in the blink of an eye, it was September.
During the BIG3 League, the Sonics, who narrowly lost to the Warriors in last season's Western Conference Finals, also made some significant roster upgrades. Utilizing the salary cap space freed up by Ray Allen becoming a free agent this summer, the Sonics first signed "White Chocolate" Bibby, who opted out of his contract. Then, they re-signed Radmanović and, on Yao Ming's advice, signed Dikembe Mutombo, whose age is a mystery to everyone.
After acquiring Luis Scola's draft rights from the Spurs for a second-round pick and some cash, the Sonics finally, and contentedly, re-signed Ray Allen above the cap using the "Bird Rights." Although re-signing Ray Allen meant the Sonics would inevitably become one of the high-payroll teams paying a hefty luxury tax this coming season, for Howard Schultz, who owns Yao Ming, the joy of spending money on this Sonics team was immeasurable.
This summer, Bibby, not wanting to sink with the Kings, decided early on to join the "Northwest Big Three." He was even willing to forgo the $28 million he would have earned in the last two years of his current contract. "You know, I'll be 30 next year, and my career is in its final stage. I need to fight for a championship." Bibby signed a 5-year, $40 million contract with the Sonics.
And Radmanović, one of Seattle's "Three Musketeers" from back in the day, didn't hesitate to accept the Sonics' offer of a 3-year, $12 million contract. "You know, I was drafted by the Sonics. As an international player, I've always considered Seattle my home, so when my hometown team invited me, I couldn't say no."
As for Mutombo? Already on good terms with Yao Ming, he had no interest in rebuilding with the Rockets once his contract expired. So, when Yao Ming invited him, Mutombo immediately booked a flight to Seattle. "You know, 'Big Yao' and I have always been good brothers. I love being his backup!"
It just goes to show, in the NBA, it's not just the Warriors who attract these championship pieces. However, compared to these routine moves, the most outrageous was the Spurs practically giving away Scola's draft rights. While Zack remembered the Spurs selling Scola's rights for cheap in his past life, he just couldn't understand... how much did the Spurs want to save money that they'd even pass on signing Scola?
Actually, Zack, knowing the Spurs would likely undervalue Scola's rights again, had initially wanted to bring the "Argentine Diamond" to his team. But given the near-hostile, if not outright antagonistic, relationship between the Warriors and the Spurs, Zack ultimately gave up on that idea.
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With the Sonics strengthened and the Lakers now boasting the Gasol brothers in their paint, there's no doubt the Warriors' quest for a three-peat next season will be significantly tougher.
However, at this year's "God's Chosen Training Camp," besides helping Yi Jianlian and Sun Yue get used to the intensity of NBA training, Kwame Brown, who successfully reduced his weight to 116 kilograms, brought a pleasant surprise to Zack. As his weight dropped and his body coordination gradually returned, this highly-touted talent, once seen by scouts as an "enhanced Chris Webber" before the draft, now had a significantly more consistent free throw percentage in practice.
"I really am a shooter!" Brown exclaimed on the final day of the "God's Chosen Training Camp."
Did Brown really transform into a shooter in just one summer? The answer is clearly no. Regardless of how talented Brown was in the past, developing a decent mid-range shot still requires years of consistent practice. However, by shedding those extra muscles this summer, his improved mobility will greatly enhance his impact on both ends of the court. Plus, with Brown finally overcoming his chronic free-throw problem, the Warriors won't have to worry about opponents using that annoying "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy in games.
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Zack also made significant progress in his special training this summer. After absorbing several ball-handling potential points, his current dribbling ability has increased to 91. At the training camp, Tim Grover commented on Zack's current ball-handling skills, "I don't want to say you're the best ball-handling big man in NBA history, but I think it's a fact." In Grover's opinion, only a few current NBA perimeter stars can do better than Zack.
Furthermore, with Payton's help, Zack further improved his defensive footwork in daily training. He also completed the [Glove's Signature Skill] quest, earning the [Glove] badge, which will have specific effects tailored to his training performance under Payton's guidance.
Legendary Badge [Glove]: When the host performs slide steps on defense, their lateral quickness will be slightly enhanced.
In mid-September, filled with great expectations for the new season, Zack officially embarked on a China tour arranged by various sponsors. Even if the sponsors hadn't arranged it, Zack would have wanted to find a chance to go back to China to enjoy some real food. But... anything associated with work is never truly enjoyable or fun. During this 10-day China tour, flying from Beijing to Shanghai, then to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu... Zack's mental state could only be described as numb.
Nike's "little king," LeBron James, didn't join Zack on his China tour. Instead, he started his own tour in late September. Publicly, James's reason was that he needed more time to improve himself. But internally, the other "Three Musketeers" knew very well that James was tired of being Zack's supporting act. The four-game sweep in last season's Finals undoubtedly left a deep psychological scar on James.
To gain even greater strength, James decided to add 5 kilograms of muscle this summer. This will bring his weight to an astonishing 124.5 kilograms next season. Keep in mind, Zack, as a heavy-set forward, usually weighs only 124 kilograms. But Zack is a true power forward in terms of height. Therefore, James, who is approximately 205 centimeters tall with shoes on, will have a strength that can be simply understood as unmatched for his position. And most importantly, James's historically elite physique can completely handle this weight. It's no exaggeration to say that the current James, when driving to the basket, is a literal human tank.
As for refining his skills? This summer, based on data analysis provided by the Cavaliers' coaching staff, James, who had already begun to appreciate the advantages of "Moreyball," focused his skill training on the great technique of the "Bald Lion's Cold Arrow." Additionally, Zack's primary ball-handler style of play also benefited James greatly. The only downside is that next season, James will be paired with his childhood idol, Allen Iverson, in the backcourt, which means he's unlikely to get the "ball always in his hands" privilege like Zack does.
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After finishing his China tour and returning to Oakland for the Warriors' training camp, Zack immediately saw MacRoberts lifting weights. After admiring him for a while, Zack curiously asked, "Is this rookie planning to defend 'Big Yao' in the post next season?"
MacRoberts was speechless for a moment. It wasn't until Murphy came over and reminded him that he realized his mistake. "Rookie, didn't the coach tell you why we drafted you?"
Why did the Warriors draft MacRoberts? Of course, for his passing ability and his potential as a shooter. What good would a MacRoberts who spends all his time lifting weights do for the Warriors? After all, in all the opponents the Warriors have faced in recent years, it's always been Zack guarding those superstar big men.
"I... I'll go practice my three-pointers right now," MacRoberts said to Murphy, suddenly realizing he'd been putting his efforts in the wrong direction.
Compared to the rookie MacRoberts, Zack immediately saw the difference between a veteran and a rookie when he noticed Grant Hill already voluntarily practicing corner three-pointers and looking quite confident. Furthermore, upon noticing Zack, Hill politely put down his basketball, smiled, greeted Zack, and then continued his training. At that moment, Zack thought, "How great would it be if all my teammates were as sensible as Hill?"
Unfortunately, Zack's teammates couldn't all be like Hill. So, when Zack learned that Ron Artest still hadn't gotten that damned surgery by the opening day of training camp, his expression suddenly darkened, and he repeated "Good" several times.
"Where's Baron?" Zack turned to Jack and asked.
"Baron had a family emergency and will miss half a day of training, but he sent his offseason training results to the coaching staff first thing this morning," Jack said.
"Training results?"
"You might not believe it, but after a summer of hard work, Baron is as strong as a bull!"
"..."
Although Zack needed to see Davis himself to judge the veracity of Jack's assessment, when Zack learned that Davis wasn't harboring resentment because the team hadn't discussed a contract extension with him, Zack's anger suddenly flared to its maximum. Why could Davis train diligently and wait for his future, while Artest had to retaliate against his teammates in such an irresponsible way?
Zack remembered clearly that he had already made it clear to Artest in the summer that Artest didn't need to worry about his "retirement contract." Because no matter how much the Warriors' front office might not want to give Artest that verbal promise, unless the Warriors didn't want to re-sign Zack in the future, Artest would definitely get what he wanted.
The Warriors were about to embark on their quest for a three-peat this coming season. Yet, Artest still hadn't gotten that damned surgery. Zack admitted that he and Artest had shared countless wonderful moments in the past. But now, those were all gone.
"Tell Ron he doesn't need to come to the Warriors' practices anymore. There's no place for him on this team."
"And tell Matt, from now on, Ron's locker will be his!"