I was the owner of the Lakers

Three days later, Staples Center, Lakers Training Gym.

Xiao Yang stood in the box on the second floor and looked at a thin young black man on the training ground, wearing the training clothes of the Lakers, and was conducting a series of dynamic and static physical tests under the leadership of the trainer.

“He’s a first-class physical talent, isn’t he?” Xiao Yang said with a smile on the corner of his mouth and turned his head to West beside him.

“Haha, it’s just that the palm is a little small, and it may not be able to catch a powerful pass in the game.” Having said that, the smug look in the corner of West’s eyes showed the excitement of the owner.

That’s right, the young man on the training ground is Kobe Bryant, who is less than 18 years old, and Kobe Bryant at this time looks a little immature, with a green face, without the flamboyance of the Peter Pan period, nor the maturity of the Black Mamba period. However, the determination that flashed in his eyes reflected that this was a good and strong person.

“Hi Kobe, how does it feel.” West and Xiao Yang had already come to the sidelines, waved their hands, and asked Kobe.

“Hey, Jerry, it’s not bad, play normally.” Bryant took the towel handed over by the courtside staff, wiped his sweat, and walked towards West, “This is?” Bryant looked suspiciously at Xiao Yang, who was standing next to West.

“Introduction, this is…” Xiao Yang waved his hand, interrupting what West was about to introduce, “My name is Yangshaw, you can call me Xiao.” If nothing else, I’m your future boss. Xiao Yang looked at Kobe Bryant with a gradually shocked expression with evil interest.

“Oh, sorry, Mr. Xiao, I didn’t expect you to be so young.” Kobe Bryant looked shocked. He really didn’t expect that the new owner of the Lakers reported in the newspaper would be so young, after all, it was a $2 billion deal, and he thought it was a middle-aged and elderly tycoon with a rich fortune.

“Haha, when everyone knows my identity, it is your reaction.” Xiao Yang raised his hand and patted Kobe’s shoulder, although Xiao Yang’s height is also 1.86 meters, but standing in front of Kobe at the moment, he is still a head shorter, after all, Kobe’s bare foot height is 1.98 meters.

“Also, don’t call me so formal, just call me Xiao, except for the identity of the Lakers owner, I’m just a diehard fan of the Lakers.” Maybe it’ll be your fan in the future. Xiao Yang said meaningfully.

“Okay, Shaw.” Kobe is still a shy big boy at the moment, only thinks that this boss is very easy to get along with, if he can be selected by the Lakers, it will be a good result.

After getting to know each other with Kobe, Xiao Yang and Jerry returned to the office, where someone was waiting for them.

Arn Tellem. West’s friend and Kobe’s agent at this time. “Well, did my customers make your eyes shine, haha.” Taylham laughed and stepped forward and hugged the two.

“It’s a good seedling, but technically it needs to be polished, and he hasn’t learned to use his physical talent yet.” West laughed and poured cold water.

“He’s 17 years old, man, he’s going to keep growing. You can’t look at him by the standards of a veteran. Taylham yelled injustice.

“Okay, two of you, shouldn’t we talk about the draft?” Xiao Yang clapped his hands and signaled the two to focus on the draft a week later.

Although Bryant was calling for wind and rain in Philadelphia, his star was obscured by Tim Thomas and Mike Miller at the McDonald’s High School Star Game at the time. He was only 17 years old and had never selected a high school guard in NBA history, so the mock pick to draft Kobe Bryant was only late in the first round.

And the Lakers’ draft pick in ’96 was exactly the 24th pick.

“Jerry, listen, our draft picks are too low to guarantee that we will definitely pick Kobe, we have to trade upwards, at least lotto signs.” Xiao Yang turned to West and said.

“Well, I’ve reached out to a couple of lotto teams and they’re also very interested in Divac.” West nodded approvingly. “And I heard that when Kobe Bryant tried out for the Celtics before, the old man also had a strong interest in him?” Xiao Yang looked at Taylum and asked.

The old man in Xiao Yang’s mouth is the needle of the Celtics, Cardinal Auerbach, not only the Celtics, the old man has great prestige in the entire league, after all, the Celtics are also a giant in the NBA, and the Celtics’ players enter the management and coaching staff of the league’s teams after retirement, so the old man’s lineage can be said to be all over the league.

“Well, Jerry didn’t contact me before, I contacted Kobe Bryant for a few teams for trial training, and when he was with the Celtics, the old man praised Kobe’s performance.” Taylham really wants his players to come to the Lakers, after all, the market in Los Angeles is much stronger than Boston.

“Although the old man is very satisfied, his mind is mainly on the selection of the 6th pick. He decided that Bryant would be selected at most midway through the first round, and he told me he wanted the Suns to help pick Bryant. Telham continued. The Sun’s order is 15, and the Sun’s general manager at this time is Danny Angie. When he was a player, he was a player coached by the old man, and the hardcore Celtic line.

“Sun? 15？ West lowered his head and touched his stubble in thought. If it were only 15, we could cut off our beards. As long as the Celtics don’t have the sixth pick, West is confident of taking Kobe.

“This is certain, the old man will not use the sixth pick to choose Kobe, they should choose Raheem or Walker.” Taylum affirmed, “Kobe Bryant has also tried out for the Suns before, and Ainge revealed to me that he will definitely win Kobe Bryant with the No. 15 pick.” ”

“Who else in the lottery is interested in Kobe?” West looked up at Taylham.

“It seems that the Nets are slightly interested, but they didn’t promise me, I feel that their will is not particularly strong, Kobe should be just their C or even D plan.” Taylham spread his hands.

“In this way, you reveal a little bit to the media and tell them that Kobe Bryant doesn’t like playing for small cities.” West looked at Taylham and said, “As long as there is a little bit of talk, even if it is a matter of chasing the wind, the Nets will dispel the undetermined will, after all, it is just a plan C, not worth their risk.” ”

“Jerry, who are you going to trade with?” Xiao Yang stood on the sidelines and listened for a long time, and although he knew the result, he still asked.

“Wasp. They have two picks, 13 and 16. Originally, they only planned to use the 16th pick, but fortunately Telham brought news of the sun, otherwise they would have really cut off. West smiled and patted Tellem’s shoulder.

“Isn’t President Hornets Dave Cowans?” Taylem’s eyes widened. “If I’m not mistaken, Cowans is a Celtic player, a proud protégé of the old man!”

“Haha, don’t you know, when Cowans was playing, he retired because his friend was angry at the old man’s trade, and his relationship with the old man is not like other Celtic lines.” West laughed that as the two giants of the league, the godfather of the Lakers likes to see the Celtics deflated.

“So, let’s do it, the salary vacated after the Divac trade, we will take it to grab the sharks with all our might.” Xiao Yang clapped his hands, hoping that everything would go well.

Xiao Yang tried not to interfere, so as not to affect the course of history, specially, choose Kobe and start the wave again, if the Kobe wave is gone now, he doesn’t know how to cry, this year first honestly get Kobe in hand, and then let the world see his own commotion.

June 27, 1996, NBA Draft Day, the golden generation of 96 in history.

Xiao Yang and West sat in their offices with a group of team executives, watching David Stern’s opening remarks on television. Xiao Yang only began to be a little excited at this moment, he used to watch it on the other side of the ocean, but now that he is actually doing it, his heart is still a little nervous.

“The 1996 NBA No. 1 pick, the Philadelphia 76ers pick…”

“Guard from Georgetown University, Allen Iverson…”

A small black man with a bright smile on his face walked up to the podium, took the 76er hat and put it on his head, shook hands with Stern, took a photo, and showed a big white tooth.

Xiao Yang looked at Iverson, saliva is about to flow out, AI ah, butterflies wear flower steps, a batch of gorgeous balls, if not really like Kobe, and not so high draft picks, he must get AI to the Lakers.

“The 1996 NBA sixth pick, the Boston Celtics’ choice was…”

Everyone in the office was nervous, deeply afraid that the Celtic old man would convuls, and used the number six to select Kobe.

“Striker from the University of Kentucky, Anthony Walker”

Fortunately, Stern’s name didn’t drive Lakers executives crazy, and a group of executives high-fived each other as a sign of encouragement.

“The 1996 NBA eighth pick, the New Jersey Nets’ choice was…”

“Defender from Villanova University, Crikitels”

The corner of Xiao Yang’s mouth twitched a few times, what the hell, this is, 96 is such a big year, closed eyes can choose an all-star year, the Nets’ eighth pick actually chose this product, the later generations of Xiao Yang have never heard of this name. But don’t care about him, just don’t choose Kobe.

“The 1996 NBA thirteenth pick, Charlotte Hornets’ choice was…”

“Guard from Marion High School, Kobe Bryant”

The Lakers field office instantly boiled over, and a group of executives hugged each other and gave each other high high-fives to celebrate the 17-year-old talented high school student being taken down by the Lakers.

“Hey, Dave, Divac is yours.” West laughed and made a call with Hornets coach and president Dave Cowans.

At this time, on the other side of the draft venue, the old bishop’s cigar could not be clamped, and his eyes were full of surprise, and Angie was holding the phone: “Dave, listen, trade Kobe to me, the Sun’s chips are guaranteed to satisfy you.” What the? Traded to the Lakers? You can’t do this, Dave, hey… Feed. ”

Xiao Yang couldn’t suppress his maniacal laughter at this time, and finally he could give it a go, hahaha, Lakers dynasty, I’m coming.

Some people questioned me for writing incorrectly, saying that there was no Charlotte Hornets in ’96, saying that the predecessor of the Hornets was a bobcat, well, I want to say don’t reveal your age, old fans should not ask this kind of question. Add a favorite.