Build a Dream Dynasty

On the morning of May 26, 2010, the mood of the entire NBA was mobilized by a piece of news from the Nets.

Jiang Shixiao, a Chinese-American businessman, purchased a 55% stake in the Nets and a 50% stake in the Barclays Center, a new arena built by the Nets in New York, for $430 million. There is a clause in the contract: Jiang Shixiao can buy the remaining equity for $450 million before the 2012-13 season.

Shortly after the NBA officially announced the news, Yahoo Sports and ESPN also reported on the matter.

As two well-connected media groups, the two broke the news of the Nets equity transfer, and also broke the news about the reorganization of the Nets management, including Nets general manager Vandeweghe, head coach Everest. For many staff members, including Johnson, their days in the Nets are basically over.

For Nets fans, two decades later, it was voted the greatest day in franchise history, more than worth the team's first NBA championship.

At nine o'clock in the morning, in the Nets' press conference room, under the guidance of team press officers Tracy and Vandeweghe next to him, Jiang Mingliang, wearing a Nets jersey with his name on it, walked in. , the flashlights of the entire conference site flashed in unison.

The first to speak was Vandeweghe. At this moment, he was still the general manager of the team and announced that the team's equity had been transferred. Mr. Bruce Ratner transferred some of the shares he held in the Nets to Mr. Jiang Shixiao. Mr. Jiang Shixiao He will become the largest shareholder of the team, and he will also step down from the position of general manager of the team and be taken over by Mr. Jiang Mingliang.

"Next, please ask questions from the reporters!" Tracy said.

In addition to the finals in full swing, the acquisition of the New Jersey Nets affects the hearts of most media practitioners. As soon as Tracy said that, he started to ask questions, and all the reporters raised their hands.

Later, Tracy asked the first reporter to ask a question, and a white woman in her 30s stood up: "Hello, I'm a reporter from the New Jersey Globe. First of all, congratulations to Mr. Jiang Shixiao for completing the report against the Nets. Acquisitions. What I want to ask is, the team has a terrible record this season, which means that the management needs to do a lot of work to turn the team around, what are your plans for the summer?”

"Before I officially took over the Nets, I did a lot of research with my team. Of course we will make adjustments for the team. As for how to build the team, I think there is still a period of time for me to prepare, one thing I can Assurance to fans that in the new season you will see a brand new Nets team, and this team will bring fans a different experience!"

After the local reporter gave her face, Tracy ordered a second reporter to ask, and a black male stood up and asked, "Hello, I'm a reporter for ESPN. We've all got the news, after the acquisition is over. After that, the team will have a reorganization of the management. Does it mean that you are dissatisfied with the operation of the previous management? How will the composition of the team's new management be composed?"

This question was a bit sharp, Jiang Mingliang looked at the other party and felt a little dissatisfied.

"Mr. Vandeweghe, I am very grateful for his hard work for the Nets, this job is not as easy as the outside world thinks, maybe his grades are not so good, but this is not one person's responsibility, we need us Everyone on the team, including me, come together to turn the team around. Hope he can have a happy vacation and then start again."

"Coach Avery Johnson, I am very grateful to him for taking over the team at a time of crisis. There is an old saying in China that when you accept the defeat, it is to describe his character. However, we have some disagreements about the future direction of the team, and we broke up. It's not that either of us has a problem, it's just that we don't fit. Hopefully he can find his next job soon."

Jiang Mingliang expressed his "reluctance" to several employees who had been fired by him, but as for the candidates for the new management, although he already had a goal in mind, he never mentioned it.

"The Nets currently have a lot of cap space. Do you have the heart to pursue superstars such as LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Amrest Meyer in the free market?"

A reporter from The New York Times can say that they dug a hole for Jiang Mingliang. In the league, management or team owners are prohibited from publicly discussing player transfers.

"LeBron, Dwyane, and Amre are all very good players. I will like to use them in 2K." Jiang Mingliang jumped over this pit with the help of the game.

Next, the reporter asked a variety of questions, and Jiang Mingliang answered them one by one.

Walking out of the press conference room of the Prudential Center (Nets' home court), Jiang Mingliang looked up at the team flag flying in the sky and said in his heart: The road ahead is still long!

. . . . . . .

Butler University, located in Indiana in the Midwest of the United States, has a beautiful environment and is very close to downtown Indianapolis. Jiang Mingliang had already contacted Stevens through some connections before he came to board the plane. Stevens should be waiting for him in the hotel in front of him now.

When I entered the hotel cafe, I saw Stevens waiting for me in the corner! Compared with Stevens, who will be called the young coach in the future, he is more "fresh" now. There has never been such a young head coach in an NBA team. Jiang Mingliang saluted Stevens in the distance and walked straight over.

"Is that Coach Stevens? Hello, I'm Jiang Mingliang!" Jiang Mingliang introduced himself.

Stevens stood up and shook hands with Jiang Mingliang: "There has been news about the Nets acquisition these days. I didn't expect the new general manager to be younger than I thought. Nice to meet you."

"That is, the acquisition was announced to be completed, so I had the opportunity to meet Coach Stevens."

Nonsense, I didn't come to talk about coaching the Nets. Could it be that I came to talk about sponsorship and give money to Butler University? Then it's better to contact the school, why should you contact Stevens?

"Coach, do you know anything about the Nets?" Jiang Mingliang asked.

After receiving the call from the staff, Stevens studied the video carefully, and immediately replied: "How do you say it! Most of your games this season are not worth analyzing, but the composition of the players is not worth analyzing. Come on, I have some ideas."

Stevens was also very direct, but in the latter part of the season, the Nets were basically rotten, trying to increase the team's transaction value with a No. 1 pick. In this case, any analysis is false.

"If you refer to last season, you shouldn't use 'you' because I'm not in it yet. When it comes to next season, I hope you use 'we'." Jiang Mingliang said clearly.

"Haha." Stevens smiled, "The Nets' lineup needs a large-scale change of blood, and if you want to achieve good results, you can't achieve it in a year or two."

"Do you want to do it? We two young people, lead a brand new team, and reach a higher level together?" Jiang Mingliang emphasized the word "young people", telling Stevens that he would follow He is in the same camp, and no one will disobey him because of his age.

To be able to coach an NBA team is every coach's dream, especially a young coach, but Stevens is still a little worried and asked: "What I want to know is whether I can carry out my work smoothly? What rights do I get? "

"You will get all the rights that belong to you. No one will come to tell you about your formation. You have the right to veto the introduction of players and transactions. Nets You may not be able to sign every player you want, but I will definitely not put anyone you don't want into the team." Stevens's level will be recognized by everyone in the future, Jiang Mingliang put his treasure on him , at least a good choice.

"Since you have said so, I am very willing to coach the Nets. When do you need me to take office! There is also a salary to be discussed..."

"Once the acquisition plan is successful, you can take office immediately. In terms of the contract, it is 15 million yuan in five years. What do you think?" Stevens was speechless.

Unlike European football, NBA teams don't poach coaches from each other. As a coach, they usually don't jump to other teams if they work well with the team. So the general coaching contract is three to four years. If a rookie coach or a firefighting coach can only get a two-year contract.

"I am very satisfied with the annual salary of 3 million US dollars. 5 years is enough for me to make achievements." Both the salary and the length of the contract are reassuring for Stevens, and Stevens smiled with satisfaction. Shake hands with Jiang Mingliang.

"OK, I want to tell you one thing here, don't worry, I will support you in your work!"

After parting with Stevens, Jiang Mingliang walked out of the coffee shop with a sense of accomplishment in his heart. It has been a while since he came to this world, and Jiang Mingliang has never been so excited.

Stevens, but one of the cornerstones he selected for the Nets!