One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifteen: Focus on Winning.

The news of Link's retirement has made the already highly anticipated new season even more popular.

Because if Link doesn't change his mind, next season will be the last year for fans to watch Link's performance.

No one is willing to miss Link's final season. Of course, fans of other championship teams don't want to miss their last chance to defeat Link.

When Link went to FedEx Arena for training the next morning, he found that there were still a large number of fans and reporters gathered at the entrance of the arena.

So, in a rare move, he stopped his car and walked to the crowd gathered outside the stadium.

When the fans saw Link, they instantly became extremely excited. The cameras in the reporters' hands suddenly flashed loudly, and there was a commotion outside the FedEx Arena early in the morning.

"Link, please stay, we can't bear to leave you!"

"Yeah, just give it a few more years, we all know you can do it!"

"Don't leave Link, we need you!"

Fans gathered around Link, and security personnel at FedEx Arena had to rush out.

But Link stopped the security personnel from trying to separate the crowd. He stood in the middle of the crowd and motioned for all the fans to quiet down and listen to him.

"If you really love me, let me live the life I want. Don't worry, I won't leave you any regrets in the final season. So, let's break up. Let's all come back to the party on game day!"

After Link finished speaking, he left the crowd.

The fans froze in place and dispersed voluntarily after a few minutes.

Yes, if you really love him, you should support him in pursuing the life he wants.

Link has done enough for Memphis, and forcing him to stay is really a very selfish act.

After all, Link is no one's personal property.

The security personnel looked at the fans who were dispersing and looked at each other in confusion.

Last night, they used loudspeakers to persuade us all night long, but to no avail.

Link was good, he managed to get rid of the crowd with just a few words.

This is probably Link's influence and charm.

All Memphians respect Link and are willing to listen to him.

Link walked into the arena, and many members of the coaching staff looked at Link in shock.

When he entered the training hall, Conley and Gasol immediately joined him.

"Are you serious? Are you really going to retire after this season? Tell me Link, you must be teasing those reporters, right?" Gasol's tone was very anxious.

Not only reporters and fans, but also Link's old partners are not mentally prepared to accept Link's retirement.

"I'm sorry for telling you so late, man, I just don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble. But, it's true, this is my last season."

Link looked at the training hall. Many people had come and gone here.

Unexpectedly, it was my turn now.

Facts have proved that Link was right to announce his retirement at this time.

Because Dinwiddie and the others all sent text messages yesterday saying that if they had known that this was Link's last season, they would not have left.

But obviously, they won't be able to get those big contracts.

Link doesn't think retirement means goodbye forever. After all, everyone can still get together outside the basketball court.

Overall, Link doesn't want to make retirement too sad.

Therefore, he always talks about everything in an understatement.

But in fact, Link was more reluctant to give up than anyone else.

"Hey, I didn't expect you to leave earlier than us. In this case, we can't lose in the new season. Link's final season must have the most perfect ending." Conley was holding back a lot of words I wanted to say it, but seeing that Link had already decided to go, he didn't want to persuade him any more.

One of Link's traits that Conley has loved most over the years is tolerance.

That's right, Link is an "unforgiving" bastard. He will not let go of any reporter who speaks arrogantly, nor will he show mercy to any opponent.

At first glance, Link and “tolerance” seem to be at odds with each other.

However, you never heard of Link turning against a teammate because of his departure.

You've never heard of Link having a conflict with a teammate.

This is his inclusive side.

Durant left the Thunder, causing a period of cold war between Westbrook and Durant.

Ray Allen went to the Heat back then, and until now, both KG and Pierce have a bad relationship with him.

But every time someone wanted to leave, Link would not stop them. On the contrary, he is also very supportive of his teammates to develop potentially better places.

Is the atmosphere in the Grizzlies locker room so good because everyone has no shortcomings?

No, it's because Link can accept everyone's flaws and bring them all together.

These are all things Conley learned from Link.

Now, since Link also has his own choice, Conley will not stop him.

Everyone has the right to choose their own life, including Link.

"Don't leave, I really can't let you go." At this moment, a disgusting voice came from behind Link.

The next second, a pair of fat arms wrapped around Link from behind.

Link felt a soft lump of fat sticking to his back, and it was instantly greasy and made Link want to vomit.

"Nikolai, why have you gained weight again!?" Link knew without looking back that it was Jokic.

In the entire Grizzlies team, there is no one fatter than Jokic!

As the owner, Pera is not fat, general manager Chris Wallace is not fat, and neither are the head coach and assistant coaches Jorge and Schneider.

Jokic is the only fat man in FedEx Arena!

"Hey, you can't say anything else. Don't worry, I've started quitting Coke a week in advance. Well, actually I secretly drank a bottle yesterday. But I promise, from today on I won't even drink a bottle of Coke. It will touch."

Jokic let go of Link and saluted Link with an expression that said, "Don't worry, I promise not to drink."

Link curled his lips and felt a little uneasy about handing over the Grizzlies to this funny guy...

Seeing that everyone else in the training hall was waiting for him, Link did not continue chatting.

He clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention to himself.

"I know this is a bit sudden for everyone, but I don't want this to affect our preparations. Listen, I'm not asking you to be a foil for my retirement tour, I'm asking you to help me get the Championship! So, cheer up. It doesn’t matter whether I retire next season, what matters is that we have to win!”

After Link finished speaking, he looked at the fake championship pennant hanging on the wall inside the FedEx Arena training ground.

"Look, look around here, these are all the achievements I made back then! And this is the only purpose for us as a group to gather here! So, come on, guys! The road to four consecutive championships starts today. Got it!"

"Roar!" Everyone roared in response to Link, including five new players, Howard, Rose, Jermichael Green and Morris brothers.

It seems that they have integrated into this championship team very quickly.

But after scanning the training hall, Link found that something seemed to be missing.

So, after the training started, Link approached Qiao Geer.

"Where's Dillon?" Link was referring to Dillon, the second-round pick selected by the Grizzlies in 2017, Dillon Brooks.

Due to injuries last season, Dillon Brooks only played 18 games before being reimbursed for the season.

He has only played 18 games, and he is only a second-round pick. Therefore, unless he is a die-hard Grizzlies fan, not many people will know this guy who has no sense of existence.

However, Link was deeply impressed by Dillon Brooks, because the past performance of this second-round pick exceeded Link's expectations.

In his rookie season, Dillon Brooks averaged 9.8 points per game. Moreover, the three-point shooting percentage was 35.6%.

Not many second-round picks can adapt to the NBA three-point line so quickly in their rookie season. And his scoring average is almost double digits, which is very rare for a second-round pick.

In addition to scoring, Brooks is also very hard on the defensive end. His one-on-one defensive footwork is very good, and it is almost impossible for top isolation players to get past him easily. He also has a very strong body, and although his wingspan is short, he fights very fiercely.

As a "experienced person", Link had no impression of this young man. But in Dillon Brooks, Link saw full potential.

True, he may not become a star player. But in Link's view, he is definitely an excellent swingman and a highly valuable 3D player.

Therefore, Link has actually been looking forward to this young man's comeback. He really wanted to see how far that guy would grow.

"Dillon? He just went to change clothes."

"Changing clothes? He's late? Why are you changing clothes now?" Link was a little surprised. In his impression, Dillon Brooks was a guy who took training extremely seriously.

"No, he came here very early, and his training clothes are already soaked through practice. So, he just went to the locker room to change into a new training clothes." Joger said, spreading his hands, "It seems that we have another There’s a new arena rat.”

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