Six Hundred and Seventy-Six: Kneeling and Licking (5/5)

John Newell, chief advisor to the NBA.

Caucasian, about 50 years old, bloated, with silver hair, looking like an official.

But Newell was kind, kind, and completely unpretentious. In his words, "Aren't we still a group of people working for the team, the team owner asked us to help manage the league, the team owner stopped playing, and I was the chief consultant."

With just one joke, Newell managed to narrow the distance with Link.

Link is actually reluctant to have any contact with the league's top executives, because after all, the league's executives are businessmen, not just basketball practitioners.

Basketball and business are inseparable, but if business goes too far, it will definitely turn sour. And some high-level league leaders always have high self-esteem, which is disgusting.

Therefore, Link has never had much contact with the top leaders of the alliance. Pay the fine when it's time to pay, and accept it when it's time to accept the compliment. At other times, there is basically no meeting.

But Newell was an exception, because sitting with Newell, Link felt like he was just chatting with an uncle who liked basketball.

"You've been amazing this season, Link. 23-1, God, it's 2014, and you've only lost one game! LeBron won't let it go at Christmas, how are you preparing?" After Weil and Link chatted a lot, they began to gradually lean on the theme.

"Well prepared, by the way, John, you said that the league has something to ask me, what is it?" Link heard that Newell was about to enter the theme, so he went down the slope and continued.

"Hey," Newell waved his fat palms, "Speaking of which, it's a little sad. You know, the influence of the All-Star Weekend is now worse than a year."

Hearing Newell's talk about the All-Star Weekend, Link probably had a clue in his mind, it turned out to be this thing!

However, Link did not "rush to answer", he was waiting for Newell to finish speaking.

"In the past, All-Star Weekend was a carnival for fans. But now, All-Star Weekend is labeled as nothing new, boring, etc. In fact, we are also trying to save the situation. Last year, we put the dunk contest, skill challenge The game and the three-point contest have been changed to an East-West confrontation. A few years ago, we no longer had the Rookie Challenge as a first-year sophomore team, but a mixed team. But all we did in vain. , the fans didn't buy it at all."

Newell said,

He glanced at Link. Link nodded lightly, motioning Newell to continue.

"Then we found out that it wasn't about the rules at all. People don't watch All-Star Weekend because they hate the rules now, but because they don't see the stars at All-Star Weekend! Think about it, the '80s and '90s. In the slam dunk contest of the 1990s, you could see the MVP dunking in front of you. In the three-point contest, you could see a legend like Larry Bird! But now? Who remembers the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest champion Jerry Who is M. Evans? After several slam dunk contest rosters were announced, fans even said they didn't know who was participating."

"So?" Link finally answered.

"So, we're going to change direction. We want some real stars to play at All-Star Weekend, especially the most high-profile slam dunk contest. People don't hate slam dunk contests, they hate watching slam dunk contests. When Dwight Howard entered the slam dunk contest, the effect was amazing. But the third year he didn't participate, and the game immediately dimmed. When Griffin entered the slam dunk contest, the action was not too new, but because he was a star player , so everyone buys it. We need a real superstar in the slam dunk contest Link, a great superstar like you!"

After waiting for a long time, Newell finally stated the purpose of this conversation. Link was not surprised, the result was as he expected.

And this also explains why Link has been treated so well these two days.

Do you think the league doesn't want its stars in the slam dunk contest? They must think so too. But there is no doubt that big-name players have turned down the league's invitation. Only those newcomers who have not yet become famous and hope to gain popularity through the slam dunk contest will swim in this muddy water.

Therefore, the Alliance will do everything in its power to Link this time. The purpose is to give Link a good impression and hope that he can accept the invitation to participate in the slam dunk contest.

Kneeling and licking by the league... Link believes that this experience is not all superstars have.

"The slam dunk contest needs to be saved again, Link. The only person who can save the slam dunk contest is you! If you participate in the slam dunk contest, I believe that you will be as famous as Vince Carter in 2000! I I believe that your reputation will be further improved. I believe that you will become the most popular athlete in the league! Of course, I know you don't need to rely on the slam dunk contest to prove yourself, I know you are already the best athlete in the league. It doesn't hurt to further your historical status, right?"

Link could hear that Newell spoke very carefully. No wonder the alliance sent Newell, a kind and good man, to talk to Link, but it annoyed Link if he didn't say anything right.

If this is to send the iron man of Adam Silva, it is estimated that "If you like to participate, participate, if you don't participate, you will be pulled down."

It's not Link's smearing, Adam Silva's negotiation level is really so bad.

"Link, please! Think about it, the slam dunk contest needs you, and the fans need you."

Newell used the word "Please," which Link would not have been exaggerating even if he understood it to mean "please," in Chinese.

To be honest, Link really doesn't dislike participating in the slam dunk contest, he has always wanted to play it.

But in the face of Bill Simmons' provocation and fans' expectations, Link has never made up his mind.

This time, the league actually invited Link to participate in the slam dunk contest, and it was still with such a humble attitude.

It has to be said that Link is quite fond of this.

"I'll think about it, Newell. Give me some time and I'll get back to you."

"Really?" Newell probably didn't expect Link to agree so readily. Although he just agreed to think about it, things went much smoother than he thought.

When the league invited other stars in the past, everyone else basically refused outright. The most euphemistic, at most, is to find some excuses.

It was the first time that Link said that he had to think about it so bluntly.

"Of course it's true, but I can't guarantee it will end up. The only thing I can guarantee is that you'll get my answer by mid-January."

"Thank you so much, Link! I believe that the 2014 Slam Dunk Contest will definitely go down in history!"

Link said goodbye to Newell with a smile, and immediately discussed it with Jeff Austin. Of course, don't forget to inform Pera and Joger.

In the afternoon, Link, along with Durant, James, Harden, Rose and Curry, participated in the shooting of the Christmas War advertising.

This advertisement is very creative. The staff placed five basketball hoops in the basketball court, and each basketball hoop was placed horizontally on the bottom line next to each other.

Then, the net is covered with bells that chime whenever the players are able to put the ball in.

The bells hanging on the net of each basketball hoop are different, so the sound is also different. If you throw the balls into the corresponding baskets in order and rhythm, you can play a simple "Jingle Bells" by relying on the different silver colors emitted by the bells.

Playing music with basketball is a really cool idea.

Several superstar players in short-sleeved jerseys of the Christmas War shot in turn and hit in turn. The shooting of the commercial went so smoothly that it was over in just three passes. Among them, mainly Rose and Harden missed one shot each, and none of the others had accidents in their shots.

After the shooting of the commercial, Link wanted to have a good "reminiscence" with Durant.

However, James took the lead.

"Link, this Christmas, we're not too busy."

James had a smile on his face. Unlike Kobe, he was not the kind of player who could ignore his teammates because of his anger.

But Link knew very well that under this mature smile, what awaited him would be a tougher challenge than Kobe.