Millions of boys

Los Angeles, Lakers training facility.

Young Kobe Bryant is participating in a tryout with the Lakers.

Before the NBA draft, each team will invite some young people who are about to participate in the draft to come to the team for trial training. This is also an excellent opportunity for the team to examine the player's level.

Of course, the players themselves will also have their own choices. Those players who are well-known, outstanding, and relatively high in the draft will only participate in trial training with their favorite teams or teams in big cities; others will play big names and refuse to participate in trials.

training.

Those players who are not famous or capable will cherish every trial opportunity, hoping to leave a good impression on the team.

If he can be chosen by the team, even if he is not selected in the future, he can enter the NBA as a free agent.

Before the draft, Kobe didn't actually get many trial opportunities, at least not in line with his status in later generations. This was mainly because Kobe was only 17 years old at the time, and his age was his biggest disadvantage. At the time, many people felt that

, at Kobe's age, he cannot adapt to the fierce competition in the NBA.

The NBA has always been biased against high school players. Americans generally don't like players who skip college from high school and enter the NBA directly.

Before Kobe, the last player to participate in the NBA draft as a high school student was Kevin Garnett. However, Garnett was already 19 years old when he participated in the draft, so Garnett can be regarded as a big player.

One player.

And at that time, Garnett was regarded as "the strongest high school student in history", so the Timberwolves were willing to use the fifth overall pick to select Garnett.

After Garnett, the next "best high school student in history" is LeBron James.

Thinking about James' treatment before and after the draft, he was truly favored by thousands of people. Before he even entered the NBA, he was regarded as a superstar and the future ruler of the NBA.

Looking at Garnett's treatment during the draft, there are all kinds of doubts. Many people even think that the Timberwolves using the fifth pick to select Garnett is simply crazy!

Such a comparison shows how discriminatory the NBA was against high school students in the draft at that time.

Moreover, before Kobe, all the high school players selected were inside players. Kobe, as an outside player, was even less favored.

Kobe was able to participate in a trial with the Lakers thanks to his agent Arn Tellem.

Arn Tellem is the future minority owner and vice president of the Pistons, and before that he served as a player's agent.

He has many connections in the American basketball circle. For example, Jerry West, the general manager of the Lakers at the time, was Tellem's friend.

It was also because of this relationship that Kobe got the opportunity to try out with the Lakers, and his performance impressed the Lakers. In the end, Jerry West decided to get Kobe.

Kobe is from Philadelphia, so he hopes to join the Philadelphia 76ers. In high school, Kobe also trained with the Philadelphia 76ers.

In 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers won the No. 1 pick, but the entire United States knew that the Philadelphia 76ers' choice must be Allen Iverson.

At this time, Iverson was a god-like presence in American college basketball, and the 76ers lacked an outstanding outside leader, so Iverson naturally became the best choice for the 76ers.

At that time, Kobe's draft prediction was in the top 20. Since the Philadelphia 76ers were unwilling to use the No. 1 pick to acquire Kobe, Kobe was destined to miss the 76ers.

As Kobe's agent, Tellem worked hard, hoping to send Kobe to a team in a big city, so Tellem began to use his personal connections to get Kobe a trial training opportunity with a big team.

On the training ground, Kobe was conducting confrontational training. There was no doubt that Kobe beat his opponent to the ground.

In the stands next to him, Tellem was sitting next to Jerry West, constantly promoting Kobe to West.

West is the general manager of the Lakers. As long as he is willing to nod, it will be a sure thing for Kobe to come to the Lakers.

"Kobe is the most talented young man I have ever seen. Last season, he just led his high school team to the state championship, and he also broke the Pennsylvania high school scoring record. The record holder was Chamberlain!

"

Tellem paused before continuing: "In addition, he also won the Naismith High School Player of the Year, the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year, and the McDonald's All-American Team."

West looked at Kobe Bryant on the training ground and said, "I admit that this is an excellent young man and a talent that can be made, but he is still too young. I am worried that his physical resistance will not be able to compete in a short period of time."

Use NBA intensity."

"In terms of physical confrontation, you don't have to worry at all. Kobe once trained with the Philadelphia 76ers." Tellem introduced.

"That's because his father was once a player for the Philadelphia 76ers!" West smiled and then said: "I still remember that guy Joe Bryant. He had no technical details and no love for playing.

Doing dirty work, all the bells and whistles, it’s like a performance!”

When Joe Bryant was playing in the NBA, Jerry West was the deputy general manager of the Lakers, so he naturally knew Joe Bryant.

Tellem smiled awkwardly. The reason why Kobe was able to go to the Philadelphia 76ers and train with NBA players was indeed inseparable from Joe Bryant. After all, Joe Bryant once played for the 76ers.

After four years.

However, Tellem did not give up persuading, and decided to approach it from another angle.

Just listen to Tellem say: "O'Neal's contract has expired, the Lakers should be interested in him, right?"

"I think every team except Houston will be interested in that big guy!" Jerry West said.

"But the Lakers' salary space should be tight! If you want to sign O'Neal, you must use a maximum salary. You need a contract worth over 100 million US dollars to impress him."

Tellem paused, then lowered his voice and continued: "And if you successfully sign O'Neal, then your current starting center Divac will lose his role.

Divac is in his prime and his salary is quite high, so I think you need to trade Divac out and clear his salary space so that you can give O'Neal a big contract.

I happened to receive information that several teams are hoping to strengthen their interior lines. They may be interested in Divac and are willing to pay a first-round pick for it!"

Jerry West raised his eyebrows slightly, he already understood what Tellem meant.

If the Lakers want to sign O'Neal, they must clear some salary space, and the best way is to trade out current starting center Divac.

Tellem is willing to help the Lakers trade Divac, but the prerequisite is that the other party will use the draft pick to pick Kobe, and then use Kobe's signing rights in exchange for Divac from the Lakers.

In this way, the Lakers traded away Divac in exchange for salary space, and at the same time got rookie Kobe Bryant, while the other side got Divac's immediate combat power.

Looking at Kobe Bryant sweating profusely on the training ground, Jerry West was still very satisfied. This young man has a maturity that belies his age and is someone worth spending time to cultivate.

"Let me think about it first!" Jerry West replied.

Tellem went on to say, "Let me tell you another news. There is a sports brand that is also very optimistic about Kobe's potential. They have already offered him a five-year endorsement contract worth 5 million US dollars."

"Five million in five years? To a high school student. Real or fake?" Jerry West's eyes were full of disbelief.

Although this price is not high in terms of star endorsement contracts, after all, Kobe is only a minor high school student, not an official NBA player.

He was offered an endorsement contract before he even entered the NBA. It was an unbelievable act at the time.

However, this incredible behavior has become normal after the emergence of LeBron James.

At this moment, Tellem's cell phone rang.

"Sorry, let me take a call!" Tellem said.

"Hello, I'm Tellem, Mr. Bond, hello, what? Seven million in six years? Okay, I will notify Kobe."

Tellem put down his cell phone, smiled at West, and said: "Now it has increased to 7 million in six years!"

…

In addition to the team's coaching staff and management, there are also some scouts and media reporters paying attention to the training camp organized by the team before the draft.

Teams in big cities like the Los Angeles Lakers attract even more attention, so there are many reporters and scouts sitting in the auditorium on the sidelines to watch the players' trial training.

At this time, a bearded scout was staring closely at Kobe.

This bearded scout is not from a certain team or a sports media, but is employed by the famous sports brand Adidas.

"This high school student is underestimated. He can completely adapt to NBA competition. Sooner or later, this young man will become a superstar in the league! It is worth our early investment at Adidas!"

…

After the tryout, Tellem immediately found Kobe.

"The other party has increased the price again. It's 7 million US dollars over six years. How about it? Do you want to agree to it?" Tellem asked.

Kobe shook his head without hesitation: "I have sneaker sponsorship now, so I don't want to consider any sports brand endorsement. Participating in the NBA draft is the most important thing next."

In the United States, it is easy for students to find sponsors when they engage in sports. Even primary school students can find sponsors as long as they practice a certain sport well.

High school stars like Kobe naturally have sneaker sponsors, but this kind of sneaker sponsor only supplies some basketball shoes and reimburses some training expenses.

For example, when Kobe Bryant came to Los Angeles for a trial training, his sneaker sponsor paid for the transportation expenses, as well as the room and board expenses during the period.

Of course, this kind of sponsorship is nothing compared to endorsements from big brands.

Tellem has also seen the world, and he knows that Kobe's future commercial value will definitely be more than 7 million US dollars.

So he said: "Well, since you don't want to, I will help you decide. Maybe they will add more money!"

…

"Kobe refused again?" Li Weidong shook his head helplessly.

"I think we should change our spokesperson!" James Bond said.

"No, it has to be Kobe!" Li Weidong thought for a while and said, "Continue to increase the amount, 10 million US dollars in six years!"

"What? Ten million US dollars in six years? To a high school student? A minor?" James Bond looked shocked.

"Minor?" Li Weidong suddenly had an idea in his mind, and he continued: "Since he is a minor, he needs the consent of his guardian before he can sign the endorsement contract!

Find a way to contact Kobe's father and tell him that if he is willing to help us convince Kobe, we will give him a commission of 2 million US dollars!"

…
To be continued...