Champion Creed

After announcing all the first-round draft results, David Stern returned to the locker room.

The smile he had maintained on stage turned into a serious expression, as he turned and asked his assistant Adam Silver, "Michael is still unreachable, isn't he?"

Silver, looking at the phone that no one answered, shook his head, "Sorry David, but it seems Michael doesn't want anyone to find him."

Hearing this response, Stern's mood plummeted.

Even though Grant had a very unpleasant break with the Bulls last season, he was still one of the important members of the Bulls Dynasty. Krause just traded him for a high school rookie, Michael should have jumped in front of the camera and cursed Krause out.

But up to now, Michael Jordan still hasn't shown up or made any comment about it.

This means he doesn't care anymore.

He doesn't care what this team will become.

He might really be leaving!

How could he leave?

The NBA, after a slump in the '70s, ushered in prosperity with Magic and Bird in the '80s, then entered a golden age under Michael Jordan's leadership.

But the golden age had only been sustained for a few years before the standard-bearer was going to leave?

Stern was in a bad mood, but no matter his mood, he had to, like Krause, start preparing for the worst in advance.

Shaq was also in a bad mood. Seeing that the first-round draft had ended and the Magic Team still remained indifferent, he immediately called their general manager Pat Williams:

"Are you serious, Pat? You're not respecting the opinion of your core player at all!"

Pat Williams knew he would get such a call; he had drafted his response: "Shaq, we all know you'll be the greatest player in the future, but who's the greatest player right now?"

"Uh... Michael?" Shaq was confused by the counter-question that didn't follow the normal logic.

"Correct! Bulls general manager Jerry Krause once told reporters after winning the championship last season: Regarding Michael, I can say this about him. He has never come to me asking for a trade for a certain player, nor has he asked me to draft a specific player. Part of the reason may be that he thinks he can win without those players."

See, Shaq, that's what the greatest player should do!

Is a player who just thinks about how to team up with others all the time, without considering how to solve difficulties, truly a great player?

What's more, the door for Roger is not completely closed to us.

If it turns out that Webber is a wrong answer, I promise you, Shaq, I promise you, I will do everything in my power to chase after Roger and bring him to your side!"

The young O'Neal was completely taken in by this narrative of "the greatest player never picks his teammates," not knowing that 30 years later, a self-proclaimed greatest player would completely ignore this rule.

Shaq, who had calmed down a bit, softened his tone: "You'd better keep your word, Pat!"

After hanging up the phone, Pat Williams breathed a sigh of relief.

Webber a wrong answer? That's simply impossible~

Meanwhile, Roger, wearing a Bulls cap, walked along a narrow corridor, surrounded by reporters frantically snapping photos.

As the first high school rookie since 1975, and a foreign new player, Roger was already enough to attract attention.

Now, joining the incredibly popular Chicago Bulls, Roger received as much attention as Webber, the number one pick.

If Roger staged a scene where he found a Chinese child's summer homework at the Palace of Auburn Hills arena, he would certainly become an internet sensation.

Passing through the corridor, Roger entered a room draped with a giant blue backdrop. He was about to take a group photo there with the 17 draftees invited to the green room, along with David Stern.

As Roger walked in, David Stern immediately greeted him with a beaming smile. From his face, one couldn't tell that he was actually feeling terrible.

"Kid, I know things happened suddenly, but you have to get used to it. This is the NBA; trades can happen anytime. Besides, this is the happy trouble that talent brings you. It proves that you're the kind of outstanding player that multiple teams would fight over."

Roger nodded with a smile, understanding that teams trade among themselves, but he hadn't expected the Bulls to be so persistent in acquiring him even after being denied a workout.

This was the first butterfly effect Roger brought to the NBA.

At this moment, Roger could finally understand what the Slam Dunk GOAT felt in 2009.

In the 2009 draft, adamant about going to the Knicks, the Slam Dunk King refused workouts with other teams.

In the end, the Warriors, without having worked him out, still forcibly took him with the seventh pick.

If you say it's unpleasant, being forcibly snatched at least shows your skills are recognized.

But if you say it's delightful, Curry was worried about having no place on the Warriors because they already had Monta Ellis. Roger didn't want to go to the Bulls because he thought Jordan would return soon.

Everyone has their worries.

So, on the surface, being snatched away seems glamorous. But in truth, for those involved, being snatched may not be a good thing.

They say the grass is always greener on the other side, but who pays attention when Auntie is starving? Only one knows the highs and lows within every situation.