Chapter 51 Lakers' First Game
It can be said that many media are very pessimistic about the Lakers' almost crazy behavior.
After all, the reason is simple.
They thought he was just a top draft pick.
The Lakers' line's actions are irrational!!
And.
No Asian defender in history has ever been able to bear such great expectations!
How will he perform after entering the NBA?
No one knows about this matter.
However, the attitude of the Lakers' top management is indeed very clear.
They believe that this is the matter of signing Sashiro.
They made a lot of money!!
In the end, the Lakers successfully signed Sashiro as their No. 1 pick with a salary of 50 million US dollars over four years!!
You know, the contract Ball signed in the end was only for 20 million US dollars over four years.
Not even half of Sashiro's!
And Sashiro also became the first Asian defender in history to receive such a top salary!!!
Fifty million US dollars.
This is just a rookie contract!!
Even in the entire NBA league, compared with the current players who have already established themselves, this contract is definitely a very large contract!!
This is all proven.
How optimistic are the Lakers about Sashiro!
However.
Because of this incident, the Lakers became the focus of public attention for a while.
Of course, some fans who support Sashiro were extremely happy about this matter.
They know Sashiro's strength!
They know that Sashiro will bring them change!!
But.
Some people who are not fans of Sashiro have great doubts about his ability.
Before the game even started, some fans left messages under the Lakers' comments, asking the Lakers to give up on this guy as soon as possible!
"How can this guy lead the team to win the game?!"
"We need change, but definitely not this kind of change!!"
"Besides the fact that Asians can play a role as centers, do you really expect an Asian guard to lead the team to achieve any results?"
"Why would you trade such a huge price for an Asian? Do you think you are exchanging Jordan?"
"I think the Lakers' top management must be crazy!!"
...
Faced with such words, the Lakers' top management is actually under great pressure.
But they think their choice is absolutely right!
Sashiro.
He is that one in a million genius!
The reason why they are so determined is nothing else...
At this time.
In the office of the Lakers' senior management.
Kobe sat in a chair, looking more majestic in his suit and tie.
He slowly opened his mouth and said:
"It seems that you have done a good job in this matter. Believe me, you will not regret your choice today."
The Los Angeles Lakers executives who were sitting together all nodded after hearing this.
You can imagine.
The Lakers' top management is so determined because of Kobe's strong recommendation!!
And Kobe's evaluation of him is even more outrageous.
In Kobe's own words:
"This young man has a chance to surpass me!"
"In the future, he will become another new history!!"
"If we can get Sashiro, the Lakers dynasty will reappear!!!"
...
Although the outside world has not yet reached a conclusion on who made a profit and who lost money in this transaction.
But.
In the following summer league, the 76ers sent their second pick Fultz to participate in the competition.
In the game, he almost achieved MVP-level performance and statistics!!
Such performance also impressed many fans.
The voices supporting Fultz are growing louder.
This second place, which was won for nothing, also made more and more people feel.
Sure enough, the free ones are the most delicious!!!
Compared to Fultz, who has been in the spotlight recently, Sashiro, who won the No. 1 pick, has seemed much more low-key recently.
The team did not allow him to participate in the summer league.
Instead, during this limited offseason, the team has been allowing him to adapt to the team and hone tactics...
Of course, the team doesn't want him to participate in the summer league.
Just taking Kobe's words.
Sashiro now has already surpassed the standards of the summer league!
If Sashiro goes to this match.
Otherwise, just give out the award directly!!
What else is there to compare?
It's meaningless!
Could it be that they were asked to compete for second place?
Why!
It was precisely because of Sashiro's absence that Fultz led the team to quite good results in the summer league.
And after that.
More and more people are optimistic about Fultz.
Even Fultz himself forgot the fear of being dominated by Sashiro in the NCAA.
Countless media outlets have joined in praising Fultz while becoming increasingly pessimistic about Sashiro.
Seem.
This No. 1 pick who suddenly emerged and consumed huge resources of the Lakers now looks...
There doesn't seem to be any surprising moves.
But the opposite.
Fultz often brings surprises to people.
This made the comparison between the two people even more intense.
More and more people are beginning to support Fultz.
And this situation finally reached its peak after the start of the new season!!
October 2017.
The new NBA season officially begins!
In the Eastern Conference, in the first game, the 76ers' second pick Markelle Fultz made his NBA debut!
In his NBA debut, he played for 21 minutes.
Maybe it was due to the experience in the summer league or the training the team gave him.
In short.
In this first game, Fultz scored 17 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 0 turnovers in limited playing time!!
This is a pretty good record for a rookie who just entered the league.
Even during the post-match media interview, the head coach was blunt in front of the media:
"This time! The Lakers made the most wrong choice in their lives!"
"But I also want to thank the Lakers for this!"
"Thank you for being so generous in sending such a great player to us!!"
On the other hand, Fultz, who had an excellent first appearance, confessed in an interview with the media:
"I believe the Lakers will regret giving up on me."
At this time, the media asked:
"So what do you think you'd like to say to Sashiro when you face him again in the ring?"
"Facing Sashiro?"
Fultz repeated the reporter's question and then said nonchalantly:
"That's only after he proves himself that he'll have the chance to have a face-to-face conversation with me!"
"I am no longer the person I was before."
"Sashiro, you are no match for me!!"
As soon as these words came out.
This news immediately topped the media's hot list tonight.
The reason why they chose this time to hype the news immediately is very simple.
Because the next day, it was the Lakers game!!