Soul of the Golden State

Chapter 229 Best Rookie
On May 5, the Warriors played against the Houston Rockets at home.

Before the game started, a ceremony was first held at the scene.

"Then I announce that in the 86-87 season, the winner of the NBA's Eddie Gottlieb Award is West Lee~~"

The so-called Eddie Gottlieb Award is the Rookie of the Year Award. This award began in the 1952-53 season and was voted by sports reporters and TV commentators.

As for the name of the award, it is named after Eddie Gottlieb, the first professional coach in NBA history and the coach who led the Philadelphia Warriors to win the first championship of the ABA (the predecessor of the NBA).

As Stern's words fell, there were thunderous applause and deafening cheers, all of which represented that Li Weisi won this award, which was expected by all.

"Congratulations, kid!" Stern said to Li Weisi with a smile.

"Thank you!" Li Weisi took the trophy from Stern, held it up high, and showed it to the audience, receiving another wave of applause.

In addition to the birth of the best rookie in the league, other awards are also published in major newspapers today. First of all, the winner of the MVP is naturally Magic Johnson. That’s right, it’s not Jordan. Poor, hardly convincing at all.

As for the magician, it is hard to imagine that this superstar who has been around for 80 years won the first MVP in his life this year, and his lifelong enemy Bird has already won 3.

Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) went to fellow Lakers Michael Cooper, a backup who has only started two games all season.

Needless to say, the best coach is Don Nelson, who has increased the Warriors' 30 wins last season by 26 wins.

In addition, the best sixth man was given to Ricky Pierce of the Bucks, and the most improved player was given to Dale Ellis of the supersonics.

As for the best team, Li Weisi and Ma Long were selected for the best second team at the same time. The other three are: Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins and Isiah Thomas.

The best first team, naturally: Akeem Olajuwon, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Elvin Johnson and Michael Jordan.

There is no third team in the NBA at this time, so even if you are selected to the second team, the gold content is quite high.

In addition, Li Weisi was also selected to the All-Rookie Team, and the other four are: Holt Rod Williams, Chuck Person, Ron Harper and Brad Doherty.

Moreover, there is no second team in the All-Rookie team at this time.

"I really didn't expect Chairman Stern to come to the scene in person today. It seems that he is very optimistic about this young man, West!"

"Fortunately, there is only one game tonight, which saves us Mr. Chairman from traveling back and forth."

The award ceremony was broadcast live on CBS, and the live commentators and commentators were still old friends Dick Stockton and Billy Cunningham.

The two seemed to be in a good mood, and even made jokes about Stern.

With the singing and harmony of the two, the award ceremony came to an end, and then entered the warm-up activities of the two teams.

"Hey, Billy, have you noticed? West is wearing new shoes tonight!" When the TV broadcast camera focused on Li Weisi, it also gave a close-up of his feet, a pair of white shoes with blue embellishments. The sneakers appeared in the camera, and Stockton reminded him sensibly.

"See, this is the new shoe designed by Nike for West, right? It looks pretty good, not like Jordan's "Jordan generation" fancy." Apparently Cunningham is full of disgust for the red Jordan generation .

In fact, when Jordan first came out, even Jordan himself hated the shoes. Who would have thought that the sales would be so good,
It can only be said that Jordan's vision is as stable as ever.

"That's right, West signed a big contract with Nike this year, and at the same time asked Nike to create an independent brand of sneakers for West, and what West is wearing today is 'Professor 'The first boot of the series, the Laser!"

"Professor? Why did you get this nickname? It sounds like he shouldn't be playing basketball, but going to the laboratory." Cunningham laughed.

"Haha, you're asking the right person. Before the game, I interviewed the Warriors from the owner, coach to the players. They gave me many different answers."

"tell me the story!"

"First of all, Warriors owner Frank said that West wanted to do a Ph.D. in college. If it wasn't for basketball, he would probably do scientific research. At that time, maybe he should really be called Professor Li (Prof Li).

Then, their head coach Nelson said that many of West's technologies are completely ahead of this era, such as ultra-long three-pointers, snake-shaped breakthroughs, bomb throwing, etc., it is completely like studying in a laboratory for many years before getting it. Isn't it the professor who came out to use it and did the experiment in the laboratory?

I also interviewed their teammates. Mark Price said that West likes to help every teammate. He knows everything about basketball or other knowledge. Therefore, his teammates jokingly called him a professor. "Stockton eloquently explained the origin of Li Weisi's nickname to Cunningham, and Cunningham was taken aback.

However, for the vast majority of fans, they are very interested in this kind of star's private affairs, and they listen with gusto, but it is the protagonist who is a little confused.

For example, the head coach Nelson mentioned in Stockton's mouth asked Frank beside him with a puzzled look: "When did I say such a thing? This Dick is too good at making things up, right?"

"Don't blame him, he also read from the script." Frank replied with a smile
"Read it from the script? You mean...how is this possible? Why would he help Li Weisi buy sneakers for no reason?"

"Of course it's not for no reason. Who would do something that is not beneficial?" Frank curled his lips.

"Benefits, don't you give him..."

"Shh, don't talk nonsense, I didn't do anything!" Frank quickly denied.

"Well, you are very kind to Li Weisi." Nelson suddenly realized, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm helping myself." Frank shook his head with a smile. He didn't specify the specific details, that is, he has shares in Professor Li, a subsidiary of Nike, so the sneakers are selling well, isn't it? Does he benefit too?

Seeing Frank's appearance, Nelson didn't bother to ask, so he set his sights on the court. The pre-match warm-up was over, and the starting players of the two teams were already standing on the court.

The Warriors' starting lineup remains unchanged, Li Weisi, Mullin, Rodman, Smith and Malone.

For the Rockets, the starting five are: Aaron Revere, Rodney McRae, Robert Reid, Ralph Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon.

Sampson did not come back from injury until the end of March, but out of consideration for protecting him, the team let Sampson play as a substitute in the rest of the regular season until the playoffs. Sen returned to the starting lineup.

Therefore, although Sampson's average data per game this season, regardless of points, rebounds, assists or blocks, has hit a career low, his strength should not be underestimated, especially the improvement he brought to the Rockets. incalculable.

As the referee's whistle sounded, Olajuwon and Malone, the master and apprentice, took off at the same time, and the game officially began.

　There is no way, the nicknames everyone mentioned always feel almost meaningless. In the end, I chose what I thought of before. Although it is very vulgar, it is still appropriate, so I will just use it. . .

　　
　
(End of this chapter)