The Basketball Court Swordsman

In downtown Indianapolis, between Deville Street and Spagna Street, there is a high-status building in Indianapolis—The Banker's Life Arena.

This is a place where Indianapolis people are proud, people in other cities are afraid, and Antetokounmpo vents his anger.

At this time, the outside of the Banker's Life Arena has become empty. But just an hour and a half ago, there was still a lot of people here. Because the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers was just held here.

This game is considered a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals this season. At the beginning of the season, the Pacers defeated the Cavaliers. But this time, the Cavaliers led by James have achieved revenge.

They scored 132 points in the Bankers Life Arena! There is no doubt that this is the Pacers' most conceded game in the past six years. The 15-point difference is also the worst game the Pacers have lost this season.

The reason why this game is like this is not because the Cavaliers really crushed the Pacers, nor is it because the Pacers were too careless.

In fact, the Pacers players performed very well today. Paul, George and Antetokounmpo all scored 20 points. Oladipo's 16 points also caused great trouble to the Cavaliers.

But all this has changed because of the role player Kyle Korver.

This man only played 26 points today and scored a game-high 29 points efficiently. He took 12 shots throughout the game and only missed 2 goals. The most frightening thing is that Korver shot 8 of 9 from the field outside the three-point line!

Korver today is more deadly than James and Owen. So in fact, the Pacers lost this game is not normal at all.

But Antetokounmpo doesn't care about this. If you lose, you lose. No matter how you lose, Antetokounmpo is not happy.

On the empty training ground, he will repeat every scene of the game just now, put every basketball that just came out of the frame back into the basket, and take apart every defense that he just failed to understand.

Antetokounmpo explained in an interview that he likes to practice this behavior after losing: "After a bad game, I will really get angry. I am afraid that if I go straight home, these anger will It can never be dissipated. So stay and practice. This is how I dissipate my anger."

Antetokounmpo often completes this kind of post-match "self-punishment" directly on the playing field, which he learned from Chris Paul once after a loss. But now, he is more exaggerated than Paul.

He was always thinking that if he was quicker when he defended Korver, maybe that guy would not make so many three-pointers.

This is Antetokounmpo, and this is why he has grown from a small transparent to a superstar.

Therefore, when Henson walked out of the office at 11:30 and walked into the training hall, he was not surprised when he still saw Antetokounmpo practicing. Antetokounmpo's highest record is to leave the training hall at three in the morning. Had it not been forbidden by Henson and strictly supervised, this guy would probably do such things often.

"It's almost done, Yang Nis. I told you that if anything goes too far, it's not a good thing."

Hearing Henson's voice, Antetokounmpo immediately stopped his movements. From his expression, it is not difficult to see the look of surprise.

"Boss, I thought you were gone a long time ago." Antetokounmpo scratched his head, at this time his jersey was completely wet with sweat.

"I wanted to go, but I'm afraid you will practice until the early hours of the morning, so just come and see."

"Hey, don't worry. I promised you that I will never leave that late again." Antetokounmpo, who was full of anger just now, looked like a child in front of Henson.

To be precise, he was originally a child. Don't look at Antetokounmpo has been playing in the NBA for several years, but he is only 22 years old now.

"Today's game... don't blame you, it's a good thing that you are willing to take responsibility, but sometimes it's not just wise to take all the responsibility on yourself. I would rather see you put this effort away On the court, not against yourself. Do you know what I mean?"

"Of course, boss. Let's go, I'll leave with you. Next time we go to Cleveland, I won't let you down."

"Yeah... By the way, Yang Niisi, actually I came to you tonight to discuss something with you."

"Discussion? Hahahaha, what are you discussing? If you have something, you can just say it, and I'll do the same." Antetokounmpo spoke heartily.

"Pascal Siakam, the guy who just transferred from the Raptors last month. I hope you can give him some pointers. He is a great guy, but he has no confidence in himself. Trained. At that time, take care."

"That's it?" Antetokounmpo's smile was still on his face.

"That's it."

"Well, I will pay attention to him."

"I'm joking with you, Yang Nis. Actually, what I really want to say is," Henson took a deep breath, "Bird and I have decided to renew the contract with you in advance. Moreover, it is a maximum salary extension. Yang. Nice, you are going to be a billionaire."

After Henson finished speaking, the expression on Antetokounmpo's face solidified instead.

"You said...renew the contract early?"

"Yes, early renewal. Don't worry, we will open a maximum salary contract for you. Valued at 106 million US dollars, you are now the league's top star."

Antetokounmpo swallowed and suddenly remembered his own life.

Deported from the country time and time again in Greece, in the streets of Greece, relying on stalls for a living. In the United States, once could only sleep in a gymnasium... But it was precisely because of this life that Antetokounmpo learned to work hard.

And now, he succeeded. He is enough to buy a three-story villa in Indianapolis to take care of his family, as well as his future children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren...

Without warning, Antetokounmpo hugged Henson.

Antetokounmpo’s reaction when he heard that he was about to renew his maximum salary was a little different from what Henson had imagined...

At noon the next day, the chief manager of Antetokounmpo, Jeff Austin, came to Bird's office as scheduled to discuss the renewal of the contract with the Pacers.

It is a discussion, but in Henson's view, this renewal may actually not require a manager to come forward. After all, both parties really want to continue to cooperate with each other. Antetokounmpo has feelings for Indianapolis, and the Pacers’ price tag is also very sincere.

But during the negotiation process, Jeff Austin said unexpectedly, “I agree with Yang Niss about the contract renewal. However, Yang Nis and I feel that there is a negotiation on the price of the renewal. Space."

Hearing this, Henson's eyes widened instantly. Is it possible that Austin this guy still has a big mouth?

"Haha, don't get me wrong," Austin clearly saw the change in Henson's expression, so he quickly explained, "The so-called price change is not a price increase, but a price reduction. Antetokounmpo told me this morning that he was willing Take the initiative to cut salaries by $6 million to make room for the Pacers to sign up. Therefore, the price tag for our contract extension is not 106 million in four years, but 100 million in four years."

Austin smiled. He knew very well that if the Pacers hadn't recommended Antetokounmpo to his manager, he wouldn't have had such a large customer. So when Antetokounmpo proposed to cut his salary, Austin agreed.

Although Austin is an insidious and cunning manager that people think of, he has always believed in two words-reciprocity and enlightenment.

After hearing Austin's explanation, Henson let out a sigh of relief. He must admit that he was just scared.

Willing to take the initiative to cut salary by $6 million, which is not a small amount. When Henson first started as a head coach, his salary throughout the year was less than $6 million, and the number of real hands after tax deduction was even rarer.

Therefore, Antetokounmpo was willing to take the initiative to cut his salary so much, which really made Henson feel gratified and moved.

Unlike Leonard and Jimmy Butler, Antetokounmpo is already a Polisian with corn yellow blood.

At noon that day, under the filming of several invited reporters, Antetokounmpo signed his name on the contract. In the next four years, his talent will belong to Indianapolis.

Only ten minutes later, the news of Antetokounmpo's four-year renewal of 100 million Pacers in advance spread throughout the United States.

There is no doubt that while some people admire, there will definitely be voices of doubt.

But Henson believed that Antetokounmpo would use actions to shut everyone up.