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Yang Rui returned to Manhattan and changed his goal to the Knicks.

The Knicks are a strong team in the playoffs. The reason why he was selected was because he knew that Jeff Van Gundy's coaching position was very stable until the 2001-02 season.

The advantage of the Knicks is also obvious, that is, the depth of the lineup. From 1995 to 1999, the Knicks have always had the ability to compete for the championship. There are many defensive champions on the inside, and two strong scoring points on the outside. Except for the poor point guard, they have everything that one expects to find.

Yang Rui is confident that the Knicks will become better, as long as Van Gundy can listen to some suggestions and don't keep pursuing defensive wins.

On June 20, Yang Rui came to "the face of New York" - Madison Square Garden.

He did not immediately send his resume to the Knicks management, but worked in a nearby "Huiwei snack bar". This is a shop opened by a Chinese boss. Seeing that he looks good and does things neatly, he is allowed to stay and his wages are calculated on an hourly basis.

Yang Rui has no money to eat, and if he doesn't call Thomas for help, he will starve to death if he doesn't find a job. This kills two birds with one stone. He must always pay attention to the situation of the Knicks and find a good time to go to the interview.

After the trip to New Jersey, he figured it out. If he just took the certificate to go there, he would definitely not have a chance to perform. His age and seniority would all be factors in the death penalty.

He has to wait, wait for other coaches to compete, and then make a comparison together. Everyone has a certificate, so you can't even deny him the opportunity to participate in the discussion, right?

Yang Rui had a very good memory in his previous life. He had worked on NBA materials for many years, and he basically remembered all the major events. He knows the situation facing the Knicks this summer, Van Gundy's life is not easy.

Last season, the Knicks led the Heat 3-1 in the second round. In the fifth game, Charlie Ward, who was 188cm, was picked up by PJ Brown, who was 211cm, and fell off the field. The main players are suspended, but the Heat have only Brown suspended.

The absence of both Ewing and Alan Houston in the sixth game, and the absence of Starks and Larry Johnson in the seventh game led to a sharp drop in team strength. The Knicks paid a heavy price for their championship rage, and were overthrown by the Heat 4-3.

This way of being out made the Knicks owners and fans very angry.

The old Knicks assistant Rex Hughes chose to retire, and another assistant Andy Greer's contract expired. In response to Pat Riley's call, he switched to the Heat. With the addition of Bob Salmi who left in 1996, the Knicks coaching staff is left with Van Gundy as the bare commander.

According to the original history, Thibodeau, who was waived by the 76ers, will join and become the first assistant coach of the Knicks. Yang Rui doesn't know about the others. He just wants to wait for Thibodeau and compete with him.

The vision of the 76ers management is speechless. Not only did they lay off Thibodeau, but the assistant coach Ron Adams who was also laid off was also very famous. Later, he came to the Spurs and became Popovich's good helper.

Apart from working as a waiter in a snack bar every day, Yang Rui also finds time to go to the arena to chat with security guards and doormen to get first-hand information. He bought a fat doorman named Kenning with the special snack mung bean cake, and begged him to call the snack bar when someone came to interview the teaching assistant.

The hard work paid off, and on the 27th, Yang Rui finally brought Thibodeau to the team, and there was another person who was openly recruited.

"Xiao Xiao, I'll go out for a while, help me tell the boss, it's urgent." Yang Rui took off his overalls, and shouted in Chinese to the Chinese girls who were working together.

"When are you coming back?"

"afternoon."

Yang Rui took the certificate, rode on the delivery bicycle at the door, and headed straight for the arena. The snack bar is two streets away from the arena, so he unceremoniously used the bus for private use.

This opportunity must be seized, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.

For this reason, Yang Rui has also investigated the location of the arena office.

"I'm sorry, sir, you can't walk around the work area at will. Do you have an appointment?" the female assistant asked.

"I applied for the Knicks assistant coach, and I was with two people." Yang Rui handed over the certificate with a smile.

He didn't say he had an appointment, he just said he was applying for the job, playing with words, even if Van Gundy asked, he wouldn't be lying.

The female assistant had just seen two similar certificates, and knew that the management had called to make an appointment for an interview today. She did not doubt it was fraudulent, so she smiled and said, "Sir, this way, please."

"Thank you, I'll go in by myself." Yang Rui deliberately dismissed the assistant to avoid embarrassment.

He knocked on the door first, and after hearing the voice of "Please come in", he opened the door and walked in. There were four men in the room, two of whom he recognized at a glance.

The forehead is shiny, the hair is slightly longer on the sides, and he looks like a small man who has experienced vicissitudes of life. He looks like Mishima Heihachi in the Tekken game. It is Jeff Van Gundy who was born on January 19, 1962. Well, he is actually only 35 years old.

The other guy in a suit was Thibodeau, much younger than Yang Rui remembered, with a crew cut. Thibodeau is also easy to recognize, he looks like Batman's old opponent "Penguin".

The other two older white men he didn't know were general manager Ernie Grunfeld and Ken Boyd, who was vying for an assistant coach.

Boyd has a lot of background. He has worked as an NCAA coach for 10 years and played briefly in the NBA in the 1970s. He is a white guard with poor physical fitness.

"Hello everyone, my friend introduced me to the interview. Here is my ID." Yang Rui first smiled at Thibodeau and Van Gundy, and then handed the ID to Ernie, because Ernie was sitting in the manager's seat.

Van Gundy is the most decisive person present and must please.

Yang Rui smiled at Xibodu to confuse the public and give everyone an illusion that Yang Rui was introduced by Xibodu. After this interview, if asked, it doesn't matter if Yang Rui said it was introduced by other friends.

Thibodeau also smiled at Yang Rui out of politeness. Both he and Boyd were surprised because Yang Rui was so young.

This Asian is here to compete for a coach? Are you kidding me?

Ernie asked out the doubts that everyone had. "Your name is Jerry Yang, you are only 23 years old this year? Chinese?"

"Well, I grew up in the United States. Today I just want an opportunity to show myself. I know that my hope is very slim to participate in this assessment. I will be satisfied if I can learn something. Please also ask the manager, Coach Van Gundy, to give me this opportunity "After speaking, Yang Rui politely bowed to the two of them.

In the few minutes from the arena to entering the gate, Yang Rui did all the tricks.

As the saying goes, you don't reach out to hit a smiling person, let alone his posture so low?

Ernie nodded, as if he had been introduced by a friend. Van Gundy also ignored the details of how Yang Rui came here.

The Knicks urgently need to appoint an assistant coach, otherwise there will be no one to lead the team in the summer league in July, and they will have to find a marginal team to inspect new players.

"Okay, let's start the assessment now, everyone listen to my question, everyone has to answer." Van Gundy said seriously.

The three people who came to compete for the teaching assistant all nodded solemnly.

Yang Rui heaved a sigh of relief. For him, he successfully passed the most important first hurdle.

P.S.