The rest is just noise

3 pm on June 17, 1986, New York, Felt Forum.

Representatives from all teams have arrived at the scene, and staff in the league office are also getting ready.

In the 1986 NBA Draft, Benjamin Wilson from UCLA has attracted enough attention. He is as intoxicating as Bo Jackson.

Scouts' biggest concern about Wilson is whether his body can adapt to the intensity of NBA-level competition.

And whether his technical advantages under such physical conditions can be brought into play when he enters the league.

Therefore, the mainstream view is that Wilson was too anxious.

He should stay in college for a few more years and wait until his body matures before entering the league.

However, this kind of thing will only become more and more difficult. After all, Ewing signed the largest contract in the league when he first entered the league last year, which is difficult for many young players from poor backgrounds to resist⑵.

Wilson's family situation is average. He has no worries about food and clothing at UCLA, and he originally planned to stay in school. However, the Knicks inexplicably got the No. 1 pick, and since he wanted to play for Louis, he decisively chose to participate in the draft.

Ten minutes later, Stern walked onto the stage.

"Thank you all for coming. There will be many talented young people entering the league in this draft. They will shine in the future and add luster to professional basketball. This draft has a total... In five minutes, we will

Announcing the selection of the New York Knicks, who hold the first overall pick."

"Please wait."

The Knicks' draft war room is set up in Louis' office at the Blue Palace.

At this time, Louis was thinking about drinking Coke or Sprite, and said: "If I suddenly change my mind and choose Brad Doherty, will Benjamin hate me for the rest of his life and touch his upper limit?"

Tomjanovich said uncertainly: "With the child's character, it's very possible."

"Dougherty is great. That young man plays with so much intelligence. I like him the most. Actually, Benjamin is not that good." Baylor likes to express his insights on the draft, "This idea is really good, we will choose North

Doherty is stuck, let him play the twin towers with Ewing, what a combination..."

Yeah, that automatically went to a wrong answer.

Louis decided to choose Coke.

"Listen to what you said, I won the top ten picks." Louis laughed and talked about Baylor.

The time spent just making fun of Stern was spent boringly talking to the commentator as he walked from the front stage to the backstage, and then from the backstage to the front stage.

"In the 1986 NBA Draft, New York selected..." Stern's pretense of suspense seemed particularly stupid. Is there anyone on this planet who cares about basketball who doesn't know who the Knicks are going to select?

"Benjamin Wilson, from UCLA!"

The applause and cheers at the Felt Forum were like thunder.

Wilson stood up, wearing a purple suit that paid tribute to Louis, and shook hands with Stern with a smile.

"Benjamin got his wish, he can finally go to New York to play for Little Lu." Marv Albert, the commentator of the draft and the commentator of the Knicks' home games, said, "Clyde, what do you think of the Knicks?

choose?"

Walter Fraser, Albert's partner and the only "Clyde" recognized by New Yorkers, said: "We have to make it clear that joining the league at this time is not the best time for Benjamin. He is too thin.

The Knicks are a team that likes to fight, and he will definitely encounter many problems, but he still chose to participate in the draft, and the Knicks also fully respected his talent and selected him with the first overall pick."

"He's a natural Nick."

The most popular player in the history of New York basketball has personally canonized Wilson as a "born Knick", and Albert naturally accepted it happily.

A national television reporter at the scene interviewed Wilson.

"Benj, what does playing for the Knicks mean to you?"

"It's a dream come true. This is the only team I want to play for. The Knicks have the coach I want to play for most. I'm so excited!"

Zhao Yuanzheng boasted in a weird way: "Wow, is this the charm of Coach Lu?"

"Lu, Detroit has sent the transaction fax to the league." Baylor asked, "Do we want to follow up and confirm?"

"Confirm it."

"No more thinking about it?" Tomjanovich said, "Benj is too skinny. I don't think it's a good thing for him to start in the starting lineup right now."

"No, it's not just for Benj to start, the important thing is that we are about to move from the rebuilding stage to the championship chasing stage. I can't imagine what kind of championship team will allow Tony Campbell in the starting lineup."

This offseason, the Knicks will send away many people and welcome many others.

For the people around Louis, it was really risky for him to do this.

However, Louis called this lineup that won 50 games a transitional lineup.

Belle was still a little hesitant.

Louis said decisively; "Confirm."

"It's up to you!" Belle went to confirm.

Wilson was still being interviewed on the live broadcast, and in the Blue Palace, Louis received a call from Chicago.

"Jerry, who do you want to choose?" Louis asked knowingly.

Klaus said decisively: "Brad Doherty?"

"Are you sure?" This shocked Louis.

If the Bulls drafted Dougherty, would Auerbach be so nervous that the Suns would draft Bias with the third pick?

Is Boston destined to escape this fate?

Just when Louis was about to hang up the phone, Klaus suddenly yelled: "I was kidding!"

"rough!"

Louis covered the phone and cursed: "This damn stupid pig! If I make a deal with him next time, I will be a pig!"

After scolding the people around him, Louis regained his composure: "Then who do you want to choose?"

"Lon Bias, University of Maryland."

"you sure?"

Louis' words "Are you sure" made Klaus see a hateful smiling face from the distance.

It was as if Louis was sitting in front of him and asked with a smile: "Are you sure you want to choose Bias? This is not good."

"Any questions?"

"Don't get me wrong, I'm confirming, is your choice really Len Bias?"

"That's right."

"L-e-n B-i-a-s, Len Bias, Confrontation?"

"Yes."

"I understand, wish you good luck."

Louis died after saying this, but Klaus's mood suddenly fell into the abyss.

What exactly is the problem?

Of course he believed in his own judgment, but Louis' gloating tone seemed to look like he was digging a hole to bury himself, as if choosing Baias was a huge mistake.

What's the problem?

Stern came to the stage again.

"Although New York has just announced its first pick, this year's second pick also belongs to New York."

It's not easy for Stern to get so many cheers in New York.

But tonight, he got it again and again.

"Is there something wrong with Bias?" This question flashed in Klaus's mind.

He didn't know what the problem was. Maybe he was just overthinking it. Is there any problem with Baias?

Scouts, college coaches, Auerbach, everyone who has seen him all call him a genius and a future superstar.

He is the kind of player who is destined to play well.

How could he have a problem?

"1986 NBA Draft,"

There's nothing wrong with Bias, there's absolutely nothing wrong with him.

"The New York Knicks chose..."

That bastard Little Lu is just playing mind games, he always does, that bastard!

"Lon Bias, from the University of Maryland!"

The crazy cheers at the scene were enough to prove how much the fans loved Bias.

"It feels great to be a part of the Knicks," Bias said proudly and confidently.

The photographer's camera clicked, people clapped and cheered, and the future opened in front of him like a long, flat, golden highway.

What's wrong with him? On this day in 1986, can any American who loves basketball dare to say that he is not a superstar of tomorrow?

"I wish you good luck, Lun." the reporter interviewing him finally said.

Louis' words before hanging up the phone loomed like a curse.

Klaus had no reason to worry, so he decided to get rid of the demonic barrier, and the way to do it was naturally to drink a bottle of wine.

They got rid of McHale, who didn't seek improvement, and got Bias, whose mental strength can help Barkley reach the highest level. One day, Barkley and Bias will stand at the top of the league.

"Our deal with Chicago has indeed been confirmed with the league. It can't be changed, right?"

When Bias was selected, Louis asked the people around him.

"Yes, I guess the media has already gotten the news by this time."

"That's good." Louis smiled like a devil, "Chicago is finished."

⑴The only American athlete in history to become an All-Star in both the NFL and MLB.

⑵ Before the 1990s, the reason why it was common to play for three or four years before running for the draft. In addition to following the trend of "everyone is like this", a very important reason is that truly capable players get the maximum salary as soon as they enter the league. Unlike now where there are standard rookies

Contract, if you play college basketball for one more year, you will earn one less year of money. As for why a large number of junior students dropped out of school to participate in the draft in the early 1990s, I will probably mention this later, so I will not go into it for now.