Chapter 1302 Boss, Do You Have a Chance to Step on Us Again?

However, Li Ba took the initiative to talk about Jimmy Butler and said: "Although this rookie is not strong, he can do dirty work and is really active in defense. Let the trainer polish his defensive skills. He must give these young people Some opportunities."

"Of course." Payton nodded.

After that day's training, the players were about to return to the locker room when Payton stopped a few rookies.

"Andre, you have to be ready to be the starting center."

Drummond's eyes were wide open, with an expression of disbelief on his face, and he couldn't speak.

The other rookies looked envious, but they were not fools. If the head coach left them, he must have something to say to them. Maybe the opportunity was uncertain?

Payton continued to say to Drummond: "Of course it's not the beginning of the season. I need you to adapt to the atmosphere of the game first before you have a chance.

And I'm going to cut your ball rights, and you're going to put all your energy into the defensive end, that's what I'm asking of you.

If you can do it, then you have a chance to start. If you can't, you will sit closest to the water cooler. What is your answer to me? "

"I, I, I..."

Although Drummond was a little disappointed, he still nodded repeatedly and said: "Coach, I can do it. I promise to do a good job on the defensive end."

"OK, next, Chandler Parsons, your position will be small forward, you will have a chance on the bench." Payton said again.

There is no starting opportunity, but Parsons is still very happy. After all, he is only a second-year player, and he is even happier if he does not have to play power forward. He does not like the power forward position.

"Jimmy..." Payton looked at Jimmy Butler.

"Coach?" Butler looked at Payton, feeling uneasy.

"The Hammer has said that he will arrange defensive skills training for you. This is your opportunity. He is very optimistic about your defensive enthusiasm, and the team will develop a special training plan for you."

Payton said.

"Thank you, boss!"

Jimmy Butler shouted to Li Ba happily.

He didn't receive this kind of treatment in his rookie season. The team had a laissez-faire attitude toward him. How could they develop a special training plan for him?

"Work hard. Although your talent is not good and your potential is limited, you must seize the opportunity when it is in front of you." Li Ba encouraged.

On the 27th, the Suns reached an agreement on a regional broadcast contract with TNT.

The contract period is not long. It is not as good as the Lakers, a world-class super city, and it is only signed for four years. This means that TNT signed this contract entirely because of Li Ba's influence.

And this contract also stipulates that if Li Ba leaves the Suns or retires in the fourth year, the contract will automatically terminate.

The total contract value is US$562 million over four years, which can bring the team an average of US$140 million in operating income every year.

With this income and Adi's capital transfer, the Suns' operations will have no problems at all.

With Li Ba's return, team operations have entered a period of explosive growth.

For example, jersey sales, Li Ba ranked first in the league, season ticket sales, for example, have long been sold out, and other peripheral sales are very popular.

President of Operations Ross Bruce was very pleased to tell Li Ba that since the new season, the team's peripheral sales have extended from the home continent to several surrounding continents, which is a radiating influence.

In the next few days, the media speculated on rankings for the new season's championship.

As the defending championship, the Heat have gained recognition from the media. ESPN ranks first in predictions for winning the championship, with a probability of winning as high as 44%.

The Lakers are second at 38%.

The Sun is third at 33%.

The Spurs are fourth at 28%.

The Thunder are fifth at 18%.

When interviewed by the media, Li Ba complained: "Isn't this funny? The Thunder have an 18% chance of winning? I just said, ESPN's professionalism is questionable."

"How high a chance do you think the Thunder should have of winning the championship?" the reporter asked.

"How high? No, no, I have to say that the Thunder have no chance of winning the championship. ESPN and all the media that think the Thunder belong to the championship level are non-professional media."

Li Ba continued to complain.

"Why?" the reporter asked.

"What do they have? Just two rookies, Durant and Westbrook, can win the championship? What nonsense!" Li Ba said with disdain.

"So how many championship-level teams do you think there will be in the new season?" the reporter asked again.

"The Suns, Heat and Lakers are just these three teams, there is no other team." Li Ba said.

Li Ba's statement made many people dissatisfied.

"Boss, give me some face. We played well at least. Can you please don't step on us?" Westbrook called.

"You idiot, I'm here to relieve you of the pressure. The media puts you on the level of a championship team, which is flattering you." Li Ba scolded.

"That's it, boss, you can step on us again if you have a chance." Westbrook suddenly realized.

"As stupid as Harden." After hanging up the phone, Li Ba complained about this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Mavericks owner Cuban was very unhappy. When facing the media, he said: "The Hammers should not exclude our Mavericks from being a championship-level team. We definitely have the strength to win the championship. This is a kind of discrimination. I protest! "

He had to fight for it. The league was negotiating with major broadcasters about the number of live broadcasts in the United States. The benefits of this area are becoming more and more important to the team now, accounting for an increasing proportion of operating income. If he didn't fight for it, what if he was allocated fewer games?

The Spurs had the same idea as the Mavericks. In order to gain some attention, the management immediately arranged for the publicity department to hold a press conference to refute Li Ba's statement.

Popovich personally took the field and fired at Li Ba, but unfortunately his influence was only in the league. Among the fans, his influence was not even one percent of Li Ba's. He didn't make any splashes, and Li Ba was too lazy to respond.

On the 28th, before the start of the regular season, the league announced the number of live broadcasts in the United States.

The defending champions, the Heat, who were strongly supported by Nike, won 42 games, the Lakers won 43 games, and the Knicks won 40 games. These are the top four teams.

The first place is the Suns, with 70 live broadcasts in the United States, and only 12 games were not broadcast in full.

Among them, TNT has 28 games, ESPN has 30 live broadcasts in the United States, and ABC has 12 games.

Judging from this nationwide live broadcast schedule, the Suns' games generally received favor from broadcasters, and the remaining 12 games should be games against the worst teams, so no broadcaster was interested.

When this schedule was announced, the media was in an uproar, shouting that it was unfair, and the expensive broadcast rights income would further trigger vicious competition among teams, making the strong stronger and the weak weaker.

Nike was also very angry. The Heat and the Lakers, which they spent a lot of money to help build, barely surpassed the Suns. Are these broadcasters crazy?

However, these broadcasters are backed by large groups and conglomerates, and Nike can do nothing about it.