On September 6, 2004, Milicic received a call from Larry Brown, informing him that the team would start training together on the 10th.
As soon as he got off the plane, his agent Mark had already driven to pick up Milicic. In order to meet Milicic, Mark flew from New York to Detroit. On the way to the city center, Mark kept telling Milicic that he wanted this endorsement.
, that contract. Although Mark is a super agent and his annual commission can reach tens of millions, he is not so easily satisfied. Moreover, he has seen the influence of international players from Yao Ming's success, and has recruited a number of them.
International players. And the most popular among them now is none other than Milicic. Players' salary sharing agents can only raise 4%, while advertising endorsements can be as high as 20%.
Milicic put aside the endorsement contracts that Mark handed him and said: "I really have no plans to endorse any brand for the time being."
"You're crazy! There's a lot of money waiting for you to make. It's the right way to sign more endorsement contracts before the excitement of the Olympics is over, brother!"
"Mark, I want more than this!" Milicic knew that in his previous life, Milicic was addicted to the pursuit of money too early and lost his fighting spirit. Poor children do not lack the ability to fight against difficulties.
Motivation, they have the courage to change their lives, but once they live a prosperous life, they start to settle for a small amount of money. What they lack is a grand goal and the determination to resist external temptations. "The success I want
It’s not that I sign a contract with some unknown second-rate brands. What I want is a big success. It’s not that I rely on these brands to make money, but that these brands rely on me to make money. You understand the difference between the two.
Is there a difference?"
Mark was stunned, shook his head, and said: "To be honest, I don't understand! How long do you think you can become an All-Star player? You have to know that everyone who enters the NBA is a one-in-a-million talent. They were all in the same state before.
Or a country may have the best players, but most of them will either become marginalized or relegated to the second-tier league after entering the NBA."
"Are you so pessimistic about me?"
"Brother, it's not that I'm pessimistic. I've been in this league for so many years and I've seen too many ups and downs. We have to talk about many things based on probability. I don't understand basketball, and I don't understand those so-called talents. I
I just know that I will seek the best benefit for you based on your current market value, that's all. This is my job and the reason why you hired me."
Milicic smiled and said: "Your so-called interests are too short-sighted. I have carefully looked at the contract just now. They are all three or four-year long-term contracts. The purpose of this contract is to take advantage of the time between the Olympic Games and the Olympic Games."
Four years to create maximum value for them. If I sign, I may get a few million more in the next few years, but if I become an All-Star player, wouldn’t this kind of contract make people laugh at me?
The biggest idiot in the league. Pippen's seven-year, $20 million contract is right in front of him, am I going to be second to Pippen?"
"But you have to know that you don't even have a chance to play in the Pistons! If you refuse these contracts, then I will give you another suggestion. Leave the Pistons and I will exchange you to a weak team, where you
You can use it to your heart's content." Mark said seriously.
"Mark, I know your decision is all for my sake, but I hope to give me a chance. It won't be too long. I will give you an accurate answer before the transfer deadline in February. I won't cling to it."
I live in a sinking ship, but I also don’t want to leave in despair." Milicic gave Mark a reply.
After all, having seen the Pistons go from victory to defeat in this world, Milicic knows that last year was the peak of this iron-blooded team. This year, they will be defeated by the Spurs in the finals. Since then, they have never been on the highest stage of the NBA.
Moreover, the spiritual leader of the team will switch to the Bulls in the near future in order to seek higher salary. As for Larry Brown, the devil in Milicic's life, after the end of the season, he was at odds with Pistons owner Davidson and his contract.
Upon expiration, he switched to the New York Knicks.
The Pistons started intensive training earlier than other teams. This team does not have much talent. If it rests for too long during the offseason, it may be difficult to maintain its competitiveness. In addition to the Pistons' starting five, veteran Cole
In addition to Mann, Campbell, Davis, Lindsay Hunter and McDyess, the players that need to be inspected in the preseason include center/power forward Milicic, center Dixon, small forward Davin Ham, small forward
Forward Dupree, shooting guard Delfino, point guard Smush Parker.
As soon as Rasheed Wallace saw Milicic, he came over and said jokingly: "Hey! Boy, give me at least half of your Olympic gold medal points, no, you have to give me three-quarters, and you have to give me the last one."
The ball depends entirely on the straight-arm shooting method I taught you."
Rashid had such a cheerful personality, Milicic did not pay too much attention to his words, pretending to be proud and said: "Brother, what does this have to do with you? I rely entirely on my talent."
, I didn’t mean it, okay!”
The person who said this was unintentional, but the person listening was intentional. Captain Ben Wallace can be said to be a player with no talent. His height, including his towering hair, seems to be only the official 2.06 meters. Later, he also revealed that his
He is only 2 meters tall when wearing shoes. Ben has no way to score except for dunk opportunities. He was not involved in the 1996 golden generation draft. He is said to be a player in the 1996 class, but he signed with an NBA team as a free agent.
It’s just that he got to where he is today entirely through his own hard work. The so-called genius sounds more like a mockery of him. He came over and said to Milicic: “It’s a good thing to have talent.
You did a good job in the Olympics, but you can't relax. You have to be more strict with yourself when you come back, so that you can have a chance to play."
Although Billups and Milicic are not good friends, he also had the same fate as Milicic. He once entered the NBA as the No. 3 draft pick in 1997, but he has been depressed. If he hadn't won last year's
The Finals MVP, I'm afraid he can only be called a mediocre player. Billups came over and joked: "After you develop muscles like this, more women will pester you, Darko."
You must know that this is the direction for your efforts, haha!"
The more people have experienced being ignored, the more they can't help but praise. Ben actually laughed stupidly at this boring compliment and thought to himself: "I also have something that stands out from this humble guy!"
With this excitement, Ben led everyone to do warm-up training such as running baskets and stretching. The first day of training did not have a large amount of exercise. It was mainly focused on recovery. Hamilton was in good condition and suggested a three-pointer.
In a three-versus-three match, the losing team has to carry everyone's luggage.
Naturally, the top five Pistons were going to participate. At first, the other one thought it was McDyess, but then Ben pointed at Milicic who was drinking water and said, "Count Darko in there!"
In an instant, the whole team's eyes turned to Milicic. Milicic just took a sip of water and looked at everyone's neat eyes. He couldn't help but think to himself: Why do they look at me like this? Are they gay?
