He Xi Meng not only led the Chinese team to a grand slam but also achieved his personal honor grand slam!
From NBA regular season MVP, All-Star MVP, Finals MVP, to World Championship MVP, and now Olympic MVP!
As a professional basketball player, He Xi Meng has achieved all the top honors available in the basketball world!
To put it bluntly, he has no regrets even if he dies now...
Of course, He Xi Meng is still a long way from death!
Retirement is also out of the question. He is still several years away from turning 30, and his career is at its peak!
It's just that, in his future career, there seems to be nothing left to attract him except for championships.
Even his health, which he used to value most, is no longer important now!
Even if his career were to end due to injury next season, it would not affect his induction into the Hall of Fame in the near future...
Under the influence of this mentality, He Xi Meng's attitude towards NBA games began to change subtly!
After returning to Boston from Greece, He Xi Meng began to participate in the Celtics' pre-season training camp.
But He Xi Meng was surprised to find that the newly appointed head coach, Rivers, seemed to have already aligned himself with Pierce.
Perhaps, in Rivers's view, a strong outsider cannot suppress a local power.
Although He Xi Meng is strong, he is an outsider in Boston.
Pierce is the homegrown big star of Boston.
As long as he gets along well with Pierce, he can control the Celtics.
He Xi Meng is also important, but it's irrelevant to the overall situation.
Therefore, at the beginning of the training camp, Rivers actively designed tactics around Pierce, intending to make the Celtics' offense and defense revolve around Pierce in the new season!
Can Pierce be the core? Yes, he can.
If the Celtics didn't have Yao Ming and He Xi Meng, Pierce would undoubtedly be the team's core.
However, with Pierce as the core, the Celtics would only be a borderline playoff team.
It's not that Pierce isn't strong, but his style of play makes him more suitable as a free agent operating outside the team's system!
Wherever he is needed, he appears there!
Pierce's individual offense and defense are both quite good.
However, if Pierce is rigidly confined to a fixed position, his strengths cannot be fully displayed.
This is somewhat similar to Ginobili.
But Pierce is more consistent than Ginobili, with better defense, but less explosive power.
Compared to Pierce, Yao Ming, a mobile big man who can pass, and He Xi Meng, a soul-level point guard, are basically capable of being the tactical core of any team in the league. Why is Rivers not utilizing them?
Given Rivers's coaching experience and ability, he couldn't possibly not see this...
"Could it be that Old Rivers is planning to team up with Captain Pierce to sideline me and Da Yao?"
"Even if it's not to sideline us, it's at least a warning!"
Thinking of this, He Xi Meng couldn't help but laugh!
"Interesting, interesting! I thought my days with the Celtics would be rather dull, but unexpectedly, there's this kind of mischief waiting for me..."
"Perhaps, Ainge is also involved! After all, Rivers was fired by the Magic and immediately took over here with the Celtics, all orchestrated by Ainge..."
He's not afraid!
The thought of having to contend with his own general manager, head coach, and star player gave He Xi Meng a sense of absurdity...
On November 2, 2004, the 2004-2005 season fire reignited!
However, the Celtics' record last season was too poor to qualify for the opening game this season!
The Celtics' first game was scheduled for the next day, November 3rd, against the Philadelphia 76ers!
As the new owner, Jordan would naturally not miss the first game of his ownership career.
Before the game officially started, Jordan and Bird visited the locker room, chatted cordially with all the players, and cheered them on.
"How is it, are you unaccustomed to being in Boston?"
When facing He Xi Meng, Jordan's enthusiasm was far greater than towards other players and coaches, including Pierce and Rivers.
Pierce and Rivers, though they didn't say it, were still quite displeased.
Strictly speaking, He Xi Meng was poached from the Spurs by Jordan.
Rivers was poached from the Magic by Ainge.
And Pierce, even before He Xi Meng and Rivers, and even before Ainge, had been playing for the Celtics in Boston!
Jordan is now the nominal owner of the Celtics. Neither Pierce nor Rivers dared or wanted to offend Jordan, but they didn't have as many scruples with He Xi Meng!
Facing Jordan's greeting, He Xi Meng did not directly "complain." He wanted to try to get along with Pierce and Rivers for a while to see if the roster could be integrated.
After all, both Pierce and Rivers were exceptional individuals in terms of personal ability.
The problem is that capable people often have strong personalities and tempers. It's a symbiotic relationship, and it's hard to pinpoint whether their strength leads to their bad temper or if their bad temper has led to their considerable individual ability. 138 Reading Network
"It's not unaccustomed, it's just that the unfamiliar lineup needs time to gel!"
"Don't rush! Rome wasn't built in a day, and championships aren't won in a single season! I believe in you!" Jordan said, giving He Xi Meng a charming smile.
In contrast, Bird was not very familiar with He Xi Meng. He also didn't know what the relationship was between Jordan's major investor, "Basketball Family," and He Xi Meng.
Therefore, Bird only greeted He Xi Meng politely. He was more familiar and closer to Ainge and Pierce, more like a friend.
During the subsequent player introductions, Jordan and Bird took the lead, coming out to receive a tribute before all the players were introduced!
Next, when the Celtics players were introduced, Jordan found that the final player to be introduced was not He Xi Meng, but Pierce!
"What's going on? Didn't we agree with Ainge?" Jordan was immediately unhappy.
"What agreed?" Bird next to him didn't understand what Jordan was talking about.
"The issue of the final player introduction! He Xi Meng should have been the last to enter!"
"No way? I think Ainge's arrangement is fine! Although Xi Meng is amazing, Paul was developed by the team step by step and has a larger fan base!"
"Don't talk about useless things! Ability is everything!"
Jordan said, taking out his phone and dialing Ainge's number.