Chapter 758 - 683: Always Looking for the Next Jordan

Chapter 758: Chapter 683: Always Looking for the Next Jordan

The highlight of today’s fan meet-and-greet was a unique friendly match.

Lakers versus Magic.

Baggio and five other star soccer players were split into two groups, each joining one of the teams.

The clumsy Yao Ming was even chosen to be the goalkeeper.

The goal was 2.44 meters high, and Yao Ming stood at 2.26 meters. With a simple reach, he could easily hang from the crossbar.

Since they weren’t all from the same sport, the match had the intensity of a practice session.

Just a friendly kickabout.

But for the fans in attendance, just being able to see Baggio run on the green pitch again was more than enough.

It had been a long time since the world of soccer had seen that sprinting number 10.

So when they saw Baggio, wearing his number 10 Italian National Team jersey, once again running and dribbling past opponents on the field, many fans in their thirties and forties couldn’t help but get teary-eyed.

They weren’t just watching a game; they were watching the memories of their youth.

In the 10th minute of the match, Baggio seemed to turn back the clock, pulling off a breathtaking play.

Receiving a pass from Albertini at midfield, he elegantly pulled the ball back, turned, and accelerated.

Danny Granger rushed forward to meet him.

Baggio executed a simple change of direction, causing the panicked and tense Granger to stumble and nearly fall.

Logically, Granger, who was over two meters tall and could run the 100-meter dash in just over 11 seconds, shouldn’t have been so clumsy. But in front of Baggio, he looked as helpless as a child.

It just goes to show that being an expert in one field doesn’t make you an expert in another.

After getting past Granger, Baggio didn’t slow down one bit.

Even though his opponents were all giants over two meters tall, in his eyes, they were like stationary posts.

A drag-back, a change of direction, a step-over, a change of pace, and an instant burst of speed to get past them.

In that moment, he was truly back in his prime. Amid the screams of the entire stadium, he dribbled past five players in one go and then calmly slotted the ball into the net.

He aimed for the far corner. Yao Ming, standing in the middle, had the goal covered vertically, but he couldn’t move side to side in time.

He didn’t dare dive for it, either.

Before the match, Jackson had specifically warned him not to dive like a real goalkeeper. If he got injured from a fall, the regret would be immense.

The entire stadium erupted.

The name "Baggio" thundered toward the heavens like a deafening roar.

It felt as if the whole stadium was shaking.

It was only a friendly, but the goal was still magnificent.

After scoring, Baggio ran to the sideline and made a listening gesture, inciting an even louder wave of cheers.

Just then, a fan jumped onto the field.

The security guards, who had been watching the crowd intently, responded instantly.

Before the match, their supervisor had warned them more than once to be on high alert.

Because there would definitely be fans trying to get onto the field.

There was also a circle of police surrounding the area.

So this fan was unlucky; he was tackled to the ground just as he jumped down from the stands.

At that moment, from another direction, a woman in her thirties also copied him and jumped down from the stands.

When female fans get wild, they are in no way inferior to their male counterparts.

However, she seemed to have twisted her ankle when she landed.

The guards on either side rushed over, but they didn’t dare pin her directly to the ground.

Baggio must have seen what happened. He quickly ran over and signaled for the security guards to be gentle.

Then he stepped forward and helped the female fan to her feet.

He waved to the stands, gesturing for the fans to calm down, before turning to embrace the emotional fan.

The fan’s face was bright red with excitement. She even planted a kiss on Baggio’s cheek, catching him completely by surprise.

The entire stadium erupted in good-natured cheers and whistles.

The female fan got so worked up that her eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Baggio quickly caught her and handed her over to the security guards.

On the sidelines, Stern, who was right next to Chen Yu, couldn’t help but say, "Chen, this is the charm of soccer, and the charm of a superstar. We haven’t had a player with this kind of global influence in a long time."

Chen Yu turned his head to glance at him.

The old man’s eyes were bright, with an expression that was hard to place—perhaps envy, perhaps something else.

Perhaps, in his heart, he was always waiting for the next Jordan to appear.

When he took over the NBA, it was a total mess.

It was he who used his own wisdom to transform the NBA and personally propelled Jordan to stardom.

Jordan and his Bulls became some of the most influential stars on the planet.

And that was when the NBA ushered in its golden age.

But with Jordan’s departure, the NBA never saw another phenomenal star of that caliber emerge.

Stern had always been searching for Jordan’s successor—Hill, Hardaway.

And later, the "Four Great Shooting Guards."

In the United States, the influence of Hill and Hardaway was of course immense; they were top-tier superstars.

You could tell just by looking at their shoe sales.

Hardaway’s shoes had always been best-sellers.

But their influence was limited to the United States. It never reached the level of Jordan, who was known all over the world.

And now, both Hardaway and Hill were gradually aging.

They would forever just be "the next Jordan," not the real Jordan.

Just then, Chen Yu noticed Stern’s gaze fall upon a particular person on the field.

It was Kobe.

’Will Kobe do?’

Chen Yu couldn’t help but wonder.

Hardaway and Hill had at least proven themselves capable of leading a team to a championship.

Kobe hadn’t done that yet.

But Chen Yu knew Stern’s methods.

The number one draft pick falling to Orlando last year said it all.

’So what about this year?’

This was the final year of Yao Ming’s rookie contract. After this year, the Lakers would definitely have to re-sign Yao Ming to a massive new contract.

That meant this year was likely the Lakers’ last championship window.

By next year, their salary cap pressure would increase significantly.

’Don’t tell me he wants to give the championship to the Lakers this year!’

The Lakers had made it to the Finals; they were just one last push away.

’If they win the championship next year, a 28-year-old Kobe could win the Finals MVP to prove his leadership ability. If he could also snag an All-Star Game MVP and a regular-season MVP, his career would officially reach its peak.’

’This is the most perfect script imaginable.’

’And he’s the only choice, really.’

The two would-be successors to Jordan were already aging.

Tracy McGrady had always been a second-in-command, while Carter and Iverson were still languishing on struggling teams.

Only Kobe was left.

His style of play was exciting to watch, he was in Los Angeles, and he had Yao Ming, a massive fan draw, by his side.

He didn’t have many blemishes on his record, he was hardworking and disciplined, and he wasn’t bad-looking, either.

’No matter how you look at it, he’s the best choice.’

Thinking this, Chen Yu said probingly, "David, like I said, China is a market with huge potential. We’ll have a massive number of fans here, especially for the Lakers. If the Lakers win the championship this Summer, I can’t even imagine how high the enthusiasm from Chinese fans will soar."

Stern nodded in agreement and said instinctively, "That’s right. China is a huge market. If the Lakers were to win the championship, I truly can’t imagine what that scene would be like."

His eyes were filled with longing.

But Chen Yu cursed inwardly.

’Just as I thought. The old man is planning on letting the Lakers win the championship this season.’

The Lakers already had the strength to win a championship. If the league cooperated just a little, winning it all wouldn’t just be talk.

Most importantly, over in the East, the Magic’s management had a track record of making idiotic moves.

For example, this past Summer, in order to control their payroll, they proactively sent Juwan Howard to the Rockets in exchange for air and a first-round pick.

This was effectively a downgrade of a trade.

A twenty-million-dollar Juwan Howard offered terrible value, but at five million, he was still very useful.

In the Summer Finals, Juwan Howard’s mid-range shot was very reliable in crucial moments; he could be considered one of the heroes of their championship run.

And yet, he was just sent away like that.

With such brain-dead management, that championship was probably going to be their one and only.

’But if the league wants to prop up the Lakers, then what about the Phoenix Suns?’

’We were planning on making another run for the championship this year, and we’re even paying the luxury tax for it.’