Season assist leader, regular season MVP, All-NBA First Team, Finals MVP.

For Li Zhen, the 2008-2009 season was an undisputed successful season.

Although at the beginning of the season, he and the team were experiencing an extremely difficult run-in and were under great pressure from public opinion.

However, the real and fake Athena on New Year's Eve allowed him to make a qualitative leap. He became famous in the dunk contest and became the best dunker in the basketball world today. Michael Jordan encouraged him in front of the whole world to become the next ruler of the league.

Earn an equal position with LeBron James.

In the second half of the season, as Li Zhen's strength improved, the team's integration speed increased significantly. Rookie players grew rapidly with positive encouragement, and the Knicks' record continued to fly.

Although in the process, a management scandal broke out.

Isiah Thomas left with regret, losing his love and career.

However, the Knicks remained intact amid the turmoil and made a strong recovery to reach second place in the Eastern Conference.

In the playoffs, they went even further, defeating the Chicago Bulls without a fight, and then allowed Cleveland to repeat the blindfold of the 2007-08 season, knocking down the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

When they finally went to Los Angeles, the Lakers lost two of their top players and successfully won the championship.

Becoming the only team in history to win the championship, it is crazier than the OK combination back then!

Although many people are discussing it, the opponents the Knicks faced in the Eastern Conference were far from comparable to the opponents the Lakers faced back then.

However, the numbers are right in front of you. 16:0 is more dazzling than 16:1.

Kobe Bryant made a classic statement at the post-game press conference at Madison Garden: "...Second place is the biggest loser."

Although he graciously blessed Li Zhen to win the championship and MVP trophy, it can be seen that he is still unwilling to leave the championship stage like this. He said that the Lakers will definitely make a comeback next season and will definitely take back what they lost!

However, 3 minutes later after his ambition.

Phil Jackson, who was sitting next to him, first praised the Knicks' response at the beginning of the third quarter and praised Li Zhen for using the triangle offense just right.

Later, he said: "To be honest, I am a little tired. My steps should stop. Basketball is no longer attractive and challenging to me. I want to return to my hometown and take advantage of my age.

It’s not too big, but I can still ride my Harley Davidson motorcycle into the sunset.”

These remarks shocked both the media and Kobe.

Black Mamba did not expect that the Zen Master would suddenly say these words without any warning.

He had never said anything about retiring before, and now... he actually made a public statement.

Kobe looked at Zen Master with wide eyes.

The Zen master no longer explains anything.

I just want to accept this defeat. Although there are unexpected factors, the Knicks are not at their peak. They don't even have a head coach.

These words won him a good reputation in New York, and the New York media praised him as a personable person.

Because recently, there have been too many strange voices out there. They said that the Knicks won the championship too easily this year. The two biggest opponents in the East, the Celtics and the Orlando Magic, were killed midway, and the Lakers, their opponent in the finals, lost their core center.

with important flanks.

Phil Jackson's words are undoubtedly the most powerful counterattack. As an opponent, he can honestly tell the world that the Knicks can achieve such achievements without a head coach. This does not mean that the Knicks do not occupy anyone.

Is it cheap?

Moreover, who doesn’t know that the current Knicks lineup was created by Isiah Thomas? Without him, can you say that the Knicks’ combat effectiveness has not been affected?

The New York media is becoming more and more assertive.

…

However.

Isiah, however, felt quite guilty as he sat in front of the TV. He even felt that he couldn't bear the increasingly turbulent and overwhelming praise.

He has never worshiped so much in his life.

The media has hailed him as the best businessman in the history of the NBA.

Also, other teams are asking him to join them with astronomical sums of money.

Can he not be moved?

However, the reputation is already so good.

He really doesn't want to lose his reputation. Cherishing feathers is a psychological fluctuation that everyone will have.

Isiah Thomas is pretty strong right now.

Because he knew that the Knicks' championship had nothing to do with him. As a head coach, he only dealt with the team's logistics. Regarding the establishment of the team, the selection of rookies, and the layout of transactions... he was even more confused.

Looking back recently, I see that it was all Bruce's handiwork and had nothing to do with him at all.

Therefore, he really did not dare to accept the sky-high checks from those bosses.

What if I go there and my eyes darken, wouldn't I become a street rat again?

Isiah never wanted to taste the feeling of being beaten and yelled by others again.

He is not short of money now. The severance package provided by the Knicks is very humane and fully buys out his salary for the next four years.

Dolan's wife was very angry about this matter.

After all, this can be regarded as a fight between mandarin ducks. Just like those original couples in the movie: How much do you want to leave my man?

Although Smiling Assassin didn't set a price, they are very picky.

"Isaiah deserves a lot of credit."

The new NBA Finals MVP on TV started praising Thomas again.

Li is such a wonderful person.

Isiah Thomas admired him very, very, very much, and he would never suffer a loss when working with Li Zhen. In the later period of their work together, although Isiah was nominally the general manager and vice president, in fact, he treated Li Zhen more like a subordinate to a superior.

Report work and strictly implement Li Zhen's orders.

This is how it has become so famous today.

Everyone carries the sedan chair.

After Li Zhen finished praising, acting head coach Jamie Lin continued to praise.

Although the Smiling Assassin never taught him anything, he still said with a cheerful face at the press conference: "Thomas left us with valuable tactical ideas. Although he left, his tactics have been leading the team forward.

Therefore, he must have a share of this championship trophy!"

Thomas was blushing in front of the TV.

Chinese people are all good people!

Isaiah once again went to heaven to praise the mysterious Eastern Land, which is really his blessed land; I, an unlearned and unskilled gangster, can have today's reputation and praise China! Long live the motherland!

Thomas began to believe in reincarnation, and he felt that he must have been Chinese in his previous life.

He even feels that he now has a Chinese heart.

Li Zhen not only praised Thomas at the press conference, he also praised all the players on the team. In his words, everyone was perfect.

The atmosphere within the team is extremely good.

This convinced the New York media that this was by no means the end. It was the beginning of a dynasty!!

…

"I need seven championship rings."

Li Zhen told Jerry West: "I mean, exactly the same. I can add money for six more rings."

Jerry West was a little stunned.

He and Li Zhen have no tacit understanding.

If Thomas were here, he would definitely understand and say OK, leaving a mean smile.

"Are you giving it to your family? Do you want to engrave your own name on it?" Jerry West wants to do things well, and he is very considerate.

But there is a generation gap.

Li Zhen could only continue to tell him: "I'm talking about the exact same ring. Don't engrave anyone else's name on it, just write my name on it."

In order to prevent Jerry West from causing any trouble, he specifically said: "Don't let anyone know about this matter."

Although West felt strange, he nodded.

The season is over and his work has just begun.

He needs to prepare for the upcoming draft, he needs to further strengthen the team, and he also needs to select a head coach for the team... His work is very heavy.

Moreover, West wants to do things better. He doesn't want to give people the feeling of resting on Isiah Thomas's credit book and enjoying the results. He wants to strive for excellence, at least in the way of standing on the shoulders of giants to achieve higher results.

First floor manager.

Li Zhen didn't know what West was thinking.

All he wants now is to have a good sleep...a ​​clean sleep.

For him, the end of the season is just a transition from one working mode to another.
To be continued...