One Thousand and Six: The Gluttony Syndrome of Championship Teams

Jimmy Butler's departure was not only unexpected by Link, but also reasonable.

Indeed, winning three consecutive championships is an achievement that many players dream of achieving. For many people, let alone three consecutive championships, if they want to win a championship, they have to work hard throughout their careers.

Even so, it may not be possible to obtain it.

But it does not mean that a team that has won three consecutive championships can maintain the status quo. After all, everyone has their own pursuits and goals. Not everyone wants to do the same thing repeatedly on the same team.

Especially after winning three consecutive championships, people's psychology will change.

Let alone three consecutive championships, it is not uncommon for the championship lineup to fall apart even after winning just one championship.

The Dallas Mavericks in 2011, the Lakers after the last three consecutive championships, etc. are all living examples.

No team can dominate one side all the time. The huge mobility of players is also one of the greatest charms of the NBA.

In this regard, Pat Riley, a famous NBA coach and current general manager of the Heat, has long studied and summarized this situation. He vividly called this mentality "greed for too much".

Pat Riley was more than just a well-known head coach, and that doesn't even begin to sum up his greatness. Riley has a very thorough understanding of the sport of basketball and the NBA.

He is one of the few people in this league who can win a championship in three different capacities as a player, coach and general manager. This is not because Riley is lucky.

He can lead the team to win championships as a coach, and he can also finalize seismic transfers of the Heat's Big Three as general manager.

He has his own ideas about basketball. He once predicted that the boundaries between different positions in basketball will become increasingly blurred in the future, and there will be five players around 2.05 meters tall on the basketball court.

Now, this trend is gradually becoming a reality.

The gluttony syndrome of championship teams is also a very real theory put forward by Pat Riley.

The impact of participation on player enthusiasm and motivation may not be reflected in a game, a series, or even a season.

But two seasons? What about founding a dynasty? When in the third or fourth season you are still just sitting silently in the corner and shooting open three-pointers, combined with the inertia of the championship team "I have been to the top of the mountain", you can still maintain the same attitude as when you first hit the championship. Concentration, and still think it is fun, passionate and honorable to see the same faces every day and play 82 games?

After a team wins the championship in one year, all the players will want more time, more money, higher status or more shots the next year.

They will think, "I am already a championship player. I should always have some privileges of my own, instead of repeating things like pick-and-rolls and open three-pointers every day and give the spotlight to another person."

He will want to stand alone and create his own championship era.

He will think that he has won enough championships, and maybe he should continue his career in another way.

Everyone has their own ideas and desires. This is the gluttony of championship teams, an inevitable phenomenon that happens to every championship team.

Pat Riley saw this phenomenon thoroughly and put forward a theory many years ago. He knew that the players in this league are not a series of statistics, but living people.

You can't get everyone to have the same idea. It's like Iguodala doesn't like the role of a star player, but some people are obsessed with it.

Many years ago, guard Gary Neal, who was discovered and trained by Popovich, once said when he left the Spurs,

"The Spurs are indeed a great team, but no matter how many championships and victories they win there, you will never be the protagonist. The protagonist is Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan. No one will remember you at all."

Therefore, Gary Neal chose to leave.

Therefore, it does not mean that if a team keeps winning and winning championships, everyone will stay with it for the rest of their lives.

Not to mention these role players, superstars such as James, Garnett, and Paul have never made it to the first team.

And those players who are always on the first team may not be as glamorous as they appear on the surface.

Although Duncan has become a symbol of the Spurs now, at the beginning of the millennium, he was infinitely close to the Orlando Magic.

Although Kobe is now the totem of the Lakers, he once made noises about going to Chicago to play. If the Lakers hadn't brought in Gasol, God knows if Kobe would still be wearing the purple and gold jersey.

At first, Link found it difficult to accept that Butler was leaving.

But after going back and thinking about it the next day, Link felt relieved.

He not only accepted the fact that Butler wanted to leave, but he was also mentally prepared for more people to leave.

This summer is a beautiful summer. But inevitably, it will be a summer of farewell.

"What's wrong? You've been distracted since you came back from dinner with Jimmy yesterday." Rachel, who was lying in Link's arms watching TV, touched his face, and Link came back to his senses.

"It's nothing, we're thinking about our travel route, hehe." Link smiled. He didn't want to bring his work worries to Rachel.

"You're very considerate. Go take a shower quickly. The water should be hot by now."

"It's still early, it's only eleven o'clock."

"You have to rest early today. Did you forget that you still have to go to the rookie trial tomorrow?"

"Oh, that's right." Link patted his forehead. Tomorrow is the day when this year's rookie players will go to FedEx Arena for trial training.

And Link will naturally come to the scene in person and try his best to let the Grizzlies bring back some people who are useful to the team.

Since the Grizzlies have always been a championship team, there are no high draft picks. As for low-ranking draft picks, Link's experience from the future is very much needed.

Speaking of which, time flies so fast. I don’t know how Jokic and Dinwiddie, who were selected last year, will grow after one year.

One of them is in Europe and the other is in the Development League. They haven't even started to make a difference with the Grizzlies, and it's time to make a choice again.

Link stood up and started to walk to the bathroom, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and looked at Rachel, "Aren't you coming with us?"

Rachel smiled and turned off the TV and stood up from the sofa.

"Oh well."

※※※

When Link arrived at the entrance of FedEx Arena the next day, he found many fans gathered outside the arena.

They are all here for Jimmy Butler.

This morning, Butler officially announced that he will not renew his contract immediately and will test the free agent market.

There is no doubt that this is a deep-water bomb for the entire free agent market.

Although Butler is not the star of the Grizzlies, he has undoubtedly played his worth. Everyone believes that there will be many teams competing to offer Butler a big contract.

So early this morning, fans gathered at the entrance of the arena. Some of them held signs that said "Stay, Jimmy," while others held signs that said, "Go away, traitor."

It seems that fans have very different views on Butler's departure.

Link shook his head. Parting was unpleasant for everyone but it was something they had to experience.

Soon, Link walked through the player tunnel and arrived at the training hall. Just like last year, the rookies on the court are already warming up.

Seeing the arrival of "His Majesty the King" from Memphis, the rookie players instantly became serious.

"Good morning, Link." After Qiaogel saw Link, he waved to him, "What's wrong with you? The dark circles under your eyes are so heavy."

"Uh... I slept a little late last night, hehe." Link scratched his head in embarrassment.

He even suspected that Rachel's urging him to take a shower was a trap from the beginning...

"Pay attention to rest. How are you recovering from your injuries?"

"You should be recovering soon. As long as you don't exercise strenuously, there will be almost no pain. By the way, what happened to Jimmy..."

"Jimmy has already talked with the management. He insisted on leaving and claimed that it was not for money. I think it is an irreversible situation for us to lose Jimmy. Moreover, we have no advantage in the price of the contract. I heard, Many teams are preparing to sign Jimmy at a price of close to 100 million over five years. We simply can’t come up with this number. Because this summer, we have to renew Mark. Next summer, we have to renew Conley. We have nothing to offer. There’s room for maneuver.”

"Well... I can't help it, this is the NBA." Link shook his head and did not regret too much.

"But I have worse news than Jimmy." Jorge looked at Link seriously.

"More bad news?"

"I heard that Kevin Durant is likely to skip the last year of his contract and enter the free agent market. Moreover, the Golden State Warriors will be his first transfer target."

"watt!?"

Link was completely dumbfounded. Durant left the Thunder a full year earlier than in the original history!

The face of history has changed beyond recognition.