582: 209: No matter how many times I say it!
(Vote for monthly ticket please!)_2 582: 209: No matter how many times I say it!
(Vote for monthly ticket please!)_2 This value would also be reflected in the contract renewal.
Pippen wasn’t sure if he could still get the big contract he had been longing for if he got injured.
There was a moment when Pippen really wanted to give up.
Based on his performance during the regular season, he was very likely to sign a lucrative deal.
After all, he was still one of the top three defensive players.
If he didn’t perform well in the play-offs, it could actually damage his value.
As Pippen was hesitating, the day before the Eastern Conference Finals began, something incredible happened to him.
That afternoon, as he was driving home, he saw some fans holding signs in front of the training center.
This wasn’t unusual, as the Emory Healthcare Center wasn’t too far from downtown Atlanta, so there were always a lot of fans waiting at the entrance, just to catch a glimpse of their idols.
But that day, Pippen saw some signs about himself.
“Don’t forget Scottie’s contributions all season because of one round’s shooting percentage, keep Scottie!
He’s Roger’s best support!”
“The Divine needs his Envoy.”
“Give Scottie ten million to stay in Atlanta!”
Pippen stared at these signs, dumbfounded.
After all, he hadn’t performed well offensively in the last series.
If this had been in Chicago, he would have been locked in a conference room by now.
Whether he would get a meal depended on Jordan’s mood.
Yet, the fans in Atlanta chose to be understanding and even called for the team to renew his contract.
For the first time, Pippen felt such intense love from the fans.
The Hawks players were now very special to the fans in Atlanta.
As the last hope to save the city’s face, coupled with the team’s efforts in community activities, every Hawks player was greatly respected by the city.
Everyone’s efforts were noticed by the fans.
Roger was certainly the most popular, but the other players were not ignored either.
At that moment, Pippen’s mindset began to shift again.
During his season in Atlanta, Pippen’s mentality had undergone many changes.
Initially, he was just there for the contract, treating the games as a punch-in, punch-out job.
Latterly, he had started to fully support Roger, hoping to stay in Atlanta to achieve greatness.
And now, he was seriously considering what he could do for Atlanta.
Look at those fans who support him; there are no better fans in the entire league.
Pippen, struggling internally, returned home to find Larsa wearing a silk robe.
She walked out and flipped open a corner of the robe to reveal the suspender black stockings underneath: “Rest for a while?
Or shall we start now?
Don’t worry, the kids are out playing.”
Other women wait for their men to come home by preparing bathwater or dinner.
Larsa prepared herself.
Usually, Pippen couldn’t wait to embrace Larsa and go to town.
But today, he just waved his hand: “Let’s rest a bit, I’m a little tired.”
Not even the pain in his back could stop Pippen, but the struggle in his heart made him not in the mood for anything else.
Pippen lay on the sofa and turned on the TV, which was broadcasting an interview from the Hawks’ locker room after practice ended that day.
Because of a back injury, Pippen hadn’t participated in the interview; he went straight home after practice and thus didn’t know what his teammates had said.
At that moment, Roger was being interviewed.
“Roger, today there were a lot of fans outside the training facility, calling for the team to keep Scottie Pippen.
What do you think about this?
In view of his poor performance last round, do you think Scottie deserves a ten-million-dollar-a-year contract?”
Pippen gripped his fists tightly, eager to hear what Roger would say.
“Was Scottie’s performance last round really that bad?
I only remember him being in nearly every defensive play.
Okay, maybe the back injury affected his jump shot, but he’s still a player with a huge impact on the game.
I think he’s a great assist, and I’d definitely be happy if the team renews his contract.
In an era where Shaq, that waste of space, can get a hundred and twenty million, giving Scottie ten million a year is totally reasonable.
Besides, when has that bastard’s shooting ever been accurate?
I’ve been his teammate since 1993, and I never saw him shoot well~”
Roger ended with a joke, but Pippen didn’t care.
All he heard was Roger publicly speaking up for him.
On one side were the fans supporting him, and on the other his teammates.
Any thoughts of standing down vanished from Pippen’s mind.
“What’s up?” Larsa sat on Pippen’s lap.
“For the next while, let’s pause this good habit of ours.”
“I’m going to help Roger take that damned championship.
Anyone who stands in his way, I’ll take out first!
Next up is Reggie Miller!
Before that, I need to focus all my energy on the game!”
Since becoming mercenary, Pippen hadn’t felt this way for a long time.
This feeling of giving his all for a team.
For many years, he had been in a state of “I really don’t want to play here, but I have no choice” due to his dissatisfaction with the Bulls’ contract.
So, Pippen had lost his sense of honor, his drive.
But now, a strong sense of honor enveloped him.
He wanted to give everything for Roger and Atlanta, and this voice was crystal clear in his heart.