864: 287: A suspense ends, but leaves the basketball world with another bigger suspense (Vote for the monthly ticket!) 864: 287: A suspense ends, but leaves the basketball world with another bigger suspense (Vote for the monthly ticket!) “We are experiencing a ‘divorce,’ and no matter what, I hope Steve can face reality soon.
The most important thing now is to handle the property (equity) distribution properly.”
“I respect Steve, but his attempt to single-handedly sign contracts by wielding his power as an owner is clearly unwise.
This is a free country, and there’s no authoritarian emperor here.”
“There’s a saying in the NBA: if an owner cannot earn the trust of his subordinates, he must first learn to trust them.
If he can’t even do this, then he must learn to remain silent.
I think Steve should understand this now.”
“The shareholder team has always believed that NBA Commissioner David Stern would take action, as he cannot tolerate things getting worse.
Facts have proven that David didn’t let us down; under his leadership, the league will become more prosperous, and we are confident in this.”
Steve Belkin’s ordeal fully illustrates the phrase “the winner takes all.”
Except for Bo Turner and Rutherford Seidel, who were staunch supporters of Roger and praised Stern to avoid the topic, almost all shareholders criticized the departed Steve Belkin during interviews.
Due to the redistribution of equity, Bruce Levenson has become the most influential voice among the shareholders, with no one else able to match him, effectively gaining control of the Hawks.
No one is qualified to oppose him anymore.
After everything ended, Steve Belkin met with Roger and had a dinner to say goodbye.
As he left, he gave a bitter smile, “I didn’t expect this to be the end.”
Belkin is a true sports enthusiast.
Multiple schools offered him basketball scholarships during his college days.
While at Cornell University, he joined the basketball team, tennis team, squash team, and soccer team simultaneously.
Unlike those who mingle in sports circles just to wear tight outfits for showy photos, his love for sports is sincere.
In 1983, he even wrote to the Celtics, expressing his interest in acquiring the team, but all his efforts over the years came to nothing.
In 2000, he finally got his own NBA team, but the league taught him a lesson in just one year.
In the business league, genuine passion isn’t nearly enough.
For Michael Gillen and Bruce Levenson, in the matter of renewing Ben Wallace’s contract, is salary more important, or is the duration more important?
Now it seems neither matters; what’s most important to them is not having Steve Belkin around.
If you knew that, on the original timeline, the renowned basketball god Michael Jordan was almost made to work for nearly two years for free by Wizards’ owner Abe Pollin.
If you knew that Dwyane Wade opted out of his contract and took a pay cut to ensure the team’s roster remained intact, only to have his teammates turn away silently.
You wouldn’t be surprised by anything happening in this deceptive league.
In the NBA, the battle over interests and rights has always been as bloody as the battles on the basketball court.
Under Roger’s pressure, the shareholder team led by Bruce Levenson reluctantly offered Big Ben a three-year max contract.
Yet, a three-year max contract had no attraction in this year’s market.
When the Pistons’ six-year max contract was placed in front of Big Ben, he hesitated between leaving and staying.
On one hand, Big Ben loved Atlanta and enjoyed playing alongside Roger.
Moreover, next season is critical for the Hawks’ quest for a three-peat, and he didn’t want to leave halfway through.
But on the other hand, Big Ben would just be turning 30 three years later; as an athlete relying on physical abilities, he was unsure if he could secure another max contract three years later.
Clearly, the six-year max contract was safer for him personally.
After all, not everyone is like Roger, confident enough in his health and ability to sign short deals to bind a team.
The Hawks also considered the possibility of Big Ben’s decline around 30 years old, which is why they didn’t want to sign him to a max long-term contract.
The shareholder team, led by Bruce Levenson, wasn’t keen on signing another Scottie Pippen.
Thinking of Pippen averaging only 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season while making millions a year made Bruce Levenson feel like his money was being thrown into the sea.
As for the possibility of losing Big Ben ruining the three-peat hopes?
That wasn’t in Bruce Levenson’s consideration.
As a pure businessman, he only looked at profits.
In his eyes, championships are not the goal but merely tools to serve profits.
The Atlanta Hawks have already won three championships in the past four years; is another needed in this situation?
Of course, having one is better than not.
But paying the price of three max long-term contracts for it?
That really makes no sense.
Scottie Pippen’s contract doesn’t expire until 2003, meaning Bruce Levenson has to support this “useless” player for another two years.
Who knows if Big Ben will become a “useless” player like Pippen in three years?
Anyway, as long as Roger is around, the Atlanta Hawks are the most profitable team, even if temporarily losing the championship doesn’t matter.
Even if the dream of three-peat really shatters next season, everyone believes Roger will undoubtedly bring the championship back the following year.
This anticipation will make fans tirelessly buy tickets to the arena and sponsors continuously approach.