Everyone is familiar with what happened next. With Jordan’s comeback, the Wizards’ market value increased significantly, and Bolin was unwilling to sell the shares to Jordan at the original price.
Would Vivek do the same as Bolin?
Hansen couldn’t be sure.
Theoretically, given his relationship with Ajalee, Vivek would keep his promise.
But when interests grow to a certain extent, they are no longer directly tied to feelings.
After pondering all night, Hansen had a second private meeting with Vivek.
He presented Vivek with a new proposal.
The NBA rules that players or their relatives cannot own team shares because a player, if also an owner, could help the team by actions like taking a pay cut.
But any rules set by the NBA always have loopholes.
Just like the league’s trading rules, from the big Z clause to poison pill contracts, only improved after repeatedly being exploited.
Regarding shares, Hansen had previously thought about appointing Rondo to the team management, as it would be reasonable for management to hold team shares, right?
As for any agreement between him and Rondo, that’s another matter.
Of course, it’s still a drawer agreement, and if Rondo chose to expose it, he would face severe punishment from the league.
But Hansen trusted Rondo more than Vivek.
After all, after traveling for so many years, Rondo has been his closest person.
So Hansen’s plan is to use Rondo to buy the 5% shares directly.
The saying goes, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," which is more reliable than hoping for future generosity from Vivek.
Of course, Hansen was also testing Vivek, and if Vivek really didn’t intend to give, such a proposal would be directly rejected. Follow current novels on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱
Vivek fell into a moment of thought, just as Hansen didn’t expect him to propose a share deal, he didn’t expect Hansen to have such an idea.
After a while, Vivek seemed to make a significant decision and seriously said, "I agree with your proposal, and the conditions I promised earlier are still valid."
Vivek’s words left Hansen a bit puzzled, but he soon understood what Vivek meant.
First buy 5% of the shares, and then when he helps the Kings win the championship and retires, Vivek would give him another 5%.
In other words, it’s a buy-one-get-one, totaling 10% together!
This is already a staggering figure.
While some teams also give a portion of shares to meritorious players after retirement, for example, in "history," Cuban gave Nowitzki shares, but that was only 1%.
Hansen’s is directly ten times more.
"Ajalee told me, and I’m very grateful for what you’ve done for the Kings over the years," Vivek continued, explaining his motivation for doing so.
Needless to say, he knew those suggestions from Ajalee came from Hansen.
It’s a bit surprising, but thinking carefully, it’s reasonable.
Imagine, if a daughter who doesn’t usually understand basketball suddenly gives you some advice every year, and those advices prove to be effective.
Your first thought surely isn’t that the daughter has extraordinary abilities, but that there’s a wise person advising her.
This isn’t a secret, so it’s not hard for Vivek to know who that wise person is.
After hearing Vivek’s words, Hansen nodded, finally making a decision.
Before this, he originally planned to meet with a few other previously favored teams to talk with the same terms after the talk with Vivek.
But firstly, capitalists and players are two completely different groups; it’s almost unrealistic to achieve what Vivek did.
Secondly, if this matter is discussed with multiple parties, the probability of it leaking increases, and Hansen might get punished right now.
Thirdly, the Kings are practically a team personally "selected" by Hansen; it’s like crafting a team in 2K and realizing it’s not working, then getting a chance to step in yourself.
And finally, there’s no emotional angle from Vivek, making Hansen realize he approached it from a benefit standpoint, which is more genuine.
Seeing Hansen nod, Vivek’s face flushed instantly.
This was a completely different impression from what he gave Hansen before, but he was genuinely excited.
He stood up to shake hands with Hansen and said something that left a deep impression on Hansen: "We are not in a player-owner relationship, we are partners."
Despite the rough wording, Hansen joined the Kings and got 5% of the shares, making him a hidden small owner of the Kings.
Or rather, every game Hansen plays, every increase in the team’s market value is part of his contribution, he is playing for himself.
Because Hansen hadn’t made a decision for a long time, many big free agents in the market hadn’t made decisions either.
For example, George was hesitating whether to join the Lakers or the Warriors.
Finally, the day came, and Hansen announced his decision in a simple post on social media.
"I will join the Sacramento Kings."
A sentence couldn’t be simpler, but it sent shockwaves throughout the entire league.
As expected, Hansen made a big show and ultimately joined the relatively unlikely Kings, which caused a backlash.
Everyone felt like they were fooled.
Hansen said he would join a big city team, but ended up in a small city like Sacramento.
Hansen perfectly paid tribute to James with this move.
Well, probably only Hansen, at the center of public opinion, enjoyed it the most.
Because the number of haters he gained was even more than when he supported James’ decision back then.
Of course, the most excited were the Kings’ fans.
This was like a competition to win the goddess’s heart; the least favored underdog succeeded in winning the goddess’s heart in the end.
This sense of a comeback can make someone ecstatic.
In fact, soon after Hansen announced his decision, the whole city of Sacramento went wild.
Though it’s not like Cleveland, a sports desert, in terms of basketball achievements, it’s even inferior to the Cavaliers. At least, the Cavaliers have been to the finals before, but the Kings have only reached the Western Conference finals at most.
Not to mention, since the disbandment of the Princeton Kings, the Kings could be described with one word: poor.
Indeed, if the Minnesota Timberwolves were the Crouching Dragon, then the Kings were surely the Young Phoenix.
The latest episode of TNT also analyzed Hansen’s decision to choose the Kings.
"Unless the Kings gave Hansen shares, I really can’t think of any other reason he would join them, but we all know that’s impossible." Kenny Smith’s analysis was still very reasonable.
"Perhaps it’s Hansen’s ’peculiar habit,’ he’s always helping seemingly impossible teams achieve success, he’s the ’dream master.’" Barkley suggested another possibility.
From Memphis to Cleveland and now Sacramento, Hansen’s challenges get progressively harder.
"Then what do you make of Hansen’s previous statement of wanting to go to a big city?" Kenny Smith continued to ask.
"Did he say that? I only remember him saying he lacked the challenge in Cleveland." O’Neal corrected promptly.
The idea of Hansen going to a big city was deduced by journalists, but then the teams Hansen chose to meet coincided with that notion.
Actually, comparatively, the Kings suit Hansen’s publicly stated "challenge" idea more.
"Moreover, big cities, when you retire and live there, you might even get tired of it." O’Neal expressed from experience.
"I believe the more important point is that the times are changing, and I don’t think Hansen’s commercial value must be reflected in a big city; he is already a global phenomenon-level player." Barkley added.
"In any case, the Kings will welcome a true king."