Chapter 114: You Are the Tactical Master I Admire Most
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For Curry, the temptation to continue playing for Liam clearly outweighed the allure of joining the Knicks.
Donnie Walsh and D'Antoni exchanged glances, both smiling bitterly. They realized that they had lost the battle for Curry long before it even began.
D'Antoni stared at a photo of Liam in the news and thought,
"I wonder how far you'll take the Warriors."
Many renowned players also voiced their opinions. Most were skeptical about Liam's ability to succeed. Many veteran head coaches, while not speaking openly, implied the same sentiment: "It took me decades to get where I am now—how can a 26-year-old lead an NBA team?"
TNT even dedicated a segment to the topic, and Barkley wasted no time in saying:
"This is a joke. A rookie head coach and a rookie shooter who can only shoot three-pointers are a perfect match. Let's pray for the Warriors."
"Coach Liam is a championship coach. I'm optimistic the Warriors can turn things around under his guidance," O'Neal retorted.
"Shaq, have you gone soft from all those basketball hits? Look at Rick Pitino and John Calipari, both NCAA champion coaches, but after coming to the NBA, they were a joke and had to leave in disgrace. Facts have proven that NCAA champion coaches simply can't survive in the NBA—especially a young rookie who's even younger than some of his own players!" Barkley mocked mercilessly.
The fans of the University of Memphis and the University of Louisville watching the show were left puzzled:
"I'm just a spectator, why is my team being dragged into this?"
"Don't stop me! I'm going to take down that flying pig!"
Had they been able to rush into the TV screen, many would have tried to take on Barkley.
None of this, however, affected the Warriors' operations.
After the draft, the summer league was about to begin. Larry Riley needed to gather players for the Warriors, and Liam needed to face his coaching staff.
…
On July 1st, Liam arrived at the Oracle Center.
Today, he was finally going to meet Don Nelson, the legendary coach.
After acquiring the team, Liam hadn't reached out to Nelson. In fact, he specifically instructed Larry Riley not to tell Nelson that he was the new owner, leading Nelson to believe it was still Markbaum who had purchased the Warriors.
Liam knew that Nelson would be his first obstacle in fully controlling the Warriors.
Since 1988, Nelson had served as the Warriors' vice president and head coach. The "Run TMC" era, built around Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, and Chris Mullin, made the Warriors one of the most offensively powerful teams in the 1990s, earning Nelson Coach of the Year in 1992.
Although Nelson's overall record with the Warriors wasn't stellar, he had left his mark on the team. He even led them to a historic upset in 2007, taking down the top-seeded Mavericks as the eighth seed. Nelson's influence on the Warriors was undeniable, making even the team's previous owner, Chris Cohan, wary of him.
Liam left Nelson in limbo for over a month to send a clear message—things had changed for the Warriors.
Liam went straight to the conference room, waiting for half an hour before Larry Riley arrived, followed by the gray-haired, imposing Nelson.
Liam stood up, shook Nelson's hand enthusiastically, and said,
"Mr. Nelson, I've always looked up to you. You're the tactical master I admire most!"
Liam wasn't just being polite; he had genuinely admired Nelson since his past life. Nelson, known as the "mad scientist," had turned every team he coached into a tactical laboratory, developing innovations like the run-and-gun offense and Hack-a-Shaq. His contributions to basketball were undeniable, even if he never won a championship. Nelson was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year and an undisputed legend.
Caught off guard by Liam's warmth, Nelson replied,
"Oh… hello."
He had expected a tense meeting, not this wave of admiration. What was supposed to be a formal meeting between an employer and employee now felt like a fan meet-and-greet.
Liam ushered Nelson to a seat and continued,
"Mr. Nelson, that series between the Warriors and Mavericks was incredible! I don't think anyone else could've taken down the Mavericks but you. You brought out the best in every Warriors player to create that historic upset. With all due respect, even the Knicks' upset in 1999 doesn't compare to what you did—the Warriors took out the MVP!"
The more Nelson listened, the more confused he became.
Wasn't this the same guy who had announced to the media he'd be taking over as head coach? Yet here he was, acting as if nothing had happened.
Finally, Nelson interrupted,
"I'm sorry, Mr. Gonzalez, I don't understand what you're trying to say."
Nelson looked at Liam, feeling a growing sense of absurdity. This young man, who was younger than Nelson's own son, was the new owner of the Warriors?
"Just call me Liam, Mr. Nelson. I've always appreciated your tactical insights, and I would like to invite you to be the Warriors' basketball development consultant," Liam said sincerely.
Nelson narrowed his eyes, and Liam added,
"Of course, this means stepping down from the head coach position. If you're willing, here's a new contract."
Larry Riley handed over a contract. Nelson glanced at it: the position of "basketball development consultant" was clear, but his salary was 30% higher than what he was currently making, and the contract would last four years.
Nelson's current salary was $3.1 million annually. With the new contract, he'd be earning $4 million a year—more than any head coach in the league—without the pressures of being a head coach.
Nelson studied Liam's smiling face and understood what was happening. Liam's decision not to contact him before now was deliberate—it was about asserting control. Publicly announcing that Liam would also serve as head coach had been part of that strategy too.
Now, offering him the position of consultant was a way to use Nelson's experience and connections without giving up authority.
Nelson had been in the league for 33 years since he became head coach of the Bucks in 1976, not to mention his playing career, during which he won five championships with the Celtics.
End of this chapter
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