Chapter 198 Be My Michael Jordan
“He has become more focused, which is what we need.” After the game, head coach Bach said this when talking about Meng Jin’s performance tonight.

Bach appeared calm on the surface but was extremely happy in his heart. This game was very important to him. There had been rumors before that his position as coach was unstable. If Bach could not lead the team to victory with only Meng Jin, then he would be leaving in a matter of minutes.

“After Michael left, the team now needs Meng to do more. What new requirements and expectations do you have for him?” asked the ESPN reporter.

Bach thought for a moment and said, “I don’t want much. I just want him to be a combination of Meng Jin and Michael Jordan.”

After Bach finished speaking, all the reporters present laughed. This was a joke, but it became one of Coach Bach’s classic quotes.

孟进今晚交出一份完美答卷，他全场砍下61分14篮板7助攻3抢断3盖帽。

However, Meng Jin did not get lost in the hype of the media and fans. He saw the other side of the victory, that is, after completing a relatively perfect performance, the Bulls could only rely on a buzzer-beater to narrowly beat their opponents, and the Atlanta Hawks were not a strong team, they were just a mid-range team in the Eastern Conference.

After realizing this, Meng Jin found Klaus to negotiate the next day.

“Hey, Jerry.”

Meng Jin knocked on the door of Jerry Krause’s office.

Krause welcomed Meng Jin with open arms: “It feels different to lead a team to win alone. I know you can do it. We can still succeed without that bastard Michael Jordan.”

Jerry Krause used the word “we” here because Meng Jin and Jordan had many conflicts, and he had automatically classified Meng Jin as someone in the same camp as him.

However, Meng Jin doesn’t think so. His relationship with Jordan is not good, but that doesn’t mean he is Krause’s man.

Klaus’s face was full of joy. He thought Meng Jin came to share the joy of yesterday’s victory.

“Yesterday’s game was so exciting. It was definitely the most exciting game I have ever seen in my life. You played a perfect performance. Look at the fans’ reactions! They love you so much. They have forgotten about Michael.”

Klaus smiled and poured Meng Jin a glass of water, but who knew that Meng Jin was not there to share the joy of winning with him.

Meng Jin got straight to the point and said, “Jerry, I need stronger teammates.”

Krause reacted quickly. After a second of embarrassment, he immediately smiled again: “Meng, these are all in my plan. This offseason, I will equip the team with a high-quality point guard and small forward. If there is a way, I will also add a strong inside player to the team. The Bulls will soon get back on track and they will return to the championship race.”

“Jerry, do you mean to give up this season?” Meng Jin asked back.

“It’s not giving up, it’s a transition.” Klaus said with a smile.

“It’s just a nicer way of saying it, Jerry. You know, giving up isn’t in my dictionary,” said Meng Jin.

Meng Jin refused to accept Jerry Krause’s offer, and Krause wanted to send Meng Jin away, but he didn’t dare to do so. Meng Jin and the Bulls had not yet officially signed a contract extension, and Krause had to support Meng Jin. If Meng Jin did not choose to renew his contract with the Bulls in anger, resulting in the Bulls losing two superstars in one season, then Krause would definitely become an opponent that the entire city would want to assassinate.

“Meng, it’s the middle of the season now and it’s hard for us to get a superstar.” Krause said patiently.

“I never said I want to work with superstars. All I need are some players who are suitable for the Bulls and whose abilities are above average,” said Meng Jin.

Krause sighed, “Meng, let me be frank. We can’t get superstars, all-stars, or even potential players right now. If we want good players, we have to wait until the offseason. We can only get players like Scott Pippen.

Krause didn’t know why he blurted out this name. In this life, Pippen did not live up to his talent in the Kings. He averaged only 14.1 points, 6.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game this season. He never made it to the All-Stars and even the playoffs. In Krause’s eyes, he was the typical player who was not as good as the best but better than the worst.

“Then it’s Scott Pippen,” said Meng Jin.

“What?” Klaus looked confused.

“I think it should be Scott Pippen,” Meng Jin said.

Krause was a little speechless, shook his head and said: “We lost Michael Jordan, do you think we can win the championship by adding Scott Pippen?”

Meng Jin said: “I didn’t say we will definitely win the championship, but if Scott comes, he can solve many problems for the team. He and I are very compatible. He can help me reduce the defensive pressure on the perimeter, he can help the team protect the rebounds, and his organizational skills are excellent.”

“I will discuss it with the management, and I will also consult the coaching staff. If they have no problem with it, I will send a trade request to the Kings in the next few days,” Krause said.

Krause has always disliked others interfering in his selection and trading plans, but this time, if trading Pippen can successfully allow Meng Jin to sign, he will do so without hesitation.

That night, Meng Jin and Pippen had a phone call.

“Scott, how are you doing recently?” Meng Jin asked.

“Great, I’m making a travel plan for the offseason.” Pippen said with a smile on the other end of the phone.

“Damn it! The season is only halfway through, and you’re already thinking about the offseason?” Meng Jin said. “What else can I do? The Kings have only won 10 games. Do you think there are other things I need to consider?”

The poor record with the Kings in recent years has worn away Pippen’s spirit. Now he is no longer the iron-headed kid who wanted to compete with Meng Jin when he first entered the league.

“Yes, come to the Bulls to play in the playoffs.” Meng Jin said.

“Hahaha, I can take some time to go to Chicago to watch two playoff games, but you have to reimburse me for the tickets.”

Pippen thought Meng Jin was joking with him, so he responded in a joking tone.

“I’m serious and invite you to join the Chicago Bulls,” said Meng Jin.

“Oh! When did you become the general manager of the Bulls? How come I didn’t know?” Pippen continued to joke with Meng Jin.

“I have talked to Klaus, and if nothing unexpected happens, he will make a trade invitation to the Kings in the next few days,” said Meng Jin.

“Meng, are you serious?” Pippen said in disbelief.

“Of course, come to Chicago and be my Michael Jordan!”

“God, I’ve never thought about transferring.” Pippen was a little overwhelmed.

Meng Jin said, “Being with me, your assists will double, you will become the focus of attention, you can play in the playoffs, and you have a chance to win the championship. This is your contract year, don’t you want to get a high salary? As long as you show your worth in the Bulls, you can get a bigger contract!”

After hearing what Meng Jin said, Pippen was moved and said, “Meng, what you said makes me want to pack my bags and go to Chicago right now, but I have another question.”

Meng Jin said: “What’s the problem?”

“Didn’t your shoe brand sign Reggie? Sign me as well, I don’t ask for much!” Pippen said.

“Haha, as long as you play well, I can even give you signed sneakers!”

Pippen was absent-minded for the next few days. He was always ready to go to Chicago. His career with the Kings was coming to an end, but in Chicago he would have more possibilities.

In the next three games, Meng Jin scored 50+ points in a row. Including the game against the Hawks, Meng Jin became another player after Chamberlain to score 4+ points in four consecutive games.

But just as Meng Jin worried, the Bulls only won 4 out of 2 games. This Bulls team required too much work on his part, and Meng Jin needed the players to help him share the burden.

Meng Jin’s requirements are not high. He will not make things difficult for the Bulls management by asking them to sign two superstars to team up with him. Meng Jin only needs a helper like Pippen. Meng Jin believes that this is not a difficult task for the Bulls. The Pippen in this parallel universe is not even a star, at most a quasi-star player, and the cost to the team will not be too high.

Under pressure from Meng Jin, the Bulls completed the deal at the last minute before the transfer window closed.

The Chicago Bulls sent potential point guard BJ+ Armstrong, this year’s first-round draft pick and next year’s second-round pick in exchange for Scott Pippen from the Kings.

Due to the hasty transaction time, the usually shrewd Krause was rarely killed by the Kings. Originally, Krause was only willing to give up a second-round pick next year, but the Kings insisted on a first-round pick. Krause had no choice but to give up this year’s first-round pick.

The first-round picks during this period were still very valuable because NCAA players usually played in school for four years before entering the NBA draft, and they could be used as immediate combat power for the team.

The Kings had no regrets about sending Pippen away. The Kings’ management had long wanted to reorganize the team. They felt that Pippen had no potential, no leadership qualities, no scoring ability, and was not the player the team needed. Compared to keeping Pippen, they would rather have potential newcomers or draft picks.

So the two parties hit it off and finalized the deal.

After seeing the news of the transaction, Meng Jin was very excited. He could be considered to be playing brotherly basketball!
Meng Jin immediately welcomed Pippen in front of the media: “You know, Scott is my brother. He is an extremely good player. He will help the team to a great extent. I am looking forward to it. The Bulls are looking forward to it. I will help him integrate into the team as soon as possible. I believe he will like the atmosphere here.”

Head coach Bach also expressed his delight: “This deal takes us to the next level. The team needs Scott’s organizational ability, and our defense is more solid.”

On February 2, the Bulls played against the Kings at home. This was the first time Pippen faced his old club after the trade. However, Pippen did not play in this game. He had just played a training game with his new teammates and had not integrated into the team.

Pippen showed up at the sidelines in a suit tonight and watched the entire game. The Kings were as bad as ever. Pippen’s former teammates were all in the spirit of punching in for work, while the Bulls’ new teammates were full of fighting spirit. Seeing the enthusiasm of his new teammates, Pippen felt his blood heating up. He hadn’t had this feeling in a long time. Pippen secretly rejoiced that he had come to the right place.

公牛三节半结束战斗，孟进全场砍下50分10篮板10助攻2抢断1盖帽的三双数据。

Pippen found Meng Jin after the game and said, “Meng, great game! But you did too much in the game. You had to score, defend, and even take on some of the organizational work. Wait for me. After I come back, you only need to focus on scoring.”

A day later, Meng Jin scored 50+ again in the Bulls’ game against the Hornets and led the team to victory.

These two games directly excited Pippen. Seeing Meng Jin’s shooting choices and efficient performance, Pippen even felt that he could challenge for the assist title by being next to Meng Jin.

(End of this chapter)