The Lakers' 15-man lineup has been confirmed in the new season, so there is no need to find players to play in preseason inspections.

Center: O'Neal, Gerani McCoy.

Power forwards: Mark Madson, Samaki Walker, Robert Horry, Medvedenko.

Small forwards: Rick Fox, Jim Jackson, Ryan Bowen, Devin George.

Scoring guards: Kobe, Mickey Richmond, Brian Shaw.

Point guard: Guo Xu, Fisher.

After looking at the lineup, Guo Xu felt that the suspense of the Lakers' new season was not whether they could defend their title, but whether they could make new regular season record.

Veteran Hores Grant moved slowly, more like a center than a power forward. It was a clever decision for the Lakers not to renew his contract. In the end, Grant returned to the Magic with an annual salary of 2 million yuan.

The new Samaki is more suitable for the team system. He is a blue-collar with strong athletic ability. He can defend against pick-and-rolls and rebounds. He can pick up bargains at the basket on the offensive end. This is enough. The Lakers don't need him to attack at all.

The swinger position is even stronger. Jim Jackson can help the team regardless of whether he plays or substitutes. He catches and shoots very accurately.

O'Neal and Guo Xu were chatting, and they also felt that their biggest enemy next season is garbage time. The three-person data may not be too beautiful because it is too easy to win.

Even so, Guo Xu contacted Cannon Baker and practiced his skills for two weeks to prepare for the new season.

In the time cycle, Guo Xu owes Ganon the favor he owes him, and in reality, he has to find a way to repay it.

It is not possible to give money directly. After hearing Guo Xu's words, Ganon was a little embarrassed after hearing that he wanted to learn skills from him. He felt that his level was too far behind. Guo Xu's use of the same trick was indeed much more powerful than him.

Guo Xu's idea was to mention him in an interview after practicing with Ganon for a while, and to promote him, give him enough fame, and more big-name players will come to him for training. Even without Guo Xu, Ganon will become famous in the future, but he can take this time a lot ahead of time.

In September, Guo Xu signed Nike with 40 million yuan in five years, with an average annual endorsement fee of 8 million yuan.

During the finals, Guo Xu's value increased to a terrifying level. Several major sports brands competed for him, and the endorsement fee of 5 million yuan per year was the beginning.

The highest offer was Reebok at the beginning. Before the finals ended, they offered an annual salary of 8 million yuan and a seven-year contract. This made Iverson feel uncomfortable. In 1996, Iverson and Reebok signed a 10-year contract worth 50 million US dollars, which did not expire until 2006.

Guo Xu could defeat Iverson after signing, but he refused without frowning. The price was too low and the years were too long. He was a reborn person and knew how fast the contract for sneaker endorsement would rise in the future. In 2003, James signed a 7-year, 93 million contract with Nike as soon as he entered the league.

After Guo Xu refused, Reebok was under great pressure. If he didn't win him, and when Guo Xu signed another company, Reebok suspected that his sneakers would directly affect the sales of Iverson's sneakers. Both of them were short point guards, and Guo Xu's popularity vaguely surpassed Iverson's after the finals.

After Guo Xu went to China, his popularity increased again, allowing major brands to see his status in China. After returning, several companies competed again and increased their quotations one after another.

Reebok raised the highest price of 10 million, and signed the contract for 7 years, because they were the only star Iverson who could make a move, which was the most affected. Adidas and Nike both offered 8 million. Hapi had negotiated with each other for more than half a year, and finally limited the age to 5 years and chose Nike decisively.

In fact, Guo Xu recognized Nike from the very beginning. When he played the game, he took turns wearing sneakers from the three major brands, so that they could all feel that they had the opportunity to sign a contract so that they could compete.

Guo Xu's contract was already very big in 2001. The endorsement contract signed with Adidas when Kobe first joined the league was 5 years and 10 million yuan, and the contract only expired in the summer of 2002.

Hapi has never allowed Guo Xu to sign a sneaker endorsement, because it is difficult to sign a short contract. Once you sign, you will be long. You have no reputation when you first enter the league and cannot be worth a lot of money. If you become famous quickly, you will lose a lot of money.

Iverson, Kobe, and Carter all have higher commercial value and were cheated by big companies as soon as they debuted. Kobe was selected as the All-Star in the second year. As long as he signs one year late, how could he be the endorsement fee of only 2 million yuan?

Carter was even more treacherous. In 1998, he signed a 10-year, $50 million endorsement contract with Puma, who was unprofessional in making basketball shoes. He only worked together for two seasons before parting ways. Puma also withdrew from the basketball market in 2001.

Guo Xu's contract expired in 2006. He believed that he would be stronger than now and was not afraid that Nike would not provide a larger contract. Nike only signed for 5 years, so it was accurate to calculate that Guo Xu would not renew the contract next year. He was afraid that he would decline after leaving the Lakers. Both sides were careful to make a decision and achieved a win-win situation.

As for Adidas, Guo Xu didn't consider how much money he gave, he was afraid of being cursed. The stars who Adidas signed in his previous life were very terrifying in their state decline. Moreover, Adidas' decision makers looked a bit mentally retarded. In fact, in Guo Xu's previous life, the three top and most fans in NBA history all had an indissoluble bond with Adidas, and they missed them all.

Adidas gave up Jordan because of ridiculous reasons such as height; in 2003, they snatched James by Nike from saving $3 million a year; as soon as the Eagle County incident occurred, Adidas and Kobe terminated the 6-year, 48 million worth of contract.

After Guo Xu signed the contract with Nike, although the specific amount was not announced to the public, everyone guessed that he had made a fortune. However, he still did not buy a house or rent an apartment in Los Angeles, so there are more and more news that he will leave the Lakers in 2002.

At the end of September, the Lakers' new season training camp began.

On Media Day, Guo Xu was interviewed and asked whether he would be willing to stay with the Lakers in the summer of 2002.

Guo Xu replied: "Is this still necessary? Of course I am willing to stay. I came for the Lakers in the draft. I hope to stay in Los Angeles for the rest of my life."

Guo Xu paused and continued: "I have read the news recently and know that it is difficult for me to renew the contract with the Lakers. From the perspective of management, they must consider issues such as salary space. I don't have to say anything, and it's useless to think too much. I'll play this season first and leave the rest to fate."

He said everything he said was in his heart. He liked Los Angeles and was lucky to be able to play in the Lakers all his life, but he didn't believe that Old Buss would trade Kobe for him, even if his data in the finals were better than Kobe.

The reason is simple. Guo Xu is only 180cm tall. Even after summer, he found that he grew 2cm and now he is 182cm in shoes. He is still at a disadvantage. He and Kobe are fundamentally different and cannot achieve an offensive and defensive balance.

The reporter asked: "Are you confident that you will play better in the new season?"

Guo Xu smiled and said, "Of course, I have had special training in the summer. Ganonbaker is an excellent trainer. I have learned some new skills from him and I am fully prepared."

Guo Xu proved this in the public training session the next day. He lived with Fisher and was able to hit three-pointers from the outside. He cooperated with his new teammates very well.

New teammates don’t have to take on too many tasks. They just stand by and wait for the stars to attract defensive passes and catch and shoot. Jim Jackson became the Lakers’ biggest surprise. The outside catch and shoot were particularly accurate, and three-pointers were much better than Fox.

The "Zen Master" tried several tactics, whether it was triangular offense, pick-and-roll offense, or quick counterattack, the players could play very smoothly. The fans who arrived were excited and waited for the Lakers to perform in the regular season.
Chapter completed!