In the evening, Lakers owner Jerry Bass booked the next private club to hold a celebration party.

Everyone can bring their family members or invite friends in the circle, so many singers, movie stars, celebrities from all walks of life, Guo Xu and Meghan Fox attended the event.

While Megan and Vanessa were chatting, Guo Xu, O'Neal and Kobe went on stage to sing the classic Queen's song "We Are the Champions".

Guo Xu practiced this song during the time cycle. The song was a bit similar to the original version and was very popular. The two were responsible for the harmony. O'Neal almost led him out of tune, and his expression and body language were extremely rich.

Guo Xu's words "No brothers, no basketball" have brought the atmosphere of unity within the Lakers to a new level. O'Neal also admitted that he could not win the championship last season without Kobe, so they started to have two brothers again.

Kobe stepped down to accompany his wife, and Guo Xu and O'Neal sang a classic song "eandgetyourlove" of the Red Bone Band, which is particularly suitable for awesome dance song.

After a while of trouble, O'Neal gave the microphone to his teammates and was still unsatisfied. He called Guo Xu aside and suggested: "I think we should release an album together when we have time, or a high-quality single to hit the Billboard annual top 100 singles chart."

Billboard is an American music magazine founded in 1894. It contains introductions and rankings of many types of music. The most important rankings are Billboard Hot 100 (single ranking) and Billboard 200 (album ranking), among which the single ranking is currently recognized as the most authoritative list in the world.

"Stop kidding, can we make it into that list?" Guo Xu said with a smile.

"Not a joke, it's my dream." O'Neal said seriously.

"Don't your dream lead the team to win many championships?"

"This..." O'Neal narrowed his eyes, turned his head slightly, and said slowly: "I just play basketball casually. My dream has always been to win Grammys, act Oscars, and be a policeman."

Guo Xu thought about it, O'Neal is really a person who likes to do side jobs.

Many NBA players have other side jobs outside the court, gangsters, fishing masters, nightclub princes, gambling gods, gambling heroes, gambling saints, etc.

O'Neal is probably the player who loves record production the most. He released the rap album "Diesel Shaq" in his rookie season, and then released albums such as "Kung Fu Shaq: Return", "You Can't Stop Ruling", "Respect", "Shack Selection", and "Fever Zone Chapter 5". Two of them reached 500,000 platinum sales.

O'Neal's hoarse and dull ecstasy voice also fascinated many people, and the fat man, who is born with agile blood, is not just a single, a group singing or dancing.

"If it were me, it would be harder, but it is entirely possible that you have a great voice and much better than me."

Guo Xu's voice is good because he doesn't smoke or drink, and he is not deliberately practiced. His voice is clear and magnetic. With a British accent, many media praised his voice for being sexy.

"Even if I can sing, there is no good song." Guo Xu smiled.

"I found someone to write lyrics and music, and I know a group of talents."

"No rush, let's talk about this later..."

In the corner, "Zen Master" Phil Jackson is chatting with Lakers manager Mickey Kupchek alone, and the two are discussing the issue of Guo Xu's contract renewal.

Guo Xu will become a restricted free agent next year, and it will be difficult for him to renew his contract and stay in the Lakers.

During the regular season, Kupchek considered how to control the team's salary space below the salary cap in 2002 and offered a big contract to Guo Xu. Now he found that it was useless to be below the salary cap. The Lakers could not tolerate two maximum-paid players. Just based on Guo Xu's performance in this year's finals, there must be many teams willing to give him a maximum salary.

In the summer of 2000, O'Neal, who won two MVPs, signed an extended contract with the Lakers, with a three-year, $88.5 million, which is the maximum contract the Lakers can provide him.

In this way, O'Neal, who had three years of contract before, would make a fortune of $152 million in six years. He earned 26.5 million in the 2003-2004 season, 29.5 million in the 2004-2005 season, and 32.5 million in the 2005-2006 season. He is really an absolute money printing machine.

In the summer of 1999, the Lakers also saw Kobe's potential. After the rookie contract expired, they renewed a 6-year, $70.9 million contract with Kobe, which expired in 2005.

With these two big contracts, the Lakers really cannot give Guo Xu a high salary. The league salary cap in 2002 is expected to be around 40 million. If Guo Xu is left, the Lakers will have to pay luxury taxes for just three players. Are the remaining other players all basic salary?

Jackson whispered: "Actually, there is another way to keep Jason, that is, trade Kobe this summer for a draft pick. We can sign short contracts in the free market to find a replacement for No. 2, so that we can renew Jason with a high salary next year."

Jackson is very optimistic about O'Neal and Guo Xu. He wants to trade Kobe out of the team more than once. He and Kobe have always had problems in communication. There is an internal struggle in the Lakers management. Jackson stands on the side of his girlfriend Jenny Buss, while Jim Buss supports Kobe. Both the siblings want to take over Old Buss and become the team's decision-makers.

Kupchek shook his head and sighed: "Phil, this is impossible. The boss has already said that Kobe is a non-sale product. With his physical fitness and current popularity, how can we trade him for draft picks? He is only 23 years old this year and is not at his peak. It is difficult for a player like him to find a second in the league."

Jackson didn't give up and said seriously: "Jason is only 19 years old, and it's even harder to find a player like him. Not only is he capable of playing well, he can also become the leader of the locker room in the future. It's difficult for Kobe to communicate with his teammates. Think about what he looks like in the rookie season. You and I have been players, and you should be able to see Jason's potential."

Kupchek is a retired player. He played for the Bullets and Lakers in his career and won the NBA championship three times. After he retired in 1986, he became Jerry West's general manager assistant and did not receive real power until 2000. He has worked for the Lakers for 15 years, so of course he knows Kobe during his rookie period.

When I think about it a little, Kupchek was moved. Player talent is not only about physical fitness, but also about ball quotient and emotional intelligence.

It took Kobe three years to start integrating into the team. He only had a lot of fighting in the first two seasons. Even though he was selected as the All-Star in 1998 and was highly praised by the league, Kobe was also out of the Lakers' tactical system.

Guo Xu's rise is unprecedented in the NBA. It only took half a season from the last rookie to the best rookie. In one season, he became a popular balloon star, the best rookie, the best sixth man, and one of the three Lakers. His commercial value soared more like being a Rockets.

Everyone thinks that Guo Xu's rookie season is a bit legendary, and many people think that he is better than Kobe now and is already the second leader of the Lakers. If such a potential star is let go in vain, won't the Lakers regret it?

Kupchek thought for a while and whispered: "Let's do this, let's go to see Jerry (Bass) the day after tomorrow, list the pros and cons of both of them, and then let him decide. You know, I can't make the decision in this matter."
Chapter completed!