The morning sunlight streamed through the dome of the Milan Forum Arena, carving out cold, hard geometric shapes on the gleaming hardwood floor.
Lin Qi stood in the center circle, holding a thin list in his hand.
Maurizio Gherardini stood beside him, his gaze sweeping over the paper again, his brow furrowing deeply. "Boss, if I may be frank, the people on this list aren't the best candidates right now. They either lack experience or their resumes are mediocre."
"The key is 'now'," Lin Qi said confidently, looking at the empty stands. "If they really achieve great success, it won't be so easy to poach them."
Gherardini took a deep breath and finally blurted out the question he'd been holding back all night, "What makes you so sure you can do it?"
Lin Qi turned his head, his gaze calmly meeting the Italy legend's questioning.
"Based on my judgment." He folded the list and stuffed it into his suit pocket. "Just as I was certain that the person standing before me was the best basketball manager in all of Europe."
Gherardini paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly. This straightforward compliment was indeed effective.
The first person they were to meet was in Rome.
Sergio Scariolo.
He is currently the most sought-after young tactical mastermind in the entire Europe basketball scene.
On the early train to Rome, Gherardini looked out at the receding fields, a hint of uncertainty still lingering in his voice. "I don't doubt your financial resources, but Scariolo has extremely high standards now; many top Europe clubs are eyeing him. Simply throwing money at him might not be enough to get him to take over this Milan team that's practically being scrapped and rebuilt."
"Then give him one more thing that even the top Europe clubs can't offer." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, and said calmly, "Respect."
The train stopped at Rome station. Scariolo was already waiting in a café next to the station.
Not yet forty, he wore a well-tailored Italian bespoke suit, his hair perfectly styled, and his eyes radiated the shrewdness and confidence of a top coach. Upon seeing Gherardini, he nodded politely, then his gaze settled steadily on Lin Qi. He had agreed to the meeting solely out of curiosity about this mysterious tycoon who had caused a stir in Europe.
"Mr. Gherardini, and... Mr. Lin Qi." Scariolo sat down gracefully, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, "I'm somewhat surprised to receive your invitation at this time of year during the off-season."
There was no condescending oppression, only equal professional exchange.
" Scariolo, let's get to the point." Lin Qi didn't beat around the bush, going straight to the point. "I know you're in high demand right now. What can those traditional powerhouses offer you? Nothing more than the daily pressure of being scrutinized by the media like a microscope, and the endless need to appease the emotions of those veteran stars."
Scariolo paused slightly in his coffee cup, but did not object.
"But what I can give you are two absolutely pure things," Lin Qi leaned forward slightly. "First, a salary that will free you from having to depend on any club—the highest in all of Europe. Second, absolute tactical authority."
Scariolo put down his cup, a hint of inquiry in his eyes, signaling him to continue.
"I'll give you plenty of talented young players. There are explosive North America talents, and raw gems unburdened by the traditions of Europe basketball. But the most crucial thing is..." Lin Qi looked him straight in the eye, "I don't need you to fight tooth and nail for the current record just to keep your job. I will never go to your locker room and give orders just because we lost a few games at the start of the season."
"I'm giving you time, room to make mistakes, and a tactical laboratory entirely your own. Your task is to use these young people as experimental subjects and bring your wildest ideas to fruition."
Scariolo, who had been leaning back in his chair, unconsciously sat up straight.
What flowed between the two was a strong, unspoken resonance between intelligent, professional people.
Scariolo understood all too well. A sky-high salary, coupled with a "laboratory" free from short-sighted management interference, where he could personally mold the tactical system and access unlimited rookie resources, meant pure respect and was incredibly tempting to a coach with top-tier tactical ambitions.
Scariolo looked at the mysterious, wealthy man with deep eyes before him, let out a long sigh of relief, and a smile of extreme excitement appeared on his lips.
"To be honest, I haven't heard of such attractive coaching terms in a long time." He extended his hand and shook hands firmly with Lin Qi.
"It's a deal, boss."
The second person is in Belgrade.
Igor Kokoškov.
The Serbia assistant coach, in his early thirties, currently earns a meager salary working for a small team in the Balkan Peninsula.
"A tactical genius." On the flight to Serbia, Lin Qi commented, "This guy has more tactical reserves in his head than most NBA head coaches use in their entire careers."
Gherardini glanced at him sideways. "You even found out about the teaching assistants in the Balkan Peninsula?"
Lin Qi knew that this poor Eastern Europe boy, who was still struggling to make ends meet, would one day become the first foreign head coach in NBA history.
What Lin Qi valued was far more than just his tactical expertise. This guy is a true master of defensive system building, and he has an Midas touch when it comes to developing young players. Luka Dončić Dončić, Goran Dragić, Donovan Mitchell, Ricky Rubio... that long list of names that will shine brightly in the league in the future is the most irrefutable endorsement of his coaching ability.
The café where we met was quite run-down. Kokoškov arrived half an hour early, looking rather uneasy.
"Mr. Lin Qi." He stood up with a heavy Eastern Europe accent.
"Sit down." Lin Qi sat down without any preamble. "I heard you've been researching improvements to the Princeton system under Europe FIBA rules?"
Kokoškov was stunned, and then his tense expression instantly brightened.
The next two hours completely deviated from the normal interview format. There was no discussion of salary or benefits; the two of them frantically drew tactical movement diagrams using only a few napkins. Kokoškov gestured like a madman, demonstrating the timing of screens and cuts, and Lin Qi always managed to precisely follow his train of thought at the most crucial moments.
Left hanging in the air, Gherardini was getting dizzy from listening. Finally, he couldn't help but tap the table. "Excuse me, gentlemen. We should talk about the contract."
Lin Qi put down his pen and looked at the sweat-drenched Kokoškov: " Milan's chief assistant coach. Salary tripled. Want to come?"
Kokoškov suddenly looked up, staring at Lin Qi in disbelief, and swallowed hard.
When can I buy my plane ticket?
The Bosman ruling broke down barriers to player movement within the European Union, but for Italian Basketball League teams, the real constraint is the quota for European Union foreign players.
A team can only register three non- European Union players at a time. These three players determine the team's potential.
In Milan's temporary office, Gherardini looked at the three names Lin Qi had finally chosen and shook his head repeatedly.
" Dino Radja, I completely agree." Gherardini pointed to the first name. "He played well in Greece and also for Celtics... He deserves a spot; he can be a cornerstone of the team and keep the locker room in check. But the next two..."
He tapped the paper heavily. " Raja Bell? Stephen Jackson?"
"You're going to waste such a valuable spot on two players nobody wants?"
"It's not a waste, it's a bargain." Lin Qi leaned on his desk, his tone revealing a businessman's shrewdness. "NBA teams don't dare draft them because they have obvious flaws. Bell's offense is rough, and Jackson is a troublemaker who could ignite the locker room at any moment."
"Do you want more?"
Lin Qi nodded.
He certainly wouldn't reveal the whole truth... that his real purpose in buying the team was to "nurture" these fringe players. If he said that, he'd be considered crazy. As for signing Dino Radja, it was purely to maintain the team's minimum standard and prevent their record from getting too bad. How can you develop good players without a winning culture?
A week later, the three players gathered in Milan.
When Radja saw Lin Qi in the conference room, a clear look of surprise flashed in his eyes. Raja Bell and Stephen Jackson, on the other hand, seemed a little flustered, still not understanding the situation... why an Italian Basketball League team would offer two unwanted players such generous contracts, slightly above the NBA minimum salary.
Looking at the three players with different expressions in front of him, Lin Qi had his own plans.
Of course, he couldn't tell the truth out loud. He couldn't very well say that this Milan team was actually an overseas "training ground" he had secretly built for the Boston Celtics. The logic behind this lineup couldn't be simpler: Radja was the captain who would instill Celtics culture in everyone, while Bell and Jackson were the first batch of experimental players.
Composing himself, Lin Qi didn't try to give them any empty platitudes about the "revival of Europe basketball."
He stood before the three men, his gaze sharp and direct.
" Radja, we know each other inside and out." Lin Qi's voice echoed in the quiet conference room. "You will undoubtedly be the core of this team. Of course, I also need you to do one thing... bring over the Boston Celtics ' standards exactly as they are. You need to be the ballast of this team, and teach these young guys what true professionalism is."
Then, Lin Qi turned to look at the other two young men.
"As for you two, don't feel wronged by being abandoned by the NBA. I can be blunt with you... Milan is your springboard."
As soon as he finished speaking, Bell and Jackson simultaneously raised their heads, their eyes fixed on Lin Qi.
"Go play in the United States second division? Low wages, weak competition, and a low level of play—it's a complete waste of time. Here, Italian Basketball League and the Europe Cup are real, high-stakes matches." Lin Qi pointed to the floor beneath his feet. "Here, I need to address my weaknesses in attacking techniques, improve my defense, and enhance my tactical execution!"
"Once you've proven yourselves in Europe..." Lin Qi paused, a smile playing on his lips, "The doors of the Boston Celtics will always be open for you."
There was a moment of silence in the conference room.
Jackson licked his dry lips hard, the confusion in his eyes completely disappearing, replaced by a ruthless and decisive look fueled by ambition.
He looked directly into Lin Qi's eyes and nodded emphatically.
It's a deal.