https://reurl.cc/K9Yz5M What we know about ‘Uncle Dennis’: A central figure in the Kawhi Leonard, Clippers investigation 我們知道關於"Uncle Dennis"的一切: Kawhi Leonard與快艇調查的中心人物 作者:Dan Woike Before Dennis Robertson asked three NBA franchises for a list of perks so outside the norms that it spawned a league investigation, he wrote the foreword to a 90-page book about business and dining etiquette authored by his wife, Cheryl Walker-Robertson. As readers learned about the art of a professional dinner — things like which utensils go where on a place setting, how to best hold a napkin, spoon soup and butter a roll — Robertson laid out the stakes. 在Dennis Robertson向三支NBA球隊提出一份如此超出常規的福利清單以致引發聯盟調查之 前，他為一本由他的妻子Cheryl Walker-Robertson撰寫的、關於商業與餐桌禮儀的90頁書 籍撰寫了前言。 當讀者學習一場專業晚宴的藝術--諸如:哪種餐具應放在餐桌的哪個位置、如何最佳地拿取 餐巾、如何舀湯以及如何在麵包捲上塗奶油--Robertson鋪陳了其中的利害關係。 Relationships, he wrote in the 2017 book, are built on connections. And initial impressions play into one’s ability to succeed. “Commanding attention and standing out from among the crowd can seem almost impossible,” he wrote in the opening pages. “In all forms of relationships, how you communicate, both verbally and nonverbally, determine how you are perceived. “In every game, there are rules.” Two years later as the Los Angeles Lakers tried to sign Robertson’s nephew, Kawhi Leonard, they were convinced the uncle doing Leonard’s negotiating either hadn’t heard of any of the NBA’s rules or had just decided they didn’t apply. 在2017年的書中，他寫道:關係是建立在連結之上的。而第一印象會影響一個人成功的能力 。 "要掌握注意力並從人群中脫穎而出，看起來幾乎是不可能的，"他在開篇頁面中寫道。"在 所有形式的關係中，你如何溝通--包括語言和非語言--決定了別人如何看待你。 在每一場遊戲中，都有規則。" 兩年後，當洛杉磯湖人試圖簽下Robertson的外甥Kawhi Leonard時，他們深信負責替 Leonard談判的這位舅舅，要麼是從未聽說過任何 NBA 的規則，要麼就是決定那些規則不 適用於他。 And the impression he left was not a good one. Leonard didn’t just want a max deal. He wanted unlimited access to a private plane, a house and guaranteed off-court earnings from endorsements, The Athletic previously reported. He also wanted a slice of the team itself — just like the Lakers had given Magic Johnson 25 years earlier after HIV forced him into early retirement. The asks — all considered circumvention of the salary cap in the eyes of the NBA — were turned down by the team. But Robertson asked for them again. And again. And again. 而他所留下的印象並不好。 據The Athletic先前報導，Leonard不只是想要一份頂薪合約，他還要求能無限制使用私人 飛機、一棟房子，以及由代言所保證的場外收入。他甚至還想要球隊本身的一部分股份-- 就像25年前，湖人在Magic Johnson因HIV感染被迫提前退休後，給了他球隊股份一樣。 這些要求--在NBA看來全都是規避薪資上限--被球隊拒絕了。 但Robertson又再次提出這些要求。一次、又一次、再一次。 The Lakers repeatedly told Robertson that his requests were against the NBA’ s collective bargaining agreement. Outside of the negotiations, team sources said, the Lakers laughed at Robertson’s audacity. And to Robertson himself, team president Jeanie Buss underscored the outrageousness of the requests by saying he should attempt to get other teams to agree to his terms in writing. Leonard ultimately chose to sign with the LA Clippers in 2019, the team meeting a different demand by trading for co-star Paul George. Those 2019 negotiations led to an investigation by the NBA, which concluded there was no evidence that the Clippers granted any of Robertson’s improper requests. 湖人隊一再告訴Robertson，他的要求違反了NBA的勞資協議。據球隊內線表示，在談判之 外，湖人隊對Robertson的大膽要求嗤之以鼻。而對Robertson本人，球隊總裁Jeanie Buss 更是強調這些要求的荒謬，甚至告訴他應該試著讓其他球隊用書面同意他的條件。 最終，Leonard在2019年選擇與洛杉磯快艇簽約，球隊則透過交易Paul George來滿足另一 項要求。那場2019年的談判引發了NBA的調查，最終結論是沒有證據顯示快艇答應了 Robertson的任何不當要求。 Now, the dealings by Robertson and Leonard have surfaced again as the superstar forward, the Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer face an investigation about whether the Clippers ran afoul of the league’s salary cap rules. The investigation stems from a previously unannounced endorsement deal with Aspiration, a company with close business ties to the Clippers and Ballmer, that could have netted Leonard close to $50 million, as first reported by Pablo Torre on his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast earlier this month. Leonard never publicly promoted Aspiration. Robertson did not respond to multiple interview requests for this story. The Clippers have denied wrongdoing and declined comment for this story through a spokesperson. The Athletic conducted interviews with 17 different sources, league and team personnel and agents for this story, including multiple people who have had direct dealings with Robertson and Leonard. The Athletic granted the sources anonymity so they could speak openly about a sensitive situation that is under league investigation. 如今，Robertson和Leonard的行為再度浮上檯面，因為這位超級前鋒、快艇隊以及球隊老 闆Steve Ballmer正面臨一項調查，內容是快艇是否違反了聯盟的薪資上限規定。這項調查 源自一筆先前未公開的代言合約，對象是Aspiration--一家與快艇及Ballmer有密切商業關 係的公司--這份合約可能讓Leonard賺進將近50M。這則消息最早由Pablo Torre在本月稍早 的節目Pablo Torre Finds Out Podcast中披露。 Leonard從未公開為Aspiration進行宣傳。Robertson對於本篇報導的多次訪問請求沒有回 應。快艇隊則透過發言人否認有任何不當行為，並拒絕對此事發表評論。 為了這篇報導，The Athletic訪問了17個不同來源，包括聯盟與球隊人員以及經紀人，其 中有多人曾與Robertson和Leonard有直接往來。The Athletic給予這些消息來源匿名權， 以便他們能夠坦率地談論這起正受到聯盟調查的敏感事件。 The Lakers, it turns out, weren’t the only ones getting these requests in 2019. Robertson asked Leonard’s then-incumbent team, the Toronto Raptors, for the same set of benefits, league sources confirmed to The Athletic. The Clippers heard the same. “There’s no beginning and there’s no end to what he’d ask for,” an executive involved in the negotiations said. “…There’s a bizarre expectation, not entitlement, but like a willingness to ask for crazy things. ” 事實證明，在2019年收到這些要求的並不只有湖人隊。據聯盟消息人士向The Athletic證 實，Robertson也曾向Leonard當時效力的多倫多暴龍隊提出同樣的一套福利要求。快艇隊 也聽到了相同的要求。 "他所提出的要求沒有開始也沒有結束，"一位參與談判的高層表示。"......那是一種奇怪 的期待，並不是覺得理所當然，而是好像隨時都敢於提出一些瘋狂的要求。" Ballmer and his organization have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and have said they’re cooperating with the investigators, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. The law firm’s investigation, while primarily focused on whether the Clippers and Ballmer conspired with Aspiration to circumvent the salary cap, is not limited to Aspiration’s deal with Leonard, a source familiar with the process told The Athletic. The firm can review the 2019 allegations or any other wrongdoing, should new information be uncovered. As it relates to Robertson, the question of whether the Clippers capitulated to his improper requests will be a central aspect of the league’s findings. In a way, Robertson’s reputation within NBA circles is on trial here too. Ballmer和他的團隊一再否認有任何不當行為，並表示他們正與調查方 Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz律師事務所合作。據一位熟悉調查過程的消息人士向The Athletic透露，該 律師事務所的調查雖然主要聚焦於快艇與Ballmer是否與Aspiration串通以規避薪資上限， 但並不僅限於Leonard與Aspiration的交易。如果有新的資訊浮現，該事務所也能審查2019 年的指控或其他任何不當行為。 至於Robertson，快艇是否屈服於他那些不當要求，將會是聯盟調查結果中的核心問題之一 。在某種程度上，Robertson在NBA圈子內的名聲也正接受檢驗。 Some sources shared the notion that a player representative asking for things outside the collective bargaining agreement isn’t unique to Robertson. “When he got into serious conversations, there were asks,” a former general manager who knows Robertson said. “I think that happens a lot.” But according to other executives and agents familiar with Robertson’s tactics, it’s the extremity of his requests that set him apart from so many other representatives or family members who routinely attempt to work around the league’s rules. As one executive put it, it’s like someone driving 75 miles per hour in a 35-mph zone while everyone else was cruising at 10 mph over the limit. “There was no one governing him,” an agent said. “… He worked without any guardrails.” The lack of guardrails has Robertson, Leonard and the Clippers in the center of what could turn out to be a massive NBA scandal. 一些消息人士認為，球員代表提出超出勞資協議範圍的要求，並不是Robertson獨有的情況 。 "當他進入嚴肅談話時，就會有各種要求，"一位認識Robertson的前總經理說道。"我覺得 這種事經常發生。" 但根據其他熟悉Robertson手法的高層與經紀人的說法，真正讓他與其他經常試圖鑽聯盟規 則漏洞的代表或家屬不同之處，在於他要求的極端程度。一位高層形容，這就像是在時速 35英里的區域裡，有人開到75英里，而其他人只是超速10英里。 "沒有人能管得了他，"一位經紀人說道。"......他完全是在沒有護欄的情況下行事。" 正因為缺乏規範，Robertson、Leonard與快艇隊如今身處可能演變成重大NBA醜聞的風暴中 心。 Multiple sources interviewed by The Athletic painted a portrait of Robertson as a single-minded advocate for his nephew who also had little problems requesting preferential treatment on small and large scales. The range of reactions to his style was vast, with several sources expressing animosity for him while others understood his motivations and marveled at his unusual boldness. “I was amused by it,” said one former team employee. “I appreciated the hustle of ‘He’s my nephew, he’s the leader of the team and we want everything.’” The Athletic訪問的多位消息人士勾勒出Robertson的形象:一位全心全意為外甥爭取利益 的代表，無論大小事都毫不避諱提出特殊待遇的要求。對於他這種作風，反應差異極大， 有些人對他心懷敵意，而另一些人則理解他的動機，甚至對他非比尋常的膽量感到驚訝。 "我覺得這很有趣，"一位前球隊員工說道。"我欣賞那種拼勁--'他是我外甥，他是球隊的 核心，我們要得到一切。'" One executive said that if Robertson saw a team-issued sweatshirt he liked on the practice court, he’d make it his priority to get one by the end of the day with the same kind of persistence and determination that he used to ask teams for extra benefits during those 2019 negotiations. Sources from all three of Leonard’s NBA homes — in addition to the Clippers and Raptors, Leonard also played for the San Antonio Spurs from 2011-18 — had similar experiences with Robertson making repeated asks both big and small. “The things he needs and the things he wants are indistinguishable,” an executive with direct knowledge said. Minor requests, gripes about tickets, meals and such, are fairly common for people close to star players, and teams almost always meet those demands, especially for players like Leonard. 一位高層表示，如果Robertson在訓練場上看到一件自己喜歡的球隊發放的運動衫，他會把 當天拿到那件衣服當作首要任務，用的正是他在2019年談判中向球隊要求額外福利時展現 的那種堅持與決心。 來自Leonard三支NBA球隊的消息來源--除了快艇與暴龍之外，他還在2011至2018年效力過 聖安東尼奧馬刺--都有過類似的經歷:Robertson會反覆提出大大小小的要求。 "他所需要的東西與他所想要的東西根本無法區分，"一位直接知情的高層說道。 一些小要求，例如對球票、餐飲之類的抱怨，對明星球員的親近人士來說相當常見，而球 隊幾乎總是會滿足這些需求，尤其是對於像Leonard這樣的球員。 “He’s a sophisticated guy and a smart guy and aggressive,” a former GM said of Robertson. “If he asked for stuff and he did things; I think it’s not as much of an outlier as he’s being positioned as being. If he were an insider and a traditional agent, everyone would say ‘Agents do this all the time.’ But the framework is what makes him different. And a lot of people don ’t like it.” The framework, of course, is that Robertson isn’t a registered agent — and he’s not like any other NBA uncle. He’s Uncle Dennis, a singular character who doesn’t even need a surname to get a reaction. “He is what he is,” one general manager said after this latest investigation into possible salary-cap circumvention. “I really don’t want to go down this road.” Another team executive summed it up — “If you’re an opportunistic person, in the NBA, there are opportunities everywhere.” "他是一個世故的人，也是一個聰明而有侵略性的人，"一位前任總經理這樣形容Robertson 。"如果他提出要求、做一些事情，我覺得並不像外界描繪的那麼特例。如果他是圈內人、 是一位傳統的經紀人，大家會說:'經紀人經常這麼做。'但使他與眾不同的是那個框架。而 很多人不喜歡這一點。" 當然，所謂的框架就是:Robertson並不是一位註冊經紀人--而且他也不像其他NBA球員的叔 叔。他是"Uncle Dennis"，一個只要出現就能引發反應的獨特角色，甚至不需要姓氏。 "他就是他，"一位總經理在最新一起關於可能規避薪資上限的調查後這麼說。"我真的不想 再跟他打交道。" 另一位球隊高層總結道:"如果你是一個善於抓住機會的人，在 NBA，隨處都是機會。" But Robertson’s defenders around the NBA point to this behavior as being born more out of advocacy than outright greed — simply a former banker fully understanding the rules of supply and demand. As recently as last summer, when Leonard was training to play with Team USA in the Paris Olympics, sources said discussions with Robertson about his nephew and the injury that ultimately forced him off the team were never contentious. “It’s difficult because he’s not your traditional representative,” a former general manager said. “There are a lot of different transactions in the NBA where you’re asked for things. People want things that are not above board; 99 percent of the time you say no. If you say yes, it’s not the person who asked for it at fault.” But one team source who directly negotiated with Robertson said it wasn’t the asks that were the biggest problem; it was that he didn’t stop making them. 但NBA圈內為Robertson辯護的人則認為，他的行為更多源自於"為外甥積極爭取"而非赤裸 裸的貪婪--不過就是一名前銀行人士，完全理解供需法則的運作而已。就在去年夏天，當 Leonard正在為巴黎奧運代表美國隊出賽而訓練時，消息人士透露，與Robertson就他外甥 和最終迫使他退出比賽的傷勢進行的討論，從來沒有出現過爭執。 "這很難，因為他不是你所熟悉的那種傳統代表，"一位前總經理表示。"在NBA有許多不同 的交易場合，人們會提出一些要求。有些要求並不光明正大;百分之九十九的情況下你會拒 絕。如果你答應了，那也不是提出要求的人有錯。" 但一位曾與Robertson直接談判的球隊消息人士表示，最大問題並不在於那些要求本身，而 在於他從未停止過提出要求。 Before he became the NBA’s most famous relative, Dennis Robertson was a hooper himself, someone who worked his way from Dorsey High in Los Angeles to junior college to the College of Idaho, a small liberal arts school less than 30 miles from Boise. There he became the team’s best defensive player and its athlete of the year. After briefly playing semi-professionally, Robertson, who majored in business management, moved into a career in finance. According to his LinkedIn profile, Robertson worked in banking for more than 30 years, including over 22 at Chase Bank before leaving in 2009 to become a vice president, retail sales manager at Carver Federal Savings Bank. 在成為NBA最有名的親屬之前，Dennis Robertson自己本身也是一名籃球員，他一路從洛杉 磯的Dorsey高中，進入社區大學，再到愛達荷學院--一所距離Boise不到30英里的小型文理 學院。 在那裡，他成為球隊最佳防守球員並獲選年度運動員。短暫打過半職業比賽後，主修企業 管理的Robertson投入金融業。根據他的LinkedIn資料，Robertson在銀行業工作超過30年 ，其中有22年以上任職於Chase，直到2009年離職，之後成為Carve聯邦儲蓄銀行的副總裁 兼零售銷售經理。 “During his tenure in banking, he has been recognized for rising to ever increasing levels of responsibility by overseeing all operational functions relating to policies and procedures, management, leadership development, and customer service,” his LinkedIn page reads. As Robertson made the move to Carver, his nephew began his road to stardom at San Diego State, where his defensive prowess, offensive potential and a legendary work ethic made the former top high school player in California a Second Team NCAA All-American by his sophomore season. 他的LinkedIn頁面寫道:"在銀行業任職期間，他因承擔愈來愈多的責任而受到肯定，負責 監督與政策和流程、管理、領導力發展以及客戶服務相關的所有營運職能。" 當Robertson轉職至Carver聯邦儲蓄銀行時，他的外甥則在聖地牙哥州立大學展開了邁向巨 星的道路。在那裡，他憑藉防守實力、進攻潛能以及傳奇般的職業道德，讓這位曾經的加 州頂尖高中球員在大二賽季就入選 NCAA 全美第二隊。 Robertson took on a larger role in Leonard’s life after Leonard’s father, Mark, was murdered in 2008 at the car wash he owned in Compton, Calif. The crime remains unsolved. Leonard was just 16 at the time of his father’s death. And after the shooting, Robertson helped his sister, Kim, raise her son. “With my dad passing away, there aren’t too many men in the family and he’ s a great guy to just talk to that has been through my experiences at my age, ” Leonard told the San Antonio Express-News in 2014. “He’s just been through life already; good guy to talk to.” 2008年，Leonard的父親Mark在加州康普頓自己經營的洗車場遭到謀殺，案件至今未破。當 時Leonard只有16歲。在槍擊案發生後，Robertson在Leonard的人生中扮演了更重要的角色 ，協助他的妹妹Kim一同扶養這位年輕的兒子。 "隨著父親的離世，我的家裡沒有太多男性長輩，而他是一個很棒的人，可以和他交談，因 為他在我這個年紀時也經歷過相似的事情，"Leonard在2014年接受San Antonio Express -News採訪時說道。"他已經走過人生很多歷程;是一個值得傾訴的好人。" That same year, Leonard was a surprise NBA Finals MVP after he helped shut down LeBron James and his Miami Heat in just five games. Despite being surrounded by future Hall of Famers, with legendary coach Gregg Popovich leading the way, it was Leonard who was given the top individual honor when it mattered most. As quiet as he was, Leonard’s play did more than enough talking. The spotlight brightened. The off-court business possibilities started coming his way. That’s when Robertson became more interested in Leonard’s marketability and began escalating his efforts on that front,” a source familiar with the family said. 同一年，Leonard出人意料地成為NBA總決賽MVP，他在僅僅五場比賽內就幫助球隊成功封鎖 LeBron James與他的邁阿密熱火。儘管身邊圍繞著未來的名人堂球員，還有傳奇教練Gregg Popovich領軍，但在最關鍵的時刻，獲得最高個人榮譽的卻是Leonard。 雖然Leonard個性沉默，但他的表現已經充分替自己發聲。聚光燈隨之更加耀眼，場外的商 業機會也開始向他靠攏。"正是在那時，Robertson對Leonard的商業可塑性變得更加感興趣 ，並開始在這方面加大力度，"一位熟悉這個家庭的消息人士透露。 “If (endorsers) want me to get out of the gym, it will have to be a lot of money,” Leonard told the San Antonio Express-News in September 2014. Reporting in 2018 by the Express-News detailed how Robertson’s growing influence played a role in Leonard’s fracturing relationship with the Spurs. An extension with Jordan Brand fell apart, with sources saying that Robertson ’s dissatisfaction played a role in the dissolution of the relationship. Leonard went on to sign a deal with New Balance that was reportedly even more lucrative. "如果(贊助商)想讓我離開體育館，那就得付出一大筆錢，"Leonard在2014年9月接受San Antonio Express-News訪問時這樣說。 San Antonio Express-News在2018年的報導中詳細指出，Robertson影響力日益增強，在 Leonard與馬刺關係惡化的過程中扮演了一定角色。 與Jordan Brand的續約談判破局，消息人士稱Robertson的不滿在其中起了作用。隨後 Leonard與New Balance簽下合約，而據報導這份合約更加豐厚。 Robertson also became very involved in the communications between Leonard and the Spurs medical staff — the cause of the biggest strain between the emerging star and the franchise where he was a back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year and the league’s top two-way talent. Disagreements over Leonard’ s mysterious quad injury that limited him to just nine games in 2018 precipitated a trade request, with the Spurs ultimately sending Leonard to the Raptors. To that point, the Spurs organization had been renowned for its ability to have high-level relationships with its star players within a team-first, selfless culture that Popovich and then-general manager R.C. Buford created. Leonard was widely seen as the next in line, the kind of elite player who would usher in their next era of championship contention. But communication between the two sides was a major issue near the end, with the mystery surrounding Leonard’s health and availability creating friction that ultimately led to a split. Robertson也深度參與了Leonard與馬刺隊醫療團隊之間的溝通--這正是這位新崛起的球星 與球團之間最大矛盾的來源。Leonard神秘的股四頭肌傷勢讓他在2018年只打了9場比賽， 雙方對此分歧不斷，最終引發了交易請求，馬刺最後把Leonard送到暴龍。 在此之前，馬刺一直以能在Popovich與當時總經理R.C. Buford建立的"團隊至上、無私奉 獻"文化下，與球星保持高水平關係而聞名。Leonard被廣泛視為下一位接班人，一名能帶 領球隊開啟新一輪爭冠時代的頂級球員。然而在最後階段，雙方的溝通卻成為重大問題， 圍繞著Leonard健康狀況與可出賽性的疑雲，最終導致摩擦並促成分手。 “I think it just became a lack of trust,” Robertson told Yahoo! Sports in 2019. “They didn’t believe Kawhi couldn’t play and that caused a lack of trust in us and then us not believing in them. Any time a player says he’s not capable of playing, you should believe him. Why would Kawhi just stop playing all of a sudden? He’s a competitor. “Sometimes you get these team doctors telling you what you can and cannot do, and Kawhi was just in too much pain to get out there. This was a serious issue. They didn’t believe him, and after that, the relationship couldn’t recover and we decided we had to move on.” By the time Leonard got to Toronto, his view on the NBA experience had changed. As one person who was close to him at the time described Leonard’s perspective, “Nobody’s gonna look after you but you.” "我認為最後只是變成了缺乏信任，"Robertson在2019年告訴Yahoo! Sports。"他們不相信 Kawhi不能打，這導致他們對我們缺乏信任，而我們也不再相信他們。任何時候，只要一名 球員說他無法上場，你就應該相信他。為什麼Kawhi會突然停止打球?他是一名競爭者。 有時候，這些隊醫會告訴你能做什麼、不能做什麼，但Kawhi當時就是痛到無法上場。這是 個嚴重的問題。他們不相信他，而在那之後，雙方的關係就無法修復，我們決定必須繼續 前進。" 等到Leonard來到多倫多時，他對NBA的經驗已經改變。當時一位與他親近的人形容Leonard 的心態:"沒有人會照顧你，除了你自己。" Over time, that mentality applied to off-court matters too. “I don’t think it was any different when it came to making asks,” the person continued. “You don’t know unless you ask. And the more you do it, the more comfortable you get. When you have all these people trying to make you happy, why not take advantage of it?” If that was Leonard’s approach at the start of his one season in Toronto, then it was only emboldened by what came next. With his free agency looming in 2019, the Raptors limited Leonard to just 60 regular-season games, working with the star and his uncle to make things in Toronto as comfortable as possible. Robertson’s influence was omnipresent at the time, two sources said, with no limit to the matters that “would be micromanaged” by him, as one source put it. “He had a reputation coming (to Toronto), and he certainly lived up to it,” the source said. 隨著時間推移，那種心態也延伸到了場外事務。 "我覺得在提出要求這件事上並沒有什麼不同，"那位人士繼續說道。"你不問就不會知道。 而你做得越多，就會越習慣。當周圍有這麼多人想讓你開心時，為什麼不利用這點呢?" 如果這就是Leonard 在多倫多唯一一個賽季初期的態度，那麼接下來發生的事更是讓這種 態度愈加強烈。隨著2019年自由球員身份臨近，暴龍將Leonard的出賽限制在僅60場例行賽 ，並與這位球星及他的叔叔合作，盡可能讓他在多倫多過得舒適。當時Robertson的影響力 幾乎無所不在，兩位消息人士表示，他所"微觀管理"的事情之多幾乎沒有上限。 "他在來到多倫多之前就有了名聲，而他確實名副其實，"一位消息人士說道。 Then Leonard rewarded the franchise with its most famous shot — a game-winner against the Philadelphia 76ers that bounced and bounced and bounced off the rim before falling through — and an NBA championship. He was even named finals MVP for a second time, joining LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only others in league history to win that honor for multiple organizations. Leonard capped his season with a parade through the streets of Toronto, riding on a bus with a cigar in his mouth and the NBA championship trophy in his hand. He wore a shirt that read “Board man gets paid” — a motto of his in high school and college that he repeated as he cleaned shot after shot off the glass. One other person on Leonard’s bus, soaking in the championship atmosphere, was in charge of making sure the board man got paid: Uncle Dennis. 隨後，Leonard用球隊史上最著名的一球回報了暴龍--對費城76人的致勝球，那顆球在籃框 上彈了又彈，最終掉進籃網--並帶來了一座NBA總冠軍。他甚至第二次榮膺總決賽MVP，成 為僅有的幾位為不同球隊奪得該榮譽的球員之一，與LeBron James和Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 並列。 Leonard以多倫多街頭的冠軍遊行為賽季劃下句點，他坐在巴士上，嘴裡叼著雪茄，手中捧 著NBA冠軍獎盃。他身穿一件寫著"Board man gets paid"的T恤--這是他在高中、大學時期 的座右銘，源自於他一次又一次摘下籃板後的自我激勵。 在Leonard所在的那輛巴士上，還有另一個沉浸在冠軍氛圍中的人，負責確保"Board man"真 的能拿到報酬: Unlce Dennis。 As a matter of technicality, Dennis Robertson isn’t an agent. He’s dabbled in the space and has had conversations with other agents about forming partnerships, league sources told The Athletic. But the agent who represents Kawhi Leonard is Mitch Frankel. (Leonard, according to RealGM, is just one of two active clients for Frankel in the NBA along with Indiana Pacers reserve Tony Bradley.) Robertson’s title officially is “President of the Elite Athlete Division” of Protocol International, the name of the business he runs with his wife — the same business that produced the dining etiquette book for which he wrote the foreword. The company issued a news release celebrating Clippers assistant Jeremy Castleberry when he was named the “San Diego Clippers’ G-League Summer League team” head coach. Castleberry, one of Leonard’s closest friends since college, has been an assistant on every one of Leonard’s teams since 2015. 嚴格來說，Dennis Robertson並不是一名經紀人。據聯盟消息人士告訴The Athletic，他 涉足過這個領域，並與其他經紀人討論過建立合作關係。但真正代表 Kawhi Leonard的經 紀人是Mitch Frankel。(根據RealGM，Leonard是Frankel在NBA僅有的兩名現役客戶之一， 另一位是印第安納溜馬的替補球員Tony Bradley。) Robertson的正式頭銜是Protocol International的精英運動員部門總裁，這家公司是他與 妻子共同經營的--也是出版那本餐桌禮儀書籍、並由他撰寫前言的同一家公司。 當快艇助理教練Jeremy Castleberry被任命為"聖地牙哥快艇G聯盟夏季聯賽球隊"總教練時 ，該公司還發布新聞稿表示祝賀。Castleberry是Leonard自大學以來最親近的好友之一， 自2015年起，他便在Leonard所效力的每支球隊中擔任助理教練。 (今年是快艇夏季聯賽教練) 這份發布在Protocol International Instagram頁面的新聞稿，稱Robertson為"Uncle Dennis"。 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKZb-WIOOzZ/ The league, for better or worse, is full of people who aren’t certified agents but who still handle business for players. And those people want things — tickets, clothes, meals, travel arrangements and access. Robertson, according to people familiar with the situation, wanted that stuff too. “In the realm of handlers, managers, friends, the other behavior was normal — those guys all want free s—,” one source said. “…There was no favor too small for him to ask.” But Robertson’s involvement in Leonard’s 2019 summer had a ripple effect that went well beyond the norm. Had Leonard chosen to re-sign with Toronto, the Raptors could only offer $190 million over five years. His other suitors were restricted to $141 million over four years. Enter Uncle Dennis. 不論好壞，聯盟裡充斥著許多並非認證經紀人卻仍替球員處理事務的人。而這些人總是有 所要求--門票、衣服、餐飲、旅遊安排和出入特權。 據熟悉情況的人士透露，Robertson也想要這些東西。 "在這些助理、經理、朋友的圈子裡，這樣的行為很正常--他們全都想要免費的東西，"一 位消息人士說道。"...對他來說，沒有好處會小到不值得開口要。" 但Robertson在Leonard 2019年夏天的介入，引發的連鎖效應遠遠超出了常規。假如 Leonard選擇與多倫多續約，暴龍最多只能提供5年190M;其他追求者則被限制在4年141M。 就在這時，Uncle Dennis登場了。 The league investigated the dealings between Leonard and the teams that were chasing him in free agency, but found no evidence that any of the lavish requests had actually been granted. Still, they made it clear at the time that any subsequent evidence indicating otherwise would be grounds to re-open the investigation. As NBA commissioner Adam Silver made clear privately at the time, salary-cap circumvention was seen as the cardinal sin in the league and, if proved, would be dealt with appropriately. Months later, just as Leonard was set to start his first training camp with the Clippers in September 2019, Silver told owners during New York meetings that he would be revamping some free agency rules and reinforcing the ones that, in his estimation, were too often ignored. The National Basketball Players Association was asked to assist with this problem as well. 聯盟曾調查過Leonard與各支在自由市場追逐他的球隊之間的往來，但未發現任何證據顯示 那些奢侈的要求真的被答應。不過，他們當時明確表示，如果日後出現相反的證據，就會 成為重新展開調查的理由。當時，NBA總裁Adam Silver私下明確指出，規避薪資上限被視 為聯盟中的"大罪"，一旦被證實，就會受到相應處理。 幾個月後，正值Leonard準備在2019年9月展開他在快艇的第一個訓練營之際，Silver在紐 約的會議中告訴各球隊老闆，他將修訂部分自由球員規則，並加強執行那些在他看來太常 被忽視的規範。NBA球員工會也被要求協助解決這個問題。 Union officials re-emphasized the rules of representation with its 400-plus players, reminding them that only certified agents were authorized to negotiate directly with teams. As one prominent agent said at the time, “ This is because of Dennis. He didn’t know the rules.” Said one owner back then: “This (leaguewide discussion) is all because of Uncle Dennis.” In addition to the 2019 tampering investigation, the Clippers have faced multiple lawsuits, including one from Robertson’s former Dorsey High teammate Johnny Wilkes and litigation from former Clippers trainer Randy Shelton. Wilkes’ lawsuit was dismissed in 2022 for failure to provide supporting evidence. 工會官員再次向超過400名球員強調代表規則，提醒他們只有認證的經紀人才能被授權直接 與球隊談判。一位知名經紀人當時說道:"這一切都是因為Dennis。他根本不知道規則。" 一位球隊老闆當時表示:"這場(全聯盟的討論)完全都是因為Uncle Dennis。" 除了2019年的非法招募調查外，快艇還面臨多起訴訟，包括Robertson過去在Dorsey高中的 隊友Johnny Wilkes提出的訴訟，以及前快艇訓練員Randy Shelton的訴訟。Wilkes的訴訟 則在2022年因缺乏支持性證據而遭駁回。 According to a legal filing from Shelton, a trainer who worked with Leonard, Robertson had insisted that he represent Shelton in negotiations with the team. In the filing, Shelton claims he had to “either agree to pay Mr. Robertson 10 percent of Plaintiff’s total compensation from the Clippers, or Mr. Robertson would not permit Plaintiff to join the team or sign a new contract. This coercion, coupled with Mr. Robertson’s widely reported control over the Clippers’ organization through his relationship with Kawhi Leonard, raises significant concerns of duress and undue influence.” According to several league sources with knowledge of such arrangements, standard commission for contracts is typically 4 percent. Shelton’s lawsuit is still working its way through the legal system. As people around the NBA learned about the latest round of reporting surrounding Leonard and extra benefits, the details about Robertson being the person who made sure Leonard got the endorsement money from Aspiration rang especially true to people who had worked with him. “That’s classic Dennis,” a general manager said. 根據Shelton(曾與Leonard共事的訓練員)提交的法律文件，Robertson曾堅持要由他代表 Shelton與球隊進行談判。 在該文件中，Shelton聲稱他必須"同意支付Robertson先生自己從快艇得到的全部報酬的 10%，否則Robertson就不會允許我加入球隊或簽署新合約。這種脅迫，加上Robertson因與 Kawhi Leonard的關係而被廣泛報導掌控快艇組織的情況，引發了對於強迫與不當影響的嚴 重疑慮。" 據多位熟悉相關安排的聯盟消息人士透露，合約的標準佣金通常是4%。Shelton的訴訟目前 仍在法律程序中進行。 隨著NBA內部人士得知有關Leonard及額外福利的最新報導，Robertson作為確保Leonard從 Aspiration得到代言收入的關鍵人物這一細節，對曾與他共事的人來說顯得特別可信。 "這就是經典的Dennis，"一位總經理說道。 This past season, Leonard sat in front of a golden curtain wearing a black track suit with KL2 — the name that appears on the LLC at the center of the Aspiration investigation — on the front of his jacket. He had a huge smile on his face as he celebrated Robertson receiving the College of Idaho Presidential Medallion. “Congratulations on receiving the College of Idaho Presidential Medal,” Leonard said in a recorded message to his uncle last February. “Enjoy the moment. You deserve this.” 在剛過去的賽季中，Leonard坐在一面金色布幕前，身穿一件黑色運動服，外套正面印著" KL2"--這也是位於Aspiration調查核心的LLC名稱。他臉上掛著燦爛笑容，為Robertson獲 得愛達荷學院校長勳章而慶祝。 "恭喜你獲得愛達荷學院校長勳章，"Leonard在去年二月錄製的一段給舅舅的訊息中說道。 "好好享受這一刻吧，你值得這個榮譽。" The man behind the scenes of one of the NBA’s biggest stars got his moment at the center of the court. After the message from Leonard played for Robertson’s turn in the spotlight, the former College of Idaho star received a framed No. 32 jersey. He thanked his teammates and brought them to the court. He spoke about his wife and showed gratitude for the administration, the college community and his former coach, pride from the achievement written all over his face. Robertson was at ease with the microphone in his hand, leading the small group of fans in a cheer that he hoped they’d hear in downtown Boise. “College of Idaho….Goooooooo Yotes.” 這位一直在NBA巨星背後的人，終於在球場中央迎來了屬於自己的時刻。在Leonard的祝賀 影片播出後，輪到Robertson站上聚光燈，他這位前愛達荷學院球星收到了裝裱好的32號球 衣。他感謝了隊友並將他們帶到場上，談及妻子，並對學校行政人員、校園社群和前任教 練表達了感激之情，臉上滿是成就感與驕傲。 Robertson手握麥克風時顯得從容自在，帶領一小群球迷高喊口號，他希望這聲音能傳到 Boise市中心。 "愛達荷學院......Goooooooo Yotes。" Robertson has maintained a presence at the place that launched his career in banking and sports management, earning a spot on the College of Idaho’s Board of Trustees in 2021. “Dennis brings to the table his high energy, competitive edge, personable leadership skills, and proven track record,” read a release announcing his appointment. One of his former teammates on the College of Idaho basketball team, Doug Brigham, is the school’s chief executive officer. “I’ve known Dennis since college and he has been a good friend and a wonderful supporter of our students — always very generous with his time, willing to talk to students and helpful with practical advice,” he said in an email. Robertson一直保持著與那個開啟他銀行業與運動管理生涯的地方的聯繫，並在2021年成為 愛達荷學院董事會成員。 在宣布他任命的新聞稿中寫道:"Dennis帶來的是充沛的活力、競爭優勢、親和的領導才能 ，以及已被證明的優秀履歷。" 他在愛達荷學院籃球隊的前隊友之一Doug Brigham現任該校執行長。 "我自大學時期就認識Dennis，他一直是位好朋友，也是我們學生的優秀支持者--總是慷慨 地付出時間，願意與學生交流，並提供實用的建議，"他在一封電子郵件中表示。 The night he earned that honor, Robertson appeared humbled and gracious, his legacy at his school even further formalized. Around the NBA, the way Robertson will be remembered has yet to be written and probably never will be. Is this all about advocacy for family, an uncle trying to get as much compensation as possible for an endlessly talented player whose silence might ’ve provided teams the opportunity to take advantage of him? Or is Robertson greedy? Willfully ignorant or disrespectful of league procedure? Is he merely a capitalist — a successful banker with the fortune to negotiate from a position of leverage? “Part of this is on Kawhi,” one league executive said. “He allows (Robertson) to operate. There’s a vacuum. The lack of communication creates this void and he just fills it.” “They never went against each other,” another league source who worked with Leonard said. “They’re one in the same in my mind. But Uncle Dennis doesn’ t mind being the bad guy.” At the end of the day, that distinction almost doesn’t matter. As Robertson said himself, it’s the way people react to you. “Simply put, impressions matter,” he wrote in his wife’s book, “and you only have a few seconds to make your mark.” 在獲得那項榮譽的當晚，Robertson顯得謙遜而感恩，他在母校的傳承更進一步被正式肯定 。 在 NBA 圈內，Robertson將被如何記住仍未有定論，或許也永遠不會有。 這一切是否只是出於對家人的爭取?一位舅舅想為一名天賦無窮、但因沉默寡言而可能被球 隊佔便宜的球員，爭取到盡可能多的報酬?還是Robertson貪婪?故意無視或不尊重聯盟程序 ?抑或他只是個資本家--一位成功的銀行家，恰好擁有憑藉優勢地位進行談判的本錢? "這有一部分要算在Kawhi身上，"一位聯盟高層表示。"他允許Robertson來運作。存在一個 真空。缺乏溝通創造了這個空隙，而他正好填補了這個空隙。" "他們從未對立過，"另一位曾與Leonard共事的聯盟消息人士說道。"在我看來，他們就是 一體的。不過Uncle Dennis並不介意當那個壞人。" 說到底，這樣的區分幾乎沒有意義。正如Robertson自己所說的，重要的是人們如何對待你 。 "簡單來說，印象很重要，"他在妻子的書中寫道，"而你只有幾秒鐘可以讓人留下印像。" -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 104.176.138.216 (美國) ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/NBA/M.1758832563.A.6D0.html