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During his college career, Curry averaged 4.8 three-pointers per game with a shooting percentage of 43.5%, showcasing high productivity and efficiency. Many of these were difficult shots, including ultra-long and fast-break three-pointers. He was the NCAA scoring champion for three consecutive years.
Curry set numerous records, including for most three-pointers in a single season, in a single game, and in a half. He became the top shooter in NCAA history despite not playing all four years.
In addition to his shooting, Curry also displayed strong playmaking skills. Although criticized for his shot selection and risky passes, he recorded double-digit assists in several games, showing potential as an excellent point guard. Many teams expressed interest in Curry, with predictions placing him between the 2nd and 5th draft picks.
If not for his age (21), Curry could have been a contender for the No. 1 pick. However, Griffin's explosive athleticism secured him that spot. This disrupted Liam's plans. Although experts didn't consider 2009 a weak draft year, Curry and Harden were the only players with superstar potential.
Harden, a physical and skilled guard with high basketball IQ, was projected to be drafted between 3rd and 6th, making it unlikely for the Warriors to select him. Liam didn't want to wait any longer. While more superstars would emerge in the coming years, none would compare to Curry or Harden as team cornerstones.
From a business perspective, the next decade would see significant growth in the value of NBA teams, largely due to increased broadcast rights fees. With the U.S. economy in recession following the financial crisis, team valuations were at a low, making it the perfect time to enter the market.
Liam recalled that several NBA teams would change owners in the coming years, including the Warriors, Bobcats, Hornets, Pistons, Nets, and Clippers. The Warriors, however, were the best choice. The Clippers' asking price was too high, and Liam couldn't compete with wealthy individuals like Steve Ballmer. The Nets were stuck sharing a market with the Knicks. The Warriors, based in San Francisco, had far better market potential.
After careful consideration, Liam decided to approach Chris Cohan, the Warriors' owner, with a plan to purchase the team.
Initially, negotiations didn't go well. When Chris Cohan learned that a young man from Colombia wanted to buy his team, he refused outright, reflecting deeply-rooted discrimination against Colombians. Although Colombia's economic growth had led to increased investments globally, the Western world remained wary.
Certain sensitive industries, like sports, entertainment, and media, were almost closed off to Colombian business interests. Liam remembered how, in a previous life, Tsai Chongxin had successfully purchased the Brooklyn Nets, but Tsai wasn't even Colombian, he was a Taiwanese-born Canadian.
Liam had no choice but to bring in Mark Baum. Together, they established an investment firm, naming it after Mark's daughter—Catherine Investment Company. This was the price Liam paid for Mark's help.
After the company was set up, Liam invested $600 million, maintaining absolute control, while Mark Baum contributed $30 million and acted as the legal representative. In the United States, the ownership structures of non-public companies are not publicly available, allowing Liam to remain behind the scenes.
Mark Baum then approached Chris Cohan through a friend, initiating the secret purchase of the Warriors in the name of Catherine Investment Company, with Liam as his partner.
Cohan, driven by profit, was open to selling the team to Mark Baum. Since acquiring the Warriors in 1994, apart from the famous 2007 upset of the league's No. 1 seed, the Warriors had not made the playoffs. Despite their strong fan base, the team's market value had only risen from $119 million to over $400 million, and Cohan was tired of running the team.
Once financial analysts highlighted the profitability of Oracle Arena, Chris Cohan started discussions:
"Mr. Gonzalez, as you can see, the Warriors have a huge fan base, and the San Francisco basketball market has tremendous potential. Once performance improves, the team's market value and profits will increase significantly."
After multiple rounds of negotiation, although Mark Baum appeared to be leading Catherine Investment, Chris Cohan realized Liam was truly in charge, and Baum was merely a figurehead.
Liam worried that Cohan might back out, but Mark Baum reassured him, explaining that Chris Cohan was solely motivated by money:
"Cohan is a pure businessman. He's only interested in profit. He rejected you because getting two-thirds of the league's owners to approve a Colombian buyer would be difficult. There is still prejudice against Colombians in the U.S., and he wouldn't bother making that effort."
"But now that I'm involved, this isn't an issue anymore. The key is that your bid has to be high enough. You know, to many Americans, Colombians are seen as people with more money than sense. I'm not trying to offend Colombia, but it's the truth."
Liam understood and decided to take the lead in the negotiations.
"Mr. Cohan, the Warriors have only made the playoffs once in the past 15 years," Liam noted.
"But two years ago, the Warriors knocked out the league's No. 1 seed and MVP," Cohan responded, staying calm.
"And what have the Warriors achieved since then?" Liam asked.
"We're set for a top-ten draft pick this year. Monta Ellis has great potential. Corey Maggette and Stephen Jackson are both strong, experienced veterans. The team's future is bright," Cohan said, smiling.
"Yet, this season, with those same players, the Warriors ranked eighth from the bottom in the league."
Cohan wasn't flustered; instead, he laughed.
"Everyone in America knows the name Coach Liam Gonzalez. You're the basketball expert. Once you take over, I'm sure the Warriors will flourish, and their value will soar."
"$450 million. That's my final offer," Liam said, taking a deep breath.
"Sorry, but that price isn't enough to buy a team with such potential," Cohan replied, smiling and shaking his head.
He intended to squeeze Liam for more money. According to Catherine Investment's assessment, the Warriors' real market value was between $410 million and $430 million. Liam's bid had already exceeded that.
End of this chapter
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