Check out my new fanfics.
A cote x hikigaya crossover.
Ryuga from Beyblade in Pokemon World.
Please give it a go đ
***
After the Christmas War ended, many Los Angeles fans were disappointed.
The Lakers did not crush the Knicks as expected.
What made Lakers fans even more depressed was that Shaquille O'Neal actually suffered an injury.
Initially, everyone thought his absence from the post-game press conference was an excuse, but as the Lakers officially announced that Shaquille O'Neal would miss the last two games of December due to a toe injury, everyone knew Shaq was truly injured.
On the morning of December 26, Shaquille O'Neal did not fly to Phoenix with the team but flew directly to Los Angeles.
For the last few days of 2000, Shaq could only rest.
The two Christmas Wars were not particularly exciting.
The Portland Trail Blazers won 90-104 against the Pacers.
Both Christmas Wars, one ending before the other, saw a dominant performance.
With Shaq's injury at this time, fans were more concerned about whether he would still play in the All-Star Game.
Immediately after returning to Los Angeles, sports media interviewed a serious-looking Shaquille O'Neal.
When asked about the All-Star Game, Shaq could only cautiously reply:
"Of course, I want to play in the All-Star Game. I love putting on great games for the fans."
"However, I cannot guarantee my physical condition at the moment. I need to listen to the team doctor's advice. This season, I only have one goal, and that is the championship."
Soon, a Yahoo Sports reporter asked about the MVP:
"Shaq, what are your thoughts on this season's MVP selection?"
Because Eastern and Western Conference teams only play each other twice a season, Tim Duncan's win against the Knicks didn't spark much discussion.
Therefore, when media reporters saw the Lakers lose, they hoped to hear some fiery opinions from Shaquille O'Neal.
Perhaps concerned about his injury, Shaquille O'Neal did not discuss the topic much, only saying humbly:
"The long regular season has just begun. It's too early to talk about these things. I just want to recover quickly."
Noticing the somewhat disappointed sports media, Shaquille O'Neal was also a bit annoyed.
Thinking about the check-up he had to do in the afternoon, he couldn't help but secretly complain:
"Could it be due to too much training during the offseason?"
For NBA players, the last thing they want to encounter is injury.
On the Knicks' side, Allan Houston also experienced some minor issuesâsore knees.
Clay Lee had just wished Shaquille O'Neal a speedy recovery in the morning, and after the afternoon training session, he accompanied Allan Houston for an examination.
In the physical therapy room, Jeff Van Gundy also had a headache, looking nervously at the old team doctor, Norman Scott:
"Allan has played too many games. The hidden danger from his injury in the 1998 Finals is still there. What he needs now is rest."
"I told you long ago not to participate in the Olympics. The body has its limits. You've played too many games these past few seasons."
"Lee did very well. He also reduced his training load this offseason. I emphasize again, the body has its limits, don't push yourself!"
After saying this, Norman Scott glanced at Grant Hill, who was smiling on the side, which served as another warning to the "mascot" who always wanted to return to the court early.
Jeff Van Gundy breathed a sigh of relief.
To avoid falling behind in the standings at the start of the season, Clay Lee and Allan Houston had mostly played 38 minutes in the past two months.
Thinking about the schedule before the All-Star Game, the Bald Young Coach also made a guarantee:
"For the next month or so, we can relax. Plus the All-Star Game break, I will expand the rotation."
The Head Coach's words brought joy to the faces of the players on the bench.
Luc Longley had been inactive for a month and a half, currently only playing three games for the Knicks.
If he wanted to stay in the NBA, he couldn't miss out on stats.
Even if he didn't have much ambition for a championship, Luc Longley, like most of the atmosphere group, wanted to get more stats.
Everyone discussed in low voices. Lee patted Allan Houston's shoulder and simply comforted him:
"There are only two games left in 2000, and only 11 games in January. This is the easiest schedule, so there's no need to worry about the team's record."
Allan Houston, in a contract year, smiled, but he dared not relax.
To get a big contract, he couldn't miss out on stats!
Business is business.
His agent had told him about the stats long ago:
"Give me a week, and I'll be back to full health!"
On December 27, Allan Houston stayed in New York, and the Knicks flew to Washington, where they again won big against their opponent that night.
106-82, the Knicks beat their opponent by 24 points, bringing the Washington Wizards' record to 5 wins and 24 losses.
Michael Jordan was no longer watching the games live, and Oakley also lay flat with his teammates.
Consecutive losses also caused problems with home attendance.
No one likes to lose, and Washington Wizards fans don't like buying tickets to get upset.
Many fans who bought tickets mostly came to see Lee.
Just as there were more and more asian fans at the Knicks' home games, in Washington, there were also many sounds of "Annyeonghaseyo" and "Konnichiwa."
Richard Williams, CEO of Upper Deck, always came to New York to curry favor, and Clay Lee knew that his basketball cards must have made a lot of money in Japan and Korea.
On the evening of the 29th, at Madison Square Garden, New York fans in attendance didn't forget to applaud Sprewell after the game.
72-105, the Knicks crushed the Chicago Bulls in their last game of 2000!
Losing this game, the Chicago Bulls' record came to 4 wins and 25 losses, half a game ahead of the Washington Wizards.
Sprewell's stats were good: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers.
Although he lost miserably, the "champion guard" was all smiles after the game, embracing and greeting his "old teammates" one by one.
General Manager Grunfeld also appeared in the front row seats for this game.
He was all smiles after the game, even beginning to anticipate the May draft lottery.
On December 31, as in previous years, Times Square began to feature performers gradually from 6 PM.
Young people gathered there, braving the cold weather, waiting for the final countdown.
Lee's birthday party also lasted very late.
The excessive number of parties in these two months had also made him somewhat tired.
At 6 AM on January 1, 2001, at his home on 82nd Street in Manhattan, Lee, shirtless, added some wood to the fireplace.
He was the only one in the living room.
The advantage of a big house was also evident.
No matter how late the party went, the friends staying over would not disturb each other.
Melinda, wrapped in a bathrobe, groggily saw Lee and immediately snuggled onto the sofa and into his arms.
Still seemingly not sober, the flushed girl hugged Lee and said with a giggle:
"Don't try to run, you little rascal!"
Lee looked at the big-chested girl embracing him, gently untied the ornament from her neck.
Having unlocked more positions last night, his lower back was sore, so he could only pick her up and say softly:
"Don't make trouble, go to sleep!"
After carrying her to the bedroom and seeing Melinda sound asleep, Lee quietly left and moved to another bedroom.
Untying the ornament from Krysten Ritter's neck, the little follower noticed Lee, giggled foolishly, and then lay on him, murmuring drowsily:
"Let's have a baby! I love children!"
"..."
On the first day of the New Year, the NBA announced the Player of the Month for December, and the Knicks' Lee successfully won the award.
In December, the Knicks achieved a record of 11 wins and 4 losses.
Clay Lee averaged 37.1 minutes per game, scoring 31.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 2.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 2.8 turnovers per game.
He averaged 21.4 field goal attempts, with a field goal percentage of 48.5%.
From beyond the arc, he averaged 6.9 attempts, with a three-point percentage of 43.2%.
He averaged 9.1 free throws per game, with a free throw percentage of 88.4%.
Under high usage, Clay Lee received more double teams, and his efficiency slightly declined compared to November, but this double-double stat still sparked heated discussion among basketball commentators.
On the first day of the New Year, TNT's program, similar to ESPN, followed suit in commenting on Clay Lee's defensive performance.
Charles Barkley, who had fully integrated into media life, had been fiercely outspoken recently:
"If I were the Head Coach, I would definitely vote for Lee. In his fifth year in the league, Lee has already become an excellent defender."
"Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, and Kobe Bryant all did not perform well under Lee's Defense."
"Kobe Bryant was selected for the All-Defensive Team, but don't forget that in last year's Finals, Lee achieved historical level efficiency under his Defense."
"I think Kobe is overrated. This year his enthusiasm on the defensive end has declined. If I were to vote, I'd say Clay Lee and Jason Kidd should be selected for the All-Defensive First Team this season."
Kenny Smith looked at his partner, who had completely turned into a loudmouth, and for a moment he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He could only remind him in a low voice:
"Chuck, the regular season has only been going on for two months. We can't predict the future. Lee has performed very well, but many other young players are also doing well."
"The 76ers are still winning! This year they have performed exceptionally well in the regular season!"
Ernie Johnson also smiled and reminded him:
"In the latest MVP candidate list, due to the San Antonio Spurs' continuous losses, Allen Iverson has already moved up to third place!"
With a record of 21 wins and 8 losses, the 76ers still ranked second in the Eastern Conference, and the Four-Protect-One strategy had been completely successfully integrated.
Charles Barkley listened to the two reminders but still didn't change his opinion:
"Win MVP? And then continue to be eliminated in the playoffs?"
"Shaqlost in the Finals, and I can understand his feelings, but Allen Iverson has never even made it to the conference finals, and he hasn't even won against Lee."
"In this situation, no one will vote for him because he is not the best player in the Eastern Conference, let alone MVP."
"Just as Kobe Bryant's defense is overrated, Allen Iverson is currently also overrated. It's the same situation where a large number of shot attempts are converted into stats, but Clay Lee is more efficient. That's why I won't vote for him."
TNT's viewership increased this season, and Charles Barkley's loudmouth indeed attracted more attention.
Kobe, at home in Los Angeles, watched Barkley continuously speaking on the TV program and was immediately furious.
He grabbed his phone and immediately sent a text message to him.
After the less than two-hour program ended, Charles Barkley felt he hadn't said enough.
After getting off the show, he immediately saw a message on his phone:
"I used to respect you, but please stop talking about my performance! You're like a clown now!"
Noticing the text message was from Kobe, Charles Barkley almost burst out laughing.
He liked such sensitive players.
If he could, he even wanted to invite Kobe to the show for a debate.
Just as he was about to greet his partner, Charles Barkley noticed another text message appeared on his phone:
"Philadelphia doesn't welcome you! Shut your stinky mouth!"
The text message was from Allen Iverson.
Apparently, this episode hit a sore spot for him, making Allen Iverson lose all respect.
Kenny Smith saw his partner laughing happily and said helplessly:
"What's wrong, Chuck? Next time we record the show, watch your words. We've already received warnings from some agents."
Ernie Johnson also wanted to talk about this matter, but Charles Barkley burst out laughing and responded cheerfully:
"No, guys, we're going to keep commenting on them. I swear, the audience loves shows like this!"
"This is our job. If players perform well, of course, I'll speak highly of them. Also, I don't care about any agents. They don't pay my salary!"
"..."
On the morning of January 2, when Lee arrived at the Tarrytown Training Center, the New York Knicks team was also happily gossiping about the TNT show.
With the addition of the loudmouth Barkley, the show was much more interesting than before.
It had less tactical analysis from professional coaches and more subjective commentary from the few of them.
Ewing didn't like this show at all.
Charles Barkley had complained more than once on the show:
"If it weren't for Patrick Ewing, perhaps the New York Knicks' record would be better!"
The Gorilla's tour was still successful so far.
He usually only exerted himself in the first quarter, and then he would coast for the rest of the game, getting a double-double.
Ewing had already figured out an efficient method for "sucking blood" from Lee.
Stats are limited.
If Ewing took too much, Ben Wallace would be affected.
Similarly, if Lee's playing time increased, Chauncey Billups's playing time would be compressed.
There were only 11 games in January, an easy schedule, which also made Jeff Van Gundy breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, against Eastern Conference teams, the New York Knicks had a huge advantage.
During practice, Grant Hill was a bit awkward.
According to the current trend, he might be selected for the All-Star starting lineup.
Clay Lee received a text message from Charles Barkley in the morning and was somewhat confused by his gratitude.
When the morning practice session ended, he noticed Grant Hill looked a bit dejected after talking to Jeff Van Gundy, and he knew that the Bald Young Coach had again rejected his request to play.
"We have to believe in science. Mr. Scott has extensive experience with sports injuries."
"Let me think, mid-March, if his physical condition is good, it should still be in time. Before that, the team will build more of a winning advantage."
Grant Hill felt a bit helpless when he heard Lee's words.
Being a "mascot" wasn't easy, and during the adjustment period, there was a high possibility of losing games.
Considering the nature of the New York Media, Grant Hill could already imagine some newspaper headlines:
"I want to return to play after the All-Star Game. I will consult with Mr. Scott."
On January 23, the NBA announced the results of the 2001 Washington All-Star Game voting:
Clay Lee successfully became the All-Star vote leader with 1.83 million votes.
The five Eastern Conference All-Star starters were:
Clay Lee with 1.83 million votes, Allen Iverson with 1.51 million votes, Vince Carter with 1.72 million votes, Grant Hill with 900,000 votes, and Alonzo Mourning with 920,000 votes.
The five Western Conference All-Star starters were:
Kobe Bryant with 1.43 million votes, Jason Kidd with 1.06 million votes, Chris Webber with 1.31 million votes, Tim Duncan with 1.10 million votes, and Shaquille O'Neal with 1.54 million votes.
Shaquille O'Neal, who was elected the Western Conference All-Star vote leader, was currently still injured, and it was unknown whether he would be able to play in the All-Star Game.
In the Eastern Conference, Grant Hill and Alonzo Mourning were highly unlikely to play.
They basically just "lay down" into the All-Star Game.
Being elected the vote leader for the second time in his career, the New York Media went into an uproar, seemingly even more excited than Clay Lee.
On the evening of the 23rd, at Madison Square Garden, in the home team's locker room, before the game against the Pacers, sports media surrounded Lee again.
In January, besides giving the Detroit Pistons a "warm" loss, the New York Knicks had also lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on the road the night before.
With a record of 30 wins and 9 losses, the season was almost halfway over.
This season, there was still a chance to get 60 wins, so the New York Media was naturally beaming.
Lee leaned back in his seat and said some pleasantries with a smile:
"I like being elected the vote leader. It proves that everyone likes me, and it's also a reward for the New York fans' efforts. Thank you all again for your support!"
"60 wins? I haven't thought that far ahead, but I hope to build some advantage before the All-Star Game so that Grant won't feel too much pressure when he recovers from his injury."
"Pat's condition is very good, and fans like his performance. I hope he can be selected for the All-Star Game. His professionalism is worth learning from for young players!"
Su Qun, a reporter from Titan Sports on the outermost edge, was a bit stunned.
He usually didn't have the chance to interview Lee.
This time, coming to New York and seeing two or three layers of people in front of him, he secretly regretted not coming earlier.
(A/N: A little interaction will happen but don't worry he's just superficial about them. If they get in his way, he'll deal with them.)
Lee, who stood up to warm up, noticed some familiar faces and immediately faked his smiled and turned his head to say:
"Media friends over there, if you have any questions, you can ask them now."
Hearing the standard Mandarin, Su Qun was momentarily stunned.
Although he had heard some things about Lee in New York, hearing Mandarin in a foreign country, he immediately came to his senses and excitedly asked:
"Titan Sports reporter, Lee, have you been following this year's Sydney Olympics?"
Lee suddenly remembered that in April this year, Wang Zhizhi, who had been in a dispute for several years, was about to land in the NBA.
Hearing the other party's question, he simply put a fake smile and replied:
"Of course, the Chinese team performed very well! Wang Zhizhi is a talented player, and I hope his NBA journey goes smoothly."
"..."
(A/N: There's a reason why original author had to introduce many chinese interaction otherwise his book will be banned. He, himself said mc in this book won't have any connection with china except his mixed race origin but after 100 chapters, he apologized and said some superficial interactions must be written as advised by his editor... Don't worry I'll edit many as possible as poison tester. Wish me đ€)
.....
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