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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.
The return of Itachi
I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.
Please give it a go đ
***
On the evening of June 11, 2003, ESPN recorded the New York Knicks splashing champagne in the visitor's locker room, and the away atmosphere did not affect the excitement of the Rookies.
In the 2002-03 season, another veteran bid farewell to the NBA.
In early May, after the Utah Jazz fell in the first round, John Stockton officially announced his retirement from the team.
The era of the Utah Double Killers ended, and the Utah Jazz officially entered a rebuilding period.
On the evening of the 11th, the San Antonio sports media also witnessed the departure of the "Admiral."
Devoting his entire career to the San Antonio Spurs, David Robinson, though he didn't win a championship, was still respected with an MVP.
The championship dream of the Utah Double Killers was ultimately ended by the New York Knicks, and the same was true for the Admiral.
Losing in 1999, they continued to lose in 2003, and even broke the record for the largest point difference in the Finals.
When David Robinson, who attended the press conference, was asked if he was really retiring, he gave an affirmative answer:
"My career is over. I'm glad I played in San Antonio. A championship isn't everything, and I have no regrets."
Everyone respected Robinson, and the reporters below the stage didn't bring up old wounds by asking about the loss.
After Bruce Bowen used his feet, everything was over.
There was nothing to discuss about the San Antonio Spurs' loss.
You couldn't expect the late first-round Rookie Tony Parker and second-round Rookie Manu Ginobili to explode and win.
They just "couldn't beat" them when they lost.
Many sports media outlets believe this year's Finals had the biggest disparity in strength!
The New York Knicks' roster made people despair, but this team was still too young.
When Lee enters his peak at 25 and the team completes its rebuilding, coupled with being in the Eastern Conference, many commentators share the same view:
"Clay Lee will continue to appear on the Finals stage for the next few years!"
The overly easy championship didn't bring Lee more sense of accomplishment.
In contrast, his teammates needed this championship more than him.
Although his Finals stats were good, when Lee appeared at the press conference soaking wet, the questions from the sports media below were mostly about the team's future.
Since the New York Knicks' salary this season was only $57.67 million, their healthy salary did not trigger the luxury tax, so an ABC reporter asked the question everyone was more concerned about:
"Lee, after winning the championship, will the New York Knicks introduce another All-Star player?"
"That's a good idea, but our General Manager has told me more than once that no one wants to trade with us."
"With the team's current talent, we can continue to win. Our Rookies will continue to grow, and I believe the team is still in a rebuilding phase."
Seeing Lee's serious expression, many sports reporters were suddenly speechless:
"A rebuilding team won the championship?!"
A TNT reporter was more concerned about the New York Knicks' contract renewals:
"Lee, is the team planning to renew Stephen Jackson's contract? He performed exceptionally well in this year's playoffs."
"Of course, the team will definitely offer a big contract to a championship member, but it's a two-way choice. I'm happy for Stephen. I know how much effort he put into it."
Lee was not worried about the team's roster.
The dividend from the Rookie contract could still be enjoyed for a few more years.
Health was the issue that needed attention in the future.
Having to play more games than other teams every year is also a drain on the players.
"Want some champagne?"
Seeing Lee smilingly place a bottle of champagne on the table, several San Antonio sports media outlets immediately looked displeased.
On Thursday, June 12, TNT's program also discussed the topic of the Finals.
This year's draft will be broadcast by ESPN, and they have already started to warm up for the 2003 Rookies.
Although TNT's program will also discuss Rookies, it focuses more on the Finals.
Another veteran ended his career without a championship.
Charles Barkley seemed a bit wistful, uncharacteristically not mocking the loser on the show:
"This is the NBA. A championship not only requires a strong team but also some luck!"
"If Tim Duncan hadn't been injured, perhaps we would be discussing Finals Game 5 now. It's a pity. This was the New York Knicks' easiest championship."
"I don't even want to discuss Clay Lee's performance. This year, they didn't encounter a real opponent."
TNT's program also discussed the careers of the Utah Double Killers.
For these veterans, Kenny Smith only had admiration:
"David Robinson certainly deserved a championship, but it's a shame he met Clay Lee."
"This season, Lee won the championship, FMVP, MVP, scoring champion, steals champion, and assists champion!"
"He even had a chance to win the All-Star Game MVP, but this award isn't important to Clay Lee. I like to see Michael Jordan lift that special trophy."
"This is completely his season. Among active players, no one can come close to Clay Lee. At this point, what I want to discuss more is the New York Knicks' tactical style. They are so unique."
Ernie Johnson, fearing that Barkley would take over the conversation and bring up some "real man one-on-one" talk, quickly interjected:
"Actually, we've seen this kind of basketball philosophy before, but the New York Knicks just magnified it completely."
"Back then, to defend Michael Jordan, teams in the league would sometimes use guards to match up with him. The San Antonio Spurs tried to use Bruce Bowen to defend Clay Lee, but they failed."
"The New York Knicks swept their opponents in the Finals mainly because the San Antonio Spurs had no one on the perimeter who could match up with Lee, and zone Defense couldn't limit three-pointers."
Seemingly recalling some unfavorable Finals memories, Charles Barkley reluctantly agreed with this view, then quickly said:
"Ernie is right. Not just the Finals, but from the start of the playoffs, Lee gained a matchup advantage."
"Coach D'Antoni has indeed instilled his tactical philosophy into the New York Knicks. I think he is more suitable for this team than Coach Van Gundy was back then."
"In 16 playoff games, Clay Lee averaged 33.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 turnovers. These stats were easy for Lee. He was even more efficient this year."
After saying this, the live director also displayed Clay Lee's Player Efficiency Rating (PER) in 16 playoff games this season:
40.3.
Although commentators had long expected Clay Lee to break Hakeem Olajuwon's historical single-season highest PER set in the 1987-88 season, many people still shouted "outrageous" when they saw the number this year!
Hakeem Olajuwon's 4 playoff games had a small sample size, which led to an exaggerated efficiency rating of 39.0, but Clay Lee played a full 16 games, so the two are no longer comparable.
Rarely seeing his partner's expression of admiration, Kenny Smith joked:
"Chuck, now we can discuss Clay Lee's historical standing. In my heart, he and Michael Jordan are both GOATs!"
Charles Barkley did not object.
Instead, he sighed somewhat dejectedly:
"Times have changed. Clay Lee will continue to win championships. In the Eastern Conference, no one will be their opponent. He will keep reaching the Finals and continue to lift the O'Brien trophy."
"Yes, Lee is destined to be the greatest of all time. I can't even think of anyone who can stop him!"
"The Lakers? Forget it. They actually lost to the San Antonio Spurs. I'm not interested in discussing Shaq and Kobe's conflict right now."
"I only know one thing: Kobe's performance against Bruce Bowen's Defense was not as good as in the regular season, while Lee crushed everyone on the San Antonio Spurs."
"I'm not interested in hearing Shaq and Kobe brag anymore. They can't do anything!"
On the morning of the 12th, the New York Knicks team flew back to Manhattan with the trophy, and soon the New York fans were boiling again.
They didn't have enough fun at the San Antonio nightclub last night, so returning to Manhattan was the real start of the party.
That night, Lee took everyone to a nightclub in Chelsea Park.
This new nightclub, which officially opened at the beginning of the year, was of high quality, and New York celebrities also frequented it.
The main reason for choosing this location was that it was very close to home, only a 10-minute drive away.
This nightclub had good security measures, emphasized privacy, and its more fashionable decor and top-notch sound system were more popular with young people.
The invited DJs were usually well-known.
You didn't need drugs to have fun here.
The alcohol and the atmosphere girls alone could make people gradually go wild.
Manhattan's nightlife can easily make one lost.
With plenty of money, the atmosphere crew was exceptionally invested tonight.
Near midnight, the huge LED screen began to show scantily clad girls gyrating their hips and swaying their waists.
The colorful lights and rhythmic music made everyone on the first-floor dance floor unconsciously twist and sway wildly.
However, the lively scene downstairs belonged to the young people.
In the private room on the second floor, Lee and a few old teammates were puffing on cigars and exhaling smoke.
The recently retired Starks has also gained weight, not yet as round as Ewing, but his neck is visibly shorter.
Larry Johnson is the same.
Ever since the Detroit Pistons bought out his contract and he received a large sum of money, he's been in a state of constant partying, and he's also gained a lot of weight.
Perhaps he's been too dedicated.
The Gorilla's beard and hair have turned white, clearly drained by the young women, and his illegitimate children have probably increased again.
Among the old guys, only Oakley has maintained his physique the best.
After all, he's still with the Washington Wizards this season, providing atmosphere for Michael Jordan.
Besides his beard turning a bit white, there aren't many other changes.
"These newly opened nightclubs are indeed good, but they don't have marijuana, so it's not as fun!"
Larry Johnson chuckled, and Starks laughed along:
"The nightclubs we used to frequent have all closed down. To keep operating in Manhattan and attract big stars, the old ways just don't work anymore."
Due to the Gold Club incident, the Gorilla had been holding back for over a year, and his eyes were practically green now, which made Oakley burst into laughter:
"Quick, get some girls over here so Pat can have some fun. You almost ended up in court! You hid from us that you went so many times!"
Although the New York Media didn't reveal the specific details of Steve Kaplan's entertaining Ewing, the few of them could generally guess the situationânothing more than tight Defense, touching, and rolling around.
Seeing the waitress sway her hips as she left, Ewing reluctantly said:
"Who knew so many people were involved back then? Those few girls just wouldn't let go of me!"
"Because of this, I almost got divorced, damn it! Everything Kaplan said was nonsense. He deserved to be shut down!"
Mentioning the messy affairs of the past two years, Ewing immediately grumbled twice.
Lee was still puffing on his cigar, and after the others had chatted for a while, he finally spoke:
"Does everyone want to work for the team? I know there have been some changes in management recently, and some people have been poached!"
The few of them all shook their heads.
Ewing also felt some regret in his heart.
He had hoped to become the Head Coach of the team, but unfortunately, there was truly no chance now.
Larry Johnson had a large sum of money after his buyout and currently didn't care for ordinary positions, but he also didn't want to burn bridges, keeping it as a fallback:
"Thanks, Bro! But after retiring, it's time to enjoy life. James Dolan isn't Old Charles, so everyone needs to wait and see."
"But I can't be an assistant coach. I really don't want to be flying around on planes for months!"
Aside from Ewing, the others shared the same view: when they weren't short on money, none of them liked to work.
Starks spent more time with his kids and occasionally ran basketball training camps, seemingly intending to take a position at a school to teach children how to play.
Oakley quickly shared his own plan: he was going back to Chicago to play for one more season, and he could also accompany Champion Guard Sprewell:
"If that guy gets traded by Krause, I'll retire next year, but I don't want to work. I just want to live quietly in New York!"
Clearly, Oakley planned to be a fun-loving person and return to where his dreams began to show off.
Hearing everyone's plans, Lee stopped discussing the matter.
He understood now: unless the "Good Brothers" went bankrupt, none of them would choose to return to work for the team.
After they had a good time drinking, they soon returned to the first floor.
The Gorilla disappeared in the blink of an eye, and the others quickly blended into the crowd.
Ron Artest was shirtless and shouting at this time, with Stephen Jackson by his side, and the surrounding crowd was cheering him on.
Most of the other players who didn't like the wild dancing were upstairs in the bar, chatting and relaxing.
Lee was relieved that there was no trouble.
The excitable Ron Artest could sometimes become extraordinarily impulsive, but fortunately, Manhattan wasn't San Antonio, and there was no one here to provoke him.
Tonight, Lee was dressed very casually: a white fitted T-shirt, dark jeans paired with white sneakers, a black baseball cap on his head, and a shimmering silver chain around his neck.
Tonight, seeing old friends, they were all part of the chain gang.
Lee didn't like to wear thick gold chains, so he opted for a different color and chose more ordinary accessories.
The deafening music and colorful lights made Lee blink helplessly.
Every time he came to a place like this, Old Mike would follow him.
Old Mike and Nacho had been in charge of security for Axe Capital for the past year, spending most of their time with Bobby.
It seemed they hadn't been to a nightclub in a long time, and being next to Lee, they felt a bit uncomfortable.
"This place is too chaotic! The downtown club we chose the year before last was much better. It's safer and more private!"
Lee twisted the chain from his neck and hung it on Old Mike, then chuckled and teased:
"Young people like this kind of scene. I think they're having a lot of fun."
Mid-sentence, Scarlett jumped onto him from behind.
The girl first gave Lee a big kiss, and didn't mind being held by her hips, instead giggling and saying to Old Mike:
"I really like it here, Clay! Let's go dance for a bit. Mike is more nagging than my father!"
Hunter, who had followed them, saw his sister's actions and knew that their relationship was more intimate than he had imagined.
He was about to say something when his sister glared at him:
"I knew it, you two were definitely together already."
On June 13th, ESPN announced the nominees for 17 ESPY categories.
This year's awards ceremony will take place on July 16th at 9 PM.
Clay Lee received nominations for Best NBA Player and Best Male Athlete, Mike D'Antoni was nominated for Coach of the Year (COY), and the New York Knicks were nominated for Best Team.
Since the awards ceremony time was completely changed, more and more athletes have been attending the ESPYs.
This year's awards ceremony will be held at the Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles.
The 73-win New York Knicks are destined to sweep the awards.
The New York Media is very satisfied with this, automatically ignoring the Finals situation.
The word repeatedly mentioned in the newspapers these past two days is:
"Dominance!"
The New York Knicks also announced the championship parade time and route: Wednesday, the 18th, starting at 10 AM, from Seventh Avenue to Times Square.
Besides the team, there will also be some celebrity artists.
The Destiny's Child group has recently gone solo, and lead singer Beyoncé is about to release her first solo album.
In an interview, she stated that she would participate in the championship parade, and this "winning fan" confidently declared:
"I've always been a fan of Clay Lee. I've been a season ticket holder since 1998, and I love enjoying victories at Madison Square Garden!"
Interestingly, this big singer announced her relationship with Jay-Z two years ago, and everyone knows that the hip-hop superstar is a fan of the Nets, having recently acquired a small stake in the team.
Nets fans had previously seen Beyoncé at their home arena, and at the time, the big singer stated that she was a die-hard fan of the second team.
After the championship parade on Wednesday, the New York Knicks will also visit some impoverished communities in the Lower East Side the next day to hold another celebration.
However, due to security concerns in the Lower East Side, City Hall did not support the parade.
Although fans complained, this matter had to be compromised.
New York fans were celebrating the championship, and as the Draft approached, Cavaliers fans were also celebrating the arrival of the The Chosen One.
Although Cavaliers owner Gund was a bit arrogant at the lottery ceremony, he assured the fans upon returning to Cleveland:
"The Son of Akron will play for his hometown!"
On the 13th, the Cavaliers officially announced a piece of news:
"Champion Coach Jeff Van Gundy will become the team's Head Coach in the new season!"
Although rumors had already spread, Cleveland fans erupted in excitement upon receiving the confirmed news!
The most talented Rookie, a Champion Coach with an explosive winning percentage from 4 consecutive championshipsâwith such a combination, Cavaliers fans felt as if the championship was beckoning to them.
On June 15th, Jeff Van Gundy appeared again in the TNT studio.
Compared to his image during his time coaching the New York Knicks, the Bald Young Coach is much heavier now, his dark circles have completely disappeared, and there's no hair on top of his head, only some black hair on both sides and the back of his head.
Although he's gone bald, after a year of working as a commentator, Jeff Van Gundy feels that he has become stronger!
Today's program was to analyze the New York Knicks' tactics.
Regardless of whether commentators liked it or not, the best playoff record in history was right there.
To win a championship, one had to study it.
In the studio, Jeff Van Gundy spoke eloquently to the camera, showcasing his demeanor as a renowned coach:
"Actually, the New York Knicks' tactical philosophy has never changed: it's to give the ball to Lee!"
"This doesn't mean everyone watches Lee attack with the ball at the top of the arc, nor does it mean Lee drops to the low post for isolation. Instead, it's about making it easier for Lee to finish plays."
"In 16 playoff games, his field goal percentage was 57.2%, three-point percentage was 48.6%, and free throw percentage was 93.5%."
"If it were just isolation plays, Lee wouldn't be able to put up these numbers."
Kenny Smith was very curious about this.
He knew that in the Bald Young Coach's last season coaching the New York Knicks, the team's tactics had changed:
"Jeff, do you think other players have a chance to replicate such an experience? I'm referring to putting up numbers close to Lee's."
The Bald Young Coach immediately shook his head.
Although he didn't like Lee completely controlling the game, he approved of the tactical system Lee designed for himself:
"Clay Lee is unique! What do you think is the reason he can achieve historical-level efficiency?"
Charles Barkley grinned and said with certainty without even thinking:
"Excellent shooting touch! Clay Lee should be the best shooter in NBA history. This season, he has shot many 27-foot three-pointers, which is an incredible performance!"
Ernie Johnson noticed Head Coach Van Gundy shaking his head and also tried to add:
"Exceptional basketball IQ and historical-level passing vision? The New York Knicks' tactical execution is too outstanding. Lee can always find fleeting opportunities and convert them into scores!"
Jeff Van Gundy still shook his head slightly.
Noticing that all three were looking at him, he finally offered his opinion:
"Everyone has overlooked Lee's most important talent: unparalleled physical fitness."
"As he aged, Lee's finishing at the rim in his Rookie season was only around 50%, but now, his finishing at the rim is as high as 70%!"
"I witnessed Lee's growth and his physical changes. Scientific training gradually developed his physical potential."
"His explosiveness, coordination, core strength, recovery speed, and other aspects have become even better with age. Although it's incredible, Lee's physical fitness far exceeds that of current star players."
"Tim Grover once told me that Clay Lee's physical talent is even better than Michael Jordan's, and I completely agree with that."
Charles Barkley was a bit skeptical.
Lee's build was indeed that of a heavy guard, but he wasn't aware of the changes over the years:
"Jeff, do you think outstanding physical talent led to Lee's success?"
"The body is the foundation of everything. In the playoffs, talent is often what's tested. Lee's success is naturally inseparable from his outstanding physical talent!"
Jeff Van Gundy immediately nodded, looking as if he had already seen through everything.
Ernie Johnson thought for a moment and suddenly asked:
"Is that why you chose to join the Cavaliers and coach LeBron James? Did you see these outstanding talents in him too?"
The Bald Young Coach nodded again and then said earnestly:
"That is indeed part of the reason. LeBron James has excellent physical talent. He has the foundation to become a superstar."
"As long as he continues to hone his skills, I believe he has a chance to become the next Clay Lee."
"More importantly, I love the Cleveland fans' passion for sports, and I want to help them achieve their dreams. Compared to continuous success, I can enjoy the process of success!"
Charles Barkley couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard this.
He thought of the Cavaliers' current roster, looked at the confident Bald Young Coach, and instead of speaking out on the show, he muttered to himself:
"Enjoy the process of success? You probably won't think that after continuous losses."
On Monday morning, June 16th, Lee woke up in his Manhattan home.
He checked the clock by the bed and noticed it was almost 10 AM.
Naked Scarlett was still wrapped around him, sound asleep.
Recently, the little assistant had been busy shooting commercials, so this weekend, only Lee was there to improve her acting skills.
Last night, the black-stockinged secretary played by the young girl was truly excellent.
After Lee shot from several different angles, they both slept until now.
Scarlett was still a bit hazy after waking up.
It wasn't until she saw the clothes under the bed that she remembered her uninhibited performance after a few drinks last night.
Noticing that Lee seemed to be organizing the footage, Scarlett gasped and quickly snatched the handheld DV:
"You're not allowed to watch last night's footage again!"
The young girl, propping herself up, scrolled through the DV in her hand.
Seeing herself in that incredibly embarrassing lingerie, her whole body flushed, she felt her limbs go weak for a moment.
Though she said she wanted to delete the footage, Scarlett held the DV in her hand after watching for a while and said in a hoarse, sweet voice:
"This is our secret. Alyce can't see it!"
Lee casually nodded and crooked his finger.
Soon, the young girl burrowed back into his arms.
Playing with the soft, yielding form in his hands, and taking advantage of her quickening breath, he changed the subject:
"You haven't been to work for about a month, have you? I remember your mother found you many suitable scripts."
Ever since Lee had been staying in Manhattan recently, Scarlett and the little assistant had been carefree, spending with credit cards and enjoying life in New York.
Luxury goods, custom clothes and jewelry, enjoying gourmet food at famous restaurants, attending fashion parties, learning horseback riding, and improving her acting skills and unlocking more knowledge at home in the evenings.
The rest of the time was spent taking care of her younger brother and occasionally visiting her father.
Scarlett had been in this slacker state for a month.
"I just want to rest for a while. I really like this kind of life. I wish you could always be in Manhattan."
Without explaining why she was slacking off, Scarlett just kissed Lee, sat back up, and then ran towards the bathroom, waving her hand and saying:
"Come shower with me. Alyce isn't here, and I'm not used to being alone."
The sparring sessions these past two days had been quite intense.
Lee rubbed his messy hair, but in the end, he was pulled into the bathroom by the young girl.
As the water in the bathtub gradually covered their bodies, Scarlett chuckled and once again showcased her stand-up comedy skills:
"Sister Melinda was right. You really do like it this way!"
No wonder the young girl had almost taken over these past few days.
Lee looked at Scarlett, who was burying her head and speeding up, and said, gasping for air:
"Hunter has sent me several texts. Remember to go home and see him!"
The young girl didn't answer the question.
After speeding up again, she looked up and smiled, then twisted her body, demonstrating new knowledge, and said in a slightly hoarse voice:
"It's only been one weekend, Clay! Are you tired?"
Lee supported her slender waist, and soon both of them gasped.
Amidst the splashing water, a muffled reply came:
"Tonight, I'll let you play a different role!"
On June 18th, the morning's championship parade brought immense joy to New York fans.
Upon reaching Times Square, in addition to the fans, onlookers also gathered in increasing numbers.
Similar to the annual New Year's Eve event, on the erected stage, Jimmy Fallon, wearing a championship hat and commemorative T-shirt, volunteered to be the host and quickly joked about this year's playoffs:
"Last year, when we lost the game, I was furious. Everyone knows Clay Lee is my good friend, but he never complained to me about the officiating in those away games."
"True superstars never care about those things. He just wants to personally take back what he lost!"
"What I regret is that Lee appeared in the Finals as promised this year, while that opponent from last year lost early."
"Hi, Shaq! Where are you!"
Soon, the fun-loving crowd responded, with fans holding "Missing Person" posters jumping and shouting loudly together.
This meme wouldn't fade until the end of the offseason.
Next season's Saturday Night Live would probably have new jokes about this year's Finals.
Lee, sitting on the stage, was wearing the New York Knicks' newly released commemorative T-shirt.
The team store had already stocked them, and everyone was uniformly dressed for this championship parade to continue promoting them.
Unlike the invigorated Ron Artest and others, Lee's face was a bit pale at this moment.
He had filmed too many adult videos, and his physical energy was greatly depleted.
Each player who came up to speak primarily expressed their gratitude to the fans.
The New York Knicks' season tickets had already begun pre-sales, and the fans who bought tickets with real money were the biggest supporters.
When Lee took the microphone, he didn't say much but instead led the fans in a recollection:
"Do you remember the promise I made to you at Madison Square Garden in 1998 after we defeated the Chicago Bulls?"
"Back then, I was just a Rookie, and some sports media even ridiculed my arrogance, but now I have fulfilled my promise!"
"Wow!"
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Among those participating in the championship parade were also old fans from back then.
Seemingly remembering those words from the past, everyone cheered happily again.
Lee, standing on the stage, looked out.
All around him were fans wearing the New York Knicks' number 1 jersey, a dense crowd of people, and the uproar grew louder and louder.
Waving his hand to signal for quiet, Lee put his arm around Jimmy Fallon, who was beside him, and said with a smile:
"Jimmy, you must know what I'm going to say next!"
"Of course, we will continue to win. The New York Knicks will win more championships!"
After the two exchanged glances on stage, Lee quickly raised his voice and said cheerfully:
"This is my fifth championship since joining the team, and I hereby promise that this is just the beginning!"
"Five championships are far from enough, Not five! Not six!."
Upon hearing this somewhat familiar "Not," the surrounding fans became even more excited and quickly joined in shouting loudly:
"Not seven! Not eight!."
Everyone followed Clay Lee, counting to "10" before stopping, followed by deafening cheers as the venue completely erupted!
Among the crowd were not only New York Knicks fans, but also Rookies who had arrived early in New York for the Draft.
As a Chicagoan, Dwyane Wade, although he told the media in interviews that "I am a super fan of Lee," deep down, he didn't like that 98 Knicks team at all.
However, the passionate atmosphere on site and the gleaming trophy on the stage made Wade envious.
In the NBA, a large portion of fans are fair-weather, and Wade was now personally experiencing the boost that comes with victory.
LeBron James, who arrived in New York early with his agent Goodwin, felt a surge of excitement witnessing such a scene.
He didn't push to the front, but stood with his agent at the back, and the entire city seemed to be celebrating the championship.
This was the first time James had personally experienced such a thing.
Clay Lee's "Not" left a particularly deep impression on him, and Goodwin, noticing the gaze of his cash cow, immediately whispered:
"LeBron, believe me, as long as you can lead the Cavaliers to a championship, you will receive the same treatment!"
"You will become a hero in Cleveland! Nike will also offer you a lifetime contract!"
LeBron James, wearing a white printed T-shirt, was very green, and immediately nodded upon hearing his agent's words, believing he would surely succeed.
LeBron James noticed that the cheers quieted down a bit when Grant Hill gave his speech, a scene that made him reflect:
"Indeed, a team only has one boss!"
The New York Knicks' championship parade became the subject of recent discussion among basketball commentators.
Although Lee gave more speaking opportunities to the coaching staff and teammates, the renewed promise he made was particularly impressive.
The words Lee spoke in his Rookie season carried little weight, but after winning 5 championships and achieving a four-peat, entering the discussion of all-time greats, such a promise became exceptionally convincing.
After all, Clay Lee is only 25 years old, and his professional career still has at least 10 years left!
Several mainstream New York Media outlets naturally joyfully reported on this grand championship parade, and incidentally, lent the Knicks a championship.
As the Draft approached, the New York Knicks only had late-round picks this year, reducing General Manager Grunfeld's workload by half.
Lee also completely entered vacation mode, taking Scarlett, who was slacking off, to some premiere events, and filming short films at night to help the young girl improve her acting skills.
As the Draft approached, the New York Knicks' popularity was quickly overshadowed by the surging popularity of the 2003 Rookies.
On the evening of June 26, the 2003 Draft officially began at Madison Square Garden in New York.
LeBron James, dressed in a loose white suit, was naturally the focus of sports media.
Before entering the NBA, he had already appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, ESPN broadcast his high school league games because of James, and he later won the McDonald's All-Star High School Game MVP.
Although LeBron James chose to skip college and bring his talent directly to the NBA, basketball commentators believed that James would be able to adapt to the league's physicality because his physical talent was simply too outstanding!
In Cleveland, a large number of fans were waiting by their televisions for the moment the The Chosen One would be drafted.
LeBron James naturally knew the Cavaliers would pick him, but when he sat below the stage and heard President David Stern call his name, he still excitedly stood up and embraced his mother and friends beside him.
Seeing LeBron James smile brightly as he went on stage to shake hands with David Stern, many reporters pressed their shutters, capturing a historic moment!
The Detroit Pistons, with the second pick, selected Darko MiliÄiÄ.
The Denver Nuggets, with the third pick, selected Carmelo Anthony.
The Toronto Raptors, with the fourth pick, selected Chris Bosh.
The Heat, with the fifth pick, selected Dwyane Wade.
The Rookies successively went on stage to shake hands with David Stern, and everyone was excited after being selected, as this meant dollars were beckoning to them!
The New York Knicks continued their tradition, selecting Polish big man Maciej Lampe with the 29th pick.
For so many years, the Knicks have consistently picked big men as lottery tickets at the end of the first round, but every Rookie who joined the team would leave within two years at most.
Naturally, no one at the scene cared who the New York Knicks picked.
There were simply too many talented players in the 2003 class, it was a great draft year!
After the NBA Vice President appeared, teams began to announce their second-round picks.
The New York Knicks ultimately selected Andreas Glyniadakis, a Greek center who would not be joining the NBA immediately, with the 58th pick.
With the New York Knicks announcing their pick, the 2003 Draft officially concluded.
ESPN, as the broadcaster, naturally had to interview the first overall pick, LeBron James.
Agent Goodwin loved to see such scenes.
Often, a player's popularity represented dollars, and playing in Cleveland, James needed more attention!
James, in his interview, showed a relatively mature side, answering questions quite modestly and not boasting recklessly.
Soon, the ESPN reporter asked about the New York Knicks:
"LeBron, have you been following Clay Lee's performance this season? After joining the Cavaliers, as you are both in the Eastern Conference, you will play each other frequently."
"As a Rookie in your first season, what kind of performance do you expect to deliver?"
LeBron James, who was well-prepared, entered into a state of commercial flattery upon hearing the question:
"I've always been following Clay Lee. He is the best player currently active, 5 championships, completing a four-peat, and this year achieving a three-peat MVPâthat's incredible!"
"Playing against excellent players is something I've always looked forward to. I can't wait to receive guidance from Head Coach Van Gundy, and I believe the Cavaliers will succeed under his leadership."
"As for my Rookie season goal, what I hope for most is to make the playoffs. Of course, that's very difficult, but that's the direction I'm striving for. I hope I can change the Cavaliers!"
The New York sports media didn't pay much attention to the The Chosen One, leaving early after the routine interview.
In the next few seasons, the Cavaliers would not be opponents for the New York Knicks.
They still had to fight for playoff spots.
There weren't many trades during the Draft, but on the second day, the Milwaukee Bucks traded Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson to the Timberwolves.
This trade brought the Milwaukee Bucks Anthony Peeler and Joe Smith, and the former "Three Musketeers" completely disbanded.
On June 30, the New York Knicks' championship parade and LeBron James' popularity swept across the entire NBA circle.
Although Lee was very low-key, the New York Media still exposed his life with a blonde girl for the past half-month.
The public had seen this kind of news for several years and no longer found it new.
The losing San Antonio Spurs, however, were not mocked.
Instead, the Lakers were once again criticized by basketball commentators.
Under such circumstances, Kobe, who arrived in Eagle County with bodyguards to undergo knee surgery, was naturally in a bad mood.
However, while checking into a hotel in Eagle County, Kobe encountered an enthusiastic female fan, and after a friendly chat at the front desk, his mood improved considerably.
Kobe had seen this situation many times.
When the Lakers played away games, there were always young women trying to have a friendly match to understand their idol's strength.
Katelyn Faber was a 19-year-old blonde girl.
As a professional 'green tea,' she applied a cunning makeup and indeed won a hint of Kobe's favor.
(A/N: Green Tea - It refers to girls who look innocent yet have lots of tricks mostly to seduce men and win people's hearts. Another good chinese idiom.)
After successfully checking in, Kobe returned to his room with three bodyguards.
But as soon as he turned on the TV, he quickly saw news about the New York Knicks again, with commentators still discussing who could stop New York from winning next season.
"Damn it!"
Kobe, muttering softly, felt uncomfortable hearing all that boasting.
Soon, with the bodyguards' permission, Kaitlyn entered the room.
Seemingly sensing Kobe's low mood, the 'green tea' girl proactively sat closer and cunningly said:
"Stop focusing on those boring news. Want to see the tattoo on my body?"
"..."
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)