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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 Monday, August 4, 2003, the Washington Wizards announced the signing of free agent Gilbert Arenas.
As soon as the trade was announced, a Warriors beat reporter publicly stated:
"The Wizards stole our core player!"
However, since the rules allowed it, this couldn't be called stealing.
The Warriors only had Arenas's two-year "Bird Rights," and according to the rules, his next contract's starting salary wouldn't be too high.
Therefore, when the Wizards offered him $8.5 million in the first year, $65 million over 6 years, with the last year being a player option, the Warriors couldn't match the contract and, lacking salary cap space, could only watch him leave.
In comparison, the Pacers' recent offer to Stephen Jackson was similar.
Only after Reggie Miller took a pay cut and they cleared out a group of "atmosphere players" could the Pacers make that offer.
This method of poaching players definitely harmed the teams' interests.
The Knicks didn't care, but the Warriors, having lost their star, declared they would appeal to the NBA!
On the 4th, the Pacers also sent away Jalen Rose, ultimately acquiring Jerome Williams, a 2006 first-round draft pick, and a $7.29 million trade exception from the Toronto Raptors.
After brewing for nearly half a month, they first cleared out the "atmosphere players" and re-signed Jermaine O'Neal, then Reggie Miller took a pay cut, followed by signing Stephen Jackson, and finally sending away Jalen Rose.
With the trade exception, the Pacers could now calmly split it up and continue signing players.
Before this, the Raptors had already sent Antonio Davis to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Donyell Marshall and a 2005 second-round draft pick.
The Bulls also completed a three-team trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks, meaning Van Horn had to report to Milwaukee before even arriving in Chicago.
The Bucks had become a joke.
Despite acquiring Van Horn, this injury-plagued "Larry Bird the Second" was highly unlikely to carry the team, making it extremely probable they would miss the playoffs next season!
Every time the Bucks made a trade, Ray Allen would criticize it, and Head Coach George Karl had seemingly become a clown.
However, the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls were all bottom-tier teams, and the Pacers' veterans taking pay cuts after the trade was likely also for the sake of saving money.
Last season, Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller accounted for the majority of the salary cap, and the Pacers' payroll was definitely among the highest in the Eastern Conference, yet they spent money to get beaten for several consecutive years.
Most Eastern Conference teams had already despaired.
The Knicks' dominance was too strong, so everyone lost interest in making big-money reinforcements.
The Knicks also let go of some "atmosphere players".
Trenton Hassell, after his two-year guaranteed contract ended, had to leave and now had to look for new work.
Entering August, the impact of the Eagle County incident began to decline, and with the Knicks making no major moves, only minor adjustments, basketball commentators started to focus on the Cavaliers' movements again.
To everyone's surprise, Jeff Van Gundy, in an interview with a Cleveland local sports media outlet, spoke bluntly:
"We will continue to accumulate talent. To challenge the Knicks, a regular lineup is destined to fail!"
"LeBron James is excellent, but basketball is a five-player game, and he is just a Rookie. There's a big difference between him and an MVP."
"Next season, the team will confirm his core position, but our goal is not victory or the playoffs. The team just hopes James can fully adapt to the NBA over one season."
"I have a long-term plan here, and the entire team supports me. The Cavaliers will focus on the future, and perhaps it won't be too long before we see the team rise again!"
If a Head Coach with insufficient prestige had said he would tank with the The Chosen One, he would probably be severely criticized by commentators!
But when the Champion Coach, with four consecutive championships, said these words, many people found it reasonable and well-founded.
However, translating the Bald Young Coach's words more directly would hurt the Cavaliers players' self-esteem:
"Except for LeBron James, no other player can be a championship piece."
Jeff Van Gundy had already let loose after gaining the team's support.
Next season, he only wanted to refine James's skills.
He had already seen another cornerstone for the team, and for this, the Cavaliers would tank furiously!
As for whether the NBA would give him face, the Bald Young Coach wasn't worried.
The Knicks were so strong that to make Eastern Conference games more exciting, the NBA would create a thrilling script.
Due to a decline in Finals viewership compared to previous years, and many fans complaining about ABC and ESPN's programs, the broadcasters also made big moves this offseason.
On August 5th, at the ESPN studio in Times Square, New York City.
Kevin Frazier and Greg Anthony were still there, but their partners had changed to Stephen A. Smith, a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and NBA legend Bill Laimbeer.
Little brother Allen Iverson was completely past his prime.
After being dominated by Clay Lee, he was then knocked down by Jason Kidd's Nets.
Furthermore, with Larry Brown also leaving the team, Philadelphia was growing increasingly impatient with Allen Iverson, and commentators' assessments had now converged:
"Cannot be a cornerstone player, a pure inefficient stat-padder!"
Stephen A. Smith went against the grain, writing many good things about his little brother, repeatedly emphasizing Allen Iverson's fighting spirit in his columns.
Unfortunately, Philadelphia fans still weren't buying it.
His column articles didn't receive high praise, so Stephen A. Smith began to transition into television.
His joining ESPN this time was mainly because he confidently gave his assurance:
"I can get firsthand information from the Knicks, and Clay Lee is also my little brother!"
ESPN also changed some of its program formats, reducing some of the tedious Excel segments and increasing the "argument" battles.
The four people no longer discussed the Eagle County incident.
Kobe was also quickly fading, and the NBA would certainly not promote a player involved in a sexual assault.
"Even now, I still find it difficult to evaluate this year's Finals!"
"The Knicks played too easily, and the Spurs lost by 20 points every game. Such a disparity made it somewhat unbelievable for me. I even couldn't understand why they lost like that."
Kevin Frazier, as a black host, threw his hands up to the camera, looking utterly bewildered.
Greg Anthony was drafted by the Knicks in 1991, and playing under Pat Riley, he also earned the Head Coach's trust.
In the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals victory against the Pacers, Greg Anthony even came off the bench to score 16 points, helping the team advance to the Finals.
Although he didn't win a championship, Greg Anthony was considered Clay Lee's senior.
He didn't get many opportunities after joining ESPN last season, and now, to grab attention, he answered the question without hesitation:
"It's simple, the Spurs were too weak. If Clay Lee couldn't dominate against two Rookie perimeter players, then we should propose revoking his MVP trophy."
"Before the game, I predicted that Clay Lee would dominate the Spurs' perimeter. I have to say, that view was still conservative. Clay Lee also tore apart the Spurs' interior with his drives."
"There's nothing strange about it. Basketball is like this. Clay Lee's skill level is simply too far above ordinary players."
Bill Laimbeer heard such exaggeration and immediately scoffed with a disdainful smile:
"Come on, man! We all saw Bruce Bowen's Defense. He was completely ineffective one-on-one. It's not that Clay Lee's skill level is too high, but that his opponents' level is too low."
"The NBA is regressing. Bowen is a clown. He thought he was smart, but he ended up hurting his teammates."
"If you want to foul, if you want to knock down an opponent, it's actually a very simple thing!"
Displaying a friendly smile, Bill Laimbeer quickly gave his own opinion.
Stephen A. Smith heard the three answers and immediately retorted with a question:
"What do you think of the Lakers' strength?"
"The Lakers are the defending champions; they defeated the Knicks, and this season, the Spurs eliminated them 4-2!"
"I watched that series. The Spurs were indeed the better team. Shaq might dominate the interior, but Kobe didn't play at his normal level."
Greg Anthony immediately shook his head upon hearing this and quickly interjected:
"Kobe Bryant's efficiency in the playoffs is usually lower than in the regular season. I think he already played well. He just lacks talent and is overrated."
Stephen A. Smith immediately raised his voice upon hearing this:
"In fact, I know Kobe's stats very well. What I want to say is that he didn't play smart enough and fell into the Spurs' trap."
"That's why the Lakers lost. The Spurs defeated them with superior tactical execution."
"But Lee, he broke through those defensive schemes, which made the game seem much easier."
"The Spurs are definitely a strong opponent, but Lee has reached another level. I think he's the greatest of all time!"
Bill Laimbeer chuckled at this point and said again:
"If Clay Lee played in the late 80s and early 90s, he wouldn't have achieved such results. He would have been like Michael Jordan, waiting for the Pistons to decline before winning a championship."
"No, whether he could even win a championship is an unknown, because back then Clay Lee would have faced Michael Jordan at his physical peak."
As the "ancient is better than modern" remarks came out, Stephen A. Smith subtly curled his lip, then said seriously:
"I don't think the Defense now is worse than it was back then!"
"Teams can use zone Defense, and it has proven to be very effective in most games!"
"A champion is a champion, no matter the process. Ultimately, Clay Lee lifted the trophy. Think about it, if he had lost, how would everyone have evaluated him?"
Kevin Frazier didn't want to talk about the championship's value anymore, so he proactively said:
"The Knicks winning this championship, it seems they will dominate the NBA again."
"Head Coach Van Gundy believes that most teams currently lack true talent. What do you think of his plans for the new season?"
Greg Anthony knew Bald Young Coach better, so he naturally followed suit and boasted:
"Getting another high-draft pick? I think this strategy is fine."
"The Cavaliers are entering a rebuilding phase, and Head Coach Van Gundy clearly has his own plan. Among next year's Rookies, there seems to be a very outstanding big man!"
Although there was still a long time until the draft, the few of them became interested.
Stephen A. Smith thought carefully for a moment, then said:
"Emeka Okafor? Lee's alumnus. He broke Marshall's block record. This year, the University of Connecticut seems to have a chance to lift the trophy again!"
The few of them quickly started discussing, while Kevin Frazier mentioned a high schooler:
"Dwight Howard."
Cavaliers fans who watched this episode felt their blood boiling.
They had to tank hard in the new season, and some fans even shouted Jeff Van Gundy's name outside the training Madison Square Garden.
The Bald Young Coach just smiled faintly at this.
He hadn't wasted this year.
He had friends at TNT and ESPN.
He just needed to guide public opinion, and the fans would support his plan.
On the morning of the 5th, when LeBron James appeared in the training Madison Square Garden, he couldn't help but further approve of Champion Coach.
Coming early to get familiar with the coach, Rookie James simply felt that his future was boundless.
With such a coach, half of his professional career was already a success!
Assistant Coach Thibodeau looked at the diligently training James and nodded with great satisfaction.
He fully supported Bald Young Coach's plan:
"Jeff, as long as we can get the first pick in next year's draft, the team will complete its rebuilding. This plan is too perfect!"
After coaching the Knicks, Thibodeau also looked down on the Cavaliers' current roster.
Hearing his old partner's words, Jeff Van Gundy appeared calm on the surface, but as he sat down on the courtside seat, he instinctively leaned back in a tactical pose:
"In just two seasons, the team will return to the playoffs. We are destined to become the heroes of Cleveland!"
On August 7th, New York City Mayor Bloomberg announced that a smoking ban would be implemented in early 2004, prohibiting smoking in all restaurants, bars, and other public places.
The reason for implementing this law was the increasing number of tourists visiting New York in recent years.
The City Hall's financial deficit also improved, and this billionaire mayor survived the most difficult period, putting the city back on track.
The mayor, who was rich and willful, although a Republican Party member, did not have to worry about funding.
His future campaigns would most likely be funded out of his own pocket.
That evening, Bloomberg once again hosted a dinner at his luxurious Upper East Side apartment, inviting political, business, media, and social elites from New York to dine with him.
Just as he had called on Wall Street to comply with new laws last year, the smoking ban also required others to join in the promotion.
This luxurious apartment had become the new mayor's residence, and the guests had long been accustomed to somewhat lavish banquets, enjoying exquisite food and making new friends.
The 62-year-old former New York Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly, after receiving the mayor's invitation, once again took on the position.
The old man's gray hair was almost bald.
Although neatly combed, his hair was sparse.
His attire was the same as before: a black suit, extremely conservative.
Although he was old, he maintained his physique well and did not become pot-bellied, which made him look much younger.
"Clay, you should understand our police force's inadequacy, but I guarantee that your apartment in the Upper East Side is absolutely the safest place."
"However, sometimes we are understaffed, and we need more advanced equipment, well, high-tech equipment!"
"Just as Bloomberg said, we believe in God, and besides God, everyone else must speak with data."
"The problem the police department faces now is insufficient big data, which is related to the city's monitoring efforts. I believe that in the future, we should bid farewell to empiricism and combine data to better combat crime."
Recently, Lee always encountered this old man at dinner parties.
He tried to hide on the second floor looking at antique murals, but he was still caught by him.
Lee, wearing a dark blue suit, nodded helplessly at the talkative old man beside him, patted his shoulder, and assured him:
"My foundation will definitely donate to the New York Police Department, but I hope to see the treatment of police officers improve."
Two days ago, Pepsi announced that it would continue its cooperation with Lee, and the two parties once again signed a 5-year, $25 million contract.
The amount was not disclosed, but Pepsi has always been the designated beverage for Republican Party members.
This money had not yet arrived, but Lee had to spend some money to attend the dinner.
Raymond Kelly immediately smiled when he heard the affirmative answer, then raised an eyebrow and continued:
"New York faces immense counter-terrorism pressure. The police department has formed a special operations unit for this purpose, and we need more effective weapons to protect this city."
"Compared to other cities, Manhattan's city center is absolutely the safest place. There are no homeless people, no crime, and you don't have to worry about personal safety when going out at night."
"Clay, these are all the efforts we've made, you must understand!"
Lee was naturally very satisfied with the security in the Upper East Side.
Two years ago, his home was burglarized, and Old Mike had to add some security facilities.
But since this old commissioner took office, regardless of issues in other areas, Lee's place has indeed been incredibly safe:
"I will increase some donations to the special operations unit. This work is indeed very hard."
When Georgina Bloomberg, wearing a red gown, appeared beside Lee, the old man stopped his speech and bid farewell to the two with a smile.
"Everyone knows you like philanthropy, Lee. In the future, I will also establish a foundation."
Georgina winked at Lee, then proactively linked her arm with his and led him towards the dining room.
Although Lee never publicized this matter, the New York Media had reported relevant news, and the ripple effect was that more and more charity gatherings sent him invitations.
Lee had never stopped donating to the New York Police Department, and the New York Fire Department also received a donation every year.
The University of Connecticut also received donations this year.
The Huskies have a chance to contend for the championship next year, so Lee naturally had to contribute his share.
For an ordinary NBA star, their wallet would likely not be able to handle it, but for Lee, it was just a consumption of some endorsement fees.
The young lady beside him kept talking, and Lee quickly feigned a promise:
"I also like equestrianism. Don't worry, Georgina, I will definitely help your foundation."
Bloomberg was rich enough to burn money as mayor, so Georgina naturally wasn't short of money.
This young lady just wanted an attitude.
Upon receiving the assurance, Georgina also smiled, handed Lee a glass of champagne, and leaned in intimately, saying:
"Can you stay tonight? I want to get some writing inspiration!"
Noticing that she had touched his chest, Lee knew that this girl was definitely lusting after his body:
"Next time for sure! You know, I have to review this month. I want to graduate from law school early."
"..."
On August 8, Steve Kerr chose to retire with the San Antonio Spurs, officially ending his professional career.
Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs fans sent their blessings.
When interviewed by San Antonio sports media, Steve Kerr still had some regrets:
"I've always wondered what would have happened if the Chicago Bulls hadn't lost the Eastern Conference Finals back then!"
"We had a chance to make a comeback back then, but in the end, the Chicago Bulls still disbanded."
"I don't blame Krause, because he created the Chicago Bulls dynasty. I just feel regret. I really wanted to experience the feeling of a three-peat."
"Joining the San Antonio Spurs was the most correct choice for me. I experienced a different basketball culture here. I love San Antonio, and I regret not being able to bring a championship to the team."
"Tim Duncan will succeed! He is a true leader. Under his leadership, the San Antonio Spurs will get on track, and we will definitely win the championship!"
Steve Kerr, who was interviewed, recalled his professional career and sent blessings to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Yahoo Sports reporter clearly wanted to piggyback on the hot topic and suddenly asked:
"Stephen, do you think Clay Lee is already the greatest of all time? You've played against him. How would you evaluate his current achievements?"
Steve Kerr smiled with relief when he heard this question, then said seriously:
"Although I don't like the loss in 1998, there's no fluke in winning a championship. Clay Lee has been to the Finals for six consecutive years, achieved a four-peat, and won five championships."
"This is his seven-year professional career, and he has also won the MVP for three consecutive years. Without a doubt, Clay Lee is the best player of this era."
"Of course, for me, I still prefer Michael Jordan. He changed the NBA. In my heart, Michael Jordan is the best!"
Recently, sports media began to discuss the topic of the greatest of all time.
Since Clay Lee won too easily this year, many "championship quality" questions arose for a time.
The most miserable was the Los Angeles Lakers, who were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs and have become a joke!
No matter what excuses the Los Angeles media made, they could not change the final result: the Los Angeles Lakers lost in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The San Antonio Spurs barely caused any trouble for the New York Knicks in the Finals, which also seemed to indicate that the Los Angeles Lakers were not strong enough and just picked up a championship last year.
On the afternoon of the 8th, accompanied by his agent Mark Bartelstein, Lee began to cooperate with Pepsi staff and advertising company members to shoot this year's promotional video.
Pepsi commercials are usually very fashionable.
Aside from Michael Jackson's classic commercial, Britney's commercial filmed in a factory two years ago also received rave reviews.
However, commercials featuring sports stars are usually simple and direct.
Football stars occasionally team up to shoot some complex scripts.
As Pepsi's only basketball star, Lee's commercial this year also changed its approach.
However, after reading the script, Lee's expression was a bit strange. It could be summed up in three words:
"Sending warmth."
After the terrorist attack, the entire city of Manhattan was in a panic, and many grocery stores closed down one after another, but a grocery store opened by an Italian family persevered.
Coincidentally, this grocery store was also a partner of Pepsi and a die-hard New York Knicks fan.
Clay Lee only needed to bring staff to send warmth, and finally toast and drink Pepsi with the boss.
After the two made a heartfelt declaration, the short video ended.
As for the shots highlighting Manhattan's urban culture, they were completed at the beginning of the month.
Lee was only responsible for strolling around and talking to the camera.
The week-long shoot was nearing its end, and Mark Bartelstein also brought up an unrelated topic:
"To everyone's surprise, Head Coach Van Gundy insisted that the team tank next season."
"I have to say, this will definitely put some pressure on him, but what I didn't expect was that Cavaliers fans completely supported him!"
"Some people even started discussing Emeka Okafor's performance after joining the Cavaliers next season."
"I think this is indeed a good opportunity. For Cleveland, Emeka Okafor also has an open attitude."
Mark Bartelstein has been in a good mood recently.
When Emeka Okafor enters the draft next year in his junior year, he will be able to sign this talented big man.
Most of the University of Connecticut players were easily signed by Mark Bartelstein, which was a bonus from Clay Lee and Ray Allen.
Putting on a white printed T-shirt with the Pepsi logo and adjusting his hat, Lee's mind went blank when he heard this news.
Most of the staff were New York Knicks fans.
The shooting was about to end, and they started gossiping after hearing this:
"No matter who the Cavaliers pick, they won't be a match for the New York Knicks."
"I think we can start another four-peat! I just love the feeling of winning."
"Hey! Why only a four-peat? If it weren't for that Los Angeles Lakers thief, we would have already achieved a six-peat!"
"That's right, we have a chance to challenge the Celtics' record. I really can't think of anyone else who would be our opponent."
"Let them question it, Lee, you are the GOAT in my heart. After the shooting, can you have a meal with us?"
Gathered in front of the grocery store, the staff chattered non-stop.
Lee smiled and accepted the request, which quickly drew cheers from everyone.
On Monday, August 11, the latest issue of Sports Business magazine once again broke news about Kobe Bryant:
"Last month's sexual assault allegations against Kobe Bryant made advertisers nervous about the large contracts signed with other athletes."
"After the incident, Kobe Bryant's sponsors cautiously issued statements, neither endorsing Kobe Bryant's claims of innocence nor keeping too much distance from the 24-year-old player."
Bob Williams, president of Burns Sports & Celebrities, offered his view:
"This incident has been a real eye-opener for many advertisers. If it can happen to Kobe Bryant, it can certainly happen to anyone!"
"After Kobe Bryant's contract with Adidas was terminated, he should have signed with Nike. As far as I know, the two parties will not reach a cooperation at this time."
"McDonald's and Coca-Cola endorsements will also be affected. The sexual assault has caused huge losses for Kobe Bryant."
Forbes magazine also revealed some players' endorsement income.
Clay Lee once again topped the list, surpassing Michael Jordan among basketball players to become the player with the most endorsement income.
After the magazine was released, Kobe Bryant once again hogged the spotlight.
Being infamous is also a form of fame, and onlookers began to discuss what would happen to Kobe Bryant in the future.
After a month of fermentation, Shaquille O'Neal still had not received a personal apology from Kobe Bryant.
The Los Angeles sports media recently found Phil Jackson, who had previously refused interviews, seemingly wanting to understand the Champion Coach's thoughts.
When asked about Kobe Bryant's sexual assault, Phil Jackson appeared very angry.
He did not stand up for the player but said unceremoniously:
"I have experienced such terrible things, and I know how much such things can affect a girl."
"I believe in the goddess of justice. I don't want to comment too much on Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers' training camp is about to start, and we still have a lot of work to do this season."
Many sports media knew about the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man's daughter's experience, so everyone didn't continue to ask related questions but changed the topic and asked:
"Many people believe that the Los Angeles Lakers' roster is too old to keep up with fast-paced games, Phil. What do you think about this?"
Phil Jackson regained his smile when he heard this topic, seemingly not worried about the superteam:
"Don't measure a superstar by age. Karl Malone still performed very well last season, and there's no sign of his body declining."
"After Gary Payton joined the Milwaukee Bucks, he failed to adapt to the environment. Although he didn't make the playoffs, his advanced stats were also very good last season."
"This lineup is complementary. Payton can improve the team's perimeter Defense, and Karl Malone can play in the mid-range."
"For me, the new season might bring some happy troubles, after all, our lineup is too good, and everyone wants to contribute to the team."
"I will have a good talk with the players. It's time to win another championship!"
Phil Jackson's confident statement seemed to infect the Los Angeles sports media.
Thinking carefully, the Old Man's words indeed made sense.
However, when interviewing Shaquille O'Neal next, Shaq didn't talk about the new season at all but continued to vent in front of the camera:
"I just want an apology. This shouldn't be difficult, but until now, I still haven't received a reply from Kobe Bryant."
"I don't like a brother's betrayal. He has no idea how much trouble his lies got me into!"
"If I see him, I even want to go up and give him two punches. I always treated him as my little brother, but it seems Kobe only regards everyone on the Lakers as ordinary colleagues."
No matter how much Shaq ranted, Kobe never replied.
The case couldn't be easily resolved.
With both sides sticking to their guns, it could only be a long-drawn-out battle.
Kobe lost some endorsements, and on Lee's side, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, helped him secure an endorsement deal for the Cadillac Escalade.
On the evening of the 12th, after Lee received the call, he briefly understood the contract amount, chatted for a couple of sentences, and then tossed his phone aside.
3 years, $6 million.
The other party planned to advertise across the Asia.
Katheryn's apartment was a bit messy.
Lee took a few big steps back to the sofa, then hugged the blonde girl and continued watching the old movie "Identity," which had just been released this year.
Horror thrillers had always been Lee's favorite.
As it neared the moment of truth, Katheryn, dressed only in a white camisole and shorts, also adjusted her posture, leaning by Lee's side, staring at the TV together.
After seeing the evil personality go on a killing spree at the end, Katheryn also exclaimed:
"God! I had no idea the ending would be like this!"
Seeing the familiar ending, Lee felt comfortable.
He particularly missed this movie. Compared to Hollywood's melodramatic popcorn flicks, this kind of horror thriller was endlessly rewatchable.
Lee grabbed the popcorn and began eating heartily.
Noticing that the blonde girl beside him was only watching and not eating, he couldn't help but say with a chuckle:
"The intense exercise later will definitely burn a lot of calories. Don't worry that this little energy intake will make you fat!"
Katheryn, with slightly disheveled hair, twisted around and straddled Lee, reaching out a finger to poke his firm chest muscle:
"You're always so confident!"
Lee wrapped his arms around the blonde girl's powerful waist, and soon, the two began a round of passionate kissing.
After finally pulling the other person off him, Lee looked at the half-naked blonde girl, quickly controlled his emotions, walked to the TV, and changed to another classic old movie, "The Shining."
Katheryn chuckled softly and simply snuggled into Lee's embrace:
"Thank you, Clay! You always show up when I'm feeling down. Actually, you don't need to reply to those messages."
Lee watched the familiar opening of the movie, casually holding something soft, and only after he was done did he speak:
"You just haven't found the right role yet. Hollywood produces too many movies in a year. There's no need to force yourself into some roles."
Blonde girls are a dime a dozen in Hollywood.
Scarlett, who started as a child star, has her mother helping her, and regardless of script quality, she never lacks resources.
As for choosing to slack off, that's also because Scarlett has the confidence to do so.
The blonde girl in his arms was already 25 years old.
The suitable screen role for her would only appear many years later.
Lee had no memory of Katheryn at this age, so she must have struggled for several years.
They only watched half of "The Shining" before the two began a new round of intimate interaction.
Perhaps because she had trained in Taekwondo, Katheryn was in good physical condition, and the two were particularly compatible.
However, this time the movements were a bit intense, and soon they heard protesting knocks on the wall from next door.
"Damn it! I knew the soundproofing here was too poor!"
On August 14th, the Heat signed undrafted player Udonis Haslem.
At the same time, Dwyane Wade also officially signed his Rookie contract with the Heat.
John Wallace, who had recently joined the Heat, saw another undrafted player enter the team, secretly curled his lips, but outwardly showed a warm smile.
Although John Wallace always acted as a hype man, after joining the Heat, he put on a facade of having connections:
"Clay Lee and I are from the same Rookie class. We carried bags together, did odd jobs together, chased girls together, and played in the Conference Finals together!"
After arriving at the Heat, John Wallace began his new round of bragging.
The money earned by joining the Heat was "blood and sweat money."
Pat Riley's training camp started earlier than other teams'.
Star players didn't need to attend this period of training camp.
The Madison Square Garden was mostly filled with second-round picks, undrafted players, unknown hype men, and Rookie players.
After being waived by the Clippers, Wang Zhizhi also found a job with the Heat, but in the past two days at the training camp, he felt his worldview shattered:
"So this is what Manhattan at 4 AM is like?"
"I knew early on that Lee would become a big star. Once, during a home game, we had a blast together."
"A beautiful Latina girl kept pestering Lee, and in the latter half of the night, hehe, the girl couldn't keep up!"
"After breakfast in the morning, we returned to the training gym, trained as usual in the morning, napped at noon to recover energy, and in the evening, Lee got a 30+10 double-double!"
"This was a double-double record, the youngest 30+10 in NBA history, and I contributed two assists to Lee."
John Wallace enthusiastically shared his stories from New York.
Although he only stayed with the New York Knicks for one year, that was his favorite experience.
Haslem, who had just joined the team, didn't say a word, and Wade also looked confused:
"This isn't what the book said!"
As a Rookie player and a Chicago native, Wade naturally knew Michael Jordan's trainer.
Before the draft, he had specifically sought out Tim Grover for private training.
Although it cost a large sum of US dollars, he felt it was worth it.
At the recommendation of this trainer, Wade enthusiastically bought the secret manual "Win."
The training methods, the white-hot space theory, and Manhattan at 4 AM left a deep impression on Wade.
Therefore, after joining the Heat, although Pat Riley's demands were extremely strict, Wade never complained.
Combining it with the content of the book, he felt this was the correct path to success.
Upon hearing John Wallace describe the wild nightlife of Manhattan back then, the era of widespread marijuana, Wade finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice:
"Does Lee smoke marijuana?"
John Wallace, interrupted, noticed it was a high-ranking Rookie and instantly put on a different smile, then seriously said:
"Lee doesn't touch that stuff, nor does he have tattoos, but he has an excellent alcohol tolerance, accepts all drinks, and is generous!"
"Although we didn't have much money back then, we wouldn't always let the veterans treat us."
Wade was still very curious about his draft template.
Tim Grover, as a trainer, only told him that Lee's training volume was greater and more difficult than he imagined.
Thinking of such a comment, Wade still felt a bit unconvinced and asked pointedly:
"John! Who do you think is better, my current level or Clay Lee's in his Rookie year?"
Noticing that everyone pricked up their ears and looked at him, John Wallace instantly became energetic again, naturally patting his chest and bragging:
"Perhaps your speed is faster and your body is stronger, but I dare say that Lee's shooting in his Rookie season was the ceiling for some stars!"
"Although his scoring wasn't high, that was only due to his tactical position. Lee's true shooting percentage in his Rookie year was 61.5%."
"I remember very clearly that the New York Media were all reporting on this, believing that Clay Lee would become a big star sooner or later!"
Sports media called him a "scaled-down Lee," and Wade naturally felt displeased about this.
Upon hearing these words, he instinctively blurted out:
"I can also put up those numbers. I'm really looking forward to playing against the New York Knicks."
"By the end of this season, perhaps my performance will be even better than Clay Lee's back then!"
Looking at the Rookie who turned around and dribbled the ball, John Wallace shrugged his shoulders and said to the hype men:
"Confidence is a good thing, but we might also be tanking this season."
"When we get to New York, my good brother will host everyone!"
"Don't worry, Lee won't hold it against a Rookie!"
.....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)