NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 869 Someone Will Always Speak Up for the True GOAT (Chapter Without Main Character)

On Wednesday, July 17, 2013, numerous media reporters gathered in Los Angeles that afternoon for the ESPY Awards ceremony, which was scheduled to take place that evening.

Since ESPN started broadcasting the awards ceremony live, the popularity of the event has skyrocketed, with more and more people paying attention to this "praise award".

The voting period for sports fans has ended, and the selection of several awards has been criticized by New York media.

Originally, fan votes were intended to carry significant weight in the awards, but after several award ceremonies, voting for some awards has become merely a formality.
This can't be entirely blamed on ESPN, after all, no one expected that Lee Woo would still be "winning" every day after the age of 34!
The result of winning so much was a surge in the number of fans who won the game, and social media further amplified Li You's influence.

Old Deng may not pay much attention to these things, but after years of development, Li You's number of fans has reached a number that even casual observers find outrageous.

After winning this year's championship, Lee Woo's Twitter account has officially surpassed 4700 million followers.
Without a doubt, Li You is the most followed person on Twitter. Even though he hasn't been very active in the past year, his number of followers has continued to rise steadily.

Katy Perry is also a "Twitter expert," gaining 4500 million followers with her high-quality albums. Unfortunately, she has never been able to catch up with Li You over the years, even with "follower boosting."

TMZ recently gossiped about celebrities' "follower-buying" practices, as more attention means better advertising rates.

In this regard, Li You is indeed far ahead. He does not exploit people, does not have many advertisements, and his occasional acts of kindness are very conscientious, which has won him high praise from his "family members".

With such a large fan base, it's hard for Lee Woo to lose in the voting. When sources revealed that ESPY planned to award the Best Male Athlete and NBA Player of the Year awards to the chosen one, his die-hard fans naturally voiced their support:

"ESPY's awards have become a joke; they have never respected sports fans!"

"James remembers to return the trophy to Lee; we all know who deserves the award."

"If James wins again, I hope he doesn't forget to thank Lee, because the trophy was meant to be a gift from us to Lee."

"."

Amid these calls, James began to actively engage, not only sharing fans' posts but also repeatedly expressing his gratitude.

This move not only quelled the anger of the die-hard fans, but also quietly increased his own popularity.

After reaping the "benefits," the chosen one has become the number one Lee fanboy among active players, a behavior that has angered many veteran players. Former player Paul Pierce, whose career has faded, directly mocked him on Twitter.
"James and Ray Allen chose the easy path, but as an old-school player, I firmly believe that greatness is achieved only through hard work."

"The process of pursuing the championship is far more important than that golden trophy!"

Kobe's views, which he had been promoting for more than half a year, have gained the support of Pierce. Veterans and Mamba have been actively speaking out recently, and "process theory" has become the most advocated view among a group of aging veterans.

Before the awards ceremony began, Kobe and Vanessa reappeared in front of the media on the red carpet.

Mamba exercised his player option and committed to playing for the 76ers next season.

Regarding his plans at the end of his career, Kobe didn't hide his choices, frankly admitting them on the show:

"I will return to Los Angeles to bring championship experience to the Lakers, and then I will go to China to play. After retiring, I want to make some efforts for the development of Chinese basketball."

Although he didn't directly state his opinion, Kobe subtly indicated that he wouldn't ask for a high salary at the end of his career.

Los Angeles fans welcomed this move, and on the red carpet that evening, onlookers cheered loudly. Kobe seemed to have returned to his home court, having regained respect through his own hard work!
In front of the camera, Kobe, dressed in a black suit, showed a gentle smile, completely different from when he first left Los Angeles. The Mamba seemed to have let go of the trade from back then.

Soon, an ESPN reporter approached to gossip, and after a brief greeting, the conversation turned to the recent free agency market:

"Kobe, I heard you're actively recruiting Lamar Odom. A lot of pundits don't think much of him; you know, he only averaged 5.9 points per game with the Cavaliers."

Kobe, who was slowly shaking his head, promptly took over the conversation, and the Mamba emphasized again:
"Dude, stats don't matter, what matters is your attitude towards basketball!"

“I understand Lamar’s situation. He is indeed in trouble, has physical problems, and is also facing some difficulties in life, but after talking with him, I can still feel his love for basketball.”

"With hard training, I believe he can return to being the 'left-handed magician' he once was, and Philadelphia fans will eventually come to love this hardworking guy."

"."

Kobe takes every opportunity to promote his "Mamba Theory," and he is no longer fixated on winning championships.

After undergoing reforms in the CBA and continuing to lose this season, he has completely let go of his past obsessions, and the Mamba Mentality is now his only pursuit.

James and Savannah quickly appeared on the red carpet. Kobe was no longer the focus of sports media attention. Compared to the fading Mamba, the chosen one who won two trophies was the real winner.

Shortly after the free agency period began, the Heat waived Mike Miller in an effort to save money, much to Wade's displeasure. The Flash insisted that the team should maintain its current roster and add a big man.

Earlier this month, the Miami Herald reported on the dispute between Wade and Pat Riley, but James, as the team's core player, was not involved in the trade.

James was in high spirits after winning two trophies, smiling broadly amidst compliments, until a sports reporter asked about the conflict between his good friend and management, at which point the chosen one's smile faded.

"You know, as a player, I don't care much about the management's decisions. All I have to do is try my best to do my job."

“I understand Wade. Mike is our brother. We achieved the best record in the league again this season, and nobody wants to see him leave.”

"But that's the NBA. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the amnesty clause can reduce the pressure on teams, and I understand Riley's choice."

"I'm no longer a rookie since 03. Not every team pays a high luxury tax like the Knicks. That's the reality. Winning a championship is much harder than people imagine!"

"The more I understand the league, the more I can feel Lee's greatness. It was an incredible achievement, and no one will be able to replicate that championship in 100 years."

Although James phrased it rather tactfully, everyone understood the underlying message: spending money is a prerequisite for winning a championship, and the Heat's choice to save money means they are no longer pursuing a championship.

"LeBron, do you think the process of chasing a championship is more important than the championship itself?"

Upon hearing the ESPN reporter's question, James, dressed in a red suit, raised his eyebrows animatedly, shrugged, chuckled a few times, and didn't answer the question until everyone started to egg him on. Only then did he respond meaningfully:
"If I haven't achieved anything significant by the age of 35, I would also say that the process of chasing championships is more important."

"But I'm the MVP, I've reached another level, and in my opinion, nothing is more important than the championship!"

“I won’t deceive myself. For the sake of the championship, I have made a longer-term plan. This is my choice. In the future, maybe everyone will see the ‘Akron kid’ still working hard at 40 years old.”

James' candid answer made the surrounding sports reporters laugh out loud. Receiving the approval, James smiled again and waved goodbye to his wife and the crowd.

Upon entering the Nokia Theatre, James greeted the celebrities present, and the host for the evening, Jon Hamm, also took the initiative to greet him and take photos.

Once Savannah was back by his side, James, whose mood was even more beautiful, couldn't help but whisper:
"Looking at the scene, what do you think of this year's awards ceremony?"

Many Hollywood stars surrounded Robin Roberts, the well-known ABC presenter who is likely to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award tonight, and the First Lady will also send her her blessings.

Savanna, who had just stepped forward to offer her congratulations, seemed a little uncomfortable in the atmosphere. When asked, she quietly pursed her lips and whispered in response:

"The weather is nice, but I'm not interested in the topics those celebrities are discussing."

James knew that Robin Roberts' award was related to Li You, and that it was becoming increasingly difficult for media people to interview the GOAT, but this black woman always managed to get first-hand information thanks to the friendship she had built up over the years.

Since his good friend discovered Lee Woo's influence beyond basketball while working at Hook, the chosen one has gradually mastered the "secret to success" through in-depth research.

Upon hearing Savannah's words, James chuckled and said meaningfully, "I thought you would notice the sponsors. Under Armour has been a sponsor for many years, and Lee invested in this sports brand a long time ago."

Seemingly oblivious to the connection between this and Roberts' award, Savannah gave up trying to figure it out and hugged James again. James, unperturbed, continued, "..."
“Pau is right. Moving to Los Angeles is a better option. Championships are always born in these big markets. We just need to work in the right place.”

"When the New York era is over, the champion will definitely return to Los Angeles."

Halfway through their conversation, the two spotted the Knicks players dressed to the nines. Li You wouldn't be attending tonight; Ray Allen and Matt Bartelstein would be accepting the award on his behalf.

The Knicks won the All-NBA Team and All-Games awards for the second consecutive year. Young Kyrie Irving, as the core of the new generation, was naturally very excited to take the stage again, and the young man kept chatting with the stars around him.

"The game-winning three-pointer! Maybe ESPN should consider adding a 'Best Moment' award."

James went over to hug his old rival, and Ray Allen smiled at the young man's compliments, but when the topic of trophies came up, he continued to joke about himself:

"Does everyone remember my 1-for-8 three-point shooting in regulation time? That was definitely a bad moment."

“That kid needs more encouragement. Trophies don’t mean much to an old guy like me anymore.”

Seven-year-old cancer patient Jack Hoffman scored a touchdown in a spring game in Nebraska, touching the entire nation and prompting the Senate to approve a motion in his honor.

Ray Allen looked odd as he recalled how the incident initially garnered the Senate's attention; Lee Yu always seemed to be able to create favorable conditions for his senator girlfriend.
After the awards ceremony officially began at 21 p.m., host Jon Hamm routinely made fun of the losers of the NBA Finals, with Jack McBrainer going even further and making sarcastic remarks:
"A strange phenomenon has emerged in the NBA: some old guys are trying to deny the importance of championships!"

"Hey! Wake up, buddy! This is a basketball game. There are only two outcomes: win or lose. Nobody expects a third one!"

Laughter erupted in the Nokia Theatre. When the camera focused on Kobe, who was sitting in the middle, his face was dark. He hadn't expected anyone to disrespect him tonight.

"A tribute to God-Lee, the greatest basketball player in history! Respect for his championships and gratitude for his contributions to the fight against childhood brain cancer!"

The crowd applauded. If it weren't for the recent motion initiated by the Senate, the general public would have been unaware that Li You's family foundation had helped so many sick children.

Li You, who did good deeds anonymously, was recognized by everyone present. Some people may scoff at this, but no one would be foolish enough to bring such emotions onto the camera at this awards ceremony.

-

On Thursday, July 18th, ESPN's morning program reported on last night's grand awards ceremony, with LeBron James and the Knicks emerging as the biggest winners in the NBA.

Kobe, who was ridiculed, did not give any more interviews, but this "clown behavior" was once again mocked by netizens on social media.

Kobe's superstar status has almost completely faded, and the "Mamba Mentality" he championed has become a joke in North America. Apart from some fading veterans, nobody really believes in that boring rhetoric.

Li You stopped participating in such pointless debates a long time ago, but whenever someone jumps out to question the champion, there are always supporters who rush in to refute them!
Stepping on a washed-up celebrity gives you a chance to gain Li You's personal friendship; it's a sure-fire way to make money.
Fortunately, Kobe still had support from across the ocean. Despite being ridiculed in the United States, CCTV Sports, while simultaneously reporting on the ESPY Awards, still made sure to give Mamba a shot, and Sina Sports also cheered for Mamba.

Stephon Marbury, who just helped the BJ team win their first championship this season, was envious and immediately launched a scathing attack on Kobe on Weibo:

"A guy who has never won the 'driver' championship simply cannot understand the true meaning of a championship!"

"I am proud of BJ team's championship!"

The comments section was filled with heated arguments. Most BJ team fans were not interested in the process of pursuing the championship. Last season's defeat had broken many fans' spirits, and winning the championship was the most important thing.

In contrast, Kobe's die-hard fans firmly support Mamba. Although the Guangdong team lost the championship, their pursuit of it earned them more respect!

The support from across the ocean couldn't reach the United States. That afternoon, the Lakers officially announced the successful re-signing of Dwight Howard, and Los Angeles fans erupted in cheers. At that moment, everyone forgot about the fading Kobe Bryant.

That same night, after securing his new contract, "Happy Beast" Howard updated his Twitter with a post, showing no mercy to Kobe and Jeanie Buss, directly mocking them by name:

"I only want to bring championships to Los Angeles, and I have no interest in the plans of losers."

"The Lakers' future belongs to Superman. I will achieve great things here. This team does not welcome Snake."

Andre Iguodala also renewed his contract. Despite offers from multiple teams, Iguodala himself did not want to leave Los Angeles. Playing in a big market is just "great"!
To show that he stands with the core players, Iguodala immediately retweeted his teammate's post. While not as direct as Howard, it was still a relatively subtle way of expressing his stance.
"I think second place is the biggest loser. Dwight is right. For the Lakers, not winning the championship is a failure."

"."

Following their updates, Nash and Stoudemire also spoke out, showing that despite the Lakers' plan to waive the championship forward, it didn't affect the unity of the locker room:

"Only clowns make excuses. As a championship striker, I will simply accept my defeat."

"Age and injuries are not excuses; our only goal for the new season is the championship."

After promoting the "Mamba Mentality" for more than half a month, it returned to its original state under the pressure of the crowd. Kobe did not speak out again, and the Mamba chose to leave in silence.

During the offseason, he will embark on a tour of China to continue giving back to his loyal fans!

-

On Tuesday, July 23, no major trades occurred in the free agency market. Chris Paul re-signed with the Clippers, and David West also chose to stay with the Pacers.

The 76ers successfully signed Lamar Odom, Kobe's former teammate, while Nick Young, who played for the team for one season, left and signed with the Lakers.

Interestingly, Nick Young, after securing his new contract, didn't forget to take a sarcastic tweet about his former boss while expressing his loyalty:

"Guys who only show off their abilities on the training ground will only lead the team into the abyss!"

"It's a shame for Philadelphia fans. 0 wins and 72 losses, they don't deserve this result."

The low-key Spurs successfully re-signed Ginobili, with the Argentine taking a pay cut to sign a multi-year contract. San Antonio fans were very supportive, believing it was well-deserved for the veteran.

The Suns let go of Andrew Bynum, who was plagued by knee injuries. The once-promising "best center in the West" rejected the 76ers' offer and ultimately chose to sign with the Cavaliers.

After receiving his new contract, Bynum also explained in an interview why he rejected the 76ers:
"They weren't interested in pardoning Kobe, so I turned down the 76ers' offer. I have no interest in working with a cancer player again."

"."

In the afternoon, the Mavericks announced the clemency of their championship-winning player, Ron Artest. Dallas fans offered their congratulations, and the former champion forward quickly found a job, sharing the news on Twitter immediately.

"God! Thank you, Lee, for this incredible journey, the Queens kid is home! #GOATRecognition #QueensKid #11ChampionshipRings"

Not only did he post an update, but Artest also recorded a video in which the championship striker was moved to tears.

In the footage, Artest said "thank you to the Dallas and Mavericks championship team members" twice, "thank you to my family and friends in New York and Queens" 10 times, and "thank you to Lee" 20 times.
At the end of the video, Artest didn't forget to angrily denounce his old rival, righteously and sternly mocking Mamba:
"Losers should shut up and quietly enjoy the final seasons of the greatest player in history!"

"Don't try to replace champion experience with circus culture!"

"."

(End of this chapter)