NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 870 "Loyalty" Deserves Reward! (Chapter without Main Character)
On Tuesday, August 6, 2013, Fox Sports provided coverage of Kobe Bryant's trip to China.

In Shenzhen's Dongmen Pedestrian Street, more than 3 enthusiastic fans gathered to welcome Kobe Bryant. If the area is expanded, more than 5 fans were present in the afternoon to greet him.

After quoting part of a CCTV sports report, the Fox News anchor, in his usual exaggerated tone, introduced it as follows:

"An incredible attraction; Kobe also participated in an outdoor basketball event that day, and enthusiastic fans even climbed onto the backboard."

"Shenzhen is the first stop of the event. In the next few days, Kobe will visit Xi'an, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing."

Unlike those washed-up stars who exploit others, remain passive throughout, and always have a sullen face, Kobe's attitude in China was much better than in the United States!

Not only did he participate in fan activities in the afternoon, but in the evening, Kobe also personally trained with selected loyal fans at the Black Mamba Training Camp, providing face-to-face guidance and sharing his championship experience without reservation.

Such a dedicated performance naturally earned the approval of his die-hard fans. During an interview with CCTV that evening, Kobe beamed and continued to promote his Mamba Mentality.
"I won't set my sights on trophies. At this stage of my career, statistics and honors don't mean much to me."

"More than those achievements, I want to teach young people how to face difficulties, which will help them live better lives."

"Winning the championship is certainly gratifying, but seeing basketball help young people in another way gives me even more satisfaction."

"I want to bring the right basketball culture here."

The interview footage released by CCTV Sports was not cited by Fox Sports. In the American basketball environment, no one cares about this kind of talk, so a different interview clip was released instead.

Perhaps overwhelmed with emotion at seeing Kobe up close for the first time, the young man being interviewed shed tears in front of the camera.
"I was so excited when I saw him that I just kept crying and I couldn't stop crying. I just kept crying when I saw him."

After the interview clip was released, the Fox Sports news anchor exclaimed "Wow!" and then proceeded to tease Stephen A. Smith and others in the next room:
"I finally understand why Smith and the others always shed tears when they talk about Lee. For Chinese fans, Kobe's achievements there outweigh everything else!"

"."

After the news aired, this loyal Kobe fan became an internet sensation on social media, prompting a host of sports commentators to raise questions once again, with many sports fans even suspecting that Fox News had released fake news.

After repeated confirmation, onlookers were stunned once again: there are indeed many fans who love Mamba across the ocean!
There are abstract New York fan clubs in the US, but most fans can understand it. After all, Li You single-handedly reshaped the NBA landscape, so there's nothing wrong with being a fanatical admirer.

But Kobe was just a "passenger" riding on the coattails of others in the NBA; his stats were lackluster, and his personal image wasn't great either. Even now, there are female boxers who regularly protest against him every year.
Despite repeated reports from sports media that Kobe was very popular across the ocean, most sports fans remained skeptical. Now that they have been proven wrong, some people are beginning to reflect on the basketball environment in the United States.

At the end of the program, Fox Sports left viewers with a multiple-choice question:
Who is the most popular NBA star in China?

A.God-Lee
B.Yao
C.Kobe Bryant
-

On Thursday, August 8th, the usually quiet free agency market finally showed signs of a major deal, with Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski suddenly breaking the news on Twitter:
"The Thunder are trying to trade Russell Westbrook, and the arena management believes that James Harden is a better fit to play alongside Kevin Durant."

As a restricted free agent, Harden received the offer he wanted, and the Thunder promptly matched it, completing the contract extension and thus satisfying Durant's demands.

However, a successful contract renewal means paying a luxury tax. In response, General Manager Presti chose to save money and began to quietly sell Russell Westbrook, who is still recovering from injury.

This behavior has thoroughly enraged Westbrook's family and friends. He was injured for the team in the playoffs, and now he's being traded? This has seriously hurt everyone's feelings.

The report also detailed Westbrook's "next team," with the Rockets reportedly going all in after multiple teams were pursuing him, and head coach McHale strongly agreeing to the trade.

Yao Ming, who is almost 33 years old, was also interviewed by American reporters who had followed him to China. While participating in Kobe Bryant's China tour, Yao Ming, upon hearing the reporters' certainty that Westbrook would come to Houston, could only offer polite words:
"I haven't talked to the team about this yet. You know, I'll be 33 in a few days. It's getting harder and harder for big men to survive in the league."

"Pick and roll has always bothered me on both offense and defense. I'm too big to play like a guard."

"If Westbrook joins the team, I believe he can help the Rockets with his outstanding talent."

"."

Yao Ming was telling the truth. Although he has lost weight for several years, with the increasing use of pick-and-roll and three-pointers, traditional centers have almost lost their foothold.

If the goal is to win the championship, heavy centers have been completely eliminated. Data shows that clumsy big men will only become Li You's "target".
The new generation truly influenced by Li You has also begun to emerge. This season, talented guards such as Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and James Harden have started to dominate a lot of pick-and-rolls, and the influence of big men is becoming less and less.

Yahoo Sports reporters didn't make things difficult for Yao Ming, because once the trade was completed, it would mean that the Rockets would begin a generational change, and Westbrook would become the team's new core after recovering from injury.

Despite extensive coverage from multiple sports media outlets, Russell Westbrook, still recovering from injury, remained silent until late weekend when his younger brother Kawhi Leonard voiced his grievances on Twitter:
"A deal? Is this how Oklahoma City treats us?"

"Some people go to nightclubs immediately after losing a game, while others train like crazy after a defeat. Russell gave everything for the team, and he shouldn't be treated like this."

"Loyalty is a joke in the face of luxury taxes."

-

On Thursday, August 15th, with the trade still pending, onlookers were drawn to advertisements featuring LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.

Unlike the two MVPs, Pepsi revived the "Uncle Lee" ad series from many years ago, with Kyrie Irving playing Uncle Drew, which received a great response after its release.

Not only Kyrie Irving, but also the cameo appearances by Baron Davis, Ben Wallace, and Chauncey Billups were very popular with fans.

Pepsi and Hook also promised that the advertising campaign would continue and that more champion members would join the show in the future.

In contrast to Irving, the "hook" (referring to a person's name) didn't skimp on promoting James and Durant either. In their joint advertisement, the MVP showdown became the theme of the new season.

As we all know, an MVP needs a story to be told, and with Li You leading the way, there's not much left to explore in this regard. The younger generation has successfully taken up the "torch".

Driven by advertisements and sports commentators, no one cared about Kobe's experiences on the other side of the ocean anymore, and everyone started discussing the MVP competition for the new season.

In the afternoon, the First Take program also followed up on the hot topic, discussing the issue of the new MVP.

Although the Black female host, Carrie, was already used to the two's abstract viewpoints, she couldn't help but widen her eyes when she heard Skip Bayliss blast the chosen one:

"I don't like the latest Hook ad. They're trying to portray LeBron James as a leader among young players. It's ridiculous!"

"James' individual ability is not bad, but he is destined not to become the superstar that fans expect."

"If I remember correctly, since entering the league, James has always had excellent teammates, but he has never fulfilled his promise."

Skip Bayliss was sternly criticizing the young man, but Stephen A. Smith, opposite him, didn't refute him as usual. Instead, he nodded in agreement, which greatly encouraged Bayliss.
"Great players don't abandon their teams just because their opponents take shortcuts. I know LeBron James is planning to play in Los Angeles, but no matter where he goes, it doesn't change the fact that he's a coward!"

"."

With wide eyes, Carrie turned to look at Stephen A. Smith, whose big mouth seemed to agree, and immediately chimed in:
“I completely agree with that view. If James ultimately chooses to stay in Miami, I will take back what I said and apologize to him, but we know he will definitely leave.”

"James sensed the crisis. After Lee's retirement, Kevin Durant will become the best player in the league. The chosen one has fallen behind; he needs to go to the West to break the momentum of his opponents." "On the basketball front, Durant won the MVP earlier, and he has always remained loyal to Oklahoma City; he is a hero of that city!"

"Durant accomplished what James couldn't. He led the Thunder to the Finals, and although they suffered a crushing defeat to Lee, it was still a remarkable achievement."

Speaking of last year's Finals, Stephen A. Smith looked smug again, prompting Skip Bayliss to twitch at the corner of his eye and quickly interject; he didn't want to hear the big mouth's usual boasting.

"So you think Kevin Durant will be the MVP next season? The young man will get his revenge? But the Thunder's current situation doesn't seem to be able to fully support his return to the Finals."

"MVP? Ladies and gentlemen, we all know that this trophy should belong to Li!"

Stephen A. Smith had barely finished speaking when hosts Kari and Skip Bayliss were stunned. Just as they had expected, the big mouth began his usual routine:

“14次FMVP、8次MVP、11次得分王、9次助攻王和9次抢断王，即将36岁的李依旧是联盟最出色的球员！”

"These honors are not the limit for Lee. I believe many voters will still cast their votes for the greatest player of all time."

"I don't want to hear any more excuses. Lee is the rightful MVP!"

"It breaks my heart to think that we won't be able to see Lee play for another three seasons. I even wake up in the middle of the night because of it. I can't imagine the Knicks without Lee."

"."

At this point, Stephen A. Smith became emotional again, his eyes reddening, and he continued to play the flute while choking back tears.

The studio fell silent. Skip Bayliss was completely convinced; that guy on the other end of the line was a "daily crybaby," and he was not going to make any money off him!
Host Kari had to steer the conversation back on track, since today's topic was the two main characters in the advertisement:
"Stephen, we agree with you, but I think Lee would also like to see younger people win awards; his achievements are already unsurpassable."

"If you had to choose between LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who would you vote for?"

Composing himself, Stephen A. Smith regained his smug expression, glared at his partner, and simply replied:

"Durant didn't take shortcuts like the old-school players. Compared to the trio of Kobe and Duncan, and Garnett's Big Three, the young man is one of the few who insisted on staying with the team."

"If I had to choose between the two, I would vote for Durant, not because he is better than Lee, but because his loyalty deserves praise!"

Skip Bayliss, looking completely convinced, said he would vote for Durant and then went on to declare him the "Chosen One":
"James needs to stop his farcical antics; nobody wants to see his 'Decision 2'!"

“I will not vote for him again unless he fulfills his promise one day.”

"I want to remind those media people who praise James that since entering the league, James' record against Lee is 0 wins and 44 losses."

"Faced with the test of GOAT, the new MVP delivered a poor performance. If he can continue to win trophies with such results, then we should also consider awarding Allen Iverson the MVP!"

-

On Sunday, August 18th, trade rumors surrounding the Thunder continued to circulate, causing some distress for Kevin Durant, who was visiting New York.

After signing with a new agency, Durant was very busy during the offseason. In July, he participated in a short training camp with the US men's basketball team, followed by a celebrity golf tournament and a large number of advertising shoots.

Durant put a lot of effort into the New York training camp activities at the beginning of the month. Unfortunately, Li Youyi's whole family was not there, so he could only follow his idol's movements through social media.
Durant did not completely oppose the management's decision; he hoped Harden would stay and that Westbrook would continue to play alongside him.

If it really comes down to choosing between the two, Harden is indeed the "better deal," and Durant has tacitly agreed with the team's decision.

A trade was inevitable, given the rift between the two sides. Experiencing this situation for the first time, Durant chose to avoid it until an interview on a New York radio program, where he finally revealed his true feelings:

"Man, I don't want to see this happen. We've been to the Finals together, and now Jeff is back. The Thunder have a chance to return to that stage."

"But that's the NBA. Oklahoma City isn't Los Angeles. Like New York, we build our teams based on the draft. I didn't have the chance to enter the league and play alongside MVP-caliber players."

“Every young man who enters the league wants to become a city hero like Lee, and Russell is no exception. He gave everything for Oklahoma City.”

"If we win the championship in the future, I will give my ring to him to thank him for his contributions to Oklahoma City."

Durant's sentimental statement resonated with New York fans, while neighboring Philadelphia and Boston fans showed no interest in such gossip, focusing solely on their team's resurgence.

The 76ers did not make any improvements during the offseason, and the main theme of the new season will still be relying on Kobe to sell tickets. If Mamba chooses to stay, Philadelphia plans to take the opportunity to hold a retirement tour.

Although American fans are not interested, fans across the ocean in China will definitely support Kobe. The 76ers, who have already begun to expand into the Chinese market and have tasted success, do not want their "cash cow" to leave.

The Celtics have fired Doc Rivers, and Danny Ainge is currently shopping Paul Pierce. If all goes well, the veteran could be traded before the All-Star break at the latest.

Unemployed Doc Rivers will join TNT as a basketball guest coach next season. His best result as coach of the Big Three was reaching the conference finals. Currently, no team is interested in this motivational coach.
With his rookie contract nearing its end, Paul George has been quite active in the offseason, showcasing his outspoken nature on social media!
Paul George has expressed some displeasure with the advertisements for the Hook, and in an interview with local Indiana media on Wednesday, when discussing contracts and accolades, the young man offered his criticisms:
"My first choice is still to stay in Indiana, but I hope to get more support from the fans during the playoffs."

"The new season hasn't even started yet, and everyone is talking about the MVP race between LeBron James and Kevin Durant. I feel that such comments are disrespectful to me!"

Realizing that no basketball commentators were paying attention to him, Paul George simply started promoting himself, forcefully exaggerating his abilities:
"In the new season, I will become the best small forward in the league. If there is an MVP award, I hope more people will pay attention to my performance."

"."

Having faced the Pacers for two consecutive seasons, the Miami Herald is actually quite concerned about their opponent's situation, but the commentators couldn't help but get a little nervous after seeing the related reports.

After so many years, we finally have a second player who so confidently boasts about his abilities. The last one to be so self-assured was Kobe Bryant, whose "Mr. Best" is still a source of amusement for many onlookers.

The Pacers did indeed strengthen their roster, sending Gerald Green, rookie Miles Plumlee, and a 2014 first-round draft pick to the Suns in exchange for Luis Scola.

However, no one is optimistic about this trade. With Danny Granger's injury status uncertain, the Pacers' hopes of breaking through in the Eastern Conference are slim.

Fortunately, Paul George's loyalty deserves recognition. Apart from the usual mockery from Miami, most commentators and casual observers offered their encouragement.

Seeing that three small forwards—James, Durant, and Paul George—were all joining in, Carmelo Anthony, who had been working hard in the offseason, couldn't sit still any longer.

With top small forwards in the league all vying for the MVP award, Carmelo Anthony isn't to be outdone. Over the weekend, he posted several training photos of himself at Basketball Lee, along with a boastful caption:

"It's time to claim the MVP! #PastSuperstar #RevengeSeason #ChasingGreatness #BrooklynFamily #NewYorkNewKings"

The comment section on Twitter was immediately flooded with messages from New York Nets fan club members. Among the numerous insulting comments, netizens spotted a comment from Nets' new head coach, Jason Kidd:

"Kiss Lee, the Nets don't need the Kings right now."

(End of this chapter)