Champion Rules

Chapter 77, Episode 073: The Final Judgment (Seeking monthly votes!)

AI was named this year's AMVP at All-Star Weekend.

But what truly dominated the sports news headlines was the unexpected pairing of Lynch and Carmelo Anthony.

The inseparable presence of the two rising stars at All-Star Weekend sparked heated discussions – their joint appearance at the arcade was featured in the New York Post, their cheerful conversation while shopping was broadcast repeatedly by ESPN, and they even watched the Skills Challenge side by side, chatting and laughing.

People didn't expect the two to get along so well, after all, in media narratives, Lynch and Anthony were destined to be arch-enemies.

He swept across Europe at a young age, won the Olympic gold medal, and immediately reshaped the New York Knicks in his rookie season.

Winning the NCAA championship in his freshman season and then the NBA championship in his rookie season—if Magic Johnson is a prime example of winning the NBA championship in his rookie season, then leading Syracuse University to the NCAA championship in his freshman year is definitely a seriously underrated achievement.

More than 20 years from now, people will compare Carmelo Anthony with Cooper Flagg, the top pick in the 2025 draft, because the latter also swept the NCAA in his freshman year and had the opportunity to lead his team to a championship.

In reality, what Anthony accomplished was something Flagg could never catch up to.

Because Duke, where Flagg plays, has three other lottery-prospective players besides him, and they are already very strong, so it would be a given if they won the championship.

Before Carmelo Anthony went to Syracuse University, the school had virtually no presence in the basketball world.

As a freshman, he led a group of players of below-average ability to achieve a Cinderella-like comeback and win the championship.

This legendary status is something Cooper Flagg cannot match.

These two super rookies, with equally impressive resumes, should have been fierce rivals, embarking on a new competition in the NBA.

However, at the All-Star Weekend in Denver, they displayed a chemistry that astonished all the critics.

They became each other's closest friends during All-Star Weekend.

This friendship stems from their authenticity.

Carmelo Anthony and Lynch were both participating in the All-Star Weekend for the first time, surrounded by unfamiliar players.

When Carmelo Anthony walked into the Denver All-Star locker room, his eyes met those of Lynch, who was wearing sneakers. The two young men, making their All-Star debut, were like lone sails on unfamiliar waters amidst the star-studded room, until they discovered the same burning passion in each other's eyes.

The first thing Lynch said to Ancelotti was, "The Pistons are the team I most want to beat in the regular season, but we can't afford to lose to those old guys in the West this weekend."

This sharp and assertive opening statement, in contrast to LeBron James's impeccable statement to the camera that "it is the greatest honor to play alongside a legend," made Anthony instantly choose the person he wanted to build a relationship with.

Anthony immediately nudged Lynch in the chest with his fist.

He then bluntly told reporters, "This year's Eastern Conference All-Star starters have three rookies (NBA rookies are considered first and second year players). If we can't win, how can we let the world know we're here?"

You can understand where their arrogance comes from; they are still young, but have already achieved great success in this field.

This gives them confidence and makes them dare to express their dissatisfaction and ambition.

So when Charles Barkley, who was commentating on the All-Star Game, couldn't help but complain that "Gilbert is the most unpopular person at the All-Star Game," Lynch and Melo naturally dared to tear down the pretense of decorum.

They didn't respond with silence or diplomatic maneuvering like other star players.

And yes, despite their young age, they take the All-Star game more seriously than others.

They could not tolerate Gilbert Arenas's behavior that dragged the team down.

A photo of the two men, wearing sunglasses and reclining in their chairs, commenting on Arenas was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, with a headline that was almost offensive to most Eastern Conference players: "The Controllers of the New Eastern Order."

Gilbert Arenas was furious. No one else on the All-Star team had any objections, so why were these two kids bossing him around?

His unruly nature also kicked off the bloody battles in the Eastern Conference in the second half of the season with a "declaration of war".

When Arenas shouted this declaration in front of reporters' cameras, he imagined himself as Napoleon pointing his sword at Europe.

Then he got a beating in Detroit.

The Detroit Pistons won 107-86, a victory that was hardly in doubt.

When the lights of the Palace of Auburn Hills came on, Arenas was met with a deadly entanglement between Billups and Hamilton, and a no-fly zone constructed by the two Wallaces.

Throughout the game, Arenas struggled futilely in the Pistons' defensive web, his 36% field goal percentage reflecting his contorted face.

The Wizards' second-best player, Antawn Jamison, was also held to 5-for-19 shooting, leaving them with no chance of winning.

Anthony only scored 16 points, but that was enough for the Pistons to easily win the game.

As the game ended, Carmelo Anthony walked up to Gilbert Arenas and said, "The stage should be for the winners, not selfish shooting machines."

Honestly, it's unbelievable that Carmelo Anthony would say that.

Because if he gets drafted by Denver, he'll be a completely different person. A typical jerk who's happier scoring high points than winning.

But his Detroit career completely changed Melo's character; the influence of environment on a person is far greater than imagined.

He may still be that scoring maniac obsessed with probing the triple threat, and in some possessions he will almost show off his scoring skills.

But overall he was quite restrained.

Amidst the smells of engine oil and steel in the car city, he, clad in a blue and white battle uniform, had long since etched the belief in victory above all else into his very bones.

The general got off to a bad start, and now he can only vent all his anger on New York.

But he didn't know that Lin Qi was also furious at that moment.

His patience with Isaiah Thomas had reached its limit.
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Isaiah Thomas sat slumped at his desk, his fingertips nervously tracing the glaring headline on the front page of The New York Times: "Assassins Should Be Fired."

Not just this one newspaper, but all the media outlets in New York were criticizing him.

"To hell with it! To hell with it all!" The assassin, like the protagonist in "The Shining" who suddenly went mad, tore all the newspapers to shreds almost frantically.

He impatiently loosened his tie, his bloodshot eyes scanning the cleaning cart in the corner—usually at this time, the plump cleaning lady would have been there to collect the files.

"Damn it, damn it!" he continued to shout hysterically.

Where the hell did that cleaner go? And what about that old woman with the alluring curves?

If she's not here, where is the Knicks sales executive who's been flirting with her all the time?
Damn it, he really wanted to pin one of them down on his desk right now; anyway, all he needed was some money to settle things.

Kobe did it too!
He muttered to himself, then slammed his clenched fist heavily on the table, causing the liquid in the coffee cup to splash into distorted patterns.

He wanted to vent his anger; he didn't know why the media hated him so much.

He has clearly brought everything the team needs—a young man who is good at three-pointers and works hard on defense.

This is an extremely important addition to the shooting guard position.

"Yes, yes, this is absolutely a crucial reinforcement!" the assassin whispered maniacally into the void. "No one can deny that! But why don't those bastards know how to be grateful?! Damn it!"

"Ah!!! Damn it!!!" Isaiah Thomas looked at the newspapers full of insults against him, smashed the photo frame on his desk to the ground, and the glass shattered.

Just then, the voice of Isaiah Thomas's secretary rang out from outside the door.

"No, Lynch, you can't go in. Isaiah isn't here. If you want to see him, you can make an appointment with me. You can't just barge in like this."

Before he could finish speaking, Lin Qi violently kicked the door open.

The broken door lock and the mess in the office startled the secretary.

Lin Qi smiled and said, "It seems I don't need an appointment."

"What are you doing here?! Get out!" Isaiah Thomas did not welcome Lynch.

"What am I here for? Remember what you promised the media and LeBron James? You said you'd get the players we need before the trade deadline. Now the deadline has passed, and where are they? Your inaction is hurting us!"

"Didn't I do it?" the assassin said, spreading his hands confidently.

"God, look at you! All you fucking signed was Chris Jeffries in free agency, that's all! But the look on your face makes me think you traded for Kobe Bryant for the Knicks! Come on, I brought a recorder. Tell me, what have you actually done for the team?"

"Chris Jeffries is excellent. He can shoot threes. He was the best defensive wing in college."

"We're not playing college basketball! Chris Jeffries is a great guy with a great work ethic, but he's played for three different teams in just two years and barely gets 10 minutes of playing time per game. He's not good enough to fill our void! We need someone who can handle Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, and this is what you've done!?"
The Miami Heat are clearly shopping Eddie Jones, so why haven't you made any progress? We've already missed out on Vince Carter, and now we've missed out on Eddie! If you had tried, I would absolutely respect you. But as far as I know, you haven't even fucking tried to trade for him!

"I tried it, I used Stephen."

"That's right, you actually have the nerve to say that! You've thrown our locker room into chaos again!" Lynch felt disgusted just thinking about Stephon Marbury being put on the trading block for no reason.

He remained unmoved when the trade involving Marbury came along.

Even after Marbury had fully integrated into the team, he became embroiled in trade rumors.

"Besides creating chaos and staring at the cleaning lady's butt, what else can you do?" Lynch demanded. The already crazed assassin stepped forward, grabbing Lynch by the collar: "You think you can be a general manager just because you have an Olympic gold medal? Who do you think you're talking to? Show some respect! I didn't complain this much when I was a player! When I won the championship..."

"Dwelling on past glories? Ha? You won the championship because you were a great player, and because the Pistons didn't have a general manager as stupid as you. And Isaiah, let go." Lynch grabbed the assassin's hand, trying to pull him away.

But the assassin didn't back down: "Enough, I've fucking had enough of you! You think you're the boss of the team, bossing me around with my signings and trades, I've had enough! Who do you think you are?"

"I've had enough. I feel like I, this team, and the whole of New York don't need you. We don't need a mediocre person, and we certainly don't need someone who deliberately publicizes team conflicts just to win media attention. Team matters should be handled internally; even a rookie understands that." (The assassin had previously deliberately leaked news of his argument with Lynch.)
"Don't need me? Ha, that's not something you can decide on your own! Who do you think you are?"

"Let go of Isaiah, don't hold me."

Isaiah Thomas gripped Lynch tighter, his bloodshot eyes close to his: "I've brought the players the team needs, what right do you have to yell at me? Without my approval, you wouldn't even get a parking spot at MSG! Do you really think you can be the number one draft pick? Who do you think you are?"

This was the fourth time he had asked Lynch this question.

Lynch finally answered him.

“I am the true owner of the New York Knicks. I am here to win. I am here to bring down an idiot like you. This is your last warning, Isaiah: let go.”

"Listen to me, you yellow-skinned bastard, you'll never succeed. The New York Knicks can only achieve greatness under my leadership. The glory of New York will not belong to this yellow-skinned monkey."

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound of a slap cut off that malicious word.

Isaiah Thomas stumbled and knocked over a chair, two bloody molars flying onto the title of "Assassins Should Be Fired."

“I told you,” Lin Qi tugged at his wrinkled collar, looking down at the loser huddled in the pile of documents, “I told you to fucking let go. I’ve told you three times.”

"You bastard, I'm going to sue you!" the assassin roared, clutching his swollen right cheek, spitting out saliva mixed with blood.

“Fine, if you think your word wasn’t sensitive enough, I can sue you,” Lin Qi said, shaking the recording pen that had been working all along.

The assassin had suffered for something similar before. He was criticized by the public simply for publicly agreeing with his teammate Rodman's view that "if Bird were black, he would just be another good guy instead of being portrayed as the best player in the league," which led to many endorsements terminating their contracts with him.

He knew better than anyone that in this place, any accusation related to "race" was quite serious.

The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder as James Dolan arrived at the office. He had just received a call from the assassin's secretary and rushed over immediately.

Looking at the scene before him, James Dolan could almost imagine what had happened.

"James, we must internally suspend Lynch! His behavior is too reckless; he's going to ruin this place!"

Lynch pulled a silk handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped the hand he had just used to slap the assassin's face. "James, I've had enough. I want to lead the team to a championship, but right now our roster shows no signs of improving toward that goal. We've missed one opportunity after another to make signings, we're letting opportunities slip away time and time again, I've had enough."

Lynch stared at the assassin sitting on the ground. Although the trade deadline had passed and the team could no longer make any additions, he felt he still needed to end this as soon as possible.

He turned to the owner, who held the reins of the team, and every syllable sounded like a final statement in court.

“Listen to LeBron, I’ve lost my patience with that idiot. We’ve missed out on Vince Carter and let Eddie Jones go in the last few months. Our locker room has been in chaos because of him. In the end, he just uses someone like Chris Jeffries to fill out the championship puzzle.”

Lynch's leather shoes crunched over the scattered, torn newspapers, a mess that resembled everything an assassin had done in the Knicks.

“Now I want you to choose—let this racist gambler continue to ruin the team, or let the person who really wants to win take control of the destiny? It’s either me or him, I want him out.”

After speaking, Lin Qi unbuttoned the second button of his suit jacket with the elegance of a conductor taking a bow.

He wants to completely sever ties with Isaiah Thomas; no team can win a championship under his leadership.

The air condensed into a solid mass in the deathly silence, and the sound of the central air conditioning vents seemed like a stopwatch counting down.

Dolan's gaze shifted between the mess on the ground and Lynch's straight back.

Because of the commotion, many Knicks employees have gathered at the office entrance to watch.

It's certain that the truth will eventually come out, and the Knicks will once again be embroiled in controversy.

If the star player and the general manager get into a fight, the New York media will swarm around like flies to dung, eating it while complaining about the stench.

He could no longer stop this chaos, but he had the opportunity to end it completely before another chaos could occur.

The assassin laughed maniacally: "Lin Qi, do you really think you can decide this?"

“Isiah, you’re fired,” James Dolan calmly replied.

The assassin slumped to the ground, his smile vanishing.

"what?"

"Are you sure you want me to repeat myself? You're fired. You're no longer the general manager of the New York Knicks. Pack your things, Isaiah."

"No, you can't do that, James. We have a buyout clause."

"Go to the finance department now and settle your accounts. You're fired."

The assassin has completely lost his scepter.

He recalled the draft six months earlier, and the sinister prediction of Anderson Carter, the damned assistant director of scouting, who had said it on draft night:

"Look, Isaiah, what you pulled out of the Brooklyn docks wasn't a life preserver, it was a depth charge that could blow through the locker room deck."

Now he truly experienced the feeling of shrapnel embedded in his flesh. The bomb hadn't blown through the locker room, but it had destroyed the captain's cabin.

Lin Qi took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

He has a game tonight, a game he absolutely cannot afford to lose.

"James, thank you for coming. I'm going to practice now."

That evening, at Madison Square Garden, Bill Walton and Mark Jackson sat on the court before the game, warming up for the live broadcast.

"Just received news that the New York Knicks have been rocked by another shocking development. General Manager Isaiah Thomas was fired immediately after the trade deadline. To my knowledge, this is the first time such a thing has happened in the league, according to insiders." Bill Walton paused deliberately, letting the roar of the crowd behind him add an exclamation mark to his statement.

"Before his dismissal, he had a physical altercation with the team's key player, and bloody teeth and recording equipment were found at the scene."

Mark Jackson shook his head: "This isn't the first time Lynch has clashed with Isaiah Thomas this season. Many media outlets consider Lynch an unstable X-factor, questioning whether this rising star can adapt to the rules of the professional league. His overly straightforward nature seems to prevent him from knowing how to get along with management. We don't yet know who will succeed Isaiah, but anyone working with Lynch is taking on a challenge. He could break the team's balance at any time, and his personality could hinder the team's success."

"In any case, hopefully this won't affect tonight's game, and hopefully it won't affect Lynch's performance. After all, Gilbert Arenas is coming with a burning desire for revenge."

Before the match began, reporters were asking Lynch and Isaiah Thomas questions about the conflict and its details.

This annoyed Lin Qi, and he no longer wanted to mention that idiot.

After finally managing to appease the reporters, Gilbert Arenas gloated as he approached the stage.

"That was brilliant, Lynch. The Knicks' soap opera never disappoints. Too bad the trade market is closed, and now you're left begging for mercy with this bunch of cripples. Are you ready? You'll regret making those rude comments about me that All-Star night."

"Get lost, Gilbert, I'm in a bad mood."

"What?" Arenas deliberately rubbed his ear exaggeratedly, and the basketball slammed onto the floor with a "thud." "I think I heard a stray dog ​​barking?"

Lin Qi took a half-step closer, casting a shadow that completely enveloped his opponent: "You heard me? I'm in a bad mood. Get out of my sight before I can still solve this with basketball."

“Oh, then I don’t mind making your night even worse.” Gilbert Arenas stood his ground.

The match was about to begin. Lin Qi tore off his training clothes and glanced at his teammates before going on the court.

"Listen, forget those trading rumors, forget all that nonsense. From tonight onwards, our destiny is in our own hands."

After that, the introduction ceremony for the starting players began.

One by one, his teammates took to the court, until only Lin Qi remained sitting alone on the bench, the last one to perform.

"Now!!! Starting forward, one-time All-Star, 208cm tall, the new king of New York, Lynch!!!"

Amid cheers and spotlights, Lynch slowly rose and stepped onto the court amidst applause from his teammates.

Grant Hill suddenly reached out to stop him: "Remember, you're carrying the weight of all of New York right now."

“It has been for a long time,” Lin Qi replied with a smile.

James Dolan frowned as he watched the leaping figure.

He knew very well that the guy had completely taken control of the Knicks' fate.

He gave the child unparalleled rights, and from tonight onward, he will not allow him to fail again.

(After applying, I changed the update time to 12:30 and 16:30, it feels a bit rushed.)

(End of this chapter)