When pride still matters

Chapter 464 RIP
On the first day after the draft, there is still some time before the free market begins.

However, the Seattle SuperSonics still shocked the league when they reached a four-year, $4 million verbal agreement with Chris Bosh.

"A team that achieved 73 wins and 9 losses in the regular season and won the championship in the playoffs, while retaining the top three players on the team, signed an All-Star power forward in his prime. What on earth is there? Can strength stop Frye Yu from winning his seventh championship in eight years?"

The New York Times’ questions are thought-provoking.

Facts will eventually prove that the world is balanced.

When a force, or ambition, is too strong, there will always be a force to balance it.

LeBron James is happy with where he is right now.

He is about to make a big decision, and many people outside are waiting.

At this time, James was filming a commercial in Los Angeles, but Nike arranged for a writer to come to him.

That man was JR Moehringer, a sports star profiler and Pulitzer Prize winner who wrote a popular autobiography of Andre Agassi.

Nike wants Mollinger to stay with James before he announces his decision and write an article about the decision-making process.

James, who had just been stabbed by Buzz Bissinger, did not want to have contact with these writers, but this was the company's arrangement, and he accepted it.

Today, James is wearing a sleeveless shirt and a pair of sunglasses.

Mollinger asked: "Are you feeling stressed about the upcoming decision?"

"On the contrary, it's a very exciting moment for me," James said.

Molinger's eyes flickered.

The 24-year-old superstar looks extremely precocious.

The way he handles pressure is not what someone of his age should be.

This reminded Mollinger of a quote from the 19th-century journalist Margaret Fuller: I learned early on that the only thing that matters in life is growth.

But is LeBron really mature enough to handle the pressure?

This is not only pressure from the outside, but also pressure from within. James was born in Ohio, his home is here, and his core group is here, but six consecutive years of losing have made him understand that if he wants to win a championship, he must go elsewhere, with other stars. Play ball together.

So he told Mollinger: "My feelings about Cleveland will not influence my final decision."

Mollinger then wondered whether James' powerful friends had any influence on his decision.

James denied it.

Mollinger went further: "How do you feel about the criticism of your performance in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals?"

"I understand their thoughts." Having said this, James pursed his lips and gave Molinger a surprised answer, "My performance over the years has spoiled many people."

Mollinger was certain that the man was far less precocious than he appeared.

Did he know how much of an impact this statement would have?

James realized there was something wrong with his words, so he immediately made amends for himself: "I mean, I love Cavaliers fans just like I love my family. Even my family will be affected by what I do on and off the court. spoiled by things.”

James then characterized his critics as "people who have been spoiled by his excellence over the last six years," which he expressed confusion over: "It keeps me humble because I know my background, I know I What my mother went through, I never got too excited about my stardom or what I could do. My mom always said, and my friends always said, 'You're a sober person who doesn't need us. Tell you what to do'."

"You seem like the opposite of Frye," Mollinger said. "Frye often forgets things in front of the media, and when the media points out mistakes, he will thank them."

Molinger didn't mention Yu Fei for no reason. He knew that this name meant a lot to James.

Sure enough, when the name rang, a subtle expression flashed across James' face.

James said nothing, just pushed his sunglasses up on his head.

After many years of writing articles about sports stars, Mollinger discovered that great stars are always driven by anger. Tyson's anger is notorious, Jordan played with crazy energy, Yu Fei upgraded his anger to hatred, and Brady's anger during the draft Hit by an unprecedented low, he wants to prove everyone wrong.

But, has James ever been angry?
Mollinger asked: "A lot of people think you don't have the killer instinct like Frye, and you've said you don't want to be that kind of player." "

"Has your opinion changed now?"

"Yeah, I think there's a change, because for the first time in years I rejected my mom's advice," James said. "A few days ago, I got a tattoo on my back."

Mollinger asked, "What was written on the door?"

"King James."

In addition to the Cavaliers, five teams have vigorously pursued James.

They are the Bulls, Heat, Knicks, Nets and Lakers.

James first rejected the Bulls because they were not competitive.

Next is the Knicks. Although it feels great to play in Madison Square Garden, when James asked the Knicks management how to piece together the salary space for two other star players, they were silent.

The Nets asked junior owner Jay-Z to play the emotional card to lobby James.

But James has already decided that he will choose his next home realistically, and he will not let his personal feelings affect this matter.

Therefore, the Nets cannot become the next stop for the Kings.

Then there's the Heat.

After trading McGrady, the Heat had the salary space for two All-Stars, but James and Wade were not familiar enough and lacked the contact and track from the national team. When Riley put the ring in front of James and asked him to make a decision .

"Lakers have more rings," James says. July 7, 3 a.m.

James and his men entered the Bath Building.

This would be his last decisive negotiation.

Today's negotiating opponents are Lakers owner Jerry Buss, head coach Phil Jackson, general manager Mitch Kupchak, vice president Jim Buss and team legend Magic Johnson.

"LeBron, before this negotiation begins, I hope you understand." Old Buss stood up and said, "Your main goal is the only goal of the Lakers in the 60 years since they were founded."

James stared into Old Bass's eyes as if they were the only two people in the room.

"That's my only goal," James said.

At this time, Jackson spoke: "LeBron, we think you and Kobe can do something special."

James agreed.

Kupchak then talked about the team's long-term goals and gave a brief video presentation.

The Lakers have a great team history and an unparalleled ball market. Playing here will revitalize James's withered commercial value.

The James camp is very clear about this.

However, this decision is not easy to make.

James doesn't know how he and Kobe should get along and position themselves.

Who is the first player on this team? Who is the one who can speak loudly in the locker room? Who is the leader? When disagreements arise, whose opinion takes precedence?

And, does Kobe share the same dedication?

"I guess you have to meet with Kobe to make a decision."

The magician who had been in charge of warming up the show suddenly said.

James said: "This is a big decision, and we really should meet."

Three hours passed.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon, and Magic said to James: "LeBron, you can go meet Kobe right now."

James was stunned.

"He's waiting for you downstairs."

Nike's nightmare is that two of their biggest stars have to play on the same team.

This will bring extremely fierce internal competition to the marketing market.

However, when Yu Fei is determined to stay at Reebok, and the Sonics have also introduced Bosh, and are bound to hit three consecutive championships today, this kind of internal competition is no longer a problem.

Chosen's market sales are expected to exceed US$20 billion this year.

This is a super brand that can rival AJ in terms of commercial potential and development potential.

If Yu Fei wins the seventh championship, his honor will surpass Jordan, thus forming a formal trend of becoming a god. In this way, the brand under his name will create a sales myth like AJ in the last century.

To contain Yu Fei is to contain the development of Chosen One and Reebok.

If this goal can be achieved, even if 23 and 24 join forces, it will be acceptable to Nike.

But this still requires a sympathetic resonance between James and Kobe.

Sure enough, James met Kobe downstairs, and they found a nearby restaurant.

"I want to be your opponent more than my teammate," Kobe said. "But I know I can't fight Frye, KD and Brandon Roy alone."

James made a joke: "If I join the Lakers, No. 44 will hate you as much as he hates me."

"He eliminated me three times in the playoffs. Do you think I don't hate him?" Kobe asked, "Or do you think you don't hate him enough to join us? Do you think 28 consecutive losses is not enough? ?"

Kobe is serious and serious. He knows very well that if they want to defeat the Sonics, they need a superstar who can coordinate the overall situation and let him focus on offense.

James is the only choice.

His harsh rhetorical question made James lose his mind of chatting. He knew that Kobe was so straightforward.

"Give me a reason." James said, "I have been teammates with Shaq. Basically, I think he is a good person. I want to know how you can defeat No. 44 with me if you can't get along with him."

"Unless you're as lazy as that bastard, you shouldn't have two worries. I can give you two reasons," Bryant said.

"Rip has agreed to join."

"I am the best scorer in the world, you are the most comprehensive player in the world, and with Rip, we will become the most powerful Big Three in history."

That day, James didn't make any promises to the Lakers.

Only that night, he sent a text message to Kobe.

"When Rip is officially announced, that's when we say RIP to No. 44."

(End of this chapter)