NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 802 "They were champions before you arrived." (Daily chapter)

On Monday, July 11, 2011, Robert Pelinka officially announced Kobe Bryant's schedule for the week on social media:
"We will be holding a grand basketball event in Manila over the next few days. Kobe will be giving back to all his supporters. This trip will be amazing!"

"."

After the news was announced on Twitter, the Philippines' die-hard fans went wild. The information revealed that the venue for this exhibition match was the same as the original "Battle of Manila"!

In 1975, the heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier took place in this very arena in Manila, and the organizers showed it great respect.

In addition to Kobe Bryant, other well-known NBA stars participating in the exhibition game included Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Tyreke Evans, and JaVale McGee.

The lockout has led many to choose to "go out and find work," and Billy Hunter, executive director of the players' union, reiterated his full support for this move.

The rising star, Mamba, was recently filming a documentary in Philadelphia with sports media from across the ocean. As the first superstar to arrive in the CBA, he naturally needs to be heavily promoted.

After the Basketball Park program aired on CCTV 5 last Friday, its ratings soared, and fans who had been silent for many years finally "stood up with pride." In the words of host Liu Xingyu:
"Kobe will become the first 'double champion' in history!"

Having won both the CBA and NBA championships, Mamba will most likely enjoy this honor all to himself.

Fans across the ocean are eagerly anticipating this, as going to the United States to watch the game is both troublesome and expensive. Now that they can watch superstars play at home, no one wants to miss this opportunity.

ESPN's morning Sport Center program once again reported on Kobe's activities. Interestingly, Kobe smiled broadly when interviewed by Chinese reporters, but immediately turned sour when he saw an "old acquaintance".

When asked at the Hagen Arena at Saint Joseph University if he would attend this year's ESPY Awards, Mamba, fresh from training and covered in sweat, replied sarcastically:

"Want to be humiliated by you again in Los Angeles?"

"I never play for honors. Now I just want to fight for the fans who support me. Stop using those boring forms to evaluate my basketball."

"."

After giving a brief answer, Kobe turned and left, not giving the ESPN reporter a chance at all.

Since leaving Los Angeles, the two sides have completely broken off relations, and Mamba has had enough of those baseless accusations.

After reporting the news, hosts Grant Hill and Hannah Storm both smiled at the camera, revealing a hint of sympathy for Kobe. The championship forward even offered more words of praise.
"The NBA has become the most popular American sports league in China, largely thanks to Yao Ming, who enabled the NBA to achieve rapid economic growth in China."

"For most Asian fans, they prefer Lee, and the Goat-Lee series of sneakers was once in short supply."

"Both of them have made huge contributions to the league, and Kobe's decision will expand the NBA's influence on another level. As a member of the union, I support his choice!"

Basketball is more than just winning championships.

Unlike her ESPN colleagues, Hannah Storm didn't seize the opportunity to mock Kobe's choice. As a seasoned professional, she understood the preferences of the general public and instead pleasantly changed the subject:
"This weekend, Lee and Ray Allen will compete together in the U.S. Century Charity Golf Championship, which has generated tremendous enthusiasm among NBC's longtime friends!"

"This is also Li's first time participating in an open golf event. We will be able to see Li's skills this weekend."

"."

It's well known that Li You does play golf, but his skills are mediocre; only his posture is commendable.
This major charity event sends out invitations every year, and this year, thanks to Ray Allen, they finally managed to get Li You involved. As a result, the broadcaster, NBC Sport, has started to frequently promote it.

The event was held at the Edgewood Tahoe Goft Course, located on the shores of Lake Tahoe in Nevada, with stunning scenery. Li You and his family, who were participating in the race, took the opportunity to go on vacation there.

At the end of their NBA news reports, neither of them mentioned the labor negotiations again. Grant Hill merely joked about a hotly debated topic among fans, offering a meaningful comment on the Knicks' roster for the new season:

"A lot of people are talking about the Knicks' 19-man roster, but I don't think it will become a locker room issue!"

“Under the influence of a championship culture, rookie players will quickly transform.”

"."

The lockout didn't stop New York fans from celebrating the 2012 championship; it's just that some fans have recently realized that the team's roster seems to have too many players.

Aside from Ben Wallace and Dan Gazuric, the team still boasts an impressive roster, and there have been no personnel changes since General Manager Donnie Walsh stepped down.

Given that Ray Allen is likely to start after joining the team, some commentators have begun to tout "internal conflicts".

The onlookers were having a field day; after all these years, it's finally the Knicks' turn to "explode," with many even predicting a "New York boxing match" on Reddit.
Several ESPN columnists have already started writing their own pieces, all eager to get a glimpse of what's going on in New York!
Mainstream media always like to exaggerate news related to Li You, just like how his sons went to school in the past two years and he received a lot of invitations when he was 4 years old, which was talked about by many onlookers.

After enrolling in CGPS, a prestigious school founded in 1764, last year, Li You only picked him up and dropped him off a few times; most of the time, Ivana and a few others took care of it for him.

Perhaps because we've seen too many success stories, everyone's become more interested in having fun. Like this charity match, many people were hoping that Li You would come in last place.

NBC Sport's afternoon program seriously analyzed Lee Yu's "pure skill" in golf, with the guests all eager to give their opinions.
Michael Jordan was probably the most popular figure in the sports world in the past, but this year Li You became the protagonist, turning the charity game into a "confrontation game".

Host Dan Hicks, Hannah Storm's husband and one of NBC Sports' longest-serving live broadcasters, excitedly made a bet during the call:

“I’ve never heard of Li ever having a hole-in-one. God is obviously fair. If I really witness this, I’m willing to donate again!”

Ray Romano, who was connected via video link, is a regular attendee at Knicks home games, but the well-known comedian has complained about Madison Square Garden ticket prices more than once.
Hearing his old friend's joke, Ray Romano laughed and chimed in:
“You’re right, man! Seriously, this is the championship I’ve ever wanted the most. Everyone wants to beat Lee, and this is the best chance before I turn 60.”

"I will tell my children about this experience."

The sports world is only so big. Given Li You's wealth, everyone wants to use this event to build relationships. They talk about winning, but many are planning to throw the game.

As for the NBA's "ban," it has long been put aside. This time, Li You has no choice but to go!

Unlike mainstream media, local sports reporters in Miami are more focused on the Heat, whose fans have remained angry since losing the Finals.

Fortunately, the newspaper reports did not disappoint; the Knicks, as the hypothetical rivals, did not make many trades.

The 19-man roster was ridiculed by a columnist for the Miami Herald, who called it too old and too young, and too vulnerable.
Recruiting Ray Allen was seen as a signal that Li You was giving up on the championship. After summarizing the content of several columns, the general conclusion is:

"The Heat are on the rise, we have no rivals!"

Dwyane Wade, who has been focusing on training and improving his physique, recently underwent laser eye surgery. After saying goodbye to his blurred vision, the Flash didn't forget to return to the University of Miami to visit his good friend.

Unlike many players who want to "go out to work" to earn money, James stated early on that he had no interest in going overseas and made his position clear on social media:

"Give it your all! #RevengeSeason #TheWashedYoungKings #LeBron'sGuild"

James posts several updates every day, and his Twitter follower count has increased significantly. However, most of his followers are haters, with Knicks fans constantly commenting in the comments section.

In the University of Miami training facility, many people were already lying down, except for James, who had been practicing all afternoon and was still doing his last free throws at the free throw line.

Rich Paul was the first to notice Wade. Seeing the Flash gesture for him to lower his voice, the loyal collaborator immediately understood, gesturing briefly before whispering:
"LeBron doesn't want to attend any events, sorry Bro, right now he just wants to keep practicing."

Wade nodded, noticing the somewhat quiet training facility, and suddenly shouted to the others:

"Best Male Athlete, Best Team, Best Coach! They're going to take away the trophies that rightfully belong to us on Wednesday's ESPN broadcast!"

Although the ESPY Awards ceremony hasn't started yet, the major awards are basically locked in. The Mavericks are undoubtedly the big winners this year, and Nowitzki will be able to lift two more trophies.

McGrady, sitting on the sidelines with his hands supporting his body, looked sore and his expression was contorted. Haslem's face darkened, and he cursed under his breath in anger.

"Those cowards have no chance of winning anymore!"

After finishing his free throw, James turned around and said in a deep voice, "The chosen one is furious when he hears about these awards. He hasn't won many honors since entering the league."

Bosh's dark face showed envy; since becoming the "Joker," the three of them had seen their popularity plummet.

Sports media outlets would rather discuss Lee Woo's golf playing than pay attention to them, while betting companies are ignoring the lineup issue and determining the champion early on.

"How could these guys go to accept an award with a smile on their faces! They stole our trophy!"

Kidney Warrior Alonzo Mourning, burning with anger, uttered a remark that immediately drew chorus of voices from the crowd, who felt indignant that losing the championship was a significant blow to the veterans; Game 7 was nothing short of a nightmare.

Juwan Howard was the only one who remained silent. Seeing Wade pursing his lips, he took the initiative to end his pointless shouting and said:

"Wade, what does the coaching staff want us to do?"

Due to the suspension of play, players are unable to use the team's training facilities, and the team cannot contact the players. If a training camp is to be held, it will depend on the players' efforts.

As one of the locker room leaders, Wade took on the role of communication, and at this moment, he looked around at everyone again and said seriously:

"Don't go out to sea to play ball, train hard and stay in good physical condition!"

“We need to get stronger. There will be more counterattacks in the new season. LeBron, the coaching staff wants you to gain weight to play the 4 position. I think that's a reasonable suggestion.”

Although his friend didn't say whose suggestion it was, James knew it was Pat Riley's request.

The Heat hope he will make further sacrifices for the team, and that the small lineup is their "secret weapon." The Heat hope this tactical approach can cover the entire court.

"Yee! I have no problem at all. In fact, I'm ready!"

"I will not return to Akron during this period until the goal is achieved."

As soon as James finished speaking, several of his friends on the sidelines hesitated, not wanting to see their good brother make such a decision.

After losing the Finals, the chosen one secretly shed tears and even considered going home for comfort. Life is more important than basketball, and the others hoped that James could go back to Akron to rest for a while.

Seemingly sensing his friends' thoughts, James, holding a basketball, shook his head slightly and added:

“I plan to attend Hakeem Olajuwon's training sessions. You know, I really need to improve some of my low-post skills.”

Upon hearing this plan, Wade's eyes widened involuntarily, and McGrady, who had come closer, also looked surprised, seemingly not expecting the chosen one to be so easy to talk to.

Bosh was also moved by his friend, and an excited look appeared on his dark face as he loudly encouraged him:

"Danger! This suspension is our opportunity! LeBron has already made sacrifices. Anyone in trouble can come to me. We must keep training."

Several veterans also spoke up, with Haslem even patting his chest and saying that if anyone was having financial difficulties, they could come to him. In this atmosphere, even McGrady felt a sense of belonging and said quite emotionally:

"Guys, we're going to make it! This is the best locker room I've ever had."

Mike Miller and his teammates, who had been silent all along, finally smiled. With their leaders leading the charge, many people felt that losing might not be such a bad thing after all.

-

On Tuesday, July 12th, Yahoo Sports was the first to report the news:
"Knicks backup center Mozgov has reached an agreement with a Moscow team."

Following JR Smith, another Knicks player has chosen to "go overseas".

With Serge Ibaka planning to play for the Spanish national team and likely staying in Barcelona for the new season without a team, the Knicks became the first team to "split up".

Pau Gasol hasn't officially announced his decision yet. He's already back in Spain, and has only briefly outlined his plans via Twitter.
"If the shutdown continues, I just want to take a break for a while, which would be a good thing for me."

Shawn Marion, being a veteran, had no intention of "going to sea to work." He ended the season early and went to France with Diaw, where the two are currently enjoying a leisurely vacation.

Apart from Anthony Davis, who is busy with the Drew League, most of the rest of the Knicks players are rookies, so the sports media naturally don't care.

At 16 p.m., a large number of media reporters gathered again at Pier 36 in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Basketball Lee has been warmly welcomed by sports fans since its opening, and tonight's launch event for Kyrie Irving is also being held here, so many New York fans and media representatives naturally won't miss this opportunity.

The suspension didn't affect Kyrie Irving, the number one draft pick, too much. New York is the environment he's most familiar with, and when he signed with the Hoogewerf, he invited a large number of friends and family to support him.

Finally seeing his son enter the league, Drederrick Irving's smile grew even brighter as he greeted his family and friends. Upon seeing head coach Krzyzewski, he gave him a warm hug.

"Mike, I really don't know how to thank you! I still feel like I'm dreaming."

For this press conference, seven full-size venues were transformed into a giant stage, with invited media reporters in the audience.

Seeing this grand occasion, head coach Krzyzewski, dressed in a blue suit, also showed an expression of admiration, patted the successful father on the shoulder, and praised him with a smile:
"Kyrie has already surpassed many players by playing in New York! He will realize his potential here."

An overjoyed Drederick patted the Duke coach on the shoulder. Even though his son hadn't played a single game, he was already feeling incredibly proud.
Many reporters captured this scene in the banquet hall, and some veteran professionals were secretly marveling at the incredible luck of this number one draft pick. Compared to other rookies, Irving was excessively fortunate!

In a few more years, Li You will retire. At the end of his career, Irving can continue to learn from his championship experience.

The legacy of the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) easily earned him the recognition of a large number of New York fans. After his rookie season, if things continue smoothly, Irving will soar to new heights. Some New York fans have already envisioned Irving's future; locking him into the Hall of Fame before he's even played a single game would be standard practice.

At 17 p.m., the lights came on on the huge stage that had been set up, and amidst cheers from the crowd, Kyrie Irving, dressed in a light gray suit, officially appeared holding up his No. 11 home jersey.

Such treatment is unprecedented among rookies; even the chosen ones of yesteryear did not receive such a ceremony.

Host Stephen A. Smith spoke rapidly as he introduced the Knicks' future cornerstones, and when he got to the jersey numbers, he even jokingly asked Kyrie Irving to show off his skills:
“We all know Lee is number 1, Walt Frazier is number 10, great guards all have their own choices, Kyrie, talk about your number!”

Under everyone's gaze, Irving gave a slightly shy smile, showed his jersey again, and then took the microphone and spoke earnestly:

“My godfather Rod Strickland was constantly teaching me; he showed me a lot of Uncle Lee’s videos!”

“He kept telling me about their conflict, but it seemed to me that Uncle Rod was always at a disadvantage.”

Media people familiar with that period of history smiled good-naturedly. Strickland did indeed have a brief rivalry with Li You back then, though many young fans may have long forgotten about him.

After the room quieted down again, Irving's face showed a look of reverence, as if he were immersed in his own world, and he continued excitedly:
"I knew from a very young age that it would be difficult for me to catch up with the greatest players in the NBA. Even the most confident young man would not dream of winning 12 championships."

"The number 11 is made up of two 1s, which also represents my doubled efforts. When I look back on my career, I hope this jersey will be on the rafters of Madison Square Garden."

Kyrie Irving's grand promises once again garnered applause and cheers. New York loves this kind of thing; if they don't make empty promises, the media and fans will feel uncomfortable!
Nike did not have Kyrie Irving choose the Goat-Lee series of shoes. Currently, the signature shoes are selling well, and the marketing department plans to add the brand after Lee Yu officially retires.

During the subsequent press conference, Irving even expressed regret, saying that like many children, he grew up wearing shoes signed by Li You.

Under Stephen A. Smith's guidance, the newbie would occasionally recount his "bond" with Li You, and the fans cheered as they listened to various high school anecdotes.

"One-on-one now? No, I wouldn't do something that stupid. I'll wait until he's 38 before challenging him."

The rookie's words made the atmosphere even more cheerful, until Stephen A. Smith asked about the many rookies of the same period, at which point Irving's smile faded and he responded with a determined look:

"This undoubtedly means fierce competition, but that's what championship teams are all about, and I love this kind of challenge!"

“I will learn how to be a young leader by playing alongside the greatest players, and I am ready for that.”

"."

After the fan interaction session began, many New York reporters updated their Twitter feeds, showering the newbie with compliments that almost made him feel like he was on cloud nine.

The rookies who joined the Knicks at the same time also expressed their blessings on social media, and the hashtag #NewYorkGang quickly became a hot topic.

However, there are always exceptions. Attentive New York fans noticed that Jimmy Butler doesn't seem to like Irving, and he even posted a tweet a few minutes ago:
"No one knows better than me how to work hard; a big mouth can't make a leader!"

Jimmy Butler, who has a "celebrity face," is actually quite well-known among New York fans, and many joking people call him "New York Jordan."

Nobody expected Butler to make a name for himself. The comments section was full of encouragement for this post, and some people were even saying they'd like to hold a boxing match between the two right now, because real men let their fists do the talking!

-

On Thursday, July 14, ESPN aired a recap of the ESPY Awards ceremony held the previous night at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on its own program early in the morning.

Just as the commentators predicted, Nowitzki and the Mavericks emerged as the biggest winners, with the German making an emotional statement after receiving the Best Male Athlete award:
"I want to prove to everyone that you can succeed in basketball without leaving your city or pursuing 'superstar' status!"

"Thank you to the Dallas fans, and thank you to my amazing teammates for the championship experience. My loyalty will never fade!"

"."

What he said sounded fine, but after the ceremony last night, some players suddenly broke down, and Kevin Garnett immediately updated his Twitter:
"Don't mistake luck for ability! Don't point fingers at anyone!"

Nowitzki's championship win indirectly "victims" are Garnett and Duncan, especially the former, whose tough guy image has been completely shattered in recent years, and he is now known as the "second generation softie".

Duncan's performance had declined sharply, and pundits firmly believed that this fading MVP would retire in two years at most, so naturally no one was discussing it at the time.

In the afternoon, on the First Take program, Skip Bayliss and Stephen A. Smith started jumping on the bandwagon again, discussing the "pure ability" of current power forwards.

The two fence-sitters rarely reached an agreement, with Nowitzki taking the top spot and Harden's reputation plummeting.
Once the live broadcast began, Garnett's face was dark on camera, and it was clear to everyone that he was in a very bad mood. Stephen A. Smith, not to be outdone, added fuel to the fire, continuing to stir things up:

"Kevin, the lockout has affected the free agency market, but many players have already made their decisions. Does Ray Allen's departure mean the Celtics' championship window is completely closed?"

Did this decision affect the locker room?

Having been seething with anger all night, Harden's temper flared when he heard the word "traitor." He completely forgot how he had pleaded with the other team to stay last season and unleashed his full power without hesitation:
"This won't affect the Celtics. We're a tough bunch, and everyone just wants to win the championship through their own efforts!"

"No one in the league dares to underestimate us."

Garnett, displaying a tough stance, quickly noticed the strange expressions on the faces of the two people in the studio, and was so angry that he almost ended the broadcast immediately.

Skip-Bellis, not wanting to embarrass Harden too much, proactively changed the subject, saying:
"I think many fans, like us, saw that tweet, Kevin. Do you think the Mavericks' success is more about luck?"

"I don't want to explain anything, but their opponent is the Heat, which is completely different from Lee's Knicks."

Seemingly feeling embarrassed that he had lost to a younger player, Garnett started making empty promises again:

"Kendrick's injury has affected the series. Many of us have been playing with injuries this year. If we can stay healthy, the outcome will be completely different."

In the past, Garnett would never have made up such an excuse, but witnessing the Germans' success, Garnett was truly furious.

Guided by the two "masters of stirring up trouble," Garnett finally broke down in anger at the end of the call, saying:

“They were champions before you came! I respect Ray Allen, but I would never make that choice!”

"."

While one's own failure is certainly regrettable, the success of one's friends is even more heartbreaking!

Garnett had already assumed Ray Allen would win the championship, and the thought of possibly winning nothing made him immediately check his agent's emails after the call ended, muttering angrily:
"God shouldn't show such favoritism!"

-

On Saturday, July 16, the U.S. Century Charity Golf Championship was held as scheduled on the shores of Lake Tahoe in Nevada.

NBC Sport broadcast the entire event, and the pre-game warm-up created a very cheerful atmosphere.

Charles Barkley once again performed an "abstract swing," eliciting gasps and laughter from the audience, with some even shouting "Pause" during his swing.

NBC even added cartoon sound effects to Barkley, but in an interview, Barkley didn't seem to care, instead saying smugly:

"I'm not hoping to win, I just want to avoid coming in last place, and I'm very confident about that!"

At the end, he nodded towards Li You's direction. Everyone was on the 17th hole, right next to the lakeside beach, surrounded by spectators and boats. Many people were gathered in another direction at this time.

Surrounded by children and ladies, Li Youyi was dressed in a well-fitting white golf suit. Unlike the older men who were dressed in loose clothing, the outline of his muscles could be vaguely seen under his clothes.

Old friend Hannah Storm was also there, and she took the initiative to introduce Li You to the friends and family of the NBC broadcasters. The ladies chattered incessantly, occasionally throwing him a flirtatious wink.
Hannah, whose glamorous image had long since faded, saw this scene and whispered a sarcastic remark to Li You, saying meaningfully as the child was being led away:

"Li, everyone wants to know your secret to staying young! Look at you, everyone is so envious!"

Li You, who straightened his hat, shrugged helplessly. Although he had tried his best to avoid it, some people couldn't wait to lie in his arms after his wealth increased.

Compliments poured out like water, to which Li You could only laugh self-deprecatingly:

"Becoming close friends with many beautiful women is perhaps the secret to staying young; my heart may forever remain at 26."

The ladies around her, instead of scoffing at these words, giggled and showed eager expressions. Many of them had dyed their hair blonde to participate in this charity match.
The girl who's been hanging around Li You lately is Natalie Dormer. They've been taking turns looking after the eldest son during the summer, and the British girl is hoping to have another one soon, so she's been working her hardest every night!
Elizabeth Olsen, also dressed in a white suit, saw her "sister" mutter "bitch" under her breath and couldn't help but laugh. She pulled the other woman aside, gave her a sweet smile, and whispered in her ear:
"Honey, you're actually very loyal. I'll help you this weekend."

Natalie's face flushed after the whispered words. The longer she lived in the United States, the more she realized how lacking she was in terms of skills. Even a 22-year-old girl was more capable than her!

When Li You returned to their side, the girls naturally held hands, and Olsen even giggled and acted coquettishly; the girl had let her guard down.
Ray Romano, wearing exaggerated pink shorts, came over with his wife to say hello, while Jack Wagner, a former actor who had recently become single, smiled broadly, as if Li You were a close friend of many years.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Morrow wanted to come over and share his golf tips, but he was pushed out by a bunch of veterans.

Watching retired veteran Mark Rippern share his championship experience from his first tournament next to Li You, Tony Morrow sighed and complained to the Green Bay Packers quarterback beside him:

"They should give young people a chance!"

Aaron Rodgers could only shrug at the complaints. Most of the people attending the charity game were retired NFL legends, and the veterans weren't going to be polite to them. He could only say helplessly:

"We can only look for an opportunity after the competition ends."

Once the competition officially began, the clear lake water, snow-capped mountain backdrop, forest fairways, and aerial shots quickly attracted viewers watching on television.

In high spirits, Li You quickly cooperated and sent the ball out of the fairway. When the ball went out of bounds due to a mistake, the children cheered happily, as this was the best opportunity to get an autographed ball.

Although the veterans can't compare to professional players, they are all very skilled. Unfortunately, Barkley was careless and quickly finished last, which caused him to complain.

On the 17th hole, amidst the exclamations of host Dan Hicks, Li You suddenly sank the ball in one shot, eliciting an explosive cheer from the crowd, with staff members joining in the frenzied applause.

"Damn it! God doesn't love me anymore! Li can't do this!"

As Li You and the others happily embraced, Charles Barkley, who had thrown off his hat, shouted loudly from behind, making the atmosphere even more joyful.

The low-key Ray Allen also had a great time, and even took the opportunity to joke around with Lee Yu during an interview with NBC while Lee was having a breakout performance.

When asked about Garnett's comments from the previous day, Ray Allen took off his hat, gave a sarcastic look to the camera, and joked:

"I don't want to argue with Kevin. All I know is that I have a chance to achieve something great in the next few years. A three-peat? I don't know."

"What I can be sure of now is that before I retire, I will at least win a ring as a key player, and that will be enough for me!"

-

On Sunday, July 17th, major media outlets reported on the charity tournament yesterday. Although Li You did not win the championship, he was awarded the "Most Beautiful Swing Award".

Although the organizers did not disclose the amount of the check that Li You sent, everyone could tell that it was a very generous sum!

The NBA suspension has actually made Li You's life more "colorful." Without the grueling training, he's received numerous invitations from socialites, and he can't possibly attend all the parties.
In contrast, Kobe, who had already flown to Manila to perform a show for everyone, continued to train relentlessly. The Philippine sports media were stunned; the Mamba was simply a walking training machine!

After having breakfast at the hotel early in the morning, Durant and the others were startled by Mamba. Kobe finished his morning training with a sweat on his face and went to the restaurant to eat his own nutritious meal.

Rose, who loves candy, was munching on gummy candies when she saw the Mamba's ascetic lifestyle. For once, she couldn't maintain her poker face and instead whispered a word of advice:
"There's no need to treat yourself like this, Kobe. I think you need to learn to relax."

Harden hadn't expected Kobe to actually train at 4 a.m., and taking advantage of the conversation, he chimed in with some words of comfort:
Life is more important than basketball.

Hearing the two young men's words, Kobe simply shook his head expressionlessly before staring at them and sharing his Mamba Mentality:
"To achieve greatness, you must make sacrifices. If you want to maintain your form after 30, you need to do that. Remember, basketball is about constantly surpassing yourself. Only in this way will you achieve success!"

"."

For a moment, everyone was speechless, except for the overly optimistic McGee, who casually remarked:
"I don't think Li worked that hard; he had 11 sons."

"Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about?" Durant thought to himself, cursing "idiot" inwardly. Then, a pang of sadness struck him. His goddess had already given birth to two, and the thought of possibly having to continue in the future made him continue surfing the web and leaving comments on Twitter.

"Eliot seems to have a lot of athletic talent, so he should be careful to protect himself from the sun and reduce outdoor activities lately!"

After breakfast, Kobe continued to mentor the younger players. Evans finally voiced his doubts, and the Mamba paused for a moment before offering a simple answer:
"Respect is more important to me!"

The All-Star exhibition game that evening was packed to capacity. Kobe, playing with great energy, led the young players to ignite the arena, and the enthusiastic Filipino fans cheered loudly.

Pelinka noticed the smile on Kobe's face, and his mood improved considerably. He then proactively shared photos from the event on social media.
"An incredible journey, next stop, Guangzhou!"

The Twitter platform had just been updated, and the comment section became very lively. Fans were proud of Mamba, saying that this is true dedication to basketball!

Pelinka was about to reply to a few comments when he noticed a post's likes and shares were rapidly increasing. Stephon Marbury, still in New York, was clearly envious and shared it, commenting:

"They were champions before you joined Guangdong! A weak 'passenger' can never become a tough 'driver'."

"."

(End of this chapter)