NBA: Miracle Workers

Friday, February 12, 2016, marked the official start of the New York All-Star Weekend. Whether or not they were fans of the Knicks, the visiting fans were incredibly enthusiastic.

With New York back as the host city after 98, and the added boost of the GOAT's retirement, ticket prices for this year's All-Star Game have risen again.
Despite some fans complaining about the high ticket prices, the discerning New York fans rallied behind MSG on social media, arguing that the ticket prices had to be the highest in history to match the GOAT's prestige!

Even though most New York fans felt the pinch, they still stood united against external forces:
"The more expensive, the better. True New York fans won't skimp on a few hundred dollars!"

Fans are arguing over ticket prices, and commentators have been debating the Finals MVP (FMVP) reform for almost a month. At the end of last month, after the All-Star starters were announced, Commissioner Adam Silver also posted a message:
"After Lee officially retires, the Finals MVP award will be renamed the 'God-Lee Finals MVP Award'."

"As the greatest superstar in NBA history to have won the most of this trophy, Lee will be the best spokesperson for the trophy, and this will also inspire all players in the league."

"."

At the press conference, Adam Silver directly announced the decision. After being reported by mainstream media, several NBA legends spoke out, subtly criticizing the league's decision without directly opposing it.
"We discussed having Bill Russell present the Finals MVP award a long time ago, but the league has never agreed to it."

"Without Bill Russell, there would be no NBA as we know it today, and no players would be treated the way they are now. The league lacks respect for this."

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a Lakers legend whose career is now completely over, had the clearest stance, but this view was met with humiliation from New York fans. When it came to the Finals MVP trophy, Li You's die-hard fans had only one attitude:

"How many championships does Bill Russell have? An old guy who succeeded in early basketball has no right to present the award for the greatest player of all time!"

"Renaming the league is the best decision we could make."

On social media, such voices dominate, and they all praise Adam Silver's actions.

When the league initially proposed having Russell present the award, it was met with strong resistance from New York fans. Now that the Finals MVP trophy has been renamed, the enthusiastic supporters are naturally applauding.

One reason why Boston Sports increasingly dislikes the New York "madmen" is Bill Russell. The legend was forced to refuse to present the Finals MVP award, which seems like a "good deed" done by Boston Sports.
Before All-Star Weekend began, enthusiastic New York fans not only celebrated the new trophy, but also took to social media to call for action:

"Starting from the new season, Li will present the Finals MVP award!"

"Seeing Kyrie Irving receive the Finals MVP trophy from Lee will be a unique legacy for the New York Knicks!"

"."

Not only did they snatch the naming rights, but they also took out a loan from the latest trophy winner, New York. Related posts on Reddit were ridiculed, and this move has angered fans across the United States.

Perhaps influenced by New York fans, a complacent Kyrie Irving confidently took a "loan," not only failing to express humility but also updating a tweet before the All-Star Weekend began:
"I will receive the inaugural 'God-Lee Finals MVP Award' from Uncle Lee! This will be the greatest legacy in NBA history!"

Kyrie Irving's individual performance has become increasingly outstanding this season, leading to his heightened activity on social media. While fans are basking in the glow of his updates, there are still many criticisms in the comments section.

More abstractly, some fans discovered that New York fans were also "fighting" each other while criticizing Kyrie Irving, with Jimmy Butler's fans claiming that the trophy should belong to them!

Before the next season has even started, New York fans are already debating who will win the Finals MVP.

With the two parties' primaries on February 1st, and Li You missing several games during this period, the competition within the Knicks team has reached a fever pitch.

As we all know, a team can only have one leader, and the Knicks don't have a tradition of having multiple leaders. If Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler, who were both selected as All-Star starters again, want to become the leader, they need to compete for the top spot.

Kyrie Irving tweeted about taking out a loan, and before the Celebrity Game that night, Jimmy Butler, sporting an afro, bragged about it during an interview with TNT:

"I don't understand why there's been controversy over the naming of the FMVP trophy. I like the new name; it represents a legacy."

"As the new leader of the Knicks, my biggest wish is to receive this trophy from the Boss. You know, it means a lot to me!"

"."

TNT, as the broadcaster, was clearly stirring things up. More than half an hour before the official event started, the four people on set were all laughing after interviewing Jimmy Butler.

Kenny Smith noticed his partners were watching with amusement, shook his head helplessly, and brought up the recent topic again:

"While I agree with the league's approach, we should also give Bill Russell more respect."

“I like to see competition among young players, but Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler should look at the MVP rankings; Stephen Curry is number one.”

Underestimating your opponent will inevitably come at a price!

Curry has been in phenomenal form this season, not only leading his team to outstanding results, but also achieving top-tier individual stats in both basic and advanced metrics. He currently leads all players in the MVP rankings.

When the rankings were mentioned, Charles Barkley perked up, grinning broadly and jokingly remarking:
"They lost 3 out of 5 games. Fortunately, Coach D'Antoni decided on his coaching position early. Otherwise, the young players in New York might have ruined the legendary coach's last All-Star game."

"Four Knicks players have been selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star starting lineup again, but I still want to remind the young players that you are not the best guys in the league."

The NBA circle is small, and a lot of gossip is concentrated in the locker room. This season, the Warriors are too united, and the Lakers and Thunder are like "brothers".

In comparison, the Knicks are the most "lively" team. They are the only team with 60 wins who can still have conflicts, providing fans with a lot of entertainment every week.
As the Celebrity Game was about to begin, Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers. The appearance of Knicks legends in their "retro" oversized suits was met with a cacophony of shouts.
"God-Lee! God-Lee! God-Lee!."

Lee Yu tried to get Willis Reed to go first, but the legend pulled Walter Fred and others to the center of the court to take the team's all-time MVP.

All the championship members were present tonight, and Matthews, who witnessed this moment, was "tears in his eyes." The championship guard seemed to have been playing in New York all along, and he applauded and cheered wildly.

No matter how long they had been with the Knicks, everyone felt incredibly proud at that moment, and the rows of championship banners hanging in the arena were a testament to their contributions.

As usual, Li You didn't get too emotional. As a super winner, his career doesn't have many "tragic moments." After his routine boasting, which drew cheers from the fans, Li You then joked about recent gossip:

"I'll be leaving the basketball I love in a few months, and I suddenly remembered what Howard Cassell said after the game: 'You embody the best of the human spirit!'"

"I wasn't even born when that year's Finals took place. Our hero, Willis Reed, rarely talks about those years with the team, but after experiencing so many Finals, I've gradually come to understand it more deeply."

"The belief in victory can inspire everyone and change everything!"

"The Knicks will continue to win; that's the team culture we've built."

Upon hearing this, both veteran and young fans began chanting wildly: New York must win, and win big, win every single day!
"Win! Win! Win!"

The shouts at Madison Square Garden grew louder and louder, and many people were so excited that their faces turned red. Li You said what everyone was thinking: "Winning is all that matters!"

Li You stopped rambling, smiled, raised his hands, and clapped repeatedly. He wasn't sure if he could win in the future, but he knew that everyone liked to hear these kinds of inspirational stories.
The large group of champions took a group photo in the center of the venue. Li You, surrounded by the crowd at the front, smiled brightly. More gratifying to him than the championship trophy was the sharing of champion experiences.

Even after retirement, the championship experience will remain in the league and continue to spread!
Even a rational champion like Grant Hill was moved to tears at this moment, some of the "sycophants" shed tears directly, and Artest even hugged Li You and cried uncontrollably.

The Knicks did indeed "go through the motions," but the championship members also gained fame and fortune alongside Li You. Sprewell, who received help after his retirement, even teared up and excitedly told the camera:
"Li saved our careers, God will always bless him!"

"."

Those who witnessed this scene felt that tonight's tickets were a steal. The bond between the championship team members and the Knicks' winning culture are all memorable moments.

Media reporters from all over the United States were also present tonight. Before the Celebrity Game started, they noticed that Li You was chatting and laughing with a group of New York stars before sitting down next to the Beyoncé sisters and starting to frantically press the shutter.

Recently, there have been rumors that Jay-Z may have cheated on his wife. Although Lee Yu is a loyal person, it doesn't stop people from imagining some dramatic love stories.

Since getting married, Jay-Z has rarely appeared at the Garden Arena with his wife. Beyoncé was booked for this All-Star halftime show well in advance, and if TMZ hadn't refrained from spreading gossip, some suggestive rumors would have already been circulating.
The atmosphere was electric when the Celebrity Challenge began that night, but the usually energetic Kevin Hart seemed a bit reserved in front of the Knicks' veterans.

Fortunately, no one cared about these details. O'Neal, who had just greeted his old rivals, was all smiles. The value of his championship was still rising, and there was even a trend of one of his titles surpassing the second-highest GOAT.

In the commentary booth, Reggie Miller seemed rather downcast. Despite the pre-game mutual praise between assistant coach Spike Lee and the New York fans, most of them didn't give him much respect.

During halftime, when gossip circulated, Kenny Smith brought up the MVP voting again, asking with a smile:
"Dude, who do you think will lift the MVP trophy again for the Knicks after Lee retires?"

Normally, a routine compliment on Irving and Butler would have sufficed, but Reggie Miller didn't follow the expected approach. Instead, he responded with a serious expression:
"Isaiah Thomas! The little guy has been outstanding this season. If he continues like this, I believe he will win the Sixth Man of the Year award."

"More importantly, I have inside information that Thomas is the hardest working person in training. He has not been affected by the superficial basketball atmosphere in New York. He has also received a lot of guidance from Li."

"Isiah Thomas does have physical shortcomings, but I think he's better suited to be the Knicks' new leader."

Kevin Harlan grinned, and Miller was clearly stirring things up again. This season, the Knicks' locker room is showing signs of exploding.

No matter how well Isaiah Thomas performs, he will never become the true core player. Everyone knows that the defending champions will not allow their core point guard to become a weak link on the court; that would not fit the team culture.

"Isiah Thomas deserves praise, but Chandler Parsons' performance in January was equally impressive; he had the highest three-point shooting percentage among the Knicks' forwards!"

When Kevin Harlan praised the handsome white forward, the director also focused the camera on Chandler Parsons, who was sitting behind the basket chatting and laughing with his teammates.

Chandler Parsons exploded in the new season, becoming a favorite among New York fans. Although his performance faltered at the beginning of the month, it did not affect the popularity of this championship forward.

Carmelo Anthony almost lost his starting position to Parsons, and Anthony, who was furious about this embarrassing situation, did not show up at the Garden tonight.

When discussing these outstanding Knicks players, Kenny Smith didn't add fuel to the fire. Before the start of the second half, he remarked to the camera:
"Such terrifying roster depth is enough for the Knicks to continue their pursuit of an eighth consecutive championship!"

"In the Eastern Conference, I can't think of any team that could be their match."

After being inspired by Li You's motivational speech, the New York fans at the scene went completely crazy, and regardless of what was happening on the field, they started chanting "Win" as soon as someone started chanting.

No Knicks rookies appeared in the subsequent Rising Stars Challenge, but no one paid attention to who was playing; they kept chanting "God-Lee."
The frenzied atmosphere left Devin Booker, a rookie on Team USA, gazing with envy. The young man, recalling the tribute he received at home, couldn't help but think to himself:
"This is a true superstar!"

-

On Saturday the 13th, Madison Square Garden hosted another individual challenge, and The Knicks' Isaiah Thomas successfully earned an invitation thanks to his outstanding performance.

The short player was full of confidence before the game, and during the interview, he didn't forget to show off his signed jersey with Lee Yu and his new God-Lee signature shoes:
"I like tall opponents, it gives me a bigger advantage in the final!"

“Playing in New York has never been easy, but thankfully Boss has taken care of me all these years. All my skills come from Boss, and I’m happy to be able to show them tonight!”

TNT reporters swarmed around Thomas, which made Clarkson and CJ McCollum look on with envy, and even Draymond Green and other big men were a little envious.

Most onlookers were already used to the New York players' "loan" behavior, and Thomas's pre-final appearance was exactly what everyone wanted, with cheers growing louder and louder after the game started.

As expected, Isaiah Thomas eliminated Mudiay and then easily defeated McCollum. His opponent in the final is rookie Karl-Anthony Towns. The New York fans at the stadium are already celebrating the championship!
To everyone's surprise, Towns made a comeback with accurate three-pointers, and when the rookie lifted the trophy, Madison Square Garden suddenly fell silent, followed by a sudden "Fuck!"

Rookie Towns looked completely bewildered by the change in atmosphere, the young man speechless with frustration:
"This is the holy land of basketball?" (End of Chapter)