Basketball's No. 1 Anti-Fan

Chapter 295 "This will be my last season" - Kobe Bryant

It is mid-September, and after a long offseason, training camps for various teams have begun one after another.

On the first day of training camp, not only were all the Cavaliers members present, but this time there was no need for Garnett to yell trash talk, and the players were very motivated during training.

They have been holding back for the entire summer, waiting to show their talents in the new season.

Irving's playmaking ability still needs to be developed in the game, but he is more committed on defense than ever before.

This change is a more useful encouragement than trash talk.

Fans often complain about why their team's role players are not active. This actually has a lot to do with the attitude of the team's core players.

When the core players of your team are only concerned with scoring points, and even give up on defense in order to have the energy to score points, it would be strange for the role players to be motivated.

The strength of a team is never just linked to its strength on paper, because the same person may show two different strengths when facing different team core players.

The team Han Sen was in seemed to have some mysterious attributes that allowed every player to fully commit themselves, because Han Sen was the core and took the lead.

Or to use the words of Dongda University: The speed of a train depends entirely on the locomotive.

Now that Irving, as the second-in-command, has also shown this attitude, it is difficult for the Cavaliers not to be proactive.

Hansen was very pleased when he saw this, because it would greatly improve the Cavaliers' defensive efficiency in the new season.

It is still true that defense wins championships.

Of course, what makes him happier is Jokic's body shape change.

Jokic's weight loss plan did not stop during his trip to Africa.

Now he has completed his weight loss plan, from 300 pounds when he first arrived to 250 pounds, or about 113 kilograms.

This weight is most suitable for his height.

There is also a muscle-building component involved. Although his lateral movement is still a weakness, which makes him more afraid of pick-and-rolls, his movement speed and confrontation in the interior have improved significantly compared to before.

And shortly after training camp started, he quickly became good friends with Garnett.

This is in stark contrast to the reservedness when I first arrived.

Or maybe he was originally a lively player, but he became like that because he had just arrived in the United States and didn't speak the language, and was in an unfamiliar environment.

With Han Sen's help, he adapted to the place faster than expected.

As long as people adapt to the surrounding environment, they will gradually return to themselves.

The result was that before the training camp was over, he had already become the team's most popular player.

Of course, one thing remains constant.

This guy always arrives on time for training and is always the first to leave after training.

What stands out about this guy is his authenticity, but this may also be an important reason why his teammates like him.

As the time comes to the end of September, the training camps of various teams are coming to an end, and this is also the time for the annual media day.

Media Day is a date established by Stern before, which is usually at the end of each team's training camp and before the start of the preseason.

Its main purpose is to promote the new season through interaction with the media and the teams.

You have to know that some teams with low attention may not be paid attention to by the media for a whole season.

On media day, the players will take makeup photos, and everyone from management to players will need to accept media interviews.

Media Day is a very interesting thing for rookies like Jokic and Powell.

For example, Jokic tried his best to open his eyes wide when taking the final photo to show his funny side.

When it came to the interview session, he admitted that he liked the city of Cleveland because its slow pace and comfortable environment were very similar to his hometown.

And when asked about his expectations for his rookie season, he also said that he would try his best to wave the towel on the sidelines.

This also caused laughter from the reporters on the scene.

But for Hansen, this is his seventh season in the league, and he doesn't feel much about the media day.

During the interview, the reporter asked him about his goals for the new season as usual.

According to Han Sen's usual practice, he must mention the championship at this time.

But this time, he gave a more targeted answer:

"Hang the No. 77 jersey over the American Airlines Arena."

Who will be the Cavaliers' opponents in the Eastern Conference this season?
Raptors? Hawks? Bulls? Wizards? Or Celtics?

It’s all of these things, but it’s none of these things.

Because the only team that can really put pressure on the Cavaliers is the Heat.

It doesn't mean that the Cavaliers are better than the Heat just because they beat the Heat once last season.

Putting aside some luck last season, the Heat's morale is completely different this season with Riley personally taking the field.

Therefore, Han Sen had to try to overpower his opponent in terms of momentum.

What could be more effective than this sentence?
Hansen's words immediately heightened the tension between the Cavaliers and the Heat.

However, the most eye-catching thing on this media day was not what Hansen said.

At the same time, the Lakers also held their media day.

The Lakers are undoubtedly the most watched team in the new season, and there were so many reporters present that the room could not accommodate them.

In this scene where reporters were swarming, James also showed his overflowing self-confidence:
"You're going to see me better this season than ever before."

Well, of course it’s not what James said.

Considering his struggles over the years, what the media says about him now is basically just a joke.

As the Chosen One who has played in the League for 12 years, the "Nomadic King" who has moved his "royal court" three times in the past five years has become half a man of fun.

That quote came from Kobe.

Kobe said in front of everyone:

"This will be my last season in the NBA."

As soon as this sentence came out, the whole scene went into an uproar.

Reporters all knew that Kobe was about to retire, but this decision came too suddenly!

Han Sen was also surprised when he saw the news on his mobile phone after finishing the interview.

As far as he remembered, Kobe did start his retirement tour this season.

But that was Kobe after he suffered a serious injury due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Kobe is still relatively healthy now. Last season, his level was even above most All-Star players. If not the top 5, he still has the strength to be in the top 10.

If he plays normally, Kobe should have no problem playing until he is 40 years old.

Han Sen sat down on the sidelines.

After thinking for a while, he came to his senses from his initial surprise and probably understood why Kobe said that.

For Kobe, whether he wins or loses this season, he has no reason to continue.

If they win, Kobe will have achieved 6>5, and he will have lost the biggest motivation to continue. If they lose, he will not have the nerve to continue.

Because forming an epic Big Three, just as Wade had said to Hansen, was an option with no way out.

So in this context, Kobe chose to say such words at this time, which, like Riley's previous actions, was to boost morale.

Certainly more effective than Riley's.

It seems to be saying, whether it is James or Love, listen to me: This is my last season, and it is your last chance!

It can be predicted that Kobe will be more severe and crazy than ever in the new season.

With such a Kobe facing off against the peak Curry, one can foresee how intense the sparks will be in the new Western Conference season.

However, this approach is equivalent to burning the last energy in his body, and after that, there will be no Kobe.

As an opponent who has played against each other on the field for many years, Han Sen has many feelings in his heart.

"Boss, what's wrong?" Seeing Hansen's expression, Cunningham came over and asked.

"Nothing, just remembered something." Han Sen shook his head.

He really remembered something.

Because this season is not just about Kobe. If nothing unexpected happens, the first-generation barber, whom he calls "the best player in the league", will also be having his last season.

But Duncan is different from Kobe. He is the kind of person who will "leave after the job is done", just like he did throughout his career, leaving quietly.

No, it wasn't even just Duncan.

Garnett is still on the Cavaliers, and this season should be his last.

The only difference between him and Kobe and Duncan is that he is old.

For most players, after the age of 40, unless you use technology, you really can't play anymore.

It seems that not only will the opponents in the new season be strong enough, but the last dance of these old guys will also have extra meaning.

After thinking about this, Han Sen's face did not show any sadness, but instead he was filled with a strong desire to fight.

Whether it's Kobe, Duncan, or even Garnett, they are all old-school players who fight to the last minute.

What they need is not pity, but a hearty fight.

So in such a unique season, there is no better farewell gift than to defeat them one by one!
In fact, just as Han Sen was expressing his feelings, social media was also going wild.

Although Kobe is no longer the best player in the league, fans who have long been accustomed to Kobe's presence find it difficult to accept such a result.

Many players also expressed their disbelief and regret for Kobe's choice.

Even some team officials have stated that they will hold tribute ceremonies for Kobe on the road as a farewell gift.

Kobe's career is not as legendary as Jordan's, and he even has mixed reputations because of things off the court, but judging from these reactions, he has earned the respect he deserves in this era with his performance on the court.

That is far more respect than asking others to give you.

Time flies and it is already the end of January.

NBA preseason games have come to an end.

For the Cavaliers, their biggest preseason gain is Jokic.

As a rookie, the Cavaliers management positioned Jokic as the team's third center.

Judging from Jokic's interview on media day, he probably thinks so too.

But after the preseason, he had completely squeezed out Hawes and became the first substitute in the interior.

To put it in the simplest terms, he can basically do everything that Hawes can do, and he can still do things that Hawes can't do.

To be more specific, Jokic has both the three-pointer and passing that Hawes is good at. His three-pointer is relatively weaker, but his passing is a super enhanced version.

The low-post offense that Hoyes doesn't have is also what Jokic is good at.

Of course, Jokic also exposed many problems in the preseason.

He lacks game experience now and can easily get into foul trouble.

Moreover, the quality of his pick-and-roll is not high. He often fails to block the opponent and then goes down, which puts the person with the ball into a double-team.

These problems all need to be improved through competition.

But generally speaking, after this preseason, Griffin has refreshed his understanding of Hansen's ability to "read people".

It is no exaggeration to say that no one except Hansen thought Jokic could reach this level in just one year.

The Cavaliers got him for just the 28th pick, which was basically a robbery.

After the preseason ended, the league official (Stan) ranked the strength of each team for the new season as usual.

Because of last year's experience, Han Sen no longer paid attention to this list.

It wasn't until after training that day, when he was sitting on the sidelines resting and chatting with Jokic about some pick-and-roll details, that Cunningham came over and mentioned it.

"Boss, they only ranked us fifth!" Cunningham looked indignant. The Cavaliers eliminated the Heat and reached the finals last season!
"Are we ranked so high?" Jokic's sudden remark made Hansen laugh.

Jokic is a rookie and doesn't know what happened last season, and he is not the type of person who would take the initiative to find out about those things.

"How about you guess which teams are ahead of us?" Han Sen turned around and asked.

"Please spare me." Jokic immediately raised his hands in surrender. He still had no idea which teams and which people they were on.

"Where did we rank last year?" he asked curiously.

"Tenth, because of your joining, we became fifth." Han Sen said.

Jokic was stunned by this, and then he reached out and scratched his head: "Am I that strong?"

Cunningham couldn't help but slap his forehead.

He then mentioned the four teams ahead of the Cavaliers, namely the Lakers, Heat, Warriors and Rockets.

This is actually reasonable, but...

"Bosh is healthy again?"

If Han Sen remembers correctly, Bosh should have retired directly due to blood clots, right?
"Well, we've played three preseason games and are in pretty good shape," Cunningham nodded.

Han Sen was surprised when he heard this. This was really beyond his expectations.

The Butterfly Effect?

No, it must be that his memory is distorted.

It's a career-ending illness that you can't cure by playing in a different place.

But in fact, rankings are just for fun. Last season, the team that played in the finals was the tenth-ranked Cavaliers and the twelfth-ranked Warriors.

Speaking of which, the Cavaliers' opening opponent this year is the Warriors.

Moreover, this should be the second time that Hansen witnessed the championship ring award ceremony as a non-home team player.

He at least got a ring last season, but this season, it’s real testimony, and it’s the opponent that beat them last season.

Thinking about what Green said during the championship parade last season, it really gives people a lot of motivation!

(End of this chapter)