Champion Rules

Chapter 161, Section 157: For Everyone (Seeking Monthly Tickets!) (Combined)

Grant Hill will never forget the cold stares he received from the Pistons' medical team during the millennium.

While he was suffering from a sharp pain in his ankle, the team doctor's diagnosis clearly stated that it "would not affect the game."

The Detroit media even questioned whether he was faking his injury, thinking he was a spineless coward who was shirking responsibility.

When he finally learned that his ankle was broken, he actually tasted relief amidst the excruciating pain and felt a sense of relief.

Because at least it cleared his name and proved that he wasn't a coward who faked his injury.

From then on, he always warned his teammates not to believe in the saying "minor injuries do not keep you off the front line".

His biggest regret was playing in the playoffs with an injury in 2000, which ruined his entire career.

"Never play with an injury" has become his absolute bottom line.

He would never make the same mistake twice.

Seven years after his last appearance with an injury, Grant Hill decided to do something "foolish" again, personally breaking the seal that had been sealed at the cost of his own flesh and blood.

He volunteered to play despite his injury.

He certainly knew the difference between the two.

He played with an injury for the Pistons, which was misdiagnosed and forced by public opinion.

This time, however, he chose to play himself, even though he was part of a team that wanted him to rest and recover.

This man, who had been torn apart and rebuilt by fate, resolutely chose to stand with his teammates.
In the first summer of the 21st century, he was a trapped beast pushed onto the altar; in the eighth summer of the new century, he was a warrior carrying the spark of revolution to the battlefield.

The coldness of Detroit once plunged him into an abyss, but the warmth and trust of New York are lifting him up for a phoenix-like rebirth and ultimate redemption.

He knew he wouldn't regret it, because he would eventually become part of a New York legend.

The day before G6 began, Grant Hill dressed smartly, said goodbye to his wife and daughter at 5 p.m., and drove to Lynch's restaurant in the city center.

This will be his farewell night to everyone.

Later that day, Lynch's restaurant sent the media who had been waiting there into a frenzy.

All the Knicks players are gathered here tonight, and everyone is dressed to the nines.

Sam Cassell appeared at the restaurant entrance wearing a bright red suit.

DeShawn Stevenson once politely told him, "Dude, you look no different from a normal person, it's just that your clothes are too inconspicuous."

As it turned out, the aliens actually listened to DeShawn Stevenson's polite words.

The moment he appeared, the camera flashes that had formed a galaxy went out instantly, like light bulbs that had lost power.

Apart from the National Enquirer reporter in the corner, who was as excited as if he had discovered aliens landing on Earth, no one dared to press the shutter easily.

Sam Cassel was cursing and preparing to enter the restaurant when Grant Hill arrived at the door. He was simply dressed in a gray casual suit, yet the lights flashed once again.

After Grant Hill handed the car keys to the waiter, a reporter suddenly shouted at Sam Cassel, "Hey, Sam!"

Sam Cassell was overjoyed; sure enough, there were still people in the world who appreciated his unique kind of handsomeness.

“Brother, you have great taste! Whatever pose you need me to strike, I’ll do it for you! If you like, I’ll allow you to come into the restaurant’s private room and take a set of intimate close-up photos of me!” Cassel smiled at the camera.

But he found that the reporter didn't dare to look him in the eye: "If possible, Sam, could you move a little? You're blocking Grant's camera."

Kassel:
Grant Hill walked up and put his arm around the alien's shoulder: "What a coincidence, buddy, your outfit today... uh... is quite special."

"See? I told you only someone with knowledge and culture like you could understand my outfit! None of those damn reporters understand true aesthetics!"

Upon entering the restaurant's private room, Grant Hill and Sam Cassel saw Lynch chatting amiably with an unremarkable-looking white man.

A sly smile played on the man's lips as he scribbled something rapidly on a napkin with a pen.

Upon seeing Lynch's guest arrive, he greeted him politely, then stood up and said, "I won't bother you any longer, Lynch. I'm glad you'd like to see me! Don't worry, my show will definitely not disappoint you!"

After the man left, Sam Cassel relaxed, half-reclining on the sofa in the private room: "Who was that guy? A reporter?"

“No, his name is Colin Jost, a New York native, a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in comedy, and now the head writer for NBC’s Saturday Night Live,” Lynch replied.

Of course, there's another identity Lynch didn't tell Cassel about Colin Jost: the man Kevin Durant envied and resented, who ultimately drank the sweet nectar of Kevin Durant's dream, Scarlett Johansson.

After Lynch finished answering, Sam Cassel widened his eyes, which were usually squinted into slits: "WTF? Harvard has a comedy major? Shouldn't DeShawn have gone to Harvard for a course before filming 'The Incompetent Husband'?"

Sam Cassel made a pointless joke, but Grant Hill got to the point: "You're going on his show? He just said he wouldn't let you down."

"No, no, no, I'm not going to his lousy show. Actually, it's LeBron. He promised me he'd increase LeBron's appearances on the Saturday Night Live parody segment. The whole world knows I love LeBron, so I'm definitely not going to pass up this opportunity to make him famous."

Grant Hill shook his head with a smile; he could already imagine how badly LBJ was going to fare.

Spoof News is a comedy show with a lot of risqué content. Colin Jost himself appears on camera, and he and his partner Seth Meyers play news anchors, telling jokes and anecdotes about current events in the style of news broadcasting.

In other words, people will often see similar pranks on television in the future:
"The first news of the week: LeBron James is about to make a run for his third individual honor. He previously won the 'Words Contradictory Actions' award and the 'Longest Walk for a Layup' award."

What could Grant Hill say? This man even takes time out of his busy schedule at the team dinner to arrange comedy shows for his arch-rival. Lynch really cares about his nemesis.

After finishing his conversation with Colin, Lynch's gaze returned to Grant Hill, the earlier mockery gone from his eyes.

"how does it feel?"

Grant Hill deliberately jumped up: "I've never felt this good before. I feel like I could shatter the rim over Tony Parker. If Gregg Popovich still dares to let that French kid guard me one-on-one, the New York Post's headline tomorrow will be '40-point veteran buries the Silver and Black Army.'"

Just as Grant Lynch was about to say something, the rest of the Knicks players entered the private room.

Lynch swallowed back what he wanted to say. He watched Grant Hill hug everyone, and everyone wished him a happy life after retirement.

Grant Hill chatted with everyone about his aspirations for retirement, but for a few seconds at a time, the reluctance in his eyes betrayed him.

For a basketball player, retirement means that a part of him dies.

Why hasn't Beethoven released a new album? Because he retired from the world of science and technology.

Once a professional athlete retires from the sport, it's equivalent to leaving the biosphere.

Therefore, Grant Hill will definitely be reluctant to part with it.

From being hailed as Jordan's successor in 1994 to now being a veteran talking about retirement, saying goodbye to the past 13 years is never an easy thing.

However, a player is not completely gone as long as he is still remembered.

Reggie Miller will live on forever in the hearts of Pacers fans. Even 20 years after his retirement, young Pacers players will still pay tribute to his chokehold celebration, reminding people of him immediately.

Willis Reed will live on forever in the hearts of New York fans, even though his glory days are more than 30 years in the past.

As Lynch gazed at the man who had helped him bring back Stephon Marbury, helped him adapt to the NBA, and helped him win a championship, he wished time could stand still.

But this is obviously impossible; no one can fight against time.

The only thing Lynch could do was to make Grant Hill a legend with a well-deserved Game 6 of the Finals.

Before dinner began, everyone looked at Lynch, waiting for him to speak.

Lynch picked up the glass of juice and turned to Grant Hill.

"Homage to New York! Homage to Trevor, who led us out of the Brooklyn tunnel; homage to Grant, who left the last bullet for San Antonio; homage to everyone who branded their soul onto the floor of Madison Square Garden—for everyone, we must win tomorrow night's game!"

With a crisp clink of glasses, Grant Hill tilted his head back and downed the liquid in his glass. As the sweet and sour citrus aroma washed over his taste buds, he vaguely saw his entire career flash before his eyes. Just like this juice, tart, but sweet overall.

"Let champagne rain down on Fifth Avenue!" Grant Hill's roar made the crystal chandelier tremble slightly; in his thirty-four-year-old body, the blood of a twenty-year-old was boiling.
-
On the day Game 6 began, at Madison Square Garden, many MSG staff members were carrying champagne into the Knicks' locker room.

Spurs player Robert Horry witnessed the scene, and staff members even whistled and joked with him, saying, "Big-hearted Robert, can you help us out? There are plenty more outside."

Robert Horry was furious, and the whole of New York acted as if Game 6 wasn't a game, but Lynch's coronation.

Back in the locker room, Robert Horry shared the incident with his teammates.

It's easy to imagine how furious the entire Spurs team was. Tony Parker yelled, "We're going to make them bring out cases of champagne and into our locker room again!"

Maurice Peterson waved his arms, saying, "Let them sit here in their own stadium, staring at the champagne filling the locker room!"

Both teams entered the final battle with an unwavering determination to win. As the two teams began warming up, major media outlets received the official match rosters for tonight's game, as well as an even more surprising piece of news.

Then, media outlets around the world reported on the same thing in various languages:

Grant Hill has confirmed he will play in Game 6 of the Finals with pain-relieving injections, and he has also confirmed that this will be the last season of his professional career!

This desperate decision caught all the media and fans off guard.

This further shrouded the entire Spurs coaching staff in a somber atmosphere.

Gregg Popovich watched Grant Hill take a jump shot in the other half of the court, clutching his clipboard tightly.

He didn't expect that the guy whose ankle was already shattered would choose to play with pain-relieving injections.

Although Grant Hill's big contract expires this summer, he is fully capable of signing another contract given his current level of play.

Even though he can only earn a middle-class salary at best now, the contract amount is still a considerable sum.

Who would have thought that Grant Hill would choose to burn himself out completely for this year's championship?

The Spurs coaching staff initially thought that losing Grant Hill would greatly limit the Knicks' offense, giving the team an advantage.

But now, all the advantages they had imagined over the past two days have vanished under Grant Hill's unwavering gaze.

Before the game began, Grant Hill made his final appearance amidst cheers during the starting lineup introductions.

When the referee signaled for both teams to come closer, Grant Hill bent down and kissed the New York Knicks logo.

Although his time in New York was short, there is no doubt that it was the place that held the best part of his career.

New York fans applauded and chanted "Thank you, Grant," much like the scene on the night Reggie Miller retired.

Willis Reed watched Grant Hill get up again and stood up to applaud him as well.

At that moment, he firmly believed that the New York Knicks would win the championship tonight.

Grant Hill's injection of energy into the team is enough to make the Knicks upset anyone.

The limping figure of the player in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals perfectly overlaps with the number 33 on the court.

He knew perfectly well that Grant Hill didn't actually need to put on a great performance.

As long as he's on the field, this team is unbeatable.

Lin Qi won the first possession, and the game officially began.

In the first round, Lynch was double-teamed on the wing, and the Spurs planned to test Grant Hill's form first.

He was playing with an injury, so he might not be able to perform as well as when he was healthy.

Facing a double team, Lynch passed the ball to Grant Hill, who calmly took a mid-range shot from half a step beyond the free-throw line.

The floor of Madison Square Garden shook the moment the basketball swished through the net.

"This is practically a replay of 1970! Willis came back to the court with an injured leg and scored over the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar! Tonight, Grant almost started the game the same way!" Mike Breen watched Grant Hill pump his fist and cheered with the fans.

Tonight is both the cruelest farewell and the most magnificent rebirth!
Grant Hill's outstanding performance made the Knicks' game incredibly smooth. His presence created a gap on the Spurs' wing, allowing Lynch to unleash his firepower without restraint.

That's his value, that's why he had to make a comeback.

But the San Antonio Spurs also bear the mission of continuing the dynasty.

Manu Ginobili and Robert Horry both played exceptionally well today, allowing the Spurs to keep pace with Lynch through their offense.

The score was close, and the closer it got, the more frustrated Gregg Popovich became.

If Grant Hill doesn't get the injections, and if he can't help Lynch tear apart the wing, then Lynch is destined for a tough fight tonight.

With Manu Ginobili and Robert Horry in excellent form, the Spurs are sure to secure a big win at Madison Square Garden.

But now, thanks to Grant Hill's presence, the Spurs, despite playing so well, are only managing a stalemate with the Knicks.

Popovich gritted his teeth. That damn number 33 made the game even more difficult, but he couldn't ruin the night!
The intensity of the match was similar to the previous ones, with both sides' defensive intensity making the game incredibly sluggish.

But for Spurs and Knicks fans, it was an absolutely fantastic game.

With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Knicks trailed by five points after Manu Ginobili hit a step-back three-pointer over the defense.

Philip Sanders paused the game, and Willis Reed in the front row glanced at Lynch on the bench and saw his chest heaving violently.

Lynch probably has the best physical condition of all the players on the court, but he also expended the most energy tonight.

On the defensive end, when facing Duncan and Parker's pick-and-roll, he needs to contain both of the Spurs' aces at the same time.

On offense, he needs to generate a lot of shots. Grant Hill can only help him create defensive gaps, but gaps alone aren't enough to score. Even if a woman spreads her legs wide, you still need to be strong enough yourself.

Lynch had to keep scoring like crazy, so once his offensive momentum stalled, the team's offensive pace came to a standstill.

Lynch has been carrying this team on his shoulders for an entire season, and Willis Reed knows better than anyone the physical and mental exhaustion he's experiencing.

He can't stop playing on the field for even a moment.

The weight of defending the title was too heavy, as if a huge dark cloud was pressing down on this 21-year-old who had just become the MVP.

Willis Reed himself was ultimately overwhelmed by these things in 1971. What about Lynch?

Greg Popovich knew Lynch was exhausted, so he waved his arms wildly: "Never stop fighting that bastard!"

In the final moments of the match, the intensity of the physical battle between the two sides increased rather than decreased.

The San Antonio Spurs maintained a slim lead, but with time running out, those leads began to fray. The Knicks' championship celebration could very well end in an embarrassing fashion.

With 1 minute and 03 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Lynch set a screen for Grant Hill, who drove straight into the paint and drew a foul from Ben Wallace.

Grant Hill lay on the ground, his ankle swollen beyond recognition.

He couldn't imagine how much damage his already injured ankle had become.

Lynch walked up to Grant Hill and held out his hand: "Almost there!"

Grant Hill grabbed Lynch's hand and stood up again, the sharp pain in his ankle bringing the defenses built up by the injections to the brink of collapse.

As Hill stepped onto the free-throw line, he saw the black jerseys of the San Antonio players transform into a surging undercurrent, ready to engulf the month-long celebration brewing in this steel jungle, threatening to devour New York's night of victory.

Grant Hill took a deep breath. He knew his free throws wouldn't kill the game. But every one he made relieved the pressure on Lynch. He remembered Coach K's advice from over a decade ago: "You have a goal, you pursue it relentlessly, you have to push yourself to the point of vulnerability, giving it your all. Then, embrace success."

He's always done it this way in New York!
The entire Spurs team hoped that the guy with the ankle injury would make a mistake, but things didn't go as planned, and Grant Hill made both free throws!

When the score difference was reduced to 3 points, Gregg Popovich cursed under his breath on the sidelines.

Grant Hill has scored 14 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists so far today. His stats are not amazing, but they are like a thorn in the side of the Spurs.

Although not fatal, it caused pain with every breath of the Silver Legion.

After Grant Hill finished his free throws, he high-fived Lynch, followed by a frenzied chant from the New York fans: "Defense! Defense! Defense!"

The pick-and-roll between Tony Parker and Tim Duncan came down again. Just like countless times in this series, Lynch first blocked Parker's drive, and then quickly got back into position when Parker passed the ball to Duncan.

This couldn't completely shut down the Spurs' pick-and-roll, but it undoubtedly reduced Duncan and Parker's output and efficiency.

The moment Parker passed the ball, Lynch lunged at Duncan once again.

But Duncan's 45° backboard shot still went in, and the cheers of the New York fans faded away, leaving Lynch with only his own heavy breathing.

That's the most agonizing part of the playoffs; even if you give it your all, you might not get the reward.

With 51 seconds left in the game, the Spurs were still leading by 5 points.

All the fans in New York were focused, waiting for a comeback and a miracle.

But Lynch couldn't even maintain position in this offensive play; Tim Duncan's half-fronting made it difficult for the already exhausted Lynch to move.

Seeing this, Marbury chose to attack himself. He called for Tyson Chandler to set a screen, drove into the paint, and made a floater that narrowly cleared Ben Wallace's fingers before falling into the net.

After scoring, Marbury looked up to the sky and roared: "For everyone!"

The New Yorkers' son gave the Knicks a hand, but the defending champions are still on the brink of elimination.

With 42 seconds left, the Spurs, leading by 3 points, began stalling for time.

Tony Parker calmly controlled the ball beyond the three-point line, and they were bound to play the entire 24-second shot clock.

Even if they miss this shot, the Spurs will still maintain a 3-point lead with 18 seconds left. So every second that passes is like a rivet being driven into the Knicks' coffin.

With eight seconds left in the offensive possession, the Spurs' offensive gears began to mesh.

Tony Parker was about to run a pick-and-roll with Duncan, pulling Lynch out, but then suddenly passed the ball to Manu Ginobili, who had already torn through the defense and cut in!

Manu Ginobili, who has already scored 28 points tonight, is the Spurs' strongest offensive weapon, and Lynch is no longer able to get back to the paint.

Just as the silver and black blade was about to cleave New York's throat, Tyson Chandler pushed aside Ben Wallace and came to the basket to help defend at the last second, swatting away the Argentine's layup with his long arms!
The tall center, who had just joined the Knicks last fall and was diagnosed with depression, pumped his fists and roared with all his might.

The creed of "for everyone" shone brightly at this moment, and every Knicks player tried to drag the team forward a little bit more, and then a little bit more.

From Grant Hill playing with an injury to Tyson Chandler fighting hard on defense, everyone is actually trying their best to do one thing—not to let the pressure of defending the title fall entirely on Lynch's shoulders.

The game was paused, and Philip Sanders devised a three-point play, which Lynch executed himself.

But the game had just begun, and Grant Hill had barely gotten the ball when Popovich used a tactical foul to cut off the Knicks' chance to tie the score.

The Spurs would rather give the Knicks two free throws than let them easily execute a play.

Even if the Knicks make both free throws, the Spurs still hold a one-point lead – with only a dozen seconds left in the game, a one-point lead is enough to crush the defending champions and force a Game 7.

If the Knicks want to gain possession of the ball, they must also commit tactical fouls against the Spurs.

The game is likely to end with both sides constantly taking free throws and the Knicks trailing by 1-3 points.

The do-or-die battle was dragged into the most brutal free-throw hell.

"Damn it!" Flip Sanders cursed, all his previous plans had been rendered useless by Popovich's tactical foul.

Grant Hill stepped up to the free-throw line again, and the spotlight was on him.

He understood that these might be the two most crucial free throws of his career.

Before taking the free throw, he took several deep breaths.

The first shot bounced off the front edge of the rim and soared high. Just when all the New York fans were filled with despair, the ball, falling a second time, nestled into the net.

"Grant Hill hasn't missed! He hasn't made a mistake at the free-throw line today! But right now, the pressure of a free throw is completely different from regular time. Can Grant withstand the pressure and make his second shot?" Mike Breen's palms were sweaty; he couldn't even imagine what it would be like to stand at the free-throw line himself.

Then, Grant Hill took the second free throw. The moment he released the shot, the area under the basket had become a battleground, with players from both sides roughly jostling and colliding, trying to grab the rebound.

The basketball went into the pocket without any problem.

"Goal! Grant Hill makes both free throws, narrowing the gap to just one point! This man, repeatedly scarred by fate, refuses to be controlled by destiny in the final moments of his career! He's taking control of his own destiny! At this moment, who can still say that Grant Hill's contract is a garbage contract!?"

The roar at Madison Square Garden was already incredible, but the Knicks players did not celebrate.

Because they were still down by one point, and the Spurs had no timeouts available.

Gregg Popovich didn't want to call a timeout, and didn't want to give the Knicks a chance to disrupt the inbounds pass.

His strategy was to have the players take a quick baseline pass, and as long as they held onto the ball firmly, they would be invincible.

However, things didn't go as planned. The New York Knicks immediately started a full-court press the moment Hill made the free throw, not giving the Spurs a chance to quickly inbound the ball.

Ben Wallace stuck to his quick kickoff strategy and hastily passed the ball out, which was a fatal mistake.

The basketball flew towards Manu Ginobili, but Eddie Jones was right next to him.

All night long, Eddie Jones and DeShawn Stevenson became the backdrop for the great forging of the Demon Blade.

But now, Eddie Jones has the opportunity to make Argentina pay the price.

He used his stronger physique to push past Ginobili and take the basketball that Ben Wallace had passed to him.

Ben Wallace's heart skipped a beat. He knew this could very well be the biggest mistake of his entire career.

"Eddie steals the ball! The New York Knicks regain possession with 15 seconds left! Eddie doesn't rush the attack; he dribbles the ball to the three-point line and passes it to Stephen! Great steal, great defense! Great New York Knicks!"

Michael Pietrus stared at the television, listening to Mike Brin's commentary, and only then did he understand why he had been traded.

Because he was completely wrong.

These veterans, earning millions annually, did not hide behind him. They did not want to occupy the team's salary cap space but be unable to contribute to the fight against salary criticism. They were already doing their best to burn themselves out.

However, due to their age, they are mostly dull and lackluster.

But their brilliance will always pierce the night sky at some point.

The score was 87-88, and with 13 seconds left, the air was compressed into a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Sam Cassell frantically waved his towel; he had a premonition that in another ten seconds or so, he would successfully defend his title.

Stephon Marbury calmly controlled the ball. At this moment, the Spurs dared not resort to fouling tactics anymore, because they were only leading by 1 point.

Having had a chance to catch his breath in the previous rounds, Lynch was now in the low position and was indeed exhausted. However, the support from his teammates and Willis Reed's words, "Just one more round," allowed him to unleash his full power in this round.

Lynch, having secured his position, easily received the ball. Stephon Marbury's excellent understanding with Lynch meant he almost never made a mistake in feeding him the ball.

Willis Reed's eyes widened. In the final moments of 1971, the position he couldn't get from Wes Unseld, Lynch got.

The usually taciturn Duncan decided to put pressure on Lynch at this moment, his deep voice echoing in Lynch's ear: "We'll have someone move your damn champagne to the Spurs' locker room."

The Stone Buddha's calm and steady voice gives the impression that he is stating a fact that is bound to happen, which often creates a stronger sense of intimidation.

Lynch ignored him, simply pushing Duncan aside and, with Ben Wallace's help defense, turning and hooking his arm.

At this moment, what Lin Qi is holding in his hands is not just a basketball.

This is what New York hopes for.

This is the possibility that Grant Hill could become a legend.

It was a promise to Kevin Lucas on the sidelines.

This is an explanation to all the teammates who fought to the very end.

The stadium's spotlights illuminated Lynch's entire body, and New York fans held their breath in tension. Could this be a ray of hope?

Ben Wallace's defensive support was incredibly fast and tight; he wanted to salvage everything he had just lost.

But Lynch's hook shot remained soft and composed.

He didn't have superpowers, but with the support of his teammates, he felt like a superhero.

He was confident he could score; he felt invincible.

Tim Duncan could predict the trajectory of the basketball; he knew it was all over.

For most of the game, the San Antonio Spurs maintained a lead.

Unfortunately, in this final round, all their efforts were in vain.

At this moment, as the Sports Illustrated cover says, he understands the weight of the phrase "one step away" better than anyone else.

"Lynch, turnaround hook shot at the last second." Mike Breen stared at the basketball, which kissed the backboard along the trajectory he had memorized a million times, and fell into the net under the red warning light. "Bang! Game over! Lynch's third career game-winning shot in the final seconds has secured the New York Knicks' second championship of the 21st century! The New York Knicks have achieved their first successful title defense in franchise history! The starlight of the King of New York shines on this land!"

Amidst the white waves of the basketball net, all thirty-eight subway lines in New York City sounded their horns simultaneously. Cars on the road came to a stop, drivers opened their doors and rushed into the streets, embracing and cheering.

Lynch turned around and put his hand on the Stone Buddha's shoulder: "No one can take away our champagne, Tim. If you want some, you're welcome to come to our locker room. I can give you a few bottles, but you can't keep everything for yourself."

The next second, Lin Qi was engulfed by the excited crowd.

Gregg Popovich covered his head with his hands, unable to believe that the seemingly invincible Spurs would be pierced by Lynch at the last moment.

Ben Wallace kicked the ball away, and that mistake just seconds before will become a nightmare that haunts him for years to come.

Philip Sanders ran all over the court and once again lost his shoe.

Willis Reed wiped his eyes, looking at the white net trembling beneath the basket. The devastating night of 1971 had found its redemption across time.

Grant Hill did not participate in the celebration. He limped to the bench and sat down, watching the confetti fall on Lynch's shoulders, and gave a tired smile.

It burned out, completely burned out.

When the adrenaline subsided, Grant Hill even found it difficult to stand up.

But all of this was meaningful; at least those four free throws at the end helped Lynch a little.

At that moment, Grant Hill’s wife and daughter walked up to her.

His smile grew even brighter, and he tried his best to stand up and embrace his pregnant wife and child.

"It's over, it's all over. Ending my career this way doesn't seem so bad."

Mira looked at her father's swollen ankle and tears streamed down her face. "Dad, does your foot hurt?"

Not at all, Mira, do you want to ride on my shoulders?

"No! Daddy is already very tired!"

Sam Cassell appeared beside Grant Hill, laughing and revealing a mouthful of fangs: "How about I carry you, okay?"

Mira cried.

Perhaps it was because the little girl was heartbroken for her father.

Twenty minutes later, Lynch and Willis Reed received the heavy Larry O'Brien Trophy from David Stern.

Lynch kept his promise and allowed Willis Reed to join the awards ceremony.

Willis Reed looked at the trophy, tears streaming down his face.

He loves the team, and the inability to help it successfully defend its title has been tormenting him; he feels he owes the New York Knicks something.

Now, he can rest easy. Because he knows that defending the title is no longer a disappointment for New York fans.

The host then handed the microphone to Grant Hill, who had just finished the last game of his professional career.

Three years ago, when this guy, who had come all the way from Orlando and hadn't played well for several seasons, first appeared at Madison Square Garden, fans were more skeptical of him than anything else. People were unsure whether this battered and bruised player could contribute to New York.

Three years later, when Grant Hill, holding the microphone, choked up as he waved goodbye to the audience, Madison Square Garden was filled with shouts of "One more year!"

Of course, Grant Hill won't be coming back for another year.

He had made a promise to his family, and he had no regrets.

When David Stern handed the Finals MVP to Lynch, the entire New York fanbase seemed to have their vocal cords destroyed.

At that moment, Lynch became the first player since Hakeem Olajuwon to win the MVP, Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and two All-NBA First Teams in a single season.

This is a dazzling season of individual honors and a grand slam!
What's frightening is that Lin Qi was only 21 years old when he accomplished all of this.

But Lynch did not boast about achieving such a terrifying honor. Compared to when he won the MVP award, Lynch's FMVP acceptance speech was very brief, consisting of only one sentence.

For everyone!

Amidst the cheers of New York fans that were destined to last all summer, the Knicks walked into the player tunnel, ending a difficult but glorious season.

David Stern foresaw that Lynch's peak had not yet truly arrived.

He will create even more great things in this era.

He will, like MJ, promote the sport and the NBA reality show to all parts of the world.

This boy, who aspires to wear a crown, is now as radiant as the starry sky.

David Stern firmly believes that these two championships are just the prologue to the legendary career of number 20.
-
I have no regrets. I'm so glad I was able to help Lynch defend his title as a starter. Now, I'll spend more time with my wife and kids, and see the world. Thank God, thank New York, thank Lynch, I feel there's nothing more perfect than the end of my career. — Grant Hill, holding a bottle of champagne during an interview.

"It's a shame you'll never see 'The Incompetent Husband' again. But if a company invites me to film 'The Incompetent Husband's Boss,' I'll consider it. Of course, my salary won't be low; after all, I'm a champion player!" — DeShawn Stevenson told the reporter, slightly drunk.

We believed from the start of the season that we could defend our title. Yes, we're old, and our overall talent isn't the best in the league. But we have a championship heart. This isn't some abstract concept; it's what helped the Houston Rockets miraculously win the championship in 1995, and it's brought the Knicks to the title this time. In my opinion, the most important indicator of whether a team has a championship heart is whether it has a great leader. I'm fortunate to have worked with two great leaders. —Sam Cassell, with an abstract expression that was hard to decipher—a mixture of laughter and tears—during the interview.

"Right now, I just want to rest, enjoy my vacation, and experience the wonder of being the king of the world," Lynch told reporters, wearily holding his trophy.

Although Lynch won his second NBA championship, LeBron James was the biggest winner this summer. Lynch worked incredibly hard to win, while Grant Hill, after playing such a perfect game, chose to retire, allowing LBJ to effortlessly solidify his position as the second-best small forward in the Eastern Conference. — Colin Jost's satirical news program.

(Thank you so much to the generous donors like Hu Yan's Ramblings, I'm extremely grateful!)
(I finished writing about winning the championship in one go today, updating with 10,000 words in one go. Still reducing chapters but not output.)

(End of this chapter)