Champion Rules

Chapter 217, Section 213: The Knicks' Foundation, Rock Solid (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Dwyane Wade stared at the court, his face filled with disbelief.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, he shook his head and clapped.

His pre-game prediction was correct; Kobe Bryant, that fiercely competitive guy, wouldn't give up.

But he didn't expect that Lin Qi would use such an explosive method to forcefully kill Black Mamba.

45分17个篮板6次助攻2次抢断3次封盖。

Lynch put up incredibly impressive stats in Game 6 of the Finals.

Such a stunning performance in the Finals was only seen in Shaquille O'Neal at his peak in the early 2000s.

How can you suppress your opponent's almost frantic counterattack in Game 6? Lynch's answer is simple and brutal: brute force will bring miracles.

Verbal encouragement has limited effect? ​​Then score points!

Are your teammates demoralized and getting depressed? Then deliver a big block!

Are your opponents riding high on their comeback from a desperate situation? Then let them not get a single rebound!
Whether dealing with a man or a woman, when verbal skills fail, the simplest and most brutal physical methods are often the most effective.

Lynch used the simplest and most direct method to lead the Knicks through the toughest night of the Finals.

The moment the game ended, Lynch raised his arms high.

Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett, who was completely outmatched by him in overtime, could only collapse to the ground, utterly exhausted, and cover his dejected face with his hands.

Countless reporters pressed their shutters, capturing this stark and impactful scene.

This scene will surely remind countless people of 2004, when Kevin Garnett led his team to victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals with an astonishing stat line of 32 points, 21 rebounds, 4 steals, and 5 blocks. He proudly raised his arms and looked down at Chris Webber, who was lying in pain at his feet.

Just five years later, the cycle of fate struck unexpectedly.

The once-spirited Wolf King exhausted all his strength in overtime, but still could not stop the New York No. 20 from completely crushing him and shattering his championship dream with the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant didn't forget to hug Lynch, even though that man shattered his dream of building a second dynasty.

“You’re right,” Kobe patted Lynch on the back, his face devoid of any smile. “Second place is the fucking number one loser. Congratulations, this summer belongs to you.”

After Kobe finished speaking, he turned and left, but left behind the words: "Next year, it will be my turn to let you taste the taste of a dynasty collapsing."

Kobe accepted the loss gracefully, but that didn't mean he was giving up. He knew perfectly well that his rivalry with Lynch would continue for years to come.

Every year, a new champion is crowned in the NBA, and every year there is a new winner. Therefore, winning just one competition doesn't mean anything.

To become the best player of this era, or even the best in history, you must completely dominate your opponents.

If you can't name a single rival who completely overwhelms you throughout your entire career, what right do you have to call yourself the GOAT?

For Kobe, the competition is far from over unless Lynch completely and undeniably dominates him.

Lynch admired Kobe's indomitable spirit, but in the midst of the victory celebration, he had no time to bid farewell to his opponent.

Soon, Lin Qi was overwhelmed by his teammates who swarmed forward.

He didn't know who put the champion's hat on his head, who jumped onto his back, or who stuffed the cigar that symbolized glory into his hand.

All he could see was the roar of cheers from the entire arena, and he was certain of one thing: he had taken a solid first step on his second attempt to break the dynasty.

As the revelry subsided, Patrick Ewing walked over to Lynch and personally lit his victory cigar for him.

Lynch took a deep breath, the dark red flames burning brightly, reflected in the eyes of Dwyane Wade watching from the sidelines, who was mesmerized.

This is a glory that only the victor deserves; everyone else can only look up to it with envy at this moment.

Looking around Madison Square Garden, engulfed in chaos, Lynch felt a strange peace within him—a peace that was exactly what he had been striving for.
Bring victory to the team and glory to the city.

Let his fans cheer wildly, and let the efforts of his teammates who fought side by side finally be rewarded.

Lynch's gaze shifted to Ewing, the legend who had once been snubbed by New Yorkers, who was now staring blankly at the staff setting up the awards stage, as if his soul had left his body.

“You’ll be standing on that podium soon,” Lynch said to him with a smile. “Want to lift the championship trophy yourself? Join us.”

Patrick Ewing waved his hand: "No, this is your glory. I haven't even played a minute of the game."

“But you’re at the training facility every morning at eight o’clock to set up the plan,” Lynch retorted immediately, his words clear and forceful. “You taught Tyson and DeAndre true defense. Every round you fought against them on the court far surpassed any other center in the league’s ‘lessons’ they received. Your training shirts were soaked with sweat, and every inch of the arena floor bore the mark of your efforts. Patrick, a championship isn’t won by one person, nor does it belong solely to these dozen or so players on the court. You are an integral part of this championship.”

Patrick Ewing smiled, but his attitude remained firm: "This honor belongs to you alone, under the watchful eyes of the world."

Soon, amidst deafening cheers of "MVP," Lynch stepped onto the awards stage.

NBA Commissioner David Stern was beaming, seemingly even more excited than the newly crowned champions. This year's Finals set new records for the 21st century: viewership surpassed 15 points for the first time, and the number of viewers nationwide exceeded 2000 million for the first time.

Although this is still significantly less than the phenomenal 18.7 rating and nearly 3000 million viewers of the 1998 Finale, David Stern firmly believes that this is undoubtedly a promising start.

The facts clearly prove that the league did not make a mistake in choosing its star player – Lynch's strong appeal, combined with the influence of the New York and Chinese markets, is propelling the NBA back into the global spotlight.

What can stop this alliance from continuing to thrive?
Unless a slightly sarcastic thought flashes through his mind—unless three All-NBA superstars in their twenties, in their prime, deliberately team up this summer, turning the league's competitive spirit into a complete joke.

Otherwise, nothing can stop the NBA's path to revival.

Of course, in David Stern's view, such an absurd thing was absolutely impossible.

It's possible that teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, composed of veteran players, will emerge in the league.

It's also possible for a Big Three lineup to emerge, similar to the Miami Heat, through skillful team management.

But why would three superstars in their prime choose to join forces instead of competing with each other?

Who the hell would be so shameless?

The moment Lynch accepted the Finals MVP trophy, he became the only dominant player in history to have two Grand Slam seasons – compared to his Grand Slam in 2007, Lynch added a scoring title and an All-Star MVP trophy this season.

He has already become a symbol of an era, and now, all he needs is a winning streak to make himself eternal in history.

While Lynch's words do have merit—the coaching staff is also an indispensable part of a championship team—Ewing believes that the real protagonists under the spotlight are always the players who fight hard on the field.

He didn't want to steal the spotlight from the players on camera.

Back in the locker room, Lynch skillfully led everyone in spraying champagne wildly.

Steve Nash and Raja Bell were particularly flamboyant.

He was usually extremely self-disciplined and had an elegant demeanor.

He was usually prickly and not close to any of his teammates.

But tonight, they displayed an extreme contrast.

Driven by the championship trophy, the two guys also started to "pose and flaunt themselves".

Champagne sprayed everywhere, and besides Steve Nash, Raja Bell's most concentrated champagne spray was directed at Ben Gordon. The past rifts had long since vanished; now, only complete mutual acceptance and shared joy of victory remained between the two.

DeAndre Jordan shouted as he drank heavily, "You'll all regret it, I'm a championship center now!"

DeShawn Stevenson, standing beside him, seized the opportunity to taunt, "Watch your words! You're a substitute championship center!"

General Manager Sam Presti had something to discuss with Lynch, but seeing the jubilant atmosphere in the locker room, he decided to postpone it. He didn't want to spoil this hard-won, wonderful moment.

For a team's general manager, the champagne is barely gone when they have to face a harsh problem: player turnover.

Currently, the Knicks face the risk of losing at least two key players.

Ben Gordon was the first to be affected; last summer, Sam Presti had signed him as a mercenary on a one-year contract.

Although he has not made an official statement, the market is already buzzing with anticipation.

Small-market teams like the Charlotte Bobcats, Sacramento Kings, and Milwaukee Bucks, which struggle to attract superstars, have historically been keen to offer near-max contracts to players like Ben Gordon, who, while not top-tier superstars, possess near-All-Star caliber talent.

Since the Knicks do not have Ben Gordon's "Bird rights" and cannot ignore the salary cap to force him to stay, New York is destined to find it difficult to continue working with him.

Team owner James Dolan was deeply dissatisfied with this, believing that the NBA's salary cap rules were not as flexible as the "money can buy" model in European basketball.

He once complained to Sam Presti: "Monogamy and the wage cap are simply a step backward in human development!"

But no matter how dissatisfied he was, he had no choice but to accept the rule.

If Ben Gordon's departure was somewhat expected, then Sam Presti is almost certain that Lynch would be surprised by the news that Trevor Ariza might leave.

The Knicks have Ariza's Bird rights and are fully capable of re-signing him above the salary cap.

But that's on the condition that he's willing to stay.

According to Sam Presti, both the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers are willing to offer Trevor Ariza a long-term contract worth approximately 5 years and $3500 million.

The Knicks certainly have the ability to match this offer, and James Dolan will not be stingy with the team's starting forward.

But the core issue isn't salary; the key point is that both teams have promised Trevor Ariza a key player status and role.

They believe this young, agile striker is more than just an excellent workhorse winger; they want to take another hit on this lottery ticket that hasn't been fully cashed in yet.

Which player could refuse the opportunity to become the core of a team? Young Trevor Ariza was clearly no exception.

The departures of Trevor Ariza and Ben Gordon will inevitably impact the team's immediate competitiveness.

No one can ignore Ben Gordon's scoring prowess on numerous occasions in the playoffs, and Trevor Ariza's ubiquitous defensive impact is equally irreplaceable.

If they really leave, who will fill the void in these two key positions for the Knicks?

Then there's the 09 draft, how will Sam Presti get the players Lynch wants when his draft position isn't ideal?

Thinking about this, Sam Presti felt a headache coming on.

Business leagues never give a professional general manager a chance to breathe; they are constantly running and will not stop because of a champion.

But tonight, Sam Presti tried his best to suppress these worries, unwilling to disturb this hard-won, pure moment of joy in the locker room.

Just as he was lost in thought, Lin Qi walked over with a smile, holding a bottle of champagne that had just been shaken.

“No!” Sam Presti instantly understood Lynch’s intention and instinctively resisted. “Don’t mess with Lynch, I…”

Before he could finish speaking, the icy champagne sprayed down on his face, soaking him completely.

"What do you mean, 'you'? You also deserve credit. Thank you for rebuilding the team for me last summer."

Sam Presti shook his head with a smile: "If you really want to thank me, don't make me look so embarrassed."

"Disheveled?" Lynch raised an eyebrow, swirling the champagne in his hand. "You ungrateful bastard, I bet if we let Dwayne join us right now, he'd be so happy he'd strip naked on the spot!"

"Don't dream about it, Dwayne isn't that kind of person," Sam Presti laughed. "Join them if you can't beat them? What kind of talk is that?"

Their laughter echoed in the air filled with champagne bubbles.

Lynch's gaze swept across the noise and landed in the corner. Patrick Ewing was holding the O'Brien Trophy alone, handling it with the care of a rare treasure, and finally, a gentle kiss landed on the rim of the trophy.

He didn't want to steal the spotlight from the players under the spotlight; he wasn't a performer chasing after the camera. Therefore, he declined Lynch's offer and didn't touch the trophy during the awards ceremony.

But the deep-seated desire for the championship has never cooled down in the slightest.

Tonight, he finally got what he wanted.

Seeing this, Lynch's lips curled into a relieved smile as he turned to Presti:

"Sam, it feels great. It's such a huge sense of accomplishment to make sure that everyone who follows me, whether it's my teammates, coaching staff, or other personnel, gets what they deserve. It makes me feel like I'm doing a pretty good job as a leader."

“You have this innate sense of responsibility, which is our good fortune,” Sam Presti responded sincerely. “It makes our burden much lighter.”

Sam Presti's anxiety strangely subsided.

Yes, regardless of future personnel changes or lineup adjustments.

As long as the New York Knicks continue to advance under Lynch's banner, and as long as the greatest leader of this basketball hall of fame remains in charge, then there is nothing to worry about ahead.

The Knicks' foundation is as solid as a rock.

"Hey, Lynch!" A shout cut through the noise. It was a Sports Illustrated reporter who had been granted permission to enter the locker room. "Would it be convenient to move to the physiotherapy room? We need to take a few photos of you alone."

Lynch nodded in agreement, then turned to Presti: "Do you have any cigars, Sam? Mine's soaked in champagne."

“Of course,” Sam Presti smiled, took out a cigar, and skillfully lit it for Lynch. “Your wish is your command.”

Lin Qi followed the reporters to the treatment room, shaking hands with each of them who were waiting. The door closed gently behind him, shutting out the revelry inside the locker room.

Sam Presti stood there, his gaze fixed on the closed door, a strong sense of déjà vu striking him instantly.

This is very similar to the ending of the first "Godfather" movie, where Kay Adams stands outside the door watching the new Godfather, Michael Corleone, turn and walk into his own domain.

The door closed, separating the two worlds.

This also heralded the birth of a new ruler.
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If I absolutely have to compare myself to other players, I'd like to compare myself to Lynch; he's the kind of player I'd be willing to compare myself to. — Kobe Bryant's post-game press conference commenting on Lynch's Finals performance.

It's all my fault, but I'm not dead yet, the old guard's counterattack will continue. But seriously, Lynch was amazing, he completely dominated me tonight. —Kevin Garnett on being blown out by Lynch in overtime.

I thought we still had a chance, but that's basketball, guys. We have to admit, we faced a terrifyingly dominant opponent. — Jason Kidd on Lynch's record-breaking 17-point performance in overtime after the game-tying moment.

Without a doubt, they are fully qualified to compete with the 96 Bulls for the title of the most dominant team in history. — Phil Jackson praising the 09 Knicks.

"Lynch, how would you rate this unparalleled season?"

“We have been reborn, we are younger and more energetic. Most importantly, we have completely shaken off the shadow of failure in just one year.”

"You know, there are three teams with 60 wins in the East this year, and one in the West. In this competitive and talented league, do you think it's more difficult to win a three-peat than in the 90s and early 2000s?"

"I didn't play during MJ's era, so I can't make comparisons. But in any case, a three-peat is the only way to demonstrate dominance, and I won't make excuses for myself."

"You mean."

"That's right, I'm aiming for a three-peat, and it's already begun. Or rather, it's just the beginning."

—Lin Qi's interview with Sports Illustrated.

(End of this chapter)