Champion Rules

Chapter 270, Section 266: The Exciting Second Season of "LeBron's Escape" (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

DeMar DeRozan drives through the streets of downtown New York City.

Although more than ten hours have passed since the victory, the frenzy here continues.

All the big screens in Times Square were playing footage of the Knicks lifting the trophy last night.

The streets were filled with fans wearing Knicks jerseys, their emotions running high as they roared "Fuck LeBron!" in a frenzy of excitement.

The entire city seemed to be painted with orange paint, as Knicks logos were hung on every building or flashed orange lights.

Traffic was nearly paralyzed, not because of an accident, but because a spontaneous celebratory parade had blocked the roads.

Car horns honked in response to the fans' shouts, and passersby, whether they knew each other or not, celebrated with high-fives and hugs because of a shared sense of belonging.

DeRozan rolled down the car window and saw several young people climb onto the roof of the bus stop, holding up posters that read "Not just New York belongs to Lynch, but the whole world belongs to Lynch," and waving them vigorously.

The sound waves rushed towards him as if they were real, causing him to unconsciously grin widely.

This almost uncontrollable euphoria that swept across New York was the ultimate echo of their entire season of struggle.

He knew this fervor would continue for a long time, perhaps not subsiding until the morning of the first training day of the next season.

After driving through the congested city center, DeMar DeRozan entered the affluent neighborhood of Long Island.

At Lynch's house, the grand gate slowly opened via a remote control system.

As the car drove into Lynch's mansion, which resembled a landscaped park, DeMar DeRozan was still awestruck by its luxury, even if it wasn't his first visit.

His trip was to discuss offseason training plans with Lynch.

After the championship parade, DeMar DeRozan will temporarily return home to take care of his parents. He will only return to New York after Lynch's training camp begins.

Knowing that Lynch must have been drinking heavily last night, DeRozan specially arranged to meet him around noon.

However, as soon as he parked the car and his gaze fell on Lin Qi, who was sunbathing by the pool, he immediately froze on the spot.

Considering that many models were flirting with Lynch on the sidelines last night, the socially awkward DeMar DeRozan was actually mentally prepared.

He was certain that there would be a woman in Lynch's house today.

So he told himself not to be nervous or embarrassed to speak when there were strangers around, and to just communicate normally with Lin Qi.

But the scene at that moment shattered all of DeMar DeRozan's mental preparations.

Because at that moment, the two women beside Lynch, dressed in bikinis and enjoying the sunshine, were none other than two ladies!

He lay in the middle of a large recliner, with models nestled on either side of him.

DeMar DeRozan had only ever seen this scene in movies and in the "personal treasured footage" that James Harden gave him!

At this moment, the title of "King of New York" was so vividly and powerfully presented to him for the first time.

Because only the king is entitled to all of this.

When Lynch saw DeMar DeRozan, he took off his sunglasses, stood up, and waved: "Hey buddy, have you had lunch yet?"

Demar, who was somewhat socially awkward, nodded silently. Lynch noticed his little brother's embarrassment and kissed the two women next to him: "Alright, you two play by yourselves for a while. My little brother and I have something to talk about."

After saying that, he led Demar DeRozan into the living room.

As he sat down on the sofa, DeMar DeRozan couldn't help but glance through the floor-to-ceiling window at the two figures playing in the pool.

Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "How could they agree to your request? I mean, they are respectable people, not just some random nobody on the street, right?"

All of New York knows that Lynch never sleeps with nobody.

He wouldn't mess around with nightclub DJs or hotel waitresses. All the women associated with Lynch, regardless of their fame, were at least public figures whose pages could be found on Wikipedia.

This scene gave Demar DeRozan a new understanding of the term "public figure".

Lin Qi laughed and spread his hands: "God, I can take on three people at once on the basketball court, and you're questioning my ability to take on two at once?"

DeRozan quickly waved his hand: "No, you don't know what I really want to ask!"

“That’s right, Lindsay Allingson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are both professional models. As for why they’re together? Demar, I can only say that with great power comes great responsibility.”

Lin Qi had no intention of delving into the conversation. He knew perfectly well that these two women, besides genuinely liking him, also had other motives.

No model would want to be associated with the "Lynch's girlfriend" label.

This will give them unprecedented attention and traffic.

But Lynch didn't mind if they used this to develop their careers; after all, it was an equal exchange.

Moreover, as one of the world's most famous basketball players, Lynch has been quite restrained in this regard.

He didn't even spend as much as people from vegetarian places like Shaolin Temple.

DeMar DeRozan shook his head and got down to business: "Lynch, when do you plan to start the training camp this summer?"

"Come on, we were battling the Los Angeles Lakers last night, and today you're asking me about our training plan? A championship isn't complete without enjoying it, DeMar."

“I’m not like you,” Demar DeRozan said firmly. “I still have a lot to improve.”

Lin Qi chuckled and picked up his phone to open the calendar.

Although the season has just ended, his schedule has already been scheduled for three months from now, leaving him with very little time to spare.

"I'll probably start my personal training camp around mid-August. Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade might come, and you can learn something from them."

"Mid-August? So late? Oh, I forgot you have a mountain of business events to attend."

“No, no, no, it’s not just a business activity,” Lynch said, taking a sip of whiskey with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I need to focus on watching TV shows until mid-August.”

"What!?" Demar DeRozan was taken aback. "What TV series has you so obsessed with? Breaking Bad Season 3?"

“No,” Lynch smirked, a signature mocking smile playing on his lips, “it’s the spectacular second season of LeBron’s Escape!”

Lynch admitted that he didn't have much of an artistic talent.

He had attended many concerts, but even after pianists played all night, Lynch couldn't hear the sadness in their music.

But as soon as LeBron James blocked the comments section on social media, Lynch knew he was already overwhelmed with sadness.

What tricks will he come up with next to salvage his pathetic, ridiculous, and utterly ruined career?

Lynch is really looking forward to it.
-
LeBron James has made his choice.

He would never bow down to Cameron Anthony.

Yes, this Detroit Pistons team can unleash even greater potential.

But he was unwilling to accept his fate and beg for a championship as "Carmelo Anthony's Scottie Pippen".

Indeed, in his view, that was practically begging.

Last season's situation made him realize that even if he lowered his status, the Pistons might not be able to beat the Knicks.

Last summer, LeBron James struggled for a long time about his place on the team, which is why he hesitated to make a decision.

His reason for convincing himself to join the Pistons at the time was: first, beat Lynch and win a championship.

But last season's playoff matchup made LBJ realize that the super Pistons couldn't just crush the league at will.

If someone becomes Scottie Pippen and still can't win a championship, then what's the point of being Scottie Pippen?

Since you might not make money even if you kneel down, you might as well make money standing up!

He wants to leave.

Go to a team where you can shed the Scottie Pippen image and have a better chance of winning a championship.

Despite Pistons general manager Joe Dumars's active communication and LeBron's team's continued signals that he would "most likely stay," the reality is that the possibility of LBJ returning to Detroit next season is becoming increasingly slim.

They maintain the Pistons' illusions only to leave LBJ enough room for his next move, lock in the safest exit route, and then look for a better next team.

This move will undoubtedly severely delay the Pistons' summer reinforcement plans, since the Pistons dare not make any changes to their salary cap space until LBJ makes a decision.

But that's not something LBJ's team needs to worry about.

If LeBron James chooses to stay, the Pistons, whose salary cap is already saturated with max contracts, will only be able to pick up some veterans, rookies, or fringe players when free agency opens. Those reinforcements, even if delayed, will be insignificant. Conversely, if LeBron James chooses to leave Detroit, what will his role be in the Pistons' roster improvements or their fate?
Therefore, LeBron James' team showed no sign of being in a hurry.

They must make the most prudent and advantageous decision for this superstar who is currently experiencing a career slump.

At this moment, LeBron James' career has undoubtedly entered its darkest period.

His reputation among fans and the media has plummeted.

He lost the support of his hometown fans.

He is widely considered to be a guy who is not even as good as Scottie Pippen.

Most importantly, his once-prosperous commercial value is now suffering a severe blow.

Just a few days ago, Nike still offered LBJ a contract extension.

However, the terms of that contract were, if not exactly the same as, far from what LeBron James' team had envisioned.

This is neither a lifetime contract nor does its average annual endorsement fee even exceed that of its first contract signed when it first started out in 2003!
This is far more than just a matter of money. The more fatal signal is that even if LeBron James chooses to renew his contract with Nike, the company will absolutely not be able to devote its core resources to him as it has in the past.

This judgment has been blatantly proven: the giant LeBron James poster that stood outside Nike headquarters for many years has now been quietly replaced with an image of Kevin Durant.

Nike is already trying to replace LeBron's niche with the uniquely charismatic KD.

LeBron James' career desperately needs a turning point to change everything.

Fortunately, this turning point has arrived, and the opportunity has not been lost.

Under Armour, a new competitor that has just ventured into the basketball arena and is eager to make a breakthrough, has shown extraordinary interest in signing LeBron James.

Like Nike, which gambled everything on Michael Jordan to disrupt the market, they desperately need a "savior" to carry the brand's banner.

Given the significant injury risk of Dwyane Wade, who is about to leave Converse, LBJ is undoubtedly a safer choice.

Under Armour pledged that they would spare no effort and dedicate all their resources to making LeBron very, very great again.

They can offer LBJ the annual salary he wants, spend huge sums to poach top sneaker designers, and meet most of his conditions.

The only prerequisite is that LeBron James must be the undisputed and unchallenged absolute leader and star player of a team and in the locker room.

Under Armour certainly doesn't want its brand's face to be just a second-in-command or even a more marginal role in the team hierarchy.

Therefore, LeBron's team's plan is already very clear.

Given their preference for being a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond, they certainly won't renew their contract with Nike.

The best way to reach a cooperation agreement with Under Armour would be to join a young team with championship aspirations, ample salary cap space, and no established leader.

There are actually quite a few teams that fall into this category.

The Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Portland Trail Blazers are all on this list.

While Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, and Brandon Roy have indeed established a certain influence in the local area, their leadership positions are not yet as unshakeable as Carmelo Anthony's in Detroit.

For LeBron James, this means that an opportunity has arisen for a leader to step in and take charge.

As a result, rumors about LeBron James and these three teams instantly went viral online.

Joe Dumars was sitting at home when he suddenly saw a star player who had promised to stay with the team cheating on him!

The Pistons had an excellent opportunity to make early contact with key players on the market, such as Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, and Andre Iguodala.

But because they were waiting for LeBron James, they had to watch their chance slip away.

And then, after waiting and waiting, you fucking tell me you're not coming either?!
Joe Dumars may not admire mountains or rivers, but he admires LeBron James's unwavering lie-talking skills!
You have absolutely no shame!
Upon reflection, Joe Dumas realized how incredibly stupid he had been.

How could I possibly trust someone who had confidently announced his participation in the Slam Dunk Contest on nationally televised cameras but failed to show up year after year?

Lynch, who has been following this matter closely, doesn't know why Joe Dumars is actually still waiting for LeBron James to return.

To put it simply, he didn't play as seriously in Game 5 of last season's Eastern Conference Finals as Ja Morant, who's coming to China for a commercial gig in 2025!
Who would still trust such a dishonest person?
But then, an embarrassing thing happened.

Joe Cowley, the Chicago Sun-Times' Bulls beat writer, revealed in his column:

"Despite the rampant rumors, as far as I know, the Chicago Bulls have no interest in signing LeBron James. The main reason is that Derrick Rose, the undisputed leader of Chicago, has been lukewarm about playing with LBJ."

This is not a leak at all.

This is absolutely devastating for LeBron James!

Just as his team was trying to create an atmosphere that "LBJ is being snapped up by the entire league," the Chicago Bulls very untimely shattered that atmosphere and put LeBron James in an extremely embarrassing situation.

Reality has ruthlessly revealed the truth: LeBron James is not as hot as his team has touted him to be.

Not all teams with championship aspirations are interested in it.

Following this, the Detroit Pistons officially announced that the team has no intention of bringing LeBron James back to the roster next season.

Joe Dumars has decided to stop playing this ambiguous game with LBJ's team and must act quickly to pursue quality free agents such as Ray Allen and Chris Bosh.

In an instant, the false illusion of "the entire league scrambling for LeBron" completely collapsed into the harsh reality that "very few teams actually want LeBron."

At this point, LeBron James' options have been drastically reduced.

LeBron James's spectacular performance to kick off the offseason certainly did not disappoint Lynch, who was eagerly anticipating some juicy gossip.

The offseason has only just begun, and he's already created so much entertainment value.

However, before continuing to enjoy LeBron James' performance, Lynch needs to temporarily turn his attention to the upcoming draft.

To Lynch's slight surprise, the Knicks, as a championship team, held a total of three draft picks in this year's draft—one first-round pick and two second-round picks.

Generally speaking, championship contenders often use draft picks to acquire players who can contribute immediately.

Therefore, it is common for championship contenders to have no draft picks in the draft, and it is already quite remarkable to have two draft picks.

And the Knicks even managed to get an extra second round pick.

Lynch checked and found that this second-round pick was acquired by Sam Presti when he traded Steve Blake to the Clippers.

Not only are there three this year, but there will be three more next year!
As expected of Sam Presti.

Some people like to collect art, some like to collect sports cards, and some like to collect original Leroy cards that have been worn for at least three days.

Sam Presti, on the other hand, is an avid collector of draft picks.

In the original timeline, when the Thunder won the championship in 2025, they would still have a total of 20 draft picks over the next five years, averaging four per year.

They didn't pay a single cent in luxury tax, had one of the lowest total salaries in the league, and had a ton of draft picks, yet this team still won the championship.

This is Sam Presti. Even though he now has James Dolan as a major backer, he still likes to hoard draft picks.

Aside from Lynch, only draft picks, which symbolize unlimited future possibilities, can give him a sense of security.

Unfortunately, this year's draft didn't have any big names outside the lottery.

The Knicks ultimately traded their 30th overall pick and a second-round pick up to acquire a 26th overall pick, thus securing Jordan Crawford.

With the remaining second-round pick, Sam Presti was used to trade for the Wizards' second-round pick next year.

In other words, the Knicks will have three second-round draft picks in 2011, which is enough to complete a "split-for-a-round" operation, giving them the opportunity to acquire an additional late first-round draft pick in 2011.

This year's draft was relatively uneventful for the Knicks, but the excitement of this offseason will continue.

LeBron James's antics are far from over.

He was powerless to compete for the championship.

But he never gives up easily when it comes to the overall effect of the show.
-
I have reason to believe that the New York Knicks selected Jordan Crawford not because Raja Bell might leave, but because Lynch wanted to use him to thoroughly humiliate LeBron James. Nike can confiscate training camp footage, but they can't confiscate Knicks game footage. He'd better watch out next season. — Charles Barkley analyzing this year's draft on his show.

We don't need LeBron. We don't need someone who doesn't care about winning. We'll be better off without him. — Carmelo Anthony speaks publicly for the first time about LBJ's departure.

It's not that I'm not interested in LeBron, I just think it's a bit much for me to make a special video to recruit him. I absolutely do not look down on him, absolutely not. — Derrick Rose responds to rumors linking the Bulls and LBJ.

Listen, wherever LeBron ultimately chooses to flee, he will only bring disaster to that place! — ESPN writer Marc Stein's column.

(End of this chapter)