Basketball Terminal

Chapter 56 Awkward
It was past 11 p.m. Pacific Time when we left Staples Center. With no fans present, reporters were restricted from entering, and the Nets players' departure was somewhat quiet. Voices echoed in the empty tunnels, creating a cacophony in our ears.

Everyone's faces beamed with joy, strolling in small groups, laughing and joking, just like high school students walking home from school. Although many of the players were over 30, they were still a bunch of big boys, just very wealthy. A bus was waiting in the parking lot; they would head to the airport for a flight back to Brooklyn that night.

Winning can temporarily resolve conflicts. The Nets' road trip in California was perfect, defeating the Clippers 113-107 tonight by 6 points, maintaining a perfect 5-0 record. Judging from the relaxed brows of the assistant coaches, everyone can return to Brooklyn for a couple of days of rest with ease.

Kevin Durant's eyes never left his phone until he boarded the team bus. After leaving the locker room, he was constantly checking post-game comments and related news. As the team's chief media officer, he was always among the first to know the fans' and media's opinions on the players' and team's performance.

Having missed the last three games, and with no one to criticize his performance on the court, Durant seemed relaxed while browsing social media. However, some comments still bothered him, such as "Kevin won again by doing nothing," "Durant has joined another team that can win a championship without him," "path dependence," "Kevin has tweeted more than he's scored in his career," and "and that doesn't even include his alternate accounts!"

For those who have nothing better to do than hurl insults, Durant picks the ones he dislikes most and replies to them, sending dozens of messages in a row. Then, holding his phone, he scrolls through pictures of beautiful women while waiting for replies, hoping to catch one stubborn person and keep hurling insults at them. If it's inconvenient to say certain things on his main account, he doesn't mind the trouble of switching to a secondary account to find that person and continue the war of words.

Li Wei sat in the last seat, finally able to relax and close his eyes for a while. He didn't have Durant's leisurely pace; he knew there must be a lot of news about him online. A suddenly rising nobody always attracts a lot of attention, and his conflicts with James and Beverley would spark a series of controversies. He was still Asian, and there were bound to be countless groups and discussions about him across the ocean.

But the game was exhausting, and Li Wei didn't have the mental energy to cope. He just wanted to get a good night's sleep to recover. That's why Durant is considered a superstar—he's not only energetic but also mentally strong. Don't underestimate negative comments; those who aren't mentally resilient can be overwhelmed by criticism and even break down. If you walk by the river long enough, you're bound to get criticized.

Most celebrities in the arts and sports choose to ignore a torrent of negative public opinion, focusing on their own work, and letting it subside naturally over time. Some might engage in public relations and marketing, hiring online trolls to manipulate public opinion. Those like Durant, who personally confront the issue and make it known worldwide, are extremely rare.

You could call him resilient, but he gets easily provoked by a few simple remarks or jokes and immediately starts arguing. You could also call him fragile, but he managed to win two championships under immense pressure and criticism, and after rupturing his Achilles tendon, he switched teams and bounced back to play high-quality games according to his own vision. He's scored over 23000 points and posted over 24000 tweets in his career so far, so what netizens are saying is true: his tweeting efficiency surpasses his scoring.

"Viktor, Viktor!"

"What? Who's calling me?"

“It’s me, Kevin.”

"Shit, I fell asleep. Are we in Brooklyn?"

"Get there my ass, it hasn't even taken off yet."

"what happened?"

"Take out your phone and log into your Twitter account."

"Why? Do you want me to curse for you?"

"God, you fucking understand me, quick!"

Li Wei rolled his eyes. He'd only managed a short nap before Durant woke him up. He thought something important had happened, that Durant was making him tweet and rant. Well, what could he do? They were just friends through likes. Although recently Li Yue had been the one doing the liking, and Li Wei hadn't actually logged into Twitter.

According to Li Yue, after the game against the Lakers, the entire internet was searching for Li Wei's information. His social media accounts were quickly exposed, and he received so many private messages and comments that he couldn't keep up with them. There were praises, criticisms, friendship requests, collaboration offers, advertising requests, interview requests, and even viral links... In short, it was incredibly lively.

Li Yue felt no qualms about the insults; after all, they weren't directed at him, but at his brother. Those seeking collaborations or advertising were scammers and should be ignored. Only some accounts posting private photos were worth checking; if they were real, he'd follow them for his brother.

Li Wei, of course, couldn't log into his own account. Instead, he logged into Li Yue's account to help Durant argue online. Before engaging in a war of words, he would first check the account to see who the person was a fan of, and then launch a fierce attack accordingly.
Stephen Curry should win a Finals MVP before he starts talking. Who in the top ten of all time hasn't won that honor?

Can Kyrie Irving lead his team to the playoffs? He's a god who can lead a team to contend for the number one draft pick.

Leonard should learn to speak for himself first. He disappears whenever it's time to make a decision. I don't expect him to do a 'Decision' TV show, but at least he could say something, right?

Oh, George, I heard Oklahoma City has set up a 'Paul George Day' for him, will he attend now?

Since he was using his younger brother's account, Li Wei unleashed his scathing criticism. With over a decade of experience watching Chinese fan groups roast each other online, who could resist? Of course, American fans were equally scathing, often using insults about appearance and lifestyle to make their point. For example, they said DeAndre Jordan's poor free throw shooting was due to his cross-eyedness, Conley's pineapple-shaped haircut was ugly, Booker looked like a lesbian, Embiid's IQ was like a squirrel's, and Curry's beard looked like a hawk's, etc.

Chinese fans don't pay much attention to the personal lives of sports stars, nor do they engage in physical attacks; after all, Black people are generally considered ugly by Chinese people. The comments left by Chinese fans are meant to attack the fans of the sports stars, not the stars themselves. Calling someone's idol ugly isn't inherently harmful; this is the sports world, not the entertainment industry.

"God, your mouth is as hard as your body." Durant thought to himself after seeing Li Wei's reply, "This guy's mouth is really venomous, always hitting the nail on the head." For a basketball player, calling him ugly or having a weird hairstyle isn't a big deal. After all, they don't rely on their looks, and Durant himself, looking rather pathetic, has no right to call others ugly. But calling him a bad player, a freeloader, or someone who joins a team when they can't win—that really hurts him.

“Victor, what would you say if you attacked me?”

"The U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team".

"...I would suggest to Max that we offer you a long-term contract so you don't go to another team."

It was past 3 a.m. when they arrived at JFK International Airport. At the baggage claim, Li Yue, who had been waiting for a long time, rushed over and hugged his brother, bursting into tears. In just over two weeks, Li Wei's identity had undergone a dramatic change. He was no longer the big, clumsy guy at the laundromat, but the "Unknown Super Defender, #29" of the Brooklyn Nets, a hot topic in the NBA.

The two brothers had never been separated for so long. Seeing his younger brother crying so sadly, Li Wei was somewhat moved. However, he was still worried and asked, "Are Mom and Dad alive?" Li Yue wiped his eyes and said, "They're fine! I just missed you a little. I didn't mean to cry."

Li Wei patted his younger brother's head: "You've worked hard these past few days. Do Mom and Dad know about my basketball game?"

"I didn't tell my parents, and they didn't mention it either. I don't know if they know about me."

"We should tell them; there will be a lot of trouble later."

"Hey bro, can I get an autograph from Durant or Harden?"

"No, you're my assistant now, you need to be a bit professional."

Even at three or four in the morning, many reporters were still staking out the baggage claim area. They rushed towards the players, especially Li Wei. Some held microphones to ask questions, others handed Li Wei business cards, and cameras were constantly pointed at him—more numerous than those of Durant and Harden.

Li Wei is currently the most talked-about mysterious number 29 on NBA social media, with everyone trying their best to obtain detailed information about him. However, Li Wei only politely answered a few superficial questions before heading to the parking lot under the cover of team security. In the parking lot, the two encountered Scott Mitchell, who had been waiting for them. Mitchell had returned to New York from Los Angeles early and had been waiting at the airport for the Nets to return. "You should go home and rest. I promised to only give you an interview, and I won't go back on my word."

"I know, I just wanted to let you know that I've resigned from NetsDaily and am now part of ESPN!"

Mitchell flashed his ESPN press pass badge, indicating his high efficiency and smooth onboarding/offboarding process. In the mobile internet age, time is life in sports journalism; a news story picked up an hour earlier or later can have vastly different value. Well-known journalists and independent media personalities are glued to their phones 24/7, constantly receiving, refreshing, and filtering news, and even traveling around to get the latest information.

Scott Mitchell's biggest bargaining chip was his exclusive interviews with Levi. NetsDaily, a team news network affiliated with a local television station, couldn't satisfy Levi's ambitions; a large platform like ESPN would be more beneficial for him to expand his influence.

Mitchell glanced at Lee, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the Chevrolet, and asked, "This is...your driver?"

"My younger brother is also my assistant."

"Your brother? Your brother...isn't your brother mentally challenged?" In the story Levi told Mitchell, Li Yue was a poor boy with intellectual disabilities who needed his older brother's careful care.

"Oh, he does have some intellectual disabilities, but it's not usually noticeable. We've spent a lot of time and effort on intervention and treatment."

"Basketball is the best medium for you to communicate with him!"

"If you have the chance to visit my home, we can film some scenes. Perhaps one day, there will be a documentary about me."

The two shook hands, Mitchell brimming with confidence; he knew he'd made the right bet. His stakes weren't high—just a month's time and a mediocre job. The director who made the documentary about Jeremy Lin had been a fan since Lin's college days, following and filming him all the way up to his NBA debut. After a wasted season, teetering on the brink of being cut, he exploded onto the scene, achieving a brief period of phenomenal success. The whole process took three or four years; nobody knew if Lin would succeed.

Levi's rise was too rapid, so rapid that it occurred without warning, like a god or a demon, appearing suddenly. Watching the red taillights of the Chevrolet SUV disappear into the distance, Mitchell wondered, was it a god or a demon?
After taking the medication, Li Wei slept soundly for a long time. When he woke up, it was already afternoon, and the pain and fatigue had completely disappeared. After the long road trip, the team had a day off. They would train tomorrow morning and have a home game in the evening. The NBA schedule is very tight, which is a huge test of the players' physical fitness and health.

Li Wei knew that a good rest was just as important as rigorous training. He took a break in the afternoon, relaxing in the attic reading comics, discussing "Haki" with his fellow anime enthusiasts in the group chat, and spending some time with Ah Zhong. Ah Zhong had been well taken care of by Li Yue and had gained some weight. He had a bump on his forehead, which he said he got from being hit by a baseball while out. Li Wei suspected Li Yue had beaten him up, since the two didn't get along very well.

Mitchell messaged Levi, saying that his article had been published on ESPN with the title "Blank 29" and the cover featured Levi's back as he wore a jersey with the number 29 but no name.

"The number of clicks is astonishing, and there are tons of reposts. You're definitely going to be a star, Victor. This story is fantastic! I've been writing it for almost a month, and it's far superior to those who just cobble things together or rush to finish a draft! My biggest regret now is not going to Florida with you, otherwise I could have written even more."

"I didn't know everything would go so smoothly. If you had gone to Florida, you would still be stuck at Disney right now."

"You're right. What's the next step? Where should the story begin?"

"From the moment I officially signed the guarantee contract, I hope this day won't be too long."

After the next game against the Kings, Levi's first 10-day contract with the Nets will expire. The Nets can choose to re-sign Levi for another 10 days or offer him a guaranteed contract until the end of the season.

Li Wei naturally wanted a guaranteed contract so he could settle down and focus on competitions and improving himself. An extra ten days of short-term contract meant an extra ten days of risk. Especially with injuries, Li Wei, who had suffered a serious injury before, knew very well that accidents always happen suddenly, without warning.

Since being promoted from the G League to the NBA, many players have ultimately failed to realize their dreams due to injuries, accidents, family incidents, and other reasons. On NBA news websites, those lines of merciless "waived" represent the shattering of countless basketball dreams. Li Wei hopes to deliver a spectacular performance in Game 3 to gain enough leverage in negotiations. If the Nets still want to sign him to a 10-day contract, he will have the ability to refuse and try his luck with another team.

Of course, Li Wei wanted to stay with the Nets; the team was good and a good fit for him. Durant wasn't a great locker room leader, but Li Wei disliked the aggressive, bullying type of star player who preyed on rookies—young players these days don't play that kind of game. Durant, on the other hand, was a comfortable leader to be around, someone who enjoyed playing with fans and engaging in online banter with them.

Harden and Levi were practically on the same side; they exchanged texts that afternoon, with Harden inviting him to a nightclub adventure sometime. Irving was acting strangely, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking, but that didn't matter to Levi. The Nets had their share of internal conflicts and struggles, but what team doesn't? Besides, chaotic times breed heroes; a more chaotic team is more conducive to the rise of lower-level players. On teams with a solid core and stable tactics, Levi actually has fewer opportunities.

And then there's head coach Nash. After a few days of interaction, Levi confirmed that he was a good person and appreciated him. As a new coach, Nash is very malleable, and Levi has the opportunity to exert influence over him. This offers more room for development than working for a stubborn, deeply entrenched veteran coach.

That evening, the family sat down for dinner in the laundromat kitchen. Chen Lihua had prepared a sumptuous meal to welcome her son home. Judging from her expression, it was impossible to tell whether she knew that her eldest son had become an NBA player and was making a name for himself. Although modern society is filled with ubiquitous information overload, everyone is trapped on their own island, receiving signals from their own world, undisturbed by others.

Li Wei informed the two of the news when he was about to have dinner. After signing the formal guarantee contract, he moved out to find a place closer to the training and competition venues, which would be more convenient for his training and life.

The four of them were somewhat silent at the dinner table, with Chen Lihua constantly putting food on her son's plate. Li Yue and Li Wei exchanged a glance, as if to say, "Brother, you should speak up; this is good news." Li Wei nodded, about to speak, when Chen Lihua spoke first: "I have something to tell you two brothers."

They both had other things to attend to first. Seeing Chen Lihua's somewhat serious expression and Li Manshun's bowed head beside her, Li Wei wondered if the two were going to get a divorce. That would be great; the story would become even more complicated.

Chen Lihua paused for a long time, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. Li Wei couldn't help but say, "Mom, just tell me what it is. We're both grown up now." Li Yue nodded in agreement.

"Your dad is getting married."

Sure enough, Li Wei felt he had guessed right; the two were getting a divorce. But wasn't marriage a bit too fast? Had they already divorced? Who was Dad going to marry?

"The other person is a man."

What! Old Li, you actually... Li Wei and Li Yue went from surprise to shock, exchanging a glance, indicating that they couldn't believe it at all! How could this be?
"He is your cousin's husband."

The two brothers were stunned, the escalating shocks utterly shattering the sentences Li Wei had conceived in his mind. This older generation… he was unfathomable. I was hoping my story would be a bit more convoluted, that sacrificing the younger brother would be portrayed as idiocy, but this… this is just too damn convoluted!
"Of course it's fake, it's just to get your uncle a green card."

The two brothers breathed a sigh of relief. Li Wei said, "Mom, can you say the last sentence first? You scared me to death. I had already decided that I would live with you from now on, and my brother would live with the two fathers."

"I want to live with my mom too!"

"There's one more thing. My son heard that you're playing in the NBA now, from a guest. That's good, that's good."

Chen Lihua and Li Manshun wore faint smiles, happy but not overly so. Perhaps they didn't yet understand what it meant for their son to play in the NBA, or perhaps it was the first time in twenty years they had praised their eldest son and felt proud of him, which made them feel awkward, really awkward.

(End of this chapter)