LeBron James, your house got robbed.

Stern naturally learned of Chen Shuo's comments about the referee immediately.

Alliance Vice President Adam Silver, standing nearby, was quite angry about this:

"I believe they should be severely punished, otherwise similar incidents will continue to happen."

Stern glanced at Xiao Hua, as if trying to see right through Xiao Hua's heart through the reflection in his glasses.

Xiao Hua subconsciously lowered his head, cold sweat streaming down his neck. He wanted to open his mouth to explain, but then he heard Stern's calm voice:

"Give him a ticket and let this go."

Xiao Hua felt a little relieved and was about to turn around and leave.

"Warn those guys not to go too far."

Xiao Hua didn't dare to say another word and silently left the president's office.

Having led the league for thirty years, Stern was naturally aware of the disagreements that inevitably arise in business leagues.

For many years, he has strived to maintain a balance between commercial value and competitive sports.

Xiao Hua thought he had done everything perfectly, but it was all within the scope of his tacit approval. However, this time he actually crossed the line.

Stern looked at the television screen, where Chen Shuo was being interviewed, his face displaying the gentle features typical of Asians.

"A clever fellow."

He knew, of course, that Chen Shuo's words were not wrong, but the authority of the alliance was beyond question, and this was something he, as the president, had to uphold.

The day after the game, the league announced a $20,000 fine for Cavaliers general manager Chen Shuo's inappropriate remarks about the referees.

Gilbert did not have much objection to the penalty.

He even felt that this was part of Chen Shuo's strategy to gain attention, and he had become obsessed with it.

As this highly anticipated match came to a close, various details of the game were quickly disseminated by the media.

Three consecutive controversial rulings sparked a great deal of discussion online.

However, NBA legends and commentators seemed to be in perfect unison, collectively avoiding the topic.

What drew even more attention from other teams was that this newly formed Cavaliers team actually defeated the Heat, and by a margin of 30 points.

Jerry West spent Christmas with his family and did not watch the game live.

But he made a point of reviewing the video after the match.

He had anticipated the Cavaliers' system for dealing with James, but the remarkable effectiveness of it still surprised him.

Kawhi Leonard, West recalls, was a player that General Manager Larry Riley had recommended.

The team had naturally scouted Leonard's situation, and West had always recognized Leonard's potential on the defensive end.

However, compared to Thompson, Leonard is not a good fit for the team system he envisions.

He just didn't expect that this guy would have such a defensive presence so soon after entering the league.

Of course, if he had to choose between the two, he would still choose Thompson.

Thompson's three-pointer, Leonard's defense.

Lacob watched with envy.

"The Cavaliers are definitely the biggest winners of this year's draft."

The thought of these two rookies, both of whom the team had scouted, made Lacob feel like his heart was bleeding.

"We should trade draft picks to get both of them."

Lacob, with his venture capital background, was extremely frustrated.

Watching Thompson and Leonard high-five on screen, I was incredibly envious, especially Thompson, who was just one draft pick away from being mine.

West's expression remained calm and composed, his voice serene and indifferent.

"Joe, this is something that couldn't have been predicted. There was no word of it before the draft."

"The Cavaliers' move was too sudden, without any warning whatsoever."

General Manager Riley, looking helpless, added from the side:

"The Cavaliers had no contact with either of the two rookies before the players were officially selected in the draft."

"As the general manager, Chen Shuo has never even met them."

Afterwards, Riley naturally inquired about the news.

The final conclusion was absurd.

Before the draft, the Cavaliers formed a strategy group, which, like most teams, was responsible for working out players and providing feedback.

But Chen Shuo ignored him completely and instead crossed out a name from the list of players to be selected and gave it to Chris Grant, the assistant general manager.

Apart from this, no third person knew the news, not even head coach Scott.

West shook his head slightly upon hearing this.

Major media outlets rushed to report on the match.

Experts at The New York Times say we must re-examine the Paul trade and the Chandler signing.

ESPN used a more compelling headline: [Paul's chances of staying in Cleveland are rapidly increasing]

Some eyes have also been set on the two rookies.

Compared to Leonard's outstanding performance, Thompson's stats received more praise and compliments.

Many media outlets believe that Clay Thompson has the potential to become a figure like Reggie Miller and Ray Allen.

And this is an era that is more friendly to three-pointers and shooters.

As for Leonard, he is generally considered to have a limited ceiling, a defensive role player, and barely justifies his draft position.

Public opinion has completely sided with the newly formed Cavaliers.

Of course, there are also nitpicking journalists and writers who say that you can't judge a single game, that the Heat just don't know the new team, and so on.

But local Cleveland fans were completely won over by the new team on Christmas Eve.

There's no better gift than seeing the team personally execute a traitor at Christmas.

Locals who watched the game consider it one of the most unforgettable memories of their lives and boast about it to their neighbors and friends everywhere.

As for the fans who missed it, with a mix of regret and excitement, they prepared snacks and drinks, invited three or four friends, or even their whole family, to savor the game on TV.

……

Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Michigan

Kratos was fiddling with his camera when Chen Shuo walked over:

"Big guy, I've already told them to get off the plane 'naturally'."

Chen Shuo specifically emphasized the word "naturally".

Kratos's enormous head peeked out from beside the camera, stared at Chen Shuo for a long time, and then uttered a sentence.

"You did a great job."

With a double entendre, he crawled back behind the equipment.

Chen Shuo laughed off Kratos's baffling actions, walked over to the equipment, and followed the camera to look at the team's private jet.

The hatch opened.

The first person to emerge was a mysterious 183cm tall man, Chris Paul, wearing sunglasses and a black hoodie.

Following closely behind was the boxing champion, wearing a T-shirt covered in lettering and sporting explosive muscles—a typical street style.

Tucker, wearing a replica black and red Jordan shoe, and Ariza, wearing a large gold chain, stepped off the plane one after the other.

Further on.

Thompson, wearing a baseball cap, a loose T-shirt, and jeans, walked with a swagger, exuding an aura of invincibility.

Leonard, standing to the side, wore a hoodie pulled over his head, his entire outfit a low-key and understated gray, though his walk appeared slightly deliberate.

Green quietly pushed his luggage, wearing a floral shirt and dress pants, and carrying a suit jacket in his hand.

The players emerged from the plane one after another, walking towards Chen Shuo in small groups.

Until Battier and Thomas finally stepped off the escalator, all the Cavaliers players appeared in the camera's view as they walked forward.

Kratos pressed the shutter.

They were young students, full of vigor and vitality.