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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.

The return of Itachi

I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.

Please give it a go 😊

***

In mid-August 2002, the national team began preparations for the upcoming Basketball World Championship, and American sports media, with no big news during the offseason, once again started to capitalize on Michael Jordan.

(A/N: Capitalized= Consumed😂)

Although Michael Jordan rarely appeared during the offseason, quietly feuding with the Washington Wizards management, the sports media hadn’t forgotten him!

Even more interesting, everyone started comparing Clay Lee and Michael Jordan:

Of the two teams, the Washington Wizards had the first overall pick, Kwame Brown, while the New York Knicks had the third overall pick, Pau Gasol.

Both teams had superstars: Clay Lee had Grant Hill, and Michael Jordan had Hamilton.

Using this comparison, everyone concluded that Michael Jordan was a teammate-waster!

The Washington Wizards ultimately failed to make the playoffs, and the sports media automatically ignored Michael Jordan’s age.

With no news left, they began to mock Michael Jordan for his comeback.

It’s not surprising the media hyped it up.

There were simply too few star players at the moment.

Everyone was tired of the daily Los Angeles Lakers gossip, and other players weren’t famous enough for fans to care.

The upcoming Eastern big man in the NBA also garnered a lot of attention, with a large number of media reporters dispatched from across the ocean, and the Xxx sports world was already boiling!

However, at this time, Wang Zhizhi’s absence from the Asian Games training camp for his next contract, coupled with Head Coach Wang Fei’s lack of leniency and the chaotic reporting from Dallas reporters, elevated the matter to another level.

It wasn’t easy to get a contract in the NBA.

Wang Zhizhi played well in the Summer League and was eventually signed by the Clippers.

For bottom-tier players, the Summer League and preseason are ways to gain the Head Coach’s trust.

If they chose to return to the national team for training camp at this time, their contract prospects would likely cool down.

This incident also caused an uproar in the Xxx sports media circle.

Su Qun actively lobbied for it, but matters within the system are never simple, and the outcome, in short, was not optimistic.

When Yao Ming came to play in the NBA, his salary still had to be returned to his parent team.

This was also a systemic issue, and in that era, there was no way to discuss right or wrong.

Fortunately, Houston fans have strong spending power, and backed by a major city, Yao Ming’s arrival was destined to boost the market.

Team owner Alexander was already prepared to make a huge profit.

The enthusiasm of chinese fans exceeded the imagination of some American sports media!

American sports media had reported that Head Coach Tomjanovich’s physical condition was not good, and that the Houston Rockets might replace their Head Coach later.

After this news was reported again, Jeff Van Gundy became a popular candidate.

As a Champion Coach with four consecutive championships, coaching a first overall pick seemed perfectly reasonable, and most importantly, Yao Ming was a big man, the Bald Young Coach’s favorite!

However, Jeff Van Gundy, who frequently appeared on TNT and ESPN, immediately denied the news, answering very directly:

“I haven’t considered returning to the league. Currently, I’m focused on my family, and I hope to spend more time with them!”

“Yao has excellent conditions, and I believe he will succeed with the Houston Rockets.”

After TNT’s reporter broke the news, the sports media were somewhat disappointed.

Another big scoop was gone.

The Bald Young Coach was still living in Manhattan, and spending time with his family was indeed true, but not wanting to coach was certainly false!

The reason for refusing the Houston Rockets was simple:

Jeff Van Gundy knew the owner was a stingy guy, and to coach again, he needed to gain more power!

For the Bald Young Coach, his ultimate goal was to become a legend like Red Auerbach.

At the very least, he had to be like Pat Riley, holding both Head Coach and General Manager powers, with the team entirely under his control!

In Jeff Van Gundy’s heart, he always hoped to become a charismatic figure like Pat Riley.

Having already achieved four consecutive championships, he now needed a more suitable platform for himself.

On Saturday, August 17th, Tom Thibodeau arrived at Van Gundy’s new house in Midtown.

Although it couldn’t compare to Lee’s ‘New York-style’ townhouse near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this high-rise apartment was enough for many people to work half their lives for.

His family hadn’t moved in after he got the new house.

Jeff Van Gundy had been busy arranging the apartment recently, and seeing his friend arrive, he immediately smiled and welcomed him home.

“Tom, I know why you’re here, but don’t worry, we’ll have new jobs soon!”

Wearing a gray casual outfit, Jeff Van Gundy had gained some weight recently, appearing plump and pale.

From the high-rise apartment, one could see the bustling Manhattan streetscape.

Thibodeau looked at the Bald Young Coach, who seemed to be soaring, and curiously asked:

“Why not go to Houston? Even Tomjanovich hopes you’ll coach the Houston Rockets.”

Jeff Van Gundy shook his head, looked at his most trusted assistant, and suddenly asked:

“What do you think was the reason for our success in New York?”

Hearing this question, the honest Thibodeau answered without hesitation:

“Of course, it was Lee! Without him, relying only on Ewing, we couldn’t have beaten the Chicago Bulls in ’98.”

“Although Lee’s efficiency wasn’t as high then as it is now, he performed exceptionally well in clutch situations.”

Jeff Van Gundy didn’t deny it, smiling and nodding, then added:

“Success naturally requires a superstar, but New York’s payroll is the highest in the league. A stingy owner cannot lead a team to a championship.”

“Even if they miraculously win one championship, they won’t be able to dominate an era and build a dynasty team.”

“We need to coach superstars, and we need an owner willing to spend money. Most importantly, the management also needs to show respect!”

Upon hearing such conditions, Thibodeau was stunned.

Even New York didn’t offer such treatment:

“There’s no team like that in the league right now. Do you want to go to Los Angeles? But the Los Angeles Lakers just won the championship!”

Hearing Thibodeau’s rhetorical question, Jeff Van Gundy put on a confident expression again:

“After the new season begins, I’ll pay more attention to Cleveland. You must have seen it too. A talented high school student has emerged in Akron.”

“LeBron James, my colleagues at ESPN and TNT have very high praise for him.”

“Most importantly, Cleveland sports need a savior. This is our opportunity. Management will fully support me, and this Rookie naturally won’t refuse to play for me.”

“We can build the team according to our wishes and ultimately save Cleveland sports, creating our own legendary record there!”

“Just like Pat Riley, we will become the true controllers of a team. This is definitely an excellent opportunity!”

The more he thought about it, the more beautiful it seemed, and Jeff Van Gundy couldn’t contain his smile.

Although Cleveland was a small market, the title of ‘savior’ was incredibly prestigious!

Tom Thibodeau had no idea the Bald Young Coach had such a plan.

Although it sounded somewhat plausible, considering the Cavaliers’ poor record and their status in the Eastern Conference, Thibodeau still subtly reminded him:

“Perhaps LeBron James is very talented, but he’s just a high school student, far behind Lee.”

“In his Rookie season, Lee performed beyond his peers in tactical execution and game control, which is inseparable from his training in Connecticut.”

“I always feel that most teams will find it hard to break the Knicks’ dominance. As long as Lee stays healthy, he can keep winning in the Eastern Conference.”

Jeff Van Gundy seemed to have thought of this as well, finally reining in his smile, walking over to hug his good partner, and offering reassurance:

“We can also build a star-studded lineup in Cleveland. Basketball is ultimately a five-person game, and Lee will also have times when his performance declines.”

“Time is on our side, Tom. What you need to do now is be prepared. We’re going to be in Cleveland for a long time!”

Thibodeau nodded.

For the struggling Cavaliers, drafting the local talent LeBron James in next year’s draft, and having the Champion Coach extend an olive branch, they would surely accept it.

However, looking at the triumphant Bald Young Coach, Thibodeau still felt some worry in his heart:

“Will it really be that smooth?”

Entering August, Lee’s life also became regular.

From Monday to Friday, he attended sponsor events and dinners, and when he had time, he read books, striving to complete his studies early.

He didn’t have to go to work, and he watched the girls busy themselves every day.

The workplace was tough, and an 18th-tier actor’s life was even harder.

Instead, Ivanka, who was ‘interning for her father,’ had the most free time.

While she was supposedly working, no one would actually make things difficult for her.

“Hotel inspection” was Ivanka’s job this summer.

The family plaza and building were still under construction, so Ivanka wasn’t involved in these core projects, making her work naturally relaxed.

Early Sunday morning, downstairs at the family’s iconic building, Ivanka wore slim-fit jeans and a white T-shirt, dressed like a young girl.

Under the watchful eyes of security personnel, she smiled and boarded Lee’s latest black Dodge Viper sports car.

As the first car dealer to send Lee a car, Dodge would introduce Lee to any outstanding new products they had over the past few years.

As long as he agreed to occasionally drive it around the streets for a while, Lee could get a new car.

This Dodge Viper was an improved model.

Lee didn’t know exactly what had been added, but compared to the white commemorative model at home, the black one was more understated, so it had recently become his ride.

Lee turned his head and saw that Ivanka’s seatbelt was gone, clearly her “big white rabbits” had grown two sizes bigger in the past two years.

Ivanka puffed out her chest, tossed her bag aside, kissed Lee, and asked with a smile:

“Where are we going today? Long Island or South Hampton?”

“I’m never going to Hampton again. It takes two hours to drive there. Although the houses are great, I prefer something closer to Manhattan.”

Lee controlled the car’s speed while complaining about his recent house-hunting experiences.

Seeing the lipstick mark on his face, Ivanka giggled, then playfully teased:

“Didn’t you say you wanted to stay away from the old money’s territory? South Hampton and East Hampton are a bit far, but the estates are exquisite and spacious!”

“For travel, you can choose a helicopter. How about I ask Daddy to let you use his helipad? He doesn’t use it anyway.”

It was only when talking about enjoying life that Ivanka would reveal her true character as a pampered young lady.

Not long ago, the two of them looked at a ‘Waterfront Estate’ spanning 7.7 acres, with 18 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a seaside pool, tennis court, yacht dock, garden fountains, and everything else imaginable.

At night, one could even gaze at Manhattan across the sea, and once the lighting was turned on in the evening, it would nearly resemble Gatsby’s estate from Lee’s memory.

However, the location was so bad that Lee couldn’t help but complain.

The house was surrounded by woods, and the greenery was excessive.

The two ‘Waterfront Estates’ they looked at afterward, spanning 15 acres (the size of 8.5 standard football fields) and 25 acres respectively, were also similar, being quite far from Manhattan.

Noticing Lee’s driving direction, Ivanka chuckled again, leaned over, kissed him, and teased once more:

“The old money’s taste is still very good. You still chose Greenwich.”

“This place is indeed nice, and taxes are cheaper than in Manhattan. IBM’s president also has a house here.”

Lee was forced to admit his liking.

Seeing Ivanka shaking with laughter, he simply reached out and grabbed her, then complained twice more:

“Although these guys look down on people, the houses are innocent. At worst, I’ll redecorate them. I have no interest in talking about heritage. The facilities in those old houses are long outdated!”

Ivanka covered her mouth, stifling a laugh and nodding.

Her father had been mocked for living on the top floor.

In the eyes of some old New Yorkers, only those entire townhouses in the Upper East Side were truly “authentic.”

However, the living experience in those old houses wasn’t good, and Lee still vulgarly preferred large houses.

Greenwich, Connecticut, Indian Field Road.

Lee checked the time as he got out of the car: 45 minutes, which was indeed within his acceptable range.

Since the late 19th century, this area had been farmland.

Later, the old money farmers accumulated enough resources and left this area.

As the largest waterfront plot in Greenwich, the estates here were naturally beloved by the wealthy.

The blonde, beautiful housekeeper had been waiting for Lee’s arrival early.

Seeing Ivanka arm-in-arm with Lee, looking around, she immediately stepped forward and introduced:

“Welcome to Peninsula Manor!”

This estate was introduced to Lee by the Ziff Brothers.

The previous owner lost a large sum of money due to the dot-com bubble, and their family fund almost went bankrupt.

Coupled with the recent economic downturn, they had no choice but to sell the old house.

Ivanka, who had changed into flat shoes when she got out of the car, noticed a huge tree on the other side and her eyes lit up.

As the two boarded the sightseeing cart, she whispered:

“It seems the previous owners of this estate cherished the house very much. Such large trees are not common!”

There are also a few houses at the very front of the gate, which are for the housekeeper and security personnel.

Compared to Hampton, one can also enjoy the view of Long Island Sound here.

The blonde housekeeper in front noticed that the two behind her enjoyed the scenery, and appropriately whispered:

“The house was built in 1898, and as Miss Ivanka said, several generations of owners have meticulously managed this estate.”

“Currently, the main body of the house still maintains its Victorian style.”

Spanning 50 acres, the main house’s front and back landscape gardens are very large.

Walled gardens, a spa pool, a grass tennis court, two private beaches, and beautiful views of the Long Island Sound from the main house, surrounded by towering trees—several generations of owners have indeed maintained it very well.

Lee was too lazy to count the specific number of rooms.

This old main house would need some renovation later.

Looking out, it was all rolling lawns, trees, and gardens.

This was indeed one of the most beautiful houses on the Greenwich coastline.

Ivanka was still listening carefully to the housekeeper’s introduction.

She really liked the environment here, and seeing all sorts of beautiful flowers in the conservatory, she was in a great mood.

The drawback of this estate was that the sea view wasn’t the most beautiful.

Just like its name, a peninsula is never complete, but fortunately, the surrounding environment compensated for this.

After looking around, Lee went to the seaside.

Ivanka quickly joined him, saying somewhat happily:

“Although the renovation style is ordinary, the materials are excellent, probably those century-old English oak trees. These can be kept, but the study, kitchen, and dining room will need a good renovation.”

Lee already knew the specific information and was very satisfied after seeing the house.

He put his arm around Ivanka and asked in a low voice:

“How much appreciation potential does it have in the future? I don’t want to lose money!”

Chuckling again, Ivanka looked at the towering trees and said, tilting her head back:

“The environment is only suitable for a family to live in. If you want to rebuild, you’ll have to destroy the surrounding environment. This place is really good. At least children will love it here.”

“It will definitely appreciate in the future. Although the sea view is not as good as those houses in Hampton, it’s very convenient for mooring yachts, which can save a lot of expenses.”

Lee whispered “75.5 million,” and Ivanka blinked, indicating the price was quite suitable.

The two didn’t discuss it further and continued to tour the estate.

The giant trees around should be nearly a century old.

As Ivanka said, it’s difficult to profit from this estate.

It’s only suitable for a large family to live here.

The New York Media didn’t notice that Lee was planning to buy a big house.

The estate introduced by the Ziff Brothers had no sales information.

The original owner probably didn’t want to lose face, so the news only circulated among friends.

With a 40-minute drive and Axe Capital also being in Greenwich, Lee decided to purchase it.

However, he would have to wait a while before moving into the new house.

By late August, the World Championship was drawing near.

Most sports media were reporting on the national team’s news, constantly predicting gold medals, but the Washington Wizards’ trade again drew the attention of basketball commentators.

The Detroit Pistons sent out Brian Cardinal, Jerry Stackhouse, and Larcus Aldridge.

And ultimately acquired Hubert Davis, Richard Hamilton, and Bobby Simmons from the Washington Wizards.

Hamilton was definitely a key player for the Washington Wizards last season.

In the eyes of the sports media, trading him away must have been Michael Jordan’s decision!

Despite being very low-key during the offseason, when the Washington Post interviewed Michael, he confidently stated:

“Perhaps you think I’m old, but I just want to lead the team into the playoffs.”

“Richard is a good kid, he trains very hard, and likes to hone his skills. I wish him all the best in the future.”

“The Washington Wizards will rise again next season. This offseason, I’ve been working on my body.”

“Compared to last season, I feel my physical condition is much better!”

Last season’s failure drove Michael Jordan to throw himself into the training gym, spending the entire offseason working to restore his physical condition.

When interviewed, Michael Jordan was still in the training gym.

For this superstar, he didn’t want to experience that feeling of losing so badly again.

This trade reminded many basketball commentators of Kwame Brown on the bench.

Everyone was well aware of Michael Jordan’s judgment, and as long as the Washington Wizards’ record showed no improvement in the new season, there would be more news to report.

It was a rare opportunity to interview this superstar, and the Washington Post didn’t forget to mention this year’s Finals.

Michael Jordan didn’t bother to say too much, only offering his blessings to the Lakers:

“I’m very happy to see Shaq win a championship. He’s a very talented big man!”

“It reminds me of the time I played against him. Overcoming the disadvantage in free throws requires a lot of practice, and Shaq did it.”

“As for the new season, Lee might still make it to the Finals. If the Lakers want to defend their title, they need to be careful. They need to get serious as early as possible. Defending a title is never an easy task.”

Michael Jordan didn’t gossip.

For a player his age, it was more about competing with himself.

Instead, the Washington Post reporter picked up on Michael Jordan’s optimism for Lee, and considering the Knicks’ strength, suddenly felt that the Washington Wizards’ future looked bleak.

As September approached, the Orlando Magic signed the past-his-prime star Shawn Kemp, barely forming a Big Three.

However, this signing only excited Orlando Magic fans.

Most other fans didn’t react much, as Kemp was completely past his prime!

Entering September, most fans’ attention was drawn to the World Championship of basketball, while Lee had already started training early.

At the Tarrytown Training Center, Matt Barnes dutifully served as the passer, watching the two men’s half-court one-on-one, he couldn’t help but grin, muttering wildly in his heart:

“Is playing in the NBA this hard?!”

Lee, receiving the ball at the top of the arc, faced Ron Artest’s tight Defense, taking continuous quick jab steps with his right foot, then suddenly dropping the ball with his left hand and quickly retreating with a large step.

The moment he shook off the Defense, his body was still drifting backward to the left, and Lee, facing the block, quickly jumped and shot!

“Swish!”

The three-pointer went in without touching the rim.

“5:12! Ron, push harder!”

Stephen Jackson, wearing a headband on the sidelines, clapped and shouted continuously.

Ron Artest frustratingly clapped his hands, then lowered his center of gravity again, trying to get into a defensive stance, staring at Lee, who had re-received the ball at the top of the arc.

The moment he received the ball, he faked a move, and taking advantage of Ron Artest’s shifted defensive center of gravity, Lee quickly swept the ball, then dropped it with his right hand and accelerated directly.

A wing player’s physique naturally gives him an advantage.

Ron Artest reacted quickly, immediately sliding backward to the left while initiating body contact.

As he was bumped, Lee was also forced to slow down.

At the right restricted area, he suddenly exploded the ball, pulled the ball back with his right hand to fake, then quickly twisted his body, and facing the Defense, took a drifting fadeaway jumper!

He was just shy of completing the block.

After landing, Ron Artest slapped his thigh in frustration, then heard the sound of the basketball swishing through the net.

“Ah!”

After Clay Lee consecutively made 13 shots, taking the game in a single wave, Ron Artest shouted in frustration.

Stephen Jackson, however, was delighted, rushing onto the court and making a money-counting gesture, signaling Ron Artest to pay up.

Returning to the sidelines, picking up the water bottle and drinking deeply, Ron Artest didn’t forget to toss out a roll of bills:

“Damn it! I lost even this, and I’ve been doing extra practice for over two months!”

Hearing Ron Artest’s complaint, Grant Hill also started to laugh:

“It still works! Lee rarely drives, and on several defensive plays, you made the correct prediction!”

In a one-on-one between a small forward and a guard, the former usually dominates the latter.

This is determined by physique.

Ron Artest’s technique was too raw in his Rookie season, but after three seasons, he had improved.

However, when he encountered Lee, although he could score some points, if he made a mistake, he would most likely be taken out in a single wave.

Stephen Jackson looked at Lee, who had taken off his black vest, and started showering him with compliments again:

“Lee is only at a disadvantage in height and wingspan, but his explosiveness and strength are not inferior when facing wing players!”

“God! Look at these muscles, it’s truly incredible!”

Talent is indeed miraculous.

Lee passively gained strength without specifically training for it, but as each talent was assimilated, his physique became stronger and stronger.

His pectoral muscles, though not thick, were very well-defined, and his six-pack abs were particularly prominent, making his entire upper body muscle lines look exceptionally beautiful.

As he aged, his skills passively improved, and Lee recently had some new gains:

[Shaquille O’Neal’s Extraordinary Strength] had turned gold.

The corresponding strength attribute value also reached 85.

Katheryn, that blonde girl, really liked Lee’s muscles.

The two had also unlocked many special ways to play…

Lee also picked up his water bottle to rehydrate, noticed Ron Artest’s frustrated expression, and joked with a smile:

“If you can make 13 shots in a row, you should be able to beat me, Ron. You really need to push harder. You can’t always be faked out of your center of gravity.”

Matt Barnes couldn’t interject, but he saw clearly that it wasn’t Ron Artest being faked out of his center of gravity, but rather that if he defended too slowly, Lee could simply fake him out face-to-face and take a strong shot.

And when he encountered a thin guy like himself, Lee could easily gain half a step and drive to the basket.

After playing a few times, Matt Barnes knew he was the weakest among them.

“You need to summarize your defensive positioning, not just rely on feeling.”

“Every player has different playing habits, but through big data, you can still summarize them. Remember to consult the coaching staff; they will help you collect information on opposing players.”

Lee once again instructed Ron Artest, then turned to Stephen Jackson, who was counting money on the other side, and asked:

“How’s your hamstring feeling? I remember that kind of injury has an exceptionally long recovery period.”

Stephen Jackson immediately patted his right leg and said earnestly:

“No problem, I only played less than 30 games last season, and I was almost recovered by the Finals. Now I’m completely fine!”

“This year we’ll teach the Lakers a lesson, sh*t! Shaq is such an annoying loudmouth!”

Shaq, at his concert, didn’t forget to sarcastically mock the Knicks and even wrote a song for his little brother.

Mocking opponents, teasing teammates, Shaq, who had been holding back for years, completely let loose, frequently “practicing” recently.

In the Knicks, most players, except for Pau Gasol, did not have national team duties.

The atmosphere group started training early, mainly wanting to make a good impression on the new Head Coach.

Everyone didn’t know much about Coach D’Antoni’s coaching style, so impression points were very important at this time.

Grant Hill saw Rookie Prince remain silent and proactively pulled him aside for a couple of games to warm up.

Amar’e Stoudemire also didn’t interject, proactively going to serve the ball.

This high school Rookie was a bit shy, and his technique was a bit rough, always feeling a bit embarrassed.

Matt Barnes found his job taken, so he proactively approached Stephen Jackson and quietly asked:

“Bro, I want to stay on the team for a minimum salary. What should I do now?”

Stephen Jackson understood what he meant.

Barnes wanted to be part of the atmosphere group, to be Lee’s subordinate, which was the only way out for a second-round pick.

Rubbing his chin and looking at the other person’s somewhat thin body, Stephen Jackson, with his experience, offered advice:

“Buddy! You need to get some more tattoos. You can’t look like this right now! Have you ever boxed?”

“N-no, but I’m not a softie!”

Matt Barnes was a bit surprised, first with a puzzled look, then he looked at his own body, and finally showed a thoughtful expression:

“Perhaps that’s really a good idea!”

….

By the way, don’t forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me 🙂

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep