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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.

The return of Itachi

I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.

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***

On September 2, 2004, with the United States Men’s National Basketball Team winning the bronze medal, sports media found new material.

The New York Times led the charge with mockery:

“Multi-millionaires might not be interested in the gold medal bonus!”

Winning an Olympics gold medal would net approximately $50,000, which is indeed a considerable sum, but for NBA stars, it might just be the cost of a few nights out at a club.

Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson bore the brunt of the criticism.

No one expected that Duncan would be unable to dominate the paint.

While Allen Iverson had strong performances in individual games, his overall showing was still underwhelming, though he received less criticism than Duncan.

This was because he was also an inefficient scorer in the NBA, and his performance at the Olympics only further confirmed this.

Allen Iverson’s active participation was commendable.

Although his skill level was indeed lacking, fans knew he gave his best.

After years of sifting, fans who still liked Allen Iverson were mostly “Trust the Process” spiritualists.

Win-loss fans and Excel fans had long since stopped paying attention to the past-his-prime Allen Iverson, and after a few complaints, they continued to criticize Duncan.

Grant Hill’s injury certainly had some impact on the United States Men’s National Basketball Team, but losing to Argentina in the semifinals made commentators exclaim how outrageous it was!

This also led to questions about coach Larry Brown and his coaching staff.

The Washington Post attributed the failure to the coaching team:

“After Hill’s injury, why weren’t the young players on the bench utilized more?”

Richard Jefferson took over Hill’s playing time, but his performance was mediocre.

As for LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, neither was given much playing time.

Only Dwyane Wade received more playing time.

In this loss, the three Rookies also shared the blame.

From a game experience perspective, Rookie players are indeed not very trustworthy, but Larry Brown’s personnel management also had issues!

With poor shooting, there should have been a greater emphasis on Defense, controlling turnovers, and winning games through transition offense.

Instead, the game went in the opposite direction.

Larry Brown, however, did not pass the buck.

After the Men’s National Basketball Team’s game, he took responsibility for the loss:

“This was a heartbreaking loss. The young men played great, and I will take responsibility for it!”

Hindsight could not change the results.

Larry Brown had completely lost face.

Commentators changed their stances, and eventually, everyone reached a consensus:

“Basketball is progressing, but Larry Brown cannot keep up with the development of modern basketball!”

In international competitions, shooting is more important.

It can even be said that the three-point shot changed the game.

NBC broadcasted the entire event, and after half a month, Lee, as a commentator, left a deep impression on fans:

“Clay Lee truly understands basketball!”

The United States Men’s National Basketball Team shot poorly too often, so Lee had little good to say during most of the game commentaries, but facts proved that he was absolutely correct.

The 2nd happened to be a Thursday.

On TNT’s program, Charles Barkley first angrily criticized the bronze medal, then brought up his consistent viewpoint:

“Today’s stars earn a lot, but their skills are constantly declining!”

Amidst a chorus of criticism, Phil Jackson, who had already resigned from the Lakers, seized the opportunity to release his new book:

“The Last Seasons: A Team in Search of Its Soul”

The title of the book itself looked interesting: Last Season, A Team in Search of Its Soul.

In the book’s preface, Phil Jackson stated:

“I don’t want this book to be about the petty gossip that makes up the NBA world, after all, many reporters have already met people’s expectations in that regard.”

“I just want to write a story about building a team around star players to contend for a championship.”

The content of “Searching for Soul” roughly introduced the team’s reaction to Kobe’s sexual assault charges in Colorado, and a part of it explained why the team lost the championship this season.

At the same time, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man also emphasized in the book that he and Kobe had always had a tense relationship.

What many sports media relished was a short anecdote:

“In the 2000-01 season, the Lakers failed again, which exacerbated the conflict between Kobe and Shaq.”

“Kobe no longer trusted his teammates. He made stricter demands on Shaq, and the two found it difficult to reach an understanding on the practice court.”

“I hoped to encourage Kobe in a special way, but unfortunately, this seemed to exacerbate the conflict between him and me.”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t have publicly acknowledged Lee’s excellence in front of the media, which made our relationship very fragile.”

This short essay referred to an interview in 2001 where Phil Jackson praised Lee’s performance in the Finals Game 5, where he scored 55 points, helping the Knicks secure a match point.

Phil Jackson might have wanted to motivate Kobe at the time, so he spoke his “true feelings” in front of the Los Angeles media:

“The difference between Kobe and Lee lies in their understanding of basketball. He seems to still retain his playing habits from high school.”

“In the NBA, ‘disrupting the game’ to win is hard to happen, which is why we lose.”

Phil Jackson also described his conflicts with the Lakers management.

He even yelled and confronted Kupchak, the Lakers General Manager:

“If Kobe is still here, I will not coach this team next year.”

“He won’t listen to anyone. Kobe is an uncoachable ordinary player!”

Although Phil Jackson repeatedly emphasized in the book that his departure was a joint decision between him and the Lakers management, and that he was “very calm” about it, much of the content was sarcastic.

The Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man also had a habit of keeping a diary.

In the book, he also wrote that he recorded the content of Jerry Buss’s phone call:

“We are just moving in different directions, and choosing Kobe was the right decision.”

The content of Phil Jackson’s new book was a treat for gossip enthusiasts.

Besides the internal gossip of the Lakers, he also praised Lee multiple times in the book:

“Superstars are defined by their ability to transcend systems and respond to any Defense.”

“Without a doubt, Clay Lee, like Michael Jordan, was not made great by a reasonable tactical system, but rather they made the tactical system great.”

Many such paragraphs of praise appeared, clearly implying a sarcastic jab at Kobe’s ability.

Much of the book implicitly suggested that Kobe was the reason for the Lakers F4’s failure and repeatedly labeled Kobe as “uncoachable.”

On Friday, the 3rd, after Lee finished his work at NBC, he also accepted media interviews.

When asked about Phil Jackson’s new book, Lee didn’t offer much comment.

He had no interest in hindering the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man’s financial success:

“For me, the world of basketball isn’t that complicated. Understanding basketball from a coach’s perspective feels good, and I like this new book!”

When one fully dedicates himself to the basketball career, he will naturally encounter troubles like Phil Jackson’s.

A team will always have various issues, and every player has different demands.

A coach’s job is to unite the team.

Only by working together can they contend for a championship.

However, Lee rarely gets involved in the messy affairs within the team.

For him, basketball is just a job.

He won’t completely dedicate himself to this sport.

The demanding New York fans want to enjoy the most exciting basketball games, and the Knicks’ way of handling internal conflicts is simple:

“Trade away the players who create conflicts.”

There are plenty of players who want to play for the Knicks.

Grunfeld had long understood Lee’s personality:

“Superstars are hard to find, but there are many two-legged role players.”

“…”

On sunday, September 5th, Lee, who had been quietly training in Manhattan recently, went with Ivanka to a pre-arranged French restaurant.

After graduating and taking over the SoHo-related projects, Ivanka and her brother had been busy until now, finally establishing themselves within the group.

Roger Stone had previously been in charge of Donald’s casino business and had even had conflicts with the New York State Governor over gambling operations back then.

Currently, their relationship was still quite close.

Bayrock Group, the real estate company, was also introduced by Roger Stone.

They formed a partnership, and the hotel-plus-apartment project is currently underway.

At the dinner table, Roger Stone, already quite old, had mostly white hair.

At 52, this lobbyist was at his peak.

Unlike his somewhat thin appearance in his youth, after gaining weight, Roger Stone had clearly intensified his workouts, and his skin had completely turned bronze.

He didn’t hold back with Donald Jr., cutting his food while quietly advising him:

“You need to be clear about your position. What you need to do is understand the work, not execute specific tasks.”

“You are the one who raises questions, not a good guy who cleans up after subordinates. If you still want to take over the group’s loan and financial business, don’t be so easygoing like you are now.”

Donald Jr. could only nod.

His life hadn’t been easy since taking over the family business two years ago, and with an extremely strong father, he was always getting reprimanded.

Ivanka had been the same recently.

She had to participate in the project from scratch.

This was the first time the siblings were taking on a business, and if the final result was poor, it would be a laughingstock.

Ivanka, dressed in a blue professional suit skirt, had lost another two sizes recently.

Running around for over two months was still quite exhausting.

Seeing her brother turn into a nodding machine, Ivanka was a bit displeased and quietly stepped on Lee’s foot under the table:

“How has Mr. Bruno’s health been recently? Due to the party convention, I haven’t bothered him for the past six months.”

Lee proactively changed the subject, helping Donald Jr. out of his predicament.

Joseph Bruno, a Republican Party member, is currently the temporary president of the New York State Senate and also serves as a multi-party leader.

When shorting Enron, this person helped a bit, and then demanded a large return.

Roger Stone, who is still serving as Bruno’s senior advisor, tilted his head and said meaningfully:

“Although he is 75 years old, his physical condition is like that of a young man. Lee, congratulations on being selected for Forbes 400.”

“No matter how times change, we should all pay tribute to billionaires!”

Looking at Roger Stone raising his glass, Lee also smiled and raised his red wine.

The way to pay tribute to billionaires was to “collect money.”

After making it onto the Forbes list, Clay Lee and Ken Griffin made the same choice, donating another sum of money.

Perhaps receiving instructions, Roger Stone lightheartedly introduced Spitzer’s recent situation to Lee, and confidently guaranteed that there would be no more heavy penalties for Wall Street.

Lee showed a focused listening expression, but in his heart, he was complaining that the old man Bruno would eventually be caught.

If one day he were convicted of federal corruption, he wouldn’t be surprised at all!

After giving his assurance, Roger Stone brought the topic back to Donald:

“Expanding business in Las Vegas is definitely a good choice, Lee. The real estate industry can sometimes bring you extra income.”

“As long as you make the bank believe in you, they can even proactively help you through a crisis.”

Donald, that big mouth, recently started bragging again.

He would pull his old friends into expanding into Las Vegas, and Lee’s name appeared on the list of “old friends.”

In fact, due to multiple projects starting simultaneously, Las Vegas was a distant dream.

The less money Donald had, the more he bragged.

Of course, this also had to do with the reality show “The Apprentice.”

After its viewership exploded, people across America knew Donald was incredibly rich, and at this point, no matter how much he bragged, everyone believed him.

The dinner was enjoyable for both host and guests.

When Roger Stone left, he handed Lee a private business card.

The old man smiled, saying with a hint of self-satisfaction:

“Clay, trust me, we will continue to cooperate in the future!”

“…”

Donald Jr. said goodbye and went to the bar for entertainment.

When he returned to Ivanka’s home, Lee was also speechless about his Good Brother.

He had been drinking away his sorrows more and more in the past two years, not wanting to be a good CEO, but instead insisting on studying bartending.

On this rare weekend, Ivanka also completely relaxed, lying comfortably in the massage bathtub, humming softly.

Lee kneaded her shoulders from behind, occasionally playing with her ample, fair skin:

“The second season of ‘The Apprentice’ has been confirmed. Aren’t you planning to participate in the show?”

Ivanka, who had completely melted into his embrace, took a while to come back to her senses.

After giving him a kiss, she whispered:

“I don’t know yet, but I don’t want to participate in this kind of reality show. I can even guess what kind of reports there will be after participating.”

“Relying on one’s father” is not shameful, but onlookers inevitably resort to harsh words.

If one cares about public opinion, public figures can sometimes break down.

Ivanka, who was still “thin-skinned,” didn’t want to be criticized.

On this rare break, she just wanted to relax.

Noticing the fair body in his arms starting to warm up, Lee chuckled softly and whispered in her ear.

Soon, Ivanka, whose face grew redder, held onto the edge, arched her body, her waist becoming much slenderer, and her dimples reappeared.

With his attack speed boosted, Lee made the water ripple.

Tonight, they would continue to train!

Phil Jackson’s new book recently sparked heated discussions among sports commentators.

After paying a large sum of money, Kobe finally put the sexual assault case behind him.

However, Kobe did not respond to the Kentucky Fried Chicken Old Man’s sarcastic accusations in the book.

As usual, he simply threw himself into the training gym.

Ever since Lee made his “self-discipline” declaration, Kobe had been working even harder!

Although Vanessa believed Tim Grover was always lying, Kobe remained firm in his conviction.

He had to be prepared; in the new season, he wanted to prove that he could reach the Finals even without Shaquille O’Neal.

The Champion Coach’s new book also made many NBA players follow the drama.

Ray Allen, who was still training in Seattle, was in a particularly good mood recently.

Although he didn’t get a max contract, the Lakers had disbanded, and his opportunity had arrived!

In an interview with the Seattle Times, Ray Allen also talked about the recently discussed new book:

“I think Head Coach Phil Jackson is right. Kobe cares more about his own performance. We can all see that he wants to prove himself.”

“But without Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant won’t achieve anything. After the new season begins, under his leadership, the Lakers even have a high possibility of not making it to the playoffs.”

“Just as the book says, Kobe always likes to disrupt the game.”

“The Seattle SuperSonics are different. We are more united. We will make it back to the playoffs!”

On the morning of the 14th, ESPN reported Ray Allen’s comments.

Recently, they had been seizing on hot topics to fiercely criticize Kobe.

It was rare to encounter a player speaking out, so they naturally joined in the fun.

In the studio, John Flip Saunders became the new host, while the other three were still the big mouths Stephen A. Smith, Tim Legler, and Greg Anthony.

Ever since he became a “Clay Lee fan,” Stephen A. Smith no longer pretended.

He strongly agreed with Ray Allen’s view:

“Ray is right. If the Lakers had played more united in the Finals, they shouldn’t have lost by an average of 29 points per game!”

“The Lakers can’t beat the Knicks, and it’s hard for Kobe to lead this team to the Finals.”

“It’s a great pity. In the next few years, the Lakers should bid farewell to the Finals stage!”

“Without a doubt, Phil Jackson’s view is correct. Clay Lee is the GOAT. Whether you like him or not, Lee is the greatest of all time!”

After saying these words with emphasis, Stephen A. Smith looked at the other two.

Legler, wearing a dark gray suit, was a bit tired of praising Lee.

He ignored the provocation from across the table and instead analyzed seriously:

“If Head Coach Phil Jackson’s view is correct, then who will be the new Head Coach of the Lakers?”

“Compared to Shaquille O’Neal, I am more optimistic about Kobe Bryant, not just because he’s younger, but most importantly, his basketball attitude!”

“Los Angeles at 4 AM, throughout the entire offseason, Kobe immersed himself in the training gym. If he has a breakout season, I won’t be surprised at all.”

Greg Anthony, who considered himself a Knicks legend, heard the “White-space theory” again and immediately frowned, refuting:

“I won’t believe such a ridiculous report, Tim. We’ve all played in the league, and you should know this is impossible.”

“No one can train like that every day. It would severely deplete the body. Kobe is excellent, but he is not an MVP-level player.”

“I agree with some points in Phil Jackson’s book. Kobe is stubborn and truly uncoachable. The new coach will likely compromise with him.”

As a black host, John Sanders didn’t want to badmouth a fellow.

Before the three could start arguing, he immediately changed the subject, saying,

“There have been very few news reports related to Lee in the past few offseasons.”

“He did a good job as a commentator for NBC this year, but Phil Jackson’s evaluation of him is too high.”

“Clay Lee, who is gradually entering his peak, is indeed very dominant, but after he turns 30, he is highly likely to start declining.”

“In contrast, Kobe’s physique has more advantages. As he ages, I believe he has a chance to surpass Clay Lee.”

John Sanders’s implication was that Lee hadn’t trained in the offseason and would eventually decline, while Kobe was more disciplined and would succeed in the future.

Stephen A. Smith kept shaking his head and chuckling, as if this was a huge joke:

“Put away those useless fantasies!”

“Kobe cannot surpass Lee, and this will be forever!”

“Six NBA Finals trophies, six Finals MVP trophies—don’t forget how difficult a championship is. Clay Lee created a miracle.”

“I believe Phil Jackson’s point in his book: Kobe is not a superstar. He is merely an ordinary star.”

Seeing someone about to retort, Stephen A. Smith paused, then loudly reminded them:

“Surpass Lee? How many MVP trophies has Kobe won so far?”

“If hard training alone could earn praise and recognition, many role players should receive more encouragement!”

“The Lakers offered Kobe a hundred-million-dollar contract not for fans to watch how hard he trains on the court.”

“…”

Regardless of how ESPN and other sports media commented, Kobe never responded.

He was disgusted by these boring reports and only wanted to prove himself through basketball.

After the Lakers’ training camp opened on the 15th, Kobe finally accepted an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Kobe did not respond to Phil Jackson’s book point by point, merely expressing his views calmly:

“There were indeed many reasons for last season’s loss, but I won’t regret those shots!”

“I have dedicated myself to basketball, and I will always believe in my next shot.”

“As the best shooting guard in the league, no one can deprive me of my right to score.”

“Perhaps this is where our basketball philosophies diverge, but I will prove that I am right. I will win the MVP this season. Basketball doesn’t lie!”

“…”

The Knicks’ training camp was set to open next Monday.

Lee returned to the Tarrytown Training Center early, mainly to visit Grant Hill.

Grant Hill, soon to be 32, suffered a torn ACL in his knee, effectively ending his season.

Even if he recovers, his athleticism will decline sharply.

For Grant Hill, his next contract is bound to be undervalued.

Considering the internal competition within the Knicks, many must have secretly rejoiced after Grant Hill’s injury.

A starting spot means better stats, and to compete for this position, everyone had to continue to work hard!

After several years of continuous improvement, the Tarrytown Training Center’s facilities were more complete, also equipped with a professional injury recovery center.

Although the surgery was successful, after examination by the medical team, Grant Hill still showed a pained expression.

Lee and Grunfeld did not disturb the medical team’s work, but thinking about the chain reaction caused by the injury problem, both fell silent.

Seemingly recalling Grant Hill’s playing time in the Olympics, Grunfeld complained in a low voice:

“Larry Brown shouldn’t have used Grant Hill like that. He played more games these past few years!”

“Participating in the Olympics, Grant Hill was just expressing his support for the United States Men’s National Basketball Team.”

“He shouldn’t have been made Head Coach in the first place, damn it! A major injury, and all we got in the end was a bronze medal!”

Lee watched the Fat Man beside him complain incessantly, shook his head slightly, then said softly:

“This is indeed related to our tactical style of play. Our pace is first in the league every season. Although the playing time in many games isn’t long, more sprints do cause considerable wear and tear on the body.”

“We need to prepare for an injury wave in advance. I will communicate with Coach D’Antoni to appropriately reduce some daily training.”

Seeing the Lakers disband and the Knicks face injuries, many teams in the league, though verbally expressing regret, were actually preparing more diligently.

The big man Wright had been shopped for two seasons and couldn’t find a taker, which was enough to show the attitude of most team managements.

For the new season, Clay Lee signed a 1+1 contract, waiting to sign a bigger contract after the league implements new clauses next year.

Considering Pau Gasol’s salary, Grunfeld also had a headache.

The after-effects of a dynasty team came faster than he expected.

“It seems we won’t have a chance to get 70 wins again this season.”

Grunfeld said this with a forced lightness, and Lee also smiled.

Achieving a three-peat was the task for the new season.

Ensuring home-court advantage in the regular season was enough.

“How did Ron and the others spend the offseason? He texted me, telling me he’s been consistently training.”

Hearing Lee’s words, Grunfeld’s expression was a bit strange.

After thinking for a moment, he still spoke truthfully:

“He’s indeed very hardworking, and he’s gained a lot of muscle!”

Clearly, Ron Artest didn’t spend much time refining his skills.

He opted for weightlifting and fitness.

Compared to Lee’s daily disciplined practice, Ron Artest, who had won another championship, had an exceptionally exciting offseason.

Although his salary wasn’t high, with the championship bonus, Ron Artest, hailed as the best perimeter defender, became famous!

Mainstream sports media were all hyping Ron Artest’s Defense, and under such circumstances, becoming arrogant was only natural.

Famous black basketball players usually have a group of hangers-on around them.

In the past, Ron Artest had been somewhat restrained, but this offseason, he couldn’t hold back.

He gathered many followers and put on airs like a big star.

During the Summer League, Ron Artest brought his extended family and their hangers-on to watch the Knicks’ atmosphere squad play.

The fans at the venue also played along.

Every time Ron Artest watched a game, he received enthusiastic cheers from the fans.

On Friday the 17th, Ron Artest once again graced Rucker Park, showing off his skills.

With the enthusiastic cooperation of his opponents, he avenged past defeats and completely conquered a group of streetballers.

Everyone showered him with flattery, and in his joy, Ron Artest took on two more followers!

After the weekend, the Knicks also started their training camp.

In October, the team would fly to China to begin their overseas preseason tour.

The Tarrytown Training Center opened to the media in advance.

At 10 AM, when sports reporters arrived, they saw Ron Artest furiously pounding a sandbag while wearing boxing gloves.

After pounding the sandbag, there was a series of professional footwork drills.

Ron Artest displayed his boxing prowess.

Asian Sports reporter, who wasn’t tall, didn’t expect to see such a scene in the Knicks’ training facility and was momentarily stunned.

“Nima!”

Ron Artest, drenched in sweat and wearing a tank top, blurted out an unstandardized asian phrase to the crowd.

Looking at the muscular black man in front of him, Asian reporter gave an awkward smile and quickly asked in English:

“This is my first time seeing such a unique training method! Can you introduce this special training method to asian fans?”

Ron Artest showed a friendly smile, pounded his chest, and said proudly:

“Boxing training makes our bodies more agile. We’re not just big guys who only lift weights in the gym!”

“?”

The Reporter didn’t understand what this training had to do with basketball, but after observing the training facilities, he could only secretly grumble:

“Is this the Knicks’ secret to winning?”

“…”

…

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

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep