Chapter 1000
The first big thing I did after returning to the 1000th chapter: I trolled the entire alliance!
"Of course, it won't be so easy for you to see your king." Lin Tian paused before speaking to all the reporters, as well as to all the players, coaches, and teams in the entire league.
“It’s not just some rotten sweet potato or a rotten bird egg that’s worth my full effort.”
Lin Tian's words were absolutely domineering.
You would hardly find anything more arrogant or overbearing.
This was practically a blatant declaration: "You trash, I won't go all out against you. Only if you push the Lakers to a certain point will I go all out."
Those who cannot do this are what are called rotten sweet potatoes and rotten bird eggs.
Arrogant and domineering, and quite offensive to people.
Lin Tian's words were practically an insult to the Lakers, placing them on the opposite side of the entire league.
Every team will put in extra effort and drive when they face the Lakers next, determined to defeat them and prove that Lin Tian is just talking nonsense.
"Aren't you afraid of being targeted?" one reporter couldn't help but ask.
“We’ll be targeted at any time.” This time, Kobe took the lead and said, “I’m used to being targeted, so I completely agree with what Lin said, support him, and stand with him.”
"Anyone who disagrees, come on over! The Lakers have only one goal this season: the championship!"
"Since our goal is the championship, we are not afraid to offend anyone. We are confident that we can beat any team. With our current roster and ability, it would be ridiculous if we didn't even have this much confidence."
"Lin and Kobe are right!" Durant was also fired up at this point, waving and cheering from the side.
"So, whether you're the young guys who joined the league after my last retirement, or the old guys who've always wanted to take me down but never managed to, bring it on! I'm giving you the chance to take me down; whether you can seize it is up to you!"
"Bring it on!" Kobe chimed in from the sidelines. "Aren't there a lot of people who think they're the best point guard and can challenge Lin? Come on, Lin will crush you all!"
"Kobe and Lin are right! I support them!" Durant shouted again, raising his hand.
"I'm not afraid of anyone, the bastards from other teams should be afraid," Lin Tian continued to provoke.
"Have nightmares, have nightmares sooner rather than later, so that when you meet us, you won't have sleepless nights." Kobe followed up.
"Lin and Kobe are right!" Durant completely transformed into a straight man.
"Of course, if you want to take me down, you'll have to take down my little brother Kobe first. Only after you take him down will you be qualified to challenge me." Lin Tian chuckled, shifting his focus to Kobe.
Upon hearing Lin Tian's words, Kobe's expression changed instantly.
What did you say?
What do you mean by "kill me first"? Am I your henchman or gatekeeper?
"Lin is right!" Kobe was silent this time, but Durant didn't react and continued to wave and shout, clearly completely absorbed in it.
Then, he also realized something was wrong; he sensed an almost deathly silence in the room.
Kobe stared at Durant silently.
“What I mean is… challenge me first! Then go fight my big brothers! I’m the first hurdle for the Lakers!” Durant’s mind raced. Under the pressure of death, he immediately found a seemingly perfect answer for himself.
The implication is: I'm the younger brother, Kobe isn't! You're all my dearest older brothers!
As for whether Kobe appreciates it or accepts Durant's offer of compensation...
Based on Lin Tian's understanding of Kobe, he couldn't possibly accept it.
This guy is petty and holds grudges, although he wouldn't do anything underhanded like trying to undermine Durant or cause any internal factional struggles or infighting over something like this.
But he will definitely not let Durant off the hook.
Sure enough, after the reporters asked a few more questions and the press conference was officially over, Kobe immediately grabbed Durant.
"The Lakers' guardian, gatekeeper, first line of defense?" Kobe's face showed no murderous intent, but it was also clearly not smiling.
"Yes, it's me." Durant swallowed, a little nervous. Although it was his fifth year in the league and he had already been selected as an All-Star, he was still afraid when he saw Kobe.
"Your current level isn't quite up to par for the Lakers' doorman." Without realizing it, Kobe's description of Durant went from a doorman god to a doorman.
"We don't have a match tomorrow. Come with me to the training hall at four o'clock."
"But we have a game in Atlanta the night after tomorrow," Durant asked Kobe tentatively.
"I know, that's why we don't have practice the day after tomorrow." Kobe nodded and said, "Then we can only practice tomorrow."
"Alright." Durant knew he was doomed, so he could only sigh and say, "I'll be there at four o'clock sharp this afternoon."
"Who said 4 PM? It's 4 AM!" Kobe scoffed, continuing to tease Durant.
"But it's almost 11 o'clock now." Durant was going crazy.
According to the team's schedule, they will wash up, change clothes, and go straight to the airport. They will arrive in Atlanta at around 2:30 a.m. Adding the time for getting in and out of the airport and taking the bus to the hotel, he probably won't even have time to put down his luggage before he has to go to the training facility, let alone sleep.
"I see." Kobe nodded and said, "Then you're in a tight timeframe. You'll have to do your best, considering you're a doorman in LA."
"Can't it be 4 PM?" Durant asked with a pained expression, making his final request.
"Do you know why I became the MVP and the scoring champion?" Kobe looked at Durant and said calmly, "Because I've seen every 4 a.m. morning in Los Angeles! I know what 4 a.m. in Los Angeles is like."
"I achieved my current status and success through hard work! You can trust me, you won't go wrong!"
"What achievements have you made?" Lin Tian yawned and moved closer to the two of them, saying, "If you got enough sleep every day and ensured good sleep quality, you might be able to win one or two championships by now."
"For example, the year before last, like the year with the Pistons. How could you guys lose to the Pistons back then? I still can't understand it, how could you lose?"
"It's just Billups and Hamilton, right? You can't beat those two? You can't even manage a 35% shooting percentage?"
"Shut up!" Kobe, his face dark with anger after being exposed, snapped, "It's none of your business!"
"I'm just curious, after all, I faced them in the same year! I mean the same year, what were my stats? I can't remember exactly, was it 35 points or 40 points per game?"
"Didn't you lose too?" Kobe looked at Lin Tian, finally finding an opportunity to retaliate.
"But I beat you guys the year before, and the year after that I got my revenge and crushed the Pistons. I won the championship both years before and after. What about you? Did you win the championship the year before or get your revenge the year after?"
Quiet.
Kobe fell silent.
He wanted to slap himself.
Facing Lin Tian, they actually talked to him about records, winning percentage, and the championship.
Isn't this just inviting humiliation?
Kobe could only turn his attention back to Durant and choose to completely ignore Lin Tian: "4 o'clock, training facility!"
Then, Kobe sped up and headed towards the locker room.
"Boss." Durant said with a pained expression, trying to get help from Lin Tian.
"Don't be so rude." Lin Tian shrugged and said, "I can't control this. This is your agreement. If you really don't want to go, catch up with him now and tell him I'm not going."
Durant opened his mouth, but being somewhat soft-hearted, he ultimately shook his head, not daring to protest to Kobe. Lin Tian could only shake his head as well. "Little brother, you're still too thin-skinned."
You have to practice, and practice slowly.
That night, Lin Tian naturally ignored Kobe and Durant's agreement. He simply took a shower, changed clothes, boarded a bus, took a plane, and went to the hotel to rest, waiting for the second game of the season the following day.
The Lakers have had a pretty bad start to the season.
Because Lin Tian's joining the league was meant to create hype, they started with a three-game road trip in the Eastern Conference before returning to their home court. Given the Lakers' status and popularity in the league, they had never experienced starting with a three-game road trip before.
Fortunately, they have already defeated the Bobcats, who are considered the strongest of the three away teams. They can at least rest for a day and avoid playing back-to-back away games.
However, the Lakers can rest for a day to recover and wait for the second game.
But the league's teams and reporters won't let the Lakers off the hook so easily.
Lin Tian's crazy remarks last night were immediately followed up by reporters who asked every NBA player they could get their hands on.
The reporters, of course, were eager to see a good show and wanted to ignite the controversy. The responses from the players were varied, ranging from tough and enthusiastic, telling Lin Tian to come at all costs, to those who laughed it off and expressed their respect for Lin Tian.
The timing of these reports, appearing on a large scale, was undoubtedly during the post-game interviews following the second day of the league's games.
After all, nearly half of the league's teams were playing on the second day of the season, and there were quite a few heavyweight stars on the field. Reporters were very enthusiastic and asked the same questions at every press conference.
What do you think of what Lin said last night?
The same question, completely different answers.
"Lin is a benchmark. Without a doubt, he is the best in this league, the best of all time, and even today he is the best! I've known him since I was a kid. I trained with my father since I was a child, so I've always looked forward to playing against him."
"Now my dream has come true. I don't know how I will perform against Lin, but I am sure of one thing: I will bring my parents to the event. I want them to see my first showdown with Lin! This is something I have been looking forward to for 20 years."
"I'm so excited, I can't wait. If I could hit a three-pointer over him, it would be like a dream come true! I've fantasized about it countless times, really countless times! He's my favorite player, always has been."
These incredibly polite, even fanboy-like, answers came from Stephen Curry of the Miami Heat. When he said them, his eyes were truly sparkling.
As he said, he had known Lin Tian since his father, Dell Curry, was still playing basketball, and he had been a big fan of Lin Tian since he was a child.
However, when he entered the league, Lin Tian had just retired, so the two never competed on the court. But now, Curry's chance has come!
He was genuinely looking forward to it.
However, very few people answer questions like Curry, who is completely a fanboy.
After all, this is the NBA. Even if the players are really fans of Lin Tian, even if they grew up watching Lin Tian's games, they have already come this far. Faced with Lin Tian's undisguised mockery and provocation, not many people can hold back.
For example, Curry's teammate Beasley couldn't hold back at all.
"Stephen, that's not right of you. You're my best little brother! You're the guy I trust the most. You need to step up your game! You need to show everyone your attitude! If we meet the Lakers, you have to teach them a lesson!"
"I believe in you! If you can't do it, then I will. I'll protect you. That Lin guy, we have to take him down! You're no worse than him, believe in yourself, you're no worse than him! Don't forget what our goal is this season!"
"Champions! We will be champions!"
Beasley pumped his fist to express his confidence, but Curry next to him looked rather forced with a smile.
He clearly didn't agree with Beasley's words, but out of consideration for his teammates, he didn't directly refute Beasley.
In Denver, Ty Lawson, a young guard who had been a substitute for the past two years, finally stood out as a starter this year due to Chauncey Billups' serious injury and scored 29 points and 11 assists in his first game of the new season. His attitude is similar to Beasley's.
"I really did grow up watching Lin play, and I personally witnessed him win countless honors. I know how great Lin is, and I know what he means in the league. Two, maybe three teams will retire his jersey and erect a statue in his honor."
"His past honors and achievements deserve all of this! He deserves it."
"But that was him in the past, the him in Chicago, the him in Indiana and New York, not the him in Los Angeles!"
"We'll see, I'm not afraid at all!"
The tough and fierce Lawson represents the confidence of those Black people from the streets and the lower classes. They dare to challenge everything, dare to deny everything, and possess the ultimate confidence!
His teammate Milicic was much more reserved. The big guy from Europe just smiled and said, "I will fully support Ty, he is my good buddy, but the Lakers are very strong. All I can say is that before we meet them, we will watch countless game videos to prepare."
"Lin is my big brother!" Westbrook from Oklahoma said, patting his chest. "He's the person I respect most. You have no idea how much he's helped me. No matter what he says, I support him one hundred percent!"
"He is the best in this league, he always has been, and he still is!"
"These are the premises, but I am Russell Westbrook! I will not surrender, I will never give up, I will keep moving forward! I will tell everyone in the world that maybe I am not as good as Lin, but I am definitely one of the top players!"
“I long to face off against Lin, I long to fight him! I long to defeat him, but this does not affect the feelings between us or my respect for him.”
Westbrook's words were relatively polite, after all, he and Lin Tian did have a very good relationship.
Among these new generation point guards, Ty Lawson was not the one who was the most rude to Lin Tian.
He is Rajon Rondo, the Clippers' star point guard, and a poor relative from the same rural area as the Lakers.
This guy has been in the league for a few years, but unlike most promising talents who enter the league as the core of their teams and the future hope, he was not drafted high, and the teams did not pay much attention to developing him.
He spent the first two years on the bench before being traded to the Clippers, where he finally got a more stable position and could play as a substitute.
Rondo's comeback opportunity came from a draft.
The Clippers won the number one overall pick in the 09 NBA draft and selected Blake Griffin.
Although Griffin missed his rookie season due to injury, he soared to new heights in the 10-11 season, playing at the level of a top power forward in the league. What was even more amazing was his playing style and physical attributes.
They can fly and burrow underground, just like beasts!
This guy is a true high-flying player; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's the most explosive player in the league right now.
With Griffin's explosive performance, guards like Rondo, who excel at passing and feeding the ball to their teammates, naturally found their lucky break.
His partnership with Griffin has resulted in countless highlight-reel dunks and plays, and with the addition of DeAndre Jordan, who is equally talented and possesses incredible athleticism, the Clippers are now known as 'Lob City'.
Whenever the Clippers play, there are bound to be a few powerful and exhilarating dunks that get your blood pumping!
Their popularity and attention have also risen sharply. Although their influence in Los Angeles is still far less than that of the Lakers, at least they are no longer the Lakers' poor relatives in the countryside or just another nobody in Los Angeles.
"I don't care what he's achieved in the past, I only know that he'll never achieve anything again, and I'll kill him!"
"The league's best point guard is back? I think he'll have to compete with me for the title of best point guard in Los Angeles first."
"I'm not afraid of him, of course I'm not afraid. Why should I be afraid of him? I wouldn't be afraid of him even if I were in the octagon, let alone on the basketball court?"
"If there were only one team in Los Angeles, it would definitely be the Clippers! I know the Lakers have a lot of championships, they are a powerhouse in the league."
"But like I said, that's something they've achieved before, not something they can achieve now. At the very least, they definitely can't win the championship before we do!"
If Lawson's earlier move was merely a subtle mockery of Lin Tian, then Rondo's move was a direct and overt challenge, not only to Lin Tian but also to the entire Lakers team.
Clearly, the Clippers have very ambitious goals for this year.
They are not content to be merely darlings of the top ten plays.
They still want to be the darlings of Los Angeles, the darlings of the league, and they still want to be champions!
At least for now, the Clippers have a chance!
It's time for them to produce results. (End of Chapter)