CHAPTER 1042: CHAPTER 335: LESSONS FROM THE KING, BETRAYAL FROM THE CHOSEN ONE

And now they’ve had a conflict on a nationally broadcast game?

Jordan had been enduring James, from training camp all the way to now.

But tonight, he finally snapped.

He tolerated James’ skills not being up to expectations, he tolerated James not being as mature as he imagined.

But he couldn’t tolerate James being afraid to act in crucial games, looking dazed and at a loss.

"If you can’t damn well play in the NBA, I’ll have you try your luck in the development league!" Jordan yelled at the number 23, soon being pulled away by his teammates.

James didn’t retort, didn’t shout or scream.

Under the protection of some teammates, he sat back on the bench, then put his elbows on his knees and bit his fingers.

Seeing this scene, Al Michaels concluded.

"Sixty points in three quarters, a great night, the first since Wilt Chamberlain, Roger singlehandedly took down the combination of LeBron and Michael.

LeBron, who had high hopes placed upon him, who was hyped the whole summer, who was believed to have already booked a spot in the legendary club, had an inexplicable performance today.

I suddenly think, superstar is a bad word, an overused bad word. When people see a player doing fancy dribbles, a player with high-flying dunks, a player with a strong body and fast speed, they say: Oh, that’s a superstar. And such a title was bestowed upon LeBron James this summer.

But give me a break, Roger is the one who actually deserves to be called a superstar!

A superstar not only needs outstanding talent, but also needs a resilient heart for victory.

Stop carelessly giving the title of superstar to just anyone, and stop easily comparing anyone to Roger.

This feels like the ultimate insult to Roger!"

Al Michaels voiced Roger’s innermost thoughts.

When James and Jordan were crazily trying to imitate Roger in the summer, Roger felt insulted. An old man, a young kid, how dare they talk about replacing me? Surpassing me?

So tonight, he simply returned the insult.

Seeing the already disheartened LeBron James, seeing the face filled with anger, discontent, and betrayal of Michael Jordan, Doug Collins knew, let alone the division semifinals, even making the playoffs was a pipe dream. Let alone replacing Roger, LeBron James might even be reduced to being a toy at Roger’s party for a long time to come.

This time, their bluff was really too big.

In the end, the Warriors took the game with a 127-81 victory.

ESPN posted the statistics of Roger, James, and Michael Jordan.

Roger: 60 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 blocks.

LeBron James: 11 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 6 turnovers.

Michael Jordan: 17 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds.

What more can be said? ESPN was so considerate, as if they were afraid fans wouldn’t be able to clearly and directly feel the gap between Roger and the Cleveland duo.

The two of them paid a heavy price for their summer craziness of trying to imitate.

After the game ended, Roger didn’t forget to greet the Cavaliers players. But Jordan and James didn’t greet anyone; they rushed into the player’s tunnel the moment the game ended.

Stephen Jackson patted Roger on the shoulder: "It doesn’t matter anymore, Roger, no matter how they try to escape, their actions in the summer and your actions tonight have already made this one of the most self-humiliating games in NBA history."

"For Michael, sure. But for LeBron... this might not even be his most humiliating game. The guy is only 19, there’s plenty of time left, Stephen. No one can ever predict what will happen in the future. You know? I’m actually quite looking forward to how he’s going to replace me."

-----------------

Roger looked out the window, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from curving upwards.

Every time he thinks about last night’s experience, every time he thinks about the fragile relationship between Michael Jordan and LeBron James breaking, every time he thinks about LeBron James still being in this league for many years to come, it excites him.

Replace me?

Let’s see about that!

Whether in business or on the basketball court, LeBron James and Michael Jordan could give it a try.

Yes, in the original timeline, LeBron James was almost going to replace Michael Jordan.

When people seriously discussed who the true GOAT was between him and Jordan, James had actually already won, just most people hadn’t realized it.

The reason James’ team succeeded was because this comparison was across an era, and they never even had a formal head-to-head game. So, there was no evidence for the argument "LeBron is inferior to Michael".

Even though Roger thought that two three-peats and four random championships were already different levels of achievement, the fans and media’s adoration and that man’s audacity couldn’t be stopped.

But Roger was different, he had glorified in the 90s just like Jordan. But unlike Jordan, he would continue playing in the 00s.

So he would face off against LeBron James, and many times at that.

He would provide the world with evidence after evidence of LeBron James being inferior to himself, he would specify the gap between LeBron James and himself.

In the face of this evidence, the James team and Nike’s publicity and hype would become meaningless.

Meanwhile, Michael Jordan was drowning his sorrows at home with alcohol.

Everything he hoped for shattered in yesterday’s game, and Roger once again became the person who dashed his hopes.

After such an embarrassing game, such a game that broke the promotional fairy tale, how long could the attendance of the Cleveland Cavaliers be sustained? Could LeBron James reverse Nike’s decline?

Thinking of these, Michael Jordan took another swig of strong alcohol.

The liquid slid down his throat, burning his heart.

No matter what, what’s done is done, the only option now is to face it.

He had to ensure the Cavaliers made it to the playoffs, he had to let LeBron James learn to be tough.

Although Michael Jordan had already scolded LeBron James fiercely in the locker room yesterday, Jordan thought it was nothing.

Who in the Bulls hadn’t been scolded like this before? But did anyone break up with him? No one did.

He was just teaching that kid, ultimately, they still had to cooperate.

Michael Jordan picked up his phone and texted James with a big brotherly tone: "Forget last night, let’s embrace tomorrow."

LeBron James didn’t bother with the vibrating phone, just staring directly at the man in front of him, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Gordon Gund. Yes, the Gund Arena was named after himself.

The man took a puff on his cigar, his eyes bulging wide.

Because he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

"LeBron, what did you say?"

Facing Gordon Gund, the super talent, the one believed to be destined to replace Roger, Cleveland’s hope, repeated his words again with an indifferent expression.

"Roger became great because he wasn’t on the same team with Michael, so, I don’t need him either."

(Today’s update 8600, slightly cut 1400, continuing the 10,000 words tomorrow.)