CHAPTER 1048: CHAPTER 338: THE TURNING POINT OF THEIR FATE

Michael Jordan is realizing for the first time that he actually has something in common with Roger.

For instance, they both can’t stand LeBron James’ style.

Jordan likes Roger’s assessment of LeBron James; that guy is just a bragging king.

Ten years ago, during the Knicks series, when the team morale was at its lowest and everyone was fantasizing "if MJ were still here it would be easier," Roger said: "We don’t need MJ, you just need me now!"

It turned out he wasn’t just saying it; his magical performance left a permanent psychological shadow on New York fans, ultimately leading the team to the finals.

Now, ten years later, LeBron James also thinks he doesn’t need MJ to lead the team into... the playoffs.

Even though his goals are much lower than Roger’s, Jordan still believes there’s no way he can do it!

The Cavaliers added Michael Reed, so what? Neither he nor LeBron James are leader-type players, so they won’t go far.

With that thought, Jordan looked outside the window, still finding it hard to believe he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, making the Hawks the only team besides the Bulls to have had both Jordan and Roger.

Of course, Michael Jordan’s arrival can’t be compared to Roger’s.

No city-wide fanfare, no grand welcome ceremony. Although Jordan’s transfer is hot news in the papers, Atlanta is actually very calm today, as if nothing happened.

Jordan sat in the back of the small bus, looking at the scenery of Atlanta, imagining what Roger felt when he came here back then.

Surely spirited and confident, full of expectation for the future.

In any case, definitely better than how I feel right now.

Michael Jordan is no stranger to transfers; his move to New York in the summer of 1996 was ten times more sensational.

But the feelings from the two transfers were entirely different.

In 1996, Michael Jordan left as a free agent by choice. But this time, he was cast off by the team.

On the streets, many people are still wearing Roger’s number 14 jersey, and the city’s large Reebok adverts are all Roger’s posters.

Michael Jordan lamented Roger’s influence; whether Orlando or Atlanta, Roger left a deep mark.

He had only been in this city for less than half an hour and already realized one thing: he was in Roger’s city!

His arrival would be insignificant, unlikely even to be remembered in the history of the Atlanta Hawks. A decade from now, people might only notice: oh, Michael was here once.

If it were before, Michael Jordan would’ve felt sad and failure.

It’s as if he was exiled to a city that didn’t belong to him, left only for self-destruction.

But now, Jordan feels there’s no harm in being traded to Atlanta.

He doesn’t care if he can achieve greatness in Atlanta; he’s here for one thing: to keep LeBron James out of the playoffs!

He must accomplish this goal!

After all, this is the worst betrayal Michael Jordan has ever experienced. He admits he is harsh on LeBron James, but it was never personal. In fact, he hoped more than anyone for LeBron James to perform well.

In the end, he was the one LeBron James kicked out.

Perhaps this is the fate he left behind when he once had the team trade Roger; the bullet fired back then now finds its mark unexpectedly.

Who would’ve thought, ten years later, he would experience being ousted by another person.

But Michael Jordan doesn’t think he’s as shameless as LeBron James; his conflict with Roger was out in the open. They faced each other like men.

But LeBron? He pretended to be brotherly, only to suddenly drop a bomb on you.

Jordan felt the pain of being five centimeters short of Jordan.

So no matter what, he has to take down that damned bastard!

He doesn’t need to be lively and spirited now, nor have fans lined up to welcome him.

He has his own goal.

Does that bunch in Cleveland really think I’m the playoff obstacle? Fine, fuck it, just wait and see!

With that thought, Michael Jordan clenched his fists.

In that serious atmosphere, Jordan turned his head and saw his 14-year-old son Marcus Jordan giggling.

"Marcus, what are you so happy about?" Jordan asked sternly.

"Nothing, I like this city; it’s way better than Cleveland."

"Indeed, much better than that godforsaken place."

"So when are we going to Aunt Larsa’s house?"

"What did you say?"

"Uh... aren’t you planning to meet Scott first?"

"Indeed," Michael Jordan nodded, "I should meet him."

At this moment, Jordan’s phone rang; it was Pete Babcock, the Atlanta Hawks’ general manager: "Michael, I just want to confirm, are you still wearing number 45?"

"Fuck number 45," Michael Jordan’s veins bulged on his forehead, "my number is 23!"

That afternoon, upon arriving in Atlanta, Michael Jordan met with Scottie Pippen at a cigar club.