Chapter 1265: Chapter 400: God Will Not Forgive Those Who Give Up Opportunities

Gary Payton still didn’t speak, but he listened.

Don’t give up on opportunities that can still be grasped?

For some reason, a sentence reverberated in the Glove’s mind, like the whispers of the devil.

“You know, Gary, the only way to get a ring in my era is to bow down to me.”

In the evening, Payton returned home and switched on the sports news channel, which was inevitably filled with repeated content.

Cattino Mobley has woken up but might end his professional career.

AK47 is looking forward to working with LeBron James.

LBJ vows to break Roger’s dominance over Cleveland.

But there are also fresh news, like Reggie Miller officially announcing his retirement.

In the final game of this year’s Eastern Conference semifinals, Pacers fans held up “Thank you Reggie” signs in the last minute when the outcome was already decided; it was one of the most touching moments in NBA history.

Pistons coach Rick Carlisle even intentionally called a timeout in that round, allowing Reggie Miller to savor the moment.

Of course, since Reggie Miller’s contract with the Pacers isn’t over, he might reconsider this summer.

But all suspense ended today, as Reggie Miller officially exited the stage.

The guy who claimed “I will never fear competing with God” ultimately couldn’t hold on.

He battled against Michael Jordan, battled against Roger. He was never a superstar, but wrote a unique legend in the league with blood and tears.

But at the end of the day, Reggie Miller left with regrets.

He, like Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, never got a glorious ring of his own throughout his life.

At the retirement announcement press conference, a reporter asked Reggie Miller: “Do you regret not winning a championship?”

It’s a silly question because the answer is almost certainly yes.

Reggie Miller looked at the camera, his tears seemed to swirl in his eyes.

He didn’t answer, but he answered everything.

Gary Payton and Reggie Miller are not very familiar, in their prime, one was in the West, the other in the East, meeting only a few times a year and never in the playoffs. As for personal relationships, they are close to nonexistent.

But seeing Reggie Miller like this, Gary Payton felt some heartache, because he could feel the pain behind that moment of silence.

He came to terms, Karl Malone also came to terms, they all accepted the reality of climbing hard for over a decade and yet not seeing the view at the top.

Those familiar names have become increasingly rare in the league, and those who persist are few.

But Gary Payton didn’t want to accept it; he just wanted a ring, he didn’t want to play basketball his whole life and not know what the top looks like.

The devil’s whisper sounded in his ear again, he held the cup, his heart in struggle.

Does he really want to make a deal with the devil?

At this moment, there was more news on the TV.

Reportedly, coffee king Howard Schultz has sold the WNBA Seattle Storm Team to an Oklahoma City investment group led by Clay Bennett.

The latter’s real goal is to acquire the Seattle SuperSonics and wants to relocate them to his hometown, Oklahoma City.

Seattle fans have vehemently protested this move, and the Seattle city government stated that even if the team relocates, they won’t relinquish the “SuperSonics” name.

But Gary Payton knows that the power of capital does not adhere to nominal values.

This means that if the team truly relocates, the Seattle SuperSonics will completely disappear.

Gary Payton felt scared.

Reggie Miller never won a championship, but he is forever a hero in Indianapolis.

And him? Maybe in a few years, the Seattle SuperSonics name will be gone.

By then, what would he leave behind? He would be completely rootless!

He must get a championship ring to prove he came, he saw, he conquered.

The devil’s whisper repeated in his mind, Gary Payton felt like his head was about to explode.

“Damn it, get out of my head!” Payton picked up the cup and smashed it to the ground, silencing the voice in his mind.

He just wants to win, just wants to win once!

He doesn’t want to be a transparent waste!

He still wants to fight on, not to leave a lifetime of regret like Reggie Miller and others.

Suddenly, another voice sounded in his mind.

But it wasn’t the devil’s whisper, it was the voice of his good brother Shawn Kemp: “No matter what, don’t give up on opportunities that can still be grasped. God won’t forgive those who give up on opportunities because he won’t let opportunities come a second time.”

—————–

Outside Cattino Mobley’s hospital room, Roger was texting Bob Bass.

“Strengthening isn’t going smoothly, now there’s a non-choice choice, see if you can accept it.”

“Name?”

Just as the message was sent, a strange call came in.

Roger impatiently answered the phone: “Hello?”

“Roger?”

The voice on the other end made Roger pause.

“How did you get my number?”

“It’s not hard, if I took a stroll at the Victoria’s Secret Show, I could run into ten women you’ve been with, and they all have your number.”

“Get lost, I don’t have time to chat with losers.”

“You’re right, Roger, I want to join your dynasty journey.”

“Huh?”

“I still have value, I’ll prove it! Be it a tryout or whatever, give me a chance!”

After a few more words, they hung up, and Roger saw the text from Bob Bass, the name Roger needed—Gary Payton.

On the other side, Payton put down the phone, looked at the ceiling, and sighed deeply.

Maybe it’s true, joining Roger is the only chance.

He can’t be the one who wastes opportunities.