CHAPTER 668: CHAPTER 322: CLEVELAND, THIS IS FOR YOU! (2)

So although not present at the scene, the fans in Cleveland were crazily celebrating as if they were.

The 52-year curse of Cleveland’s professional sports teams without a championship was lifted at this moment.

The people of Cleveland have their first major league sports championship!

There were more Lakers fans left at the Staples Center than expected.

As one of the most legendary teams in the NBA, Lakers fans have seen it all.

The Cavaliers and Lakers exchanged final handshake ceremonies, the process was rushed, but Hansen didn’t usually see James.

James has been beside Kobe for two years, but he is still the same young man, unchanged.

After completing the handshake ceremony, Hansen saw O’Neal, who was smiling happier than all the Cavaliers players.

Kobe’s career has been concluded, he and Kobe are ultimately 5=5, no more, no less than each other.

As for what Hansen said about the head of security team, even if he were shameless, he wouldn’t want that.

Everything is just right now, and it’s all because of Hansen’s help.

After today, he is Hansen’s first fan; he’d fight Barkley to death if the kid dares to compete with him!

After a brief celebration, the Cavaliers players returned to the locker room.

There they had a wild champagne celebration.

When they returned to the court with wet hair, the award stage was already set up.

The award ceremony hadn’t officially started yet, but when Hansen walked toward the stage, Silva smiled and stepped forward to shake his hand, congratulating him in advance.

Although the development of the game did not go as he hoped, Hansen and the Cavaliers winning the championship was a good outcome.

Because this is definitely something worth writing about.

This is even more meaningful than when Hansen led the Grizzlies to win the first championship in team history.

Because Cleveland is famously a sports desert.

It can be imagined that after today, perhaps the city’s development in Cleveland will become quite different.

Once everything was ready, Silva picked up the microphone to announce the established fact.

"We must first thank the Los Angeles Lakers, who showed their fighting spirit in the game and fought until the last moment."

Silva first affirmed the Lakers’ performance, which also brought cheers from the audience.

Right before the end of the game, news reports had already appeared on social media.

Kobe suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon.

This is a devastating injury, but when it happens in Kobe’s last career game, it seems particularly tragic.

Combined with the scene of him standing on the free-throw line despite the rupture, the tragic turns into poignant.

That feeling is like a veteran general who fought all his life, not dying in comfort, but falling on the battlefield.

Such an experience deserves Silva’s praise.

"Next, let’s congratulate the Cavaliers; they’ve won their first-ever championship, they are the 2015-2016 NBA champions!"

After Silva excitedly announced the result, confetti erupted on site, and he handed the championship trophy to Gilbert.

Gilbert’s face blossomed brighter than mountain flowers.

He is immensely proud of his initial choice now.

Giving up on James to pursue Hansen was the most correct decision he made in his life!

He then passed the championship trophy to Malone.

Malone’s face was flushed.

Back with the Kings, he tried proving his ability but never got recognition.

Now he has finally proven himself, and with the Old Knight too, there’s nothing more satisfying.

The championship trophy then reached Hansen.

At this moment, the audience erupted in enormous applause and cheers.

Ultimately, the United States is still a country that worships individual heroism.

Hansen is a star among stars, the Jordan of this era, thus inevitably he becomes the focus at such champion moments.

This is something no one can change.

Taking the trophy and hearing the fans’ frantic cheers, Hansen raised it above his head.

It’s a better motivator than any speech, with cheers overwhelming the scene.

Reporters on site began their interviews.

Gilbert started recounting the tales of visiting Hansen late at night.

Before the Cavaliers succeeded, it was something not widely noticed, but now, it’ll become a hot topic after the championship night.

The microphone then passed to Malone.

Malone discussed why he chose to return to Cleveland in the first place.

The loss in the 2010 playoffs was something regrettable for every team member.

He even mentioned O’Neal, still on the sidelines.

Of course, he also talked about his main reason to return to Cleveland, because of Hansen’s comeback.

The reporter quickly reached Hansen.

The scene again erupted in applause.

After the applause died down, they began asking Hansen questions.

"We felt your excitement earlier, what do you want to say now? After leading this team to break a half-century curse."

"I really want to take it back to Cleveland and share it with the fans there."

Hansen knows what is happening at the Quicken Loans Arena now; more fans are watching this moment there.

"How did you do it? We know the Cavaliers have never been a successful team, but after returning to Cleveland, you’ve led them to consecutive Finals and finally made history."

"This team was underestimated, before I came they only lacked direction, which was the only thing I brought; once we found direction, everyone progressed and changed, even following last season’s setback, never giving up, because we believed we could do it."

Besides the few stars at the top of the NBA, the difference in strength among other players isn’t as huge as imagined; the difference lies in whether they’ve had opportunities on a higher stage.

Like Rodman, like Big Gasol.

Hansen’s answer led to cheers from the audience.

Do fans care about winning and losing?

Yes and no, what they care about more than victory and defeat is the story behind it.

Who doesn’t love a comeback story?

After a brief interview, the voting for the finals MVP was concluded.

Hansen performed moderately this Finals, averaging only 30 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.4 blocks, shooting 51.2%, and three-point shooting 41.5%.

Irving performed well, averaging 25 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2 steals, shooting 46.8%, and three-point shooting 40.5%.

Bill Russell was helped up from his wheelchair.

"Winning the 2016 Bill Russell Trophy is... Hansen."

Silva announced the final result.

Last year’s incident of Thompson stealing Curry’s Finals MVP did not recur, partly because Hansen’s league standing is much higher than Curry’s, and partly because after the Cavaliers won the Finals, UA had achieved a phase victory over Nike’s war.

Hansen took the Finals MVP trophy from Russell’s hand, the old man proactively reached out to embrace him.

Recalling the "promise" between them back then, Russell also emotionally said: "I wish I had a grandson like you."

Did he mean grandparental affection?

Hansen just smiled.

Although this is the difference in expressing affection between American culture and East University culture, he still isn’t used to being a grandson.

After receiving the topic from the host, he began his Finals MVP speech.

While he picked up the topic, the scene remained a wave of cheers.

Once the cheers died down, Hansen continued to speak:

"I wasn’t initially intended to come to Cleveland two years ago, but now, I believe it was destiny.

Just like Mike said, six years ago there was an opportunity that presented itself to us, but we didn’t seize it.

Fortunately, destiny granted us a second chance.

I can’t define this championship as it isn’t just the success of a few individuals.

But if you ask what I most want to say at this moment, then what I want to say is...

Hansen paused for a bit, after taking a deep breath,

"Cleveland, This is for you!"