Chapter 194: The Night of Champions.
"Hypocrite."
Durant sat in his lavish mansion, watching the championship award ceremony. Hearing Han Sen's acceptance speech, he couldn't help but scoff aloud.
After venting, Durant reached for a packet of instant noodles, crushed it, opened it, and poured the seasoning packet inside before shaking it up.
As the FMVP speech concluded and the championship ceremony wrapped up, the live broadcast continued.
The Grizzlies players were mingling with their families, chatting and taking photos.
Durant opened the packet, picked out the largest piece, and popped it into his mouth.
But just as he turned his attention back to the TV, his open mouth froze, and the snack in his hand hung in mid-air.
...
Han Sen was still holding the trophy when both Swift and Scarlett approached him.
Honestly, if this were happening back in China, the scene would undoubtedly be labeled a "battlefield of jealousy."
But in America, it somehow exuded a strangely wholesome vibe.
Swift hugged Han and offered her congratulations while showing concern for his injury.
Scarlett, however, hooked her arm around Han's.
The gesture caught Han off guard since their relationship was still private.
Swift stood beside him as well.
Reporters' cameras and even the live broadcast focused squarely on Han and the two women.
Swift and Scarlett posed gracefully for the cameras, while Han awkwardly tried to keep up.
Perhaps feeling it wasn't enough, Scarlett eventually pulled Han's hand and placed it directly against her chest.
...
Crunch!
Durant crushed the instant noodles in his mouth, his jaw tightening with frustration.
His goddess... Han Sen had really won her over!
Before, Durant had dismissed Han Sen's comments during the game about hotels and fatigue as mere trash talk.
But Scarlett's actions shattered his last sliver of hope.
And then, thinking about Han Sen's earlier remark about "bathwater," Durant felt a wave of nausea.
Because that bathwater... it was mixed with Han's...
Outrage boiled within him, killing his appetite. Turning off the TV, he stormed off to the gym.
Next season, he vowed to make Han pay.
...
"Once you're done, I'll be waiting for you in the parking lot," Scarlett whispered into Han Sen's ear once the cameras turned away.
Han wiggled his foot in response, signaling his injury.
Though it wasn't urgent for him to get it checked immediately, tonight's game had already shown that playing through an injury affected his ability to drive to the basket, even if his shooting wasn't impacted.
"You won't need to move," Scarlett said, her tone laced with ambiguity.
Han could only sigh. What else could he say?
...
Back in the locker room after leaving the arena, Han celebrated with his teammates once more.
He even promised that when they returned to Memphis, he would take the whole team out for a night of clubbing.
As for the championship night, everyone had their own plans to handle.
When Han finally had a moment to himself, he picked up his phone. It was already flooded with missed calls and messages.
He first called his parents to let them know he was fine before going through his texts.
There were congratulatory messages from Barry University alumni, former teammates on the Cavaliers, and even Kobe.
Some messages weren't just congratulations; they also inquired about his injury, especially from Yao Ming.
Having retired early due to injuries, Yao was particularly sensitive to such matters.
Han replied to a few of the more important messages.
Among them, one stood out—it was from Jamison.
"Got room for me in Memphis?"
Han had almost forgotten that Jamison's contract with the Wizards was expiring at the end of this season.
While the message sounded like a joke, it was likely a serious inquiry about joining a championship contender.
At 36 years old, Jamison wasn't exactly retiring soon but was certainly in the twilight of his career.
At this stage, for someone without a championship ring, the only thing that mattered was chasing one.
And Memphis, with its young core and strong chance at repeating, was an attractive option.
Of course, it wasn't just about riding coattails. Teams like the Lakers and Thunder still posed significant threats in the West.
For Memphis, defending their title next season would be its own challenge.
"I'll have fishing gear ready for you," Han replied, recalling the custom rod Aaron had gifted him.
Just then, Tony Allen came over to remind Han about the post-game press conference. Grabbing the fishing rod, Han followed Allen to the press room.
...
The press conference had a somewhat subdued atmosphere.
With the Heat's press conference already concluded—and without LeBron present—reporters felt they lacked juicy headlines.
When Han walked in, the room buzzed with renewed energy.
The reporters were banking on Han to deliver.
As soon as he sat down, the questions began firing off, starting with one about LeBron.
"According to the latest reports, LeBron has been diagnosed with a moderate concussion. Any thoughts on that?" asked a reporter from ESPN.
Concussions weren't uncommon in the NBA.
In fact, under the league's new collective bargaining agreement, concussion protocols had been added this season: players diagnosed with a concussion had to pass a series of tests before returning to the court.
Concussions were categorized into mild, moderate, and severe levels. Most NBA players only experienced mild ones.
Severe concussions, however, could have long-term effects and potentially end a player's career, as was the case with Matthew Dellavedova.
While LeBron's situation wasn't the worst, it was far from trivial.
"That's unfortunate news," Han said sincerely, though his inner thoughts wondered why it wasn't more severe.
"If needed, I'll visit him in the hospital and bring him the gift I promised."
With that, he dramatically placed the fishing rod onto the table with a loud thud.
Sympathy? Han had none to spare for someone who nearly ended his career.
The press room erupted into a frenzy, the reporters thrilled with the unexpected drama.
...
"After winning your first championship, do you have anything you'd like to share?" asked a TNT reporter.
The question echoed one asked earlier during the award ceremony, but Han's current mood had shifted since then.
"My first game at American Airlines Arena was four years ago. I played for Barry University against UNC, and we lost by 55 points—41 to 96.
Han's opening remark stirred the crowd. Rarely did players bring up such humiliating defeats of their own accord.
"I want to say this: in life, success is fleeting, but failure is constant. How we respond to failure defines us.
Some run from it, but others rise again.
My past failures pushed me forward. Three years ago, I won the NCAA D2 championship here. Last year's loss drove us further. And now, we're NBA champions."
The room burst into applause.
In contrast to LeBron's infamous 'life is unfair' speech following the Miami Heat's Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Han's message resonated deeply, reminding everyone why sports were so captivating.
"How many championships will you bring to Memphis?" asked an NBC reporter.
"Not 7?" Han joked, drawing laughter from the room.
LeBron's words from years ago now felt ironic, as the Heat faced an impending breakup. Indeed, it was 'not 7'—it was zero.
"It's not something I've thought about yet. Maybe by the championship parade, I'll have an answer."
...
After the press conference, Han returned to the locker room and found Tony Allen still there.
"Decided where you're headed? Or are you staying?" Han asked.
Allen's presence was crucial to Memphis, especially in their playoff matchups against teams like the Lakers, Thunder, and Heat.
"I'm thinking Indiana," Allen replied.
The Pacers? Han rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
As a defensively focused team with a vacancy at a starting position due to Granger's injury, Indiana did seem like a good fit for Allen.
He patted Allen on the shoulder, reaffirming his earlier promise to help him out.
...
After finishing up, Han headed to the underground parking lot and left with Scarlett.
The championship glow was an intangible thing, much like a special buff in certain professions—it amplified desires.
That night, Scarlett's promise came true. Han didn't need to move a muscle, whether standing, kneeling, or lying down—Scarlett handled everything on 'autopilot.'
The feeling?
Han thought being an emperor wouldn't compare.
As Han cruised in his car, social media erupted into a storm of praise and criticism.
LeBron fans and Han's surging fanbase clashed fiercely online, their debates mirroring Han and Scarlett's intensity in the hotel.
Critics ranted:
"Using role players to eliminate opponents' key players, employing flagrant fouls to take out the other team's stars—does any team play dirtier than the Grizzlies?"
("LeBron isn't dirty; he only stepped under someone for the sake of winning. What's wrong with that!")
"Han is just a clown. The Grizzlies won because they're a five-superstar team. They're stronger and still resort to dirty tricks—there's nothing honorable about their victory!"
("I think the Grizzlies are a fifteen-superstar team, considering Han Sen said himself that the Grizzlies have 15 MVPs!")
"If you swapped Han with LeBron, the Grizzlies would still win. It's all about matchup dynamics!"
("I don't know if the Grizzlies will remain champions, but I know the Heat could have used an All-Star center on their roster, considering Han Sen is still a rookie.")
...
The next day, the league issued a disciplinary notice: James Johnson was suspended for 30 games for punching LeBron James.
This suspension set a new record for the longest ban stemming from a player-on-player conflict, clearly a severe punishment.
For comparison, the last time a player faced a significant suspension for causing severe consequences was Kermit Washington in 1977.
Back then, he was suspended for 26 games after punching Tomjanovich so hard it fractured his skull.
Other longer suspensions in league history have typically involved fan altercations, choking coaches, carrying firearms, or drug use.
This punishment, however, was expected—actions like directly taking down an opposing team's star cannot be condoned.
Otherwise, the NBA would no longer be about basketball; teams could just send players out to take down opponents' core stars.
Additionally, the NBA's most valuable assets are its superstars. Losing them would undoubtedly hurt viewership.
Upon seeing the league's decision, Han Sen immediately posted on social media:
"So LeBron stepping under Granger gets no punishment?"
Han wasn't upset about the severity of Johnson's punishment; he was upset about the double standards. Although the methods were different, LeBron had also sidelined an opposing team's core player.
Does the league's attitude change entirely just because of differing levels of influence?
Han then called Johnson. Apart from promising to cover the financial losses from the suspension, Han also planned to gift him a Ferrari.
Of course, that was just the surface gesture. In reality, Han was already thinking of making Johnson his personal "Oakley."
Johnson had acted on his behalf, and that kind of loyalty went beyond being mere teammates.
...
That afternoon, Han returned to Memphis. He first went to the hospital with the team doctor for a check-up.
The results showed that he had a Grade 3 ankle sprain.
Ankle sprains are categorized as mild, moderate, or severe (Grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively).
Back in the 2000 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant also suffered a Grade 3 sprain.
According to the doctor, Han initially sustained a Grade 2 sprain, but playing through the injury aggravated it to Grade 3.
Fortunately, a sprain isn't a tear. Even a Grade 3 sprain mostly requires rest and gradual rehabilitation, although it demands weight-bearing recovery exercises.
In simpler terms, Han needed about a month to recover.
This would undoubtedly affect Han's summer plans.
However, in hindsight, it was worth it—trading over a month of recovery time for sweeping the Heat and winning the championship was a fair exchange.
...
Shortly after returning from the hospital, Thomas came to see him about a matter concerning the Olympics.
China's national basketball association wanted Han to participate in this summer's Olympic Games.
Han had initially planned to join. The Olympics, after all, held a special significance compared to other international tournaments.
Especially after witnessing the enthusiasm of fans during his last trip to China, Han felt compelled to play for them at least once.
But plans couldn't keep up with reality. He hadn't anticipated getting injured, and the recovery timeline conflicted with the Olympics.
Under the current circumstances, he had no time to train or build chemistry with the team, let alone participate.
"How should I respond to them?" Thomas asked before leaving.
"Henry, did they ask about my injury status?" Han suddenly thought of something.
Thomas shook his head.
Seeing this, Han sneered and replied, "Just tell them I don't feel like going."
...
That evening, despite having a cast on his leg, Han brought his Grizzlies teammates to 1927 Madison Ave, a nightclub.
The nightclub's interior decor was even more 'New York' than its name—lavish and high-end.
No wonder it managed to keep Harden partying until 4 a.m.
From champagne showers to private suite pool matches, the Grizzlies had a blast, knowing everything was on Han's tab.
Han, restricted by his cast and drained from being with Scarlett earlier, could only enjoy the view this time.
As he watched, Chris Rondo approached him with some news.
Han grabbed his phone, and upon reading the update, he couldn't help but smirk.
The news concerned Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.
The Grizzlies' championship win and Han being named Finals MVP had reignited the ire of Cavaliers fans. The backlash this time was stronger than ever.
Under immense pressure, Gilbert issued a statement, revealing a long-hidden secret about Han's trade:
"The reason I agreed to trade Han back then was because, after speaking with LeBron over the phone, I received his verbal promise to stay with the team."
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