Capítulo 15: Chapter 14: CJ's Revenge
Two days after defeating the Warriors, the Kings faced the Portland Trail Blazers at home. The atmosphere was thick with tension. After Portland's management traded CJ McCollum at a bargain price, they faced ridicule for their poor decision-making. This made the Blazers' leadership furious, and they declared before the game that CJ was just a flash in the pan, insisting that Damian Lillard was the true star point guard.
When Jake, the Kings' general manager, heard these remarks, he wasted no time instructing the Kings' official Twitter account to respond, "Let's see who the truly excellent point guard is." This situation couldn't have come at a better time for Jake, as he had been debating whether to fully invest in CJ's development. Now, the Blazers had given him the perfect opportunity—a common enemy to rally the team and fans around CJ.
"Guys, I'm sure you've seen the comments from outside," Coach Mike Malone addressed the players in the locker room, hands on his hips. "CJ is a valuable part of our team and an essential family member. We need to defend his dignity today. So, let's create more opportunities for CJ to show what he's got. Help him prove he's just as good, if not better, than anyone else."
"Alright!" the players responded, fired up. The NBA locker room culture has long dictated that while veteran players could give rookies a hard time, they also had an obligation to stand up for them. Malone's words showed the players that he cared deeply about his team. This gesture made the players even more loyal to both him and the Kings' organization.
Malone quickly explained the new game plan, and during the warm-up, ESPN reporters caught up with CJ, who was practicing his shot.
"Hey CJ, today marks your first game against your former team, the Trail Blazers. What do you think of the comments being made online?" asked the reporter.
CJ thought for a moment before responding, "I don't care much about what's being said. All I know is I'm part of a great team now, where everyone cares about each other. I'm happy to be with the Kings. Our goal is simple: to win. That's the best way to respond."
The ESPN reporter, sensing an opportunity, pressed further, "Do you think the Kings are the best team you've played for?"
This question was a trap. CJ had only been with two teams—if he praised the Kings, it would be a direct slight against the Blazers. CJ smiled at the tricky question. "Of course. The fans, the coaches, and my teammates here have all shown me incredible trust and support. If the team needs it, I'd be honored to spend my entire career in Sacramento."
Jake, who had been nearby, quietly listening in on the interview, nearly jumped with excitement when he heard CJ's response. Keeping his composure, Jake knew this was the moment he'd been waiting for. He could already imagine offering CJ a big contract and using the media to hype up the story. CJ wasn't going anywhere now.
Seeing that the interview was wrapping up, Jake stepped in to end it smoothly. As he did, he discreetly activated the system he used to boost players' abilities. Two badges and a card were waiting in the system's inventory. He selected the Combo Guard 101 badge and assigned it to CJ McCollum.
The cold, mechanical voice of the system spoke in Jake's mind, "Once selected, this cannot be changed. Are you sure?"
Jake confirmed without hesitation, bestowing the badge upon CJ. "You're my first key player, CJ," Jake thought to himself. He walked over to CJ and whispered, "Don't hold back tonight. Light them up."
CJ, touched by the confidence Jake had shown him, nodded firmly. He was ready.
As soon as the game started, CJ attacked with ferocity. He called out Damian Lillard on the perimeter and, much to his surprise, found himself "in the zone." Every shot he took seemed effortless. After draining another three-pointer over Lillard's head, the DJ at the arena hyped up the crowd.
"Let's give a warm Sacramento cheer for our new favorite, CJ McCollum!" the DJ called out, as the fans roared in support. "And let's also give a round of applause for the Trail Blazers, who were generous enough to send us such an amazing player!" The crowd burst into laughter, clapping in the direction of the Blazers' bench.
On the court, Lillard's face flushed with frustration.
With the crowd behind him, Jake activated the team's three-point boost card, increasing CJ's shooting abilities by 10 points on top of the 10-point bonus he had already received from the Combo Guard 101 badge. CJ's three-point accuracy skyrocketed.
DeMarcus Cousins, standing at the top of the arc with the ball, saw CJ racing around behind him. Without hesitation, Cousins set a screen and passed the ball to CJ. Even with Batum rushing toward him, CJ rose up for a floating three-pointer over the outstretched hand.
"Swish!" The ball went in, and CJ celebrated by holding up three fingers on each hand as the Trail Blazers called for a timeout. Cousins rushed over to CJ and hugged him, elated by his teammate's performance. Despite being one of the biggest stars on the team, Cousins didn't care about his own stats that night. He was just thrilled to see CJ, the newcomer he had grown fond of, exacting sweet revenge against his old team.
The Trail Blazers' timeout did little to stop CJ McCollum's momentum. As the game progressed, CJ only grew more confident. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Kings had already built a nearly 15-point lead. The Trail Blazers attempted a comeback early in the final quarter, but the Kings quickly extinguished their efforts. The game turned into garbage time, and the Kings secured a 110-98 victory, beating the Trail Blazers by 12 points. The highly anticipated duel between CJ and Damian Lillard had concluded, with the Kings emerging on top.
Many fans left the arena with hoarse voices, having cheered non-stop throughout the thrilling game. It was worth it, they thought, to witness such a high-level display of personal heroism. Lillard put up an impressive stat line—31 points, 10 assists, and 4 rebounds—superstar numbers by any measure. However, CJ McCollum of the Kings eclipsed Lillard's performance with a monstrous triple-double of 40 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds.
This wasn't necessarily a statement that CJ had surpassed Lillard in skill, but rather a reflection of the Kings' current system, masterfully orchestrated by Jake Allen and Mike Malone. The entire team had worked hard to set CJ up for success. At one point, DeMarcus Cousins, who was dominating the paint, even allowed a rebound to sail past him just so CJ could grab it and add to his stats.
The Trail Blazers players, for the most part, didn't harbor any ill will toward CJ, apart from Lillard, who was understandably upset after being downplayed in the media to praise CJ. As a result, Lillard had to share the ball more than usual, and his desire for revenge never truly materialized. If both players had been given the freedom to shoot at will, Jake believed CJ—despite the buffs Jake had granted him—might still not match Lillard's firepower. But none of that mattered now. Fans and media alike focus on data and results, and in this game, CJ had delivered.
As the dust settled, the Trail Blazers once again became the subject of league-wide mockery. This time, however, no one stepped up to defend them. Their defeat was undeniable. The Blazers' management, realizing the futility of damage control, opted for silence, letting the embarrassment play out. After all, anyone brave enough to address the media would only be met with more ridicule.
In the aftermath of the game, CJ McCollum solidified himself as the new darling of the Kings. His performance against the Warriors had already earned him respect, but this game against the Trail Blazers elevated him to stardom. The Kings, who had been struggling in obscurity for so long, hadn't tasted such a dominant victory in years. The buzz around the league was palpable, and newspapers began referring to the Kings' new "Big Three": Cousins, Rudy Gay, and CJ McCollum.
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, legendary coach Gregg Popovich was strolling the streets in a floral shirt, reading Sports Illustrated with a look of curiosity. "The little guy's been doing well lately," he muttered, flipping through an article about the Kings. Across the table, Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford took a slow sip of coffee.
"I told you Jake could handle things on his own," Buford said. "But even I didn't think he'd progress this fast."
Popovich folded the newspaper and shot Buford a displeased look. "You've got some nerve. We agreed we'd find ways to improve our roster this offseason. But look at us—we've got nothing but a rookie!"
Buford threw up his hands in mock surrender. "I wanted to improve too, but what can we do without money?"
Popovich sighed. The conversation about money always gave him a headache. "A penny can make or break a hero, I guess."
The Spurs' aging coach was well aware that this season would be tough. "There's no doubt the Kings are rising this year, and then there's the Warriors. Curry and Thompson are even deadlier than they were last season. Plus, the Clippers, Thunder, and Rockets are all ready to pounce. The entire Western Conference is a battleground. This season's going to be brutal," Popovich concluded, counting the threats on his fingers.
He had an unfulfilled dream—winning back-to-back championships. Despite five rings, the elusive consecutive title remained out of reach for the decorated coach. This season, with the Spurs in the middle of a roster transition, it felt like his last shot at achieving that goal. But as Popovich looked at the current state of the league, hope was fading. The competition was too fierce.
Buford, watching his old friend's troubled expression, didn't have much comfort to offer. Both men had lived through multiple NBA eras, and they knew well enough that some things, no matter how badly you wanted them, couldn't be controlled. In the face of the league's relentless progress, even legends like them had to admit that sometimes, individual power was too small to stop the tide.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder