Champion Rules

Chapter 334, Section 330: As Long As I Want (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

No one in NBA history has ever said anything like that.

One player dared to openly suggest that his opponents transfer to another team and even threatened to "take them down" as well.

This is too arrogant and disrespectful.

It's like Michael Jordan suggesting Patrick Ewing move to the Pacers at a press conference, then saying, "That would make it easier for me to run over both you and Reggie."

Therefore, Lynch's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating a huge surge of water.

Charles Barkley believes, "Lynch is absolutely the only person in the entire league who has the right to say that."

ESPN writer Marc Stein offered a perspective from the other side: "Atlanta and Dwight's comments infuriated Lynch because they both felt they were just one trade away from victory. Lynch is never afraid of a challenge, and he wouldn't mind beating them again after the trade is done, silencing them completely."

In fact, the Atlanta Hawks are indeed one of the Magic's potential trade targets.

The Hawks have always been interested in Warcraft, and if that Atlanta local star could join them, it would definitely boost attendance significantly.

Moreover, acquiring Dwight Howard would indeed solve the Hawks' immediate problems.

If Dwight Howard plays center, then Al Horford and Josh Smith can focus on setting up a screen on the wings.

For the Hawks, this would definitely be a trade that satisfies both box office and tactical needs.

But the Orlando Magic always wanted more. Dwight Howard was their most valuable asset, and they couldn't let him go for nothing. They wanted to squeeze every last drop of value out of him.

So negotiations began before the season started, but remained deadlocked for months with no progress.

Lynch's words, however, became the catalyst for the deal.

The day after Lynch defeated the Atlanta Hawks, Dwight Howard had his agent, Charles Briscoe, spread the word:

"Apart from Atlanta, no matter which team we are traded to, we will not renew our contracts in the summer of 2013."

Dwight Howard's contract expired in 2013. In another timeline, after being traded to the Lakers, he became a free agent after only one year and left Los Angeles.

Therefore, his attitude was tantamount to an "ultimatum," instantly extinguishing the enthusiasm of most potential customers—no one was willing to pay the price of a package deal for a service they would only experience once.

Similarly, no team is willing to spend a lot of money to trade for Dwight Howard, only to have him available for one year.

The Magic were quite dissatisfied with the Warcraft team's actions, but they were powerless to do anything about it; they were indeed being held hostage.

This predicament is as thorny as Adam Silver's situation in 2025 when he faced the Clippers' dual contract scandal.

The Clippers didn't lose any draft picks.

Steve Ballmer wouldn't even flinch at being fined.

Is Kawhi Leonard suspended?

LOL, you can never ban someone who doesn't play basketball.

No matter how dissatisfied you are, once you're choked, you're truly helpless.

The Magic are now facing this dilemma, as their only remaining trade target overnight has been the Atlanta Hawks.

In an interview, Dwight Howard also stated frankly that he made this decision because of Lynch:
"When I finally return to my hometown, I hope he won't regret what he said!"

Dwight Howard's remarks and actions have drawn huge criticism from fans. He was supposed to be the brightest star at this year's Orlando All-Star Game. But now, with the All-Star Game about to begin, Orlando fans are burning Dwight Howard's jersey.

As February approached and the trade deadline drew near, various trade rumors emerged from teams other than the Magic.

After acquiring CP3, the Indiana Pacers, who were aiming for a breakthrough this season, have also been caught in a vortex of rumors.

But before the trade was finalized, they lost to the New York Knicks for the fourth time in the regular season.

Madison Square Garden, March 2.

Chris Paul suddenly felt that he had probably taken over LBJ's niche.

He was very excited when he was first traded to the Pacers.

He believes the disparity in strength between Eastern Conference teams is too stark. Each season, aside from the top two or three teams, the rest can be categorized as "bonus" teams.

Now, after giving the Knicks their fourth win of the season, he discovered...
Oh no, I've become a bonus!

Tonight's game was the closest the Pacers and Knicks had come in four meetings.

The Pacers lost by only 4 points.

Roy Hibbert and Paul George both played well.

Also, starting shooting guard Dahntay Jones, who took 5 three-pointers and made 3, for a 60% success rate.

But the hit rate is 0%!

Dahntay Jones had no desire to score; his only thought was to bring DeMar DeRozan back into the game.

Throughout the season, the Pacers' shooting guard position has been a major headache.

Dahntay Jones is one of the few shooting guards in the entire league whose offensive prowess can rival that of Tony Allen.

His defense is indeed excellent, and the Pacers need a tough defender like him.

But he was too much of a drag on the offense when he was on the court.

In fact, Tony Allen also has a decent efficiency in driving to the basket.

Dahntay Jones had virtually no offensive options.

This allows the Knicks to double-team the Pacers' two Pauls at will in crucial moments.

That's exactly what happened in tonight's game. With three minutes left in the game, the two teams were still tied.

But in the final three minutes, the Knicks double-teamed the Knicks, and the situation changed instantly.

Chris Paul made several passes to Dahntay Jones, who was left wide open, but Jones failed to capitalize on them, which became a major reason for the Pacers' loss.

After being defeated again tonight, Larry Bird knows that if the Pacers don't upgrade their roster, they will have no chance in the playoffs.

He has been looking for a suitable shooting guard, someone who ideally also has excellent defense and a reliable shot.

If possible, having ball-handling skills like Stephen Curry's crossover would be even better.

Furthermore, the cost of acquiring this person cannot be too high, and they cannot be an All-Star caliber player.

Because the Indiana Pacers are ultimately just a small team, they can't ignore the luxury tax and bring in a second superstar.

Players who meet such stringent criteria are extremely rare in the league, and even if they do, the Pacers may not be able to acquire them through trade.

After searching for most of the season, Larry Bird finally got his chance and saw a glimmer of hope.

After tonight's game, reporters didn't focus too much on the game itself, but were more concerned about the current trade rumors surrounding the Pacers.

"Chris, is the team close to signing Arron Afflalo? How far along is the trade?"

Chris Paul was very open and frankly responded: "The team is in contact with him, but I don't know the progress of the trade. All I know is that if we can get everything done before the trade deadline, the team will definitely be able to take another step forward."

Just six months ago, Aron Afflalo was Denver's untouchable player.

The team just signed him to a five-year, $43 million contract extension, viewing him as part of their future.

He has ball-handling skills and post-up moves. Furthermore, his ball-handling moves are strikingly similar to Kobe Bryant's.

He is very accurate from three-point range, and his three-point shooting percentage has been above 40% every season in his career.

His defense was very strong. Over the past two seasons, Aron Afflalo matched up against Kobe eight times, holding Kobe to just 52 of 172 field goal attempts, a shooting percentage of only 34%, earning him the nickname "Diamondsnake".

Most importantly, he is a mentally mature and intelligent Black man.

Although he grew up in a single-parent family like countless other Black men in America, his father was very attentive to his education.

He was also very shrewd. During his middle school years, he earned pocket money by reselling pirated CDs with a strong artistic flavor—how can rap CDs not be considered CDs with a strong artistic flavor?

Kendrick Lamar's musical dreams were sparked by his pirated CDs.

This clear-headedness, far exceeding that of most NBA players, convinced the Nuggets that Allen Afflalo wouldn't act like most foolish Black players who would start making a mess of things after signing a big contract.

Therefore, at the beginning of the season, the Denver Nuggets had high hopes for him.

However, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Aron Afflalo's performance, while not far off, was certainly far from meeting the standards.

Yes, he has ball-handling skills, but his ability to break through defenses is not at the All-Star level.

He has three-point shooting and defense, but when the Nuggets try to give him a heavier offensive workload, his stamina will be quickly depleted, which will eventually turn him into a player who misses three-pointers and collapses on defense.

The harsh reality is clear: Aron Afflalo's ceiling isn't high enough; he's an excellent role player, but that's about it.

He has absolutely no chance of becoming a star player.

Denver Nuggets failed with their scratch-off lottery ticket, but focused solely on rebuilding their core, they didn't hesitate to put it on the shelf.

So the Pacers made their move.

In the past few days, rumors about the Pacers and Arron Afflalo have spread far and wide, so Chris Paul has nothing to hide when facing interviews.

He desperately wanted the deal to go through.

If Aron Afflalo were brought in at a reasonable cost and given the role he is most familiar with, it would be a good opportunity.

The Pacers will then get a quality shooting guard who is reliable from three-point range and plays tough defense.

This would undoubtedly be a targeted remedy, addressing their fatal weakness at the point guard position.

Seeing Chris Paul's enthusiasm for the trade, and considering the recent Hawks and Dwight Howard incident, reporters, who are very good at generating buzz, deliberately asked:
"Chris, considering the team's performance tonight, do you think the Pacers are just one trade away from beating Lynch?"

Chris Paul knew it was a trap, but the humiliation and resentment of being defeated by Lynch four times in the East burned within him.

So the tall and imposing player nodded firmly: "Yes, if we complete the trade before the trade deadline, we will have a chance to turn things around in the playoffs."

This was the third time in a short period that the King of New York had heard that jarring statement, "The difference between me and Lynch is just one deal."

He didn't want to say anything more about it; his response was just one sentence.

"I wish Chris all the best and that he gets everything he wants. Believe it or not, my blessings come from the bottom of my heart."

Lynch wasn't lying; he genuinely hoped the Pacers' trade would go smoothly.

In this way——

After defeating them, they will have no excuse left!
The New York Knicks made steady progress in February. Although the Thunder ended their undefeated streak since January, the team still held the top spot in the league, and their records continued to improve.

In early February, the league announced the full roster for this year's All-Star Weekend.

Lynch's two biggest rivals, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, are both prominently featured on the list.

Surprisingly, Chandler Parsons, with an average of 11.2 points per game in January, was selected by Charles Barkley to join his "Flying Pigs" team to participate in the All-Star Rising Stars Challenge.

This also means that he has successfully obtained a ticket to the "Lynch All-Star Party".

Time moves to February 24th, Orlando, Florida, Windermere, an affluent neighborhood.

Inside a grand villa, a card game was in full swing.

Several wealthy Black men and an extremely wealthy Asian man sat around a table amidst swirling smoke. Dwyane Wade slammed his cards into the pot in frustration: "Damn it! This tonight's luck is absolutely terrible!"

Carmelo Anthony happily scooped up all the poker chips on the table: "Sorry, Dwyane, maybe you should go play with those rookies at the pool and have some water guns."

Since Carmelo Anthony expressed his admiration for Lynch, the icy relationship between the two has been quietly thawing.

So, as one of the All-Star starters, Melo also received a party invitation from Lynch.

He gladly accepted the invitation, intending to use it to completely repair the relationship.

Dwyane Wade was clearly uninterested in the water gun fight: "I'm not playing with those damn water guns!"

Lynch smiled and explained to The Flash, "Mello means you should go to the kids' table."

At this moment, Derrick Rose, who had been silent all along and had beaten CP3 to become the All-Star starting point guard this year, spoke up: "Dwyane, the media is saying that you will return to Chicago in the summer of 2013, is that true?"

Dwyane Wade remained noncommittal: "That depends on what kind of contract Pat Riley gives me in 2013. You might not believe it, but I've never had a max contract in my career."

Lin Qi laughed. "It's not like I didn't warn you."

If you don't really screw over someone like Dwyane Wade, whose brain reacts faster than a CPU, you'll feel like you've lost a fortune.

Although he didn't fall into the "brotherhood scam" in this timeline, Pat Riley, as cold-blooded as he is, would never let go of this "loyal dog" waiting to be slaughtered in any timeline.

He definitely wouldn't offer The Flash a max contract in the summer of 2013.

He always has an excuse.

So Lynch reminded Dwyane Wade once again: "The Knicks have always advocated sacrifice; it's the foundation of our team. But Dwyane, even in this team culture, we've never asked any player to take a pay cut."

Dwyane Wade nodded thoughtfully, as if he understood something, but perhaps he wouldn't fully grasp it until after he retired.

When the topic of trades came up, Carmelo Anthony addressed the recent rumors.

"Atlanta or Indianapolis, which side do you think will reach a deal first?"

Trade rumors surrounding these two teams are attracting a lot of attention from Eastern Conference players, as they directly impact the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

To put it more bluntly, it concerns the outcome for both the Pistons and the Heat.

Whether Atlanta acquires Dwight Howard or the Pacers acquire Arron Afflalo, it will intensify the competition.

The Flash answered without hesitation: "The Pacers will definitely be the first to complete the trade. Allen isn't a star player, so there will be much less resistance to the trade. It's different with Dwight. Even if he specifies his next team, Orlando will try to squeeze every last drop of value out of him. They're just waiting to take a bite out of him."

Derek Ross's answer continued Lynch's philosophy: "It doesn't matter who comes; if we meet on a narrow path, we will fight to the end."

At that moment, ESPN interrupted its broadcast on the television next to the nameplate with an breaking news report.

Just now, the league office officially confirmed that the Pacers traded a first-round draft pick, Jeff Foster, and Dahntay Jones to Denver in exchange for Allen Afflalo, who had just signed a five-year contract.

With everything settled, the escalating rumors about the deal finally became reality.

Larry Bird eventually compromised, and in previous reports, he was only willing to offer a second-round draft pick.

After all, the Pacers gave up too many future assets last summer to acquire Chris Paul.

However, the Denver Nuggets stood their ground, because Jeff Foster and Dahntay Jones were of no value to them, merely tools for balancing salaries and clearing space.

In other words, how could they possibly give up Arron Afflalo just for a second-round draft pick?

As a result, the Nuggets have not budged, and the two sides have failed to reach an agreement after multiple rounds of negotiations.

With the team just one shooting guard away from transforming itself, and the trade deadline fast approaching, Larry Bird decided to take a risk.

Ultimately, he acquired Arron Afflalo in full, and the Pacers, currently ranked second in the Eastern Conference, obtained their long-desired reinforcement.

Carmelo Anthony whistled: "We'll see, guys, who goes up against the Pacers in this year's playoffs."

Immediately afterwards, ESPN reporters located Chris Paul, who was in Orlando for the All-Star event.

He was all smiles, his mouth stretching almost to his ears – if it could be quantified, the angle would be 58 degrees.

"I'm very happy that the trade went through. You know, Allen is an extremely good player. Of course, I also wish Jeff and Dahntay all the best and love them."

"Will you feel pressure after the trade is completed? Especially when you face the Knicks in the playoffs?"

CP3's smile vanished, and he stared at the screen seriously: "Of course there's pressure, because outside expectations are rising. But believe me, the person under even more pressure right now is definitely Lynch."

"Pfft." Lin Qi couldn't hold back at the card table.

CP3's serious tone made it seem like the Pacers had acquired a prime Michael Jordan.

When I watched the documentary "The Last Dance" before, Gary Payton's line "I guarded MJ" made Michael Jordan, who was holding a tablet, laugh heartily in the shot. At the time, Lynch thought that Michael Jordan was just showing off.

But at this very moment, when a similar ridiculous scenario happens to me—

Looking at CP3's serious demeanor, as if "the deal is done and victory is assured," and sensing his unwavering belief in the "just one more deal to go" argument, one could sense the confidence he had in his words.
Lynch suddenly realized that he had wronged Jordan.

MJ's smile back then must have been just like your smile now—absolutely genuine.

That was an instinctive reaction born from a profound, albeit unintentional, sense of absurdity when one sees how naively misjudged the "gap" a competitor had.

It has to be said that CP3 has indeed taken over LBJ's niche – they were both responsible for the comedy in the East.

Following this, the reporter interviewed another player who was also participating in the event: Dwight Howard, the host of this year's All-Star Weekend. Given the All-Star Game and the fact that he was playing at home, the reporter tactfully avoided sensitive topics related to trades.

He simply asked if Warcraft was confident of winning the AMVP trophy at home.

Dwight Howard is confident in his popularity in Orlando and believes the vote will definitely favor him.

He nodded and said, "Of course, I will do my best to show the best side of myself to the fans."

If the answer stops here, then Warcraft's answer deserves a 9 out of 10.

Although somewhat mediocre, at least no mistakes were made.

But this guy, who always needs extra spotlight, had to add an unnecessary comment: "The East has never been anyone's private territory. Take Orlando, for example, this is my kingdom."

Warcraft's statement was clearly pointed at; he couldn't possibly be challenging Dwyane Wade, could he?
Lin Qi's expression darkened as he watched the confident CP3 and Warcraft on TV.

As a long-time rival, Carmelo Anthony knew one thing very well: those two guys were in for trouble.

Sure enough, Lin Qi tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and turned to the group around the card table: "Guys, give me a hand."

"Go ahead," The Flash said, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if he already knew the answer.

"On the night of the 27th, AMVP is mine."
-
February 27, 2012, before the start of the All-Star Weekend game.

Inside the East team's locker room, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard were the two with the brightest smiles.

One man's eyes gleamed with fervent anticipation for the Pacers' "complete" roster after the trade; the other basked in the spotlight of being the host nation's protagonist, beaming with joy, as if all the spotlights in Orlando had been turned on for him.

Dwight Howard wandered around with a wide grin, greeting everyone with his signature exaggerated smile.

Of course, he didn't forget to greet Lynch: "Buddy, welcome to my kingdom."

However, the reaction in the locker room was not enthusiastic. Most players were either focused on organizing their equipment or chatting with each other, tacitly choosing to ignore this self-proclaimed "master".

Soon, the All-Star starting lineup entrance ceremony began.

The five Eastern Conference starters took to the court in unison. Lynch waved his arms, Carmelo Anthony put his hand to his ear to listen, Dwyane Wade swayed his body to the rhythm, and Dwight Howard was also dancing.

Derek Ross, however, simply stood with his hands respectfully crossed behind his back, his face displaying an inappropriate seriousness. He glanced sideways at the group of seemingly ill-tempered individuals beside him, bewildered and deeply shocked by their behavior.

Next, the starting five players for this year were introduced one by one.

Lynch was the second to last to be called, and the cheers reached their peak at that moment.

This made Dwight Howard even more excited.

If Lin Qi is like this, wouldn't I be able to take off by now?

"Next up, the Eastern Conference All-Star starting center, from the Orlando Magic: #12, Dwight Howard!!!"

The announcer shouted his name, but the reaction of the fans made Dwight Howard feel embarrassed.

Cheers? Of course there were.

But an even louder tsunami of boos filled every corner of the Amway Center arena.

Dwight Howard, who styled himself as king, clearly did not have the support of his subjects.

This made Dwight Howard's smile freeze completely; he never expected the fans in the stadium to react this way.

Yes, Dwight Howard is extremely popular in Orlando.

But from the moment he insisted on choosing his next employer and decided to defect to Atlanta, the honey instantly turned into poison.

No fan likes someone who betrays the team, and no fan will cheer for a player who has a predetermined next team.

Lynch deliberately muttered to himself, his voice low but piercing: "Your kingdom doesn't seem to welcome you much, Dwight."

The boos from his awkward entrance still echoed in his ears as Dwight Howard suppressed his anger and stepped onto the court.

He was a little angry, but his goal remained unchanged: he longed to win his first All-Star MVP award at home.

This should have been an easy task, and most people would have consciously given the ball to the host country more often during All-Star Weekend.

But tonight, Dwight Howard realized that something was not quite right.

Dwyane Wade's pass was like a precision-guided missile, bypassing Dwight Howard and going straight to Lynch.

Derrick Rose's bounce pass weaved through the crowd, still aimed at that number 20 figure.

Even Carmelo Anthony, who had just reconciled with Lynch, did not hesitate to send the ball to the top of the key.

This is simply unbelievable. Who doesn't know Lynch's style in the All-Star Game? He has never put in much effort in the All-Star Game.

Apart from the 2009 All-Star Game where Reebok asked him to win the All-Star MVP, Lynch doesn't take many shots in the All-Star Game, and he only scored more than 20 points in two games.

But today, Lynch was extremely eager to score.

Even the on-site commentator Charles Barkley couldn't help but joke:
"I've said it before, Lynch truly loves LeBron. If LeBron weren't on the opposite side of Lynch, he would never have played so seriously."

Since LBJ moved to the Western Conference, Lynch has only been able to face him twice in the regular season. For two people who love each other so much, only playing together twice a year is clearly not enough.

Therefore, Lynch wouldn't mind using the All-Star Game as his wedding bed to show LeBron his long-suppressed 'longing'!

LBJ thought so too; he felt Lynch had gone too far.

Can't I just relax and enjoy a comfortable weekend?

Who plays All-Star Game like that?!
It really does.

And he was right next to LBJ.

Seeing how seriously Lynch was playing, Kobe Bryant immediately switched to serious mode as well.

When Kobe faced Dwyane Wade's defense, he even resorted to his signature move—elbow strikes—to clear a path.

Although Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant had no personal grudges, ever since they met in the 2008 NBA Finals, their elbows were destined to fly whenever they were on the court together.

Once one side is elbowed, the other side will definitely retaliate immediately.

But tonight, Flash didn't expect Kobe to bring this level of intensity to the All-Star Game.

Thanks to Kobe and Lynch's efforts, this year's All-Star Weekend was truly a real battle.

The sounds of muscles clashing between the East and West superstars were deafening. Defense was no longer a mere show of waving hands; the roars of blocks and steals shook the backboard.

In this situation, Orlando's home player, the NBA's current number one savior, the supreme king of the Amway Center, became a—

Highly skilled blue-collar workers.

He can't get the ball, so he can only do the dirty work like rebounding, protecting the rim, and setting screens.

However, this was not just a matter of chemistry among the starting players in the East; the entire bench of the East team seemed to have received an invisible command.

Aside from Chris Paul, almost everyone was happy to supply Lynch with ammunition.

Lynch's influence is something Dwight Howard can't compete with.

Since he stepped up in the labor negotiations last season and secured unprecedented benefits for the players, his reputation has soared to its peak.

Of course, there are still players in this league who don't like Lynch, such as LBJ, CP3, and Dwight Howard.

No one in this world can make everyone like them.

However, most players have considerable respect for Lynch.

They could all see Lynch's intentions tonight; the fact that number 20 was unusually active in the All-Star game was enough to explain everything.

Therefore, people don't mind doing things for Lynch and paving the way for him on this unique stage.

The game was very intense, and Kevin Durant clearly wanted to take charge. He was the most serious player on the Western Conference team besides Kobe Bryant.

With KD on fire and shooting touch, the score remained close throughout.

At halftime, the East and West All-Star teams were tied.

Lynch had 22 points in the first half, Kobe had 15 points, and KD had 16 points.

Orlando's owner, Dwight Howard?
2 points and 7 rebounds.

Charles Barkley thoroughly enjoyed the show and was filled with anticipation.

If the first half went like this, what will the second half be like?
Dwyane Wade quickly provided the answer, elbowing Kobe hard in the nose during a defensive play in the third quarter, earning the first flagrant foul in All-Star game history.

LeBron James stood frozen in place, like a solidified stone sculpture.

He felt like he was dreaming.

Is this competition really just an all-star weekend of exhibitions?

Kobe covered his nose. Although there was no bleeding, the visible crooked curve of his nose undoubtedly indicated that his nasal bone was broken.

Dwyane Wade's intention was simply to play tough defense, but he did not intend to intentionally hurt Kobe.

He stepped forward apologetically: "Sorry, buddy, you know, I just..."

"F*ck the sorry! Bro, I fucking wanted this! I love it!" Kobe Bryant didn't show any anger on his face; instead, he smiled.

Pain contorted his features, but it couldn't conceal the burning, almost fanatical excitement in his eyes.

Kevin Durant stared at Kobe not far away, feeling both happy and disappointed.

He was thrilled to fight alongside Kobe Bryant, such a pure fighter who burned everything for victory—a dream come true. That burning fighting spirit of number 24 always ignited the determination of those around him to give their all. He could feel it; he was deeply affected tonight.

To his disappointment, he could only fight alongside number 24 in one match.

After the game, he eventually had to return to reality and continue to share a room with the number 23 who had left him with a grudge.

Kevin Durant has always struggled to accept LeBron's leadership. Although he has become the tactical core this season, LBJ remains one of the locker room "leaders"—a leader who has failed to instill a true soul into the Thunder's Big Three.

At this moment, Kobe is like a cruel mirror, reflecting LeBron James's unspeakable shortcomings.

If LBJ had the same obsession with burning everything for victory, would the skies of Oklahoma be stained with the gold of a champion?

The competition escalated once again, with the rivalry between the two sides intensifying.

The dull thuds of limbs colliding and the hissing of muscles rubbing together resonated within the stadium.

Charles Barkley, standing on the sidelines, pounded on the commentary box with excitement, shouting in a hoarse voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is absolutely the most exciting All-Star Game in NBA history, bar none!"

Then, after a thrilling process, the most thrilling ending arrived.

With 37 seconds left in the game, Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook missed a layup, but Clippers forward Blake Griffin responded with a stunning two-handed putback dunk, giving the Western Conference a 120-117 lead.

Then, the script almost perfectly mirrored what happened next. Carmelo Anthony missed a crucial three-pointer, and KD, who was guarding him, wouldn't give him a chance; it was practically a playoff game.

The basketball bounced off the rim, but Flash, with his incredible jumping speed and rebounding instincts, managed to grab the offensive rebound amidst a cluster of giants and score with a putback.

With 22 seconds left in the game, the Eastern Conference led 119-120, closing the gap to just one point.

The Western Conference's offense naturally fell into Kobe's hands, and the Flash fouled early, sending number 24 to the free-throw line with 18 seconds left.

Tonight, Kobe Bryant proved one thing: he can still be competitive in this era when he has top-tier stars around him.

But the free throws that followed showed that Kobe was indeed getting old.

He made the first free throw with ease, but the second one bounced off the rim.

The intense competition drained his energy and also affected his free throw consistency.

With the score at 121-119, the match entered its most intense phase, with the outcome hinged on the final blow!
Kobe pointed at Lynch: "Go for it!"

The thunderous cheers and clamor instantly ignited the stadium!

In the final moments, Kobe vs. Lynch – this was the script everyone wanted to see.

A similar scenario unfolded during the 2012 All-Star Game in another timeline, where Kobe shouted an invitation to LeBron James for a showdown, hoping they could settle their score in a crucial moment.

Then, as expected, LeBron James, in a crucial moment, showed his selflessness by making a last-second turnover to end the game, much to the disappointment of the fans and Kobe.

After the game, Kobe, who had won, didn't smile at all. Instead, he looked puzzled and asked LeBron James why he passed the ball, expressing concern about his own basketball IQ.

But today, everyone got what they wanted.

LeBron James got what he wanted; now, playing for the Western Conference team, he doesn't need to step up and take responsibility, he can simply watch from the sidelines.

Kobe Bryant got his wish, and Lynch took the basketball, ready to answer his call in the crucial moment.

The fans got their wish; an epic battle will finally come to an end in a clash of heroes.

Lynch controlled the ball near the midfield line, while Kobe Bryant, with his crooked nose, stared intently at the number 20 who had created a ratings miracle with him in the Finals.

Lynch ran his fingertips along the rough texture of the basketball, adrenaline surging through his nerve endings.

He was extremely excited; he craved and desperately needed an opponent like Kobe Bryant.

Five seconds later, Lynch suddenly lowered his center of gravity, and the ball slammed into the floor like a pulse!

Kobe, like the Black Mamba pouncing on his prey, instantly closes in and prepares to steal the ball; he knows this opponent too well!
But with little time left in the game, Lynch tore through the tense air with a swift, phantom-like low crossover.

Chi——!
The sneakers rubbed violently against the floor, and a fleeting gap was suddenly torn open!

Kobe Bryant tried to turn around and interfere, but he could feel that his speed in turning back was far too slow.

His muscle fibers groaned under the strain, and a piercing pain shot through the wound on his nose.

The body betrayed the will; the speed that once reigned supreme in the league was now cruelly slowed down by time and injuries.

By the time his fingertips touched the ball, it had already flown out of Lynch's hand.

At the instant when red light pierced the dome and electronic buzzing exploded like a giant beast—it soared into the sky!
The world held its breath, and the heartbeats of billions froze!

That elegant arc cleaved through the clamor, carrying all eyes to the center of the basket—

"Shh!"

The net suddenly surged, and Charles Barkley roared to the sky:
"Lynch! A buzzer-beater! My God, a perfect match, a perfect All-Star game! Lynch continues his unparalleled dominance; even at All-Star Weekend, he remains the sole ruler!"
No one can be the master here. Admit the truth: Lynch is the only legitimate king of this alliance!

Kobe Bryant tugged at his swollen nose, grinned, and met Lynch's fist in the face.

Before he could even utter a single word, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and even the usually aloof Derrick Rose surged forward like a tidal wave, leaping up and engulfing Lynch!
The Eastern Conference All-Stars were celebrating their heroic victory, and most of the Western Conference All-Stars were also all smiles. There were no losers in this battle; they played with great enthusiasm and delivered a true basketball spectacle to the world.

大卫.斯特恩走上场，AMVP的归属已经相当明显——全场38分13个篮板5次助攻2次抢断2次封盖的林奇是唯一人选。

Amidst the clamor, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard stood out like forgotten rocks, silently frozen outside the tide of revelry, appearing particularly out of place.

They were among the few players who seemed unhappy tonight.

Just then, Lin Qi and a bunch of cameras following him suddenly broke through the crowd and walked up to the two guys who were all smiles before the game but weren't anymore.

Number 20 raised his hand and pointed at their noses without any hesitation:

"Dwight, do you see this clearly? Orlando doesn't belong to you! This place is my territory if I want it! I can be AMVP if I want it! And you don't even have a chance to fight back!"

I really hope you get traded to Atlanta. If the trade doesn't go through, then pray your Magic don't end up as the eighth seed in the East.

because--

You definitely don't want to face me in the playoffs with a Magic team like this, I guarantee it!

After Lin Qi finished speaking, his gaze suddenly shifted to the side, coldly locking onto another, even taller man:
"As for you, Chris, you'll soon learn the true taste of pressure."

Only now do people realize this.

This is not a performance.

This is not a feast.

This is the King of New York's protest against statements like "We're just one deal away from Lynch."

At the same time, it also foreshadows the tragic fate that CP3 and Warcraft are about to face.

(One update today, because it's a two-in-one update. But it's not short, still a full 10,000 words.)

(End of this chapter)