Champion Rules

Chapter 351, Section 347: What He Wanted Was More Than Enough (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Nobody likes to see a 28-year-old man who looks like he's 48 crying in front of the camera.

Moreover, he was just one of the "other players" on the Thunder.

Aside from his habit of forming small groups, taking small steps, wearing small crowns, and telling small lies, you can't find any other memorable traits about him.

Even Tracy McGrady, who didn't have any substantial accolades, had a greater impact than LeBron James. When people mention him, they think of the fact that he never led his team to defeat in the second round of the playoffs.

As a result, the world's attention quickly shifted back to the arena, fixing firmly on the gleaming golden trophy.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Larry O'Brien Trophy has been won by the same team.

No one has accomplished such a feat since 1966.

The myth of Michael Jordan was thus completely shattered.

Three consecutive championships, a dynasty.

This definition originated with Michael Jordan.

Because since the NBA fully entered the era of commercialization, no one has ever done this.

Larry Bird was the closest to establishing a dynasty, with the Boston Celtics winning championships in 1984 and 1986.

Unfortunately, in 1985, the Celtics caused the Lakers to play what is arguably the most humiliating Finals in Celtics history.

They witnessed the Lakers lift the trophy at TD Garden, in the Celtics' old stomping ground.

Jerry Buss yelled in Boston, "The most disgusting sentence in English, 'The Lakers have never beaten the Celtics,' can finally be spit out!"

The baton of establishing a dynasty was also passed to the Magician and Skyhook.

Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar came closer to a three-peat, winning the championship in 87 and 88. However, in 1989, they were defeated by a fierce and ruthless team that caused No. 23 immense suffering.

Alternatively, it could be said that the Lakers were defeated by Magic Johnson's injuries—in the 1989 Finals, Magic Johnson only played three games, 25 minutes each, and his absence made the Lakers completely unable to compete with the Pistons.

What the Lakers didn't know was that the injuries were just the beginning. Years later, the Lakers would also lose to Magic Johnson's injuries.

Next, fate turned to the Detroit Pistons.

This team, which ended the Magic-Bird rivalry era, overwhelmed Magic Johnson and Bird, crushed the team of the most brilliant rising star Michael Jordan, and won another championship in 1990, achieving a back-to-back title.

But the story of 1991 is known to the whole world: that bald-faced player, whose overall strength was sufficient, launched the bloodiest and most thorough revenge against the Pistons.

In the end, the banner of a three-peat landed firmly on the shoulders of number 23.

Only he turned people's expectations of the past decade into an undeniable reality.

That's the significance of a three-peat.

From the initial sparks of revolution in the early 1980s to the resounding echoes of the 1990s, countless heroes have followed one after another, pursuing this seemingly attainable yet repeatedly shattered goal.

The fans' expectations have shifted heavily from Bird and Magic to the shoulders of the Bad Boys.

In the end, only Michael Jordan managed to firmly grasp it from the clouds of expectation and hold it tightly in his hands.

Thus, the flying man became a god.

Now, Lin Qi has embarked on a similar path to godhood.

They broke the ultimate seal that had been locked for more than a decade, known as the "Four-Time Champions".

The Chicago Bulls' great legacy has twice stood here—in 1993, MJ was forced to leave due to off-court controversies; in 1998, the storm in the locker room and management swallowed the dynasty ship in the undercurrents.

In 2002, the Los Angeles Lakers' duo of Kane and Yegan swept the entire league, completing the unfinished work of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

At the time, everyone felt that the miracle of four consecutive championships was just around the corner.

Shaq is at his peak, unlike Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his twilight years, and Kobe's little Kobe hasn't suffered the devastating injuries his predecessors did.

However, the harsh reality of 2003 froze the dream, the OK combination completely broke up, and the Lakers dynasty suddenly collapsed in the internal storm.

The baton of victory slipped from their grasp for the third time, shattering just before the threshold of their fourth consecutive championship.

The fact that three dominant teams failed to overcome this formidable barrier led people to believe that a three-peat was the limit of modern basketball.

No matter how strong you are, whether you are Michael Jordan or the OK duo, under the current league rules, a four-peat is absolutely impossible.

Because this involves not only defeating the opponent, but also defeating the greed of teammates and management, defeating your own aging, defeating roster changes, and defeating the ambitions of others.

Michael Jordan's legendary athleticism is now history, and the talent of the OK duo is unparalleled. So, if even they couldn't achieve four consecutive championships, then who could?

This "impossible" sentiment coalesced into a cold consensus, as heavy as the ironclad rules of the basketball world.

Tonight, the person who accomplished all of this has been born.

Lynch stands proudly atop the ruins of Chesapeake Energy Arena, and at the pinnacle of history.

He accomplished what Michael Jordan failed to do and what the OK combination failed to achieve.

When millions of eyes yearn for a miracle, when the regrets of the era converge into longing, when the heavy curses of history weigh upon us...
Only he transformed that seemingly distant, imagined great undertaking into an unshakable reality!

Undoubtedly, this forged a solid golden stepping stone for Lynch's historical status, allowing him to climb upwards at an accelerated pace.

Ever since Lynch won four championships with the Knicks, comparisons between him and Michael Jordan have never stopped.

At that time, people could only say that Lynch was getting closer to MJ.

Although he had already dominated the era, the significance of his two three-peats is undeniable.

That was a symbol of absolute dominance.

Lynch's two back-to-back championships are still a ways off from that.

Last season, when Lynch also won his third consecutive championship, bringing his career total to six titles and his reputation to unprecedented heights, MJ's status was still not completely shaken.

Lynch is remarkable.

But MJ had two three-peats.

Moreover, he has six championships.

Tonight, as Lynch wins his fourth consecutive championship, MJ's status is under unprecedented and fierce attack.

Lynch has now won six championships. Although he has not yet achieved two three-peats, he has achieved a four-peats.

It's hard to say whether MJ or Lynch is the greater one.

However, MJ is a retired old guy, and now he can only show off his discerning eye for talent in North Carolina.

In the world of competitive sports, people tend to exaggerate the achievements of current players.

Therefore, at this moment, in the hearts of most fans, Lynch's influence has surpassed that of Michael Jordan.

David Stern shared this view, feeling that his career as NBA commissioner had been fulfilling.

He ushered in two golden ages.

This summer, the league will elect its next commissioner. Although there has been no formal vote yet, it is already confirmed that Adam Silver will be the commissioner.

Although David Stern is officially scheduled to retire in 2014, he will effectively become the leader of the league the day Adam Silver is elected. In other words, this is actually David Stern's final farewell gift.

He was delighted to be a part of this night.

Therefore, when the Finals MVP trophy was presented to Lynch, David Stern hugged him very excitedly:

"Congratulations Lynch, you did it! You didn't let me down, and you didn't let fans all over the world down either! By any standard, you are the best superstar of our time!"

Lynch chuckled and shrugged: "The best in the world? Am I not qualified to be a MOAT?"

"I personally think you already are, but there may still be some controversy in the public opinion. Two three-peats, one four-peats, and one two-peats, I'm not sure which side people will favor more."

Of course, considering your impressive resume, such as three seasons with over 70 wins, an undefeated playoff record, and so on…

Lynch interrupted David Stern directly: "What if I had two three-peats plus one two-peats? Would I be qualified?"

David Stern's Adam's apple bobbed slightly before he gave an affirmative reply: "Of course, more than enough, Lynch."

Lynch didn't press the matter further. He raised the Finals MVP trophy and the gleaming Larry O'Brien Trophy high, basking in the deafening roar of the crowd.

Although it was an away game, there were still many Knicks supporters in the stadium.

Lynch basked in the cheers, enjoying the thrill of standing at the pinnacle of history.

David Stern stared at Lynch, wondering what the guy meant by his question.

Clearly, Lynch did not intend to use those "minor honors" to enhance his image.

Although surpassing 70 wins in a single season three times and achieving a perfect playoff record are not minor honors, these are quite remarkable achievements.

But Lynch still doesn't want to use these things to boost his reputation. He just said that with two three-peats and one two-peats, he only wants to defeat that number 23 without any controversy in terms of real honors.

David Stern wasn't sure if Lynch could still do it, but the guy's ambition was unprecedented.

He had just crushed one number 23 to smithereens, but he was already thinking of crushing another number 23 without any controversy, and completely overturning the myth of the previous era.

David Stern had only Lynch in his eyes at that moment, but the championship did not belong to Lynch alone.

Milos Teodosic pulled out his phone and started snapping photos like crazy.

He wanted to preserve this dreamlike moment forever.

Chandler Parsons reached out and caught the falling scraps of paper, as if catching green US dollars.

He will keep working hard until he achieves the same freedom as Lynch, with his mansion, luxury cars, and glamorous models.

Ray Allen gently removed his championship cap, a faint smile playing on his lips. His gaze was like a mirror, calmly reflecting the surrounding jubilant clamor, as if he wanted to meticulously etch every moment of light and shadow into the depths of his soul.

He knew that this golden scene might be his final act in the League of Legends—fortunately, he had no regrets.

Wilson Chandler's gaze fell on the gleaming gold trophy, but he didn't feel the surge of excitement he had expected, nor the joy and thrill he had felt after his previous victories.

He felt a heavy sense of exhaustion wash over him like a tide, and at that moment, only one thought sustained him: a soft and comfortable bed.

Jimmy Butler accepted the trophy and, like a pilgrim, kissed the cup with a devout and wild passion.

A homeless man has now become an NBA champion.

He muttered loudly, "My life could fucking be a movie!"

Then, he prepared to shove the burning weight into Kyrie Irving's arms.

The proud and arrogant top draft pick, the indispensable cog in the Manhattan Project, stared intently at the championship trophy.

Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds, then he decisively and resolutely waved his hands away.

He refused to lift the trophy.

Jimmy Butler's eyes widened: "Hey, now's not the time to be cool."

Kyrie Irving remained calm and composed, saying, "I'm not trying to be cool. I just feel that I'm not ready to lift it yet. I haven't proven myself."

Jimmy Butler laughed at this pretentious bastard: "Come on, you're the starting point guard for a championship team, what the hell are you trying to prove?"

Kyrie Irving patted Jimmy Butler on the shoulder: "Prove I wasn't a mistake."

Ray Allen overheard this remark he had made, glanced at the young top scorer, a barely perceptible knowing smile playing on his lips, and then gently shook his head.

The celebration of winning the championship lasted for a long time, and Lynch walked into the Chesapeake Energy locker room with the trophy in his hand.

Inside the locker room, reporters and champagne were already in place.

But besides that, there's something else—the other five gleaming Larry O'Brien Trophys that Lynch had previously won.

They were all brought here, and when Lynch placed the sixth trophy he had just won next to the other five trophies, they formed a dazzling golden line, connecting them into a monument that spanned the ages!

Lin Qi squatted down, his two strong arms outstretched proudly, his palms landing steadily on the bases of the trophies on the left and right sides—this was not a measurement, but a silent coronation of the six dynasties beneath his feet, a solemn declaration of the map of a basketball era!

In an instant, the flashbulbs of the cameras engulfed every inch of the locker room like a tidal wave.

The camera greedily captures this rare sight: a king paves a long corridor of victory, standing alone atop it.

Such a scene is indeed rare. You know, even if LeBron James, the most successful basketball player of the 21st century in another timeline, wanted to take this kind of photo, he would probably have to go through a lot of trouble coordinating with the management of three different teams.

But Lynch didn't need to go through all that trouble. He simply gave a greeting, a soft call, and all the glory was instantly in place, waiting to be reviewed under the same room's lights.

Lynch embraced the trophies, and the reporters started joking around.

"Lin Qi, it's a good thing your arms are long enough, otherwise you wouldn't be able to hug them completely."

Lin Qi smiled and pointed at the reporter: "In fact, my goal is to prevent myself from fully embracing all the honors I have received. Only when the honors overflow do I mean that I have done my best."

What are your plans for this summer? Will you participate in the London Olympics?

"I've already told my national team that I want to take a summer break. Man, I've already won two Olympic gold medals, I think I have the right to rest."

Who do you think will leave the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer?

"Right now, I only want to talk about my own team."

Do you think your winning streak can continue? How long can your reign last?

This question made Lynch think for a few seconds, then he shook his head:

"To be honest, I don't know, I can't predict the future."

But I can say something that everyone already knows—

The Manhattan Project was more than just a loud bang.
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LeBron cried after being beaten by Lynch? Did he cry when he left the court? Damn, will all those tough things he said before the game be added to "LeBron's Classic Quotes"? Please, I can hardly remember them all! — Stephen A. Smith's comment on LeBron's post-game crying.

Four consecutive championships, six NBA titles. My stance remains the same: I don't need to apologize for Michael because what I said before was true. The fact is, Lynch has surpassed you. If you break ties with me because of a fact, then I accept it. — Charles Barkley again mentions Lynch's historical status and his falling out with his old friend.

I'm thrilled to see the Knicks achieve such tremendous success, but believe me, we'll achieve the same within five years. If we don't, I'll never get married. — Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of the Brooklyn Nets.

As you've seen, we have a tough leader. — Kevin Durant's assessment of LeBron James' performance tonight.

(End of this chapter)