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Chapter 279 Watching the Game

As night falls in New York City, neon lights illuminate the city, and Madison Square Garden, located in the heart of Manhattan, is undoubtedly the most dazzling focal point of this city that never sleeps.

As the home of the New York Knicks, this arena has been a place of passion and dreams for countless basketball fans since its inception. On every game day, the air here seems to be ignited by the passion of basketball, and even breathing carries a sense of restlessness and anticipation.

Inside the ESPN studio, the lights were dazzling, the host was in high spirits, and the two guests beside him were already prepared.

"Welcome to a highly anticipated game in the 1997-1998 NBA regular season. Tonight, we'll take you to Madison Square Garden to witness the New York Knicks host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The buzz surrounding this game is absolutely phenomenal."

With his infectious enthusiasm, the host instantly captured the audience's attention: "I'm sure everyone remembers the blockbuster trade that swapped Ewing and Garnett. Tonight, the two teams will face off for the first time since the trade was completed this season. That alone is enough to make all the fans eagerly anticipate it."

In a pre-game interview, Garnett still couldn't hide his dissatisfaction with being traded without prior notice. He also expressed his deep love for the vibrant city of New York and his appreciation for its passionate fans and strong basketball atmosphere, but he felt that Minnesota's actions were undoubtedly the greatest disrespect to him.

"On the other hand, Ewing appeared remarkably calm, making no discordant remarks about his former team, the Knicks. However, when it came to the Knicks' new owner, Ernst, Ewing's attitude was very clear. He stated that he would prove on the court that Ernst's trade decision was extremely foolish and wrong."

As soon as the host finished speaking, the guests in the studio couldn't help but burst into laughter. One of the guests joked, "It seems that Ewing really took the news from the media seriously and believes that all the changes in the Knicks are the result of that playboy tycoon's efforts."

The host didn't continue on that topic, but instead changed the subject, saying, "It's been almost two months since that trade. What are your thoughts on the Knicks' current rebuilding situation?"

The two guests exchanged glances, and then Coens, who had spoken earlier, cleared his throat and said methodically, "In my opinion, this deal is definitely a win-win situation."

"The Timberwolves have acquired Ewing, a strong player who can contribute immediately. They have now climbed to sixth place in the Western Conference. If this momentum continues, I am very optimistic that they will be able to make the playoffs this year, and it is not impossible for them to go further and reach the second round."

"As for the Knicks, I wonder if everyone has noticed a detail: the number of banners with insults against Ernst that Knicks home fans have been hanging up has been decreasing recently. I think this phenomenon itself is enough to illustrate that the Knicks' rebuilding is moving in a positive direction."

Coens glanced at the live stream of the players' training on TV and continued, "Garnett's potential is limitless. So far this season, he has already been able to deliver All-Star caliber numbers of 19 points and 8 rebounds per game, and he is still in the process of growing. He has a bright future ahead of him."

"Moreover, several rookies on the Knicks have also performed impressively. Take McGrady, for example. His height and weight give him a unique advantage at the shooting guard position. Although he still lacks some game experience, he has already averaged 11.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 minutes of playing time this season, which has left fans with plenty of room for imagination."

"Of course, if McGrady and Allan Houston were to swap teams now, the Knicks would definitely be the ones who lose out, but don't forget that the Knicks also hold the Raptors' unprotected draft pick for next year."

"Given the Raptors' current record, it's not impossible for the Knicks to get the number one pick in next year's draft with this pick. From this point of view alone, the Knicks have already made a huge profit in this trade."

"As for players like Nash and Ben Wallace, they have each shown considerable strength on the court. Honestly, if Ernst is indeed leading the Knicks' rebuilding plan, then I have to say he is fully qualified to be an NBA team general manager."

As soon as Cohens finished speaking, the host turned his attention to another guest, eagerly awaiting his opinion.

The guest said with a smile, "I completely agree with Cohen's judgment. In fact, I think the Knicks' rebuilding process this year deserves an S-level rating."

"As everyone knows, next year will be a big year for the NBA draft. If the Knicks can successfully sign another All-Star caliber player in next year's draft, then I think this young roster will definitely be more competitive than last year's Knicks."

"More importantly, they are all very young, with huge room for growth and great potential for future evolution."

Just as the host was about to continue asking questions and explore the topic in more depth, he suddenly heard a sound in his earpiece, which made him pause for a moment.

Immediately afterward, the host's face lit up with surprise, and he excitedly said to the camera, "Oh! Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received some big news! The Knicks' new owner, the young and promising billionaire Ernst, has come to the game today in person!"

"Now, let's switch the camera to the scene; I'm sure what follows will be very exciting!"

As soon as the host finished speaking, ESPN's live camera immediately focused on Ernst, giving him a huge close-up.

Ernst had just entered the stadium when his image was simultaneously displayed on the stadium's big screen.

Upon seeing this, the host became even more excited and shouted, "Hey, everyone, look who this is! That's right, it's Ernst, the new owner of the Knicks. This is his first public appearance at the Knicks' home arena!"

However, what happened the next second made the host even more excited.

He could clearly feel the boos coming from the scene, even though he was sitting in the studio, watching through the screen.

The host, barely suppressing a laugh, said, "I dare say, Ernst is definitely the NBA team owner who receives the most feedback from fans. The scale of the boos is probably among the largest in league history."

The audience in the studio burst into laughter again, and when the camera focused on the audience around Ernst, the host erupted in cheers once more.

"Wait! Who's that?"

"My God! Isn't that Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts? Is this just a coincidence?"

"Look everyone, those two seem to know each other very well. They even hugged and greeted each other after meeting. Their interaction is so intimate!"

He then quipped, "Oh, on one side is a Hollywood actress known for her big mouth, and on the other is a notorious playboy. Are they secretly discussing grand plans for the Knicks' future while chatting so enthusiastically on the sidelines?"

The live stream camera lingered on Ernst and Julia Roberts for an extended period, but the two seemed completely unaware of the camera's presence, continuing their lively conversation as if no one else was watching, paying no heed to the stares of the surrounding audience.

Seeing this, Coens in the studio laughed and said, "I can't even imagine how wonderful it would be to get a kiss from Julia Roberts' big mouth. I bet the paparazzi in New York are going to be busy tonight; they'll do everything they can to surround these two."

At this moment, Ernst was also filled with surprise.

He had just left Ernst Asset Management because he was bored and wanted to relax by watching a basketball game, but he never expected to run into Julia Roberts here.

This Hollywood leading lady had her signature blonde hair casually draped over her shoulders, and under the stadium lights, her exquisite face looked even more captivating, as if she were surrounded by a dazzling halo.

Today, she specially wore a retro Knicks jersey, paired with simple yet stylish jeans and clean white sneakers, attracting frequent glances from the surrounding audience.

"Where's Emma?" Ernst had a vivid memory of that little girl.

Upon hearing Ernst mention his Emma, ​​Julia Roberts couldn't help but tease, "What? With such a beautiful woman sitting next to you, you're still thinking about another woman, and a little kid at that? Am I not charming enough?"

Seeing Ernst's stunned expression at her teasing, Julia Roberts couldn't help but laugh and explained, "I came to New York for work, and Emma still has to go to school, so I had to leave her in Los Angeles. I couldn't let her fall behind in her studies."

After realizing what was happening, Ernst immediately retorted, "So, does that mean someone's going to have a sleepless night? Won't you feel lonely without the little one by your side?"

Upon hearing Ernst's words, Julia Roberts felt a sudden stirring within her for some reason.

She tried to calm herself down, comforting herself that it was just the intense atmosphere of the competition that affected her, and then said, "Whether you can sleep or not, you don't necessarily need someone to keep you company."

Julia Roberts meant to express that even without Emma by her side, she could fill her nights by watching sports, but Ernst completely misunderstood her meaning and thought that the Hollywood star was implying something about him.

"You can't say that. Fake is fake, after all. It can't compare to the feeling of being with real people!"

Julia Roberts was stunned when she heard this.

She never expected Ernst to be so direct and make no attempt to hide his thoughts. A blush crept onto her face, and she was momentarily at a loss for words.

In this awkward and delicate atmosphere, the referee's whistle broke the deadlock, and the game officially began.

The intense competition on the field quickly drew their attention, making them temporarily forget the little incident that had just occurred.

Both sides gave it their all, putting in an intensity far beyond what a regular season game should have, leaving fans thoroughly entertained.

However, this certainly doesn't include Ernst, because he found that the whole stadium was targeting him.

Every time Ewing completed a powerful dunk on the court, he would turn his gaze toward him.

The fans at the stadium treated Ewing as if he were the Knicks' center, giving him huge cheers for every basket he scored.

In contrast, Ernst was met with a chorus of boos whenever the camera focused on him, with even Julia Roberts joining in later.