I fell in love with Toutiao and became the GOAT.

Lin Bei had no idea that he had only tested his skills a little, yet he had already won Dun Can's appreciation.

As soon as the final whistle blew, he joined the Warriors team and boarded a private plane to Los Angeles that very night.

"Next game, Staples Center against the Lakers, we're going to see something big, Best."

On the plane, Little Potato made a strange noise.

Lin Bei had no doubts; Los Angeles, after all, is the city in the US where Hollywood stars are most frequently seen.

Staples Center is a regular venue for a group of Hollywood stars at every Lakers game.

For a rookie like Lin Bei who has just entered the NBA, this is indeed a "big deal".

Lin Bei nodded slightly, but Clay blurted out, "It's just the Staples Center on an ordinary day, what's so special about that?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Bei was stunned. Was this kid showing off?

But Little Potato wasn't angry. Instead, he put his arm around Clay's shoulder and said, "Clay, I know you're a well-traveled and influential guy, but can you stop pretending at a time like this?"

Clay, his secret thoughts exposed, chuckled dryly and softened his tone: "Okay, okay, Nate."

Lin Bei then remembered that Klay's father, Michael Thompson, played for the Lakers for four seasons before retiring in 1991. After retiring, he worked as a commentator for the Lakers.

It's easy to imagine that Clay grew up with his father at Staples Center and had seen all sorts of big events.

Sure enough, during the rest of the voyage, Clay started talking non-stop, recounting the story with great enthusiasm:

"If we're talking about excitement, the Staples Center Christmas Day games are the best! There's no star you don't recognize in the first row. I still remember the Christmas Day game in 2000..."

After listening for a while, Lin Bei felt that if he wanted to make headlines, playing for the Lakers would be the best option.

"The Warriors are good, but they're still a bit behind the Lakers who are always in the spotlight."

Klay sighed, "With our current strength, it would be difficult for us to qualify to play on Christmas Day in a normal season, let alone challenge the Lakers at Staples Center."

Lin Bei disagreed with this statement. He looked up at Klay with a confident look in his eyes: "There's a chance, Klay. Let's work hard and try to play the Christmas Day game at Staples Center next season."

Curry, standing nearby, immediately chimed in with bright eyes, "That's right! Let's work together and make a strong comeback next season!"

Just as the two were in high spirits, Little Potato poured cold water on them:

"It'll be too late to rise up next season, have you forgotten? The regular season schedule was arranged in the summer. If you want to face the Lakers on Christmas Day next season, you have to make a name for yourself this season."

Lin Bei's eyes narrowed, and his tone became even more resolute: "Then let's rise to prominence this season!"

Curry followed suit, his tone no less assertive: "That's right, we'll rise to prominence this season!"

After listening for a while, head coach Mark Jackson finally drifted over and said slowly, "You guys should focus on winning tomorrow's game and avoiding a losing streak before talking about rising again."

The cabin fell silent instantly.

Everyone knows that tomorrow's game is a tough back-to-back match against the formidable Lakers. The intensity of the game will be even higher than the previous game against the Spurs. Winning and avoiding a losing streak will be extremely difficult.

Only Lin Bei lowered his eyes, then said softly but firmly, "There's a chance."

Curry, seemingly infected by his enthusiasm, immediately nodded and repeated, "That's right, there's a chance!"

……

The next day, Lin Bei woke up in a hotel in Los Angeles.

Mark Jackson was the same; as soon as he woke up, he received a call from Bob Myers from the Bay Area, and after a few words, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Why are the Spurs eyeing Best? No way, Best is no longer a player on the team."

"He hasn't signed that contract renewal yet? No problem, I'll go and urge him."

So, after breakfast, Mark Jackson called Lin Bei over.

"We just completed a trade with the Spurs..."

Mark Jackson's opening remarks made Lin Bei raise an eyebrow slightly, a hint of doubt rising in his mind.

Logically speaking, if this deal had nothing to do with him, Mark Jackson wouldn't have needed to bring it up in front of him.

So, does this mean—

"I was traded to the Spurs?"

Lin Bei thought to himself that the Spurs were actually not bad either, their peak came earlier than the Warriors'.

Leaving aside 12 and 13, just talking about 14, it was inevitable that the Spurs, with him, would follow history and upset the Heat's Big Three.

Then he could stand in front of James and Pat Riley and yell, "Do you regret this?"

Just thinking about it makes me feel awesome!

However, Mark Jackson chuckled: "No, the Spurs did ask you. The original trade was a swap of Stephen Jackson and Richard Jefferson, but the Spurs asked if you were available for trade. They were willing to include Tiago Splitter in the deal."

"To be honest, I was genuinely tempted; Thiago is a pretty good center forward..."

Mark Jackson, that guy, you can tell he's just faking it.

Lin Bei retorted directly, "If you're interested, then take action!"

Mark Jackson rolled his eyes: "We've decided to keep you long-term, but we heard you haven't signed that renewal contract yet."

Yes, the contract extension has been agreed upon, but Lin Bei hasn't signed it yet. He needs to wait until the team gets rid of Bodog before he's willing to sign.

If the team waits for him to sign the contract and then plans a trade to send him away, he will lose the initiative because of the early contract extension.

Lin Bei understood what Mark Jackson was saying; this guy was there to urge him to renew his contract.

Lin Bei deliberately went along with him: "You want to trade me if you don't need me? Then send me to the Spurs..."

Mark Jackson's expression completely changed; he looked distressed and even pleaded, "Just sign Best, I promise the team will find a trade to get rid of Andrew as soon as possible..."

Since the team's head coach was being so humble, Lin Bei couldn't refuse any longer. He nodded helplessly, "Okay, boss, I'll sign the papers as soon as we get back to the Bay Area after this game."

……

In the evening, at the Staples Center,

As Little Potato said, the stars are shining brightly here.

Although it was just a regular season game on an ordinary day, Lin Bei glanced around and saw many familiar faces.

Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson, Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, her niece Emma Roberts, and even Scarlett Johansson, whom Kevin Durant once jokingly said he wanted to drink her bathwater…

In addition, there was a whole row of Kardashian family members on the sidelines—Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner, who was still young and had not yet completely lost her girlish charm.

Lin Bei's gaze swept quickly across them. To be honest, he did have a fleeting thought in his mind: to have some interaction with one of them.

It's not because of long-term repression; repression is only one aspect.

More importantly, having scandals with these Hollywood beauties is itself a way to generate headlines.

But he only glanced at it and didn't take any concrete action.

He can't just stick it on like a pig, can he?

"Winning this game is partly about fighting for the Warriors' rise, and partly..."

He looked up again, glancing at Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum on the other side of the court.

Especially Odom, who even went to the sidelines and kissed Khloé Kardashian.

Seeing this, Lin Bei's fighting spirit grew even stronger.