NBA: Be the GOAT starting today!

A system notification sounded in Zhou Yi's mind, and he quickly opened the system.

In the task list, a new random task has been refreshed.

[There's no first place in academics, but there's a clear winner in martial arts; let's challenge for the best small forward of the season.]

[Task: Win the game against the Cavaliers and surpass LeBron James in any two of the following categories: points, rebounds, and assists]

[System Reward: Randomly select one James talent skill pack]

Upon seeing the announcement of this random task, Zhou Yi was overjoyed.

While there's a chance of obtaining the Eight Steps of the Heavenly Dragon or the Crab Spirit Luck, if Zhou Yi could acquire LeBron James's bug-like physical talent, he'd be confident of three years as MVP and four years as champion.

After reviewing James's stats for this season, Zhou Yi began to study how to complete the task.

According to Zhou Yi's memory, LeBron James in the 10 season averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists, winning his first back-to-back MVP awards.

He can already be considered the second-best player in the league after Kobe.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers will finish the season with a record of 61 wins, ranking first in the entire league.

However, James did not play very well at the start of the season, and O'Neal's arrival seriously affected the Cavaliers' rhythm.

In the first six games, James averaged only 26.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists.

Looking at James's stats, Zhou Yi felt he had a chance to surpass James in scoring and rebounding.

With that in mind, Zhou Yi found the Cavaliers' game video.

After carefully studying the Cavaliers' first six games, Zhou Yi had an idea. He took out his phone and called McMalone.

Objective: To defeat LeBron James.

......

The two-day break passed quickly, and the entire Clippers team packed up and flew to Cleveland.

Since Ballmer took over the Clippers, the team has changed its previous financially strapped approach.

The teams no longer use the league's unified charter flights, but instead have their own dedicated team charter flights.

It is said that Ballmer is already planning to buy land, and the Clippers may have their own arena in a few years.

On the plane, Camby, Gordon, and others were playing cards, while Zhou Yi, bored, listened to music.

Baron Davis, the bearded man, sat down next to Zhou Yi. The veteran, who had played in the league for ten years, was staring blankly at the white clouds outside the porthole.

Zhou Yi noticed Baron Davis's behavior; the veteran seemed to be in a bad mood.

"Byron, what's wrong? You looked so worried when you got on the plane."

Zhou Yi's words made Byron Davis turn his head.

Looking at Zhou Yi, Byron Davis paused for a moment, then asked:

"Dude, do you know what year I entered the NBA?"

"Of course I know. You were the third overall pick in '99 and were selected by the Charlotte Hornets."

Zhou Yi answered quickly, causing Byron's face to show a look of recollection.

"Yes, that was ten years ago. Fourteen players from our class are still playing in the league today."

"Manu, Odom, Artest, Terry..."

Byron named these players, all of whom are currently important players for their respective teams.

"You are an underrated generation."

Byron laughed at Zhou Yi's words and nodded, but his expression turned melancholy as he looked out the porthole at the drifting white clouds.

"Yes, but I'm not the most successful one."

Byron Davis spoke with a wistful tone, accompanied by a soft sigh.

"Manu is the most successful player from the 99 draft class. He already has three championships, and Odom won one last season as well."

This was the first time Zhou Yi had met Baron Davis, who was talking about these things. This Clippers veteran's favorite topics to discuss were rap and women.

In the Clippers, nobody talks about championships; it's something that has nothing to do with these bottom-feeders.

But today, Zhou Yi felt he had come to know a completely new side of him, or another side of Byron Davis.

"Zhou, I can feel that my breakthroughs are no longer sharp, and my steps have become sluggish. I may have to leave this league in a few years."

Byron Davis spoke, his tone gradually lowering as he turned to look at the young-looking Zhou Yi.

"I envy young people like you. I believe you might win that damn championship someday, but I..."

Byron Davis looked at Zhou Yi with a helpless smile and shook his head.

"I may not have another chance. Although I started playing for the money, who doesn't love that damn trophy?"

Byron Davis's words startled Zhou Yi, and a myriad of thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.

Yes, for that damned trophy, some chose to betray and band together, some chose to step on others' toes, and some chose to stand firm.

Everyone is pursuing that highest honor in the basketball world in their own way.

Baron Davis may be a slacker now, but deep down he must have dreamed of that damn trophy countless times.

This doesn't feel out of place; everyone who gives up has previously tried their best.

After saying this, Baron Davis didn't look out the window again, but got up and prepared to walk towards the group of people playing cards.

Just as he turned around, Zhou Yi's voice rang out from behind him.

"Byron, why not give it a try? Maybe your name will be engraved on the championship ring too."

"You said you still have a few years left in your career, so we can give it a try together."

Zhou Yi spoke softly, and only Byron Davis could hear him in the cabin.

Byron Davis stopped turning around and looked back at Zhou Yi, a determined look on the young man's face.

The young man extended one hand, and after a while, Baron Davis, a veteran of ten years, responded by extending his other hand.

......

Knights training base.

The sound of hammer blows echoed across the court as two figures practiced, each occupying half of the court.

The bulky O'Neal stood at the free-throw line, trying to correct his recent free-throw trajectory.

When O'Neal turned around, he looked at the other side of the court.

A muscular number 23 stood on the three-point line and slammed the basketball toward the basket in a strange and awkward manner.

Bang—the basketball hit the rim and bounced away.

O'Neal shook his head helplessly. His little brother, LeBron James, always made some inexplicable moves on the court.

After the sound of metal hitting the ball continued for a while, the two sat down to rest on the sidelines, and naturally the topic turned to their next opponent, the Clippers.

When the name of the I Ching was mentioned, Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James both fell silent.

Aside from his small stature and petty nature, Shaquille O'Neal reminded me of Zhou Yi's NCAA days, when that damn kid made me lose face in front of the media.

He had just praised the big man Thabeet when Zhou Yi dunked on him on the court.

He vowed then and there to teach this kid a lesson in the new season.

James then thought back to last season's playoffs, when after he defeated the Pistons, the media focused on whether Zhou Yi could be the number one draft pick.

He dispatched two imperial guards, Dani Green and Eyinga, to try to sabotage Zhou Yi's summer league performance, but they returned empty-handed.

Thinking about all this, the two men exchanged a knowing glance.

"I'm going to block that kid's dunk."

"I want to show him how a real number one draft pick small forward plays."