NBA: Northeast China's spectacular dunks sweep the entire league.

The press release room at the Staples Center in Los Angeles was flooded with flashes of light.

The air was thick with a suffocating arrogance, the kind of superiority that only elite teams possess.

Jerry West sat in the audience, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm. As the Lakers' general manager, he had just experienced a nightmarish summer—they had planned to sign Gary Payton to a mid-level contract to form the league's most formidable "F4," only to have it snatched away by Lin Hao, the "barbarian" from the East.

"Payton went to Golden State..." West muttered to himself, biting his cigar. "That damn Lin Hao not only stole him, but did it in such a humiliating way."

But he must turn the situation around.

The press officer on stage cleared his throat and announced into the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Los Angeles Lakers officially welcome our newest member—Sam Cassell!"

There was thunderous applause.

Sam Cassell, the man known as "The Phenomenon," walked onto the stage with a smile, wearing a purple and gold suit. He held up his number 33 jersey and flashed a "V" sign at the camera.

At 33, he's considered old for a guard, but Cassell remains in top form. Last season with the Bucks, he averaged 17.2 points and 6.7 assists per game, making him one of the league's most clutch and ruthless players.

"Sam, welcome to Los Angeles," Kobe Bryant said expressionlessly from his seat next to him. "We need your experience, especially in the playoffs."

Shaquille O'Neal, grinning widely, roared in his signature booming voice, "Haha! Now we have four All-Stars! Alien, you pass me the ball, and I'll dunk on the rim!"

Kassel took the microphone; his voice was hoarse and magnetic, with a cunning slyness characteristic of an old-school slacker.

"Thank you, thank you." Cassell nodded to the audience. "I know many people think the Lakers don't need me anymore because we already have Kobe, Shaq, and Malone. But I want to say that we're not here to play basketball, we're here to win. Especially to beat that kid named Lin Hao."

The entire room fell silent instantly.

All eyes were on him.

Kassel sneered, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "I heard that Chinese kid stole my contemporary, Gary Payton. He thought Payton was too old to guard against, so Payton went to Golden State. Interesting."

He paused, then pointed to the camera, as if he could see Lin Hao in Auckland through the screen:

"Lin Hao, you think you've won? You think stealing an outdated 'glove' proves anything? Let me tell you, kid, in Los Angeles, we don't play those childish games. We have Shaq, we have Karl, we have Kobe, and we have me. We're fighting for the Finals, for the championship. And you're just a pebble on our path to the throne."

These words were instantly transmitted throughout the United States via satellite signal.

Oakland, Warriors training facility.

Lin Hao had just finished a shooting practice session and was sitting on the floor drinking water. Zhao Dabao rushed in, phone in hand, his face anxious: "Haozi! Something terrible has happened! The Lakers signed Cassell! That 'alien'! He said he's going to mess with you!"

Lin Hao took the phone and looked at Kassel's arrogant face on the screen.

Instead of getting angry, he laughed, revealing a set of white teeth, his straightforward Northeastern manner kicking in: "This old rascal is quite the smooth talker. He stole my generation's person? Why doesn't he just say he's an outdated relic himself?"

Payton, who was standing next to him, jumped up, his face flushed red, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "Lin! Don't listen to this bastard's nonsense! Cassel is nothing! If he dares to act recklessly in front of me, I'll cripple him!"

"Gary, sit down." Lin Hao waved his hand, his tone calm but with a hint of coldness. "It's his business to make statements, and it's our business to do things. Cassell is indeed formidable, unstoppable from mid-range, and reliable in crucial moments. But he has a fatal weakness."

Dell Curry walked over, holding a clipboard with Cassell's defensive heats: "Lin is right. Cassell's defensive footwork has deteriorated rapidly in recent years, and he likes to hold onto the ball too long, which makes him prone to turnovers. With him, the Lakers' offensive firepower is even stronger, but the defensive vulnerabilities are also greater."

Lin Hao stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bay bridge outside.

Lakers' F4.

Kobe, Shaq, Malone, Cassell.

This is a theoretically invincible combination.

But Lin Hao never believed in theoretical invincibility.

"Zhao Dabao," Lin Hao suddenly spoke up, "call Harris and ask about the details of Cassell's contract. Also, inform Richardson and Arenas that tomorrow's training session will focus on practicing defensive traps against Cassell."

"Haozi, are you really going to go head-to-head with the Lakers?" Zhao Dabao asked, a little worried. "They have four All-Stars!"

"So what if it's the All-Star game?" Lin Hao turned around, his eyes as cold as ice. "Even in the All-Star game, you have to play one ball at a time. Cassell can talk a lot, right? Fine, I'll let him know that in Golden State, no matter how eloquent you are, you still have to see if the ball goes in."

He took out his phone and dialed Kobe Bryant's number.

The phone rang several times before it was answered.

"Lin?" Kobe's voice sounded tired, but also excited. "Congratulations on signing Payton. But I have to tell you, that's all in the past. Now we have Cassell."

"I know," Lin Hao said calmly. "Kobe, I'm not calling to congratulate you. I just want to tell you that Cassell's mouth is better saved for when he's playing. If he dares to trash talk me on the court, I'll make him regret signing that contract."

"Hahahaha!" Kobe laughed loudly on the other end of the phone. "Interesting, Lin Hao. You're still as arrogant as ever. But I have to remind you, in Los Angeles, arrogance won't get you anywhere. We have four All-Stars, and you only have a bunch of role players."

"Role players?" Lin Hao sneered. "Kobe, you're wrong. In the Warriors, we don't have role players, we only have snipers. Cassell likes to talk big, doesn't he? Fine, I'll wait and see. Next month, when the Lakers play the Warriors, I'll show him what a 'Northeast Sniper' really is."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Hao stuffed it into his pocket and turned to Payton: "Gary, Cassel said you're washed up. What do you think?"

Payton gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury: "Lin, when we play the Lakers, let me guard Cassell. I'll show him who the best defensive guard in the league is!"

"Okay." Lin Hao nodded. "You'll be guarding him. But remember, don't foul. We're going to beat him with our system, not by fouling."

[Ding! Detected that the Lakers have formed their "F4," triggering a hidden mission: [Avengers]! Mission requirements: Defeat the Lakers in the new season opener and limit Cassell's score to less than 10 points. Mission reward: +5% to all attributes, unlock the special passive [Rival Suppression].]

Lin Hao looked at the system panel and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

Lakers' F4?

come on.

Whether it's Kobe, Shaq, Malone, or that gossipy "alien".

I'll take it all.

He turned to the players in the training gym and shouted in a loud voice, "Did you all hear that? Those old guys from the Lakers are coming to take us down! Starting tomorrow, extra physical training! Extra defense training! Anyone who drags your feet won't get a slice of tonight's braised goose!"

"Understood, Brother Lin!"

"Beat the Lakers!"

A roar erupted from the training hall.

Lin Hao walked to the center of the court, picked up the basketball, and slammed it hard onto the ground.

"Bang!"

That was the sound of a declaration of war.

The Golden State Warriors have officially bared their fangs at the Los Angeles Lakers.