LeBron James running away? He's going all in on Curry.

This season, LeBron James played only a paltry 45 games intermittently throughout the season due to various issues such as "groin soreness," "calf load management," and the series of lawsuits that shocked the entire United States!

According to the league's unspoken rules for award selection, players who play less than half of the regular season games are simply not eligible to participate in any individual award selection!

Although James himself has recently chosen to close his social media accounts and remain silent due to his involvement in the Didi party scandal, it is inconvenient for him to speak out.

But those media outlets that had already been paid by Crutch Sports and Nike collectively jumped out at this moment, vehemently criticizing the league's informal rule as unfair to LeBron!

A senior columnist from ESPN wrote an article overnight to voice his opinion:

"LeBron is averaging a phenomenal 27.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game this season!"

"In terms of individual statistics and on-court impact, he's far superior to Jayson Tatum, who only made the All-NBA Third Team!"

"To disqualify a great legend from awards simply because of insufficient participation? This is the greatest desecration of the sport!"

Moreover, in an effort to salvage James's reputation by giving him a third-team All-NBA selection, these media outlets even dug up old grievances from fifteen years ago as evidence!

They shouted, "Everyone should go and watch Yao Ming's performance in the 2006-2007 season!"

"Back then, Houston Rockets center Yao Ming only played 48 games that season due to injuries, but the league still awarded him the All-NBA Second Team!"

"Yao Ming played 48 games and was selected for the All-NBA Second Team! Why can't LeBron James play 45 games and get the same honor?!"

"It's only a difference of 3 games! The league must understand LeBron's injury; it's a matter of respect for his historical status!"

This kind of rogue logic—using a case from fifteen years ago to morally blackmail the league—is an attempt to force the league office to make an exception and give James special treatment.

However, this time, Adam Silver, sitting in his New York headquarters office, was surprisingly assertive!

At the league's regular press conference that day, in front of nationally televised cameras, the official spokesperson gave the most direct response to the sophistry of certain media outlets:

"To award prizes to players with too few appearances is, in the current league view, very unreasonable and detrimental to the interests of other hardworking players who play every game."

"Rules are constantly being improved. For example, the previous salary cap system has been continuously revised as times have changed."

The spokesperson even went so far as to pose a particularly pointed and cutting question:

"If we follow your logic that 'what existed before is reasonable'..."

"Is it reasonable today for Kevin Garnett to have taken on 70% of the Timberwolves' salary cap back then?!"

"I can tell the media that during the offseason owner meeting this season, the league will officially hold a meeting to study and introduce a brand new, mandatory rule."

"In the future, the league will set a strict minimum number of games played for all individual awards and All-NBA Team selections!"

That afternoon, renowned reporter Shams Charania followed up with a report: "It is understood that most league officials are inclined to set the minimum number of games played between 63 and 70!"

……

In this back-and-forth struggle, the most innocent victim is none other than Kevin Garnett, the "Wolf King," who is watching the drama unfold on television.

I was just sitting at home when suddenly the league's official spokesperson brought up my "dark history" of taking the 70% salary cap back in the day?

That evening, on the latest episode of the KG Area 21 podcast.

Garnett, who values ​​his image immensely, was unusually agitated while sitting in front of the camera:

"Aaron Silver's spokesperson is utterly absurd! So what if I took 70% of the team's salary cap back then?!"

"That's what Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was willing to give me! I bleed and sweat every single second on the court! I'm worth that price! I accept it with a clear conscience!!"

Garnett slammed his fist on the table and roared, trying to justify the exorbitant contract he had signed years ago.

However, his longtime partner "The Truth" Paul Pierce, sitting next to him, didn't hold back and started to undermine him on the spot.

Pierce glanced sideways at Garnett and chuckled.

"Come on, Kevin. Stop suffering for the sake of saving face."

Pierce thought to himself:

"Back then, it was because you alone took up 70% of the team's salary cap that the Timberwolves' management couldn't even sign a decent All-Star helper for you!"

"Later, Taylor went so far as to create a dual contract to help you get Joe Smith, wasn't that all because he was forced into it by your astronomical 6-year, $1.26 million contract?"

"So that's why, back in the Wild West, without any help, you got completely dominated by Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki year after year!"

"you--!!"

Garnett almost had a heart attack on the spot after Pierce's comment that he "got beaten up by Duncan and the driver"!

His face turned pale and then red. Seeing that he couldn't gain any advantage on his contract issue, Garnett quickly and abruptly changed the subject:

"Ahem... Enough about me! Paul! What do you think about LeBron being disqualified from awards by the league this time because of insufficient playing time? Do you think it's fair?"

Paul Pierce perked up at the mention of LeBron's name.

"Fair? This is perfectly fair."

Pierce gave a cold laugh, and in front of the camera, the sarcasm intensified:

"Come on, Kevin."

"We've all been in this league for over a decade, what are you pretending to be stupid for?"

"LeBron's injury this year wasn't an accident at all; he's faking it!"

Pierce shrugged at the camera, revealing the unspoken truth that all managers knew:

"Mr. Tsai, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets, has privately expressed his desire to trade him on multiple occasions."

"LeBron knows perfectly well that he's using a 'long-term injury' as a silent protest against the Nets' management!"

"He's been using this trick since his first stint with the Cavaliers, and later with the Heat, Clippers, 76ers... Whenever management doesn't do what he wants, he's sure to come up with something new!"

Pierce shook his head, leaving behind a sharp conclusion:

"It's been over a decade, and LeBron is still the same."

"I never dare to say what I want to say in person; I always let the people around me reveal it through the media."