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

Following the press conference in Cleveland, the entire American media was thrown into an unprecedented media storm, as if a hornet's nest had been stirred up.

Just as LeBron James and his PR team orchestrated, from ESPN to TNT, from Sports Illustrated to Yahoo Sports, almost all basketball pundits and their personal reporters were frantically defending James and directing their attacks at Su Yang and the Cavaliers.

"This is utterly baseless slander! Su Yang is just a nouveau riche; he doesn't understand basketball at all!"

"The Cavaliers are destined to be forever etched in the annals of history as having the worst record!"

"Trading half a team for Stephen Curry, whose ankles are as fragile as glass? That's absolutely the dumbest trade in NBA history! Curry isn't even fit to shine LeBron's shoes!"

The overwhelming ridicule and abuse pushed the already fragmented Cavaliers team, along with the newly arrived Curry, into the eye of the storm.

……

Cavaliers General Manager's Office.

"Knock knock knock".

The door was gently pushed open, and Stephen Curry, dressed in his training gear, walked in. This young man, who always had a baby-faced smile, now had eyes full of exhaustion and deep self-blame.

"Mr. Su..." Curry stood awkwardly in front of the large desk, clasping his hands together. "I've seen all the news... I'm sorry. If it weren't for the trade for me, you and the team wouldn't have faced such a massive media attack. Maybe they're right, my current ability isn't worth the price you paid..."

Looking at the skinny guard in front of him who hadn't yet built up his confidence, Su Yang put down the financial report in his hand and pointed to the sofa opposite him.

"Sit down, Stephen. What would you like to drink? Coffee or an energy drink?"

"No, no need." Curry shook his head.

"Stephen, do you think the reason the entire American media is attacking us like this is because you stole LeBron's thunder at the press conference?"

Curry paused for a moment, "Isn't that right?"

"Don't oversimplify things, Stephen. In this business alliance, the media frenzy is never about upholding justice, but about covering up the capital operations behind the scenes."

"You think those pundits are really standing up for LeBron? No, they're protecting a multi-billion dollar 'idol-making project'."

Seeing Curry's puzzled look, Su Yang dropped a bombshell:

"This is LeBron's seventh year in the league. Do you know what that means? It means his seven-year, $90 million rookie endorsement contract with Nike is about to expire."

Curry's pupils contracted slightly. As a player, he understood the significance of shoe contracts for superstars.

"Nike has poured countless marketing resources into LeBron over the years, from 'prodigy' to 'King James,' trying to create the next Michael Jordan. However, Jordan has six championship rings, while LeBron has played for seven years and is still empty-handed."

Su Yang sneered, "Without a championship, he can't sell his signature shoes at higher prices. Nike desperately needs him to win a championship to consolidate its business empire. Although Kobe has championships, he was originally with Adidas before switching to Nike. He's a rebellious lone wolf at heart, not Nike's true heir."

"Therefore, Nike absolutely cannot allow their 'legitimate successor,' whom they have poured all their efforts into cultivating, to fail again. LeBron's defection to the Heat to join forces was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a long-planned business choice by capital and his team!"

"At this critical juncture, I tore off his fig leaf on a nationally televised broadcast, saying he would never win the Finals MVP. Do you think Nike would sit idly by? The online attacks against us now are just routine capital intervention. It has nothing to do with you."

After hearing these words, Curry felt a chill run down his spine.

For the first time, he had a clear glimpse into the ruthless capitalist meat grinder behind the glamorous facade of the NBA.

"Stephen, your shoe contract is now with Nike, right?" Su Yang suddenly changed the subject and stared at Curry.

"Uh...yes, but it's just a very basic sponsorship contract." Curry was a little embarrassed. He was not valued at all within Nike and didn't even have a signature shoe.

"Here's some advice, purely personal advice."

Su Yang walked up to the front of the library, his eyes burning. "My father just acquired a Chinese sports brand called Anta."

"If, and I mean if, I could build a perfect tactical system for you in Cleveland, help you win a championship, or even establish a dynasty of your own... In return, after your Nike contract expires, you could switch sides and become Anta's first global lifetime brand ambassador, how about that?"

Curry was completely stunned.

He swallowed hard, pointed to himself, and said, "A dynasty? Me?"

He's just a sophomore who hasn't even made it to the All-Star team yet! But this young boss not only sees him as the cornerstone of the team, but also wants to stake the fate of the family business on him.

"Thank you for your trust, boss..." Curry took a deep breath, a flame rekindling in his clear eyes. "Although I'm not entirely sure myself... if that day ever comes, I'm absolutely willing! I swear, from today onward, I'll dedicate my life to the gym!"

"Good. Go train, and ignore the rumors outside." Su Yang patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.

After Curry left, his personal cell phone on his desk suddenly vibrated.

The telegraph shows: Old man.

Su Yang answered the phone, but before he could even speak, a middle-aged man's voice, carrying a hint of authority, came from the other end:

"You brat, I told you to take 500 million to practice, and you've already caused a huge mess in just a few days in America. Now the news in China is all about you calling LeBron James a mole!"

"What's wrong, Dad? Is this affecting your business?" Su Yang chuckled.

"It's not that bad. Our family has been a beneficiary of the first wave of the internet boom, so buying a football team isn't a huge expense for us," Su Yang's father, Su Jianxun, snorted.

Although the Su family started out in internet and technology venture capital, Su Chien-hsun has always had a keen eye for business.

"But the Anta acquisition you asked me to do is really a major blow. Although it's just a sporting goods company, it's a big player. The restructuring of factories and sales channels has drained a lot of our group's cash flow. If it weren't for its high-quality assets and real potential to go international, I would never have gone through this mess with you."

"Don't worry, Dad, the return on this investment will be even more amazing than those internet companies you've invested in," Su Yang said confidently.

"Alright, stop making empty promises."

Su Jianxun's tone suddenly turned serious, "Since you've chosen this path, I'll give you a chance. You're twenty-three this year, so I'll give you five years."

"If you can't achieve results in the NBA within five years, and can't elevate Anta to the status of a top-tier brand..."

The voice on the other end of the phone was resolute and brooked no argument: "Then you'd better get back to China! Marry the heiress of the Wang family in the capital, and take over the family business! Do you understand?!"

Five years? If he can't prove his worth, he'll have to go back and inherit billions and marry a rich and beautiful woman?

Hearing this "miserable" punishment, Su Yang helplessly rubbed his temples, but a smug smile crept onto his lips:

"Old man, you do become more conservative as you get older."

"Within three years at most, your Anta will become one of the top brands in China."