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

The 50-point blowout in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals has taken off amid reports from media outlets across the United States.

But Su Yang, sitting in the VIP box, remained unusually calm about LeBron James scoring 20 points in garbage time in the fourth quarter, showing no intention of making sarcastic remarks to the media.

"Boss, are we just going to watch them release press releases all over the internet, praising LeBron as a 'lone hero who scored 24 points in a losing effort'?" General Manager Grant looked at the news on his phone, somewhat indignant.

"Let them be."

Su Yang leaned back on the sofa, his eyes revealing shrewdness and restraint.

"This is America after all. In this exclusionary business alliance, as a foreign boss, I can't go too far. I have to leave them some room to maneuver."

"David Stern has retired, and now Adam Silver is in charge of New York. That bald guy doesn't have Stern's adherence to the bottom line of basketball; he's a profit-driven businessman with no bottom line."

Su Yang knew Adam Silver's true colors; this guy would do anything to make money and promote star players.

If I really show no mercy to the league in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and defend LeBron James to single digits, then I'll crush the league's biggest star in the mud.

Then, Adam Silver will definitely dare to shamelessly use the most blatant "biased refereeing" to drag this series into a Game 7!

Even if the Cavaliers win, they'll be badly beaten.

"Many people carry a sedan chair; he seeks wealth, I seek the greater good. There's no need to make a scene over these trivial, pointless data points."

Just as Su Yang was analyzing the situation for Grant.

"Ring ring—"

The red secure phone on the table suddenly rang.

Su Yang answered the phone, and the excited voices of the heads of the legal department and business development team came through the receiver:

"Boss! Great news! Our resolution to relocate our home arena and build a new one, submitted to the league and the players' union, has just received preliminary approval!"

Upon hearing this news, Su Yang's eyes lit up, and he sat up straight on the sofa.

"Well done!"

Su Yang hung up the phone, his eyes gleaming with ambition for a future business empire.

Stay in Cleveland?

Are you kidding me!

This is just a run-down industrial town in Ohio with a pitifully small permanent population, and the commercial value of the sports market has long since peaked.

Why did LeBron James always want to move to big cities in his past life? Because the exposure and commercial earning power of small markets couldn't support the commercial empire of a superstar!

Now, the Cavaliers are about to win back-to-back championships and establish a true dynasty!

Stephen Curry's insane three-point shooting is about to become the league's biggest money-maker!

To leave such a potential future market capitalization of $70 billion in Cleveland, a poor and remote place, is an absolute waste!

"Grant, go book me a flight to Nevada."

Su Yang stood up, straightened his suit jacket, and said, "I'm going to Las Vegas."

"Boss, what about the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals..." Grant paused for a moment.

I'm not going to watch the playoffs anymore.

Su Yang waved his hand, his tone tinged with boredom: "Wade's injured, the Heat are already a corpse. As for the Clippers or Spurs in the West? Against our 'Death Lineup,' their fate was sealed long ago. Tell Scott to just lead his team and bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy back safely."

"My battlefield is no longer on the court."

……

The next day, Su Yang's private jet landed in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world.

In this dazzling, sleepless desert city, Su Yang, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, walked into the Las Vegas City Hall.

At that time, Las Vegas did not yet have the NFL Raiders or the NHL Golden Knights. This city, which longed to have a top professional team from one of the four major North American sports leagues, gave Su Yang the highest level of hospitality!

In the closed-door conference room of City Hall, the mayor of Las Vegas and several gambling tycoons looked at Su Yang's "super new stadium plan" with green eyes.

However, securing local land and policy support in Las Vegas was only the first step.

The biggest obstacle to relocating an NBA team across state lines is the other 29 team owners in the NBA league, as well as the current commissioner Adam Silver!

A few days later, at a top private club in Manhattan, New York.

Su Yang and Adam Silver sat at opposite ends of the negotiating table.

"Su, I must admit, your idea of ​​moving a championship team to Las Vegas is crazy, but also very tempting."

Adam Silver's thin face gleamed with greed. "But you also know that moving the team would hurt the feelings of the fans in the original city, and at the same time, the other 29 owners wouldn't easily agree to cut another slice of this big pie."

"Name your price, Adam."

Su Yang, too lazy to listen to his high-sounding nonsense, cut to the chase, "Since you're sitting here today, it means this matter has a chance. How much money do those 29 vampires want to shut up?"

Xiao Hua smiled; he enjoyed dealing with straightforward people who weren't short of money.

"According to league rules, each team receives $2000 million in relocation compensation. With a total of 30 teams, including the Cavaliers' share, you need to pay $6 million in relocation compensation."

Xiao Hua raised one finger, then immediately raised a second one:

"Besides, Su, I know you have a strong background in China. It's a pity Yao Ming retired, so the league urgently needs to further open up the Chinese market."

"I need your company to buy the exclusive new media broadcasting rights for the NBA in mainland China for the next five years."

"The bottom line for this broadcasting fee is... $5 million."

"A relocation fee of $6 million, plus $5 million for broadcasting rights, totaling $11 billion." Adam Silver smiled as he presented this extortion clause, which seemed astronomical in 2014.

$11 million!

Even those Silicon Valley tech upstarts would probably be terrified if they heard the amount of cash required to buy a single "yes" vote.

In Xiao Hua's view, he was asking for too much and he was prepared for Su Yang to bargain.

However, Su Yang almost burst out laughing when he heard the price.

A five-year, $500 million deal to buy out the exclusive broadcasting rights for the NBA in China?!

Adam Silver, that idiot, has no idea how outrageous the future NBA broadcasting contracts will become!

Su Yang, who has memories of his past life, remembers that when Tencent bought the NBA broadcasting rights for five years in 2015, it spent $500 million.

But that's not all. When the contract was renewed in 2019, it skyrocketed to $15 billion over five years!

With the mobile internet and short videos about to experience a massive boom in China, this broadcasting fee is incredibly cheap!

"Adam, I have seen your sincerity."

Su Yang suppressed his inner elation and feigned a pained expression:

"I accept the relocation fee of 600 million. But five years is too short a timeframe for the broadcasting rights in China. It's not enough for me to invest heavily in building the broadcasting ecosystem."

Su Yang proactively raised his offer: "I want a 10-year buyout! I'll offer 10 billion US dollars!"

"Furthermore, within the next ten years, all short video highlights, fan-made content, and exclusive All-Star interactive rights from the NBA in China must be bundled and licensed to my father's Fuyin platform!"

"A total of US$16 billion! Cash payment! In one go!"

"If you agree, we'll sign the memorandum now! If you don't, the Cavaliers will continue to rot in Cleveland!"

Adam Silver was stunned by Su Yang's sudden reverse price increase!

10 years, $10 billion! Plus relocation costs, a total of $16 billion in cash?!

In 2014, when the salary cap was less than 60 million and many NBA teams were valued at less than 1 billion US dollars, the situation was quite different.

This huge sum of money, which appeared out of nowhere, was undoubtedly a windfall for Xiao Hua, who had just taken office and was in dire need of performance to solidify his position!

"make a deal!!!"

Xiao Hua was afraid that Su Yang would change his mind, so he slammed his hand on the table, and his bald head glowed red with excitement.

"Sue, you are absolutely the most charismatic and greatest boss in NBA history! I'll call a meeting of bosses right now, and with $16 billion at stake, I guarantee those old guys will unanimously approve your relocation decision!"

……

After signing the memorandum, I walked out of the private club.

Breathing in the cool Manhattan air, Su Yang could no longer suppress the triumphant smile on his lips.

"A billion US dollars has locked up NBA's all-media broadcasting for the next ten years..."

"The old man's music is about to experience explosive growth in China. With the NBA, a super sports IP, as a traffic moat, this is like Qin Shi Huang touching an electric wire—he's won big!"

As for how to fill that huge cash flow gap of up to 16 billion US dollars?

Su Yang wasn't flustered at all.

He took out his phone and dialed the number on the other side of the ocean.

"Hello, is this my dear old man? It's me, your darling son."

Su Yang whistled, his tone arrogant and matter-of-fact:

"Nothing much, I just closed a big deal here in the US. Yes, and while I was at it, I secured the entire domestic traffic pool for the NBA for the next ten years. This is definitely a trump card that can double ByteDance's valuation."

"Money? We don't have enough money, we're a bit short."

"Not much, quickly transfer 16 billion US dollars from the group's account for emergency use."

There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Su Jianxun's furious roar:

"You spendthrift! You just throw around 16 billion US dollars?! Do you think I'm a money-printing machine?!"

"Don't worry, Dad, trust me, this is a sure thing."

Su Yang held the phone a little further away and hung up with a grin.

Short of money?

Who told him to have a father who was incredibly wealthy and a grandfather who was extremely powerful?