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

Just as the Cleveland Cavaliers effortlessly crushed the New York Knicks by 30 points at home.

In the City of Angels, far away on the west coast of the United States, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, another highly anticipated opening game has come to an end.

The Los Angeles Clippers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are missing Kevin Durant and Chris Paul!

This game garnered even more attention than the Cavaliers' game.

This is not only the regular season debut of the Clippers' epic super team of "James + Durant + Irving + Love", but also Kevin Durant's first time facing his former team and former "second brother" Russell Westbrook after forcing his departure! Durant chose to sit out all the Clippers' games against the Thunder last season.

Because the Thunder were "robbed" by several strong teams during the offseason, their current roster is riddled with problems.

Given the Clippers' overflowing individual talent, the outcome of the game was already decided after the first quarter.

The Clippers' four superstars took turns attacking one-on-one, tearing the Thunder's pitiful defense to shreds.

By the latter part of the third quarter, the point difference had widened to more than 20 points, and the game had long since entered garbage time.

However, even when faced with an insurmountable talent gap, and even when teammates around him were completely unable to provide any effective fire support, he still managed to overcome the challenge.

Wearing the Thunder's number 0 jersey, Russell Westbrook was like a proud and desperate fighter, throwing himself into the air time and time again, crashing into the Clippers' paint!

Without Durant, without Paul, this team now belongs to him alone!

"Bang!"

Westbrook, like a tiger descending a mountain, slammed the ball into the basket despite being double-teamed by Tristan Thompson and Love, before crashing heavily to the floor.

He didn't complain or shrug; he simply got up quickly and continued his defensive retreat with red eyes.

Westbrook played a full 41 minutes throughout the game!

During this long garbage time, he seemed tireless, charging forward and fighting for every rebound, carrying the entire offensive burden of the Thunder on his shoulders!

Finally, when the buzzer sounded for the entire game, the Clippers easily won the opening game 121-103.

But at that moment, the individual statistics of Westbrook displayed on the big screen caused a brief shock throughout the Staples Center.

34 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists!

A super triple-double with the highest score in the entire game!

"Russell Westbrook, tonight he's like a lone warrior fighting a fierce battle..."

The TNT commentator looked at the back of player number 0, who was soaked in sweat, and his voice was full of respect:

"He gave it his all, and his solo effort was heartbreaking. Although the Thunder lost, Russell earned everyone's respect!"

Even the notoriously discerning Los Angeles home fans couldn't help but applaud Westbrook's relentless dunks and tireless play in the final moments of the game, paying tribute to the visiting star.

This "tragic hero" drama was amplified to the extreme by the live broadcast.

However, the atmosphere in the center of the stadium after the game ended was extremely strange.

The Clippers stars started high-fiving each other in celebration, but Kevin Durant seemed a little uneasy.

He glanced at Westbrook not far away, his expression complex.

Those were his brothers who had shared joys and sorrows, but he ultimately chose to betray the Thunder and join this luxurious Los Angeles team.

Durant is a sensitive and conflict-avoidant person at heart; he doesn't dare to face Westbrook's seemingly murderous eyes.

He lowered his head, pretending to straighten his jersey, deliberately avoiding any eye contact with Westbrook, and quickly walked towards the player tunnel, wanting to escape this hellish scene that made him feel guilty and suffocated as soon as possible.

Just then, Westbrook was also striding towards the player tunnel.

As he passed Kyrie Irving, who was celebrating with his teammates, Westbrook suddenly stopped.

He didn't look at Durant, who had already slipped to the tunnel entrance, nor at James, who was giving a perfunctory interview in the center of the court. Instead, he stared at Irving and let out a cold laugh in a volume loud enough for the entire front half of the court to hear clearly:

"Kerry, you've really found a good match."

Westbrook's eyes were filled with disdain as he pointed his finger at Durant's departing figure, then swept it over James in the distance.

"It's really laughable to see a bunch of you all gathered together."

"Two cowards who dare not face difficulties alone, two traitors who only know how to run away when faced with adversity, have actually huddled together in a trench to keep warm!"

"Your team truly embodies the word 'weak'!"

Although these words were spoken to Irving, every single one hit Durant and James hard!

Cowards! Traitors! Huddling together for warmth!

Durant, who hadn't even fully entered the player tunnel, froze upon hearing those words.

His face flushed red, but he knew he was in the wrong and couldn't refute it. He could only quicken his pace and disappear into the shadows of the passage in a disheveled state.

LeBron James, standing in the center of the court, naturally heard Westbrook's piercingly sarcastic remark.

James's eye twitched slightly, but he was, after all, a "King" who had fought countless battles in the public relations arena.

In this opening game, the entire Clippers team fed James the ball, allowing him to rack up a spectacular triple-double of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists during garbage time.

With the stats in hand and the victory secured, James must now maintain his magnanimity as the "best player in the league" and the "big brother of the team."

He pretended not to hear anything, wearing his signature business smile, and walked up to the Thunder players, hugging and greeting each one, displaying his "general's demeanor".

When he walked up to Westbrook, James extended his arms, putting on a "good job, little brother" act, ready to give him his signature post-game chest bump hug.

however.

Westbrook stared coldly at his outstretched arms, his eyes devoid of any respect.

Instead of reaching out, he turned sideways and squeezed past James as if avoiding something dirty!

Ignore!

A blatant disregard and refusal to embrace!

James's hands, which were about to give a hug, were awkwardly suspended in mid-air.

"Whoosh—!"

Reporters who hadn't left the sidelines pressed the shutter, capturing this awkward moment forever!

Westbrook walked into the player tunnel without looking back, leaving James standing there alone.

……

Half an hour later.

Inside the Clippers' exclusive luxury lounge deep within the Staples Center arena.

The magnanimous and tolerant "king" mask on the field has been torn apart!

"Bang!"

James kicked over the tactical chair in front of him, his eyes bloodshot with anger.

"That damn sewer turtle! Who does he think he is?!"

James roared through gritted teeth, "A cancerous cancer that only knows how to pad his stats! A piece of trash abandoned by Kevin! How dare he reject my hug in front of a nationally televised broadcast?! He's humiliating me!"

Standing to the side, agent Rich Paul, seeing James's fury, tried to persuade him.

"LeBron, don't let this little guy affect your mood. He's just throwing a tantrum because he lost the game."

"I can't swallow this!"

James turned to Rich Paul and gave the instruction:

"He'll definitely spout nonsense at the press conference! I absolutely cannot allow tomorrow's headlines to be him playing the tragic hero at Staples Center, while I'm just a background figure he ignores!"

"Rich, immediately contact our trusted media outlets and online troll leaders at ESPN and major online forums!"

James's voice was cold and full of hostility:

"Find the media to smear him! Smear him to death!"

"You're not going to give me any face, are you? Then let the whole world know that he's a complete data bot!"

"Let the media write press releases! Say that his triple-double tonight completely harmed the team, that his playing style was extremely selfish, that he's a cancer who prioritizes padding his stats over the team's wins and losses!"

"I want everyone to believe that it was his arrogance and selfishness that drove Kevin Durant away! He's the one who ruined the Thunder!"

Rich Paul immediately nodded in understanding.

This kind of manipulation of public opinion, distortion of facts, and smearing of opponents is their team's most skilled trick.

"No problem, LeBron. I guarantee that when the sun rises tomorrow, Russell Westbrook will only have one label across the entire network."

Rich Paul scoffed, "That's just a brainless stat-padder who drives his teammates away."

James took a deep breath, straightened his suit and tie, concealed the sinister look in his eyes, and put on a gentle and refined expression.

"Let's go, Richie. Time for the post-game press conference."

"I'm going to show the world how I, LeBron James, can lead this team to a great victory with a 30+10+10 triple-double in a league full of cowards and cancer."