LeBron James certainly wouldn't be touched by a player of Richard Hamilton's calibre.

In fact, what struck him was Kobe's sincerity. Kobe Bryant knows very well what he's good at, what he's good at, and if there's a way in the world to beat the world number one 100 percent, it's world number two and world number three combined.

James asked Maverick Carter to tell ESPN that he had made up his mind and could prepare the special.

Soon, ESPN replied to them.

Everything is ready, they can schedule a person to live "decide" at the best time at the fastest time.

Under the contract, James would receive $5 million (after taxes) for announcing his decision on an ESPN special, which would be donated to welfare homes in several cities.

Everything is already decided.

That night, James slept peacefully.

However, he dreamed of his childhood self.

James's grandmother, Freida James, died when he was three years old, leaving behind daughter Gloria, sons Terry and Curtis, and grandson LeBron.

For Gloria, it was like the end of the world. She had no money to support herself and her son, nor did she have the financial resources to repair the dilapidated house left behind by her mother. Her brother was unemployed and couldn't help. During those most difficult years, they relied on neighbors to take them in, often curled up on a sofa without a quilt, or on shelters, welfare and food stamps.

James had a hard time forming friendships with his classmates and connecting with his teachers. Since he did not have a fixed address, he often changed schools and gradually became a non-talkative child.

It wasn't until James was nine years old that a man named Bruce Kelker changed his life.

Kelke, a soccer coach, looked at James, who was less than 10 years old but much stronger than his peers, playing football with his peers and asked him if he liked the sport.

James replied: "It's my favorite sport. ”

At the time, Kelke was the coach of a junior football team and was looking for a running guard for his team, which meant that the kid needed to be faster than his peers, so he asked his team to run against James, only to leave them far behind.

When Kelke learns that James has never practiced football systematically, he realizes he's found a gem, so he goes to Gloria and asks her to let LeBron join his team. But Gloria has no money, she speaks out against it, and she thinks that football is not for her son, because LeBron is a quiet, reserved child. He's not aggressive.

Somehow, James, who had never left his mother, offered to join the football team, and Kelke was willing to pay for everything, and in the end, he let LeBron live in his home.

It was a pivotal moment in James' life, and from then on, he was no longer homeless, he had a warm home, and he quickly became an Akron area rugby prodigy. This fueled his confidence and turned him from a child with low self-esteem to a somewhat narcissistic child.

The dream was so wonderful that it made James look back on the shadows and sunshine of his childhood overnight.

However, suddenly, Kelke's wife burst into tears: "LeBron, why are you leaving this house?" ”

In an instant, James opened his eyes.

There was no second person in the dark hotel room, and he glanced at the time, it was only four in the morning.

But this dream.

James knew why he had such dreams.

It was one of the dark sides of his heart, and in his childhood, he had suspected that Keelke's wife hated him because his athletic abilities were far above their children. Later he learned that such suspicions were unfounded. Not only does Kelke's wife not hate him, but she treats him as her own.

For James, it was the most important experience of childhood. He wanted a warm home, just like Kelke's.

But eventually, he left that home, just as he was about to leave the Cavaliers.

In the dead of night, James looked back and realized that his current decision may have been predestined in the dark.

Kelke taught him not only football, but also basketball. One day, while he was playing wild ball in Akron, he happened to meet the Drew Joyce family.

Drew Sr. had aspired to be a football coach, but when he discovered that his youngest son, Drew Joyce III, preferred basketball, he began coaching his son in basketball at the local AAU minor league as a basketball team. That's when he met LeBron, who was only a month older than his son.

Soon, James and Drew Jr. began to play together. LeBron liked him right away. Drew Jr. rarely speaks off the field. But on the pitch, he's not shy about telling people what to do. Even though he was the shortest man on the field, he acted like a coach. His teammates called him "The General".

Drew Jr. has been playing basketball since he was four or five years old. But James is so tall and strong that he can easily beat Drew Jr. After each failure, Drew Jr. would ask for another attempt. Over and over.

James joined Drew Sr.'s AAU team and stayed with them more and more often. That summer, they competed in the local Junior AAU Championship, where they ended up finishing seventh out of 62 teams, and the following year, they competed in the higher-level National AAU Junior Championships, finishing tenth out of 72 teams.

James went from a football prodigy to a basketball prodigy, beating every opponent in the tournament.

At the beginning of the following year, when the teachers at the school handed out a card to the students to write down three things they wanted to do when they grew up.

James wrote: NBA players, NBA players, NBA players.

He left Kelke's home because his life officially set sail that year.

He's going to be with Drew, he's going to be with that little Drew who dares to challenge anyone.

The golden years of the past flew through his mind, and James realized that what he was doing today had already been foreshadowed in the past.

After leaving the Kelke family, he became Ohio's best-known junior high school basketball player, and then became the No. 1 high school player in the national attention in just two years.

He then met Frye Yu at the ABCD training camp.

It was 2001.

The 15-year-old didn't know how much of an entanglement he would have with the other person, and he naively thought that this person would really become his big brother.

But in the end, Michael Jordan was right.

This is a bastard who can stab anyone in order to strengthen his position and use the blood of the other party to lay the foundation for himself.

He had unsolvable problems in Cleveland, just as his continued stay at the Kelke house would never make him a great basketball player.

It's time to leave.

July 8th

The Lakers announced the signing of Richard Hamilton for four years and $44 million.

To the outside world, this is not a big news.

Since being traded by Jordan from the Wizards that year, the only thing Richardson has known for is a feud with Yu Fei and a bloody battle with the Bucks for several years with the Pistons. During this period, there was no shortage of out-of-the-circle events like the Palace of Auburn Hills.

But, in addition to that, Richardson is a quasi-All-Star guard who is stronger than the average starter but not a consistent All-Star.

Over the years, he has averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game, and is a pure scorer.

His addition is an additional secondary attacker for the Lakers who can help Kobby take the scoring pressure.

But everyone knows that the real problem for the Lakers is the No. 3 position.

Because Ron Artest can't hold Yu Fei, they need a stronger existence.

Then, the day of the "decision" came.

On July 9, a convoy of shiny black SUVs pulled out of Westchester County Airport and through Connecticut, winding its way down wooded paths before turning into a leveled private driveway lined with stone walls and lush oak and maple trees.

James was sitting in the back seat of one of the cars, surrounded by his soulmate Savannah and their two children.

In James's eyes, the people around him are more charming than the scenery.

Upon arrival, James and his wife got off the bus together, and they looked around as golden sunlight shone through the property's white picket fence illuminating the lush green lawns and a cobblestone path leading to the spacious New England colonial-style house.

James and his family and henchmen come here to relax, eat, and rehearse for the show. In a few hours, he will announce his decision in a special broadcast on ESPN primetime.

More than a dozen people got out of several other cars, including two of his best friends, 29-year-old Maverick Carter and 28-year-old Ricky Paul. They were one of the few people who knew about James' plan.

Carter is undoubtedly the most excited person, because today's live broadcast was personally wired, set, and planned by him.

In his opinion, only LeBron could make ESPN devote an hour of primetime to a special to live stream the King's "decision" other than that person.

In Carter's view, it would be a revolutionary thing. LeBron's upcoming statement is in fact a declaration of independence over the economic control of the team's owners, as well as breaking the moral shackles that have historically forced athletes to stay where they are due to alleged loyalty.

Only Rich Paul was upset.

He is the only one in the "Four Horsemen" who opposes the live broadcast of the "decision".

This incident reminded him of the short appointment incident that made No. 44 blackened into charcoal.

In 2005, the No. 44 forced the Bucks to sign him to a three-year contract with a player option. This completely broke the established pattern and made it the target of media criticism, and for a while, No. 44 was the public enemy of basketball.

I have to admit that although No. 44 has endured great criticism, he has allowed his subsequent players to sign short-term contracts with his parent team without pressure, indirectly forcing the management to actively operate for the stars. But Paul is well aware that LeBron's approach is more subversive than the short date.

It's undermining the status quo.

Paul knows that LeBron still has a huge amount of influence, and despite the shadow of No. 44 engulfing everything, he has done what 99% of athletes can't do in his six years in Cleveland. Dubbed King by Sports Illustrated, he signed a record-breaking $90 million endorsement contract with Nike, the youngest under 20 record in the NBA. He had his own media company, his own film company, and his own investment company, and he would soon be an African-American worth more than a billion dollars.

At Nike, he surpassed Woods and Kobe, his life was very pure compared to the former, and compared to the latter, he had no scandals. As long as Nike can't poach the No. 44 from the Reebok band, LBJ will be their number one athlete.

At the same time, LeBron's influence has extended beyond sports. He performed with Jay-Z, campaigned for Obama, had dinner with Anna Wintour, and had his own foundation. He is definitely the most outstanding athlete under the age of 25 in the world.

If there is no number 44, this range can be expanded to be under 30 years old.

The only thing LeBron didn't do was win an NBA championship. But he has decided that this is about to change.

Such a person, second only to No. 44, wants to announce his next home through a controversial live broadcast?

Paul had a premonition that the rain was coming.

Just today, SuperSonics star guard Brandon Roy agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract extension with the SuperSonics.

At the time of the signing, Roy told reporters: "Maybe I should broadcast this decision live. ”

The repercussions are already starting to be felt.

"Spend an hour on a show to broadcast your decision live? WTF？ The FOX Sports commentator tweeted.

An NBA player, who asked not to be named, told a sports reporter: "LeBron's dream is to be a unique presence like Frye Yu." ”

Mike Brown, who has been fired by the Cavaliers, commented: "LeBron wants to be the greatest player in history, just like Jordan and Frye. ”

Also on this day, James opened his Twitter account, and just like Yu Fei, he sent out his first tweet: "Hello, world, the real James is here." ”

At nine o'clock in the evening, James was about to walk into the live broadcast room.

Rich Paul called the official Cavaliers.

He told them that LeBron was leaving the Cavaliers, but it wasn't a personal decision, it was a business decision.

Does that make them feel good?

Team owner Dan Gilbert was furious. Four years ago, he tried to keep James on the team with a five-year contract to avoid that from happening, but James insisted on signing only a three-year contract.

Gilbert said resentfully to the people around him, "When that ungrateful villain said that, we should have let him get out of the way!" ”

Jim Gray, the host of the ESPN special, sat in the director's chair on a makeshift stage in the center of the gymnasium, and James sat in a matching chair across from him.

Then, the show begins.

Although everyone knows what the focus of the show is, since this is a one-hour show, there is naturally a question of transition.

The transition time is up to half an hour.

Then, Gray asked the question that choked Cleveland: "This question has been bothering many people for a whole year, LeBron, what's your decision?" ”

James opened his mouth, and his mind flashed to the Kelke family, and the fans of the Quick Loan Center, and the once high-minded self, none of this should have happened if it hadn't been for No. 44.

He didn't want to be the second who, he wanted to be the only version of himself, but number 44 was right.

Victory is not everything, victory is the only thing.

If you can't win, you will be deprived of your right to be yourself.

"Oh my God, it was a tough decision for me." James mused, "This fall, I'm going to take my talent to the West Coast and join the Los Angeles Lakers. ”

There seemed to be boos outside the gymnasium, and the host Gray didn't know what to ask for a while.

In Cleveland, thousands of fans shed tears as they began burning James' jerseys.

"How are you going to explain your decision to the Cleveland fans?" Gray calmed down and asked.

"It came from the heart to me," James explained. "I never wanted to leave Cleveland, my heart will always be in that place."

When the show ended, James walked off the stage and picked up a little girl who was scheduled to watch at the scene.

A few minutes later, ESPN made another live connection to James: "I have to tell you, the Cleveland fans are burning your jersey and you can see this."

Yes, James saw the picture, his jersey burning in flames.

"How are you feeling now?"

When a person feels from the bottom of his heart that he has done the right thing, but those who have sworn to follow him to the death are standing against him, he will not feel that he has done anything wrong, he will only feel that he has been let down all the efforts of the past years.

He will become conceited and arrogant.

"Iceman" George Gervin and "Prophet" Moses Malone are possessed by LeBron James at the moment.

"I'm not going to make any emotional decisions." "I want to do what's best for LeBron James and do what makes LeBron James happy," he said. If LeBron James is no longer LeBron James, the Cavaliers will trade him as well. Will LeBron James' family burn the team by then? Of course not, that's how LeBron James feels. ”

From this moment on, the questioning of public opinion and cyberbullying on social media reached its peak.

Bill Simmons tweeted: "It's over. I mean, starting today, don't compare Frye and LeBron. This problem should never have existed. ”

David Letterman, a well-known talk show host, commented, "I'm going to let my two kids watch a special from LBJ, and I want her to see the exact moment when our society hits rock bottom. ”

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was so angry that he wrote a letter to all Clevelands accusing James of treachery.

From coast to coast, James broke out of Nike's perfect packaging and became the villain of the sports world.

The New York Times published a story online declaring Los Angeles the "new evil empire" and criticizing James for his "mercenary pursuit of championship rings."

Putting that discrediting outcome aside, ESPN's specials were a huge success, especially when James announced that he was bringing his talent to the West Coast, which was watched live by 13 million Americans, the most-watched studio show in ESPN history.

When the show ended, public opinion began to explode, and James was sitting on a plane to Los Angeles.

"What the hell is going on out there?"

James noticed that the people around him were looking at each other.

Maverick Carter said palely, "We screwed up. ”

In the wee hours of the morning, the plane landed in Los Angeles.

James didn't blame Carter, he knew that every decision he made would affect every aspect of everything else. Almost too much to handle. Sometimes, he just needs to face it alone.

The Lakers' people tarmac awaited James. Exhausted and emaciated, James stepped off the plane, and then, he and his wife got into an SUV. They held hands and peered through the car windows into the darkness of Ridda, California.

"It'll pass, LeBron."

Savannah said to James.

"I'll be fine." James said without sadness, "In Las Vegas, I've had something more terrible than this. ”

※※※

The man behind what the James camp believes is driving everything is also in Los Angeles.

After James made the biggest offseason news of all time after a few years of silence, the media was eager to see what Frye Yu had to say.

They got their chance in mid-July.

When asked by reporters what Yu Fei thinks of James' "decision" and the "evil empire" that is destined to become a big enemy next season, he smiled contemptuously.

"It shows that God answered my prayers."

The journalist wondered what his prayer was.

"Just a very simple prayer. Oh God, please make my enemies ridiculous. God agreed. ”

PS: There is only one chapter today.

(End of chapter)