Chapter 1189: Chapter 378: This Is Why You’re Not Even Qualified to Judge
This is the initial expectation of Clevelanders for LeBron James.
LeBron James believes he has the opportunity to meet such expectations. The Cavaliers have been in excellent form lately, and he himself is also performing exceptionally well.
He has waited a long time for this. Many star players expressed dissatisfaction with the previous statue incident, but Roger specifically singled out James’s name, saying he was the least qualified to comment.
LeBron James knows that Michael Jordan and Roger both dislike him because he entered the league with the momentum of threatening their status.
But this matter is irreversible, and whether they can accept it or not, it will become a reality.
Last season, he suffered a terrible defeat, but in his sophomore year, it will be the start of reversing everything.
He will join the competition and will no longer be a mere clown.
Nike’s marketing machines have started to work, and the Knights vs. Warriors rivalry became a major event in the league a decade earlier than expected.
Dave McMenamin wrote in his column the day before the game: "Roger once said that LeBron was unqualified to comment on him. But one day, LeBron will also have his statue in Cleveland. By then, Roger will be ashamed of his arrogance."
On November 26th, the Golden State Warriors headed to Cleveland.
On the team bus, Matt Barnes asked Roger, "Do you want me to teach that guy a lesson?"
"LeBron? No, why are you so cruel? He’s just a kid!" Roger almost jumped out of his seat.
Dikembe Mutombo chuckled, "Roger genuinely loves LeBron, more than Kobe."
"So who should I go after today? Michael Reed?" Matt Barnes was eager to prove himself; he hoped to help the Kings take down a tough opponent in every game.
"Anyway, stay away from LeBron," Roger looked out the window, and the whole of Cleveland was filled with LeBron James’s advertisements. Then Roger turned his head back, gently saying, "He’s mine."
Roger never liked the actions of Nike and James’s team, never liked them.
So he won’t miss any opportunity to directly face off against LeBron James.
He will leave as much evidence as possible so that embellishing incidents becomes impossible.
The outcome of this game goes without saying. LeBron James shot with an excellent touch in the first half, scoring 18 points.
But he only scored 25 points in the entire game, with a final field goal percentage of only 38%.
In front of Roger, he never changed.
Powerless, struggling, frustrated, immature.
All the great narratives about LeBron James became jokes in front of Roger.
Michael Reed once again became the one trying to save the game, plunging people into confusion: who exactly is assisting whom?
Roger matched up against him throughout the game, and although the first half was played well, in the second half, Roger still silenced all the Nike media.
He just wanted to use concrete actions to tell all the Nike media: "Get lost, you’re unworthy."
If the current LeBron James could defeat Roger, then Roger wouldn’t need to play basketball anymore.
Once again, Roger casually came to Cleveland, and casually left.
He didn’t need to respond to anything, the result already speaks for itself.
Charles Barkley joked, "Roger sweats more at a Victoria’s Secret show."
Bill Simmons also quipped, "Does Dan Gilbert feel like he’s been scammed out of 375 million US Dollars? He bought a team at the highest price in history that can never beat Roger."
At the post-game press conference, LeBron James was biting his nails, and only biting his nails.
He was ambitious before the game, but the outcome left him heartbroken.
After the press conference ended, his good friend Rich Paul drove the heartbroken number 23 home.
From last season until now, from Michael Jordan to Roger, LeBron James has been unable to break through the blockade of the previous two kings.
On the way home, the two were silent. Rich Paul didn’t even dare to turn on the car radio because it was sure to be filled with conversations questioning his old friend.
After driving for a long time, LeBron James asked Rich Paul, "Are games always this tough? Or is it just like this in the first two years?"
"I think it’ll always be like this." Rich Paul didn’t comfort James.
When James decided to become the next league ruler, his path was destined to be the hardest.
This answer left the young number 23 in despair. Kobe Bryant’s example was right in front of him, and he didn’t want to be like Kobe, still living in Roger’s shadow in the eighth season of his career.
"But don’t be too desperate, LeBron. This is an era where players decide everything. If your hometown can’t satisfy your ambitions, we will find other ways."
Rich Paul knew very well that to overthrow Roger, James needed help. But no matter how Dan Gilbert drew big promises, the Cleveland Cavaliers would not make significant headway in attracting star players.
Those star players would definitely choose big markets, not a place like Cleveland. Moreover, which big-name star would willingly assist LeBron? Before LeBron proves he can win a championship, the Cavaliers would have no attraction.
But relying solely on LeBron James’s strength, he finds it difficult to shake Roger’s dominion.
Since that’s the case, he should walk out himself, go find those star players.