Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 732 - 260 When the King Becomes a Commoner

There's no room for negotiation.

If he plays, I won't play.

One could say, Durant's dominance not only surprised the Knicks management and the coaching staff, but also plunged James into the greatest career crisis of his life.

James never expected that the once meek and easily bullied Durant would be so tough this time, as if he had eaten a dinosaur whip.

Moreover, what made James feel desolate was...

At Durant's request, the Knicks management and coaching staff actually began seriously considering the possibility of giving himself a DNP.

"Brown, they aren't really going to choose to DNP you for 'KD', are they?"

Rich Paul, one of James' people, was the first to realize that James' current situation can only be described as extremely awkward.

Why was James able to wear the crown again in the Knicks?

Because at the time, James was very popular within the Knicks and repeatedly helped the management and coaching staff solve internal team problems.

However, since the Eastern Conference Finals...

Due to James' performance on the court not being enough to overshadow Durant, and Durant very determinedly regained his style on the court as the successor of Qin Yue.

Such a Durant is undoubtedly untouchable within the Knicks.

After all, Durant was the rookie selected by the Knicks themselves.

He carries the hope of revitalizing the entire Big Apple City.

It's no exaggeration to say...

As long as Durant can overcome one aspect of his character and put on his Death God cloak, then in New York, with the torch always in his hand, he's truly unafraid of any so-called long night coming.

In this "Durant-James struggle", from the fans to the media, New York will never abandon Durant in favor of James.

This plunged James into an unprecedented passive position in the public opinion.

Which means James almost impossibly could use public opinion to turn the tables.

Initially, James thought Durant's accusations against him were simply the young man's attempt to restore his own rule.

But what James did not expect was that Durant is far more unreasonable than he imagined.

Because now, the Durant who actively ignited the flames clearly has him on the fire roasting.

If he truly gets DNP'd by the Knicks.

It would mean not just an end to his future with the Knicks.

Additionally, this experience of being DNP'd in the Finals would inevitably become a major stain in James' future career.

In fact, after Durant firmly expressed his stance, James considered if he could use his own submission to exchange for a step down for the other.

In James's dictionary, who is adept at assessing the situation, the knee must bend when necessary, has always been his way of dealing with matters.

It's just...

James' genuflection to Durant not only failed to change Durant's mind,

but instead made Durant further realize that for a player whose mind surpasses his own, willing to pay any price for personal gain, if he couldn't seize this opportunity to oust the opponent from New York, then in the future, he could very well be backstabbed by James again.

"The Knicks must be my team, and can only be my team."

Durant's toughness forced the Knicks management and coaching staff to quickly choose between James and Durant.

However, this choice doesn't have any suspense.

Because shortly after the Knicks emergency internal meeting ended, team owner James Dolan's implication that "LeBron is merely a hired gun, 'KD' is one of our own" immediately made the Knicks management understand what they had to do.

As proven in the NBA, no matter how the hired gun temporarily occupies a nest, he ultimately escapes the fate of being a hired gun.

About three hours later, the Knicks management privately met with James' team.

And proposed to them, hoping James could withdraw from this year's Finals citing injury.

"You can't DNP LeBron!"

Randy Mims, one of James' men, was still striving for James, saying: "He's made contributions to the team, shed blood, he's one of today's best NBA players. Your decision to DNP LeBron will certainly become a joke across the entire league in the future!"

In response, Knicks General Manager Donnie Walsh said, "It's not an easy decision, but we will not change it."

Another of James' associates, Maverick Carter, exclaimed, "Ridiculous! Do you know how ridiculous your decision is? Just because of 'KD' and some childish behavior, you intend to DNP LeBron?"

Walsh replied helplessly, "You should know, within the Knicks, 'KD' is greater than everything."

Walsh's uncompromising tone left James' team in complete despair.

As for James himself?

"If you choose to treat me this way, I will formally request a trade this summer."

At that moment, knowing the situation was irreparable, James was filled with a deep sense of sadness, immediately becoming anxious about his future.

James didn't know if, after leaving this strong Knicks team, he could still find a team capable of meeting his championship aspirations.

Nor did he know if, after being DNP'd by the Knicks this time, he would still be King James.

Without a doubt, this was absolutely James' most nostalgic moment of Cleveland.

The next day.

Before the start of Game Two of the Finals, the Knicks officially announced that James would miss the remainder of the season's games due to a recurrence of a groin injury.