Chapter 295: Chapter 242: The Franchise’s First Championship

Although the World Cup was still in full swing, the China Team had already been eliminated early and packed their bags to go home. As a result, China Sports Television’s broadcast focus shifted back to the NBA Finals.

This was especially true with Yao Ming on the verge of entering the NBA.

Compared to the soccer team, which had disgracefully failed to score a single goal while letting in nine over three matches, basketball seemed much more promising.

The host was Yang Jian, with guest commentators Zhang Weiping and Su Jun.

"Hardaway gets the ball! A series of fakes, he drives to the hoop... a reverse layup! He cut through the defense like it wasn’t even there! What a play!"

"There are only 1 minute and 49 seconds left in the game, but the point difference is still 9. The Magic are in danger. Although Hill has already racked up 41 points, there’s no one on his team who can step up to help him. The Magic are running out of time," Zhang Weiping explained, speaking at a rapid pace.

Paul Plessey called a timeout.

The camera focused on Hill. Beads of sweat were clearly visible on his forehead as he walked off the court, panting for breath.

"Hill is really incredible. He’s averaged 34.2 points per game in this series. People always say he isn’t tough enough in the playoffs, or that his record leading the Pistons wasn’t good enough, but I think those comments are too one-sided. He’s still the best small forward in the league," Su Jun remarked with a sigh.

Watching this game alone, Hill’s effort gave off the tragic feeling of a lone hero, one man fighting against an army.

Across from him, Yang Jian nodded in deep agreement. "Hill is amazing, but the Suns’ strength is their overall teamwork. A team that can beat both the Kings and the Lakers in succession has virtually no weaknesses at any of the five positions."

During the timeout, after praising the Suns, the commentators started chatting casually.

"Coach Zhang, do you think the Lakers will trade O’Neal?" Yang Jian asked.

After O’Neal revealed his desire to leave the team, it sent shockwaves through the entire NBA. Afterward, resourceful reporters kept digging up stories, claiming that friction between O’Neal and Kobe had started as early as the Western Conference Finals, or perhaps even earlier.

When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured.

Because of this, many media outlets analyzed that O’Neal might really be traded from the Lakers this summer.

You can keep the man, but not his heart. To avoid losing O’Neal for nothing as a free agent next summer—a massive loss—the Lakers would surely try to trade him to recoup their losses.

This wouldn’t normally have much to do with the fans in China, but O’Neal had revealed that he wanted to go to the Suns.

The media further analyzed that the only trade asset the Suns had that could tempt the Lakers was the number one draft pick.

And that number one pick would directly affect where Yao Ming ended up.

So for a while now, not just the media in China, but also the fans, have been in a heated debate about it, with all sorts of opinions flying around.

Zhang Weiping pondered for a moment before saying, "Actually, I think wherever Yao Ming ends up, it’ll be a good choice. Look at it this way."

He sat up straight and began his analysis. "If he goes to the Suns, like many fans are saying, they’re the defending champions and might even win again next year. That means he could get a Championship Ring right after entering the NBA, which would be a great start to his career."

"Besides, the Suns need Yao Ming, too. There’s a lot of analysis about this online, so I won’t go into too much detail."

"Then let’s look at the Lakers. If the Suns and the Lakers really complete the trade, the Lakers, now without O’Neal, will also need a dominant center. So they would definitely focus on developing Yao Ming. Los Angeles is a huge market, and the Lakers are an NBA dynasty. They have a famous coach in Phil Jackson and Kobe to pair with him. All aspects are suitable; it would be an excellent starting point."

"So, like I said, no matter where he ends up, it will be a good outcome for Yao Ming."

Coincidentally, at the arena, Chen Yu, who had already stood up with the rest of the fans to wait for the game to end, was also talking with Brian beside him about the progress of the O’Neal trade.

"No rush. We’re going to pick Yao no matter what. As for whether the trade can be completed after that, it’ll depend on how things go between O’Neal and the Lakers."

Brian had been following the news about O’Neal’s contract renewal with the Lakers, but this time, reporters hadn’t gotten any definite scoops.

Chen Yu thought for a moment and said, "But if we draft him, we can’t just delay signing him forever. And once we do sign him, we’ll have to wait 60 days before we can trade him."

Before he’s signed, we can trade his draft rights at any time. But once he’s signed and 60 days have passed, the new season will be about to start. O’Neal might not wait that long.

Brian shrugged. "There’s nothing we can do about it. The ball is in O’Neal’s court. But I think there’s a good chance. Otherwise, with the media making such a fuss, wouldn’t O’Neal have come out to deny the rumors?"

At this point, Brian clapped Chen Yu on the shoulder. "Alright, let’s not talk about that for now. In just over a minute, we’re going to be champions."

Chen Yu turned his head and looked toward the court.

That’s right. In just over a minute, the Suns were about to win the first championship in franchise history.

The entire US Airways Center had already turned into a sea of celebration. The unified cheers were so loud they seemed ready to blow the roof off the arena.

Playing in this kind of atmosphere, Chen Yu felt the Magic players’ morale would inevitably be affected.

But Hill still hadn’t given up.

Coming out of the timeout, he ran around a screen, caught the ball, and came to a quick stop, even as J Kidd rushed toward him.

Since the second half began, the Suns had started to double-team Hill, albeit selectively.

But Hill took the shot anyway.

The moment he released the ball, he even leaned into J Kidd intentionally.

The whistle blew.

He drew the foul!

The ball hit the rim and bounced out. He almost got the four-point play.

Gasps of relief echoed from the stands.

Chen Yu winced. ’Hill is playing like he’s possessed by Jordan tonight. He’s just so tough.’

’If he had made that shot, it would’ve been a four-point play. The lead would’ve been cut to five with just over a minute left. The outcome of the game would have been anyone’s guess.’

Stepping up to the free-throw line, amidst the frantic distractions from the home crowd, Hill was as steady as a rock and sank all three shots.

points!

Those were MVP-level stats.

Hardaway said nothing, holding out his hand for the ball.

In these final moments, it was a showdown between him and Hill—the two "heirs to Jordan."

The media had been hyping this game up as the battle of Jordan’s successors.

Coincidentally, Jordan himself was sitting on the sidelines.

If he hadn’t come out of retirement, Stern was planning to have him present the Finals MVP Trophy to Hardaway.

That would have been a perfect passing of the torch.

Hill rushed over without hesitation. He had a strong gut feeling that Hardaway would try to score himself. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

But he was disappointed. Hardaway didn’t get carried away. He protected the ball with his back to the basket, then suddenly whipped it backward.

A wide-open Marion, moving as if on fire wheels, caught the ball in mid-air and finished with a layup.

The lead was back to eight points.

Chen Yu applauded. This single play showed that Hardaway, having shed his former flashiness, had truly matured.

The seconds ticked away.

No one gave up. The Magic fought until the very last second, but they still couldn’t close the gap.

As Tracy McGrady launched a final, desperate shot from beyond half-court, the final buzzer sounded.

In an instant, the entire arena erupted into a sea of celebration.

"We are the champions!"

The arena DJ’s high-pitched, drawn-out voice boomed throughout the stadium.

Between the first and second tiers of the stands, huge jets of flame shot into the air. White and purple streamers rained down endlessly, nearly burying the stands.

On the court, Ewing grabbed the basketball, let out a roar, and threw it high into the air.

Then, all the players excitedly embraced one another.

They were joined by the bench, and then the coaching staff.

And even Chen Yu.

"What are you guys doing!" Chen Yu’s face was a mask of panic as he turned to run.

But it was too late.

Marion, with his ape-like long arms, grabbed Chen Yu, who was then swallowed by the crowd of players.

The next moment, Chen Yu found himself airborne.

’Are these bastards trying to give me a heart attack?’

And this celebration was only the beginning.

From the court to the locker room, everyone went completely wild.

The moment Chen Yu stepped into the locker room, he was doused with ice-cold champagne. No amount of protest could stop it.

Fine. Chen Yu grabbed a bottle of champagne himself and joined the fray.

After a good ten minutes of chaos, Skiles, who was now soaked to the bone, urged everyone to shower, change, and get ready for the trophy presentation.

The championship trophy was passed around. When it reached Ewing, he clutched it tightly and sobbed like a child. Then, he suddenly pushed through the crowd and charged out of the locker room.

Just when everyone thought he was going to make a run for it with the trophy, he charged right up to Jordan on the sidelines, held the trophy high, and started jumping up and down in front of him.

Jordan was stunned.

’Showing off?’

’I’ve got six of those!’

But considering how he had dominated Ewing for his entire, tragic career, Jordan just waved a dismissive hand, signaling for him to get lost.

Ewing didn’t leave. He threw one arm around Jordan, cradling the championship trophy with the other, and gestured for the media to hurry up and take pictures.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Of course, there was also the Finals MVP Trophy.

Without a doubt, it went to Hardaway.

Normally, Stern would have presented the award, but at the last moment, he waved over to Jordan on the sidelines.

Chen Yu saw it clearly: Jordan rolled his eyes, and it was a big one.

But he walked over anyway, straightened out the suit jacket that Ewing had wrinkled, and took the Finals MVP Trophy from Stern with a smile before turning to hand it to Hardaway.

"You deserve this. You should have gotten it a long time ago," Jordan said, hugging Hardaway and speaking into his ear.

Rookie Game MVP in his first year, an All-Star and All-NBA First Team selection in his second, and a trip to the Finals with O’Neal—for Hardaway, the phrase "peaked upon arrival" was no mere compliment.

With such a dream start, he should have had a brilliant career like Jordan’s.

But due to injuries, his star fell just as quickly.

If not for the injuries, perhaps Hardaway would have already won all the accolades he ever wanted.

Hardaway nodded slightly. At some point, his eyes had become moist.

Clutching the Finals MVP Trophy, he looked around. In this moment, he was the sole focus of everyone’s attention.

A microphone was held out to him. It was time for his acceptance speech.

Before the game, J Kidd and the others had asked him if he had prepared an acceptance speech in advance.

Hardaway actually had prepared one. He had drafted it in his head last night and secretly memorized it.

But in this moment, a million words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t get a single one out.

He suddenly turned his head, searching for someone in the surging crowd.

"Chen."

Nelson, who was standing right next to Chen Yu, saw Hardaway’s gesture and immediately gave Chen Yu a push.

Chen Yu didn’t move. He had also seen Hardaway’s gesture and figured he was looking for his mother.

His grandmother was too old to come, but his mother was here.

But just then, Hardaway locked onto his target, pushed through the crowd, and came straight to Chen Yu.

Then, he threw his arms around Chen Yu.

"Thank you for taking me to Orlando back then, and thank you for not giving up on me!" Hardaway hugged Chen Yu tightly.

That night, if not for Chen Yu’s persuasion, Hardaway might have really given up and simply accepted his fate.

That’s why, more than thanking his family, Hardaway felt he needed to thank Chen Yu.

Chen Yu sniffled and patted Hardaway on the back.

"Don’t you dare cry. This year is your year!"