Chapter 209

Fan Xi and Steve Nash had not had much interaction before; perhaps the only intersection was the All-Star Game, where Fan Xi miraculously snatched the Western Conference starting point guard spot from Chris Paul, and then Paul pulled on Nash's banner, saying that Fan Xi's fans and the league's rules didn't respect them, squeezing out the two-time regular season MVP Steve Nash.

However, Nash was a friendly person; he had never had any direct conflict with Fan Xi and had even encouraged Fan Xi during games.

Therefore, Fan Xi had a very good impression of Nash, believing him to be a true gentleman, just like his teammate in Phoenix, Grant Hill.

Steve Nash also had a very good impression of Fan Xi, which was the reason why he called Fan Xi.

"Jack, I'm planning to leave Phoenix. Do you have a good spot for me?" Steve Nash got straight to the point, just like his crisp and direct style of play.

Fan Xi had always been the type to "reciprocate kindness." Since Nash was so frank, he was even more candid: "Stephen, I think you should have heard some rumors. I tell you, the rumors are true. I won't be a member of a championship team for much longer..."

"I know your desire for a championship now is greater than anything else. However, I am very likely to go to a team striving to compete for a championship, rather than staying on a championship-level team."

Fan Xi spoke very candidly.

He was even more direct than Nash. If Nash were to leak what he said, it could very well change the upcoming trade.

Success depends on secrecy, while failure comes from leaks. There are many trades in the NBA that could change the league's landscape that were ruined by being exposed ahead of time.

Fan Xi placed his trust in Nash.

Nash was stunned. He didn't expect that the unbelievable rumor was true. Although the Suns' general manager had once told him that the Lakers had indeed signaled such a move, he felt the Lakers weren't stupid enough to go that far.

He had even discussed joining the Lakers with Jerry West.

And in the entire Lakers organization, the player who brought him the greatest shock was not Kobe Bryant, but Fan Xi. Therefore, while on the other side of the ocean with Yao Ming, he reached out to Fan Xi.

However, Fan Xi brought him the exact opposite news.

So, should he still go to the Lakers?

Nash's originally firm heart wavered instantly. Every frame of Fan Xi in the Finals was deeply engraved in his heart; he couldn't forget the impact Fan Xi had brought him.

So, he took a deep breath.

He asked his inner self three times.

Then, he cautiously asked Fan Xi: "Which team will you go to? Although this is presumptuous, I really want to know."

"The Clippers!" Fan Xi's answer was firm and clear: "I want to stay in Los Angeles, and I want to take back the respect that belongs to me."

Steve Nash fell silent on the other end of the phone.

This phone call, originally intended to "show goodwill" in advance, had actually brought him such an astonishing shock.

He was surprised by Fan Xi's candor, and he was won over by Fan Xi's competitive spirit.

At the same time, he also wavered because of the grand scene Jerry West had described to him earlier. The Lakers were so powerful; they had already won three championships and achieved a dynasty.

But now, the scale in his brain couldn't distinguish which was heavier; on one side stood the Lakers dynasty, and on the other, there was only one Fan Xi.

Nash had made countless decisions in his life; he had even changed the league's trend.

But this time, he slowly closed his eyes. He thought for about ten seconds, recalled the Clippers' roster from last season, and asked Fan Xi: "Are Griffin and Jordan still on the Clippers?"

Fan Xi looked up and asked his agent.

Lu Yuan gave an affirmative answer.

"Yes, they are staying here," Fan Xi said calmly.

"Then, would you mind having one more veteran on the team roster?" Steve Nash made his final decision. The proud figure of number 10 in his heart defeated the magnificent Lakers dynasty.

This was the last important decision of his career; it was a huge gamble. If his agent were standing next to him, he would definitely choose to stop him. After all, between the Lakers and the Clippers, even a fool would choose the Lakers.

But Nash was a brave man. He was a two-time regular season MVP; he would always choose the option that ordinary people wouldn't consider.

Fan Xi did not hesitate and answered directly: "Of course, Stephen. Welcome to the team, and thank you for your trust. I can represent the Clippers in welcoming your arrival; this is the authority I confirmed during the negotiations."

"Okay. Have your general manager prepare the renewal contract."

Then he asked Fan Xi: "Is three years enough?"

Fan Xi thought about it seriously for a long time and said: "Enough."

The matter was decided so happily.

Two-time regular season MVP and leader of the "run-and-gun" storm, Steve Nash, chose Fan Xi at the final moment of his career. He gave up the three-peat Lakers dynasty and made the most willful decision of his life.

This was a huge gamble, betting on the curse of a superstar "never winning a championship in his lifetime."

Fan Xi hung up the phone, feeling incredible. He had never thought... that a two-time regular season MVP, his idol from his youth, would actually go to a team that hadn't even made the playoffs last season because of him.

What he didn't know was that what he conquered in last year's Finals was not just the fans, but also these long-established superstars.

Fan Xi carried the strong character of the eighties and nineties; the tenacious spirit in him was exceptionally fascinating to these old guys.

"What happened?" Lu Yuan asked Fan Xi.

"You might not believe it if I tell you, but Steve Nash has decided to follow in my footsteps and join the Clippers!" Fan Xi tried his best to suppress his excitement.

My God!

Lu Yuan screamed. "God, this is crazy. The Clippers will celebrate wildly because they got Nash, while the Lakers... will probably be in tears, right? The foolish Jeanie will never imagine that she only won the present, but lost the future, as well as the hearts of the people that everyone was looking forward to."

The Lakers had previously negotiated Steve Nash's joining.

At this moment, Jeanie Bas was celebrating wildly in her office with her assistant.

She was currently conducting two important trades, both of which had made astonishing progress.

Once these two trades were successful, she believed the Lakers would become a true "Galactic Battleship," and the City of Angels would be even more brilliant because of the Lakers. As for Fan Xi joining the Clippers, it was no less than a lame duck crawling into a dead end, never to see the light of day again.

Jeanie wasn't worried at all.

"Using Jack Fan and Dunleavy as chips, we get Chris Paul from the Hornets in a three-way trade. Using Andrew Bynum as the main chip, we trade for Howard... Imagine this: Howard at center, Pau Gasol at power forward, Ron Artest rejoining at small forward, Kobe at shooting guard, and Chris Paul at point guard. And the upcoming backup point guard, Steve Nash!"

"My God, what kind of Galactic Battleship is this? Miami's Big Three will be eclipsed."

"Jack thought he was irreplaceable at the number one spot, and the fans even worshipped him as a god. But if Chris Paul and Steve Nash stand at our number one spot next season, who will still miss him? He is just a shooting star, while what we have is the current number one point guard and the former number one point guard!"

Jeanie Bas was quite full of the joy of "riding the horse with the spring breeze."

She felt everything was just wonderful.

She was very grateful to Jimbas; if it weren't for Jimbas bringing Fan Xi into the Lakers, how could the Lakers have such wonderful chips to trade for such a shocking lineup.

"Let us mourn for the Los Angeles Clippers. Thank them for helping me solve a hidden injury risk, hahahaha."

Jeanie Bas was beside herself with pride.

She was looking forward to the arrival of the draft night on June 24th. She had every reason to believe that this night would permanently change the league's landscape.

Long live the Lakers!