Chapter 497: Jimmy, congratulations on your graduation

Fan Xi was sent to the hospital, the examination report came out quickly, it was not a hairline fracture but a fracture.

The attending doctor stared at Fan Xi in disbelief, unable to believe the report before his eyes.

"You actually played the whole game with a fracture? And you even scored the crucial goal and personally directed the game‑winning shot?" Doctor Qiao Zhi is a die‑hard Lakers fan.

Regarding the Clippers' frenzy tonight, his feelings were quite complicated. He had not refrained from blaming Jean Bas, that flashy stupid pig, but it was useless. He very much hoped Fan Xi would continue to play for the Lakers, but he could not give up his deep‑rooted affection for the Lakers built over many years, and switch to the Clippers roster like other Lakers fans lacking resolve.

Therefore, the Clippers' championship tonight was a huge mental stimulus for him.

Then he was urgently recalled to the hospital, and he received Fan Xi.

When he saw Fan Xi's report, Fan Xi's swollen left hand lay before his eyes, he felt deeply moved. He recalled that three years ago, Fan Xi also hit a game‑winning shot while injured against the Heat. At that time, he excitedly drank the red wine he had kept for many years.

But tonight, he didn't even want to drink bitter wine.

It was meaningless.

The Clippers' rise in the City of Angels has become an irreversible fact, and the Lakers' decline is also a visible fact.

"Doctor Qiao Zhi, do I need surgery?" Fan Xi did not elaborate on the thrilling game, he simply asked the doctor whether surgery could be performed.

Doctor Qiao Zhi said, we must wait until the arm swelling subsides before proceeding.

Then Fan Xi stood up and prepared to leave.

As Fan Xi was about to leave the room, Doctor Qiao Zhi finally could not hold back, he said: "Jie Ke, my… son is your die‑hard fan, could you give him an autograph?"

Fan Xi turned his head and said: "Of course."

Then he took a pen and asked Doctor Qiao Zhi: "What is your son's name?"

"Qiao Zhi!" Doctor Qiao Zhi replied.

Fan Xi thought for a moment, he had the staff help him take off his championship T‑shirt, then wrote on the back: "Dear Qiao Zhi, please continue to love basketball, continue to follow the Clippers. I will be back soon. Forever loving basketball, Jieke Fan."

When Fan Xi handed the Clippers championship T‑shirt to Doctor Qiao Zhi, the doctor was completely stunned.

He had only wanted a simple signature, but Fan Xi gave him such a precious championship T‑shirt, along with a signature and blessings.

Good heavens.

Doctor Qiao Zhi was absolutely certain that if this garment were put up for auction online, it would surely fetch an unexpectedly high price. Surely fervent Clippers fans would spend tens of thousands of dollars to snap it up, and possibly even more.

But at this moment, as a die‑hard Lakers fan, Doctor Qiao Zhi's faith actually wavered a little. He wanted to keep this garment, and he discovered that becoming a Clippers fan was not bad at all.

At this point, Fan Xi had already waved goodbye to him.

When Fan Xi left, Doctor Qiao Zhi held the championship T‑shirt in both hands and made a decision. He decided to go to the Clippers fan community to show off the garment, as a Clippers fan.

Furthermore, he also intended to purchase season tickets for the Clippers next season.

Although the whole world knows that Fan Xi will leave the Clippers next season, just as Jie Ke wrote, he will return soon.

Rather than chasing after the declining Lakers, why not pursue the Clippers? Jie Ke is a Lakers product, yet the Lakers do not cherish him.

That night, countless people in the City of Angels shifted their faith like Doctor Qiao Zhi did.

The Clippers' heat surpassed the Lakers in an irreversible manner; this championship truly let the Clippers' influence exceed that of the Lakers.

This is an indisputable fact.

This championship changed too many things.

Just as Le Bu Lang Zhang Si said in the post‑game press conference: "I have lost three times in a row to the same person, I have no explanation. I have failed."

"But I will continue to fight. Next season, you will see an even stronger Le Bu Lang Zhang Si."

James's answer in the post‑game press conference was firm, candid, and powerful.

In this Finals, and throughout this season, he has lost nothing, he has earned everyone's respect, and his rapid progress in technique and tactics is a visible fact for all to see.

Everyone firmly believes he will be even stronger next season.

Everyone also thinks he lost to luck. Or rather, he lost to Fan Xi's cunning; if Fan Xi had not made those unfathomable calculations at the crucial moment, the Heat might have won.

Spoelstra said exactly that, saying Fan Xi is too clever, and Fan Xi's thoughts at crucial moments surpassed theirs.

However, when Le Bu Lang Zhang Si was asked this question, he gave a very blunt answer.

He said: "Discussing this now is meaningless. In fact, there is no luck either; if Jieke Fan had not been injured, we might have lost as well. What we cannot overlook is the willpower, tactical execution, and shooting ability that Jieke Fan displayed while injured."

"We don't have much time left."

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si used these words as his final public statement of the season.

His 2012‑2013 season ended.

He remains the biggest loser.

But he does not look as sorrowful as before; he appears calm.

This calm yet conveys formidable strength; everyone believes he will make a comeback next season, and when Fan Xi leaves Los Angeles, many are willing to believe that Miami will surely become the biggest championship contender.

From 2010 to the present, the Miami Heat have factually dominated the East. They have crushed the Three Giants, suppressed the youngest ever regular‑season MVP, and even prevented the brave soldiers of Indiana from daring to step into the Eastern Conference finals.

If they had not encountered Fan Xi, over the past three years they could have at least won one championship.

There are no "ifs" in the world.

Even if they really were only a little bit off.

The 2012‑2013 season ended just like that.

Fan Xi became the first person in basketball history, his decisive hammer‑blow in the final moments of his last game turned into a legendary story circulating online, and his name is repeatedly linked with historical greats.

The footage of his conversation with Michael Jordan appeared on the front pages of many sports media the next day, with many outlets bypassing last night's main rival Le Bu Lang Zhang Si and directly comparing Fan Xi with Michael Jordan.

To some extent, this is what fans and the media expected.

Since Jordan retired, the league has never seen a player who could truly challenge him.

After Fan Xi completed the epic super triple crown, he became the only player capable of surpassing Jordan. m

In the sixth game, his perfect performance let everyone see his scoring talent, not to mention the post‑game report that he single‑handedly defeated the Three Giants despite his fracture.

If we say that after the previous Finals ended, Fan Xi went from a superstar to the league's flagship star.

So now, Fan Xi has gone from the league's active flagship star to become the sole 'half‑god' of today's basketball world.

In Kenny Smith's words, Fan Xi has already surpassed the normal scope of basketball; he should enter the realm of gods.

Kenny Smith's praise, of course, contains an element of hyperbole.

However, the half‑step English has already become common consensus.

Even ESPN, which despises Fan Xi the most, cannot help but emphasize: the current Jieke Fan has no obvious flaws; he can pose a threat anywhere. He is only an honor away from becoming English. If he wants to surpass Michael Jordan, he must not only set the trend but also reshape the league's structure. It should be noted that, up to now, the league remains Western‑strong, Eastern‑weak, precisely because the Eastern side has Jordan's presence, so superstars can only flock to the West. Jieke Fan still has many things to do.

This kind of comment, though slightly biased, is also fair.

Wanting to surpass Michael Jordan is indeed extremely difficult. Jordan's dominance is not just six championships; on the English internet, he is called the old rogue, because his record and legend are like a rogue's play—if he wants to play, others can't.

…

But among Fan Xi's teammates, Fan Xi has already become a top‑tier English.

"Who can, even with a broken bone, still score 62 points and then seal the Heat's fate with a lethal pass at the crucial moment?" Arenas said in front of the camera, arrogantly, "Michael Jordan today is merely at Joe Johnson's level."

Arenas's single remark elevated Joe Johnson to an undeserved position; at this moment Joe Johnson is retiring in Brooklyn, having secured a second billion‑dollar contract with the Nets. He may be the only one whose total career earnings have surpassed Michael Jordan. Yet Jordan was limited by his era, and even so, his $30 million annual salary remained unbroken until 2013.

Joe Johnson dared not join such a discussion; he remained silent.

Michael Jordan also stayed silent, thinking it a waste of breath.

It is the media that enjoys the verbal sparring, because some indeed think Arenas makes sense, as Joe Johnson's style resembles Michael Jordan's; they firmly believe modern basketball has surpassed the 1990s, and Michael Jordan today is merely at Joe Johnson's level.

This kind of discussion is somewhat unfocused.

But Nowitzki's words carry great authority.

He said, "I've faced many super perimeter players; I witnessed Michael Jordan's final brilliance. I think Jie Ke is the player in history who comes closest to Michael Jordan; he accomplished tasks Michael Jordan never did. Remember, at Jie Ke's age, Michael Jordan was still playing NCAA at UNC."

"If Jie Ke maintains this progress, his surpassing Michael is only a matter of time. If he can also secure two or three consecutive championships."

Nowitzki said firmly.

And he said bluntly, "I won two championship rings in Los Angeles. But to me, I'm just a hitchhiker; perhaps at some crucial moments I point the team in the right direction. However, the team's driver is Jie Ke; Jie Ke leads us forward, taking us to the summit. Next, I'm returning to my own team to be the driver again."

Nowitzki's mind was made up.

This reminded many of the lineup structural adjustments Fan Xi mentioned on championship night.

Now known is that Fan Xi will definitely leave the team next season, and Nowitzki will also leave the team.

With both core players leaving simultaneously, how will the Kuaisuan maintain the aura of a strong team?

Is it to completely give up, accelerating from champion to the lottery zone.

Or focus on developing the front line, letting Leonard and Butler form a twin‑gun, continue training, and await Fan Xi's kingly return?

In fact, this question is also the doubt of the team's general manager Ku Pu Qie Ke; he is the club's executor.

But now, he still has no concrete plan, because Fan Xi has not given him any orders.

Fan Xi underwent surgery on the third day after winning the championship.

It's simple.

Only that for the next month he cannot touch basketball nor train.

Fan Xi has a rare vacation.

Then, Fan Xi communicated with Butler.

Butler suddenly became irritable. He spoke very loudly on the phone, not understanding why Fan Xi wanted to trade him, even though Fan Xi promised to let him go to a team as an absolute core, and guaranteed he would get a max contract after his rookie contract expires.

Honestly, this is the best arrangement Fan Xi could make.

But Butler was especially angry, especially resistant.

He even hung up on Fan Xi's call.

Fan Xi also hesitated.

About three or four hours later, Fan Xi received a text from Butler; he asked Fan Xi: "Jie Ke, if that night I had sprinted into the paint and made that game‑winning shot, the player traded would be Kawhi, not me."

This question left Fan Xi silent.

Just as he was about to answer.

Butler pushed open the hospital room door and walked in, looking very despondent, very lonely—like a stray dog driven out of its home.

There were even blood vessels in his pupils; he had just wept bitterly.

He has a tragic childhood; he barely found a sense of family in Los Angeles, and here he found his career's belonging.

But now, his family is sending him outside to pursue a brighter future.

He doesn't understand.

He doesn't want a brighter future.

He thinks staying in Los Angeles is fine; a $16 million annual salary versus a $10 million one doesn't matter much to him, as taxes will offset a large portion of the income.

Moreover, wherever he goes, it's not as good as staying where he feels he belongs.

Fan Xi waved his hand, inviting Butler to sit beside him.

He remained silent for a long time; he and Butler had built a deep bond. Trading Butler is also a difficult matter for him.

People are emotional creatures.

But now, this decision has to be made.

"Jimmy. Please, you must not treat this as a trade. I know you really want to stay in Los Angeles, and I feel the same way."

"But I cannot be so selfish. Staying in Los Angeles, you lose too much. You will never become a true super‑star, you will never earn hundreds of millions of dollars, you will never enjoy applause and cheers that belong solely to you."

"You shouldn't just be my Robin; you should be the Batman. Jimmy, Charlotte is a great place, very suitable for you."

"You ask me, if you make that game‑winning shot, will Kawhi be traded instead of you? I tell you, I had already thought this through during the regular season. You need to go out and hammer your ball‑handling ability, train your experience."

"Do you know? the NBA is rapidly developing; a new broadcast contract will be signed soon, and player salaries will experience truly explosive growth. In the future you'll easily earn $30 million, $40 million, even $50 million annual salaries."

"Believe me, I won't hurt you."

"You said the Los Angeles Kuaisuan is a university. Now, in my capacity as president, I tell you, Jimmy Butler, you have graduated with top honors. You are always welcome to come home and visit often."

Fan Xi finished speaking.

Jimmy Balett, who had kept his head down, lifted his head again; his face was already streaked with tears.

He was a true tough guy, like a lone star of calamity.

At this moment, all human joys and sorrows, separations and reunions were in his eyes.

A man's tears are not shed lightly.

Fan Xi reached out and patted his shoulder.

Everything is understood without words.

…