Chapter 507: I Want to Jump Ship

New York, before training camp began, signed another center, Korel Aldridge on a non‑guaranteed contract.

Aldridge was a 2010 rookie, the same class as Fan Xi. However, that class Fan Xi went undrafted, while he was selected 11th overall in the first round and then sent to the Thunder.

It can be said that the two started from completely different points. Back then Fan Xi was ignored, while Aldridge was the hope for a white center; he stood nearly seven feet tall, with a wingspan of seven feet six inches, had a brilliant record at the University of Kansas, and was even called the White Beast.

But now he has been eliminated by the genuine Beast.

Aldridge was the add‑on in the James Harden trade, and he was traded to the Houston Rockets. After the trade, James Harden quickly rose, becoming the new‑generation super‑star, and in the new season's player rankings he jumped to seventh, even surpassing Westbrook who was still with the Thunder.

Aldridge, however, suffered various problems after the trade; his minutes were taken by another white center, Asilao, and when Dwight Howard joined the Rockets, the team chose not to exercise his final rookie‑year contract, making him a complete free agent.

Then the New York Knicks extended an olive branch to him.

Currently, the Knicks' backup centers are Ben Wallace and Aldridge, one too old for anyone to want, the other abandoned by the Rockets.

Described as old and weak, it is indeed fitting.

Media estimate that in the new season Kevin Garnett will appear more at center, after all Stoud Mayle certainly cannot play center.

This year New York's training camp opened to an unprecedented press corps, with perhaps more than 150 media outlets allowed into Madison Square Garden… Unlike other teams that rent a venue for camp, Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan, with his deep pockets, directly leased Madison Square Garden… Of course, that is also his business.

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan showed great confidence for this season, emphasizing that there are no other demands this season, just to aim for the highest.

Moreover, he promised that this will not be the Knicks' final roster; he will go on a frenzy in the trade market.

No one would doubt that.

Fan Xi himself is a highly attractive figure; many stars want to work with him because it brings them closer to the championship.

New York is also a highly attractive big city; no star doesn't want to work in New York.

Most importantly, Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan is wealthy and doesn't mind paying the hefty luxury tax.

However, the Knicks' roster is still criticized.

Currently, on the Knicks' extensive player list.

Point guards are: Stephen Nash, Raymond Felton, Shannon Brown. One is old, one is fat, one only knows how to jump.

Shooting guards are: Fan Xi, Hamilton.

Small forwards: Jo Johnson, Andrea Bariani, Prince.

Power forwards: Stoud Mayle, Kevin Garnett.

Centers: Ben Wallace, Brook Lopez, Corey Aldridge.

In its preseason preview, ESPN ranked the New York Knicks eighth in the league. Their commentary was sharp: the Knicks' roster contains many names that ring like thunder, but it's now 2013, about to turn into 2014. If it were 2006, even if Jieke Fan were still a child, this team would have become a championship team. But now, Jieke Fan cannot move this team.

Moreover, most importantly, those once‑resounding names not only have declined in ability, but each has their own established style, making integration difficult.

Basketball experts are completely baffled about what tactical path the Knicks will take next season; from the head coach's choice, they seem likely to adopt a defensive scheme, but judging from their player configuration, focusing on defense, wouldn't that make them a sieve?

If they didn't have Fan Xi, ESPN wouldn't even rank the New York Knicks at eighth.

Now the American basketball community is waiting for Fan Xi's new season; they want to see how Fan Xi will solve the current dilemma. Fan Xi said he wants to surpass Jordan, so he must win this season's championship; only by securing a four‑peat can he have a chance to counter Jordan's two three‑peats.

If he loses this season, he'll have to start over.

But according to the rules, he can play at most two consecutive seasons with Kuaisuan. In two years, at most a rebuild can be completed; the league's pace changes daily, and no one will wait for Jieke Fan to take his time.

Moreover, most importantly, given the tone of the American basketball scene, they certainly won't give Fan Xi the chance to rack up seniority; even if Fan Xi ends his career with 40,000 points and four or five championships, they still won't discuss Fan Xi's ascent to 'goat'.

But if it were James, they would do so.

This is domestic protectionism.

Fan Xi was very quiet at the training camp press conference; he did not take questions, only revealed his No. 30 jersey and participated in the photo session.

Before leaving, he answered a question. A reporter asked how he viewed being listed as ESPN's number one for the new season.

He retorted to the reporter: "Who else is there besides me? If any other star even has the slightest chance of surpassing me, I wouldn't be at the top of ESPN's list. Otherwise, why isn't the ESPY Best Male Athlete me?"

That's a good question.

ESPN was put on the hot coals; they had to respond.

They said that the award was for rewarding 2012…

Not saying it would be okay, but saying it makes them look even more timid.

Because Fan Xi's 2012 record was even more terrifying; he was the NBA champion, and the one who created an Olympic miracle by beating the Dream Team.

If the Best Male Athlete weren't Fan Xi, who else could it be?

Slap in the face.

Although for a long time everyone knew Fan Xi's relationship with this most influential sports media was poor, it was all speculation and rumors.

Now Fan Xi's retort directly ruptured the relationship between the two.

What impact it will have on the future is still unknown.

But one thing is certain: the authority's credibility is waning, and people will no longer trust their reports on Fan Xi, even though they can use various means to diminish Fan Xi's influence, even to bring him a public‑opinion crisis.

But, is Fan Xi afraid?

Besides Fan Xi, Kobe Bryant is also firing shots at ESPN.

ESPN adjusted the Lakers' projected ranking to 17th for the new season, on the playoff fringe. It even fell one spot behind Kuaisuan, which is 16.

The two teams that just finished the Western Finals both saw their rankings plunge, truly the hard‑luck brothers of the City of Angels.

Kuaisuan fell because Fan Xi, Nowitzki, Jimmy Butler and other core players left; the Lakers fell because Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, two mercenaries, jumped ship.

What infuriated Kobe even more was that ESPN placed him at 25th in the league, with the Heat's Ke Li Si Bo Shen still ahead of him.

He said, "ESPN doesn't understand basketball at all; they only know how to manufacture public opinion."

"25, I've memorized that number."

Kobe said with fierce determination during the Lakers' training camp opening.

He was portrayed as a once‑again abandoned core leader, just as in 2004 he was fighting alone. But unlike then, the 2013 version is no longer the same as nine years ago; he is now aged and weakened, and can no longer carry this elite team.

Those words are very hurtful.

Given Kobe's proud nature, he would never allow himself to be slighted; he will surely make a statement in the new season.

But, Fan Xi however told him in his call with Kobe: "You don't need to fight desperately for a playoff spot; you should enjoy basketball."

Fan Xi's words obviously couldn't make Kobe calm; they would only make him more irritable.

In ESPN's top 100 player list.

Fan Xi ranked first.

Second is James, third Kevin Durant, fourth Derrick Rose, fifth Stephen Curry, sixth Dwight Howard, seventh James Harden, eighth Chris Paul, ninth Russell Westbrook, tenth Kyrie Irving….

Looking at this list, the team with the most top-ten superstars is the Houston Rockets, who are also the biggest favorites to win the championship this year; many basketball experts believe they will easily become Western champions, the only team that could slightly compete with them being the Oklahoma City Thunder, which has two top-ten superstars.

In fact, the media has already started to hype up a new Western civil war, the Thunder rebel ninja battle.

James Harden got a lot of coverage this past summer; he also became Adidas's flagship star, and on huge billboards he even stood side by side with Derrick Rose.

Thus, the brand sponsors hold him in high regard.

Fan Xi has never been impressed by such rankings; he thinks player strength is fluid and cannot be concretized. Many factors affect game outcomes, and unless you have risen to a higher dimension, you're still playing within the overall chemical reaction. Perhaps an important game, a breakout bench player could change the result.

Fan Xi is a star who hopes to build a good team ecosystem; only then can he endure and prosper.

Besides Fan Xi, the Knicks' highest-ranked player is Kevin Garnett, who is 41st; then comes Joe Johnson, 57th. Stoudemire didn't make the top 100 because he missed many games last season, making it impossible to assess his injury.

As for the others like Steve Nash, Hamilton… they're even further out, perhaps ranked in the three‑ or four‑hundreds.

The NBA has only about 450 players total.

In the first training session of the new season, the team conducted a fast‑break drill under Larry Brown's guidance.

When Prince, Ben Wallace, and Hamilton—these three veteran players of Brown—heard Larry Brown announce the fast‑break drill, they could hardly believe their ears, they widened their eyes, feeling incredulous.

The three Pistons veterans had focused on conditioning and physique during the past offseason, hoping to unleash their final spark under the old coach.

But when they met again, the old coach had a new trick.

Ben Wallace couldn't even run.

In his youth he was known for his speed and strength, but now he is truly old; his aging had been obvious four or five years ago.

He received his last max contract with the Bulls, then was traded to the Cavaliers.

But old is old—he lost his speed, his agility, and lacking height, he only has strength left. What can he do?

Fan Xi saw that his training in the gym was very enthusiastic; although he had to do more warm‑up and stretching before practice than younger players, he never reduced any training items because of his age, which is extremely rare. Many accomplished veteran players cut back on training in the gym, sometimes just going through the motions.

One reason is that their bodies can't take it; more importantly, they don't want to suffer that much mentally.

Yet even though Ben Wallace tried so hard, in the first training session he still struggled, playing only five minutes before being benched.

Seeing his unwilling expression, Fan Xi walked over and patted his shoulder.

Besides Ben Wallace, another center who surprised Fan Xi was Brook Lopez.

Lopez entered the league via the 2008 draft; he also has a brother who once played for the Suns. They are Stanford‑college graduates and have been touted as the hope for white centers.

But unlike white centers such as Aldridge, he plays a classic style and possesses a set of post moves.

But his speed is very slow.

He cannot increase his speed, and even fails to meet Larry Brown's demands.

Larry Brown was very dissatisfied with his weight; during this offseason Brook Lopez's physique changed considerably, the excess fat making him look sluggish.

Brown ordered him to lose 10 kilograms before the new season begins.

This made Lopez wear a displeased expression; then the strict‑reputed Larry Brown had him run 20 suicide sprints.

Larry Brown always means what he says, but Brook Lopez refused to comply, arguing that he is no longer a college student.

The sides reached an impasse, and Brook Lopez ultimately walked out of the training facility, ending the matter.

Throughout the process, Fan Xi merely watched cold‑heartedly; even when Steve Nash used to play the nice guy, Fan Xi still gave him a hand.

In the afternoon, Kevin Garnett told Fan Xi: "Jie Ke, this team is full of contradictions; there's hardly any chance."

Fan Xi furrowed his brow.

Garnett then said: "Every player here has a distinct technical specialty; they can't be merged. It's like I never thought Larry Brown could run a fast‑break. Moreover, the Suns system and the Pistons system are inherently incompatible; add an Eagles system, a Boston system, and your Los Angeles system, and this is basically a rag‑tag bunch, a mercenary unit."

Garnett spread his hands: "I want to jump ship."

Fan Xi said: "You'll surely regret it. I won't stop you; if you apply for a trade, maybe it could bring a new turn."

…

【104】