Chapter 627

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan is absolutely a talent, but everyone is blinded by his reputation as a spendthrift.

He spent a fortune, hiring an artist from Rome, and crafted a lifelike bronze statue of Fan Xi in Renaissance style… over 9 meters tall, majestically standing in Madison Square Garden.

When Fan Xi went to unveil the red cloth, the New York mayor came, congratulating Fan Xi on unlocking this great achievement, and praising that Fan Xi would forever live in the hearts of New Yorkers.

This almost directly drove Fan Xi away.

Fan Xi said thank you.

New York is mostly full of eccentrics; their mayor isn't even as capable as JR Smith, just willing to spend money.

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan is also willing to spend money, and can even spend it on knife handles.

Unveiling the red cloth, Fan Xi's huge bronze statue is a photo of an away game, a picture of Fan Xi at Barclays Center.

"I will forever suppress the Nets!"

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan said aggressively, and beneath the statue it reads… the greatest moment in history, 101 points!

It's clear that the same-city rivals are truly sworn enemies.

The so-called decades-long grudge between the Knicks and the Heat is just for fun; the true hatred lies on both sides of the Hudson River.

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan just doesn't like the arrogant manner of Russians, who flash a few guns and pretend to be rich—what substance do they have?

Duo Lan looks down on this new money.

But he emphasized, there is absolutely no intention against Fan Xi.

Fan Xi made it onto the Forbes list; according to net worth, his wealth is quite high, able to rank among the top ten of so many NBA owners. At least, surpassing Jordan is a sure thing.

Boss Jordan says he's just a dividend eater; his dry shares in Nike have long been diluted into the Jordan brand's dividend rights. His Charlotte Mountain Cat may be increasing in value, but compared to Fan Xi's Clippers, it's practically a small witch seeing a great witch.

Fan Xi's wealth is rising too fast, showing explosive trends in every field.

Fan Xi won't blame Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan's unintentional mistake; this guy, if he doesn't even have a gate, isn't Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan. Anyway, being carefree is fine.

At night during the game, he also put on the Clippers jersey.

The Knicks team had long been accustomed to his absurd behavior.

Moreover, in Madison Square Garden, it's not just the owner who defects.

The whole Madison Square Garden is Fan Xi's fans.

Before the game started, Fan Xi received the previous season's championship ring awarded by Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan, and also got a pair of gold-made basketball shoes from Kevin Garnett… this guy follows through.

When he gave it to Fan Xi, he deliberately acted foolish, saying: "Your shoe size is too big, damn it, I spent 100,000 USD on it."

As the highest-paid player in history, Kevin Garnett isn't short of money; 100,000 USD is just for fun.

This guy has recently been shouting about buying Timberwolves shares, saying that if the Timberwolves are willing to sell him shares, he'll return to Minnesota.

This is Garnett's style; when Fan Xi initially wanted to buy the Clippers, he also said, if you're willing to sell me shares, I'll lend you money.

Fan Xi didn't ditch him back then; I have so many girlfriends generously chipping in, why would I need your few dates and nuts?

The Timberwolves here are probably also in trouble.

Now NBA teams' market values are skyrocketing; owners will hold long-term, making it unlikely to easily dilute shares.

After the game started, the whole arena was cheering for MVP.

Even if Fan Xi brings the Clippers to crush the Knicks, fans don't care. Being beaten by anyone is still being beaten; being beaten by Fan Xi feels good in the heart.

The Knicks also have little resistance; after Fan Xi left, they immediately reverted to form. This year's playoffs are hopeless; they're headed straight for the lottery zone.

The Clippers took down the Knicks' old-age concentration camp without bloodshed.

At night, he even had those old guys treat him to dinner.

New York players were very willing about that.

After all, this is Fan Xi's second home in the NBA.

When they were drunk and merry, Stephen Nash also felt a bit sentimental, saying: "Jie Ke, come back in two years. I'm really going to retire."

Hamilton also expressed the same view.

Actually, Garnett, Prince, Joe Johnson… they also won't last long. In two years it'll be end of 2016 to 2017; by then they'll basically all be retired,

But they are very grateful to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi made their final career moments full of dignity; at their weakest physically, they obtained the career's most coveted championship. They retire as victors, which, compared to those star players who fade and cling to thighs yet still can't win a championship, is simply too happy.

Moreover, there's the Knicks, such a suckered team, paying them high salaries so their final contract isn't just a minimum guarantee.

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan basically doesn't care about money; he can't spend it all. He's not only the Knicks' owner, but also the owner of the Garden arena, and has his own media and hotels… he owes thanks to his father, who was a banker back then.

Perhaps also because he knows his son's character, he simply converted all his money into this kind of 'property'-style assets, collecting rent that lets him live better than most billionaires.

This means his descendants can just lie flat.

"Jie Ke, you must return to New York in 2016. I'll settle everything!" Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan repeatedly emphasized to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi didn't even think that far.

But Fan Xi promised, as long as he can come to the Eastern, his first choice is New York.

"Good brother! Righteous!"

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan hugged Fan Xi; he's basically clung to him.

…

After winning the championship ring with the New York Knicks, Fan Xi's next back-to-back game was the Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets this season didn't make it to the upper half, because Fan Xi has already left, and there's no other team to play along with him.

He currently ranks sixth in the Eastern.

Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez… their lineup is quite good, but… it's only looks good.

It's the type where money is wasted.

Essentially, this isn't a normal team-building mindset; you can't build a team just based on fame.

What's more, each of these four people still has their own calculations.

Kuaisuan playing the Basket Net is just having it firmly in hand.

Fortunately they were still low-key; Fan Xi played a normal three quarters, scored 41 points and then left.

He didn't crush them completely.

Fan Xi has always been like that.

As long as others give him face and call him 'Lord Fan Xi', he won't let the other side be too embarrassed.

In this game, Carmelo Anthony went to find him for a chat; Anthony said last year's performance was too ugly, originally there was a chance to fight side by side with you on the Knicks.

Fan Xi also expressed regret.

To him, whether Anthony was swapped for Stoudemire or for Joe Johnson, the difference wasn't big.

But to Anthony, it's a world of difference.

If he had stayed with the Knicks last season, as the second-in-command winning the championship, his historical standing would have kept rising.

But now… he feels like he's destined to wander.

The Basket Net isn't a place to stay long; there's no winning atmosphere here, and he's constantly under huge mental strain.

He vaguely expressed a longing for Los Angeles, but Fan Xi didn't respond.

To other teams, Carmelo Anthony is a superstar, but to the Kuaisuan he isn't that important. On the contrary, his defense still makes the Kuaisuan anxious, plus his high salary.

There's no reason to suffer such an unnecessary loss.

The Kuaisuan's Eastern trip kept a winning streak, and Fan Xi consistently maintained scoring around 40 points.

The Kuaisuan's first setback came from the Chicago Bulls; that night Jokic had a stomachache and couldn't play, Mili Xiqi then fell into foul trouble… Tony Parker spent the whole night looking for him to single out, flopping to draw his foul.

Who let this guy show Tony a photo of him and Eva's kids before the game?

Mili Xiqi is also despicable.

He had to go provoke the French sports car, and even say, 'If you can't handle it over there, I can still help you here.'

Can the French sports car not floor the accelerator and charge at him?

It must be said, Tony Parker is an excellent player, worthy of being the point guard who once won Finals MVP over LeBron James's head. Any point guard who could win Finals MVP over LeBron James's head has some skills.

Currently the league only has two: Fan Xi and Parker.

The Bulls won this game, Tony Parker scored 28 points, Derek Rose had 38 points, he made 8 three-pointers.

Seeing them in harmony, Fan Xi felt a little jealous.

After the game, he said: 'Seeing the chemistry between Rosa and Parker so good, it feels worse than killing me.'

This comment had the Chicago media doing reading comprehension for days: What does Jieke Fan mean by this? Is he jealous? Or resentful? Or envious? Or does he want to team up with Rosa?

Or else, could Fan Xi transfer back in two years, sparing no expense to bring him back?

The Kuaisuan lost to the Bulls, giving them their third loss of the season. But afterward they found their form in Charlotte, Detroit, and Philadelphia; only Chicago survived in the Central Division.

This year the Mountain Cat… no, now it should be called the Hornets, and they're playing well.

After Jordan renamed the original Hornets team to the Pelicans, he immediately took over the nest, changing the Mountain Cat to the Hornets. After the name change, the path indeed became smoother. Butler this year went all out, and the team entered the upper half.

Currently they rank fourth in the Eastern.

Jordan was very pleased.

He was especially enthusiastic when seeing Fan Xi, although behind the scenes he worried Fan Xi would snatch his GOAT title, but when he saw Fan Xi in public he was still very poised.

Moreover, he wants to discuss cooperation with Fan Xi.

'Jieke, if your team has any more promising rookies to cut, come find me. I'll give you trade draft picks, plenty and ample.' Jordan said: 'Leonard is pretty good; he'll come to the Hornets. I'll give you the best offer in the league.'

Fan Xi shook his head: 'Leonard and Butler aren't compatible; together, neither can succeed.'

'How about Jokic? After his contract expires, let him partner with Butler. One inside, one outside—absolutely a surprise.' Jordan's calculations were so loud even Barkley's grandma could hear.

Butler plus Jokic would definitely enter championship contention; moreover, as they grow, they could even become a new-era OK duo.

Fan Xi isn't stupid either.

He gave Jordan a sideways glance and said: 'Let's still talk about the GOAT thing.'

As soon as Jordan brought that up, he fell silent.

This topic is unfavorable to him.

Now Fan Xi's trend is clear: in hand he has four consecutive championships and four consecutive Finals MVPs, he's only 23, and also has two world championship gold medals.

'You'll find it hard to win the championship this year; the Miami Heat now have Dwight Howard, their strength is not to be underestimated.' Jordan changed the topic: 'Switching four teams to win five straight championships is too difficult; even God wouldn't allow it.'

Jordan's words were clearly pointed.

If the Miami Heat put together such a good lineup and still couldn't beat the Kuaisuan, they might really collapse.

At that point, the league will lend them a hand to some extent.

It's like someone who wins back-to-back regular-season MVPs; even if his third-year stats and team performance are even better, the media and league with voting rights will tend to give the MVP to a slightly weaker rival.

Fan Xi doesn't believe in that superstition.

Then, he suffered a loss at the Miami Meihangzhongxin qiuguan.

The Kuaisuan lost by 5 points.

After acquiring Howard, the Heat added wings like a tiger; their strength is a notch stronger than last season's Finals.

Of course, the Kuaisuan's strength is also more than a notch stronger than last season's Knicks.

Overall, the Kuaisuan's strength is slightly weaker, but Fan Xi's performance in crucial moments often makes up for that slight difference.

But that night, whenever the Kuaisuan gained a bit of momentum, a whistle would blow.

You can't say the referee's call was wrong; it was indeed a foul.

But there are things that could be called or not.

This thing can't be measured.

Young players are easily disturbed by the whistle; their condition often gets interrupted by a sudden foul.

This is the practice they must cultivate.

Fan Xi struggled to lead his team in resistance, but ultimately could not withstand James and Lei A Lun hitting consecutive three-pointers.

The Kuaisuan lost 5 points.

Miami fans shouted: "It's daylight!"

After so many years, they finally won a pivotal head-to-head showdown.

That night, who knows how many people in Miami were celebrating.

As for the Miami players, they too finally released the pressure. They finally swept Fan Xi's team both home and away in the regular season—a sight not seen in many years.

The shadow looming over their hearts dissipated somewhat, and Huo Hua De's arrival brought tangible energy.

They were no longer so afraid of Fan Xi.

After the game, Wei De even said: "We've waited so many years for this victory; we finally achieved the great win we envisioned."

He was extremely excited.

On the other hand, Le Bu Lang Zhang Si remained calm, saying steadily: "Right now, wins and losses don't mean much; the real showdown hasn't arrived yet."

What is the real showdown?

Fans all over the world understand.

It seems there is no one in the West who can stop the Kuaisuan's fans.

Can a team in the East stop the Heat… could the Chicago Bulls do it?

If this year's finals remain the destined battle between Fan Xi and James, the ratings will surely explode!

After all, this has already been the fifth year.

…

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