The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 375 - 195: Su Wan and LeBron, Introspection on Leadership Qualities

Chapter 375: Chapter 195: Su Wan and LeBron, Introspection on Leadership Qualities

When Shaquille O’Neal said those words with a teasing expression on his face, LeBron James immediately thought of that most annoying guy.

These people...

Why are they all like this?

Why do they always have to be at odds with me?

Can’t they stand to see me in the spotlight?

The whole League is just a bunch of "sourpusses"!

LeBron cursed fiercely in his mind.

Back then, Su Wan made him give up ball-handling to focus on defense; now this one wants him to step forward after a loss, admitting it was his fault.

But why should he do these things?

He is the "Chosen One," he is "King," Nike signed a hundred-million-dollar deal with him, invested so much media resources, was it for him to become this kind of player?

No!

He was very clear, Nike needed his brilliance, his perpetual "kingly" image!

Just like in his rookie season, although the team didn’t make the playoffs, he averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, no one blamed him for not leading the team to the playoffs, instead everyone thought his performance at 18 was incredible.

The League gave him the "Rookie of the Year" award, instead of Carmelo Anthony, who had similar stats and made it to the playoffs with his team.

That explained all the problems...

He just needed to perform well, he didn’t have to take any responsibility, wasn’t losing just because his teammates weren’t good enough?

You, Shaquille O’Neal, just try replacing Yao Ming with your current self, and pair me with Kobe, then tell me how could this game be lost?

With so many of his own problems, not reflecting on himself, instead coming to blame me, and even saying I should take responsibility for all future losses, what a damn joke! freēNovelFire.com

LeBron really couldn’t understand Shaquille O’Neal’s thinking.

His heart was filled with anger.

Even more so than when he faced Su Wan!

Because...

I was the one who traded you to Cleveland!

If it weren’t for me, you’d just be "junk" collecting dust on the shelf!

Even if I don’t tell you, you should know that, right?

How do you have the nerve to tell me what to do?

LeBron James stood up abruptly, shot Mike Brown a cold glance, and walked away straight away.

Just like the year he heard Su Wan’s two demands.

If Su Wan were here, he would surely say:

Look, nothing has changed at all!

He is still the same!

Can’t let go of that illusion of the "Chosen One."

Shaquille O’Neal watched LeBron leave, turned his head to Mike Brown, "Mike, looks like I can’t come to terms with him. I might have let you down, no, LeBron must be disappointed with you now, huh? You better start thinking about your future!"

With that, he also left immediately, not giving Brown any face.

Both men returned to the court one after the other, and as the rest of the Cavaliers saw them grow further apart, they knew the two had clashed again.

One point LeBron couldn’t stand was that except for Vallejo, the others didn’t really care about his current mood.

When Shaquille O’Neal greeted them, they responded as usual, not taking him seriously at all.

This damn Cavaliers team!

"Go ask Danny Ferry, am I still the damn City Son of this town?" LeBron James roared over the phone to Bill Duffy.

Bill sighed internally, half a year had passed, and now he understood why LeBron couldn’t beat Su Wan.

The two were of the same age, with Su Wan being about five months younger.

But Su always came up with his own solutions and then handed them over to Bill to deal with.

This one...

Just like a little kid who loses a fight, runs home to tell his parents.

But understanding LeBron’s past, Bill got it.

Since becoming the "Chosen One," anything LeBron wasn’t satisfied with, just a word from him, and somebody immediately solved it for him.

Coming to the Cavaliers, newbie Danny Ferry cleared the way for him by trading away players, even more, making him feel different from other players.

To put it bluntly, overindulgence in a child is actually harming the child!

These years, LeBron has never gone through what a rookie should experience; he is like dog’s tail grass grown in a greenhouse, at the first sign of a storm, his first instinct is to hide back in the greenhouse.

Bill said, "LeBron, I’m afraid Danny won’t trade Shaq..."

"Then he better be ready to lose me!"

Listen to that!

Is that something a mature professional player should say?

Bill patiently explained to LeBron, "This is for your own good. If Shaq is traded, your ability to lead the locker room will once again be questioned, which is very detrimental to your current situation. A trade is not the best option."

LeBron’s expression became hesitant.

How... how should this be handled?

This approach doesn’t work, he’s a bit lost now.

Bill inwardly questioned:

This damn 22?

To say he’s 8 would be the limit.

Such a mature face wasted!

He really wanted to say:

LeBron, how about we try to change, try to fit into the current Cavaliers system?

After all, LeBron’s talent is obvious; if he’s willing to take the time to temper his skills, then even if he’s rough, he’s like an enhanced version of Artest, using his explosive power to fend off defenders and score, which isn’t a difficult task at all.

But he was very clear that LeBron would never do that.

He tried to remain patient, "LeBron, tell me, how did the Cavaliers bring in Shaquille O’Neal?"

Since he could not persuade his client, the only option was to figure out something from someone else.