noveldrama
Chapter 902 902 548 Forever Incomprehensible_2
Chapter 902 902 548 Forever Incomprehensible_2
?Chapter 902: Chapter 548 Forever Incomprehensible_2 Chapter 902: Chapter 548 Forever Incomprehensible_2 This could possibly be a good thing for Kobe. If James doesn’t see the Lakers as his future, then Kobe may have a chance to live out his dream of being a Laker for life.
Conversely, if James decides to make his mark in Los Angeles, then Kobe, who hasn’t proven himself since leaving Shaquille O’Neal, wouldn’t enjoy the same extraordinary privileges he had in his previous life with the Lakers. Given his character, he’s also destined not to settle for playing second fiddle to anyone else.
Ultimately, James notched a triple-double with 30 points, Kobe was slightly inefficient, making only 11 of 25 shots for 28 points, Hamilton was silenced, and while the role players did perform, they couldn’t compare to the Supersonics.
Yu Fei led his team to a straightforward victory over the Lakers with his stats of 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists.
After the game, a reporter asked him, “The Lakers seemed to have barely put any pressure on you, why do you think that was?”
Yu Fei bluntly replied, “Ask the guy who went 11 for 25.”
If losing to the Mavericks marked the start of a challenging December schedule, then subsequently defeating strong opponents like the Spurs and Lakers proved the strength of the Supersonics.
They weren’t the arrogant champions that the outside world perceived them to be.
Expectations from outsiders for their Christmas showdown with The Big Three from New Jersey were mounting.
Just before that day arrived, an organization that had faded from media and fans’ attention suddenly burst back into the news.
The players’ union. Those following the NBA dread seeing them, as their activity signifies the risk of a league shutdown.
This time, however, the news about the union was due to internal strife.
During the lockdown, Billy Hunter, the executive vice-chairman of the players’ union, accused the then-chairman Derek Fisher of collusion with the employers to betray the collective interests of the players’ camp.
Although Fisher defended himself vigorously, Hunter, leveraging his years of connections and prestige within the union, quickly solidified claims of Fisher’s betrayal without evidence and removed him through an internal democratic vote.
Afterward, Chris Paul, extremely enthusiastic about union affairs, became the acting chairman and was elected as the official chairman after the lockdown, ushering in the era of the Cannon Chairman.
Hunter thought that the Cannon Chairman, as someone young, would be easy to control and wouldn’t turn against him like Fisher, who had a complex network built from years fighting within the league.
Unexpectedly, the Cannon Chairman started with an “internal self-purification” within the union.
Through a series of investigations, reviews, and audits, the Cannon Chairman discovered that Hunter not only arranged for his relatives to work at the union but also repeatedly misused union funds for unclear purposes. Thus, in the most recent internal meeting that Hunter did not attend, the Cannon Chairman struck unexpectedly showing his findings and then announced the suspension of Billy Hunter’s various duties.
Fisher immediately praised Paul’s action on Twitter, “Chris did exactly the right thing; from today, the players’ union belongs to the players and will no longer serve as a tool for self-interest outside of the system.”
Hunter stated, “I have not received any notification of dismissal.”
“If true, it indicates that the procedures followed by the NBPA in recent weeks have been extremely unsettling,” he said in a statement. “In the days and weeks ahead, my legal team and I will carefully review the actions taken and statements made against me in my absence. I will gather evidence to prove how certain outcomes were pre-determined.”
Subsequently, Paul drafted a list filled with current superstars and texted it to them.
Paul hoped these individuals would accept the position of vice-chairmen to help him manage the union.
Yu Fei was among those invited.
The Cannon Chairman believed that Yu, with his unparalleled influence over both players and employers and demonstrating a tough stance early in labor disputes, had proven his loyalty to the players’ camp to be reliable. If someone like him could join the players’ union, he would definitely strengthen its core.
Yu Fei responded, “Thanks for the invite, but no.”
Paul then extended a second invitation, even offering to let Yu Fei take over his position as chairman.
Paul believed that having someone with Yu Fei’s significant influence as the union chairman would benefit the entire players’ camp immensely.
“I will stand with you. At least for now,” but I don’t want an extra job,” was Yu Fei’s response.
Finally, Paul said that Yu Fei could refrain from being involved in daily operations, only attending for major decisions.
“Do you want me to be a decision-maker who isn’t responsible, like Michael Jordan?”
Both Paul and the union were sincere, but Yu Fei adamantly refused.
This disappointed the union’s high ranks, but they could only respect Yu Fei’s wishes.
Yu Fei didn’t want to get involved in the union’s murky waters, mainly for three reasons: he’s not skilled at palace intrigue; the union’s waters are too deep and murky; he must preserve the possibility of changing his stance in the future.
Not being skilled at palace intrigue isn’t hard to understand; he has always used his genuine strength to get what he wants, but can you say that what happened to Fisher, publicly voted out, or Hunter, blindsided by the Cannon Chairman in his absence, was done openly and honestly?
He didn’t believe Fisher was innocent. As union chairman, he voluntarily gave up 7% of the profit-sharing — effectively saving team owners $10 million every year for the next five years. How could such a stance not be suspected?