Chapter 1 A Grievance

Wronged, weak, pitiful, and helpless.

In July, in this season belonging to Leo, Shaquille O'Neal's chest felt as if ten thousand needles were piercing it.

Although in the Finals that had just ended not long ago, O'Neal himself admitted that his performance was not quite satisfactory.

However, as the first interior player in NBA history to achieve a triple-double average in the regular season...

You know, in order to secure a lucrative contract that would allow him to enjoy his twilight years after his contract year ended, how hard did he, Shaquille O'Neal, fight throughout the entire 05/06 season?

No!

You don't know!

And you don't care!

"Wuwuwu, Su, my passion for basketball is almost completely exhausted.

No... no matter what Pat says next, I will never accept the Heat's offer!"

That day, when Su Feng, who was far away in Las Vegas, received a call from O'Neal...

Even though they were thousands of miles apart, Su Feng could feel the despondency of this fat-headed fish through the phone.

And at this moment...

Although Su Feng wanted to tell O'Neal that Miami would always be his home...

But after sighing deeply, Su Feng said to O'Neal, "Then Shaq, what are your plans next?"

And upon hearing this...

O'Neal was extremely anxious!

Because no matter what, in O'Neal's view, he had no reason to leave the Heat when they were about to achieve a three-peat.

But...

Judging from Feng Ge's tone just now...

Feng Ge, have you stopped loving your adorable Shaq brother?

"Su... I actually... I actually don't necessarily need such a high salary.

But this offer of five million per year...

To be honest, I find it a little unacceptable," O'Neal said to Su Feng on the phone.

And Su Feng, who had originally thought that O'Neal had made up his mind to leave the Heat...

Also heard a glimmer of hope in O'Neal's words.

However...

This glimmer of hope had a hint of helplessness and tragedy.

Because can you imagine...

A player like O'Neal, who valued face so much, actually had to ask a player who was, in terms of seniority, actually younger than him, in order to stay with the Heat in a dignified manner?

Don't be fooled by O'Neal often joking that Su Feng is his older brother...

But Su Feng knew very well that it was only because O'Neal didn't want to miss the last opportunity of his career.

After learning some details of his contract renewal from O'Neal, Su Feng knew...

The reason why Riley dared to offer such a price was because Riley was certain that O'Neal had no other choice this summer but to stay with the Heat.

Because O'Neal was not Chris Webber after all...

Therefore, in Riley's view, O'Neal, who valued face so much, would never choose another team at this time.

And after understanding O'Neal's personality, given Riley's reputation for being meticulous and calculating...

Frankly, you can't blame Riley for being heartless.

Because this is the NBA.

Was Riley's approach problematic for the Heat?

You must know that Su Feng will be entering his contract year next year.

Therefore, it was impossible for Riley to offer O'Neal a long-term contract.

Because in Riley's eyes, doing so would lock up the Heat's future.

So, including when he signed Stackhouse before...

On the surface, when communicating with Su Feng, Riley kept regretting that he didn't sign Stackhouse for a few more years back then.

But actually...

If Riley had been prepared to offer Stackhouse a long-term contract from the beginning, how could he not have had a contingency plan when negotiating with Jeff Schwartz?

Wake up...

This is Pat Riley.

A man nicknamed "The Genius".

In Su Feng's eyes, you would need to bring in at least Jerry West to compare with him in terms of team building.

Therefore, no matter which angle you look at it from...

Riley's choices this summer were all maximizing the Heat's perspective and interests.

So...

The sigh that Su Feng let out earlier.

Was also sighing...

He and Riley were destined not to be able to work together until retirement.

Admittedly.

Riley's choice was very correct.

However, in Su Feng's view, in the world of the NBA...

If you always choose to prioritize interests above all else, then how could Su Feng guarantee that he wouldn't become the sardine abandoned by the Heat at the age of 35 or 40?

So, since Riley chose to prioritize the Heat's interests this time.

Then why couldn't Su Feng prioritize his personal interests?

Could it be that if he switched teams, he, Su Feng, wouldn't have the confidence to continue challenging for the NBA championship?

Not long ago, in the 05/06 season review program, Barkley had actually reminded the Heat and Riley.

That is...

For Philadelphia, Toronto, Miami...

It was never these cities that made Su Feng.

It was Su Feng who made these cities.

But unfortunately...

In Riley's meticulous calculations, what he needed to consider most at the moment was how the Heat would continue to build around Su Feng after achieving a dynasty.

Instead of giving these meritorious players who had built the dynasty with Su Feng a decent contract.

"Miami is really planning not to pay a single super luxury tax, huh?"

In addition, unlike when he left the Raptors back then, if Su Feng wanted to leave Toronto back then because Toronto's geographical location was relatively remote, which was not conducive to his future development...

Then now, before his "Decision 2" arrives, he has personally experienced what it means to see the world's coldness from O'Neal's experience.

And on the other end of the phone, after not receiving a reply from Su Feng for a long time, O'Neal, who mistakenly thought that Su Feng was really planning to abandon him from the Heat's Galácticos and let him return to the ocean, also hurriedly revealed his bottom line to Su Feng, "Su, I'm not unable to accept a one-year short contract...

But...

But at the very least, I hope that this one-year short contract can be worthy of my value."

Look how anxious this kid is!

On the phone, after pausing for a moment, Su Feng said to O'Neal, "Shaq, are you willing to trust me one more time?"

And upon hearing this, after nodding like a chick pecking at rice, O'Neal immediately said, "Of course I am, Su!

Not just once, but even ten times, a hundred times, I am willing to believe you!"

"That's good.

Listen to me, because I am currently in Las Vegas preparing for the upcoming World Championships...

So after I officially marry Britney in September, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer at that time." Looking at the sun hanging high in the sky outside the window, Su Feng, who had rarely made promises to others besides Kobe since entering the league, promised O'Neal on this day.

"Shaq, I still have that same sentence...

From the moment you decided to assist me, we were destined to accomplish great things together in the NBA!

Trust me, it won't be one, and it won't be two.

We will definitely win three consecutive championships together, and then leave this inhuman city together!" Before hanging up the phone, Su Feng added in order to comfort O'Neal's severely wounded heart.

And at this moment...

O'Neal was stunned for a moment.

Because if his understanding was correct...

What Su Feng meant just now was...

If he doesn't play, then he won't play either?

"I said long ago that Su Feng will always be my Shaq O'Neal's big brother!"

That day, looking at his agent, who couldn't even negotiate such an easy matter, O'Neal said with a solemn expression.

And in Las Vegas, after hanging up the phone with O'Neal, Su Feng didn't hesitate any longer.

Because no matter how much he liked Miami's sunshine and beaches...

Since this wasn't home, then Su Feng naturally had to find a new home for him and his three children who were about to go to school.

Oh...

That's not right.

Because according to Comrade Su Weiguo's intention, he wanted his three children to grow up under the red flag in the future...

Therefore, Su Feng couldn't use the excuse of school district housing basketball this time.

However, because Su Feng's current priority was to lead the Chinese men's basketball team to defend their title at the World Championships in Japan, and to achieve a three-peat next season...

Therefore, Su Feng also had plenty of time to think about how to make his "Decision 2".

And...

Su Feng believed.

At that time, there would definitely be countless teams extending olive branches to him at the first moment.

In short.

No matter how pleasant the previous cooperation with Riley was...

No matter how much the Miami fans loved him...

In Su Feng's view, after the Heat failed to grasp the way of redemption that he left for them this summer...

At this moment...

It was time to start the "Wandering Iron Plan Two".

……

In July, the news that O'Neal had not yet completed his contract renewal with the Heat also caused a lot of dissatisfaction among Heat fans.

Of course, contrary to what O'Neal thought, that public opinion would be on his side...

Because Riley knew better than him how to use the weapon of public opinion, on the Internet, Heat fans were almost unanimously scolding O'Neal for being a greedy vampire.

"What? 5 years, 100 million? My God, Shaq might as well just rob a bank!

I don't think even the Knicks management would agree to such a price!"

"I said long ago that whether it was leaving the Magic back then or having disagreements with the Lakers before, it was enough to prove how greedy this great shark is.

To be honest, in my eyes, he is no different from Patrick Ewing back then!"

Miami...

Looking at the comments from fans on the Internet, O'Neal, who had finally been calmed down by Su Feng, was now really furious.

Because since Riley could offer him a quote of 10 million a year before...

Then why couldn't he allow his agent to offer the Heat a counter-offer of 5 years, 100 million in the subsequent negotiations?

Can you bargain, but I can't raise the price?

What kind of logic is that!

And in Las Vegas...

Su Feng knew very well that using public opinion to put pressure on players was a common trick used by most teams in the NBA.

For example, in Su Feng's memory, when the Spurs were renewing Leonard's contract in the future.

What Leonard's feigned injury, he would rather let the team die than stand up and carry the team.

Or what a relative of Leonard was frantically offering prices to the Spurs, as if they were sure that the Spurs' management was honest.

Actually...

Whether you are a fan of Leonard or a fan of the Spurs...

Isn't the fact that I don't want to play for you anymore, I want to leave, a right that the player should have?

Admittedly, you can accuse Leonard of not communicating well with the Spurs on some things when he left the Spurs.

But please don't completely imagine the Spurs as victims.

Because in the NBA...

Isn't the NBA's rookie contract system enough to protect the interests of these small teams?

Since the 98/99 season lockout, according to the new NBA rookie contract system, a rookie, including his rookie contract and his first maximum salary contract...

As long as your parent team is willing, then your parent team can completely exploit this player for eight to nine years.

And in these eight to nine years, as a player, even if you don't like this city, you have to fight for this city.

Therefore, the meaning is...

I have worked for you for eight to nine years, I want to go somewhere else to breathe some fresh air, and you still want to pretend to be wronged and pitiful in the end, making it seem like it's all my fault?

Indeed.

In the NBA, everything cannot be generalized.

After all, in the NBA, there are also players like Fisher who can manipulate the team in the palm of their hand.

But in Las Vegas...

When Su Feng saw Riley using this method to put pressure on O'Neal, a veteran who had worked so hard for the Heat in the past two years...

On this day, Su Feng also decisively cut off his last thought of staying in Miami.

"I think everyone should remain calm before the final result comes out.

Because as far as I know, Shaq and the team are still discussing further details of the contract renewal.

I have always liked a saying that capitalists use to fool workers into working hard:

As long as you are willing to work hard, you will eventually get bread and milk.

So everyone, after Shaq has made his efforts, shouldn't he have the right to negotiate with the team at this moment?"

In Su Feng's previous life, the phrase "If you haven't lived a good life, it must be because you haven't worked hard enough" was a classic saying among capitalists.

Therefore, this time, Su Feng also changed his perspective to guide the fans.

That is...

Since capitalists have always liked to fool you into getting more rewards for your labor before you work for him...

Then why can't I take the reward first and then work?

996 (working from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week), right? 007 (working 24/7), right? Overtime, right?

Then you should pay me first, boss!

The meaning is, aren't you making millions every minute by relying on hundreds of millions of workers working hard for you?

The meaning is, does Shaq O'Neal not have any credit for the Heat's achievements today?

"Su... you don't have to do this, I'm not worth it."

And in Miami, when O'Neal learned that Su Feng had strongly supported him in the interview...

For a moment...

O'Neal really felt that being able to make Su Feng his big brother in this life was the luckiest thing in his life.

And on the phone, upon hearing this, Su Feng also said to O'Neal, "Shaq, a person cannot stand without trust.

Since I said that I would give you a satisfactory answer.

Then I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

Late July.

After Su Feng officially spoke out in support of O'Neal, in Miami, the situation of public opinion once again underwent a huge change in silence.

Antonio Davis, who was about to step down as the president of the NBA Players Association this November, supported Su Feng in an interview, saying: "I completely agree with Su's point of view.

In the NBA, no matter how outrageous a player's offer is during negotiations, it is the player's own freedom.

Because if we don't reach an agreement, wouldn't we be the ones who suffer in the end?"

Look...

What is the art of speaking for the old comrades?

On the 27th, after Davis focused on repeatedly emphasizing the word "freedom" during the interview...

For a time, the American fans on the Internet who were still scolding O'Neal for being a vampire immediately "soberly" realized the seriousness of the problem.

And it is worth mentioning that Jordan, who had already transformed himself into a capitalist at this time, also said in an interview on the 27th: "In the NBA, players are always greedy.

Don't ask me how I know, because I also came from being a player."

In Su Feng's previous life, no matter how you criticized the Jordan, you had to admit that this guy was indeed much more "straightforward" than most people.

Because when he was a player, Jordan would speak from the player's point of view.

And at this moment, because Jordan had become a capitalist, his remarks also resonated with many league owners for a time.

Just like what Su Feng remembered...

From then on, Jordan also lost the favor of an entire generation of players.

"What is called greedy? Don't we bring enough revenue to this league?"

"It's good that the recognized first person in basketball is Su...

Seriously, at this moment, I am so glad that I have never liked Michael Jordan."

And on the Internet, after Davis and Jordan spoke out one after another...

In New York, looking at the completely skewed public opinion, Stern knew that if he didn't come out to stop it, then by the time of the next labor-management negotiation, the conflict between the players and the capital that had arisen this summer was likely to cause the future labor-management negotiation to completely spiral out of control.

"Mark, you know what, I have a feeling."

On this day, after giving instructions to the media that had maintained a long-term good cooperative relationship with the NBA, Stern turned to look at his assistant Mark and said meaningfully.

"What feeling?" Upon hearing this, Mark looked at Stern in confusion.

"That is, the trouble that has been plaguing me in recent years...

Is likely to be solved again, just like back then." Patting Mark on the shoulder, Stern smiled.

"David, are you talking about..." After thinking for a while in his mind, Mark then revealed a look of surprise.

Although on this day, Mark didn't know how Stern could foresee the future.

But the thing that was about to happen in the near future...

Made Mark have to admit.

In this league, Stern and that person were the best partners in NBA history.

And.

None other than them!

……