The Best Point Guard

The New York Knicks’ fireworks lit up the Cleveland sky, but for the countless fans of the Cavaliers and LeBron James, it felt like they’d lost their way home.

A 4-0 sweep!

For them, this was more than just a shocking humiliation. It deeply shook their very faith.

Was LeBron James, the man they considered their future hope, truly up to the task? Could their beloved Cleveland, under James’s leadership, really win the first championship trophy in franchise history?

LeBron James was undoubtedly great. Choosing him with the first overall pick was definitely not a mistake. He brought unprecedented exposure to the small city of Cleveland and led the Cavaliers back to the Eastern Conference Finals. Among all the first overall picks in NBA history, his talent easily placed him near the top.

And yet, they could have had someone even better.

They once had Su Xi.

Since entering the NBA, Su Xi had led his team to the Finals for three consecutive seasons.

If Su Xi hadn’t been traded away, could he have led the Cavaliers to a miracle?

After all, when he was on the team, the Cavaliers had a strong record and were always in the top half of the East. Most importantly, the formidable group of players who left the Cavaliers all respected him immensely. Tony Battie was still following him to this day.

But now, all of that was gone. The glory belonged to New York. The glory belonged to the Knicks. The glory belonged to Su Xi.

No matter what the media reported, in the hearts of the Cavaliers fans, one thing was clear: after this disastrous defeat, LeBron James was no longer worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Su Xi. Su Xi now held a ticket to challenge Jordan’s legacy. Who in the league today could possibly go toe-to-toe with him?

Kobe?

Maybe.

Duncan?

Maybe.

But James’s name was definitely not among them.

This season, James had reached the absolute peak of his career, but now, he had plummeted to its lowest valley. Su Xi had put a lock on his ceiling.

"It feels great to be back in the Finals."

During a courtside interview, Su Xi told the fans across America, "I’m hoping the Dallas Mavericks make it to the Finals. They’re definitely stronger than the San Antonio Spurs and a tougher opponent. Besides, I’ve already beaten the Spurs once. Beating them again wouldn’t give me any new sense of conquest."

"Mark Cuban is a great owner. He tried to recruit me, offered me a huge contract, and promised me a lot of things. He even said that if Nowitzki and I teamed up, we could beat the entire league."

"Now, he’s proven the Mavericks’ strength. But do you know how I rejected them back then? I told them, ’Everything you’ve said sounds great, but I won’t choose you, because you’re too strong.’"

"I chose the Knicks because they were weak enough. I’m a man who loves a challenge. What’s the fun in winning a championship with a superteam?"

"Now, I’ve brought the Knicks to the Finals, sweeping our way through the playoffs."

"I’ve proven myself, too."

Su Xi told the media with immense pride.

But no one thought he was being arrogant.

In professional sports, the strong earn all the respect.

What Su Xi was displaying wasn’t just strength, but overwhelming, exceptional strength.

You couldn’t help but respect him. You couldn’t help but look up to him.

Even if the San Antonio Spurs were unhappy with Su Xi’s comments, they could only be upset in private. Did they dare to bare their teeth?

Popovich was a renowned coach, but would he dare to challenge Su Xi’s statement head-on?

He wouldn’t dare!

He definitely wouldn’t.

That’s why Isaiah Thomas followed up by saying, "We may be shorthanded right now, and we may be without Zach and Eddie for the first two games of the Finals, but do you dare underestimate us because of that?"

"Anyone want to bet 100 USD? I bet we’ll win both games at home!"

Isaiah Thomas was brimming with confidence, like a greedy gambler.

However, his words quickly drew a pointed response.

While out playing golf, Michael Jordan commented, "I don’t think it’s possible for the Knicks to win both home games in the Finals. I’m willing to bet anyone one million USD on it."

Jordan was a very wealthy man.

He wanted to use his money to shut up his old rival.

Besides, neither the Dallas Mavericks nor the San Antonio Spurs were the Cavaliers. With the Knicks missing two of their big men, their chances of winning were extremely low.

So, he assumed no one would dare to take his bet.

But little did he know, Isaiah Thomas had been waiting for Jordan to step into the fray.

He had been cast as the villain in Jordan’s story for far too long.

He wanted to rise up. He wanted to write his own narrative. He wanted to win this war.

So, he wrote out a check for one million USD on the spot. He told the reporters, "If we don’t win both games at home, I will donate this one million USD to a charitable foundation in China to help build and improve basketball courts for rural schools."

With that statement, Isaiah Thomas had declared war directly on Jordan.

Furthermore, Thomas added another line: "And if we win, and a certain someone doesn’t make good on his boast, I will also donate one million USD to the charitable foundation in China—in the name of the God of Basketball, Su Xi."

Those two sentences caused an absolute explosion.

It was the equivalent of getting right in his face and taunting him.

Not only did it put Jordan on the spot, but the sheer class of the gesture completely outmaneuvered him.

It had sealed off virtually all of Jordan’s escape routes.

If the Knicks won both home games, Jordan would not only be forced to donate, but he’d also lose face in the process.

He had intended to just talk some trash and walk away, but now, not only had his attempt to show off failed, he was about to suffer a major loss as well.

One had to admit, Isaiah Thomas seemed to have recently mastered *The Art of War* and the subtleties of ruthless cunning. With this single move, he had left Jordan with no way out.