The Decision III.
"This was an incredibly difficult decision—leaving the Lakers, leaving my brothers—but man, how do you say no to Steph? Nobody can. Especially not when Klay is there too.
We spent the entire summer training together, talking about everything.
You all know this—Steph and I, we're both kids from Akron.
I thought about it for a long time, but in the end, I just couldn't pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The chance to play alongside the greatest point guard in history?
It's something you don't say no to.
And here's a little secret for you—Steph and I were born in the same hospital, Summa Akron City Hospital.
I like to call it 'MVP Hospital.'
Oh, and Draymond? He told me I can do whatever I want there.
Man, this is exciting as hell. I can't wait for the season to start."
This was a clip from a Brian Windhorst exclusive interview that had just been posted online.
It was officially pushed by major platforms—instantly going viral.
Of course, that was just the start.
Later in the interview, Windhorst pressed LeBron about the difference between Steph Curry and his former co-star, Dwyane Wade.
"Man, this is too tough. Too tough!" LeBron burst into laughter.
"You gotta understand, D-Wade—he's got unmatched speed. He's a cheetah ready to kill at any moment.
But Steph? Man, Steph's shooting is something else.
He can take shots you wouldn't even think about.
Honestly, I can't pick between them.
But I'll tell you this—Steph? He's a born winner.
He's always hungry. Always bloodthirsty.
It's contagious.
When you play with him, you can't help but be inspired.
You push harder. You get crazier.
Man, it's just a beautiful thing."
Windhorst followed up:
"And what about Kevin Love?"
LeBron barely hesitated.
"Kevin Love? I wish him the best in LA!"
And just like that—it was official.
LeBron James had left the Lakers.
And his next stop? The Golden State Warriors.
---
David Griffin and Isaiah Thomas stormed into Han Sen's place first thing in the morning, dropping a phone in front of him.
Han stared at the screen.
Watched the interview.
And blinked.
"You sure this isn't AI-generated?"
Griffin frowned.
"AI can do this?"
Han snapped out of it.
Right.
This wasn't the AI-driven future he had left behind when he transmigrated.
But still—this didn't make sense.
LeBron? Choosing the Warriors?
For years, he'd seen fans joke about this on forums.
"LeBron to Golden State confirmed."
"Curry carrying LeBron to a ring."
But that was just trolling.
Yet now?
LeBron had exiled himself to Golden State.
Was he... his own biggest hater?
Griffin mistook Han's stunned silence for worry.
"This makes them our toughest opponent next season.
LeBron and Steph in a pick-and-roll? That's going to destroy defenses.
Their skillsets fit perfectly together."
Han stayed quiet, letting Griffin continue.
"LeBron might not be as dominant as before, but he's still top five in the league.
And don't forget—Golden State actually tried to sign him before.
2010 and 2014. Both times, LeBron's camp rejected them."
Isaiah Thomas added, nodding.
"They've always been interested in him."
Han finally snapped back to reality.
And suddenly—it all made sense.
Han thought back to Team USA scrimmages.
LeBron thrived when paired with elite shooters and motion offenses.
In a five-out system with space to drive and elite playmakers around him?
He was unstoppable.
And right now?
LeBron wasn't old yet.
At 31, he was still in his physical prime.
And unlike his late-career stint with the Lakers in Han's past life?
This version of LeBron still had a consistent motor.
Golden State's offense played at light speed.
They had Draymond to anchor the defense, Iguodala to lock down the perimeter.
And unlike in Miami or Cleveland?
LeBron would have the best shooting he'd ever seen in his career.
If he truly committed to being a secondary star?
This version of the Warriors could be even deadlier than the KD-era team.
But the real question was—would he?
---
Han frowned.
If this was old LeBron, the answer was no.
He had never accepted a true second option role.
But now?
LeBron had exhausted every path.
Miami didn't work.
Oklahoma City didn't work.
New York didn't work.
Los Angeles didn't work.
Kevin Durant didn't join him.
Every door had shut.
His only option left?
Golden State.
And for once?
Maybe he had no choice but to submit.
Han clenched his fist.
Just yesterday, he had relaxed when Durant chose Boston instead of Golden State.
But now?
His fire was back.
"LeBron already fulfilled his promise to Cleveland.
Now it's time for him to fulfill the other one."
Not one.
Not two.
Not three...
Han grinned.
"I'll make sure he keeps that promise."
---
LeBron had deactivated his social media months ago.
So this interview was clearly strategic—a way to get ahead of the backlash.
But it didn't work.
Not even close.
Lakers owner Jim Buss lost it.
He went full Gilbert Arenas mode on Twitter, publicly calling LeBron a traitor.
"If he had told us sooner, we could've signed DeRozan!
Now we have nothing!"
Lakers fans? They were livid.
Especially Kobe fans.
From their perspective?
Kobe had spent the last two years mentoring LeBron.
For what?
To pass the torch.
To make LeBron the new face of the Lakers.
To restore their dynasty.
And what did LeBron do?
Ate the food. Took the lessons. And left.
Kobe had barely been retired for a few months—
And LeBron had already abandoned the Lakers.
The backlash was insane.
Some extreme Kobe fans even threatened LeBron if he ever stepped foot in LA again.
But LeBron didn't care.
He was already in Oakland.
And if his Cleveland departure taught him anything—
It's that time heals all wounds.
As long as you win.
Meanwhile?
Warriors fans were celebrating.
Oracle Arena had massive banners of LeBron in a Golden State jersey.
Their official Twitter dropped a bold statement.
"Let's make history. Again."
73 wins?
They weren't satisfied.
And with LeBron in the mix?
They had one goal.
Dominate.
Again.
Han Sen smirked.
"Enjoy it while you can, LeBron."
"Because you're still not winning."
---
As the NBA moratorium period ended, teams scrambled to finalize their free agency moves.
And at the center of the biggest disaster?
The Los Angeles Lakers.
Their response to LeBron's departure?
A four-year, $65 million deal for Timofey Mozgov. A four-year, $72 million deal for Luol Deng.
A roster that was supposed to feature LeBron, Durant, and Love—
Had now turned into Luol Deng, Mozgov, and Love.
Lakers fans?
Absolutely miserable.
And when the Warriors eventually played in LA next season?
The atmosphere would be something else.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, were also making their final adjustments.
Kevin Garnett had announced his official retirement—signing a ceremonial 10-day contract with the Timberwolves before stepping away from the game.
In response, Cleveland brought in Nene Hilario on a one-year, $2.9 million deal for added frontcourt depth.
At 34 years old, Nene was no longer a starter, but he still averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds last season with the Wizards.
Big men decline fast.
Carlos Boozer had already vanished from the league overnight.
But Nene?
He still had something left to give.
Cleveland also added Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) to replace the outgoing Dahntay Jones.
---
Cavaliers' 2016-17 Roster
PG: Kyrie Irving | Deron Williams | Dejounte Murray
SG: Han Sen | JR Smith | Norman Powell
SF: PJ Tucker | Mike Dunleavy | Metta World Peace
PF: Tristan Thompson | Dante Cunningham | Spencer Hawes
C: Nikola Jokić | Nene Hilario | Dewayne Dedmon
As for Derrick Jones Jr., Cleveland had only signed him to a training camp deal.
Making the final roster? Would be tough.
With free agency winding down, Han turned his focus toward organizing Cleveland's annual training camp.
But just as he settled into his summer routine—
A seismic announcement came from San Antonio.
---
"After 19 seasons in the NBA, Tim Duncan has officially announced his retirement."
The news broke quietly.
No farewell tour.
No emotional final game.
In classic Duncan fashion—the announcement wasn't even made by him.
The Spurs posted it for him.
It was the complete opposite of Kobe Bryant's exit.
Kobe had gone out in the most painful, unforgiving way possible—tearing his Achilles in the Finals, still trying to push the Lakers toward an impossible comeback.
His body had given out before his will ever could.
Tim? He just walked away, as if he had never been there in the first place.
One had left in a blaze of glory, the other like a whisper in the wind.
The end of an era.
With Duncan, Garnett, Stoudemire, and Kobe all stepping away from the game, the league was officially turning the page on a legendary generation.
NBA players across the league sent their tributes.
Han Sen, seeing the news, simply posted:
"Farewell, the greatest power forward of all time."
Simple. No extra words.
Because what else needed to be said?
---
As the NBA world processed Duncan's retirement, the league made another major announcement.
The NBA had signed an eight-year jersey sponsorship deal with Under Armour.
UA would replace Adidas as the league's official uniform provider.
This was the result of Han Sen's Finals run.
And beyond that?
It was a clear signal of a power shift.
For the last five years, every NBA champion had been a UA-sponsored team.
Nike still had big-name players, but Under Armour's influence was now undeniable.
Even the incoming rookie class reflected this trend—
Over 60% of the top prospects, including Brandon Ingram and Jaylen Brown, had signed with UA.
And at Han's training camp?
Both Ingram and Brown were in attendance.
---
While Han welcomed the new UA rookies to camp, one familiar face was missing.
Kyrie Irving.
He wasn't skipping camp—he was filming the latest installment of Uncle Drew, a Nike-backed production.
Winning a championship had supercharged Nike's investment in Kyrie.
And now?
He was front and center in their newest marketing campaigns.
Nike had even placed him side by side with Kevin Durant on their latest promotional materials.
A clear message—they were grooming Kyrie as the future face of the brand.
Han didn't mind.
Kyrie had earned his moment.
Besides, Han had his own work to do.
Before camp officially began, Han pulled up his Hater System shop.
One item stood out.
[The Tear-Drop] (Tier 1) – 1.6 million Hater Points
→ Significantly enhances floater variations, arc control, and finishing over shot-blockers.
→ Works additively with [Giant Slayer] (Tier 2), amplifying your ability to finish in traffic.
Han exhaled. 1.6 million points.
Steep, but necessary.
His floater game was already solid—[Giant Slayer] had seen to that. It helped him finish over shot-blockers, compensating for size mismatches.
But Game 3 against Miami in the ECF still haunted him.
Pau Gasol read his move and sent his floater into the third row.
That shot should've gone in.
That shot needed to go in.
He clenched his jaw and tapped [Purchase].
A subtle warmth spread through his fingers. Not magic—more like an afterimage of movement that hadn't happened yet.
Han grabbed a ball, pushed off, and let a floater fly—
Clank.
The ball bounced hard off the back rim.
From the sideline, Chris Rondo smirked.
"That was ugly as hell."
Han wasn't surprised.
This wasn't some instant buff. The system raised his ceiling, but the grind was still his own.
He dribbled back out and tried again. This time, the ball had a softer arc. Still off, but… better.
A few more weeks of training?
That shot would be unstoppable.
---
Han wasn't just sharpening his offense.
He was also refining his defensive footwork.
During their hospital conversation, Kobe had broken down his philosophy behind elite on-ball defense.
"Move your puppies."
That was the Mamba's advice.
Short, rapid steps—like a dog shifting on its paws, always ready.
Glide through screens like a sheet of paper slipping through cracks.
Against the Warriors' elevator screens?
This would be crucial.
Now, it was time to put it to the test.
---
As Han was grinding in training camp—
Golden State was introducing LeBron James.
It was his first public appearance since the Finals loss.
Standing on the podium, he held up his new No. 23 Warriors jersey—grinning ear to ear.
"Draymond is my brother. When he found out I was coming, he immediately offered to give up No. 23 for me.
"I told him, 'No, man. I'll wear No. 6 instead—out of respect for you.'"
"But he insisted. He said I deserved the number."
Classic LeBron.
Playing up the brotherhood angle.
But then?
He dropped a surprise.
"Draymond will wear No. 35."
"Because that's the number he was drafted with—35th overall."
A symbolic move.
But Han?
When he saw the news—he just laughed.
Kevin Durant didn't join the Warriors.
Yet somehow, Golden State still had a No. 35.
The irony was too good.
Han leaned back in his chair, smirking.
"Well, well, well. If we're facing them next season, I definitely need to talk to Draymond about this."
The Warriors were stacking up talent.
But Han?
He wasn't backing down.
---
First Take – Skip Bayless vs. Stephen A. Smith
(ESPN's debate table is on fire.)
Skip Bayless: (leaning forward, slamming the desk)
"THIS IS THE MOST PATHETIC MOVE I HAVE EVER SEEN IN NBA HISTORY!
LeBron James—a man who has spent his ENTIRE career talking about doing things 'the right way'—just joined a team that won 73 GAMES two seasons ago! The team that has already dominated the league! And we're supposed to respect this?"
Stephen A. Smith: (rubbing his temples, exhausted already)
"Skip… listen… I understand where you're coming from. I really do. But let's not act like LeBron is just ring-chasing. He's going to the best team, yes, but—"
Skip: (cutting him off, furious)
"YES, HE'S RING-CHASING! THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE'S DOING!
If Kevin Durant had joined this team, you would've lost your damn mind! But now it's 'strategic'? It's 'a good move for his career'? The hypocrisy is INSANE!"
Stephen A.: (pausing, blinking rapidly)
"…I never said that."
Skip: (grinning, pointing at producers)
"ROLL THE TAPE!"
(Producers immediately cut to a 2016 clip of Stephen A. calling the idea of LeBron ever joining the Warriors 'the softest move in NBA history.' The studio erupts in laughter.)
Stephen A.: (facepalming, muttering)
"I really need a vacation."
---
Inside the NBA – Shaq, Chuck, Kenny, and Ernie
(TNT's crew watches LeBron's Warriors press conference highlights.)
Charles Barkley: (already shaking his head, disgusted)
"This is a joke, man. I don't wanna hear no more GOAT talk about LeBron. This man done hopped to every good team in the league!"
Shaq: (laughing)
"Chuck, stop hatin'. You joined the Rockets to win, too!"
Chuck: (offended, pointing at Shaq)
"THAT AIN'T THE SAME THING, SHAQ! I didn't join no 73-win team with three All-Stars! This man got Steph and Klay! And Draymond! AND A CHAMPIONSHIP COACH! C'mon, man!"
Kenny Smith: (grinning, stirring the pot)
"Well, Chuck, technically, the Warriors lost in the Finals, so they weren't champions last year—"
Chuck: (grumbling, glaring at Kenny)
"Man, shut up, Kenny."
Ernie Johnson: (calmly, turning to Shaq)
"Shaq, does this move actually make the Warriors unbeatable?"
Shaq: (serious now)
"Listen, they got the talent. No question. But basketball ain't played on paper.
Steph needs the ball. Draymond needs the ball. And LeBron? He's the biggest 'I need the ball' guy in the NBA. Who's sacrificing?"
Kenny: (nodding)
"That's the key. KD fit because he was a scorer who could play off-ball. But LeBron? He's used to running the show. Are they really gonna just let Steph take a backseat?"
Chuck: (laughing, shaking his head)
"Nope. Too many egos. Too much drama. MARK MY WORDS—this ain't gonna be as easy as people think!"
---
Twitter Reactions – Trending Topics
(As expected, social media explodes the second the move is announced.)
Trending #1: "LeBron to Warriors"
Trending #2: "King Chasing"
Trending #3: "Warriors Superteam"
Trending #4: "GOAT Debate Over"
@MartialG0D: "So when KD almost joined the Warriors, people lost their minds. But now that it's LeBron, everyone's fine with it? LMAOOO the double standards."
@CouchPotatoDandy: "LeBron + Steph + Klay + Dray? IT'S OVER FOR THE LEAGUE."
@secrecy_7977: "Kobe spent his whole career grinding in LA, and this dude just ran away the second things got tough. Smh."
@MakarHunt: "LeBron can run wherever he wants. Han Sen is still coming for his head." (80K likes, Han Sen follows the account.)
---
Back at camp, Han scrolled through the news.
The Warriors.
LeBron.
The media explosion.
He saw the reactions.
The outrage. The debates. The memes.
And then?
He turned his phone off.
None of it mattered.
Because in the end?
It was all just noise.
What mattered was the court.
What mattered was next season.
And Han was already grinding.