Chapter 490: James and Kobe on the Same Team

The day after the World Cup ended, 

China's men's basketball team returned to the embrace of their motherland with honor, and the moment they won the championship also marked the rise of China's men's basketball.

From then on, no one dared to say that China was just a small-ball country, as they also stood at the top of the world in big-ball.

Li Jiajia waited at the airport with flowers to welcome Wade Dong.

"My dear wife!"

Wade Dong gently hugged Li Jiajia.

He dared not use too much force on Li Jiajia now, or the baby in her belly would kick him.

"Big Yao" stood by and said, "Brother Dong, I've prepared a celebration banquet. Let's have a good celebration tonight."

"You guys go ahead and celebrate."

Wade Dong shook his head firmly and said, "I need to go home and spend time with my wife." ✬✰✹

"Are you still under your wife's thumb?"

"Big Yao" teased.

Wade Dong raised his eyebrows, "There's nothing shameful about that."

Li Jiajia found out she was pregnant in mid-September. Counting back the days, she got pregnant in August. After their marriage, the couple had been immersed in love for a long time, and it was normal for their love to bear fruit.

"Little Wade, do you prefer a son or a daughter?"

During dinner, his mother-in-law asked Wade Dong a question.

"This is really hard to answer."

Wade Dong stroked his chin, "I like both boys and girls. If it's a boy, I hope he has a personality like Jiajia, and if it's a girl, I also hope she has a personality like Jiajia."

"Why is that?"

"Because Jiajia is the most perfect person in this world~"

"Ah..."

Li Jiajia blushed at Wade Dong's sudden cheesy words, "You're so embarrassing!"

Li Zhen raised his glass, "Little Wade, you're also excellent!"

"Hahaha..."

Wade Hua also started laughing.

Wade Hua and his wife originally didn't want to move out of the old neighborhood, but after Li Jiajia got pregnant, they dropped the idea.

Anyway, the couple had both retired early through connections, and they were currently idle... Li Zhen and his wife still had businesses to manage in Sudong Province. Li Zhen originally wanted to bring Li Jiajia back to Sudong, but Qi Juan refused, insisting on taking care of her own daughter-in-law.

In the end, they compromised, and both families moved into Wade Dong's villa to take care of Li Jiajia.

...

After dinner, Wade Dong browsed the hot news and saw a news item about the Lakers.

Kobe publicly recruited James. Will 23 and 24 join forces?

Kobe had told Wade Dong that he would retire next summer, which was a year earlier than Wade Dong had expected. This might also be related to Wade Dong's rise, making it harder for Kobe to see any hope of winning a championship.

Wade Dong was changing the league.

For example, Duncan announced his retirement this summer, and Wade Dong's teammate Tracy McGrady also retired after winning his second career championship.

But Kobe and James joining forces?

This was something fans wouldn't even dare to think about. Would this cause a fan war?

Kobe haters = James fans, and Kobe fans = James haters.

Of course, this wasn't a strict generalization, but for a small group of fans, it was true. 

"This is going to be exciting~"

Wade Dong couldn't contain his curiosity and called James directly.

"Old James, I just saw a news item and wanted to verify it with you."

"Are you talking about Kobe asking me to join the Lakers?"

"Wow... it seems this news isn't baseless."

"Kobe did talk to me. My contract with the Heat ends next year, and I might not stay with the Heat."

"Do you really want to go to the Lakers?"

"I originally wanted to win a few championships with the Heat and then return to Cleveland to bring a championship to that city. But because of you, all my plans fell through."

"Sorry~~~"

"Haha, but it's also very exciting to be in the same era as a player like you."

"Are you really going to the Lakers?"

"The league changed the luxury tax rules for you, and many teams are preparing to rebuild for you. I talked to the Heat's management, and they have the same idea... Before that, leaving Miami for Los Angeles is also a good thing."

"You'd better think it through... If you go to Los Angeles, you'll have to face me four times in a season."

"I wish I could face you eighty-two times."

"Um... good luck to you."

After talking to James, there was no need to contact Kobe again, as the news seemed to be true.

Wade Dong was changing the league.

He had thought the next season would be boring, but it was also interesting to see James and Kobe joining forces.

...

On the third day after Kobe and James talked on the phone, the Lakers traded James from the Heat for Dwight Howard and four to five role players. Carmelo Anthony also left the team.

The Big Five of the Heat completely fell apart, and nearly half of the teams were preparing to pursue Wade Dong.

...

A month later, Wade Dong and Li Jiajia parted ways at the airport.

Although he was reluctant, he couldn't stand up to his parents' insistence. Wade Hua and his wife refused to let Wade Dong take Li Jiajia to M Country, as they always felt that nowhere was better than China.

With a grandchild on the way, their son became less important.

At the time of departure, Qi Juan said, "You just focus on playing basketball and making money. Don't worry about anything else."

And so...

Wade Dong left his hometown and came to M Country.

"Um..."

As he got off the plane, Wade Dong breathed in the air of M Country, "This feels so lonely, and the air seems so hazy."

Wade Dong's villa in M Country had always been managed by a housekeeper.

Five preseason games had already been played, and Wade Dong had just returned to the team... He really didn't want to leave, or he wouldn't have ignored the team's management.

"Brother Dong!"

As soon as Wade Dong entered the arena, a muscular man greeted him cautiously.

Wade Dong asked, "Are you Dinwiddie?"

"Does Brother Dong know me?"

Being recognized by his idol made Dinwiddie feel proud, "I'm Dinwiddie."

"Good lad, you're very strong!"

Wade Dong patted Dinwiddie's shoulder and left.

Dinwiddie, "???"

Is this how the league's top player compliments people?

"Um..."

Wade Dong hadn't walked far when Dinwiddie caught up with him, stammering and not knowing what to say.

"Do you have something else?" Wade Dong asked curiously.

Dinwiddie said, "It's like this, Brother Dong. I want... I want..."

Green and a few others also walked over.

Wade Dong said, "Just say it. Don't be shy, young man."

Dinwiddie finally gathered the courage, "Brother Dong, I want to challenge you one-on-one."

"You're very brave, young man~"

Wade Dong raised his eyebrows, wondering how Dinwiddie dared to challenge him when he was undefeated in one-on-one challenges.

Dinwiddie really wanted to tell Wade Dong that it was his teammates who told him that it was a tradition for newcomers to challenge the team's leader in the Suns. Rather than waiting for Brother Dong to find him, he thought it would be better to take the initiative and perhaps gain the favor of the team's leader.

"Young man, you should beat Kevin Durant in a one-on-one challenge first."

"Huh???"

Several teammates nearby were all surprised, "Brother Dong, isn't it a team tradition for newcomers to challenge you?"

"This tradition can be changed."

Wade Dong waved his hand, "I'm going to be a father, so I need to be more mature."

Without the system and no talent points for one-on-one challenges, Wade Dong couldn't be bothered to put in so much effort, even though he wouldn't even break a sweat against Dinwiddie.