Basketball System: Hate Makes Me Unstoppable

As the days ticked down, the anticipation for the Christmas Day matchup grew among fans.

This year's Christmas game was set to be an all-time classic, drawing more attention than ever before.

The allure lay in its historical context. Back in the Stern era, numerous attempts were made to engineer the "23 vs. 24" matchup, which often fell short. The league had to settle for highlighting it during Christmas games instead.

In those years when LeBron James was still on the Cavaliers, Christmas Day felt like an annual Cavaliers vs. Lakers showdown.

"23 vs. 24" was a cash cow that brought in massive viewership—no shame in that.

Fast forward to this year, the matchup was once again Cavaliers vs. Lakers. However, this time, the iconic "23" and "24" were on the same team, facing off against the league's reigning kingpin, Han Sen.

What made it even more compelling was the setting: Cleveland's home court. LeBron's return to Cleveland was bound to be a spectacle fans wouldn't miss.

But just as the buzz was building, Kyrie Irving's one statement blew up the anticipation for the game into an all-out firestorm.

It all started after Irving's game-winning shot against the Bulls during a post-game interview.

In that interview, Kyrie remarked, "If anyone can bring success to Cleveland, I believe Han Sen is the only one."

Given the context—Irving scoring the game-winner off Han Sen's assist—the comment wasn't inherently controversial.

However, it immediately triggered LeBron's fanbase.

To be fair, they were already harboring grievances.

This season, the LeBron-Kobe duo was a polarizing experiment. When the team won, LeBron and Kobe fans united against external criticism.

But when they lost, things got messy. Neither fanbase wanted their idol to shoulder the blame.

Given their sheer numbers, the odds of extreme fans instigating conflict were high. And with tensions running high, it didn't take much to ignite arguments.

Yet with LeBron and Kobe now teammates, neither side could fully escalate, resulting in a simmering frustration reminiscent of a dysfunctional couple unable to break up.

So, when Kyrie's comments surfaced, LeBron's fans were quick to retaliate on social media.

"If LeBron returned to the Cavaliers, they'd have a Big Three with Kyrie and Love. Cleveland would be the East's top seed and a title favorite. LeBron is the only player to have led Cleveland to the Finals—he's the one who can bring success to Cleveland."

The word "if" is the most tantalizing thing in the world, especially for those dissatisfied with their current reality.

Outnumbered by Kobe fans in debates, LeBron's fans often resorted to pondering these "ifs" as a coping mechanism.

And the idea of LeBron returning to Cleveland to lead the team to glory was an enticing narrative for them to latch onto.

What began as a social media debate soon spilled into mainstream conversations.

During an open practice, a reporter asked Kyrie about the "what if" scenario.

Kyrie's initial response was measured, not giving much away: "That scenario doesn't take other people's perspectives into account."

But when pressed further, Kyrie's trademark bluntness came through.

"I don't want to play with LeBron. Nobody wants to play with LeBron."

Boom. That statement was a bombshell dropped squarely onto LeBron's fanbase.

Kyrie was immediately swarmed with criticism online.

"Who even is Kyrie Irving? The so-called 'team leader' of a franchise that got two #1 draft picks in three years?"

"A player who's never made the playoffs mocking an MVP-level player? What gives him the right?"

"Kyrie is the worst franchise player in NBA history, barely an All-Star propped up by Nike's marketing."

To be fair, Kyrie's statement was low on tact.

Though not untrue, it was controversial coming from a Nike-backed star in the same camp as LeBron.

This felt like betrayal within the family.

Later in December, Han Sen attended the grand opening of a Chinese restaurant in Cleveland.

Since his return to the city, several Chinese companies followed suit with investments, bringing more locals and businesses into the area.

The restaurant opening attracted a crowd of fans and reporters, who couldn't resist asking Han about Kyrie's remarks.

"Everyone has the freedom to express their opinions," Han replied, giving nothing away.

What he didn't add was, "But they'd better be ready to face the consequences of their words."

Whether Kyrie was prepared for that fallout remained to be seen, but his boldness was undeniable.

As the situation escalated, reporters continued pressing Kyrie on whether he regretted his words. Kyrie's response was characteristically defiant:

"No."

It was clear that Nike likely had a word with Kyrie, perhaps suggesting he soften his stance.

But Kyrie's rebellious streak wouldn't allow that. The more he was told to back down, the more determined he became.

And why not?

Nike's roster of rising stars was thin, with only Kyrie, Paul George, and Anthony Davis in the spotlight. George had just suffered a season-ending injury, and Davis was a big man—a harder sell.

If they pushed Kyrie too hard, he might defect to Under Armour, which would be a PR nightmare for Nike.

Kyrie's stance, however, put LeBron in a tough spot.

LeBron couldn't respond too aggressively, as it would hurt his image to stoop to verbal sparring with Kyrie. Plus, Nike wouldn't allow it in such a pivotal season.

But staying silent could be interpreted as tacit approval of Kyrie's comments.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, LeBron eventually gave a carefully crafted response to the media:

"Listen, you can love me or hate me, but one thing you must do is respect me. Respect the way I approach the game and the sacrifices I've made for this sport."

It was a diplomatic approach, reminding Kyrie to show respect while avoiding escalation.

Kyrie, however, had one final mic drop moment. He posted on social media:

"I don't respect anyone, not even Jordan, because I'm here to win."

This was a famous quote from Reggie Miller, but Kyrie's timing left no doubt about its intended target.

Kyrie's idols were Kobe and Han—both scoring phenoms. LeBron was never in that category for him.

This saga only fueled the hype for the Christmas Day game, which was shaping up to be an all-out war.

...

Snow began to fall lightly over Cleveland on Christmas Eve.

Han Sen drove to the airport to pick up Anjali. Ever since her return from visiting China, her desire to travel had been sparked. Over the past few months, she had been flying across the United States, exploring one destination after another.

But as winter settled in and the weather turned colder, her adventurous spirit cooled as well.

Upon parking his car, Han noticed a crowd of fans gathered at the airport entrance.

Not long after, a group of people emerged, causing a stir among the crowd. Coincidentally, it was the Los Angeles Lakers arriving in Cleveland.

Typically, teams playing in Christmas Day games would wait until after Christmas Eve to travel, but the distance from Los Angeles to Cleveland was considerable—farther than even Milwaukee, a city LeBron had complained about during the preseason. Coupled with the unpredictable winter weather, the Lakers opted to arrive a day earlier.

The presence of fans wasn't surprising either. Setting aside the LeBron loyalists still residing in Cleveland, Kobe Bryant had supporters in every city.

Han rolled down his car window and glanced toward the commotion.

Kobe, smiling as always, stopped to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. LeBron, on the other hand, walked straight to the team bus with a stern expression, accompanied by his teammates.

His serious demeanor could have been due to Kyrie Irving's recent comments—or perhaps the fact that he wouldn't be spending Christmas Eve at home this year.

If it weren't for the backlash he faced on social media over his preseason complaints, LeBron might have been muttering right now: "Why do we have to fly to Cleveland on Christmas Eve for a Christmas game?"

After a while, Han got out of the car as Anjali's flight landed.

Soon, Han spotted Anjali stepping out of the arrivals area.

She was bundled up in a thick, fluffy coat. Cleveland, like most northern U.S. cities, was bitterly cold in winter—not quite as freezing as Milwaukee, but close enough.

"Finally!" Anjali exclaimed, her face lighting up as she saw Han.

Han grinned and opened his arms, catching her in a warm hug. She kissed him on the cheek before slipping her arm around his and pulling him toward the car.

"I missed you," she said with a small sigh, leaning into him.

"Missed you too," Han replied. "How was the trip this time?"

Anjali launched into a lively recount of her travels, sharing anecdotes about the people she met and the places she visited.

By the time they reached the car, her stories had shifted to how much she had been looking forward to seeing him again.

As they settled in, just as Han was about to start the engine, Anjali leaned over with a playful smile. "So, here's the thing—I'm planning to stay with you for a bit this time."

Han blinked, caught off guard. "Stay with me?"

"Yeah. Just for a while," she said, her tone casual but her eyes searching his reaction. "I feel like I've been all over the place lately, and I need to slow down. Plus, I want to spend time with you. If that's okay, of course."

Han hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, why not?"

As they drove off, Han couldn't help but reflect on the idea. He'd never really experienced living with someone long-term. The closest thing to it was his childhood with his family in his previous life.

But maybe this was the right time to find out if they could make it work. Physical attraction fades, but it's how you live together that really matters.

...

The next morning, Han woke to find Anjali's side of the bed empty.

He stretched and wandered into the living room, where he found her practicing yoga, her movements slow and fluid.

He didn't interrupt, instead heading to the kitchen where breakfast awaited him. Among the usual dishes, he noticed a heart-shaped egg on his plate.

Han smirked. It was obvious who had added the extra touch.

As he ate, he couldn't help but glance back at Anjali. Watching her move through her routine while he enjoyed a homemade breakfast felt... different.

For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of normalcy, a sense of home.

After finishing his meal, he joined her in the living room as she wrapped up her session.

"I've got practice today," he said. "What's your plan?"

"I was thinking of visiting the zoo," she replied, rolling up her yoga mat. "And, of course, I'll come to the game tonight."

"Sounds good. I'll have Rondo arrange a bodyguard for you," Han said.

"Bodyguard?" Anjali raised an eyebrow.

"It's Cleveland. Not as rough as Memphis, but I'd rather not take chances," Han explained.

"Fair enough," she said with a shrug.

After a quick kiss, Han grabbed his gear and headed out to practice, leaving her to her plans.

As he drove off to the arena, Han found himself thinking about the morning. Something about seeing Anjali there, casually going about her day in his space, had left him feeling... grounded.

And for the first time in a long while, the idea of building something lasting didn't feel so foreign.

...

At practice, Coach Malone's methods extended beyond tactics. He adopted unique training drills, including a three-point shooting exercise where players had to face interference from big men. This approach contributed to the Cavaliers' league-leading three-point percentage.

Malone also frequently mixed up teams during full-court scrimmages, avoiding traditional divisions of starters, bench players, and reserves.

Today, he placed Han with the second unit and pitted him against Kyrie Irving and the starters.

The game was close at first, but as the scrimmage progressed, Han locked Kyrie down on defense and then took over offensively, leading a personal scoring spree that decided the contest.

With no need to conserve energy for a full game, Han could dominate easily when he wanted to.

"Boss, you're more fired up than usual today!" Cunningham remarked as he sat next to Han during a break.

Han turned to him with a bemused look.

"You usually save this kind of intensity for actual games," Cunningham added.

Han chuckled in response.

In his final season with the Grizzlies, he had donned a metaphorical mask to become the villain, pushing the team's training intensity to match the rigors of real games.

But back in Cleveland, he had taken off that mask.

Living behind a facade was exhausting, and that method often strained relationships with teammates.

Success might make teammates grateful, but no one truly enjoys being bullied by a peer.

After Cunningham's comment, Han couldn't deny it. Maybe it was because of Anjali's presence—or perhaps because tonight's opponent was the Lakers.

Although the media frenzy had been centered on Kyrie and LeBron's feud, people hadn't forgotten Han's offseason remarks about the Lakers.

...

The Quicken Loans Arena was packed that evening.

As Han walked into the arena, he noticed plenty of conspicuous signs among the Christmas-themed decorations:

"LeBron × Han √,"

"We never needed the traitor LeBron,"

"I don't respect you, LeBron,"

"23+24 < 77."

Four years had passed since LeBron's infamous "Decision," yet those memories, once dulled by time, had resurfaced with Han and former Cavaliers players returning, and Kyrie reigniting the flames with his comments.

Time may dilute emotions, but it doesn't erase memories.

It was no wonder LeBron's expression at the airport had been so grim—he likely anticipated tonight's hostile reception.

Though some Cleveland fans still adored him, there were far more who didn't, contrary to his earlier claims of being hated by only a few.

After exchanging a glance and a blown kiss with Anjali in her front-row seat, Han shifted his focus to the game.

The Lakers were introduced first as the visiting team.

Players like Anderson Varejão received cheers from fans, despite his loyalty to LeBron, as he had remained with the Cavaliers and fought hard for the team after LeBron's departure.

But when LeBron was introduced, he was greeted with deafening boos rivaling those of his first return to Cleveland after "The Decision."

Despite expecting it, the combination of boos and vehemently waved signs left LeBron visibly upset.

Conversely, when Han Sen was introduced as the Cavaliers' final starter, the arena erupted in cheers far louder than the earlier boos.

This Cavaliers team didn't need LeBron anymore—they had Han.

As Kyrie had said, in the eyes of most Cleveland fans, Han Sen was the only one who could truly lead them to success.

-End of Chapter-