Chapter 201: Allegiance.
Russell Westbrook and LeBron James both realized Han Sen's words were meant to sow discord between them.
But as with the mind games Han pulled on Chris Paul last season, knowing it's a trap and being able to avoid it are two different things.
James couldn't back down; doing so would imply the Thunder was Westbrook's team.
Westbrook, on the other hand, couldn't afford to step aside. The management already favored James, and showing no fight would only hasten his own trade out of OKC.
The two stars found themselves caught in a standoff.
Sensing trouble, Thunder head coach Scott Brooks quickly called a timeout.
Only two minutes into the new season, and internal strife was already brewing—an ominous start for Brooks, whose job was now very much on the line.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies' fans were loving the drama, egging on the tension with loud jeers and cheers.
As analyst Stan Van Gundy had pointed out, the Thunder weren't short on talent.
But their performance hinged entirely on whether their two ball-dominant stars could figure out how to coexist. Judging by the early signs, things weren't looking good.
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