Chapter 210 - 2013 NBA Trade Deadline.
LeBron James was fuming. Truly fuming.
Kevin Durant couldn't see the bigger picture. If he had, he could have gone on a scoring spree, crushed the Western Conference team, and claimed the All-Star Game MVP!
But unfortunately, Durant wasn't yet the infamous 'KD2nd' (a reference to his reputation for being a second fiddle). And considering LeBron's failure with the Heat's peak Big Three, it was still uncertain if Durant would ever get there.
Clearly, Durant's mindset wasn't on the same wavelength as LeBron's.
However, what frustrated LeBron even more than Durant was the situation on the court.
If he were still with the Miami Heat, having three Heat players on the Eastern Conference All-Star team would've given him absolute control of the ball.
But now, on the Western Conference team, he was surrounded by four players who were all aligned with Han Sen. LeBron couldn't get the ball!
Without possession, LeBron James was like a 'king without his crown'—he was there, but just that: present and powerless.
This was arguably the most humiliating moment of LeBron's NBA career. The once-mighty 'Chosen One' was reduced to running back and forth on the court, utterly sidelined.
Was there no justice left? No law to protect his greatness?
To add insult to injury, Joerger, the Western Conference coach, wasn't exactly merciful. Watching LeBron tirelessly running up and down, he still made him play the entire quarter.