Chapter 265: Finding Kyrie’s Blueprint.
(TL/n: Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! May this year bring you joy, success, and unforgettable moments both on and off the court. Thanks for the support so far, and let's keep enjoying the game together!)
In "history," Zion Williamson's NCAA debut saw him blow out a pair of PG 2.5s with one step, costing Nike a staggering $1.3 billion. Han Sen's opening game indirectly leading to the Grizzlies changing ownership is a fitting parallel.
But transactions involving team ownership don't happen overnight. They involve complex financial, legal, and debt-related processes. For someone like Heisley, who lacks significant financial resources, loans are often part of the equation.
The league will also need to conduct thorough evaluations and approvals, meaning the earliest this deal could finalize would be around the All-Star break. If that happens, the All-Star Game will surely have an added layer of intrigue.
...
As December arrives, the season's first month is in the books. Surprisingly, the most impressive team isn't the Lakers, Heat, or Rockets—it's the Warriors.
Initially projected by Stan Van Gundy to finish 12th in the West, the Warriors stormed through November with a 14-2 record, now standing at 15-2, the best in the league.
This performance not only embarrassed Van Gundy but also humiliated Nike. While Nike focused its offseason strategy on Han Sen and the Cavaliers, Steph Curry, UA's #2 man, completely blindsided them.
With Steve Kerr at the helm, the Warriors boldly promoted Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes to the starting lineup while relegating All-Stars David Lee and Andre Iguodala to the bench. This improved both their starting offense and bench depth, making them the league's deepest team.
At the heart of it all was Steph Curry.
In November, Curry averaged 25.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.9 steals, with a stunning 44% three-point shooting. It earned him his first Western Conference Player of the Month award and demonstrated his unleashed potential as the team's primary focus.