The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 601 - 294 "This Will Be My Last Season" - Kobe

By mid-September, after a long off-season, training camps for the teams began one after another.

The first day of training camp, not only did the Cavaliers have full attendance, but this time there was no need for Garnett to spout trash talk, the players’ enthusiasm in training was at its peak.

They had been holding back all summer, just waiting for the new season to show their stuff.

Irving’s playmaking abilities still needed to be developed in actual games, but his defensive commitment was stronger than ever.

This change was more inspiring than any trash talk.

Fans often complain about why their team’s role players are not active, which is largely related to the attitude of the team’s core players.

When your core players only care about scoring points for themselves, even giving up defending to have the stamina to score, it’s no wonder the role players lack motivation.

A team’s strength is not only tied to their paper stats, because the same person can perform differently when paired with different team leaders.

Hansen’s team seemed to have some sort of mysterious attribute that made every player fully committed, and it was all because Hansen led by example as the core.

Or, as East University folks would say, "The train runs fast all thanks to the engine."

Now that Irving has stepped up as the second-in-command with the same attitude, the Cavaliers had no choice but to be motivated.

Hansen was very pleased when he saw this because it would greatly enhance the Cavaliers’ defensive efficiency for the new season.

It’s a well-known truth; defense wins championships.

Of course, what made him even happier was the change in Jokic’s physique.

During his trip to Africa, Jokic did not stop his weight loss plan.

He had now completed the plan, dropping from 300 pounds to about 250 pounds, which is around 113 kilograms.

This weight was most suitable for his height.

This included muscle gain as well, and although his lateral movement was still a weak spot, making him somewhat wary of pick-and-rolls, his mobility in the post and his ability to compete had significantly improved compared to before.

Moreover, soon after the start of training camp, he quickly hit it off with Garnett.

This was a stark contrast to his initial reservedness.

Or maybe he was always an outgoing player, just initially hampered by the language barrier and unfamiliar environment upon arriving in the United States.

With Hansen’s help, he adapted here faster than expected.

Once a person gets used to their surroundings, they gradually return to being themselves.

As a result, before training camp even ended, he had already become the team’s "entertainment" player.

Of course, one thing remained constant.

The guy always arrived just in time for training and was always the first to leave after it ended.

The guy’s sincerity was notable, and perhaps that was also an important reason why he was liked by his teammates.

By the end of September, as the training camps of the different teams were drawing to a close, Media Day—a day established by Stern—arrived.

Media Day usually takes place after the end of training camps and before the preseason starts.

Its main purpose is to promote the new season through the interaction between the media and the teams.

You see, for the lower-profile teams, the media might not pay attention to them all season.

On Media Day, players take official photos and from management to players, all need to give media interviews.

For rookies like Jokic and Powell, Media Day is a very interesting affair.

Jokic, for instance, during the photo shoot, tried his hardest to bug out his eyes and show his goofy side.

During his interview, he openly expressed his fondness for Cleveland, saying the city’s slow pace and comfortable environment reminded him of his hometown.

And when asked about his expectations for his rookie season, he even said he would do his best to wave his towel from the sidelines.

This statement caused a burst of laughter among the reporters.

However, for Hansen, being in his seventh season in the league, Media Day no longer felt all that exciting.

During the interview, the reporters, as usual, asked about his goals for the new season.

Following his usual routine, he always mentioned the championship at this time.

But this time, he gave an answer with a more targeted impact:

"Hang No. 77’s jersey in the sky of American Airlines Arena."

Who are the Cavaliers’ opponents in The East for the new season?

The Raptors? The Hawks? The Bulls? The Wizards? Or maybe the Celtics?

All of these were competitors, but none were the primary ones.

Because the only real pressure for the Cavaliers came from the Heat Team.

It wasn’t to say that just because the Cavaliers beat the Heat last season, they were stronger than the Heat.

Putting aside the fact that last season involved some luck, this season the Heat, with Riley taking the field himself, had a completely different fighting spirit.

So, Hansen had to find a way to outdo them psychologically.

And what could be more effective than that statement?

With just one sentence, Hansen ratcheted up the rivalry between the Cavaliers and the Heat.

However, this Media Day, the most attention-grabbing moment wasn’t Hansen’s statement.

At the same time, the Lakers held their Media Day.

The Lakers were one of the most highly anticipated teams for the new season, attracting so many reporters the room could barely contain them all.

In such a crowded scene, James also displayed his overflowing confidence:

"You will see a better me this season than at any point in the past."

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