NBA: Warrior godfather.

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These words were like dynamite. The reporters, like great white sharks smelling blood, pounced:

"What's your opinion on Stephen Curry?"

Monta Ellis thought for a moment and said:

"He's a very good player with great scoring ability, and he's helped the Warriors win a lot of games... But unfortunately, he and I have similar traits, and we can't coexist. I hope he keeps improving."

"???"

All the reporters were stunned. They had been expecting a declaration of war, but this was the result?

Shouldn't he be showing disdain for Curry and claiming to be the Warriors' core player? Why was he encouraging the younger generation in what might be his final year?

"Any more questions? If not, I'll head out."

Seeing that the reporters weren't pressing further, Monta Ellis assumed they were done and walked off, leaving the journalists exchanging bewildered looks.

What they didn't know was that Monta Ellis was a straightforward and quiet person. He might not have been happy about being traded by the Warriors, but he wasn't going to take it out on Curry.

In Liam's previous life, after the Warriors drafted Curry, Monta Ellis publicly told the media he didn't like Curry and didn't want to play alongside him, believing their styles clashed and made them unsuitable partners.

But Curry worked hard to adapt to Ellis' style, holding the ball less, playing more off the ball, and showing his goodwill multiple times. This eventually changed Monta Ellis' perception, and the two developed a good relationship.

Given Monta Ellis' character, it was unrealistic for the journalists to expect sharp, witty remarks from him.

Reluctantly, the reporters turned to Liam Gonzalez, hoping to extract something valuable.

Liam didn't allow Warriors players to conduct pre-game interviews. He handled all media interactions himself before every game.

This was part of the "media control" policies Liam implemented at the Warriors to minimize public and media interference with his players.

In his previous life, Liam had seen too many players, including many stars, negatively impacted by public opinion and media pressure.

Public opinion can't kill someone, but it can hurt them emotionally, affecting their mindset and performance on the court. Liam didn't want this to happen, so he tried to cut off contact between his players and the media.

His philosophy was that players were responsible for playing well and avoiding unnecessary distractions off the court.

The reporters knew Liam's character, so when he arrived, they launched detailed questions:

"Coach Liam, the Cavaliers' current record is 9 wins and 1 loss. Monta Ellis is averaging 22 points per game, while Big Z and Varejao have been underwhelming. Do you think the offseason trade with the Cavaliers was a loss?"

Liam calmly replied:

"It wasn't a loss. I'm very satisfied with Big Z and Varejao's performance. And don't forget, we also got three draft picks."

"But with LeBron here, those picks are worthless," a journalist from ESPN Deportes interjected.

Liam smirked.

"Are you so sure LeBron will stay in Cleveland?"

The reporter was momentarily stunned before responding decisively:

"Of course! LeBron is the pride of Akron and Cleveland. He'll only play for the Cavaliers!"

"Really? Let's wait and see." Liam smiled again, stood up, and left.

The ESPN Deportes reporter refused to back down:

"LeBron promised he'd never leave Cleveland! You're questioning his loyalty to this city!"

Liam paused, turned back, and smiled:

"Nothing is absolute. Let's see if you're still this confident in a year."

With that, he walked away.

Except for the local Cleveland journalist, the rest immediately pulled out their laptops, typing furiously to send out the news.

Liam had revealed significant information in just a few words. He genuinely believed James would leave the Cavaliers after this season!

Some had speculated about this, pointing out that James hadn't renewed his contract with the Cavaliers, but few believed it.

However, Liam was the head coach of the Warriors and held three of the Cavaliers' draft picks for the next five years. His words carried weight.

While none of these reporters truly believed James would leave the Cavaliers, Liam's comments were enough to stir controversy—and that was all that mattered.

Controversy drives traffic. Upon returning, they'd sensationalize the possibility of "James leaving the Cavaliers" and fuel debates among fans.

The reporters thought as they typed: Coach Liam is brilliant. He never wastes words on uninteresting remarks.

In 2009, the internet was already well-developed in the United States, and Liam Gonzalez's comments spread rapidly.

By the time LeBron James heard about the news from his agent Rich Paul, it was already late afternoon, just three hours before the game.

Frowning, James picked up his phone to call Rich Paul:

"Rich, do I need to respond?"

He had been fully focused on preparing for the game, and the unexpected news left him momentarily unsettled.

Rich Paul's voice was steady but firm:

"LeBron, before the game, a reporter will definitely ask you about this. You have to firmly deny it. Remember, your response needs to be unwavering. Don't let Coach Liam's words affect you. The game is the most important thing right now."

James took a deep breath and said slowly:

"I get it. As long as we win this game, his words will backfire."

After exchanging a few more words with Rich Paul, James hung up, but he couldn't shake the unease in his heart.

What no one knew was that James had always harbored the idea of leaving the Cavaliers deep down inside.

When he was first drafted by Cleveland, he had been thrilled to play for his hometown team. Yet, there had always been a vague sense of regret.

Deep down, James believed that only storied franchises like the Lakers or Celtics truly matched his level of talent.

Before joining the NBA, James had been a die-hard Cavaliers fan. But as a player, the considerations became far more complex.

At that time, everyone viewed him as Cleveland's chosen one. Nike marketed him as the "Hometown Hero," and even the Cavaliers winning the draft lottery seemed like fate aligning.

Driven by powerful forces, James naturally joined the Cavaliers as the No. 1 pick, but he buried his true feelings deep within.

As the years went by and Cleveland failed to secure a championship, James's thoughts of leaving grew stronger.

"If I were in a big market city, would I have won a championship by now?" he often wondered.

This offseason, he had purposely delayed renewing his contract. His plan was to leave the Cavaliers at the end of the season.

If the Cavaliers won a championship, he would have fulfilled his promise, breaking the team's curse. Even if he joined another team, no one could say anything.

But if Cleveland failed to compete for a championship this year, then staying would only prolong his frustrations.

Still, he couldn't figure out how Coach Liam seemed so certain that he would leave Cleveland.

James thought back to the offseason trade between the Warriors and the Cavaliers, where Liam had demanded three draft picks.

The more James thought about it, the more he realized how calculated Liam's moves were. Could he have foreseen this? The thought unsettled him further, and he decided to focus solely on the night's game. Winning was the only way to quiet the noise.

That evening at 8 PM, the Quicken Loans Arena stood brilliantly lit, the brightest spot in Cleveland's downtown skyline.

On game nights, the arena injected life and energy into Cleveland's otherwise quiet and gloomy nights, making the city feel less like a ghost town.

The game between the Warriors and Cavaliers was broadcast live across the United States, with ESPN Deportes covering the action and providing commentary for Hispanic audiences.

Initially, no one had paid much attention to this matchup. A mid-season clash between an Eastern and Western Conference team rarely raised eyebrows.

But the Warriors' sudden rise—third in the Western Conference with a 6-3 record—made this game a showdown to watch.

In their first nine games, Stephen Curry had emerged as a phenomenon, averaging 27.9 points, 9.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. He ranked first in league scoring and third in assists, shocking the basketball world.

These were superstar numbers. No rookie had put up stats like this in years. Suddenly, all eyes were on the Warriors, and this game turned into a battle of "Super Rookie vs. Superstar."

As the game's opening tip drew near, Liam Gonzalez walked over to the Cavaliers' bench to shake hands with Mike Brown.

With a grin, Liam said, "Mike, I hope you'll take it easy on us tonight."

Brown, surprised, responded, "Liam, you always have something up your sleeve, don't you?"

Meanwhile, analysts on Movistar Deportes discussed the Warriors' surprising starting lineup. Liam had replaced Anderson Varejao with Wesley Matthews, citing "back tightness" for the change.

Commentator Diego Martinez questioned the decision:

"How do the Warriors plan to defend LeBron James with only one true big man, and a thin one at that, like Biedrins?"

His colleague, Nate, countered with enthusiasm:

"This is Liam Gonzalez we're talking about. He's playing to the Warriors' strengths—speed and shooting. By removing Varejao, he's adding another perimeter threat. This could catch Cleveland off-guard."

As the analysts debated, the opening tip went up, and Biedrins won it over Shaquille O'Neal. The Warriors wasted no time.

Curry brought the ball up the court quickly. Spotting a lagging O'Neal, he passed to Biedrins, who drove in for a thunderous dunk.

"That's how you start a game!" Nate exclaimed. "The Warriors are setting the pace early, and Cleveland needs to catch up."

The game was on, and Liam Gonzalez's tactical gamble had only just begun.

End of this chapter

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