Chapter 846: The Journey Cannot Stop
"They did it! The New York Knicks are NBA champions!"
The broadcast booth could barely contain its excitement.
"This championship means so much to Chen Yan. It is his first since joining New York."
The commentator's voice rose even higher.
"Remember this day. We may be watching the beginning of a new dynasty."
The celebration continued.
"Congratulations to Chen Yan. Congratulations to Yi Jianlian. Hopefully, they can carry this championship momentum into the London Olympics and help the Chinese men's basketball team go even further."
The cameras swept across the court.
"Coming up next, the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy presentation and the NBA Finals MVP ceremony."
There was little suspense about the second award.
"The Finals MVP can almost be handed out right now. Nobody on New York has a realistic case over Chen."
Across the court, several Spurs players had collapsed onto the hardwood.
They had given everything.
Once again, Chen had been too much.
He finished Game 5 with a massive triple double.
48 points.
15 assists.
12 rebounds.
For several moments, Duncan remained seated.
Then he stood.
One by one, he walked over and helped his teammates back to their feet.
That was what leadership meant.
A leader was not only the person standing at the center of the celebration after a victory.
He also had to be the one who pulled everyone back up after defeat.
San Antonio's players eventually gathered themselves and approached New York.
Handshakes followed.
The series had been physical.
Emotional.
At times, bitter.
But when it ended, the Spurs still showed sportsmanship.
They were used to both sides of this moment.
Over the years, San Antonio had won championships.
They had also suffered painful eliminations, including early Playoffs exits.
Strictly speaking, they had never completely dominated the era.
Yet they had been present throughout almost all of it.
Few teams could match their experience.
Even fewer could match their mentality.
Duncan approached Chen.
"You played perfectly."
As always, his words were brief.
Chen nodded.
"Thanks."
Ginóbili came next.
He laughed and shook his head.
"You know what gave me the biggest headache every day?"
Chen smiled.
"What?"
"Trying to figure out how we were supposed to deal with you."
Manu exhaled.
"At least I do not have to think about that anymore."
"You were great tonight," Chen replied. "You put a lot of pressure on us."
Ginóbili shook his head.
"You were better."
He extended his hand.
"Congratulations."
Parker approached next.
"Congratulations, Chen."
He smiled.
"Maybe we will see each other again very soon in London."
Like Chen, Parker would represent his country at the Olympics.
Chen laughed.
"I would rather not."
Parker raised an eyebrow.
"You are too troublesome to play against."
Both men smiled.
Finally, Chen deliberately went looking for Leonard.
The rookie stood quietly off to the side.
Chen stopped in front of him.
"You have a lot of potential."
Leonard looked up.
"I felt your defensive pressure throughout this series."
Chen continued.
"Keep working. You have a bright future ahead of you."
Leonard paused.
"Yeah."
He nodded.
He did not seem to know what else to say.
Somehow, Chen's attempt at encouragement felt like another blow.
After spending an entire series being attacked by Chen, hearing the man himself praise his defense only made the experience feel stranger.
...
During the player interviews, Yi Jianlian was more emotional than usual.
The normally reserved forward could barely organize his thoughts.
"This is unbelievable."
He smiled so widely that he could hardly contain himself.
"It feels like a dream."
"I never thought I would become an NBA champion one day, but we did it."
Yi looked around the arena.
"I want to thank the New York Knicks. I want to thank Chen Yan. I want to thank Coach Nelson for trusting me."
He took a breath.
"This is the most special day of my career."
Another reporter turned toward Chen.
"Congratulations. What did this series mean to you?"
Chen thought for a moment.
"It was difficult."
"Especially tonight."
"We were missing 2 important players because of suspensions, and the game was not decided until the final seconds."
Chen glanced back toward the court.
"If we had not held on tonight, the momentum of the entire series could have changed."
"San Antonio is too experienced. They are very good at recognizing opportunities."
He smiled.
"Fortunately, we won before that became a problem."
Another reporter found Curry.
"Stephen, what are your plans for the offseason?"
Curry pointed toward his injured nose.
"First?"
He grinned.
"I probably need a new face."
The reporters laughed.
Soon, preparations began for the championship ceremony.
David Stern had personally attended the game and would present the trophies.
Before the ceremony started, Chen spoke with him near the stage.
"Commissioner, thank you for coming personally to present the award."
Stern laughed.
"I should be thanking you, Chen."
Chen raised an eyebrow.
"You helped us expand enormously in Asia."
Stern smiled.
"Looking at where the league is now, I could retire with some peace of mind."
Stern was already planning to step down in 2014.
Chen immediately shook his head.
"No, no. It is too early for you to talk about retirement."
Stern laughed.
"I do not think anyone is ready to replace you yet."
Chen was not merely flattering him.
From the memories of his previous life, he knew exactly who would eventually succeed Stern.
Adam Silver.
And Chen had very different opinions of the 2 commissioners.
In his view, Stern had spent decades building and protecting the NBA's image.
Chen believed Silver's later willingness to embrace gambling companies would move the league in the opposite direction.
To Chen, encouraging such close ties with gambling created dangerous questions about public trust and the appearance of game integrity.
That was completely different from the philosophy Stern had followed throughout his time in charge.
Stern smiled at Chen.
"Seeing what you have accomplished does make me want to work a few more years."
He laughed softly.
"But that may depend on whether my health agrees."
Their conversation ended as the ceremony began.
The stage was prepared.
The trophy was brought out.
The Knicks gathered.
Then came the award that had never truly been in doubt.
NBA Commissioner David Stern presented Chen Yan with the NBA Finals MVP trophy.
Chen took it in both hands.
The crowd around the stage cheered.
He had prepared a speech.
Chen lifted the trophy.
"I want to thank everyone."
"The organization."
"The fans."
"My teammates."
"My family."
"You all gave me tremendous support."
Chen paused.
"I also want to thank our opponents."
Several Spurs players looked toward him.
"You brought out the strongest competitive spirit in me."
Then Chen looked directly toward the cameras.
"Before I came to the New York Knicks, I made a promise."
"I said I would bring a championship to New York."
He raised the Finals MVP trophy higher.
"Now I can proudly say that I did it."
Thousands of Knicks fans watching from afar were already crying.
For New York, this trophy had felt almost mythical.
The last time Knicks fans had celebrated an NBA championship had been the 1972 to 73 season.
Now the wait was over.
At the broadcast table, Barkley was practically shouting.
"Completely deserved!"
He pointed toward Chen.
"This was Chen's team, and he carried them all the way to the championship."
Reggie Miller smiled.
"A great shooter leading his team all the way to a title."
He shook his head.
"Chen did something I never got to do."
Kenny Smith looked toward the celebration.
"Starting today, New York has a new superhero."
Curry had been smiling since the buzzer sounded.
But the moment he finally touched the Larry O'Brien Trophy, his expression changed.
Tears came immediately.
At the final buzzer, he had felt pure joy.
Holding the trophy was different.
Everything became real at once.
This was something he had imagined since childhood.
Now it was in his hands.
From the stands, Dell Curry stood with the rest of the family.
"We are proud of you!"
They cheered loudly.
"So proud of you!"
Curry was far from the only player overwhelmed.
For Chen, championship trophies were no longer unfamiliar.
For most of the Knicks roster, this was completely new.
Players took turns holding the trophy.
Touching it.
Raising it.
Staring at it as though confirming that it was real.
Eventually, the entire team gathered together.
Everyone raised the championship trophy for the group photograph.
This moment belonged to all of them.
The New York Knicks were NBA champions.
...
After the ceremony, Nelson announced another major piece of news.
He would not return as New York's head coach next season.
Health had become the deciding factor.
Nelson had actually made the decision during the middle of the season.
He simply refused to announce it while the Knicks were still chasing a championship.
He had worried that the news might disturb the locker room or become an unnecessary distraction.
Now the season was over.
The timing was right.
Chen walked toward him.
"Enjoy life."
Then he wrapped the veteran coach in a long hug.
Their partnership had not lasted very long.
But their bond had become strong.
Nelson understood the kind of player Chen was.
More importantly, he trusted him enough to give him enormous freedom.
Nelson patted his back.
"Keep taking the Knicks forward."
He smiled.
"My job is done."
For most of New York's players, the championship marked the beginning of a long awaited vacation.
Rest.
Travel.
Time with family.
A chance to recover after a brutal season.
Chen did not have that luxury.
The NBA season was over.
His summer was not.
The London Olympics were waiting.
The championship celebration could last for a while.
But Chen Yan's footsteps could not stop.
…..
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