The next day, Han Sen arrived at the gym a little earlier than usual, just like he always did.
Before long, Jas arrived with Mancillas.
As soon as they saw Han, they walked straight toward him.
"This is my trainer, Mike Mancillas. He used to be Tim Grover's assistant. If you need any help, you can ask him," Jas introduced him.
Mancillas imdiately extended his hand towards Han.
Han Sen put down his dumbbells and shook hands with him, then shook his head.
"Thanks, but I know how to train myself."
They had already agreed that he didn't need to improve his off-court relationship with Jas, even if Jas was now seemingly making the first move.
Besides, back when he was in Miami, Han hadn't taken a liking to Grover himself, so why would he care about his assistant?
Moreover, he knew that Jas' entire career wasn't exactly synonymous with the word "technique". So, how reliable could this Mancillas really be?
Jas didn't say anything more, at least Han had said the word "thanks".
There was a basic level of respect, and they had a common goal— that was enough for them.
Hansen finished his strength training earlier and headed to the locker room.
By the ti he arrived, the locker room was already bustling with people.
But when Han walked in, the room quickly quieted down.
As soon as Varejao saw him, he imdiately jumped to his feet and pointed a finger at him. "You still dare to show up!"
However, at the sa ti, Cunningham stood up and stepped in front of Varejao. "So, what do you want to do?!"
"What are you trying to pull? Have you forgotten what this guy did yesterday?!" Varejao was stunned that Cunningham was siding with Han Sen.
After all, he was also one of the guys Han had beaten up yesterday.
"If you can't beat soone on the court, do you really need to cause trouble off the court?" Cunningham raised his voice.
"I admit his strength. And I respect it. Ask anyone in this room— how many of them don't?"
No one responded, but no one denied it either.
No one wanted to respond because what happened yesterday was too humiliating for most of them. But no one could deny Cunningham's words either.
A loss is a loss. You have to accept it.
If you start trouble off the court just because you lost on it, then you're nothing but a clown.
"Let it go, Dante," Han Sen said at this point, motioning for Cunningham to back down.
He used to find Varejao annoying, but now he only found him pitiful.
After all, among the Cavaliers, Varejao was the most loyal to Jas and had the closest relationship with him. Even Shaq knew this.
But when everything happened yesterday, Varejao didn't get a single word of warning.
Just as expected, a lackey has no rights.
At that mont, Jas and Mancillas also entered the locker room.
Seeing Varejao and Han facing off, Jas imdiately dropped his face. "Get back!"
Varejao was confused but didn't dare defy Jas' orders.
Jas entered the locker room and stood beside Han. Then he said, "From now on, anyone who causes trouble for Han Sen will be causing trouble for ."
A simple sentence, but it made everyone in the locker room widen their eyes.
Varejao, in particular, was questioning his entire reality.
What the heck is going on here?!
Weren't they at each other's throats?
Didn't Han Sen humiliate not just the Cavs but especially Jas yesterday?
At this point, everyone really wanted to step outside to see if the sun had risen in the west today!
Seeing everyone's reactions, Jas, as if anticipating it, continued,
"Our only goal this season is the championship. We cannot fail again. No matter what conflicts we had before, they're in the past. Only by working together can we be unstoppable. None of us is as strong as all of us."
Han turned and looked at Jas in surprise. Did he really just pull off that level of a locker room speech?
That genuinely caught him off guard.
But it was understandable. This wasn't an impromptu mont. With the strong team backing Jas, preparing a speech was no big deal.
His speech was effective, and his leadership image grew larger in everyone's eyes.
Forgiving past grievances for the sake of a championship— if that's not leadership, what is?
Han Sen didn't care about any of this. He quietly sat down in his spot. As long as Jas' posturing didn't cause him trouble, he was fine with it.
His thoughts remained the sa as before: focus on getting stronger.
He couldn't be certain if Jas would stay with the Cavaliers after the season, but what he was sure of was that next season, he and Jas would no longer be teammates.
When they et on the court then, every matchup will be like a clash of titans.
If by that ti he isn't strong enough, he really would beco the clown.
After Jas finished his speech, the locker room quickly returned to its usual liveliness.
Shaq started chatting with Han Sen.
During the days when Han was being targeted, Shaq hadn't had an easy ti either.
On the court, Han was the teammate he connected with the best. When he wasn't on the court, Shaq's performance noticeably declined.
Off the court, Shaq and Han were seen as being in the sa camp by Jas. So while Shaq still got along with his teammates on the surface, it was all just for show.
Now that Han and Jas' relationship had softened, Shaq benefited indirectly as well.
He even asked him about his birthday.
When he found out that Han's birthday had just passed, Shaq imdiately said that he would give him a belated birthday gift soon.
Han Sen couldn't refuse such kindness, so he noted it down, intending to return the favor on Shaq's birthday.
Not long after they finished talking, Jas ca over.
Seeing this, Cunningham moved aside to make room.
"Andy isn't a bad guy," Jas said as he sat down. "If you want, I can have him apologize for everything he did to you before."
Shaq, hearing this, was surprised. Was Jas really saying this stuff in the locker room?
"No need," Han Sen shook his head.
Varejao was just following orders. And if he really made him apologize in front of everyone, Varejao would lose face and might as well quit the Cavaliers altogether.
But the most important thing was that Varejao had already been kicked out of the starting lineup by him and Shaq, so he no longer posed any threat.
As long as the guy didn't stir up more trouble, it was fine.
"I'll thank you on his behalf," Jas said with a big brotherly air.
Han smiled. As he looked at Jas, he wasn't sure how to describe his feelings at that mont.
Maybe this is just Jas.
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