Barkley understood the feeling.
In those days, he wanted to leave the Phoenix Suns for a championship.
The Phoenix fans felt the sa way.
The Suns’ managent did everything in their powers to send him where he wanted to go, to the Rockets.
In Phoenix, he experienced what it was like to be the "favorite".
So, when looking back on his career, he felt no guilt for not bringing a championship to the Philadelphia 76ers, a city that never really considered him a superstar.
But he did feel regret for not bringing a championship to the Suns.
Those were truly a great managent team and fans.
He didn’t regret spending the peak of his career with the Suns.
In the faces of the Pacers’ fans, he saw a reflection of the Suns’ fans.
Bill Walton added, "Looking at it now, the Pacers’ fans clearly understand the decision Su Wan has to make and they appreciate Su Wan’s next actions. In fact... if I were a Pacers’ fan, I would respect Su Wan’s decision. That’s 5 championships in 6 years! Su Wan has done enough for this city!"
In this tender mont, Su Wan took off his jersey and handed it to Kobe who was by his side.
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Kobe was taken aback, thinking Su Wan wanted to exchange jerseys.
Su Wan waved his hand: "I heard that every ti you lose, you buy one of my jerseys. Why bother? I’ll give you this one. It might be my last ga for the Pacers!"
Kobe wanted to swear, but upon hearing Su Wan’s last remark, he silently accepted the jersey from Su Wan’s hands.
If Su Wan really left, that jersey would be worth a fortune!
It could fetch at least $100,000 at an auction.
It was a grand gift!
Su Wan was willing to give it to him, Kobe was sowhat surprised.
But it was Su Wan’s next words that almost floored Kobe: "Kobe, how could I have been so successful if it weren’t for you?"
All three championships were taken from Kobe.
Who else besides Kobe has the right to this jersey?!
Luckily, they had already had the chance to train together during the sumr. If it had been just after the finals last season, Kobe might have just thrown the jersey back.
Now?...
He gripped it even tighter!
Shaquille wanted to say sothing, but when he saw Kobe turn to leave the mont he approached, not giving him a chance to speak.
O’Neal watched his back and called out, "Kobe, I’m retiring after this season..."
Kobe hesitated for a mont, then ultimately turned back to look at Shaquille O’Neal.
In that mont, he rembered the good tis with Shaquille O’Neal, and after missing three consecutive shots in the playoffs, how Shaquille had comforted him, patting his head.
Ti flies.
In the blink of an eye...
Was it ti for Shaquille to retire?
He wanted to say sothing.
But then he saw Shaquille suddenly grin and shout, "So you can’t seek revenge anymore, and I’ve beaten you twice in the finals, Kobe!"
Dammit!
Not a single good one among them!
With his emotions already stirred, Kobe walked away even more irritated.
Now he couldn’t even think about wanting a "Shark" jersey!
The roar of the crowd reached its climax as David Stern walked to the center stage with the O’Brien Cup.
It was the Pacers’ fifth championship in six years, and also the fifth in their history, lifted by Su Wan amidst the cheers.
Under the spotlight, golden confetti fell from the giant hanging balloon as Su Wan held up the O’Brien Cup, showcasing it to the entire crowd. The image was frozen in that mont.
Erin described the photo as follows: "The greatest superstar in Pacers’ history, a player unlikely to appear again in the next thirty or even fifty years!"
This wasn’t an exaggeration, as even in the 60-year history of the NBA, only a prodigy like Su Wan, as brilliant as Su Wan, had achieved such a feat in his first six years of his career.
Soon, David Stern had another envelope in his hand.
On it was written the last suspense of the season, the Finals MVP.
And this...
Actually, it was no surprise:
With an average of 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.75 assists, 2 steals, 1.25 blocks per ga, a shooting percentage of 51.2%, a three-point shooting rate of 42.3%, and a free throw percentage of 90%!
Besides Su Wan, who else could it be for this year’s Finals MVP!
No surprise here!
As David Stern announced it loudly, Su Wan was awarded the fifth Finals MVP trophy of his career.
It should have been a ti for cheers, as it had been every other year, but this ti, when Su Wan took the microphone, the whole place fell silent, all eyes expectantly on him, waiting for him to speak.
Su Wan looked around, and finally, bringing the microphone to his lips, he hesitated, his gaze returning to the audience, seeing all the expectant faces, he simply said one word:
"Thank you!"
Then, Su Wan, facing the entire crowd, simply waved his hand.
Although it was just a simple gesture, it made so Pacers fans unable to hold back their tears.
And who knows who started it, but soon the stands were filled with chants:
"Su Wan!"
"Su Wan!"
"Su Wan!"
...
This mont, too, was etched into eternity.
Yet, at that mont, an "uninvited guest" ran onto the court, showing off his T-shirt to Su Wan. The front read:
2010, co back!
And the back said:
Cleveland needs you!
"Fuck off!"
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