"The Kings are absolutely unstoppable this season."
On the Basketball Night talk show, the hot topic was naturally the Sacramento Kings—the most dominant team in the league right now.
"The Kings opened the season with an eight-game winning streak, taking down Western Conference powerhouses like the Warriors and the Spurs."
"And they've been wrapping up almost every game by the end of the third quarter."
The guest analyst picked up the conversation.
"Judging by the level of dominance the Kings are showing, I'd say we're witnessing something historic. Commentator, what's your take on this team?"
"The scariest thing about this Kings squad," the commentator began without hesitation, "is their ridiculously deep roster."
"Look at their starting lineup—it's a championship team, no question. Durant's defensive range, paired with Butler's elite one-on-one defense, anchors the entire system."
"With those two protecting the back line, Jokić's defensive shortcomings are perfectly covered. And while CJ and Booker aren't elite defenders, their youth and mobility let them adjust their positioning quickly on the perimeter."
He paused for breath before continuing.
"As I said earlier, what truly makes the Kings terrifying is their bottomless bench."
"If they need stronger perimeter defense, they've got Ben and Richardson. On the wing, there's Thaddeus Young. And inside, they've got Oden."
The commentator smiled as he spread his hands.
"Just those bench defenders alone could form a solid starting lineup for a defensive-minded team. Add the Kings' superstar firepower to that mix, and honestly, how is anyone supposed to beat them?"
The rest of the studio nodded, finally understanding just how fearsome this Kings roster really was.
"So… is there any way to stop them?"
The guest analyst threw out the question at just the right time.
"I can't think of a single weakness," the commentator said after a moment's thought, shaking his head. "Unless they run into internal problems or injuries, I don't see any team taking them down."
"Unlike those past teams that blindly hoarded superstars without caring about fit, this Kings squad is perfectly balanced—everyone knows their role. Only a team like this truly deserves to be called a 'Galactic Warship.'"
...
While the world viewed the Kings as unstoppable, Chen Yilun was scratching his head in frustration.
The reason? A classic luxury problem—there weren't enough basketballs to go around!
Even though most players on the team could play off-ball, guys like CJ and Booker could only do it for so long. If they kept getting frozen out of the offense, it would hurt both their impact on the floor and their long-term growth.
Booker—the future top shooting guard of the West—was now being forced down Klay Thompson's path.
He had no choice but to turn himself into a 3-and-D player!
With giants like Durant and Butler on the court, a sophomore like him barely touched the ball.
"Murray is way too raw! Send him back to the G League to keep practicing!"
Malone stormed into Chen Yilun's office, fuming.
"Did you see the game against the Celtics today? That kid turned it over twice and committed a foul the moment he checked in. If Brown hadn't stopped me, I swear I would've gone out there and decked him!"
Murray's rookie season had been nothing short of a disaster—no wonder Spurs fans mockingly called him "The Crown Prince."
"Why are you getting so worked up?"
Chen Yilun chuckled and motioned for Malone to sit.
"He's just getting started in the league—it's normal to struggle. You're the head coach, give the kid some time to adjust."
"We don't have time for that," Malone shot back, waving his hand. "Our goal is the championship. We can't afford to wait for rookies to catch up."
"So what do you suggest then?"
Chen Yilun leaned against his desk, curious.
"Take him out. Let Richardson run the floor." Malone paused, then added, "Oh right, what's the name of that undrafted kid working under the Missy? VanVleet, right? He's been playing well in the G League. Bring him up and let me try him for a couple days."
"Got it. I'll call the Missy right away."
After calming down the furious Malone, Chen Yilun slumped back in his chair.
What a mess.
Everyone in the organization knew this was their best shot at the title. Everyone was on edge, terrified that one mistake could ruin the team's championship run.
Malone, as part of the management, was under huge pressure. His nerves were constantly tense, and his already-thinning hairline was retreating even faster.
"You're putting too much pressure on yourself,"
Chen Yilun said, noticing how exhausted Malone looked.
"Is a rookie like Murray really worth losing your cool over? He's barely played outside garbage time. Is that worth all this stress?"
"I'm just worried," Malone admitted, shaking his head. "Point guard is our weakest spot right now. CJ's still a combo guard at heart—he's only running point because he doesn't have the ball in his hands anymore.
When we drafted Murray, I really thought he could be our future starter, but now… the kid just doesn't seem to have it."
"Small guards need time to grow. Take it easy—it's still early in the season. Give the kid more chances,"
Chen Yilun said calmly, lighting a cigarette. He was genuinely worried Malone might bury a future All-Star out of frustration.
"Fine, I hear you."
After chatting for a while, Malone finally seemed to relax.
"Just make sure to keep Richardson in the rotation. The rest of the kids—you handle them. Just don't let anything mess with our record!"
After sending Malone off, Chen Yilun rubbed his tired eyes.
Nobody in this organization made his life easy.
...
The Kings ruled the West, but things were heating up on the Eastern front.
Under Chen Yilun's relentless behind-the-scenes stirring, the Eastern powerhouses were sharpening their blades, eager to dethrone Cleveland's Emperor.
After a season of fine-tuning and some key roster moves, the Wizards were the first to sound the charge.
Their Big Three were tearing through the East, gunning for the top seed.
The Celtics, after acquiring Porter, had also started surging. During free agency, they lured Al Horford from Atlanta with a four-year, $110 million deal.
Isaiah Thomas had evolved into the unstoppable "King of the Fourth."
Up north, the Raptors, led by the duo of Lowry and DeRozan, were making another fierce push.
The entire East was a battlefield in chaos!
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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