"What did I tell you? I didn't lie to you, did I!"
Golden 1 Center was a roaring sea of noise, the crowd thunderous and unrestrained.
Chen Yilun practically had to shout as he spoke to the person beside him.
"Alright, alright! You win, you win!"
It was already the 2021 Western Conference Finals. Standing next to Chen Yilun, Kobe Bryant gave a helpless smile, stuffed a ten-dollar bill into Chen Yilun's hand, then turned his head and said,
"Look at Chen Yilun. He dragged us all the way here just for ten bucks."
"Tch."
Gigi stuck out her tongue, clearly displeased.
"He's not doing it for ten dollars. He just wants to prove to you that his Kings are better than our Lakers!"
Back in the 2019–20 season, Chen Yilun had taken a long leave and returned home for the New Year after the team no longer needed him to run things personally.
Then he got stuck in China during the pandemic lockdown.
That, of course, was partly intentional on Chen Yilun's part.
A global disease wasn't something even someone with a God's Eyes view like Chen Yilun could single-handedly solve.
Fortunately, the equipment and medical supplies he had purchased in advance in North America proved immensely useful once things began.
His domestic businesses ran almost nonstop, producing desperately needed materials that were donated, saving countless lives.
Chen Yilun also took this opportunity to deliberately lower his profile within the league.
After all, more than ninety percent of his achievements had come from the advantage of foresight granted by rebirth. As time went on, that "God's Eyes" gradually lost its edge.
In any case, as a general manager, he had already secured both fame and fortune. This was the perfect moment to step away at the peak.
During the 2020 bubble season, the Kings squeezed into the playoffs behind their rising twin stars, only to fall to the Rockets in the subsequent series.
That year's Western Conference Finals featured the all–Los Angeles showdown between the Lakers and the Clippers.
The difference from history was that Paul George had opted out in the offseason and joined the Clippers to reunite with Kawhi Leonard.
Facing the league's top-tier wing duo, the Lakers fell quickly.
In the end, the Clippers won the championship, and Leonard was named Finals MVP.
As for why the Lakers couldn't beat the Clippers back then?
Maybe they were missing a Mamba buff.
And that very Mamba was standing next to him right now, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Don't be so angry. Just come back and try again next year."
Chen Yilun spoke while barely holding back his laughter.
"Don't rush off tonight, Vanessa! Stay in Sacramento and have dinner with us!"
"Sure,"
Vanessa replied with a smile.
"You seem pretty free lately anyway. Want to come back to Los Angeles with us for a couple of days? You're not running things anymore, and our flight's on the way."
"Sounds good."
Ever since Chen Yilun had bragged in front of Kobe about his private jet, the Lakers legend had been so provoked that he turned around, sold his helicopter, and bought a private plane of his own.
Chen Yilun casually ruffled the hair of Kobe's third daughter, Bianca.
"Let's eat first. Dinner's on me tonight!"
...
...
"Congratulations."
Two years had passed, and the gray at James's temples had grown more noticeable.
In the Western Conference Finals that had just ended, the Lakers lost to the Kings in a Game 7.
The Kings' structure was still largely the same as when Chen Yilun had handed things over. Their starting lineup was now Murray, Booker, Anunoby, Siakam, and Jokić.
The only change was Tyrese Haliburton on the bench, drafted using the Kings' Wizards first-round pick.
At this point, young Haliburton still wasn't getting minutes, obediently grinding away as Rose's third trainee.
"Thanks."
Jokić thanked James after the two embraced.
"You're about to face your veteran in the Finals. Nervous?"
After losing the Western Conference Finals three years in a row, James had long since built up immunity. He could still joke with Jokić like this.
After more than two years of tempering, Jokić had shed his former role as the supporting who simply distributed the ball behind Butler and Durant. He had truly grown into a top-tier star in the league.
What hadn't changed was that the big European guy was still the team's source of laughter.
"Terrified to death!"
Jokić's exaggerated expression sent everyone into fits of laughter.
Their Finals opponent would be the Nets, led by his big brother Durant.
"Play well,"
James said meaningfully as he patted Jokić on the shoulder.
"This really is your era now."
With the rise of young talents like Jokić, the league officially moved beyond the lingering glow of the Stern era and entered Adam Silver's new age.
"Enough talk. Get some rest and play your best in the Finals."
James gave Jokić one last pat on the shoulder and walked into the tunnel without looking back.
"Do you think we can beat them?"
Booker appeared beside Jokić at some point without him noticing.
Over these two years, it wasn't just Jokić who had grown. Booker had become a perennial All-Star and the Kings' coldest-blooded perimeter scorer.
Players like Murray and Siakam had also progressed steadily, reaching fringe All-Star levels.
The biggest variable was Alexander. Under Rose's guidance, his development far exceeded Malone's expectations, and he was now close to challenging Murray for the starting spot.
"Whether we can or not, we still have to play."
Jokić let out a long sigh before continuing.
"We have to give it everything. I can't even imagine how long Kevin would mock me if we got blown out in the Finals."
As the game ended, Chen Yilun led Kobe's family toward the exit.
A little boy wearing a Kings cap far too big for his head glanced at Chen Yilun's group and tugged curiously at his father's sleeve.
"Dad, who's that Asian guy walking next to Kobe? Why does everyone seem to respect him so much?"
"Him? You don't know him?"
The father squinted, then muttered to himself in realization.
"Well, makes sense. You only just started watching basketball, and he hasn't shown up much in the media these past few years."
"Remember this, kid."
Straightening his cap, the father said solemnly,
"He's the Sacramento Hyena, the Asian Magic, the youngest dynasty builder in league history. A man with four championship rings, a two-time General Manager of the Year, the NBA's ace executive—Chen Yilun!"
...
Author's Note:
If you enjoyed this fanfiction, I also have another NBA story on my profile called "NBA: Maxed Three-Point Talent."
It's similar to this one, but instead of focusing on a manager's perspective, it follows the story from the player's point of view.
Feel free to check it out and follow if you're interested!
...
(The End)