Champion Creed
Chapter 351 - 351 143 Could it be me

351: 143: Could it be me?

(Requesting monthly votes!)_3 351: 143: Could it be me?

(Requesting monthly votes!)_3 Their sacrifice earned them the Magic Team’s first-ever championship trophy and placed them in discussions regarding the top 50 superstars at such a young age.

And so far this year, that sacrifice continues.

For Shaq, Roger sacrificed his relationship with the management.

After speaking out publicly in support of Shaq’s contract renewal, Rich DeVos and Roger were never again seen alone together on the golf course.

But now, Shaq didn’t want to make any more sacrifices.

He wanted the Finals MVP; he wanted his championship season to shine even brighter.

O’Neal was definitely not the type to willingly play second fiddle like Pippen, he had greater ambitions and aspirations.

George Karl sneered inwardly; he was right, he knew that there’s no such thing as a championship team that stays harmonious forever.

But it was too late, Seattle no longer had any room to turn the situation around.

As the third quarter was about to end and the SuperSonics had narrowed the gap to a very dangerous level, Roger, as usual, spoke his mind, “Shaq, cool it, you need to rotate the ball out.”

In the past, O’Neal would surely have responded: “Yes sir!”

But tonight, Shaq, breathing heavily and wiping sweat, paused for a few seconds before nodding lightly.

That damn curse rang out again, causing agitation and disturbance in his heart.

O’Neal indeed seemed as if he was wearing the One Ring, with his inner desires continuously surging forth, tempting him.

In some ways, there’s no difference between a championship ring and the One Ring.

“Fuck!” O’Neal pounded the bench hard, suppressing the desire that threatened to consume his soul.

He knew he could no longer mess around, or the SuperSonics might change the outcome of the game.

His plan had failed, it was that simple, and he had to accept that fact.

By then, thanks to O’Neal’s consecutive outbursts, the SuperSonics had narrowed the score to just a 5-point deficit.

Every Seattleite thought they could win a brutal but glorious victory on this harsh night.

But, as the saying goes, competitive sports are very cruel.

When Shaq stopped his tantrum, the Magic immediately regained control of the game, easily widening the gap once again.

The first to break down was the Reign Man; he couldn’t accept that after so much effort from himself and his teammates, just when hope appeared, the Magic who had recovered their strength easily widened the gap again.

He didn’t understand the meaning of his perseverance.

He had thought that tonight’s outcome would be like most inspirational movies, where after much hardship the protagonists finally get their wish, winning a victory forged from passion.

But tonight’s ending was more like “Million Dollar Baby,” which wouldn’t come out until eight years later, where just as your blood is about to boil, a tragedy strikes.

Just now, when the gap was only 5 points, Kemp had really lit up, determined to dedicate himself entirely to the game.

But now what?

The gap had been stretched to double digits again.

Kemp fell apart; after being fouled, he exploded with rage, grabbing the basketball with one hand and slamming it into O’Neal’s face.

Shaq, already irritable about the FMVP issue, forcefully pushed Kemp to the ground.

The referee immediately blew the whistle and stepped in to prevent the brawl that was about to unfold.

To avoid disturbing the Finals night personally attended by the commissioner, the referee decisively ejected the troublemaker Kemp and also called a technical foul on an emotionally unstable O’Neal.

With stats of 18 points and 14 rebounds, Shawn Kemp’s Finals journey ended there.

Years later, one wonders if he’ll regret such a hasty ending.

After all, chances at the Finals aren’t as plentiful as he might have thought.

Kemp’s downfall also signified that the end was near for the SuperSonics.

Following Reign Man’s disappearance, the SuperSonics’ collapse came quickly.

George Karl still kept his main players on the floor, yelling for them to give it one last push.

But their defensive system couldn’t operate normally anymore, and their offense had become stagnant.

Only Payton was still responding to George Karl; he kept attacking the inside, arguing with the referees, and diligently defending Roger.

George Karl and Payton didn’t like each other, but when they looked at each other, it was like looking in a mirror, probably the reason they haven’t throttled each other yet.

However, with 53 seconds left before the game ended and following Roger’s signature floater that widened the lead to 17 points, even the fearless Payton stopped running.

There would be no Game 5, no more chances.

Roger dominated the game with an efficient 35 points, making up for Shaq’s erratic mistakes.

Payton completely became a part of history’s dust; after tonight, people would only talk about how legendary the 1996 Orlando Magic was.

With five seconds left in the game, Payton put the ball down and walked up to embrace Roger.

As the red lights on the backboard lit up, the 1996 NBA champion was born.

Confetti fell, marking both the Seattle SuperSonics’ funeral and a hymn to the Orlando Magic.

Roger hopped onto the scorers’ table, his usual way of celebrating.

Facing all the fans, he made a V sign with his hand, then spread his arms wide, soaking in the feeling of having the whole world beneath his feet.

Steve Jones stood up to applaud for Roger before him while continuing his commentary, “Roger flashed a V, such a vintage gesture.”

Bill Walton, also clapping next to him, smiled and said, “That’s not a V, it’s 2, for two championships.

I have a feeling, Steve, that this isn’t the last time Roger will celebrate a championship like this.

The number on his fingers will continue to increase.”

When he jumped off the technical bench, the staff handed Roger a championship cap and T-shirt.

Then Saru came up to Roger, holding an apple.

He had been craving this taste, ever since that conversation that changed his career on the bus at the start of the season with Roger, he had missed this taste.

It was on his way to report to the national team when the apple in his hand was incredibly sweet.

Now was the best time to savor that sweetness.

Roger took the apple and bit into it, its juice bursting in his mouth, making the taste of victory even richer and more full-bodied.

“Thank you, Roger.

You saved me,” Saru hugged Roger.

“Hats off to you, brave Knight.”

After this, Roger and O’Neal, who was hugging other people, just happened to make eye contact.

O’Neal smiled and walked over to Roger, drawing him into a tight embrace.

“I love you, Roger.

You did so much for me this season.”

“In all the world, only you and Cao truly stand out.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you and I are the best.”

“Good, I’ve learned that phrase now.”

On the award podium, Rich DeVos was in high spirits as he accepted the trophy.

Two championships in a row, he knew his team had gone from obscurity to worldwide fame.

No matter what, no matter how many unpleasant things had happened this season, they were no longer important.

What mattered was that he was now the biggest winner in the entire league!

This championship would keep the Magic as one of the most profitable teams in the league!

After the award ceremony, David Stern looked towards Bill Russell, Mr.

11 Rings, who intuitively picked up the FMVP trophy that was beside him.

O’Neal stared at the trophy, suddenly feeling that the noise around him became much quieter.

He had never cared so much about the outcome of the FMVP selection in his life.

Could it be me?

David Stern picked up the microphone, his tone calm, “The 1996 NBA Finals’ Most Valuable Player…

Congratulations to you, Roger!”

Roger had completely devastated the DPOY in the finals, so the award was a no-brainer, a testament to his dominance.

Roger shook hands with Bill Russell and then raised the trophy above his head.

O’Neal was stunned for a few seconds, then joined everyone in smiling and applauding.

Roger deserved it.

Then…

didn’t he deserve it himself?

“You’re not even the best player on your team,” Michael Jordan’s curse echoed in O’Neal’s ears again.

Shaq shook his head hard, not understanding why he still cared about Jordan’s nonsense even after winning the championship.

With his second championship, Shaq found himself in a struggle he had never expected.

As for Roger, amidst the noisy scene and in front of the live broadcast cameras around the world, he had once more won his life-and-death feud with Michael Jordan, taking the throne.

Indeed, it wasn’t until this moment of winning the championship that Roger could truly say he had definitively outdone Jordan, having slain the god.

And for the second time!

The once-mighty emperor was now in a sorry state.

As for Roger, everyone present knew that this was just the beginning of a grand epic.

Roger held the FMVP trophy in one hand and the championship trophy in the other.

The league commissioner, like a little brother waiting for a leader to speak, held the microphone for Roger.

Roger approached the microphone with a rebellious smile on his face, unlike most who gave lengthy acceptance speeches, Roger said only one thing:

“Who’s next!?”