After leaving the airport, the bus rolled slowly along the streets.
The tall palm trees along the way looked so familiar.
But the posters of James and Wang Yi that used to hang along the streets and on billboards had disappeared, replaced by posters of Thick Eyebrows and that Michael Arthur.
Especially Michael Arthur.
On the poster, he held a basketball in his left hand.
His head tilted slightly to the left.
He looked like he didn't respect anyone, utterly arrogant.
Just looking at him was enough to make you feel annoyed.
James looked at Michael Arthur's arrogant expression.
A typical Black man.
He had the typical short, tightly coiled hair, too.
But the edges of Arthur's short hair were trimmed very neatly.
As if someone had used a ruler to draw a line and cut along it.
Looking at his arrogant expression, James thought back to when he had first entered the league.
Back then, although James had been called the Chosen One, he had been very mature in how he played and rarely said anything arrogant.
But Michael Arthur was the complete opposite.
He had extreme physical gifts, and he was extremely arrogant, too.
He thought he was the best in the world, that he was invincible.
Wang Yi rested his head against the seatback and closed his eyes slightly.
"Old man, stop looking. Relax. Tomorrow night, we'll teach this kid a proper lesson."
James turned to look at Wang Yi, who seemed completely at ease, and felt somewhat reassured.
With Wang Yi saying that, there was no doubt about tomorrow night's game.
But why did that sound so unpleasant?
Who are you calling an old man?
The next evening arrived before long.
An hour before the game began.
In the media room at the Los Angeles arena.