"As for Oklahoma, it was pretty much the same situation.
There was a very good chance LeBron and Russell wouldn't fit together. I didn't want the two of them to end their careers with any bad blood between them because of that.
Besides, putting myself in their shoes, if I'd been traded by my team out of the blue at that age, I imagine I would've taken it pretty hard too. We often say business is just business, but when something like that actually happens to you, I don't think anyone would take it well.
Imagine if, back in 2014, the Lakers had decided to trade Kobe for Stephen or Russell. How do you think Kobe would've felt?"
"Hmm... I might've chosen to retire."
Kobe rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then came out with that.
2014 was the year after he'd suffered a devastating Achilles tendon injury.
Not knowing whether he could even make it back to the court and keep playing, only to be traded by the team he'd played for for eighteen years...
It was almost impossible to imagine.
On top of that, he now understood all too well.
After suffering a major injury, his level of play had indeed fallen off dramatically.
If he knew he was unlikely to get another chance to prove himself, then perhaps bowing out gracefully while he still had his pride was the best choice...
"Damn! I think I've made things heavy again. Didn't we all come together tonight to relax? Relaxing, gentlemen."
"No, Chris. I have to remind you that, in fact, we're gathered here tonight to raise money for charity..."
"Ahahahahahaha, is that right? I was just about to say that, hahahahahaha."
The good news for Chen Xi was that the day after the banquet was entirely