The first to be interviewed was Lakers head coach Phil Jackson.
Dressed in a black suit, he carried himself with elegance and wore a gentle smile.
Faced with the reporters' sharp questions, he remained calm and composed throughout, giving nothing away.
"This is our return to the NBA Finals after a year away, and we cherish this opportunity deeply."
"The Knicks are a great Dynasty team, and Li Fei and Jordan are legendary superstars."
"We respect our opponents and hold them in awe, but we have never feared a challenge."
"The Lakers are fully prepared. We will play our own brand of basketball."
His words were humble and mild throughout, without the slightest arrogance, fully displaying the bearing of a renowned coach.
No one could detect the Lakers' tactical trump card of overwhelming their opponents with relentless offense from his words.
Following him, Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy also wore a warm smile.
Compared to Phil Jackson's calm ease, Van Gundy's smile was more restrained and steady.
"The Lakers are a transformed powerhouse. They defeated the tenacious San Antonio Spurs."
"The impact of the OK Duo and the team's roster depth are both things we must take seriously."
"We have been through countless tough battles. Our mentality and ability to handle pressure are mature enough."
"We will respect every opponent and focus on playing every quarter, every minute, well."
The pregame remarks from the two famed coaches were measured, polite, and restrained.
There was no smell of gunpowder, no confrontational taunting—only the demeanor of elite coaches.
But every veteran fan and commentator knew full well that beneath that mild exterior lay blades.
Phil Jackson was hiding a strategic plan to use offense as defense and wear Jordan down.
Van Gundy was holding back a tactic centered on locking down