This man, renowned on the court for his iron will and toughness, revealed the softest part of his heart at that moment.
"I'll never forget the look on Li's face in the Finals locker room when he told us, 'Give me the ball, then get ready to pop the champagne.' And I'll never forget the deafening roar at Madison Square Garden when we raised the Larry O'Brien Trophy over our heads together."
"No feast lasts forever. I'm getting old, and my back injury is getting worse. I have to think about my family and go earn the last big contract of my life." He raised his glass high. "But no matter where I go, I'll always be a member of the New York Knicks! These two championship rings are the greatest honor of my life!"
"To the champions!"
"To Larry!"
Everyone rose together, their glasses clinking with a crisp ring.
Li Fei walked over to Johnson and gave him a hard hug. "Go after what you want, Larry. You gave everything to this team. You deserve a big contract. Remember, this will always be your home."
"Thank you, Li." Johnson patted Li Fei on the back, his voice full of gratitude.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
They talked about amusing stories from the past and imagined their future lives. No one mentioned those cold words: "Business is business."
Because everyone knew that the bond forged by carrying guns together, bleeding together, and climbing to the peak together had long surpassed a simple employment contract.
As the night deepened, this farewell dinner brought a warm and perfect close to the first cornerstone of the Knicks Dynasty.
The following morning, however, the atmosphere in the management conference room at the New York Knicks' training center in Tarrytown was far from the