"Larry, congratulations on winning this extraordinarily meaningful ring.
How does it feel to return to Madison, to the city where you once brought home a championship?"
"It feels... complicated."
Larry Johnson took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice steady. "My best memories are here, along with the best fans. I'm grateful they still remember me. That means a lot to me."
"Have you adjusted to leaving New York and starting a new life in Washington?" Sager pressed.
"Of course. Washington is a great city, and the Wizards are a team full of potential. My teammates are all very talented. We're working hard to build chemistry and create something of our own." Larry Johnson delivered the standard official answer, but his gaze drifted somewhat.
Sager clearly had no intention of letting the opportunity slip away. He posed the question everyone wanted answered. "Larry, we've all seen it—the Knicks seem to be playing more smoothly without you. Some people even say they've become stronger. Looking back now, do you regret your decision to leave?"
The question was like a needle, piercing precisely into the softest part of Larry Johnson's heart.
His pupils contracted almost imperceptibly before quickly returning to normal.
He fell silent for two seconds, seemingly choosing his words—or perhaps wrestling with the conflict inside himself.
"No."
In the end, he shook his head and said firmly, "I don't regret it. As professional players, we always have to make choices. The Knicks gave me a championship, and I gave them everything I had. The Wizards gave me respect, along with a contract that could secure my family's future. At different stages of life, you pursue different things. I'm happy for the Knicks' success now, truly. I'm happy for Li, for Sprewell, for every one of them. But my