He, Arvydas Sabonis, had come here for a championship ring.
Last season, he had already tasted victory. The feeling was more intoxicating than any vodka he had ever drunk.
He longed to experience that feeling of standing atop the world again.
"Keep going..." he told himself, his voice low and firm. "I need to win at least three straight championships and build a Dynasty of our own before I can truly prove my worth. I can't just run away like this—that would be cowardice. And I can't just leave. That's not what a man does!"
Once the thought arose, it blazed through his heart like wildfire.
He knew where his weaknesses lay. Age, injuries, speed... none of those could be reversed.
But what he could do was push every part he could control to the limit!
He turned and walked back into the living room, picked up the phone, and dialed the team nutritionist.
"Hello, John? It's Arvydas."
There was no trace of dejection left in his voice, only determination. "Starting tomorrow, help me draw up a new diet plan. I need the strictest, most scientific dietary control possible. Cut all carbohydrates in half, no more alcohol, and increase my intake of high-quality protein. I need to get my body back into peak condition!"
After hanging up, he dialed the team's strength coach.
"Mark, see you at the training facility at six tomorrow morning. Yes, three hours before the team practice. We need to strengthen my lower body and core stability, and... those damn lateral movement drills."
After arranging everything, Sabonis felt a long-lost fighting spirit fill his body once more.
He went down to the private training room in the basement and switched on every light.
He took off his shirt, revealing muscles that were no longer young but