Just a day earlier, the inaugural " World War " had officially concluded here. Without a doubt, the Boston Celtics effortlessly won two straight games, easily defeating the EBA champions, the Greece powerhouse Panathinaikos, and claiming the title of the first true " World Champion " in basketball history.
A private club in Boston Seaport District that is not open to the public.
In the rooftop open-air banquet hall, the sea breeze caressed the Boston nightscape.
Lin Qi booked the entire place, turning it into a venue for all members of the Boston Celtics to have a meal together.
Gary Payton, sipping a drink, boasted to assistant coach Dwane Casey about how he pressured Jordan in the NBA Finals. Rasheed Wallace, along with Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson, were dancing wildly to the music in a corner.
At the other long table, head coach Rick Carlisle was discussing tactical ideas for next season with the core members of his coaching staff, Tim Grgurich and David Blatt. Not far from them, three young management key members, Darrell Daryl Morey, Sam Presti, and Masai Jerry, were huddled together, intensely discussing the upcoming draft.
This team is too big, so big it's alarming. Whether it's the talent on the court or the strategic thinking off the court, they've brought together the league's top elites.
Lin Qi sat at the head of the table, swirling a glass of bourbon whiskey in his hand, quietly observing the magnificent scene before him.
"Ding, ding, ding."
Lin Qi picked up the silver fork and gently tapped the rim of the wine glass.
The crisp sound of glass clattering echoed through the banquet hall. Players, coaches, and the behind-the-scenes team all stopped what they were doing and turned to look at their boss. Everyone wore smiles, waiting for Lin Qi to give his usual victory toast.
Lin Qi stood up, holding his wine glass, and glanced at everyone present.
From the starters Pierce, Garnett, Hill, Big Ben, Gary Payton, to the bench players Billups, Rasheed, Artest, Kirilenko, and Wang Zhizhi, and then to the fringe rotation players Gerald, Bell, and Chandler...
"Gentlemen, we've won four consecutive championships!"
Lin Qi's voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely clear in the quiet banquet hall.
"Over the past four years, you have accomplished something rarely seen in this league. You have won every series, and you have etched yourselves, and this team's, names into the history of the NBA."
The crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause, Artest even let out a loud whistle.
Lin Qi gestured for everyone to be quiet.
"This meal is a victory celebration," Lin Qi said, looking at everyone and emphasizing each word, "But it's also a farewell dinner."
The moment those two words were uttered, the entire banquet hall fell silent. Only the distant sound of waves crashing against the rocks could be heard.
"Boss, are you kidding me?" Rasheed Wallace was stunned, his booming voice breaking the silence, "We just won the championship! We're going to win fifth next year!"
" Rasheed, in this league, basketball isn't just basketball; it's a business."
Lin Qi walked to the long table, pulled out a chair, and rested his hands on the back of the chair.
"We're too strong. So strong that the game is no longer in doubt." Lin Qi's gaze swept over everyone. " David Stern came to Boston yesterday. He came with pressure from the other team owners in the league and gave me an ultimatum."
"Because of our existence, other teams have lost their competitiveness, the NBA Finals viewership is declining, broadcasters are complaining, and other owners aren't making money. In their eyes, this Boston Celtics team has become a team that disrupts the league's ecological balance."
Stephen Jackson, sitting in the corner, suddenly changed his expression. He jumped to his feet, his voice trembling, "Boss... is it because of me? Is it because of what I said about those stocks in the interview after winning the NBA Finals? I heard Dolan and the others are suing you for bribery..."
"Sit down, Stephen." Lin Qi waved his hand calmly. "Your interview was just a trigger for them, a match in the hands of those owners. But what truly frightens them is our dominance on the court, this roster that even fills the bench with talented players."
Lin Qi looked around. " Stern has given me a price. To appease the other owners and retain ownership of the team, I may face severe penalties from the league: a one-year ban from team affairs, the forfeiture of my first-round draft picks for the next five years, and a record-breaking hefty fine."
Upon hearing this news, Rick Carlisle's face turned extremely grim, and the players looked on in disbelief.
But that's not the worst part.
Lin Qi took a deep breath, his expression becoming extremely complicated as he looked at the players sitting at the table on the bench.
" Stern and those bosses' bottom line is that Boston must be weakened."
The banquet hall was eerily quiet.
"I know how much you love this team, and I know how great the atmosphere is in this locker room." Lin Qi's voice was unusually hoarse.
"But... inevitably, some of you will be traded away, or your contracts will not be renewed."
Lin Qi raised his glass and looked solemnly at the players who had helped him build his empire.
"It's not because you guys aren't good enough, quite the opposite, it's because you're too good. So good that the league has to put pressure on you to break you up and send you to other teams in order to restore the so-called 'balance'."
"I won't sell you off cheaply, nor will I let you waste your time on weak teams. I will use all the resources at my disposal to send you to teams where you can get big contracts and play as starters."
Lin Qi raised the whiskey in his hand.
"This farewell dinner was a bit bittersweet. But I hope you remember that no matter what color jerseys you wear next season, you will all leave as members of a four-time champion dynasty."
"Go to another team, get a big contract, become the core player..."
Lin Qi looked at everyone, his eyes flashing with an extremely sharp light.
"A salute to our four-peat! A salute to the Boston Dynasty, which we built with our own hands and which the entire league had to pressure to dismantle!"
"Homage to the Dynasty!!!"
Garnett was the first to stand up, his eyes red, and he raised his glass with tremendous force.
"Homage to the Dynasty!" Pierce, Hill, Big Ben, Gary Payton... all the players and coaching staff stood up.
The glasses clashed together with a resounding clang, splashing the liquor everywhere.