Chapter 444: All-Star Farewell (asking for monthly ticket!)
Roger didn’t want to announce his retirement because he didn’t want to distract the team.

But with Woj’s revelations and Roger’s team’s silence, this has almost become a secret known to everyone.

The Warriors were not affected by this.

Therefore, Roger decided to directly disclose the news, because it was more in line with Reebok’s publicity needs. Previously, they could have given up this publicity outlet in order to respect Roger’s opinion, but when Roger’s last season was no longer a secret, it was better to simply admit it and cooperate with Reebok’s business behavior.

David Stern must have loved Roger.

Because of his words, the 2008 NBA All-Star Game has become the focus of attention. This may become the All-Star Game with the highest ratings in the 21st century. No one wants to miss Roger’s last All-Star Game.

But David Stern is also sad.

Because the league’s biggest cash cow is about to leave, he is more panicked now than he was in 1993. It is almost impossible for him to find a successor to Roger, and no one will be able to approach Roger’s achievements for many years to come.

Back then, Roger not only successfully took over the torch from Jordan, but also allowed the NBA’s business territory to continue to expand.

But now, who can support the size of this alliance?
The answer is no. When Roger retires, the league will lack enough heavyweight stars, and the league’s ratings and even the next broadcasting contract may shrink as a result.

The NBA is essentially a company, and its stars are its products. In order to leave a good impression on banks, investors, and shareholders, a company will continue to launch products that are popular enough to leverage big broadcasting contracts with media such as ESPN, NBC, and TNT, and pile up more and more money.

But now, the NBA’s most successful product in the past 15 years is about to be delisted, and what’s even more terrifying is that they have no new products to replace them.

Kobe? James? Wade? Anthony?
They were good, but they were nowhere near Roger’s influence.

Roger’s retirement will definitely cause the NBA to fall into a slump for a period of time, which is foreseeable.

David Stern’s special assistant Adam Silver believes that the league can cooperate with bookmakers and use public opinion to “create” the next Roger.

But this was firmly rejected by David Stern.

“This is ridiculous. We can promote a star player, but if we rely on unfair whistles and strong public opinion to promote an unqualified figure, his foundation is doomed to be unstable and he will not be loved by fans. As for the bookmakers, it may allow us to make money for a period of time. But in the long run, it will definitely cause lasting damage to the league’s ratings.”

The NBA doesn’t know how to deal with the aftermath of losing Roger, but it’s letting them at least seize the moment.

So, the theme of this year’s All-Star Game has changed.

All the publicity and all the elements were linked to Roger, and it seemed like an all-star event specially held to bid farewell to Roger.

This made Chris Paul, who was playing at home, very unhappy. He had wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of hosting the All-Star Game at home to win the AMVP.

But at present, this is almost impossible. As long as Roger does not play a single-digit scoring game tonight, as long as the Western All-Star team can win, the AMVP will definitely belong to Roger.

During the performance before the All-Star Game on the day, 50-year-old Madonna sang for Roger.

The reason why she sang for Roger was because the original song for this performance was her unreleased new song “4 Minutes” in collaboration with Justin Timberlake.

But after Roger officially announced that this was his last season, the NBA officials quickly changed the song to “The Power Of Good-Bye”, one of Madonna’s classics.

It goes without saying what theme this is to fit.

The performance is over and the competition is about to begin.

Many stars who didn’t hate Roger so much hugged him. Of course, there were also some people who would never talk to Roger.

This naturally includes LeBron James.

He and Kobe watched all this from afar. They both became supporting roles because of Roger. James had the same idea as Durant. He felt lucky that the bastard was finally leaving.

But Kobe looked at him with a gleam in his eyes: “This is our last chance, LeBron, we must win this year’s playoffs!”

On the other side, Tim Duncan hugged Tony Parker from behind in a naked choke. Parker struggled deliberately and clapped his hands in surrender, but Duncan did not let go, as if he wanted to kill him. This kind of “team strife” of showing affection often occurs in the Spurs.

After playing around for a while, Duncan rubbed Parker’s head and said, “Tony, I think we can’t waste this opportunity, we really can’t. I always thought it was just a rumor, but now I don’t want to be dominated by Roger all the time, I absolutely don’t want to.”

“Okay, let’s win an AMVP together.”

“Who said AMVP? We have to win the championship this season!”

Tony Parker turned his head in surprise and found that Duncan was serious.

“Are you serious?”

“What kind of bullshit question is that? Are you playing to get second place?”

Roger didn’t know that his official retirement announcement might have little impact on the Warriors, but it would have a huge impact on their opponents.

Rumors are different from facts. When Roger confirmed that he would retire, his main opponents’ desire to win became stronger.

Some of them told Roger bluntly after hugging him: “I will beat you to show respect.”

But some people didn’t think about defeating Roger. Shaquille O’Neal just pointed to the basket when he hugged Roger.

“Remember when we became the champion team?”

“Since you knocked the wheels off my Ferrari?”

“Hey, I already paid you back! Stop talking about this, okay!?”

Shark shook his head, then pinched Roger’s shoulder seriously: “Don’t be ridiculous, do you want to travel through memories with me? Then close your eyes.”

After that, people only saw O’Neal and Roger standing there with their eyes closed, and O’Neal kept muttering something in Roger’s ear.

After about ten seconds, both of them opened their eyes.

O’Neill’s eyes were somewhat red: “Roger, can you reenact that scene later?”

“I’ll try, Shaq.”

The All-Star Game started, and the Eastern Conference All-Stars did not deliberately pick a fight. They certainly would not give up the resistance completely, but they knew that this was Roger’s night, and no one would deliberately increase the intensity of the game to ruin this night.

It’s just that almost every member of the Eastern Conference All-Stars team had to defend Roger at one time. When it came to Paul Pierce, he couldn’t even smile: “Come on, old bastard, come on, let me see what you can do!”

Roger defeated him easily with a change of direction and a breakthrough dunk. Kevin Garnett did not stop Roger.

After scoring the goal, Roger touched Pierce’s head, and his posture was exactly the same as when he comforted Pierce after losing Game 1999 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 7, as if time had never passed.

“Be arrogant in times of victory, and be graceful in times of bitterness.”

The voice echoed in Paul Pierce’s mind again. He grabbed Roger’s hand.

“Roger, are you serious? You’re leaving?”

“Hey, don’t tell me you can’t bear to leave. If I don’t leave, where will you get the chance?”

“I love you, bro.”

“What the hell!? You’re disgusting!”

“I’m not kidding, thank you for making me the man Paul Pierce.”

Roger didn’t expect this year’s All-Star Game to turn out like this. It seemed to have become a farewell party that brought everyone together.

From Shaq to Pierce to his opponents, they all said things they would never say under normal circumstances.

The score was very close, but the Eastern team did not give up the victory directly because that would be disrespectful to Roger.

With 1 minute and 33 seconds left in the game, the Eastern Conference All-Stars led by 1 point.

At this time, Roger controlled the ball and attacked, and Paul Pierce attacked with all his strength.

Roger pushed Pierce away and then broke through to the left.

In the interior, KG temporarily leaves the Shark, blocks the middle and protects the basket.

Shaquille O’Neal got goose bumps all over his body. This scene was like…Will Roger think of me?
Roger rushed in front of Garnett and made a jump shot, and everyone’s attention was focused on the basketball.

But O’Neal knew that it wasn’t a fucking lob!

He knows this move so well!

O’Neal jumped up with all his strength. His jumping ability was not as good as it used to be, but Roger’s passing ability was much better than it used to be.

He grabbed the basketball and slammed it into the basket with all his strength.

Just now, before the game started, he and Roger talked about the proudest moment of his career, which was also the moment when they became a championship combination.

At the Orlando Arena, the Magic trailed by as many as 17 points, and if they lost the game they would say goodbye to their season completely.

In the crucial comeback, Roger dribbled past John Starks and passed the ball to Ewing’s defense. Then the Shark dunked and scored, turning the game around!

The shark clearly remembers all the images and sounds at that time.

At that time, NBC commentator Mike Fratello’s shouting and the loud noise made by O’Neal’s dunk blended beautifully together.

He hugged Roger excitedly and shouted: “You saw me, you saw me!”

Roger responded calmly: “Of course I saw you. I told you I would pass the ball to you Shaq. I told you we would beat the crap out of those New York bastards! And, Grandma Odessa was right.”

“She’s right, everything will be fine!” O’Neal remembers responding happily.

He remembers every word, every sentence, and the cheers from the audience, and will never forget them.

Because that was the moment when Orlando’s sword was tempered!
That was the moment when two young men, Shaquille O’Neal and Roger, took steps towards greatness!
Before the game started, Shark and Roger recalled this scene, and he told Roger that he hoped to replicate this scene in tonight’s game.

Roger did it.

And he did.

They have changed a lot, yet they seem to have never changed.

At the All-Star Game, guest commentator Marvin Albert yelled: “Roger to Shaq!!! BOOM!!! The alley-oop of the century, God, what did I see!? This is the alley-oop of the century from 1995!!!”

The score was reversed and the fans in the stands rolled like waves.

After landing, O’Neal pointed to the sky with both hands happily, as if he had returned to the past.

Roger smiled. He looked calm, but he actually had goosebumps.

That moment really seems like it was just yesterday.

I really don’t know how so much time has passed by unknowingly.

In the end, this 2008 version of the century alley-oop brought the All-Star Game to a close, ending the suspense. After the West team took the lead with this goal, the whole team defended seriously and did not let the East team take the lead again, winning the victory.

After the game, contrary to what people expected, Roger was not the AMVP. Or rather, he was just one of the AMVPs.

David Stern presented this year’s AMVP trophy to both Shaq and Roger.

This is a perfect narrative and a perfect sentimental marketing. Roger and Shark hold the trophy together again after 11 years, which is definitely a scene that most fans are eager to see.

The shark glanced at Roger: “Thanks for the pass.”

Roger blinked: “I told you, I will find you.”

Afterwards, David Stern interviewed the two people personally.

O’Neal was delighted: “This is a night of great significance.”

Roger also praised the shark: “I just spread it randomly, but I didn’t expect this fat guy could jump so high.”

Afterwards, David Stern asked Roger: “This is the last time you and Shaq will play in the All-Star Game together. What do you want to say to him?”

Roger stared at the shark seriously, as if he was about to make a tear-jerking confession.

But what he said next caught everyone off guard: “I want to say hey man, I have 11 championships and you only have 3. And soon, I will have four times as many championships as you.”

The shark suddenly laughed and punched Roger in the stomach: “Hahahaha, turn off the damn camera, I don’t want to record anymore, hahaha.”

Both were shouting and cursing, but both were laughing and hugging each other tightly.

The passage of time is not scary.

Because precious things last forever.

(End of this chapter)