A Dynasty.

This revelation was nothing short of a bombshell. 

However, since there was no phone recording, Gilbert's disclosure was met with heavy skepticism from LeBron's fanbase. 

After all, Gilbert's infamous open letter during The Decision had already severed ties with James, leaving them seemingly irreconcilable.

Now, this move seemed to many as Gilbert kicking James while he was down after his recent failure. 

For Cavaliers fans, however, they were more inclined to believe Gilbert's words. Only such an explanation could justify what had previously seemed like an incomprehensible decision. 

Han Sen also found it believable. It explained why Ferry had cryptically hinted at decisions coming 'from above,' something Ferry himself might not have been privy to. 

And if it weren't true, why would Gilbert have been so enraged back then, losing his composure and branding James a traitor in an open letter? 

As for James, this wouldn't even be the first time he'd contradicted himself. What was another broken verbal promise in his long list of inconsistencies? 

---

While Han was partying with his teammates at the nightclub, the news of his decision to skip the Olympics ignited a massive controversy in his home country. 

The basketball association (CBA) used the opportunity to pressure him through domestic media, framing his absence as a moral failing. 

This criticism gained him a wave of new hater points despite his recent NBA triumph. 

...

The following day, an unexpected guest visited Han: Yao Ming, now retired and fully committed to his role as the Shanghai team owner. 

Yao came for two reasons:

1. To check on Han's injury, bringing him a business card for a renowned domestic orthopedic specialist who had previously aided Yao's recovery.

2. To advise him on skipping the Olympics. 

"Playing through injuries could ruin your career," Yao cautioned sincerely. "Skipping this Olympics is the right call. Don't cave to the pressure they're putting on you." 

This advice took Han by surprise. 

He knew Yao's deep love for the national team. As a player, Yao had returned from injuries with metal screws in his body to represent the country.

Even post-retirement, he'd stepped into the basketball association knowing the challenges. 

Han had expected Yao to persuade him to play in the Olympics, not the opposite. 

But upon reflection, it made sense.

Han was the sole hope of Chinese basketball in the NBA. If he jeopardized his career by playing injured, it would be a double loss for both him and the national team. 

Those who've been drenched in rain often want to shelter others from it. 

Yao's career was derailed after returning prematurely from injury to play in the 2008 Olympics. He only managed one more full NBA season after that. 

After Yao left, Han gained newfound respect for this legend of Chinese basketball. 

...

The Olympics became a side note as the Grizzlies prepared for their championship parade. Meanwhile, Han was deep in the hater system, considering his next talent upgrade. 

The playoffs had taught him the importance of skills like footwork, fadeaways, and post-up moves.

These were all part of what could be summarized as 'hard counters'—abilities that could break through defenses even in double-team situations. 

His plan was as follows:

1. Once healed, visit Hakeem Olajuwon for footwork training. Hakeem had helped even LeBron develop a post-game from scratch, proving his methods had substance.

2. Unlock a skill related to fadeaway shooting from his system. 

After some deliberation, Han decided to prioritize fadeaway skills for two reasons:

1. The Grizzlies' dual-tower lineup limited his post-up opportunities, but fadeaways could be utilized in isolation, off the dribble, or in double-team situations.

2. He already had the attributes needed for fadeaways, like core strength, jumping ability, and shooting touch, making it a quicker skill to master. 

With a lockout-shortened season and his injury eating into the offseason, time was a critical factor. Fadeaways would also complement future post-up skills as a finishing move. 

However, he was still short on hater points. Despite accumulating over 900,000 from finals victories and the Olympic controversy, he needed more for a high-tier talent. 

Luckily, with his growing influence, earning hater points was becoming easier. He had something big planned. 

...

A few days later, the Grizzlies held a grand championship parade in Memphis, which TNT broadcast live. 

The city came out in droves, emptying the streets to celebrate. 

While Memphis didn't have the explosive market potential of the Warriors' dynasty, it was far better positioned than smaller-market teams like the Spurs.

The city's high black population also meant basketball had a deep cultural resonance here. 

Unfortunately, the parade wasn't without incident. A shooting occurred several blocks from the festivities, causing injuries and a brief disturbance. 

This was quintessential Memphis. Thankfully, the situation was quickly contained, and the parade continued uninterrupted. 

...

At the FedExForum stage, Coach Joerger delivered a heartfelt championship speech, highlighting the challenges faced by the team and the contributions of each player. 

Han, seated with Rudy Gay on high stools to the side, occasionally bantered with Joerger, enjoying a rare moment of relaxed joy. 

When Joerger finished, it was time for fan questions. 

James Johnson, fresh off his infamous punch, was the first to be asked. 

Johnson took the mic, and before he could speak, the crowd erupted into cheers. 

"When I was young, my father told me: 'Wherever you are, if your opponent doesn't follow the rules, you must make them pay. Otherwise, they'll only push further.' Of course, I know I was on a court, not a ring—I held back a little." 

His candid remark drew thunderous applause. 

"Held back a little?" Fans were in hysterics. If that was holding back, what would full strength do—another Rudy Tomjanovich incident?

Finally, a fan directed a question to Han, one that had been asked before: 

"How many championships do you plan to bring to Memphis?" 

Han had deflected this question during the post-finals press conference, promising an answer at the parade. 

Now was the moment. 

"My goal is to build a dynasty and achieve a three-peat." 

...

The crowd erupted in deafening cheers. 

This was far bolder than his initial promise to bring Memphis a championship. 

Historically, only two teams had completed three-peats in the modern era:

- The Bulls, led by Jordan, who did it twice.

- The Lakers, during the Shaq-Kobe era. 

Both were generationally dominant teams. 

For the Grizzlies, who barely survived the Lakers and swept the Heat largely due to matchups, this seemed outlandish. 

But coming from Han, the man who'd delivered on one 'impossible' promise, who was to say he couldn't do it again? 

...

The declaration sparked massive reactions: 

- "A fluke champion now dreaming of a dynasty? Even Duncan couldn't manage that!"

- "Third-year player gets lucky and wins a title, and now he thinks he's Jordan?"

- "Does he even understand the salary cap? The Grizzlies are about to hit their limit."

- "If they manage a repeat, you can bet the league will change the rules to stop them. Dynasties are way harder than he realizes!"

- "The Lakers will crush them next year. This cocky attitude will lead to their downfall!"

...

Watching his hater points skyrocket, Han Sen couldn't help but feel utterly satisfied. 

LeBron stans were a minor source of hater points—most of them were just casual trash talkers, and his championship win had silenced plenty of critics back in China.

Real hate? It needed moments like these to flourish. 

Han even pulled out his phone to check how the haters were coming for him. 

As expected, nothing surprising. 

Han knew dynasties weren't built overnight. Facing the Lakers in the playoffs last season, he'd experienced firsthand the obstacles that come with aiming for such greatness. 

Still, this wasn't about guaranteeing titles like LeBron's infamous "Not 1, Not 2…" speech that aged like milk.

Han wasn't making promises he couldn't keep. He was here for the grind—and the hate that came with it.

Even if he didn't succeed in the end, the journey mattered more than the outcome. 

By setting that lofty goal, he'd given the Grizzlies players and fans something bold and inspiring to strive for. 

The Grizzlies' championship parade marked the end of the 2011–2012 season. But before the confetti had even settled, the 2012–2013 season loomed on the horizon. 

Here's the thing—while fans often think trades begin at the draft, the reality is, the trading window opens as soon as the previous season ends. 

So, with the Grizzlies' parade barely over, some juicy news was already breaking. 

The spotlight, unsurprisingly, was on Miami. 

A local outlet, Five Reasons Sports, published a report detailing drama within the Heat following their 2011 Finals loss. 

According to the report, after their crushing defeat, LeBron James went to Pat Riley's office, demanding head coach Erik Spoelstra be fired and asking Riley to return to coaching, as he had in 2006. 

Riley flat-out refused, visibly angered. 

After LeBron left, Riley called his assistant and told them to gather the entire team—including the Big Three—downstairs in 15 minutes. 

When the time came, Riley addressed the players, who were lined up against the wall with their backs to him, and delivered a now-iconic line: 

"Never come into my office and tell me to fire a coach. Your job is to play basketball. That's the culture!" 

While this sounded like a fascinating piece of behind-the-scenes drama, its timing raised eyebrows. 

Since their Finals sweep, the Heat had been unusually quiet—eerily so. 

Calm waters often conceal strong undercurrents. This revelation, coming out now, felt like a deliberate move, much like Gilbert airing the dirty laundry about trading Han Sen. 

In a surprising yet calculated move, Riley had seemingly decided to go after LeBron. 

It made sense in a twisted way. Among the Big Three, LeBron was the younger, more influential player—and the one with the highest trade value. 

Trading Wade or Bosh wouldn't fix the Heat's problems. 

Bosh's value had dipped due to injuries, and Wade was starting to show signs of wear and tear. Trading them might bring back some pieces, but certainly not upgrades. 

If the Heat wanted to get stronger, trading LeBron was the only viable path. 

Plus, after back-to-back failures, LeBron's trade value wasn't what it once was. Letting him stay another year and risking another failure would only damage his reputation—and his value.

By then, with just one year left on his guaranteed contract, he'd be much harder to move. 

Right now, though? LeBron was still the top trade chip in the league. 

Riley's move was classic damage control—cutting losses before they spiraled out of control. 

Another key factor? The Finals sweep against the Grizzlies.

It had proven Miami's 'four-out, one-in' system couldn't compete against Memphis. If the Heat wanted to match up better, they needed to bolster their frontcourt. 

But doing so would inevitably limit LeBron's effectiveness, forcing the team into a corner. Trading him would allow the Heat to rebuild their system from the ground up. 

Which begs the question: Where will LeBron end up? 

-End of Chapter-