Basketball System: Hate Makes Me Unstoppable-Chapter 380: Han Plays LeBron Again.

The All-Star draft was scheduled to take place in a week, with Han Sen and LeBron James joining TNT's iconic trio for a live broadcast.

Following this announcement, that particular episode of TNT immediately became the most anticipated show of the season.

But amidst the excitement, the league witnessed an incident that, while not earth-shattering for the NBA as a whole, had devastating consequences for the Warriors.

In a late-January matchup against the Rockets, DeMarcus Cousins delivered a stellar performance, recording a triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists—his third of the season and the ninth of his career. His chemistry with the Warriors seemed to be hitting its stride.

However, just one day after the game, Cousins was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon, ending his season prematurely.

During his 48 appearances for the Warriors, Cousins had averaged 35.2 minutes, 24.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game—a stellar contribution.

From an emotional perspective, suffering such a devastating injury in a contract year was a cruel blow for Cousins, as it would drastically affect his market value in free agency. But from a rational standpoint, the injury wasn't entirely unexpected.

Although Cousins moved more fluidly than many had anticipated—avoiding the mismatch issues that plagued Shaquille O'Neal during his stint with the Suns—his weight remained a concern. Like Yao Ming before him, Cousins' frame was well-suited for half-court sets, but the physical toll of up-tempo play put enormous stress on his ankles and knees, making injuries almost inevitable.

For the Warriors, the injury brought both bad and good news.

The bad news was obvious: Cousins was out for the season. The good news? The injury occurred before the trade deadline. With the deadline pushed up to February 9th this year, the Warriors still had around ten days to negotiate and bolster their roster.

Cousins' injury also had implications for the All-Star Game. As a Western Conference starter, his spot in the lineup needed to be filled by another player from the reserves, and an additional replacement had to be selected for the roster.

Western All-Star head coach Mike D'Antoni ultimately chose Klay Thompson to fill the starting role, while Blake Griffin of the Clippers was named as Cousins' replacement.

As the draft broadcast approached, both Han Sen and LeBron James were asked about their strategies and potential first picks.

When LeBron was asked who he would pick first, his response showcased his trademark savvy.

"We know the league wants this to make the game more competitive. I'll pick the players that give us the best chance to win," he said diplomatically.

When pressed on whether Anthony Davis would be his first choice, LeBron displayed his humor.

"If AD sends me a fruit basket, I might consider it," he joked with a grin.

Han Sen, on the other hand, gave a more straightforward answer.

"If I pick first, Nikola will be my first choice. If I pick second and Nikola is still available, he'll still be my first choice."

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With that, Han delivered a strong show of camaraderie, once again flexing the bond between him and his teammate.

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Time flew by, and soon, the day of the All-Star draft broadcast had arrived.

The TNT studio setup was sleek but familiar—Han Sen and LeBron James sat at opposite ends of a semi-circular table, with the TNT trio of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith seated between them. The room buzzed with anticipation.

This was an event like no other. The draft format, combined with live television, promised drama, strategy, and plenty of personality. Fans were eager to see not just who would be picked but how the captains would interact.

After some playful banter, Kenny Smith broke down the draft rules for the audience.

The draft would have two rounds. First, the captains would select from the pool of eight remaining starters to fill out their starting five. In the second round, they would choose their seven reserves. The person who won the coin toss would pick first.

With that, Barkley pulled out a coin, holding it up like a magician about to perform a trick.

"Alright, fellas. Han, heads or tails?"

"Heads," Han said confidently.

LeBron, leaning back in his seat, smirked. "Tails, of course."

Barkley flicked the coin high into the air, caught it, and slapped it onto the back of his hand. Slowly, he lifted his hand to reveal the eagle. Tails.

LeBron leaned forward, grinning. "Let's get to work."

This outcome immediately raised the suspense. If Han had gone first, everyone knew he would take Nikola Jokić—he had openly stated it before. But LeBron had kept his first pick under wraps, teasing fans with cryptic remarks in pre-show interviews.

After a dramatic pause, LeBron finally made his choice.

"Kevin Durant," he said, smiling as if it were the most obvious decision in the world.

Han raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "Classic."

It was the safe choice. Durant was the best player available, and picking him early meant LeBron could still grab Anthony Davis later—another superstar.

When the turn passed to Han, he stuck to his word.

"Nikola Jokić," he said, giving a nod toward the camera, knowing full well his teammate was watching.

LeBron's second pick, however, caught everyone off guard.

"Stephen Curry."

The studio erupted in surprise. Even Barkley couldn't help but laugh. "Man, Bron, you just picking all the MVPs, huh?"

Han rubbed his chin. "Interesting," he muttered, clearly recalculating his strategy.

With DeMarcus Cousins sidelined due to injury, there were only two traditional big men left in the starter pool—Jokić and Davis. The only other option, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was more of a hybrid forward than a true post player.

Given this, Han didn't have much reason to pick Davis now. Logic dictated he should grab a perimeter player to complement Jokić and allow LeBron to take Davis.

But Han wasn't one to be backed into a corner.

For his second pick, Han went against conventional logic. "Anthony Davis."

The room buzzed with energy. Shaq whistled, and even LeBron seemed caught off guard. "I see what you're doing," LeBron said, shaking his head with a smirk.

Han's choice forced LeBron's hand. With Davis and Jokić off the board, LeBron had to select Giannis Antetokounmpo to ensure his team didn't lack size.

The draft continued with Han taking Klay Thompson next—a move that visibly frustrated LeBron, who had been eyeing the sharpshooter.

When the final two players in the starter pool remained—James Harden and Kyrie Irving—the room grew noticeably tense. Both were elite guards, but the backstory made the decision awkward.

Kyrie's infamous remarks about not wanting to play with LeBron during his Cavaliers days hung in the air like an elephant in the room.

LeBron took his time, visibly conflicted. His strategy had unraveled after Han deviated from the expected plan. Now, he was cornered.

On one hand, Harden was a ball-dominant guard whose style clashed with LeBron's own need to control the offense. On the other, picking Kyrie carried personal baggage.

Barkley, ever the instigator, leaned forward. "This is why they pay you the big bucks, Bron. What's it gonna be?"

Han leaned back, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "No pressure," he quipped.

Had LeBron simply picked Davis earlier, none of this would have happened. Han would have gladly picked Kyrie to stir the pot, leaving LeBron with Harden. But now, LeBron was backed into a corner.

After what felt like an eternity, LeBron finally made his decision. "Kyrie Irving."

Han let out a laugh. "Of course."

It was just so... predictable. Between saving face and safeguarding his stats, LeBron had, obviously, chosen the latter.

LeBron quickly explained his reasoning. "It's about winning. Kyrie's skillset fits what we're trying to do." But for Han, this only added fuel to the fire.

"If he wants to win so badly," Han said later with a grin, "then that's one more reason we can't let him."

And as if the stakes weren't already high, the All-Star Game was set to take place in Cleveland.

After their 2016 championship, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had pushed for Cleveland to host an All-Star Game, aiming to elevate the city's profile in the league.

However, Quicken Loans Arena's outdated facilities were initially a roadblock. Only after the arena underwent significant renovations, combined with the Cavaliers' growing influence, did Cleveland finally secure hosting rights.

In the end, Harden became the last unpicked player of the starter pool, by default joining Han's team.

Han couldn't help but feel for Harden. The narrative of being "last picked" in such a high-profile event would undoubtedly resurface, just as it had in the past, fueling rumors about Harden's reputation within the league.

"Poor guy," Han thought. "Some things just never change."

With both teams fully drafted, the All-Star Game starting lineups were officially set.

Han Sen's team clearly had a size advantage, boasting more physicality across the board compared to LeBron's squad.

Even from a spacing perspective, Han's lineup seemed more balanced thanks to players like Klay and Harden stretching the floor. Add in the undeniable talent gap between the two captains, and it was clear that Team Han had a strong chance of taking the win.

Of course, this was just the starters. Seven reserves for each side still needed to be selected.

Barkley chimed in to clarify the rules for the reserves: the captain who picked second during the starter draft would get the first pick when selecting the reserves.

This rule offered a chance to balance out the initial disadvantage.

Unfortunately for LeBron, his luck had truly run out. After losing control during the starter draft, he now found himself picking second yet again for the reserves.

Han, ever the opportunist, was quick to take advantage.

LeBron's history of team-hopping and fractured relationships in the league had left him with plenty of "rivals". From Kyrie Irving in the starters to players like Russell Westbrook and Draymond Green in the reserves, Han made it his mission to leave these names for LeBron.

After all, LeBron had insisted that his focus was on winning, right? A little extra "humility" wouldn't hurt his noble cause.

Han had the first pick and wielded his power with surgical precision.

When it came down to the final two players—Westbrook and Green—the tension in the studio reached its peak. Even the TNT camera crew couldn't resist zooming in on LeBron's face.

The man looked absolutely tortured, as if he were being forced to choose between two terrible options: chocolate that tasted like crap or crap that tasted like chocolate.

This was the second time Han had backed LeBron into a corner, and this time was even worse. Earlier, LeBron had at least a sliver of choice. Now, all he could do was accept his fate.

And to think, when the league announced him as a captain, LeBron had been over the moon. He wasn't even Nike's top ambassador anymore, but being named captain felt like a lifeline—a rare chance to reclaim some relevance.

Now? He looked like a clown on center stage, desperately searching for an escape hatch that didn't exist.

Han, however, had no intention of letting him off easy.

"I'll take... Russell Westbrook," Han said, grinning as he made the final choice.

It wasn't just strategy—it was deliberate. Han, ever the "good guy," considered LeBron's needs and generously took the ball-dominant Westbrook off his hands. After all, Team LeBron was already stacked with ball handlers.

This left Draymond Green for LeBron.

LeBron's expression darkened further, his mask of composure slipping entirely.

For LeBron, Westbrook's ball-dominance might've been a challenge, but Draymond's presence brought a completely different headache—one rooted in their bitter rivalry.

LeBron thought he'd never have to share a locker room with Green again. And yet, here they were—forced teammates once more, just half a season later.

Team Han Starters:

Han Sen, James Harden, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokić

Team Han Reserves:

Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry, Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward, Blake Griffin, Karl-Anthony Towns

Team LeBron Starters:

Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Team LeBron Reserves:

Chris Paul, John Wall, Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, Draymond Green, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Embiid

(End of Chapter)