Champion Creed-Chapter 966 - 316: When you are someone’s pillar of support (asking for monthly votes!)

Farewell, without a doubt, is one of the saddest things in this world.

When all the fans in Indianapolis shouted "Thank you, Reggie."

When Kobe Bryant said "Mamba out" at the Staples Center.

When Derrick Rose told everyone on social media, "No need to feel sorry for my what-ifs."

Even someday in the future when LeBron James announces his retirement. Believe me, someone will be so heartbroken they won’t be able to write a single word for three days.

Hubie Brown experienced similar farewells a long time ago, way back in 1986.

Although it was long ago, Hubie Brown still remembers every detail vividly.

In 1985, Bernard King was at his peak, just having helped the team battle to Game Seven against the eventual champion Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Although they narrowly lost, Hubie Brown believed the New York Knicks were just one step away from the championship.

But soon after, it seemed like the New York Knicks he coached were cursed. Bernard King suffered a devastating knee injury in the following season, including a torn ACL, a cartilage tear, and a fractured leg bone, requiring extensive reconstructive surgery on his entire right knee, ending his season.

Well, the heavens hadn’t yet abandoned New York. Because of Bernard King’s injury, they fortunately got Patrick Ewing.

Everyone imagined Hubie Brown, Ewing, and Bernard King could establish a New York dynasty.

But Bernard King’s recovery was not as expected, and he missed a second consecutive season, while rookie Patrick Ewing, also due to injuries, missed 32 games in his rookie season.

The serious injury disaster led to the Knicks’ poor record, and finally, at the end of ’86, when Hubie Brown led the team to just a 4-12 start, and when extreme New York fans issued death threats to Hubie Brown and his family, the enormous pressure became overwhelming, and Hubie Brown decided to resign.

That was his farewell to the court.

No press conference, not even social media existed back then.

Hubie Brown just seemed to vanish from the league, disappearing so completely that all his past glories were completely forgotten.

Afterwards, he worked as a commentator and analyst for various TV networks, spending the entire magnificent 90s watching the ascent of Number 23 and then getting dethroned in battles of blood and sword.

Many people only remembered Hubie Brown as a TV guest, forgetting that he was once a great championship coach.

So now that Hubie Brown is back, he has faced quite a bit of criticism.

Can a guy who hasn’t coached in 16 years still keep up with this era?

At 69, can he still bear the pressure of being an NBA head coach?

When Hubie Brown retired, the world still carried this fantasy: we’ve gone through the George Mikan era, the Bill Russell era, the Skyhook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era... and now we’re about to welcome the Patrick Ewing era.

But now, Patrick Ewing’s professional career has long been concluded.

years—a really long time.

years ago, he didn’t manage to create a legend with the immensely talented Patrick Ewing, so what about today?

Hubie Brown sat on a double-decker bus, staring at the man in a white suit.

This time, he definitely won’t fail again!

Roger, wearing a white suit, stood at the edge of the double-decker bus, waving to the fans along the street.

Just as it was five years ago when he went to Atlanta, the Golden State Warriors had arranged a welcoming ceremony for Roger a day before media day.

A white suit, representing a new, pure, and clean beginning. Atlanta’s glory was splendid, but that was something left in the rearview mirror.

The Bay Area fans showed their love for Roger, with the bus route packed with fans, and multiple TV helicopters hovering over Roger’s head.

Beside him, Warriors General Manager Bob Bass shouted, "This is crazy, Roger, it’s like John Kennedy in a convertible!"

Roger:...

On Roger’s other side, Mikhail Prokhorov looked pale. With a stiff smile, he waved at the fans, looking sickly as if he might suddenly collapse on the bus.

Roger kept his smile unchanged and asked the team owner beside him, "Boki, what’s wrong with you?"

"That damn party last night went on too long, didn’t get enough rest, and on top of that, I’m a bit carsick, damn... Don’t worry, I’m fine. Even if I had a terminal illness needing lots of money for treatment, I’d wait until you’re retired to sell the team. Who would give up a great opportunity to make money to someone else?"

Hearing Mikhail Prokhorov’s answer, Roger shook his head with a smile, not surprised.

If you know this Russian well enough, you’d know he’s just a Russian version of Jerry Buss. All over Europe, he’s spread news about partying with young girls.

Now, his grasp has extended to the Beacon of Freedom.

That’s why he once promised, "If I don’t win a championship in five years, I’ll get married." To a playboy like him, that was quite a huge gamble.

Finally, the bus reached its final stop, the San Francisco Mission Bay, where the Warriors’ new arena is located.

Of course, the new arena is still just a mess of steel bars now.