Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 424 - 141: Indifferent Treatment, Blasting Jordan (5000-word - , begging for subscriptions and monthly tickets!)
Drilling into a bull’s horn is always terrifying, no matter the time.
And Ron Artest, who should have been enjoying an incredibly pleasant vacation, is drilling into the bull’s horn at this moment.
At eight years old, due to his overly irascible personality, Artest’s father sent this energetic, loud-shouting child to an anger management center for treatment.
At that time, following the doctor’s advice, Artest ultimately chose basketball as the sport to vent his inner anxiety and unease.
There’s no doubt that basketball is what started Artest’s life on the right track.
However, basketball couldn’t change his personality.
Since he believes he contributed greatly to the Warriors’ consecutive championships...
So in July...
Through his agent, Mark Stevens, Artest once again communicated with the Warriors’ management, hoping they would provide him with that verbal promise, "I need a sense of security, I’ve long considered Oakland my home!"
However, to Artest’s extreme disappointment...
Warriors’ president Lowell replied to Stevens, "Your contract still has a long duration, it’s far from the time to negotiate renewal."
Far from the time to negotiate renewal?
Damn it!
Who the hell doesn’t know that in two years the Warriors will sign Qin Yue his first career max contract?
If I come to negotiate with you then, what if you refuse me citing the inability to free up salary space?
As a veteran who has battled in the league for eight years, Artest always knows just how ruthless and heartless these suit-wearing bastards can be.
Therefore, the more he longs to stay with the Warriors, the more he considers Oakland the final stop of his career, the more Artest needs the team to provide him with that sense of security.
In Artest’s view, all he wants is a verbal promise.
If the Warriors are unwilling to even give him a verbal promise at this moment...
Thinking from another angle, wouldn’t this imply the Warriors have no intention of keeping him?
"They absolutely just treat me like a disposable mop!"
Artest starts drilling into the bull’s horn.
Despite agent Stevens urging him, "Ron, things aren’t as bad as you think. As long as the Messiah stands on your side, I don’t think you need to worry too much about your future with the Warriors."
But Artest says, "Who doesn’t know the Messiah stands on my side? But you saw the attitude of the Warriors’ management, they clearly don’t want to keep me!"
In Artest’s eyes, if the Warriors’ management’s attitude remains so indifferent even when Qin Yue has explicitly stated his support...
That can only prove that the Warriors have already prepared to discard him after use.
This is a fact Artest cannot accept.
Because back in Indiana City...
Artest fell out completely with the Pacers’ management because he couldn’t get the security he wanted.
So...
With this bad mood, the angrier he thought, the angrier he got, Artest accidentally twisted his ankle during a streetball game a few days ago.
During the off-season, it’s not uncommon for NBA stars to participate in streetball games of all kinds.
After all...
You can’t expect these energetic Supermen to stay cooped up at home all holiday, soaked in the training gym.
Moreover, Artest, who only had a minor sprain, would need about two weeks to recover. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
But...
Getting angrier the more he thought, Artest forcibly played two more streetball games while injured.
"Is he crazy? He’s taking his career as a joke!"
On the phone, upon hearing Artest’s bull-drilling behavior, Qin Yue, who was fuming mad, really wanted to beat him up face to face.
Luckily, Artest didn’t suffer too severe an injury because of it.
This is a stroke of luck in misfortune.
Additionally, upon learning...
That Artest’s foot injury from bull-drilling could be healed through surgery or managed conservatively...
A slightly relieved Qin Yue immediately said on the phone, "Have him go for surgery immediately! It’s still the offseason now, he can recover in just a month or two!"
Moreover, after pausing for a moment, Qin Yue didn’t forget to add, "With me on his side, he doesn’t need to worry about not getting a dignified retirement contract in the future!"
Qin Yue didn’t expect Artest to act so brashly.
You know, this summer...
Those who should be more anxious would be Baron Davis whose contract is about to expire.
To prevent Artest from continuing to drill into the bull’s horn, Qin Yue even personally dialed Artest’s phone and held a long conversation lasting several hours after calming down a bit.
It’s just...
On the phone, although Artest seemed to have calmed down...
He started drilling into the bull’s horn again right after hanging up.
"I’m not having surgery, nor am I accepting conservative treatment!"
"Ah?"
"I’ll wait until the regular season starts, until the Warriors’ management recognizes my importance, then I’ll have surgery!"
"But Ron, didn’t the Messiah ask you to have surgery immediately?"
"I just assisted the Messiah in winning two consecutive championships for the Warriors, and this is how the Warriors’ management treats me...
I must make them recognize my importance! Otherwise, even if the Messiah is willing to stand on my side in the future, I’ll surely be kicked out!"
Faced with the rational Artest, Stevens said after a moment of contemplation, "But what if you provoke the Messiah because of this..."
Artest laughed, "I’ve shed blood for the Warriors, accomplished merits. Besides, even if I wait until the regular season to have surgery, I’ll at most miss some time playing games.
