Chapter 651: Chapter 470: The Master of the Empire (Unity) Chapter 651: Chapter 470: The Master of the Empire (Unity) Bill Simmons’s interview with Durant had motives that weren’t purely simple, considering everything that had happened over the summer, he believed the SuperSonics were a potential explosive issue for the NBA.

On the surface, the only thing that could stop the SuperSonics from winning three consecutive championships was the Lakers Team.

But Simmons believed that the biggest enemy of the SuperSonics was themselves.

This was exactly the topic that Simmons was about to discuss in his new book, “The Book of Basketball”, set to be published in November this year: why are some players and teams more important than others?

In Simmons’s book, there was also a pyramid ranking, with Jordan at the top, Bill Russell second, and Yu Fei third.

Such rankings were not due to personal vendetta, at least that’s how he saw it. He strived to maintain objectivity in his book, otherwise, he wouldn’t have ranked Magic Johnson ahead of Larry Legend.

Not long ago, Simmons read a book by Jack McCallum about the ’08 SuperSonics.

Despite its grand setting and epic ending, Simmons didn’t see what he wanted to see. In his words in the book–“Frye did not undergo the ultimate test like MJ or Russell did in 1998 and 1969.”

Now, Simmons believed that Yu Fei’s “test” was about to come.

When the people around Yu Fei proposed the concept of “a one-man empire” in pursuit of surpassing the dynasty, a dangerous seed was planted within the SuperSonics.

Why did Chris Bosh give up his title as king of Toronto to become a subordinate in Seattle? Why did Michael Finley give up tens of millions in income at the end of his career just to get a ring? Why was a young star like Kevin Durant praised as the son of America? Because they had won two consecutive championships with a great team.

Suddenly, the highest glory they were proud of became this in people’s mouths.

The championship was all about Frye, the others were just riding his coattails.

In team sports, elevating an individual above the group is the most dangerous thing, but professional basketball has always repeated this story.

Yet, even Michael Jordan had to thank Scottie Pippen first in his Hall of Fame speech; he knew there would have been no six championships without Pippen.

An individual can rise above the group, but a continuous victory for the same group requires the building of a collective sense of honor.

Ironically, the Yu Fei camp, fully aware that Yu Fei needed continuous victories to surpass Jordan, recklessly used these flattering tactics to elevate Yu Fei to a godlike status.

Simmons was certain that something unusual was going to happen with the SuperSonics.

It was either complete destruction, shattering the fairy tale of the SuperSonics, or… Frye surpassing Jordan at all costs.

Simmons didn’t believe it, or rather, his basketball perspective formed over the years following Larry Bird’s games as a teenager didn’t support the idea of such an event happening.

Therefore, in interviewing Durant, Simmons adopted a gradual depth approach.

They first reviewed some interesting moments from Durant’s previous two years.

Then, Simmons suddenly shifted the conversation, asking, “How do you get along with Frye?”

Many things flashed through Durant’s mind, none of them pleasant.

“Not bad,” Durant answered perfunctorily, “It’s an honor to be teammates with the greatest player.”

Simmons asked with a smile, “Do you really think he’s the greatest player?”

Then, Durant cleverly countered, “Was Shaq in 1997 ranked among the top 50 NBA players of all time?”

This was an event Simmons had experienced himself; he certainly knew the controversy when Shaquille O’Neal was chosen for the top 50. It was evidence of the NBA treating itself like a show. They wanted a spectacle, and nothing was more provocative than selecting O’Neal, the promising young giant, for the top 50.

But, from another angle, it was also an acknowledgment of O’Neal’s potential, and the facts proved O’Neal indeed was worthy of being in the top 50, ultimately becoming one of the top 12 greatest players in NBA history.

Durant used O’Neal as an example to tell Simmons that perhaps Yu Fei was not the best now, but given time, he surely would be.

“You were trending on Twitter a few months ago because of a tweet, how are things now?”

Durant said helplessly, “Actually, I was just sharing my opinions on what happened that day, but it caused a misunderstanding, and I apologized, fortunately, it didn’t affect more people.”

Simmons actually liked Durant’s tweet; in his view, those rabid Yu Fei fans under the tweet were just trolls.

But that was also a demonstration of Yu Fei’s influence, although he himself never paid attention to the matter, his supporters were enough to make Durant extremely frustrated.

Now, Simmons didn’t think Durant was at fault for anything.

But this young man was too kind, he even apologized for such a matter?

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Then, Simmons’s conversation subtly approached the core.

“Have you noticed how, in recent months, the outside world defines the SuperSonics’ two consecutive championships?” Simmons said, “In fact, they’ve combined the SuperSonics’ two consecutive championships with those of the Bucks.”

Durant countered, “Are you talking about SoleImperium?”

Simmons nodded, indeed, Durant was also paying attention to this matter.

When the Yu Fei camp promoted the concept of “SoleImperium,” Simmons realized that his feud with Yu Fei over the years had its reasons.