Chapter 753: Chapter 502 When Durant becomes Durant_3 Chapter 753: Chapter 502 When Durant becomes Durant_3 Durant convinced himself with “all for victory,” but the criticism from experts, the disparagement from public opinion, and the mockery from fans disturbed his heart. He used his burner account online to defend himself, but no matter how he explained it, the decline in his numbers was a fact, and his lack of motivation at the end of the season was also a fact.

The final pressure that drove Durant mad came from Nike.

The man Durant called Uncle, Lynn Memitt, made a call.

“Kevin, do you know why number 44 and number 23 are irreconcilable?”

When Yu Fei and Jordan fell out, Durant was still an innocent boy in the suburbs of D.C., and he believed the story told by the media–young and arrogant Frye refused to accept Michael’s leadership, they couldn’t coexist, so the Wizards traded Frye.

Back then, Durant didn’t try to think from another perspective–what was it really about when a team traded away a promising 20-year-old player to keep a 39-year-old player?

At this moment, Durant still didn’t understand.

“Why?” he simply asked, as Memitt had hoped.

Memitt said, “Because Frye is the thirstiest lake in the League! He demanded everything, but it was Michael’s team!”

“Just as Seattle belongs to Frye?” Durant asked.

But what he was thinking was, if I demand too much, will I be traded?

He had a bolder idea: What’s so bad about that?

“It’s different!” Memitt said, “Michael was old, trading Frye seemed like a permanent solution to the conflict. Now, Frye is in his prime, but that doesn’t mean you have to be the one who sacrifices. You’ve sacrificed enough. But what have you got? Nobody loves you, nobody recognizes you, everyone will remember Chris Bosh being chosen for the All-Star team, then question why you’ve regressed in your third season. It’s time to grow up, Kevin, because the good guy is always the first unlucky bastard to die in the jungle!”

The good guy image crafted by Nike made him a unique presence. However, in the NBA, which has long been a haven for those with defiant personalities, disproportionately celebrated and commercialized these special individual creators elevating them above the team. Meanwhile, teams still operated based on a quasi-military athletic culture, where others must adapt and keep a low profile. Thus, there was a natural tension between the concept of team and the reality of the team, the latter being bound by decisions of particular individuals.

In his twenties, being in a position of great power, one might become more like a brand than a person, trapped in an environment that is different and transcends that of the teammates he depended on. This rare sense of alienation bred unique individuals. NBA superstars are often enigmatic figures whose power precisely counterbalances their quirks.

Fans often say, because he is such a person, that is why he succeeds.

This rationalized Jordan’s gambling and pathological competitiveness.

Today, Yu Fei has become another symbol transcending the collective, the master of an empire, and the empire needs no second spokesperson apart from him, everyone else can be expendable.

Unfortunately, in his empire was a Kevin Durant that Nike wouldn’t allow to remain unnoticed.

“What should I do?” Durant asked.

“Fight, steal, you have to let number 44 know you will never be his Richard Hamilton!”

Something was changing.

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After Durant hung up the phone, he called his team liaison.

“J.D.,” Durant said, “tell the folks at ESPN that I can do a pre-game interview before the game tomorrow night.”

“An interview? About what?”

“Responsibility.” Durant said, “I want to talk about how I will fulfill my responsibilities as a star player.”

PS: It’s lagging badly.