After the preseason ended and before the season started, the NBA officially released the first power rankings of the season.
The Heat Team topped the list.
The official statement was brief but clear, "This is the strongest team on paper in history."
The Grizzlies, as the defending champions, were ranked second.
The official comment was, "The 1991 Bulls? Or the 2001 Lakers? They have the opportunity to become yet another legendary team."
The Lakers, Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Mavericks, and Nuggets were ranked 3rd to 7th.
The Thunders were only placed in the 8th position.
The official comment was, "The Thunders have a star-studded lineup, but we have to doubt the compatibility of LeBron and Russell playing together; they might either create amazing sparks or reveal irreconcilable differences."
After the list was released, it was unsurprisingly attacked by LeBron fans.
James is stronger than Durant, Afflalo is more compatible than Harden, and the Thunders were predicted to be 6th last season, so why are they now 8th?
You, the officials, seem very unreliable!
Then they dug deeper and discovered that this official ranking had been created by Stan.
After his list had been warmly received by fans for two consecutive years, this reporter was directly recruited by the League.
Stan’s social media once again encountered a blowout.
But this tough old octopus simply posted a status, "See you after the opening game," before disabling comments.
This move pushed the heat for the opening game between the Grizzlies and the Thunders up another notch.
Actually, according to the League’s usual practices, the opening game would always feature the defending champions versus the finals opponent.
Like last season’s Heat versus Mavericks, or the previous season’s Lakers versus Magic.
Only this year, the matchup between the Heat and Grizzlies was clearly the main event, so the League scheduled them for the Christmas showdown.
As a compromise, the Thunders were chosen, especially since every encounter last season between James and Hansen was a ratings explosion.
The Grizzlies were the defending champions, and the ring ceremony for the championship would naturally be held in Memphis.
Not only was FedEx Forum sold out, but the online viewership also reached the levels of last year’s finals.
"Watching James and watching Hansen get their championship rings" was a highly anticipated event in itself.
Before heading to the court, the Grizzlies’ players in the locker room were more excited than the next.
The championship trophy belonged to the team, but the rings belonged to the individual.
As they walked out of the players’ tunnel in their long-sleeved championship gear, they immediately saw the nicely arranged arena.
In the center of the court, a round table was set up with the Grizzlies’ championship trophy in the middle, and around the trophy, in a circular arrangement, were placed over 20 rings.
Guy couldn’t hold back his excitement and was rubbing his hands.
While the other members of the Grizzlies weren’t as outwardly obvious, their eyes stayed glued in that direction.
Adding to the fun, right before the championship ceremony began, the live broadcast on TNT cut to a close-up of James.
James’ furrowed brow was a guarantee for ratings.
After being knocked out, James didn’t witness the Grizzlies’ championship moment, but now at least he could witness their award ceremony, which was some consolation.
But his feelings at the moment must be quite mixed, because if you wind the clock back two years, at that time he couldn’t even dream that Hansen would win a championship before him.
However, thinking positively, this championship was given away by him, so he also deserves some credit.
Soon after, Stern arrived at the center of the court, and the arena’s lights focused on the round table.
Under the spotlight, the diamonds on the rings sparkled and dazzled.
The award ceremony began on-site with Stern delivering a speech.
All players of the Grizzlies team were eager to start.
After the speech ended, Stern presented the championship rings to everyone.
First the team’s owner Heisley, then general manager Wallace and the management members, followed by head coach Joerger and his coaching staff, and finally the players.
This year, the Grizzlies had imitated the Lakers’ 2009 ceremony where the players, in addition to receiving their own championship rings, would introduce the next player with a short speech.
Hansen was the last to take the stage, preceded by Battier.
Before Battier spoke, the arena was already filled with cheers because Hansen was the only one left to get his ring.
"The next player I want to introduce," Battier began, "I think it’s easy to describe him. He led this team; he changed the fate of this city. I think he’s the one who truly deserves the title ’President.’ He is Hansen!"
You could always trust Battier’s eloquence; before his words even finished, the cheers from the crowd were overwhelming.
It had been nearly half a year since their championship win, but it seemed as though it had just happened yesterday.
This moment was just like that moment.
Hansen’s emotions appeared very stable; he calmly waved and walked towards Stern, shook hands with him, and then took his first personal championship ring from Heisley’s hands. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾·𝗇𝖾𝗍
The ring wasn’t extravagant, yet it was very creative, looking just like the FedEx Forum.
On the front of the ring was the Grizzlies’ logo, a large bear head, with the few diamonds all set in the center of the bear’s forehead, forming a "1" pattern, signifying it was the first championship in Grizzlies’ history.