This choice shocked everyone present.
So LeBron is the so-called "rich guy" who just picks the expensive, not the right?
The choice returned once again to Hansen’s side, and Hansen stroked his chin.
It’s undeniable, as long as it’s not about playing basketball, LeBron is quite clever.
We have to mention Cousins’ injury, with only Jokic and Davis considered big guys in the starter pool, and the remaining Antetokounmpo is now also a genuine mobile power forward.
So, with Hansen already having picked Jokic, he doesn’t have much reason to select Davis. Instead, he should first find an outside partner for himself.
That way, even if LeBron doesn’t pick Davis with the second pick, he can still get him with the third.
LeBron had indeed arranged things very clearly for Hansen in a short time.
However, though LeBron had been Hansen’s rival for many years, he still doesn’t quite understand Hansen.
Once Hansen realizes someone is leading him by the nose, he definitely won’t follow along.
Hansen chose Davis with the second pick.
After Hansen made his second choice, the show’s popularity peaked instantly.
Nobody knows how to generate show buzz better than Hansen.
Heading back to the issue of Cousins’ absence, Hansen’s choice forced LeBron to select Antetokounmpo, the only remaining inside player left in the pool.
Hansen then began to seize the initiative in selecting players because he chose Klay Thompson, whom LeBron surely wanted.
When the selection phase reached this point, an awkward moment that hadn’t been considered before emerged.
Just like the players in the green room who weren’t selected back then, in both the first round and the second, there would be one person who wouldn’t be picked.
Because after the first person finishes picking, the remaining one naturally goes to the other team.
All six people in the starter pool on site had been picked, leaving only Irving and Harden. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅✦𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾✦𝗇𝖾𝗍
This means that one of the two will certainly be "left over".
Fortunately, this show was recorded in advance, otherwise if such an embarrassment occurred during the live division at the All-Star game, the last person left would scratch their feet in embarrassment.
However, for the final pick, LeBron stroked his chin and thought for a long time. After Hansen didn’t go according to his plan, he was now backed into a corner.
Between the two left, Harden is a very commanding ball handler and a guard, so having him on the same team would mean competing for the ball.
And Irving, Irving fits well, but when Irving played for the Cavaliers, he had said, "Nobody wants to be LeBron’s teammate!"
Hansen was also watching LeBron with great interest at this point, knowing that it’s called reaping what you sow.
If LeBron had chosen Davis quietly, this situation wouldn’t have occurred because Hansen would have chosen Irving to stir things up, but now LeBron was forced to make a choice.
After experiencing a series of struggles and even a somewhat painful expression, LeBron finally made his choice.
Hansen was momentarily stunned, and then he laughed again.
Not at all surprising to him after all.
Between stats and reputation, LeBron of course chose the stats.
Of course, LeBron then tried to save face by explaining that his choice was made to win, and that Irving’s skills were more suitable for their team, and so on.
Hansen was just initially listening for fun, but after hearing LeBron’s explanation, he felt he had another reason to aim for victory at this year’s All-Star game.
LeBron wants to win so much, so of course, he cannot be allowed to win.
What, is there any other reason?
Because this year’s All-Star game is being held in Cleveland!
After winning the championship in 2016, Gilbert wanted to enhance Cleveland’s influence in the League and among fans by hosting the All-Star game.
However, with the conditions at Quicken Loans Arena back then, it was completely incapable of hosting an All-Star game.
But after the arena underwent renovations and coupled with the current influence of the Cavaliers, hosting it in Cleveland naturally became a logical thing.
LeBron picked Irving, leaving Harden as the last "leftover" player.
Hansen at this point was in mourning for the bearded one.
In "history," Hansen was left over, leading fans to say his relationships weren’t good, and now it seems he can’t escape the same fate.
With both sides done picking, the starting lineup for this year’s All-Star game officially came about.①
Hansen’s team is clearly a size larger than LeBron’s team.
Even spatially, Hansen’s team looks better than LeBron’s.
Plus, considering the strength gap between the two captains, Hansen’s team has a considerable chance of winning.
Of course, this was just about starters; there are still 7 reserves to be picked.
Barkley also supplemented a rule here: the person who picked last among the starters will have the priority to pick first for the reserves.
This way, the side that was passive during the starter selection will have the initiative when picking reserves.
Of course, LeBron was feeling a bit like he was about to cry without actually shedding tears.
Because now the starters were picked, and he was the one being passive. When it came to picking the reserves, he was still the one picking last, taking all the burden alone.
Even when picking reserves, Hansen demonstrated his habit of gentle revenge.
LeBron switched teams in the League over the years, creating quite a few "enemies" for himself within the League.
For instance, among the starters, there’s Irving, and among the reserves, there’s Westbrook and Green, who Hansen will inevitably leave for LeBron.
After all, since LeBron claimed it was all for the win, since he’s already endured once, enduring twice shouldn’t be an issue either.
And with Hansen picking first this time, he held absolute initiative.
So when the reserve selection reached its end, only Westbrook and Green were left in the pool.
At this moment, even the cameraman broadcasting the show understood perfectly and gave LeBron a big close-up shot.
LeBron’s face looked extremely constipated.
Because for him, the two remaining players were like chocolate with a shit flavor or shit with a chocolate flavor.
This was the second time Hansen backed LeBron into a corner, but unlike the first time, he had at least some choice then; this time, he could only leave it to fate.
When the League announced him as a captain, he jumped up in excitement.
After all, at this point, he wasn’t even Nike’s poster boy, yet he still managed to get the captaincy, which was like a dying man suddenly rising with excitement, like a spring breeze overnight.
But now, he felt like a clown on stage, eager to find a hole to hide, with no place to go.
"I choose... Russell."
Hansen made his final choice.
Hansen was ultimately a good man; see, LeBron didn’t choose Harden because he was a ball-dominant core, and Hansen fully considered LeBron’s demands and chose Westbrook, another ball-dominant core, instead.
Plus, LeBron’s team was already lacking inside presence, so a defensive powerhouse like Green was more suitable for LeBron.
LeBron’s face looked darker by now, unable to keep up any composure.
For him, Westbrook was chocolate with a shit flavor, unpleasant to eat but at least not toxic.
But Green, after Green ranted about the Green formula, became LeBron’s biggest enemy in the League.
He thought he’d never be teammates with Green again in his life, but little did he know, just half a season later, they were teammates again!
①Hansen’s Team Starters: Hansen, Harden, Thompson, Davis, Jokic
Reserves: Lillard, Lowry, Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, Hayward, Griffin, Towns
LeBron’s Team Starters: Irving, Curry, Durant, LeBron, Antetokounmpo
Reserves: Paul, Wall, Paul George, Derozan, Green, Alderich, Embiid