One Year Left to Play

Is that so? O'Neal felt it might be, but something didn't seem right.

Seeing O'Neal's resistant expression wavering, he pressed on: "Everyone knows you're the world's best center. You don't need to prove it to the Magic. Who are they? Just a bunch of blind men. Didn't they call you selfish? Show them you're generous! Let them see you're a selfless, team-oriented player — they're the ones unworthy of you."

Every word hit the spot in O'Neal's heart. Unconsciously rubbing his chin, he replied, "You seem to make some sense..."

...

Looking at O'Neal opposite him, Anfernee Hardaway was filled with a sense of betrayal.

O'Neal, upon being traded to the Lakers, shouted to the media, revealing the Magic wanted to offer Anfernee Hardaway a billion-dollar contract, asking him to take a pay cut, which drove him to leave the Magic.

Indeed, the Magic had said such things to O'Neal.

But every person perceives a situation differently.

Before this summer, players could only renew in contract years. After the last season, the league modified the renewal rules, allowing renewal in non-contract years, meaning renewal can now be advanced.

During the off-season, the Magic were negotiating renewal with O'Neal, while also discussing an early renewal with Anfernee Hardaway.

On Anfernee Hardaway's end, he hadn't even received a billion-dollar contract offer. In August, the Magic offered him a 7-year contract worth $86.68 million.

His rookie contract was one year. In '95, he renewed with the Magic for four years at $23.78 million. The new contract starts the '98-'99 season, and the last year of the current contract '97-'98 season pays $7.58 million, while the first year of the new contract '98-'99 season pays $8.51 million, essentially extending the current contract with a 12% increase for seven years.

Having personally experienced it and seen the news, Anfernee Hardaway trusted his own experience more.

He hadn't expected O'Neal to really leave and go around saying the Magic was saving money to offer him a hundred million dollars.

Upon seeing the news, he actively requested the Magic offer him 7 years at a billion dollars, which they rejected, denying O'Neal's claims.

Thus, Anfernee Hardaway concluded O'Neal was lying, feeling betrayed.

Facing O'Neal as an opponent in a game for the first time in his career, Anfernee Hardaway felt as if he were staring at an enemy, full of a burning desire to win.

Suddenly, such emotions in Anfernee Hardaway's heart were greatly magnified, deepening his hatred towards O'Neal...

Being already competitive over wealth, he developed feelings of jealousy over O'Neal's $127 million deal.

Originally, Anfernee Hardaway, with little opinion, doing whatever came to mind, was used to accepting reality. Only today, facing O'Neal, did such a hateful sentiment arise from betrayal; usually, he moved on as usual.

He was ready, having delayed early renewal for so long, wondering when to sign since the Magic were willing to offer only that much, what could he do?

But now, he decided he wanted a hundred million too! After this game, he would go back and negotiate with the Magic!

...

O'Neal felt resentment towards the Magic for losing him, with no interaction between the two sides upon entering.

Even social ace Brian Shaw didn't talk to his old teammates. He was always good at managing his stance; old teammates or current ones? He would surely choose O'Neal.

Soon, the game was about to start, and the starters took to the court.

The Lakers sent Kenny Anderson, Doug Christie, Zhang Hao, Barkley, and O'Neal.

The Magic sent Anfernee Hardaway, Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott, Horace Grant, and Ronnie Seikaly.

Zhang Hao felt the opponent's hunger for victory just stepping onto the court.

Currently, the Magic were 16-10, with an okay record, just not as good as last year when they only lost 10 games by the All-Star weekend.

Earlier, Zhang Hao checked out the scouting report of the opponents. The evaluation of the shooters had fallen; since O'Neal's departure, their backcourt duo of Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott, last season's best three-point duo in the league, averaged one less three per game, collectively scoring eight points less per game!

Last season, the Magic, averaging 103 points per game and ranking 8th in the league, were now at 96.1 points per game, ranking 17th, dropping from top-notch to mid-tier, although their defense was still decent, conceding an average of 93.3 points, about 10 fewer than the Lakers.

The Magic's acquisition of center Ronnie Seikaly from the Warriors for $12 million over three years was a source of joy for them this season, averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game, a soothing balm during O'Neal's injury hiatus and post-return conflict with Zhang Hao, as they constantly touted Seikaly while taking jabs at O'Neal.

Now, O'Neal stared down his Lebanese center opponent, wanting to swallow the opponent whole.

Time Warner Cable Sports' broadcast had been running for a while. Bill Walton and Hubie Brown had analyzed the sudden grievances and disputes between these teams this summer. Before long, they switched topics to the recently popular midday show "Ultraman X", a production that either resonated deeply or didn't at all with audiences. After four days of airing, Time Warner Cable TV's viewership in the North American region had stabilized between 3%-5%, far exceeding expectations.

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