Chapter 113: The Turning Point
“Run faster! Come on! You’re all 20 years old, and yet none of you can outrun Gay!”
The moment Chen Yilun stepped into the gym, he was greeted by Butler’s trademark verbal barrage.
The entire Kings squad was running shuttle drills. With Butler barking away, the trainers and coaches could only stand silently on the sidelines, unable to get a word in.
Normally, these were the very things they should’ve been saying to push the players. But with Butler around, he had already taken over their job.
On the court, the two pushing themselves hardest were Butler and Gay.
The veteran Gay saw the situation clearly—Butler had just joined and was trying to establish authority. Playing the “good guy,” Gay knew this wasn’t the time to clash with him. That’s why he was working even harder than usual today.
The younger players, meanwhile, had never experienced anything like this. After finishing their runs, they bent over on the sideline, gasping for breath.
“I hear you guys are aiming for a championship together?”
Butler casually wiped the sweat from his face and strolled over. “With this kind of effort? You think you’re winning a championship? You should disband right now and go your separate ways! If you can’t handle this intensity, how are you going to survive the playoffs?”
His words cut into them like knives.
“Isn’t this a little too much?”
Chris whispered to Malone.
“This is nothing yet.”
Before Malone could reply, Uncle Chip—long-seasoned in the league’s grind—spoke first.
“If they can’t handle this, then we misjudged them. These kids won’t lead us to a ring.”
Chip knew the drill. Popovich had been the master of sharp remarks, and every player under him had endured his mental jabs.
As Butler carried on, Booker finally lifted his head and glared at him.
Even such a small gesture didn’t escape Butler’s eyes.
“Devin? Not happy with what I said?” Butler sneered as he stepped right in front of him. “You ever played in the playoffs? Gone up against a real superstar?”
“How could I? I’m just a rookie.”
Booker muttered under his breath.
“I have!” Butler’s voice suddenly boomed. “Do you know what it takes to play against superstars? I’ve guarded playoff LeBron! Gone toe-to-toe with Paul George! Led the defense against the full-strength Hawks system! Do you know how terrifying that intensity is?”
As he spoke, Butler picked up a ball.
“Come on. One-on-one. Five possessions. If you so much as touch the rim once, I’ll never act like the boss in front of you again.”
Without waiting for Booker’s reply, he shoved the ball into his hands and walked toward the court.
Fueled by Butler’s taunts, Booker stormed onto the floor, fuming. “I don’t believe it! Just because he’s been in the league a few years longer—how big can the gap really be?”
What followed was a scene the Kings could only describe as: “So much for the basketball dream.”
On the first play, Booker tried to drive inside. But after just a couple dribbles, Butler cut him off, forcing him to stop. He didn’t even reach for the ball—he just smothered Booker, giving him no room to move.
With no other option, Booker spun for a fadeaway, but Butler’s hand was already waiting in his shooting lane.
Whack!
By the time Booker reacted, the ball was already in his hands, and he stared back with amusement. “That’s it? I overrated you!”
The rest went much the same.
Whether shooting or driving, Booker was completely locked down. Out of five possessions, Butler picked his pocket twice. Even when he forced up shots, his form was so disrupted the ball couldn’t even reach the rim.
“Feel it now, kid?”
Butler smirked at Booker, who stood frozen, shaken to the core.
“See the gap? And let me tell you this—playing like this, I couldn’t even get out of the weak East. Think about it—we’re in the wild West!”
“Winning a championship isn’t about shouting slogans for that damn ring. Every one of us has to grind, keep improving. Only then do we have even the slightest chance at the O’Brien Trophy!”
Butler’s display—and his words—shook everyone to the core.
“They’ve had it too easy, thought the playoffs would be just like the regular season,” Malone said, clipboard in hand, as he watched his players fall into deep thought.
“This is a hurdle they have to cross. Only then can they fight real battles. Only then can this team truly contend for a title.”
Normally, a player only experiences this kind of leap after being schooled in the playoffs, then evolving during the offseason.
But thanks to Butler, the Kings’ young core had that awakening mid-season.
For now, it was only a mental shift, but in the long run, it would raise their ceilings.
“Butler really is invaluable.”
Malone had said it countless times already. Right now, Butler was like a Swiss Army knife—mental toughness, scoring ability, everything. Only his playmaking and leadership hadn’t yet reached the all-encompassing level he would one day achieve.
Simply put, Butler was on the brink of becoming his full self.
“As long as you see that,” Chen Yilun grinned. “He’s the best guide I could find for these young guys.”
“Our team came together too fast—we lacked depth. Butler is the depth I brought in.”
Watching his players reignite their fire, Malone couldn’t hide his smile.
“Feeling confident now?”
“Yes!” Malone nodded hard. “Once CJ’s back and we survive this half-season of trials, I believe we can stand toe-to-toe with any playoff team in the West.”
His voice rose with passion. Those teams had held him down for years, but now he finally had the chance to strike back.
Just wait and see!
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