Chapter 589 - 85: Why Can’t the Goat Three-Peat as Regular Season MVP?

Looks like it’s garbage time.

Milicic was subbed out as well. He finished the game with an astonishing 29 points, 12 assists, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals.

His massive triple-double was so brilliant that it was a huge slap in the face to everyone who had been hyping up the Cavaliers’ frontcourt before the game.

Larry Brown was speechless on TV.

Milicic’s performance was beyond his wildest imagination. He had originally thought that Milicic, at best, might get a 20-and-10 game. That could be written off as a fluke; everyone has a great game now and then.

But for Milicic to get a massive, nearly 30-point triple-double—that couldn’t be called a fluke.

Anyone who watched the game could see that Milicic was already becoming a system unto himself. He practically pioneered a new archetype for the center position, and he was a perfect fit for the Knicks.

"Whether we can accept it or not, we have to admit it: Isaiah Thomas and Goat Su Xi truly have a unique eye for talent. They are exceptionally good at turning trash into treasure."

"When the trade first happened, everyone said the Knicks made a terrible deal. They all said Milicic was a washed-up bust of a second-overall pick with zero trade value."

"But now, who can still call Milicic a bust? Even after his development was stalled for four years, his performance tonight surpassed that of any rookie from the 2006 draft class. And I’ll say it: his potential is higher than any of those rookies too."

Reggie Miller declared confidently on air.

His conviction made Larry Brown uncomfortable, but Brown had nothing to say in response.

He had been proven wrong yet again.

This time, it wasn’t by Su Xi.

It was by Milicic, the very player he had completely written off.

Soon, the game was over. The Knicks clinched the victory, completing their regular-season sweep of the Cavaliers. They had faced off four times and won all four.

What excuses could the Cavaliers have now?

That LeBron James was injured?

Well, they always have an excuse.

Su Xi and Milicic immediately joined the ESPN courtside reporter for a post-game interview.

"I feel amazing. A massive triple-double... not bad. It’s the first one of my career, and the feeling is incredible. For someone who hit rock bottom, I can finally breathe fresh air again."

"I want to thank Jack, and all my teammates and the coaching staff on the Knicks. They’re the ones who helped me prove my worth on the court. They put me back on the path to achieving my original dream. I’ll give my all for the Knicks."

"When I was traded, nobody believed in me. A lot of people even criticized Jack and Isaiah for it. I was angry, so I went to Jack and asked him, ’What kind of player do you need me to be?’"

’My thinking at the time was that I would work as hard as possible to become whatever he asked. But he told me, "Darko, I don’t need you to be a certain type of player. I just want you to be yourself. Go be the player everyone once had such high hopes for."’

"And he wasn’t just saying it. He and the Knicks gave me the ultimate freedom. They made me a starter, gave me an unlimited green light to shoot, let me handle the ball, let me make tactical decisions... They always put me in a position to succeed. I’m so grateful to them."

"I’ve finally regained the confidence that was crushed, and I finally have the courage to unleash my talent. Without them, I might never have gotten a triple-double."

"Thank you. I did it."

Milicic was overcome with emotion. He had so much more he wanted to say. He had bottled up so much frustration over the years.

Now, he could finally get all that trash out of his system.

He had transformed, not just in terms of his skills, but on a psychological level as well.

The Cavaliers’ formidable frontcourt had given him the perfect opportunity to temper his skills.

Su Xi reached out and patted Milicic’s shoulder. Milicic, emotional, pulled Su Xi into a hug and even planted a kiss on his forehead.

Su Xi faced the camera, raised an eyebrow, and gave a handsome but wry smile. "That’s the first time I’ve been kissed by a big man that tall."

"But let’s be clear: Darko is already one of the best centers in the league. I’ll say it—he’s the best center in the East."

Su Xi said with absolute conviction, "Tonight, he beat Shaquille O’Neal. Tomorrow night, he’ll take down Dwight Howard."

Before, if Su Xi had said something like that, he would have been widely ridiculed.

But now, his words rang with power and conviction.

Even many Magic fans were starting to worry about Dwight Howard.

’What if Milicic actually pulls it off?’

’Was Milicic’s performance tonight just a flash in the pan?’

’If he really can pass the test against the two best centers in the East, then... what doubt would be left about him being the best center in the conference?’

’Are the Knicks just unbelievably good at making trades?’

’Are they just unbelievably good at developing stars?’

’They even managed to turn around a bust like Milicic.’

Previously, everyone said the Knicks were just helping Milicic pad his stats, that his improvement was a case of the system carrying the player. But tonight’s hard-fought battle proved that Milicic now has the ability to carry the team. He’s the one elevating the system.

Moreover, anyone who understands basketball could see that the Knicks weren’t even playing at their absolute peak tonight.

Su Xi "only" scored 32 points the entire game. If he’d had one of his explosive scoring nights, who knows how terrifying the Knicks could have been.

At this point, the ESPN reporter asked Su Xi a question. "Jack, how much does Milicic help the Knicks’ championship hopes? What do you think your odds of winning it all are now?"

Su Xi smiled and held up a finger. "Our chances of winning the championship have been one hundred percent from the very beginning!"

"Darko’s arrival raised us from one hundred percent to one thousand percent. Of course, mathematically speaking, that’s still one hundred percent," Su Xi said with a laugh.

He was as understated as ever, delivering the most arrogant statement in the calmest tone.

The reporter then asked Milicic for his take on Su Xi’s statement.

Milicic said, "Whatever Goat Su Xi says, goes. I’m the most loyal guardian by his side."

Milicic was singing a hymn of loyalty.

This made a lot of people uneasy; after all, the Goat had plenty of defenders.

Then, Milicic added, "This season, we’re not just going for the championship, we’re going for the best record in the East. And we’re going to make sure the Goat wins his third consecutive regular-season MVP."

"I know some people say there’s an unwritten rule in the NBA that you can only win two regular-season MVPs in a row. But unwritten rules are meant to be broken."

Milicic stated bluntly to the national television audience, "If Goat Su Xi sets a new all-time high for scoring average, turns a bust into a key player, and secures the best record in the league, what reason is there for him not to win the regular-season MVP?"

"Seriously, think about it. Who else’s performance this season can even compare to Goat Su Xi’s?"

"Always remember one thing. The Goat doesn’t need the MVP award for validation; the MVP award needs Goat Su Xi for its validation!"

Milicic had delivered an instant classic quote on live television.

The statement immediately sparked a massive debate, quickly becoming the center of attention.

’Could Su Xi really become the first player in history to win three consecutive regular-season MVP awards?’

"Why not?" Reggie Miller boldly declared. "If Jack doesn’t get the regular-season MVP this year, I’ll say it’s because of that unwritten rule. He’s the scoring champion, averaging 41.6 points, and he has the best record in the league. If he doesn’t get the MVP, what kind of joke is that?"

"Besides, just think about it. What if someone robs Jack of the regular-season MVP, only for Jack to turn around and win his fourth consecutive Finals MVP? Imagine the beautiful chaos in the media then."

Reggie Miller declared emphatically on air.

On this topic, even a professional contrarian like Larry Brown didn’t dare say much.

There was a simple reason for it.

Goat Su Xi was just that dominant.