CHAPTER 1268: CHAPTER 401: THIS TEAM IS HARD TO BEAT

But it turns out that relaxing with a group of like-minded people is truly enjoyable.

This Warriors team is closer-knit than Roger expected, with everyone getting along well.

Within this team, there are no seniority-based privileges, no players who struggle to integrate, no individuals with hidden agendas.

They joke around, they playfully push each other.

Even Boris Diaw, who differs the most from the others in background, fits in well with this group of "gangsters" from the bottom thanks to his playful nature.

That’s right, gangsters. The concept of the Golden State Gangsters is very popular within the team, and everyone enjoys playing the role of a gangster.

They smoke and drink like real gang members, swear like real gang members, greet with complex hand gestures like real gang members, and discuss "stealing" business from other teams next season like real gang members.

Of course, stable and non-intrusive management is also key to the team’s excellent atmosphere. If management had haggled over player contracts again this summer, the team would surely be in chaos.

For Roger, who has already established two dynasties, this atmosphere is unbelievable. In the past, both Orlando and Atlanta experienced very harmonious times. But once they entered the third championship cycle, both teams inevitably encountered problems.

In Orlando, during the three-peat season, the team went through a "bloody election" incident. Roger "ditched" his best friend to gain actual control of the locker room and completely broke with Shaq. The team atmosphere was tenser than the Middle East situation; no one dared to joke in the locker room. The management focused not on solving problems but on figuring out how to lowball Shaq for the best deal.

In Atlanta, even before the start of the three-peat season, the team atmosphere was ruined because management let Ben Wallace go. Roger publicly clashed with management, and Paul Pierce early on stated he wouldn’t renew his contract with the team, causing a near-total breakdown in the relationship between the locker room and management. The whole team was filled with a sense of doom, as if the dynasty was about to collapse.

Yet this Warriors team broke all the rules about "post-championship syndrome." Neither the team owner nor the players caused any trouble due to having already won two championships.

Marcus Camby was used to being a hardworking center, and Dikembe Mutombo was content with playing off the bench.

Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes were absolutely loyal to Roger, and Boris Diaw didn’t care about his playing time.

Tayshaun Prince got a five-year, 47 million extension, and Jason Richardson was just satisfied with his contract.

As for the Russian, he spent more time on American peach butts than on the team. Even though re-signing Stoudemire, Little Prince, and Jason Richardson cost a lot of money, Mikhail Prokhorov didn’t mind. Team operational costs were never an issue for him.

Roger feels as if they are facing the journey of the third championship with the same positive mindset as when they were pursuing the first crown, without a decrease in enthusiasm even a bit.

Everyone was extraordinarily energetic, everyone enjoyed their time together. Everyone was extraordinarily coordinated, like a sci-fi movie’s computer-programmed robot army, with Roger as the one giving commands.

This kind of team is hard to beat.

Even though the only real All-Star alongside Roger is Stoudemire, and on paper, this roster is far inferior to the likes of the Lakers and the Knicks. But Roger is certain, this team is hard to beat.

This atmosphere fills Roger with confidence for the upcoming season, not just the next season. Maybe in San Francisco, Roger can really achieve the greatest goal.

At this moment, the heads of Matt Barnes, Jason Richardson, Stephen Jackson, and Boris Diaw appeared in Roger’s view.

They wore mischievous smiles, like aliens excitedly eyeing a human body.

Roger took off his sunglasses: "What is it?"

"Roger, do you know what the most important part of a pool party is?" Stephen Jackson asked.

"Bikini babes?"

"No, the most important part is throwing someone into the water!"

In the next second, Roger was lifted by four people and tossed into the pool.

Erik Spoelstra and Jeff Hornacek watched everything unfold from under a sun umbrella, and the Filipino coach remarked: "This is the most beautiful team I’ve ever seen."

"But you know three-peats are never easy, we don’t know what troubles we might face."

"Hopefully, Cattino is the biggest trouble." Erik Spoelstra finished his drink, which was his greatest wish.

After the party ended, the gang temporarily disbanded, but Roger didn’t have much time to rest, as he had to travel all over the world for various commercial activities.

Strangely, this summer, Roger didn’t have any scandal with movie stars.

Tom Brady couldn’t believe it, but all signs indicated that Roger seemed to genuinely want a stable partner.

At the beginning of September, Roger began gathering his men for private training camp.

Besides the Warriors’ own players, Paul Pierce from the Pacers, Kurt Thomas who was traded to the Knights, and Michael Reed, who was abandoned by the Knights, among others, also participated in the team discussions.