NBA: Warrior godfather.

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The Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award, given to the best player of the Final Four, was announced, and without any surprise, Curry took the honor.

As the award ceremony came to a close, Liam descended from the podium. His phone buzzed twice in his pocket.

He pulled it out to see a message from Markbaum:

"Congratulations, champion coach. By the way, I have good news for you. Bear Stearns' stock price has plummeted, the subprime mortgage market is fluctuating, and the ABX index has dropped sharply. Your net worth has just crossed $100 million. Of course, barring any surprises, this number will keep rising."

Liam's eyes widened slightly, staring at the screen for a few moments before replying:

"Thanks."

He put his phone away, took a deep breath, and started walking into the players' tunnel. He turned left but didn't stop at the fork in the road.

"Boss, that's the Tigers' locker room!" Curry's voice called out from behind him after he had walked a bit.

Liam froze, turned around slowly, and headed back.

Curry, watching Liam's stiff movements, asked, confused:

"Jimmy, what's wrong with the boss?"

Butler, standing next to him, looked equally puzzled:

"Maybe he's just too happy after winning the championship."

…

The next day, the Bulldogs flew back to Indiana.

Liam had asked the staff to pick up several newspapers. He flipped through the sports sections, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

*USA Today*:

"Butler University has become the new king of the NCAA, and Coach Liam has been instrumental. The team's core players, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, were not highly rated before college. It was Coach Liam who discovered them, and they played pivotal roles in Butler University's victory. Curry hit 6 of 11 three-pointers, scoring 27 points and dishing out 9 assists while battling Memphis' backcourt..."

*Sports Illustrated*:

"In today's NCAA finals, Butler University emerged as champions while the University of Memphis fell short. Memphis' star point guard Rose announced after the game that he would declare for the NBA draft, where he looks forward to competing against Curry. Rose scored 24 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and handed out 8 assists, making him the top contender for the number one pick..."

Liam chuckled at the selective omission of his name.

*The Washington Post*:

"Butler University's rise over the past two years has been nothing short of remarkable. It demonstrates how smaller schools can succeed, not by chasing five-star recruits, but by unearthing hidden gems..."

Liam grinned at the comment. Finding hidden gems? I have my own methods, but no one else knows who these gems are except me.

After perusing all the newspapers, Liam set them aside with a sense of accomplishment.

ESPN and *Basketball Pioneer* would soon be out with more coverage. He'd just had an interview with Duan Ran the day before, and he expected his popularity in Colombia to rise even further.

He loved reading the praise after a big win—it was one of the great pleasures of coaching. In his past life, he could only watch famous coaches trend online, but now, he was the one in the spotlight, basking in the glory. He relished every moment of it.

Liam admitted to himself that he was a bit vain.

Stevens, watching from the side, smirked:

"Liam, you're a championship coach now. Can you think bigger?"

"You don't get it. This is public recognition, the approval of the masses, understand?" Liam grinned.

"When those reporters criticized you, why didn't you say it was the public's encouragement?" Stevens quipped.

"..."

Liam's grin froze, and he turned his back silently. Since you've helped me craft so many tactics, I'll let this one slide.

Stevens' tone suddenly became serious:

"Liam, I used to think I was the best candidate to coach the Bulldogs. When Coach Lickliter picked you, I was a little resentful... But now I see he made the right choice. If I had been head coach, the Bulldogs wouldn't have won the championship. You have to keep leading this team forward and make Butler a true powerhouse."

Liam put down the newspaper and gave Stevens a puzzled look:

"Why are you suddenly so sentimental? You sound like you're quitting."

"Actually, I might not be your assistant next season," Stevens admitted, his voice low.

Liam's expression shifted:

"What? Why are you leaving?"

Stevens looked out the window at the red and golden clouds and replied calmly:

"I've received several offers from other universities. They're offering good salaries... and with you here, I can't become the head coach of the Bulldogs. I don't want to stay as an assistant anymore. It's time to find my own path."

"Ah, I thought it was something serious," Liam laughed. "What if I told you I'll be leaving the Bulldogs soon?"

Stevens turned sharply, disbelief in his eyes:

"What did you say? You're leaving?"

"Yep, don't forget, I only signed a two-year contract with the school, and my goal has always been the NBA. When I leave, you'll be the clear candidate to take over as head coach of the Bulldogs," Liam said casually.

"But you just led the team to a championship… and honestly, a single NCAA title isn't enough to land a head coach job in the NBA. Are you planning to enter as an assistant?" Stevens asked, still wide-eyed.

Liam smiled mysteriously:

"Who told you I want to join the NBA as a coach?"

…

After a five-hour flight, the plane finally touched down at Indianapolis International Airport.

As the Bulldogs disembarked, they were greeted by a sea of people. The streets were packed, the tops of cars full of fans, with police officers managing the crowd.

When the Bulldogs appeared, a wave of thunderous cheers rose up to welcome their heroes.

"Bulldogs! Bulldogs!"

"Coach Liam, I love you forever!"

"Curry, I want to have your baby!"

"..."

Following Liam's instructions, the players proudly displayed the championship trophy, waving to the screaming fans.

But to avoid causing too much disruption, the team didn't linger for autographs. Instead, they boarded the minibus that came to pick them up, heading straight for the campus.

Amid the chaos of fans and excitement, Liam found himself seated next to Curry.

Curry waved enthusiastically at the fans outside the window, turning to Liam with a broad smile:

"Boss, is this what it feels like to win a championship? It's amazing. I think I was born for this... Yeah, we're the champions!"

He let out an excited whoop, and his teammates joined in, turning the bus into a howling celebration.

End of this chapter

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