Chapter 389: National Team and Dream Team

Fan Xi spent the whole day shooting commercials, and his spirit was extremely exhausted.

But he still returned home with great enthusiasm to welcome the upcoming national team members. Interestingly, that afternoon Arenas, Leonard, Little Jordan, and Kuameibulang also came to find Fan Xi for fun, and Fan Xi simply invited them over for a home dinner.

This forced Chen Ye to arrange two chef teams—a barbecue team and a Chinese cuisine team—plus a beverage team.

When Fan Xi entered the room, he heard booming square‑dance music, and the teacher Phoenix Legend's singing resonated throughout the upscale villa.

Fan Xi isn't a person with a high level of appreciation, but he found it quite lively and festive.

What the masses like must have a deep rationale.

Soon after Fan Xi got home, the guests arrived; Arenas came first with his two girlfriends. As soon as the girlfriends arrived, they asked Fan Xi for a photo, and Arenas was generous enough to say, "If Fan Xi is willing to fulfill their wishes, he can pretend he didn't see anything."

Women are like clothing; Arenas truly has a heroic, chivalrous style.

But Fan Xi kept a polite social distance.

Then came Leonard, a Los Angeles native, who is still the same as before; although he's now in the spotlight and everyone calls him the best rookie in the United States, the media still laments that he didn't make the Dream Team training camp.

Little Jordan and Kuameibulang arrived together, and they actually received invitations to the Dream Team training camp. As is well known, the Dream Team selected few interior players this year; these two performed well in the playoffs, so they hope they can go train, and maybe stay to serve the nation.

Both politely declined.

For them, the past season was too intense and they need rest.

Kobe arrived a little later, driving his limited‑edition Lamborghini, looking very flashy. He also brought a bottle of pricey French red wine, saying it was to celebrate Fan Xi.

When Arenas saw Kobe, he quickly said, "Hey, Kobe. Transfer from the Lakers to the Kuaisuan right away, and you'll definitely win a few more championships than Jordan."

Kobe was too lazy to bother with him.

He did, however, get along with the taciturn Leonard, and they talked about basketball techniques.

As for Arenas, Kobe really hates him.

Then a massive bus pulled up; Yao Ming arrived with 21 national team training camp players at Fan Xi's residence, and everyone marveled at Fan Xi's super‑mansion, whose total floor area exceeds six thousand square meters.

In the domestic basketball circle, Fan Xi has long been a god‑like figure, so many young players are speechless with excitement when they see him.

For these basketball‑loving kids, Fan Xi is practically their spiritual beacon.

With Kobe's arrival, the kids became even more excited. Before Fan Xi, Kobe was the most adored perimeter star among domestic fans; now both stand here, and the excitement is uncontrollable.

Many players brought shoes and jerseys to get autographs and photos with Fan Xi and Kobe, and both welcomed everyone.

Then Chen Ye began organizing activities.

He is good at adjusting the atmosphere, which turned the previously stiff and awkward moments lively.

Especially after he lit the bonfire.

Of course, what really livened things up was Arenas calling in 22 lightly‑dressed women.

Everyone quickly relaxed.

Next, Fan Xi sat inside with Yao Ming, Kobe, Leonard, and the national team's Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian, and Sun Yue; they ate barbecue, drank red wine, and talked about basketball.

Halfway through drinking, Lao Wang suddenly said mysteriously, "This red wine isn't that interesting; shall we switch to another?"

As he spoke, he had a little brother outside fetch a jar of yellow wine from the car.

He said, "This is a wine I had an old Chinese doctor specially brew; it's good for the body, strengthens health, and is especially great for us men."

"The most important thing is, it can regulate a man's acid‑base balance and help produce sons!!"

Lao Wang spoke cryptically. "You didn't know, did you? Most of us athletes tend to have daughters. Why? Because the more we train, the more likely we have sons, since intense exercise raises our internal acidity…"

Domestic men, once they reach a certain age, all like this kind of mystical talk.

Fan Xi originally wanted to debunk this feudal superstition.

But he found Kobe silently poured himself a glass; Kobe had previously claimed he couldn't handle Chinese liquor, that it burned his throat and made him dizzy and vomit, and that after tasting it in '08 he never wanted to try again.

But now.

"Cheers!"

Kobe said it in broken Chinese.

He said it, downed it in one gulp, very boldly.

The group drank for over half an hour, mostly Kobe, Lao Wang, and Sun Yue; but Sun Yue kept drinking and then ran outside to play. After all, he was the one who caught "kissing disease" while playing for the Lakers years ago.

Kobe was a bit drunk at this point.

The usually cool‑headed guy actually pulled out his phone and had Fan Xi call Vanessa, asking her to come pick him up.

Kobe's house and Fan Xi's are neighboring, so Vanessa arrived shortly after, about fifteen minutes later.

When she arrived she complained to Kobe, "Even if you didn't win the championship, you can't be so down and drink."

Fan Xi helped Kobe toward the garage.

When putting Kobe into the car, Vanessa muttered, "We're trying to conceive lately…"

But Kobe grabbed her and blurted, "I'm the one who's trying to conceive!"

Fan Xi couldn't stand it, buckled Kobe's seatbelt, and watched them leave.

…

Arenas is talented; he quickly got along with the national team members. He doesn't speak Chinese; some national team players are fluent in English, others stumble, but with gestures they can communicate.

Their discussions were profound, such as the differences between Asian women and European‑American women, and whether expression under desire suppression varies in volume.

Fan Xi didn't join the discussion; instead he talked with Leonard about something else. Leonard said he hoped to train with Fan Xi in the summer, and Fan Xi replied, "Then just come to our training camp as a sparring partner."

Leonard agreed without hesitation.

He's a one‑on‑one defender at James‑level, a recognized future NBA super‑star.

Yao Ming was stunned; that sparring level is too high.

What neither Fan Xi nor Yao Ming expected was that afterward Arenas, Kuameibulang, and Little Jordan all said they wanted to train together; of course they meant they'd go when they have time to stay in shape.

Their training attitude can't compare with Leonard's.

They all live in Los Angeles, popping over now and then, which is undoubtedly good news for the national team.

Later, Yao Ming received a message saying Mike Brown agreed to join the national team, but not as head coach, as a consultant. Moreover, he also asked the national team whether he could bring an assistant coach.

To Fan Xi's surprise, the assistant coach turned out to be Bilupusi.

Bilupusi had been wavering between remaining an athlete and switching to coaching, but now he made a decision. He is willing to start as Kuaisuan assistant head coach, and Fan Xi and Ku Pu Qie Ke both strongly agree.

After a party, everyone's relationships grew considerably closer, and importantly the national team solved major training and tactical issues.

When they left, Yao Ming clasped Fan Xi's hand and said, "Fan Xi, I think this time we really have a chance to make history. If we reach the semifinals, or even win a medal, I guarantee the whole country will boil with excitement!!"

…

The next day's schedule was still shooting a commercial, but on the way to the studio, Fan Xi heard a report on the radio.

A voice from Las Vegas.

In a media interview with the Dream Team, when asked which opponent they most wanted to match up against, all the players chose the China team.

And Tyson Chandler also said, "Our goal is to crush them. I simply cannot accept Jieke Fan taking away our two Finals MVP trophies."

Tyson Chandler is a rough man.

He said that, in fact, it reflects the Dream Team's sentiment.

It is also the voice of the American basketball community.

Fan Xi is too wild; Fan Xi won two championships in the United States, provoking many sensitive domestic players. Though James, Wei De, and Paul remain silent, in truth they think the same, and even more extreme, they might want a 100‑0 slaughter.

After hearing that, Fan Xi merely raised his eyebrows slightly. He had looked at this year's groupings yesterday; the national team won't meet the Dream Team in the group stage, and to face them they must at least reach the knockout round.

So, he is not currently contemplating a matchup with the Dream Team.

He treats it as a post‑championship aftereffect; these guys who can't afford to lose are just spouting bravado to prove their existence.

The commercial kept filming until 4 p. m., after which Fan Xi headed to the training hall.

Coach Mike Brown and Bilupusi were already in work mode; they did not conduct full‑court drills, but instead focused the players on the most basic defensive movements, targeting the national team's defensive gaps with specific patches.

In their view, domestic players have many poor defensive habits. Some were formed locally, some stem from a lack of advanced training, and many are forced by physical limitations.

Leonard was also coaching; he is a historically gifted defensive guard, and everything he teaches is excellent.

Meanwhile, Arenas was surprisingly competing in Three‑Point Shot contests with Stephen Curry.

They were not comparing ordinary shots, but various bizarre ultra‑long Three‑Point Shots.

Arenas has always been confident in his shooting.

But now he is downcast; seeing Fan Xi approach, he exclaims, "That damn thing is a monster, Jie Ke. He's even more amazing than you, he literally has magic!"

Stephen Curry is a phenomenon‑level shooter; he has already developed his own style.

He is becoming increasingly prominent in the league; now he just needs a system of his own, and then… soon he will erupt and become a superstar.

Although he does have flaws, such as defense.

But when his strengths shine, those flaws are ignored.

"Gilbert, I've long said you're outdated. Your shooting can't even match mine; at your peak you were only good at pulling wind." Fan Xi exposed Arenas's secret.

Arenas felt slightly embarrassed; he never expected Fan Xi to know he was good at pulling wind. In fact, Fan Xi not only knows it, but understands it better, because Fan Xi now possesses Arenas's wind‑pulling talent plus his own, so when Fan Xi pulls wind he will be fiercer than peak Arenas. The highest level of peak Arenas's wind‑pulling was only 60 points scored under Kobe's tight defense.

Fan Xi thinks that if he pulls wind, he might even reach 70 points.

That said, Fan Xi has never broken any scoring record.

After all, he has never been known for scoring.

After his slight embarrassment, Arenas suggested a Three‑Point Shot showdown with Fan Xi.

Fan Xi gladly agreed.

The two then contested normal catch‑and‑shoot shots.

Isn't this hitting Fan Xi's gun barrel?

Fan Xi's dynamic shooting is average, but this static shooting is historically top‑tier.

Fan Xi made 29 out of 30 attempts from five spots.

Arenas was also fierce, making 27.

"Monsters, you two are monsters." Arenas muttered, "Your Davidson Academy is literally a monster!"

Fan Xi and Curry laughed heartily.

After a while, after Mike Brown and Bilupusi finished the defensive‑detail training, the Chinese coach, former sharpshooter Li Nan, gathered the players and scolded them: "I hope you recognize your gap. You saw today's training; before we always said we were only lacking physical quality compared to foreign players, but our technique is still good."

"Now our underwear has been exposed, right? What we truly lack is training. Look at Leonard—his fundamentals are solid; in the NBA he still plays a blue‑collar defensive role. If you really go head‑to‑head, can you beat him?"

"You saw Fan Xi's shooting just now; everyone said his shot is poor. I think no domestic player shoots more accurately than him."

"Guys!! Train harder, start from the details. We must cherish this hard‑won training opportunity; this session is more valuable than any before. This is genuine NBA‑level training, with many star players pouring knowledge into us. You must absorb like sponges, tirelessly."

"Now domestic fans have very high expectations of us; we cannot disappoint them, nor place all hope on Fan Xi alone. Basketball is a five‑person game; I hope we all cherish the chance, work hard, fight boldly. Like Fan Xi, make our name known, display our might."

"Our achievements will not stop here!"