Chapter 508: Inevitably a Bit Versailles

Kaiwen Jianeite is a smart person.

When he heard Fan Xi's reaction, he quickly flashed a smile and said, "I'm just kidding."

He only tentatively suggested leaving, but when he saw that Fan Xi made no attempt to retain him, not even a perfunctory excuse, and even wanted to use his remaining value for some trade reinforcement, he realized Fan Xi must have an idea.

Once Fan Xi has an idea, the new season will surely have great prospects.

Jianeite naturally wants to stay in New York; staying there not only brings a high salary but also abundant media and commercial resources.

"Don't make jokes like that in the future," Fan Xi said seriously to Kaiwen Jianeite. "I must ensure everyone on the ship is on the same page. Under the current situation, winning the championship isn't achieved by shouting a few times on the court or pounding one's chest."

Fan Xi stared directly into Kaiwen Jianeite's eyes.

Jianeite has been a famous superstar for a long time; as early as the last century he secured his first billion‑dollar contract, and his résumé is a rarity throughout the league.

But at this moment he felt the pressure emanating from Fan Xi.

Fan Xi was leading him.

He felt a bit upset inside, but under Fan Xi's steady gaze he did not unleash his innate wildness.

He was suppressed, even though he was unwilling to admit it.

He thus submitted to Fan Xi's authority.

Jianeite's probe gained some of what he wanted, but also cost him more. He must undergo psychological adjustment from the Wolf King of Minnesota, the absolute core of Boston, to… Jieke Fan's assistant.

Fan Xi no longer discussed the topic with Kaiwen Jianeite, and Jianeite became increasingly cooperative in training. On one hand, Fan Xi suppressed him; on the other, Ben Hualai Shi kept "contending" with him.

Compared with Kaiwen Jianeite, who is famed for his passionate, wild style, Ben Hualai Shi epitomizes a ruthless man of few words. Ben Hualai Shi's résumé may not shine as brightly as Jianeite's, but his standing in the jianghu is no lower. In another NBA combat system, Ben Hualai Shi has always been a peak force; Luo En A Taist went mad in Ao Ben Shan Palace, was given a push by Ben Hualai Shi, immediately collapsed onto the tech bench, could only vent on fans afterward, ultimately marking a career watershed.

Regarding mentorship, Ben Hualai Shi is a true heir of the notorious tough guys. In the eighties and nineties, the famed Charles Oakley unearthed Ben Hualai Shi, found him at a training camp, and sent him to his alma mater Virginia to play. This led to Ben Hualai Shi entering the 1996 draft….

After realizing he truly couldn't keep up with the team's pace, Ben Hualai Shi changed his role. He isn't a freeloader; he became the axe‑wielding tough guy in the locker room, maintaining order and helping La Li Bu Lang with training.

La Li Bu Lang himself is a strict coach, plus a muscular enforcer.

Every command he issued was executed well.

Frankly, Kaiwen Jianeite is a highly professional person; he adapts well to this high‑intensity training, especially after accepting Fan Xi's leadership.

The real source of instability inside the team remains Bu Lu Ke Luo Pei Si.

After Bu Luo Ke Luo Pei Si left the arena following his first training session, La Li Bu Lang immediately issued a suspension notice, telling him he would be placed in an indefinite off‑season status.

Clearly, this is something the young center enjoying privileges in Brooklyn has never experienced.

Lo Peisi has always received Heaven's Chosen Son treatment on the Nets, so he holds himself in high esteem, believing he will be the standout center of the new era and carry the center's banner.

After being traded to New York, he further believed the team would rely more on him, because the Knicks have essentially no center besides him.

He even waited for Fan Xi to approach him, after all he had experience dealing with Zhongguo players… When Yi was on the Nets, he was often shouted at by him; he even forbade Yi from entering the paint to contest his rear‑court rebounds. In his view, Yi's sole purpose was to create space for him, allowing him to freely pad stats in the paint.

However, this time he hit a hard stone; La Li Bu Lang simply didn't take him seriously.

The team's upper management also did not communicate with his agent or himself, fully respecting the head coach's stance.

This left Bu Lu Ke Luo Pei Si bewildered as the preseason approached.

He felt increasingly hollow inside; he is not a power player. In the NBA, if a player is labeled a locker‑room troublemaker, he truly becomes trouble.

Bu Lu Ke Luo Pei Si secured a near‑max six‑year contract with the Nets last year.

However, he still wants the next max‑value long term deal.

So he began to protest. He started releasing information to the media, saying the Knicks' current situation is chaotic, Coach La Li Bu Lang is devising a run‑and‑gun scheme, and he believes the Knicks' new season will be full of setbacks.

He also hinted that he has communication issues with the Knicks' chaotic tactics.

At this moment he did not burn bridges.

Because he publicly claimed his injury hadn't healed, so he wasn't present at the training facility.

But at that time, the Knicks' assistant GM replied remotely, "Bu Lu Ke Luo Pei Si feels his body cannot adapt to the training intensity, so he has been temporarily suspended from training. We always prioritize players' physical and mental health, and we will wait until he can handle the training intensity."

The Knicks didn't burn bridges, but they also didn't specify when he could return to training.

They gave him the cold shoulder.

He was restless; his agent told him to maintain strategic composure. When the Knicks fall into trouble, they will naturally ask him back, and that will be his moment to shine. We can even make them pay more in negotiations.

His agent thought that way.

His agent wants to play an extreme pressure game.

…

The preseason arrived quickly.

The Knicks' first preseason game was a home matchup against the Orlando Magic.

Although preseason wins and losses don't count toward regular‑season records, the game still set the New York fan market ablaze, with people paying pricey tickets to enter Madison Garden Arena.

When Fan Xi learned the ticket price for this game was comparable to Kuaisuan's regular‑season marquee games, he couldn't help but remark, "It still has to be New York." No wonder the Knicks have been doing this for so many years and still make so much.

New York fans were very enthusiastic; when Fan Xi took the floor, the whole arena shouted, "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Obviously, Fan Xi's three‑year reputation in Los Angeles has already won over these East Coast fans eagerly awaiting.

They welcomed their king with passionate shouts as he arrived at Madison Garden Arena to survey his kingdom.

That evening, head coach Mai Ke Wu De Sen set the starting lineup of Si Di Fen Na Shi, Fan Xi, Qiao Yue Han Xun, Si Ta De Mai Er, and Kaiwen Jianeite.

Local media couldn't help but praise, "What a dream lineup."

However, he modestly added, "If it were eight years ago, it would be even more dreamy."

However, when the whistle blew.

He felt he had been a bit conservative before.

As Kaiwen Jianeite won the jump ball against the Magic's Gottschalk, the ball landed in Si Di Fen Na Shi's hands, and a mercury‑flowing offensive surge began.

Na Shi caught the ball, just after crossing half‑court, and launched a long pass to the front‑court three‑point line.

Fan Xi received the ball, like a blade thrust into the Magic's heart; the Magic's interior hadn't reacted yet. Fan Xi jumped, spun half a turn, lofted the ball high, and Stadd Meyer came from the other side like a thunderbolt, grabbed the ball with both hands and violently slammed it into the hoop!!

Boom!

The basket's boom sparked a frenzy throughout Madison Garden.

Over twenty‑thousand fans in the arena saw the scene, leapt up from their seats in excitement, and shouted loudly.

They expected the game to be something fresh.

They thought the game would sweep away Chen Ke.

But they didn't expect it to be so dreamy.

It was like a scene from a movie.

From Jia Nei Te's jump ball, to Na Shi's long pass, to Fan Xi's sharp drive, graceful aerial ballet, and then Si Ta De Mai Er's violent dunk!

Each player's strengths were displayed to the fullest, the spectacle dazzling.

Zhan Mu Si Duo Lan leapt up from his suite, shouting excitedly: Damn! This is the basketball I want, this is the basketball I want!!

In that moment, he felt his money finally spent right on the edge.

In the past, when De An Dong Ni came to New York, the city hoped for a run‑and‑gun show‑time, but after two or three years of pounding, there wasn't a splash, just a mess.

Now, Fan Xi's arrival finally made the New York fans in the arena realize… this is real spectacular basketball.

New York City! The world's largest city should have such a spectacular offense!

After Si Ta De Mai Er landed, he roared wildly around him in excitement.

Since that year he signed a five‑year, $100 million mega contract with New York, he hasn't played such an enjoyable basketball.

After the roar, he ran over and high‑fived Fan Xi.

"Who could have thought La Li Bu Lang would actually create this run‑and‑gun? It's a subversion of subversions."

The commentator on TV couldn't wait to announce to New York State fans: "The Knicks' championship quest has begun!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kai Wen Jia Nei Te blocked Ao La Di Bo as he surged into the paint; Fan Xi then grabbed the ball, made a long pass forward, Na Shi received it, passed to Qiao Yuehan Sun, who sprinted into the key, slipped past the defender and dunked the ball.

The whole play flowed like clouds and water, like an antelope's hooked horn.

The Orlando Magic, a rebuilding weak team, clearly couldn't withstand the New York Knicks.

Fan Xi's starters played with extreme joy, executing the fast offense to the fullest; they played seven minutes, the score 32–11.

In the past, many said Fan Xi always led Kuaisuan to slaughter, too brutal, lacking sportsmanship, not valuing harmony, breaking league etiquette, and so on.

But now, they are the ones shouting the loudest.

They are the ones feeling the most complete thrill.

The TV camera sweeps over New York fans' faces; none aren't flushed like drunk people.

This "cutting someone else's flesh" feeling is the real thrill.

In the past, whenever a superstar visited New York's home court, they had to flatter and shout MVP, acting like three‑surname servants. Now, Fan Xi's arrival finally means they no longer have to cheer for visiting stars; they feel justified, they have stood up.

In the seventh minute, La Li Bu Lang made a massive substitution.

Han Mi Er Dun, Pu Lin Si, Ba Li Ya Ni, and Ke Er A Er De Li Qi entered the game with Fan Xi.

It was a full four‑on‑four.

When the camera cut to La Li Bu Lang, his face was all smiles, like a honey‑eating bear. It was beautiful.

He thought: Who dares call me conservative? Who dares say I don't understand offense? I finally get to enjoy Maikelbang's joy; with Fan Xi I can do whatever I want.

Han Mi Er Dun and Pu Lin Si belong to the Pistons system, but they are known for off‑ball movement; although they are older and not as quick as in youth, their ability to catch passes remains.

Ba Li Ya Ni was the 2006 number‑one pick; although he only briefly became an elite player after Ke Li Si Bo Shen went to Miami, his off‑ball skill is also notable, being a tall shooter.

Add to that Ke Er A Er De Li Qi, the blue‑collar, and the style of this lineup is easy to figure out.

Fan Xi drives the offense with his breakthroughs; it's second nature.

Although the three shooters' touch was poor at first, gradually it came together.

As Fan Xi himself knocked down two three‑pointers from the top of the arc.

The Orlando Magic were pierced by the shots.

Poor rookie Ao La Di Bo was almost in tears, desperate; he never expected his first official NBA game to be so shocking. Fan Xi slaughtered them in countless ways; they had no way to resist, only praying to God for time to pass faster.

They don't want to hear Madison Garden arena's repeated revelry on such a dark night.

These waves of cheers will crush their basketball dreams.

At the end of the second quarter, the score was 79–37.

Even though Fan Xi didn't play the last three minutes of the second quarter, it still couldn't stop Orlando's collapse; they were like an anthill washed away by flood, with no goal to rebuild.

"Coach Lari, I think you need to emphasize at the post‑game press conference that we were truly testing a new lineup, not deliberately trying to crush the confidence of those young kids in this game."

The usually stoic Ben Hualaisi was cracking old‑coach jokes on the bench.

The serious La Li Bu Lang smiled and said: "I think I may indeed have done something wrong; in a preseason‑level game, I shouldn't have used Jie Ke Fan early. Although, we really are rehearsing a new tactic for the first official game."

He shrugged his shoulders.

A bit Versailles.

…