Chapter 536: Houston Rockets Still Powerless

Pass?

Almost everyone was caught off guard; no one expected James Harden to pass. Everyone thought he would go for his 60th point. Yet, he deliberately didn't.

On his record night, after entering the fourth quarter he kept "dodging" shots, showing great humility; otherwise everyone thought he could score 70 or even 80 points, his touch in the third quarter was scorching.

Now, while being defended by JR Smith, he first hit a three‑pointer and was taunted by JR Smith's answer‑ball, yet he actually passed.

Astonishingly, he could have easily entered the 60‑plus club.

James Harden is a smart man; the clearest definition of a smart person is knowing how to choose and when to advance or retreat.

When Harden saw Fan Xi moving to help on defense, his instinct told him that Paul was a better option at that moment, and he must not let Fan Xi complete another final block to create a Five‑Double. Little time remained for Fan Xi.

Paul is also a smart man; when Fan Xi moved to help guard James Harden, he knew Harden would definitely pass.

He knows Harden isn't the type to grit his teeth and prefer being blocked just to take down an opponent.

So he received the ball perfectly and was in an ideal shooting position.

He hesitated not a moment, took the shot, and the Rockets gained the advantage for the whole game.

One could say that Harden and Paul are among the smartest NBA players.

But above smart people there are even smarter ones.

Just as Paul calmly leapt and released the ball, he heard James Harden's scream in his ear. Then a giant hand swooped down, casting a terrifying shadow, snatching the ball above his head… Paul had just confidently watched it trace the perfect arc's starting point.

Paul was extremely shocked.

His mind now held only one thought: this person must not be Fan Xi.

But when he landed, turned around, he clearly saw the back of the #30 jersey.

Fan Xi landed first and was already sprinting toward the frontcourt.

At that moment, the entire Toyota Center was stunned into silence.

Everyone felt as if the sky had fallen.

Five‑double!

The Five‑double is complete.

Fan Xi snatched the final block over Paul's head, bringing his block total into double figures.

Kenny Smith's throat on the TV seemed to split as he roared: "Five‑double! Five‑double! Five‑double! The greatest player ever has achieved the greatest single‑game stat in history." Jieke Fan grabbed a Super Five‑Double, conquered history, made Michael Jordan rise from his throne and stand aside. Now the throne of the basketball god is ready for him.

Don't you dare say six championships; Russell has eleven. Jie Ke is greater than Jordan! I'm telling you!!

Kenny Smith bellowed, his volume on the TV sounding like a high‑pitched horn.

And the crowd in front of the TV went even crazier.

Fans exuberantly celebrated the completion of the Super Five‑Double; the internet was instantly flooded with Five‑Double, and every sports site discussed this unprecedented human pinnacle achievement.

Fan Xi's influence surged unstoppable across the entire sports market, even surpassing sports itself. Even those who never watch basketball now know a guy named Fan Xi has once again reached humanity's peak. This was his first game back from injury, and in the previous game he scored the highest ever in basketball history: 101 points!!

Before the season began, no one could have imagined Fan Xi would achieve such terrifying personal feats after joining the Knicks.

At that time, everyone thought the league's two‑year mandatory transfer rule had cut off Fan Xi's chance to surpass Jordan.

But now, Fan Xi proves with a 101‑point game and a Super Five‑Double that even without a championship, Michael Jordan must rise from the basketball god's throne and wait for him to take the seat.

The real‑world Michael Jordan also rose; Kenny Smith's words were harsh, and he felt a strong threat. Yet his shock outweighed his anger.

Five‑double!!!

Michael Jordan never considered it; he calculated that if he gave his all to chase stats, a near‑Five‑Double was attainable. But a Five‑Double is just too hard.

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si and Wei De closed their eyes in the locker room, while teammates around them emitted a chorus of sighs and shouts.

For any active basketball player, this is an impressive achievement. But for super‑stars like Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, it is an insurmountable mountain. They are Alexander.

Moreover, they know clearly that from now on the active #1 is locked on Fan Xi; no one else has any chance.

Kobe Bryant smiled in his locker room.

As he himself said, rather than give the league's top spot to someone else, it's better to give it to Fan Xi.

Swish!

Fan Xi hit a trailing three‑pointer in the frontcourt.

It was a cherry‑on‑top shot and also a ball that cut off the Rockets' lifeline.

Rockets fans were numb at that moment.

Their sense of the team's failure seemed already lifeless, and what further crushed them was Fan Xi's Five‑Double.

Fan Xi raised his hands high in the frontcourt.

De'Anthony called a timeout. He needed to make the final arrangements.

But this timeout felt more like letting Fan Xi and his teammates celebrate the NBA's first Five‑Double.

Fan Xi was surrounded by his teammates; JR Smith excitedly lifted Fan Xi, then Kevin Garnett shouted profanities wildly, patting Fan Xi's head and yelling some excited Black slang.

Other teammates also gathered, expressing passionate congratulations to Fan Xi.

Meanwhile, the overhead screen finally showed the entire sequence of Fan Xi's block.

Paul sat on the bench, watching the full replay of his own being blocked.

It turned out that when James Harden passed, Fan Xi quickly spun with a back‑turn. His rush was premeditated; his weight stayed back on his pivot foot, and he merely feigned.

He deceived everyone, including the two smart men: Paul and Harden.

In terms of IQ, Paul and Harden can't match Fan Xi.

Fan Xi designed this unique trap, even incorporating both men's cleverness.

If Harden had firmly taken the shot, Fan Xi would have had no chance to block.

And once Harden made that shot, Fan Xi's Five‑Double would have no chance to be completed tonight.

Just one step short.

Harden lost because he was too smart.

Ke Bi, standing before the TV, sighed: the kids nowadays are too smart. They love to flaunt their IQ, so God gave them Jie Ke as an opponent.

Jieke Fan's IQ is unquestionably several levels higher; anyone who tries to flaunt their IQ before him will be punished.

"Five doubles! That's unparalleled!!"

The host of CCTV on the other side of the ocean, still in great excitement, after a string of exclamations, began his remark: "Fan Xi has proven his leading position in Finals history with three championships, he has proven his dominance on the international stage with an Olympic gold medal. Now he has again proven he is the most powerful basketball individual ever with two extraordinary, humanity‑pushing numbers: 101 points and a super five‑double."

"No need to argue whether a single‑game 101 points is greater, or a single‑game super five‑double more legendary, because they were achieved by the same person."

"This person is Asian, a yellow race, and moreover Chinese!"

"Fan Xi's greatness needs no further doubt; now we should call him the greatest athlete in the nation, across Asia, and the whole world."

"Fan Xi is basketball. Basketball is Fan Xi!"

"……"

The CCTV commentator was passionate, making the nationwide TV audience boil with excitement.

No one thought he was being deliberately melodramatic, even though he was known for that in the past.

Fan Xi's great achievements make any praise for him perfectly fitting.

His words, even if placed in any corner of the world, cannot be protested by anyone.

Although a certain peninsula country claims Fan Xi as a descendant of theirs.

…

The game resumed after a long timeout, even though De An Dong Ni had set up brand‑new tactics.

However, James Ha Deng, who was to execute the offense, had no touch; under JR Smith's aggressive hustle, he surprisingly threw a three‑point miss.

Fan Xi burst into the paint, stole the ball, then sprinted forward; Chris Paul caught up and fouled him.

But that was already of no help.

Fan Xi calmly sank two free throws.

The game lost its suspense.

Chris Paul's final drive, deflected by Tai Sen Qian De Le, missed the rim; JR Smith grabbed the rebound and lofted it to Fan Xi, who hit another three from beyond the arc.

Fan Xi's score stayed at 48 points.

At the same time, he also logged 15 assists, 12 rebounds, 10 steals and 10 blocks.

Fan Xi achieved the greatest super five‑double in history.

Chris Paul carried the ball across half‑court, and the game ended.

138–130.

The Knicks claimed victory, and Fan Xi claimed history.

James Ha Deng scored 58 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in this game, a career‑high in points. With his touch tonight, he could have scored even more.

But he didn't.

So, he is now a tragedy.

His milestone is a tragic milestone.

After the game, Paul and Ha Deng both hung their heads and left the arena dejected.

Meanwhile, cheers rose inside the arena.

At first, local Chinese fans cheered and congratulated Fan Xi, then many Rockets fans joined in.

Either way, for them it was a memorable night; they witnessed the birth of a super five‑double with their own eyes.

Even though Fan Xi defeated them.

But they also had to acknowledge Fan Xi's strength and greatness.

From a basketball perspective, they must raise a celebratory voice for the greatest super five‑double ever.

Fan Xi raised his hands high, enjoying his miraculous glory on the road.

Reporters rushed over to interview him on the spot.

Even though pre‑game media chatter said Fan Xi would be crushed in Houston, the newly formed Rockets Three Giants were ready to sink them.

"For me, the happiest thing tonight is winning, not grabbing a five‑double!" Fan Xi told the reporters asking how it felt to notch a five‑double.

Then a reporter asked: "You scored a super 101 points in a previous game and created an unprecedented super five‑double this game; is your current hot form due to the nourishment of love, or because you are away from love's nourishment?"

That was an interesting gossip question; Fan Xi smiled and said, "It has little to do with love; it's all my personal effort."

"So what records will you break next? Everyone's saying there's no miracle Jieke Fan can't create."

"I don't know either; I just want to play basketball quietly." Fan Xi still kept his smile.

"May I ask how you view the Rockets Three Giants? Many say the Rockets are a younger version of the Lakers; do you think so?"

"They do have some overlapping personnel, but I don't feel the Lakers' aura on the Rockets. It's hard to describe that vibe. What I can say clearly is that if we faced the Lakers tonight, I couldn't even get a four‑double, let alone a five‑double. Ke Bi would drain all my energy one‑on‑one; he's such a maniac." Fan Xi discussed the differences between the Lakers and the Rockets.

"Ken Ni Shi Mi Si of TNT said you've surpassed Jordan, that Jordan must hand his basketball throne to you; how do you feel about that?" the reporter asked.

Fan Xi smiled and said, "Has Jordan hidden the throne in his house? Then he should be careful; I could visit anytime."

That was a pun.

It shows Fan Xi's agreement with Ken Ni Shi Mi Si.

For Fan Xi, he no longer needs any disguise; his current target is no longer Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, but only one person: Michael Jordan.

Jordan must relinquish his throne.

This meaning is hidden in Fan Xi's words.

"Many are concerned about the Knicks' playoff outlook; after this trade, many say you'll aim for the Eastern top four, staying in the upper half benefits your playoff schedule— is that so?" the reporter asked about the Knicks.

Fan Xi smiled calmly and told the reporter, "We never worry about home‑court advantage; as long as we play well, we earn applause. Just like tonight, Houston fans gave me the biggest cheers; I like them."

"So, regular‑season ranking isn't what we pursue; we agreed on that at the season's start. As everyone knows, we have many veteran players, we need rest, we need to stay healthy. We can't let Si Di Fen Na Si have a night like tonight again."

"So, just fighting for a playoff spot is fine."

Fan Xi answered gently.

Then, he expressed his thanks to the reporters, hoping everyone would have a wonderful night.

For him, this was already an incredibly wonderful night.

He secured the victory and ensured a quintuple-double.

Although the final seal had a gambling element, he won the bet.

Moreover, he won not only the quintuple-double, but also control over Harden and Paul.

The wisdom of Harden and Paul did not escape Fan Xi's domain of rule; even though they now have an incredibly bright future, Fan Xi believes that the next time they meet, victory will still be his.

Houston Rockets! Three Giants! Still! Unable to withstand a single blow!

The sun rose as usual!

…