Chapter 60: Killing the Heart, the Commissioner

Wu Su walked to the window of the VIP box, her eyes fixed tightly on what was happening below.

From the moment her husband was shoved by Kanye West, to her son rushing over and being held tightly by Taylor Swift, followed by a young, beautiful girl running over to kiss her son, and her husband using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to lock up Kanye West...

Her brain couldn't process so much complex information.

She had never experienced such a complicated scene in her life; it was a farce that defied her imagination.

If Phil Knight hadn't been beside her telling her that those people were all celebrities from American high society, she would have simply thought it was rural aunties arguing in the fields.

She felt a bit embarrassed.

She even began to feel that such a shameful scandal would surely greatly reduce her son's commercial value.

However, Phil Knight actually seemed somewhat excited.

He told Wu Su: "Do you see? This is Jack's influence. He can always create astonishing exposure; wherever he is, that place becomes the focus. Superstars are often like this—they bring their own topics and their own traffic. Tomorrow's headlines will definitely be this. People will discuss the dispute between Jerry West and Taylor Swift, people will discuss Jack's father's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, people will discuss Jenner running over to kiss Jack... this is something that has never happened before..."

The more Phil Knight spoke, the more excited he became.

Wu Su frowned, puzzled. In her simple values: isn't this a scandal?

But to Phil Knight, this was charming allure, a shining promotional point, and the diffusion of a superstar's influence.

Because in this unprecedented courtside "gossip drama," neither Fan Xi nor his father had revealed any "black spots." Fan Cheng went over to protect Taylor Swift; he was a symbol of a gentleman. Moreover, he used unexpected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to control Kanye West, which was his highlight; this would become the focus of outside discussion.

Fan Xi had even fewer black spots.

Although he violated court rules, he didn't attack anyone. And he was the first basketball player in history to be held in public by two women and kissed by them.

This alone was enough to make his persona expand geometrically.

As a public figure, especially a superstar in a certain sports category, to gain exceptional influence and commercial value, the most important thing is... breaking through the circle, the so-called "going mainstream."

Throughout history, in the sport of basketball, the number of superstars who have broken through the circle can be counted on one hand. Michael Jordan is definitely one; Kobe Bryant and the current LeBron James still cannot be called completely mainstream.

But Fan Xi, who emerged this season, makes people see the hope of breaking through, although he didn't reach the top of the NBA entirely through court strength. Just like Beckham in football.

Sponsors don't care about these things; they value commercial value and influence.

This is why Phil Knight chases Fan Xi with a check for hundreds of millions of dollars, and why Fan Xi still seeks investment opportunities when he wants to establish his own brand.

If it were any other fledgling player, even a top talent like Blake Griffin, he would be cast aside.

This is Fan Xi's core competitiveness in the commercial market.

"Next, Baron Davis and Blake Griffin will definitely try their best to snipe Jack," Phil Knight continued. "They are both smart people, and they clearly know that Fan Xi will definitely be at the forefront of public opinion next. As long as they have a chance to dunk on Jack, their agency teams will definitely buy many news headlines tomorrow."

Phil Knight's words immediately made Wu Su angry.

She thought: They actually want to step on my son to get ahead, how dare they?

But while angry, she thought of what Phil Knight said earlier—now those two shameless guys are actually teaming up against my son; can Little Xi hold up?

She became worried.

On the court, Randy Foye executed the technical foul free throws; the Clippers got a chance for two free throws and possession.

Baron Davis stood next to Fan Xi, and he said sarcastically: "You really are a slick-haired pretty boy. But don't worry, I will definitely beat you until you're unrecognizable."

"I will use actual actions to let the women across America who covet your appearance know that in front of me, you are nothing but a softie who looks good but is useless!"

Davis said with a fierce expression.

Griffin on the side gave him a look and reached out to make a throat-slitting gesture. His action was to have Davis lure Fan Xi into the paint; he wanted to dunk on Fan Xi.

There is nothing more satisfying than dunking this guy who is loved by women under his crotch.

Griffin even imagined the scene of him dunking over Fan Xi's head on all the newspaper headlines tomorrow.

Thinking of this, he couldn't wait.

His whole body was a resonance of emotions.

However, what they didn't know was that when they were calculating how to cut up Fan Xi as if he were fish on a chopping block, Fan Xi's cerebral cortex was also jumping with excitement.

After gaining Michael Jordan's jumping talent, his gaze toward the basket became eager; he was filled with the desire to conquer the sky.

Swish!

Swish!

Randy Foye made both free throws.

Griffin quickly ran outside the three-point line to inbound the ball, passing it to Davis.

Before the inbound, Kobe Bryant stood up and shouted to Fan Xi: "Careful! Switch defense at any time!"

Kobe cared very much about Fan Xi; he had been in the league for many years and knew exactly what these guys were thinking.

He was very worried that Fan Xi would be taught a lesson in this round.

After all, Griffin and Davis were elite players in the league, with both experience and talent.

Fan Xi was a fledgling rookie; even if he was smart, if he made a wrong step, he could easily be calculated by them.

Kobe was uneasy.

Fan Xi followed Baron Davis's pace, his eyes fixed on the bearded man's movements.

But the bearded man didn't tangle with Fan Xi; Griffin quickly ran over to set a screen for him, and Davis immediately drove inside.

At this moment, he deliberately showed a flaw.

Fan Xi quickly followed, accompanying him deep into the paint.

Then, he made a stop-and-go and shot upward!

Fan Xi didn't fall for it; he didn't jump, but extended his arms.

Seeing Fan Xi didn't bite on the fake, Davis quickly turned his back; he looked like he wanted to use his butt to push Fan Xi away... he had powerful back strength.

However, at the same moment he turned around, Griffin quickly shook off Odom from the outside and rushed in crazily... Davis, with his back turned, faced Griffin and threw the ball over.

Griffin grabbed the ball, immediately jumped up, and with the courage of ten thousand men, smashed it fiercely toward the basket.

It's over.

Kobe Bryant secretly said "bad."

He wanted to shout loudly, telling Fan Xi to leave quickly.

But an incredible scene appeared in his pupils: Fan Xi seemed to have anticipated it, having already shifted to the path the basket must pass through, and then, when Griffin jumped to the highest point, he also jumped up to meet him... It's over!

Don't!

Kobe Bryant shouted in his heart.

He covered his eyes in sadness.

This was the scene he was most worried about; he had already guessed what would happen next.

Fan Xi had always been a fighter in his heart; although his body was thin, he... was extremely focused on defense; he couldn't miss his defensive position. As long as he was there, he would definitely use his body to block the opponent's muzzle.

It's just... there's no need, silly child.

Kobe Bryant felt sour inside; he was moved by Fan Xi's heroism in defending the baseline to the death, and also pessimistic about Fan Xi's "overestimating his capabilities."

If Jack had the jumping ability I had when I was young, maybe there would be a one-in-ten chance to stop Griffin's dunk.

Griffin is too strong; he is the number one violent dunker in the league today.

Isn't Jack defending like a mantis trying to stop a chariot?

Wow!

Just as Kobe was mourning for Fan Xi, the scene suddenly erupted with an uncontrollable, tidal roar.

Kobe quickly opened his eyes, and he was shocked to see Fan Xi standing under the basket, majestically grabbing the ball, while Griffin, who had previously come flying through the air in high spirits, stumbled and almost fell to the ground.

What happened?

Kobe widened his eyes; his teammates beside him all let out incredible screams, and the steady Phil Jackson even stood up... everyone was roaring loudly.

Lakers fans in every corner of the arena also made shocking sounds after the Clippers fans' uproar.

Kobe quickly looked at the big screen overhead.

The big screen was replaying everything that had just happened.

Griffin grabbed the ball passed by Davis, his face full of excitement; he jumped through the air, and when he saw Fan Xi also jump up afterward and extend his hand to block him.

His excitement grew even stronger, even revealing a hint of cruelty.

In his mind, he had already regarded Fan Xi as a soul under his crotch.

However, he soon realized something was wrong.

Fan Xi, whom he had previously regarded as a jumping waste, was actually getting higher and higher, even looking him in the eye... This made him panic.

An even more terrifying thing was that after Fan Xi's long arms stretched out in the air, they actually had the effect of blocking out the sky and sun.

His eyes quickly changed from excited and cruel to confused and terrified.

When Fan Xi's right hand forcefully pressed down on the ball he had extended early and without protection, his short arms lost some control.

Just as he was exerting force to press Fan Xi down in the air.

A powerful force erupted from the palm of this thin guy, Fan Xi... The peak violence from the first-generation beast-style forward Shawn Kemp allowed Fan Xi's giant palm to snatch the ball away hard and land quickly.

Griffin, having lost the ball, was like a frightened bird; his dunk became a castle in the air.

He could only smash it toward the basket, but his right hand lacked the force to grip the rim firmly, and when he landed, his figure stumbled violently.

Correspondingly, Fan Xi, who had snatched his ball, stood under the basket as steady as Mount Tai, stirring up the changes in the entire Staples Center!!

Afterward, the panicked Griffin looked up, and Fan Xi happened to turn his head and look down from a high position: "Is this the height you spoke of that couldn't be reached?"

"Nothing more than this!"

Fan Xi dropped these words coldly.

Blake Griffin was struck by lightning; the thing he was most proud of was crushed by Fan Xi without mercy.

He never dreamed that his sure-fire dunk would be blocked so easily by Fan Xi, and that the ball would be snatched directly from his hands!

Kobe, on the sidelines, finished watching the whole process and swung his fist fiercely.

So satisfying!

"God! God! God!"

When Kobe Bryant shouted this, Kenny Smith of TNT was already shouting "God" there, his tone full of disbelief.

"Jack, who received Jenner's kiss, has created a miracle again. He blocked Griffin's dunk; he made the top pick's takeoff meaningless; he used his giant palm to snatch the ball that originally belonged to the Clippers directly from Griffin's unstoppable right hand!"

"Griffin stumbled in embarrassment, but Jack is like a martial arts hero in a movie; he won again!"

"No one knows how many weapons are in Jack's arsenal. But now, please remember, never provoke Jack."

"He will crush you in the way you are best at!!"

Kenny Smith roared on TV, his highly inflammatory voice making the audience in front of the TV feel great.

No one thought Fan Xi could jump up and block the dunk of the Chosen One, Griffin.

Although Charles Barkley tried hard to explain: "This is because Griffin's palms are too small to control the ball, and Fan Xi's palms are large, so he captured the ball just right..."

But these things are meaningless.

People saw Fan Xi directly ban the unstoppable Griffin from the sky he was proud of!

Fan Xi ran to the front court with the ball that originally belonged to Griffin.

Wu Su couldn't help but jump up in the VIP box; she was very excited; her son had thwarted the schemes of two conspirators.

Then she looked at Phil Knight with proud eyes.

Phil Knight was still in extreme shock; he had always thought Fan Xi's jumping ability was not good because he had never dunked before.

At the same time, Fan Xi, who arrived at the front court, quickly cut through Baron Davis's defense, and then, with the explosive power of peak Kemp and the speed of peak Iverson, he rushed into the paint like lightning.

Griffin had just run back; he hadn't stood firm yet.

And Fan Xi had already risen into the air with a momentum that broke through bamboo, and as he glided through the air, he soared into the sky!

Griffin didn't even have the thought of jumping to block.

He dodged to the side.

Boom!

Fan Xi smashed the ball into the basket with his right hand.

Fan Xi's stretched posture... graceful as a startled swan!

The aura of the dunk was magnificent!!

The atmosphere of Staples Center was filled again; the Lakers fans, who were fewer in number, occupied the entire space with their most uncontrollable roars, turning the guest into the host!

Even some Clippers fans with weak willpower jumped up to cheer for Fan Xi.

Just as Phil Knight said, the most exciting thing on the court is always the shocking slam dunk.

Fan Xi, one block, one dunk!

He pushed the Lakers' momentum to the peak.

"You don't even have the courage to block me; how pathetic."

Fan Xi released trash talk to Griffin coldly.

His tone of disdain was like a sharp dagger, cruelly cutting through the self-esteem of the top pick, Griffin.

Griffin's eyes were full of anger, but his heart was infinitely empty.

At this moment, the style of the top pick Griffin was not even one ten-thousandth of Fan Xi's.

The two people's careers will head in completely different directions.

Beep!

The Clippers' head coach had to call a timeout.

... ===== CHAPTER 61 =====