Chapter 628: Some Stormy Changes During the All‑Star Weekend

Fan Xi did not comment on the loss to the Miami Heat. Maikelbang at the post‑game press conference only calmly congratulated the Heat: "Congratulations to them, they played a bit better than us, congratulations on the win."

Kuaisuan is handling this matter coldly.

However, for Miami, this matter must be high‑profile all the way.

All of Florida is immersed in the joy of victory.

Including Orlando, which is delighted that the Heat finally got to celebrate.

That's probably why Kuaisuan thrashed the Magic by 39 points in the back‑to‑back game the next day.

It will instantly swallow a lot of hype.

As time moved from January into February, the hype for this matter gradually faded. At this point, the NBA's biggest news is the All‑Star affair.

Because Fan Xi cast votes for Leonard and Jokic.

Fan Xi, Leonard, and Jokic all received All‑Star nominations.

Although this nomination is a bit odd.

But, thanks to Fan Xi's effort, the votes for those two made it into the All‑Star starting lineup. This upset many Western players, but they could only hold their tongues. Until James Harden voiced his discontent.

"If an average of 35.8 points per game can't make the All‑Star starting lineup, I think this voting is meaningless," Harden said publicly.

After the Dwight Howard trade, he led the Rockets onward; the Rockets are still third in the West, behind Kuaisuan and the Thunder. However, the Spurs, Warriors, and Mavericks behind them are closing in tightly.

Western regular‑season standings have always been fierce.

But Harden's performance this year, in a sense, truly merits an All‑Star starting spot.

Leonard is also not lacking, even though Fan Xi voted for him. Still, his being a starter is defensible.

By contrast, Jokic becoming a starter displeases many. For example, Anthony Davis, who has improved rapidly over the past two years and already has the stature of the league's top center, along with Cousins and Marc Gasol… these people think that a rookie like Jokic being a starting center is somewhat disrespectful to them.

But who made Fan Xi's popularity explode?

As the final round of voting concluded.

The Western starting lineup is now set as: Fan Xi, Leonard, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Jokic.

Among these five Western starters, aside from Durant, all are linked to Kuaisuan.

Griffin was the top pick selected by Kuaisuan back then, but shortly after Fan Xi joined, he was amicably traded to Dallas, where he made a name for himself and earned the nickname "Sky Lion‑Eagle." Kuaisuan also, because of that trade, obtained Nowitzki's two‑year usage rights and secured two championships.

Since Kuaisuan claimed three starting spots, the competition for Western bench positions has become unprecedentedly fierce.

In the end, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Nowitzki and other veteran superstars were all left out.

Westbrook, Harden, Curry, Tang Pu Sen, Cousins, Marc Gasol, and Aldridge were selected to the bench roster.

The Eastern starters are actually more concentrated. The Heat claim three starters: Wei De, James, Howard, plus Rosa and Carmelo Anthony.

Because Anthony is the host, this year's All‑Star is a New York spectacle, co‑hosted by the Nets and the Knicks.

The Knicks are having a rough year, with no All‑Star participants. However, their home arena, Madison Square Garden, secured the rights to host the main game, while the assorted other matches are at the Barclays Center.

Although the Barclays Center is more modern, Madison Square Garden is still Madison Square Garden.

Even though the league arranged this to foster greater unity between the two same‑city teams, on the contrary, they are more divided.

Fan Xi is no longer a Knicks player, but his bronze statue still stands in the Madison Square Garden plaza.

Thus, Knicks fans always mock Nets fans with Fan Xi's 101 points. When that score is displayed, the Nets side courteously retreats.

Historical disgrace… such matters are hard to joke about.

Fan Xi arrived in New York and went straight to Megan Fox's place; Megan Fox had just given birth to his fifth child, a boy! Fan Xi is now the father of five sons.

At the Fox house, Fan Xi saw his fifth son, Fan Ming, whose English name is Terry.

The kid looks a lot like Troy… no wonder.

Troy returned to New York; he really likes his little brother. Fan Xi didn't hide it and told him there are four other brothers. This gave Troy an instant feeling of commanding an army; he sees himself as a commander.

Sometimes, he wonders why his brothers aren't from the same mother as him.

That makes Fan Xi feel embarrassed.

But it doesn't stump the clever Jennifer; Jennifer tells her son: this is why there are hat tricks on the soccer field…

Oh!

So cool!

Troy was thrilled then, shouting: I also want to become a man like my father, I also want a hat trick… I want two hat tricks.

Fan Xi remains silent.

Without Fan Ming's cries, the venue would be awkwardly quiet.

During the first two days of All‑Star weekend, Fan Xi stayed in his Long Island mansion. He only appeared at Madison Square Garden on the third day, when a reporter asked if he skipped the first two days because he didn't want to go to the Barclays Center.

Fan Xi said, "Yeah. I broke a record there, and I was afraid to go, because people keep asking when I'll get 102 points."

Game‑winner!

Over the past two days, Fan Xi's teammates received a lot of boos at the Barclays Center. Nets fans dislike Fan Xi, so they also dislike Kuaisuan players.

Fan Xi praised Jokic because he blew up the USA team while representing the International team… it's a new NBA trend.

After Adam Silver took office, he created many new formats, splitting first‑ and second‑year rookies into a USA domestic team and an International players team.

Then, Wiggins and Jokic led the International team to dismantle the USA team; Wiggins scored 29 points, and Jokic still posted a modest triple‑double: 15 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 block, 1 steal.

He became the MVP of the first night.

The next day, the Kuaisuan representative Giannis was eliminated in the first round of the dunk contest.

Fan Xi criticized him: "You need to understand that a real‑game dunk and a performance dunk aren't the same. Look at Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, a forward of your type; why doesn't he participate? Because he has foresight."

This year's dunk champion is Zach LaVine.

The dunk champion at the 13th spot.

Kobe Bryant happily presented him the award; Kobe even served as a judge.

Although he holds the dunk champion title, that year's dunk contest was extremely terrible.

Back then Kobe was also called "Little Flying Hero," and everyone treated him as Jordan's successor. The judges' votes were somewhat influenced by commercial factors.

The biggest highlight of All‑Star Weekend arrives on the final day.

Even though this is the Eastern team's home court.

However, Fan Xi and his teammates received even louder cheers when they took the floor.

After all, this is one of Fan Xi's Dragon Rise locations.

He once blocked the Miami Heat here.

Now the Miami Heat are the main force of the Eastern team; not booing them is already a great success for New York's civic education.

The TNT commentators are also treating this year's All‑Star Game as a showdown between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Kuaisuan.

"This could be a preview of the finals; I always feel this year will be Kuaisuan versus Heat," Earl Johnson analyzed earnestly.

"Nonsense. The whole world knows this outcome; do we still need to predict?" Barkley retorted to him.

This made Earl Johnson angry; he asked, "Then who do you predict will win?"

"Obviously the Heat."

"Obviously Kuaisuan."

Barkley and Kenny Smith simultaneously gave the two answers.

They clashed point‑for‑point.

"The Heat are different now; after acquiring Howard they have no flaws. This season's home‑and‑away double‑kill of Kuaisuan proves it. Don't expect the Heat to be as complacent as before; Jieke Fan can't have the luck he enjoyed in the past four years. Because Miami's hostility has reached unprecedented heights," Charles Barkley said confidently.

"You say that every year. Every year you talk about LeBron's improvement, Kuaisuan's roster evolution. Your rhetoric never changes, and Jie Ke's victories never cease. Jie Ke moves from one win to another; he's won the championship four years in a row, now it's the fifth year—any problem?" Smith said with a hint of mockery.

Their back‑and‑forth has become part of the commentary, especially when the topic involves Fan Xi and Miami.

The game has already started.

Howard won the jump ball against Jokic, then began a clumsy imitation of Shaq O'Neal,

carrying the ball across half‑court with a goofy, bizarre expression to try to draw the crowd's attention.

However, the fans in the arena were calm and gave him no response. After all, O'Neal has already exhausted that center‑dribbling gimmick. Moreover, given Howard's height, many perimeter players are equally tall, so the impact is minimal.

Finally, he made an exaggerated cut into the three‑point line, then tossed the ball toward the backboard, attempting a self‑pass dunk.

But the ball was thrown a bit too high; he caught it and completed a clumsy layup.

He even felt embarrassed himself.

Fan Xi deliberately passed the ball to Jokic and signaled him to drive across half‑court.

Jokic's build is closer to O'Neal's, and his dribbling is much smoother than Howard's.

When Howard reached the mid‑court, he deliberately goofed to attempt a steal; Jokic made a quick surge. Howard was momentarily unsteady, subconsciously stepped back, Jokic halted abruptly, then turned… the instant he turned away, Howard plummeted onto the floor.

At that moment, Madison Garden erupted like a mountain‑and‑sea roar, everyone cheering Jokic's move that knocked the opponent down.

And when Jokic reached the three‑point line, he stopped quickly and shot… swish!

He hit a three‑pointer like a guard.

The whole arena burst into screams.

Only Howard awkwardly got up, laughing.

But his laugh was just a mask; he wasn't truly happy.

He was seething inside, even pondering how to dunk over Jokic's head.

Turning back, Rosa answered from beyond the three‑point line.

Fan Xi still passed the ball to Jokic, who again jumped from beyond the three‑point line and made another three.

Now the arena erupted in screams again.

Rosa returned to half‑court and hit a three.

Jokic made a three.

Rosa made a three.

Jokic made a three.

Rosa made a three.

Jokic made a three.

Rosa missed the three.

Jokic assisted Fan Xi for a slam dunk.

From the start… Jokic ignited the fire, sinking five consecutive three‑pointers from beyond the arc. Although the first quarter of the All‑Star Game has no defense, Jokic's displayed perimeter shooting skill and consistency still left many people secretly startled.

Especially Eastern team head coach Spoelstra, who also coaches the Heat; he has already begun studying how to handle Kuaisuan in the finals.

Jokic's three‑point shooting ability makes him very worried; if Jokic also stretches to the three‑point line in the finals and maintains that touch, Howard will definitely be punished.

Moreover, Jokic is a power‑type player with a solid base, so Howard's advantage is minimal.

"Our finals' decisive factor can't be him, can it?" Spoelstra muttered to himself, wondering why Jie Ke always manages to find so many monsters.

The game continues.

Both sides played loosely, rotating players freely, fully showcasing their offensive talents, giving the fans a visual feast.

The Western side played beautifully, its offense rolling like a tide.

However, ever since Butler went up on the Eastern side, it turned into a hard‑working squad… Butler had no sense of entertainment; as soon as he entered, he went all out, moving like a wind‑up toy. He chased opponents madly, especially when facing Leonard, he used every ounce of his strength.

It was truly a punch‑for‑punch, bone‑crushing.

They are sworn rivals.

Leonard defended him with full effort; he was initially a bit restrained, as the All‑Star entertainment vibe didn't suit his personality. When Butler came out, the clack‑clack was real, and he got into the zone.

This former Kuaisuan duo, once the "Heng Ha" pair, now each possesses the power to dominate their side.

Fan Xi felt gratified.

Watching them slowly grow from tender rookies into today's All-Stars, he felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

But then he suddenly felt a bit sad.

Because the days of separation were approaching again.

As Leonard was again selected as an NBA All-Star, he had already triggered the Fan Xi Clause, which would give him a top salary. Fan Xi decided to sign him early and then find him a team he liked.

In fact, this matter had already been quietly underway.

Leonard's wings were already full; he needed a sky of his own.

Just like Butler now, he had carved out his own sky in Charlotte, and no one would say he was Jake's little follower anymore. Now many people say Leonard is Fan Xi's Pippen.

Fan Xi is not Jordan, and Fan Xi does not need Pippen.

He needed every excellent teammate to be a superstar, so saying that would also give him face.

The first quarter ended quickly, then the second.

Entering the third quarter, both sides began to play with a gradually more serious tone.

As the fourth quarter began, the smell of gunpowder instantly arose.

Because of Westbrook.

Westbrook charged into Howard's paint, dunked over Howard's defense, then spat a trash talk: "Howard, you're a loser wherever you go."

This Happy Beast made things super unhappy.

He was like a wildcat whose sore spot had been poked, fur bristling as he leapt up.

He wanted to take care of Westbrook, and his new teammates naturally had to support him.

This concerned the team's unity problem. Only unity could defeat the Kuaisuan.

The Eastern entered true combat mode early.

Westbrook also had his own close brothers, and they quickly united.

…