Chapter 649: Vanessa Calls Before the Rooster Crows

That night, Carmelo Anthony got what he deserved.

First Kevin Durant kept shooting over his head. He couldn't block it at all, like a cold icy rain randomly pelting his face.

His tears were almost merging with the icy rain.

Anthony, helpless, switched to guard Giannis Antetokounmpo.

At that moment, Giannis burst beside him, the little melon slamming a huge dunk.

Anthony was discouraged.

The melon is no longer sweet.

The game had no suspense, no highlights. The Clippers beating the Nets—doesn't that just follow naturally?

New York TV commentators were saying, "Carmelo Anthony's career may end just like this."

Anthony indeed was out of luck.

When he entered the league, he was the NCAA's first‑ever freshman MOP, leading Syracuse University to an unprecedented record. He accomplished achievements that historic greats such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Wilt Chamberlain… never managed.

Moreover, his high school career was also top, ranking number one nationwide. He even faced Le Bu Lang Zhang Si in a nationally televised high school game; he scored two points fewer than James, yet his team won.

One could say he and James were contemporaneous prodigies, both heaven's favorites.

Until the end of the first season, they hadn't settled a victor. Anthony didn't claim Rookie of the Year, yet he led the Nuggets into the playoffs.

Then a watershed emerged between them. Especially that punch at Madison Square Garden, which directly shattered his commercial value.

Of course, his commercial value lagged behind James from the start. James's team is savvy; the Goodwin brothers arranged a $90 million sneaker endorsement for James before he had played an NBA game. Carmelo Anthony's agent was a great guy, securing $21 million over six years from the Jordan brand.

In fact, from that incident onward, their statuses were destined to be worlds apart.

Nike certainly promotes better than Jordan, and one spent $90 million, the other only $21 million— which one do you back?

Carmelo Anthony originally also occupied the small forward spot, ranking beneath James.

But after only a few years, Kevin Durant arrived.

Durant is another monster.

This guy's height rivals that of a center, his speed rivals a guard, his coordination is superb, and most importantly, his shooting is virtually unbeatable.

Two monsters, and Anthony was outright knocked down.

Now the Clippers have added another little monster, Giannis, whose physique is inhuman.

【5】 Anthony feels a bit like crying.

An Dongni was a little bit on the verge of tears.

His physical gifts aren't lacking either; while no single attribute shines, each scores above 85. Moreover, Carmelo Anthony's finishing is excellent—very versatile, very classic.

But times have changed.

James's technique isn't great, but he can drive.

Durant's scoring repertoire isn't as rich as Anthony's, but he can shoot.

And now this Greek little monster, he breaks from the three‑point line to a dunk—just a normal three‑step layup.

Exaggerated or not?

Having a special skill makes you damn strong.

Anthony truly wishes to have a child that combines Durant, Giannis, and James.

He even wants to splice their three genes together with his own, then unleash it. Let's see what kind of monster the four could create.

Of course, that's just a daydream.

Durant refuses; he's now only loyal to Rihanna.

Rihanna said she wrote him a song; he proudly played it for Fan Xi and the others, and the entire locker room perked up, listening repeatedly for half an hour. They heard a string of: dudududududu!

A moment later, JR Shi Si asked, "Is this describing your rapid fire?"

Fuck you.

Durant turned hostile on the spot. "Do you get art!"

JR Shi Si pulled out his phone on the spot, played the song Taylor Swift wrote for Fan Xi, and said, "The bedside cabinet war god is what we call art!"

Fan Xi gave him a kick, "Mind your title."

"The cosmic super‑invincible beauty, the world's only pure‑and‑talented little diva Taylor Swift's song is what we call art." JR Shi Si's line is one that can bend and stretch.

The Nets are also quite resilient.

Their new head coach excels at transition, knows that hard steel can't surpass Fan Xi, and from the second quarter began rotating the lineup, conserving fresh energy, plotting a gradual counter‑offensive.

The Clippers are also decisive, directly assigning the starters to play through to the end.

Anyway it's just extra sweat, treat it as a New Year's greeting to James Dolan and New York fans.

159–80.

The Clippers beat the Nets by 79 points.

The Nets were devastated; their Russian oligarch owner was especially angry and aggrieved. "Jie Ke, you're being unreasonable. Last year you messed with us, that was understandable. This year you've gone to Los Angeles, you no longer represent New York, yet you still mess with us?"

"Yeah, otherwise you could call the police."

That was JR Shi Si's response.

Very much in Smith's style.

The angry Russian wanted to go into a room and pull out an AK‑47.

But what could he do with it?

"This is just a little token from Kevin." Fan Xi received a beaming James Dolan's call that night.

James Dolan heard that Fan Xi had thoroughly crushed the Nets in Brooklyn, a game that slaughtered them by 79 points, higher than the combined margins of their three losses to the Nets.

He leapt up from his mistress's bed in joy, not even wearing underwear, and gave Fan Xi a grateful call.

This dashing vigor made the mistress sigh: only Fan Xi in the world can give him such vitality. My mouth is numb, I don't see any thriving vigor.

"Tell Kevin that next year when he comes to New York, I'll arrange a luxury cruise party for him." Dolan was very generous.

Friends give him friendship, so he must give friends a real money pit.

Fan Xi thanked Duolan on Kevin's behalf.

He wishes Durant could get along with Rihanna until next year. Given Rihanna's personality, he probably got bored of Old Two Durant and would... replace him.

But there is another possibility: that he was moved by this honest Old Two Durant and willingly let him take over.

Rihanna's millstone is still quite big.

…

After dealing with the Nets, the Clippers' regular season is underway.

The boring winning streak, without surprise, goes from one victory to another.

Time quickly arrived at February.

The All-Star weekend has arrived.

Fan Xi originally didn't plan to participate in the All-Star weekend, but unable to resist fans' enthusiasm, he was pushed to the All-Star vote king position, even setting a record with 5 million votes.

"I cannot let down the fans."

Fan Xi said this to Liu Yifei and them.

He now just wants to escape that luxurious villa in Beverly Hills where Liu Yifei lives long-term. Moreover, Si Jia Li, Hai Se Wei, Fu Ke Si, and Jennifer all have houses nearby, and they almost always hang out together.

Their interactions are harmonious, and Liu Yifei also has the aura of a matriarch. The three Hao lai wu concubines were arranged by her clearly and clearly.

He has learned Chinese etiquette thoroughly.

This is because Fan Xi's parents are supporting him behind the scenes.

This gave Liu Yifei enough confidence.

Moreover, Fan Xi is really charming; who could stay away from Fan Xi? If Fan Xi doesn't give them a few rounds, they'll be listless all month.

"That's fine; come back early after the All-Star game, and we'll get together. Let's have a lively New Year as a family."

"Family harmony brings prosperity."

"Rules are still necessary."

Liu Yifei came up with this excuse, and Fan Xi couldn't refuse.

He began to understand a truth: having one wife is happiness; having four wives is the start of disaster.

Fan Xi began to not understand why so many novels like to write stud stories; is that how people live? What happened to Wei Xiaobao later? Did Master Jin give an explanation?

I need to find someone to learn from.

…

The 2016 NBA All-Star Game was held in distant Toronto, this is the Raptors' 20th anniversary. The NBA ought to give them this face.

The Western Conference All-Stars this year are: Fan Xi, Ku Li, Ke Bi, Du Lan Te, Yue Ji Qi.

The three teams in the Pacific Division have all had their players selected as All-Stars.

But no one said any nonsense.

Everyone is tired of saying "deservedly so".

Besides Ha Deng being a little emotional, he thinks he should replace Ku Li.

He dare not say he would replace any of the four Los Angeles players.

He said he would replace Fan Xi, but Fan Xi could beat him to the point of being unable to take care of himself on the court.

He said he would replace Kobe, but Kobe this year ranked second in voting, and before the season he said this was his last season, with Ke Mi fans worldwide watching. You want to spoil the fun? Moreover, the Raptors' home court is where Kobe rose to prominence; his 81 points were scored there, and only after scoring those 81 points did he gradually become recognized as the league's top player.

From that year to 2011, he was the league's top player in a comprehensive sense, the NBA's face.

After 2011, Le Bu Lang Zhang Si perhaps briefly had a turn as the top player, but it was like the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms between Tang and Song—short-lived and not glorious.

After Fan Xi won his second championship and Olympic gold medal, he became unstoppable, and remains so.

He made the post-96 golden generation leave the center stage early, and made the post-03 generation collectively withdraw.

And his contemporary... another leader, now calling him little brother, even shouting: "Enjoy the moment, don't think of Russia."

Ha Deng definitely wouldn't dare say to Du Lan Te that he could replace him; Du Lan Te is his boss every day and for life.

Yue Ji Qi needs no further mention; although this is only his second season, he is already the Western top center, and no one can match him.

Halfway through the season, Yue Ji Qi averages 12.6 points, 10.1 assists, 9.5 rebounds, almost a triple-double.

Moreover, Du Lan Te averages 32.8 points, leading the scoring chart; this trend makes it unproblematic for him to win his fifth career scoring title.

Fan Xi, meanwhile, averages 23.5 points, 11.5 assists, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 2.7 steals—a super triple-double stat line.

This year's regular-season MVP has already been announced: first place is Fan Xi, second is Derek Rose, third is James, fourth is Du Lan Te, fifth is Ha Deng.

This year, no blind-eyed media dare to vote for James or Rosa.

Keep doing this, unless they don't want to continue.

The league has just given up.

They completely believe no team can beat the Kuaisuan; the Kuaisuan is so strong that even sharks say this team could defeat the three-peat Lakers.

Of course, Kobe Bryant said this is because A Nie Er is begging Du Lan Te for mercy; A Nie Er fears Du Lan Te will scold him again.

Du Lan Te this season has let loose, typing away on the keyboard, slaying gods who block gods, slaying Buddhas who block Buddhas.

In the past, there were still people who picked on Fan Xi and the Kuaisuan's weaknesses.

This season, with Du Lan Te, it's truly a golden body protected.

"Kevin, hasn't Rihanna gotten pregnant yet?"

Fan Xi asked Du Lan Te on the plane to Duolunduo.

Du Lan Te is worried.

He scratched his slightly bald head and said, "This can't be rushed; we have to take it slow."

Kobe Bryant offered a suggestion from the side: "Kevin, if you want a son, have sex at 3 or 4 a. m. in the first half of the month; it works."

Looking at Kobe showing off, with just a one‑in‑three shooting percentage, he's now acting as a teacher, running out to give lessons to others.

We at least need to raise the shooting percentage to fifty percent.

But Fan Xi also doesn't dare to advise Kobe to go for quadruplets, in case the four supine turns into three irons.

Fan Xi remained silent at the side.

Jokic's English isn't great, but he seriously interpreted Kobe's remarks: "Is this the legendary 4 a. m. Los Angeles? Vanessa's call is earlier than a rooster's."

Pfft!

Fan Xi spat out a mouthful of coffee all over the floor.

Durant is a bit slow-witted; he paused a moment before reacting, laughing so hard he couldn't keep his legs together, and trembling said: "Looks like I also need Rihanna to get up at dawn to practice high notes."

Kobe waited until they finished laughing, then solemnly told Fan Xi: "You need to discipline this younger brother of yours; as a center, talking too much is no good. A humorous center doesn't last long, and his peak is short."

Fan Xi gave a perfunctory nod.

Jokic, however, doesn't care; many Los Angeles media criticize his physique, thinking he'll follow O'Neal's old path—a wicked road with no return.

But he thinks it's fine; what's wrong with becoming O'Neal?

Anyway, he doesn't plan to stay in the NBA too long.

The horses of Serbia have received his blood and sweat; he wants to go back to give them some opposition training.

The trip from Los Angeles to Duolunduo is a long journey; Kobe focused on sharing videos of his son playing basketball in the latter half. Durant and Jokic went to sleep early; they haven't been fathers yet, so they can't understand this kind of showing off.

If it were chatting with Durant about the 4 a. m. high notes, and with Jokic about Serbia's horses, they could still hold on a while.

Jackson Bryant is indeed quite good; his ball sense is very good and familiar, although he often gets blocked by his sister in confrontations, but that's also due to height. In a few years, Jackson will be able to turn the tables on his sister.

Fan Xi had watched many video clips; he told Kobe: "Your daughter's trash talk is not bad."

"Yes, from a young age I give Jackson some mental pressure. Once he gets past his sister, no matter how filthy the trash talk, it can't touch him. This is called: after enduring the spray at home, going outside you become indestructible." Kobe said.

Kind of interesting.

Fan Xi nodded.

Then he commented: "Jackson's palm is a bit, as you like, ha."

Kobe gave Fan Xi an annoyed look.

"Your son has big palms, but he chose to play soccer."

They were stabbing each other in the back.

But Fan Xi doesn't mind; Troy doesn't play basketball, but he has four brothers, soon to be five, so surely one will play basketball.

They can't all become playboys of Hollywood.

…