Chapter 69: The Super Fan Xi, Daring to be First and Standing Alone

John Wall also found it inconceivable; he could not believe such words came from his closest brother during their college years.

Yet, his good brother looked at him with a very firm gaze. "We have no other path to take. If we want to win, we should hand the basketball to Jack to distribute."

Fan Xi lingered in the front court, waiting for his teammates to get into position.

He still set a screen with Blake Griffin. After the switch, he drove into the paint and immediately passed the ball to Cousins, who had established position in the restricted area. Cousins caught the ball, backed down Ibaka, and completed a turn with ease. Just as he was about to go for a hook shot, Stephen Curry rushed over to interfere.

John Wall was in Cousins' blind spot. He passed the basketball to Fan Xi, and the moment Fan Xi caught it, he flicked it quickly to the left... a no-look-pass.

The basketball reached John Wall's hands. Wall caught the ball and instinctively charged toward the restricted area, scoring an easy layup.

This basket gave him a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

Did they really need to play so arduously?

Perhaps Cousins was right; they really should hand the basketball to Jack Fan to handle. Although he was an annoying guy, he was absolutely fair.

John Wall's gaze turned toward Fan Xi.

Fan Xi had already turned around to play defense.

Cousins reached out to high-five John Wall, and the two University of Kentucky alumni shared a look of mutual trust.

"I need to watch this pass from Jack Fan again. It's so fluid, it's practically like a computer program."

Kenny Smith replayed Fan Xi's pass in the broadcast booth. Only in slow motion did it show how brilliant Fan Xi's pass was... this ability to scan teammates with peripheral vision in one fluid motion... gasps erupted in front of television sets everywhere.

"It seems Jack has a real talent for passing. This ball even reminds me of 'White Chocolate' Jason Williams back in the day. Except, Williams was someone who made flashy passes just for the sake of being flashy." Kenny Smith couldn't stop praising him on TV, even mentioning the point guard who made the Sacramento Kings the team with the highest attendance at the turn of the century.

Charles Barkley was also surprised. He was an insider, a former NBA superstar; of course, he could see the value contained in Fan Xi's pass, but he didn't want to admit it, much less praise him on television.

He just said flatly: "He's just trying to continue currying favor. I don't think John Wall will join forces with him."

However, what happened immediately afterward slapped him hard in the face.

When Stephen Curry used Ibaka's body to run off-ball again, Fan Xi suddenly switched to Curry's side. The moment Curry caught the ball and was about to pass... John Wall appeared beside James Harden with telepathic timing, and... slap!

He intercepted Curry's pass and immediately launched a fast break.

Fan Xi was also sprinting at full speed on the other side.

John Wall was one of the fastest point guards in the NBA, and so was Fan Xi.

The two were like two sharp spears piercing the heart of the Second-Year Team.

Although Curry chased them down quickly.

He ultimately chose to defend John Wall upon entering the three-point line, believing John Wall wouldn't pass to Fan Xi.

Little did he know, the moment he lunged at John Wall, Wall passed the basketball to Fan Xi.

Curry was caught off guard and chased after the ball.

However, Fan Xi stopped abruptly and casually tossed the basketball toward the restricted area. John Wall flashed into the restricted area like a ninja, soared into the air, grabbed the ball... Boom!

He completed a thunderous dunk.

John Wall had once again completed a sharp and highly tacit fast-break attack with Fan Xi.

After the basket, the look in John Wall's eyes when he looked at Fan Xi had changed.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he reached out his hand to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi did not dodge and reached out to high-five him.

After this scene occurred.

McHale stood up and took the initiative to applaud the two.

He was someone who knew the inside story.

Stoudemire, beside him, muttered: "I simply can't believe it. Jack only needed less than one game to make two arrogant geniuses completely lean toward him. Is this natural leadership charisma?"

At first, as an assistant coach, he was very worried that the two No. 1 overall picks and Fan Xi would form a three-way battle. In fact, that was the case; Griffin and John Wall were competing against each other, and at the same time, they held great hostility toward Fan Xi.

But now.

Fan Xi had actually dissolved it into nothingness.

Mike Budenholzer sat slumped on the bench. He was the person who least wanted to see this scene. He was very frustrated, believing that all his previous calculations had been in vain, and even... had helped Fan Xi.

He tugged at his hair forcefully.

Also feeling that this was a thorny situation were Deron Williams and Chris Paul.

They were both point guards.

Chris Paul asked Deron Williams: "When did you become the leader of the Jazz?"

Deron Williams thought for a moment and said: "Probably my third season."

That was already quite fast.

Chris Paul was even faster; he basically settled the stubborn factions of the Hornets in his rookie season, becoming the team leader with the help of the coaching staff and management.

He had always been proud of this.

But now, when he saw John Wall take the initiative to reach out and high-five Fan Xi, he felt frustrated.

He realized that although he had already imagined Fan Xi to be very impressive, he still hadn't expected his ability to control the game to be this powerful.

He asked himself, if he were in Fan Xi's position, he would absolutely have no way to unite two top picks so quickly; although Fan Xi used passing as bait, they had previously hated Fan Xi to the bone.

The game continued.

The Second-Year Team launched a fierce attack, with Harden and Curry leading the offensive from beyond the three-point line, showcasing the Second-Year Team's mobility and three-point advantage.

However, the First-Year Team kept biting at the score.

Because Fan Xi firmly controlled the rhythm, under his guidance, Cousins' height in the paint and Griffin's impact in the key became advantages. Furthermore, John Wall became a sharp steel blade; whenever he found an opening, Fan Xi would feed him the ball at the first opportunity, letting him charge into the paint to draw fouls.

The battle between the two sides became increasingly intense, and the atmosphere grew more and more tense.

Their scores seesawed in a jagged pattern.

Every commentator was saying that this was the most intense All-Star Rookie Game in history.

Many spectators even stood up, clenching their fists as they watched this unprecedented rookie game.

"It truly represents the peak competition of the new generation of players."

Kevin Garnett commented from the sidelines: "The second years are strong, the first years are even more ferocious. The Lakers have found a treasure."

Kobe looked proud.

He looked exactly like a parent being praised for their child's good grades.

With 5 minutes left in the game, Fan Xi's assist tally had already reached 23, breaking the Rookie Game assist record.

Now, with 2 minutes left in the game, Fan Xi's assist tally had reached 26.

If there were no surprises, this would be a record that could not be broken in the Rookie Game.

Fan Xi's name would remain in the history of the Rookie Game forever.

At this moment, Charles Barkley had already begun to worry; he was very anxious that the First-Year Team would ultimately win. Because once the First-Year Team won, the probability of Fan Xi becoming the MVP would be infinitely high. Every time Fan Xi passed the ball, his voice would tremble.

Fortunately, at the 1 minute 56 second mark.

Jennings, who had replaced Curry, hit a super three-pointer.

Changing the score to 115:112.

This was the first time the Second-Year Team had led by 3 points since entering the second half.

"The great Jennings, he is worthy of being the former single-game scoring king for rookies. He has proven to the whole world that only scoring is the hard truth! Those who rely on two top picks to keep racking up assists will never understand this kind of toughness!!"

Charles Barkley almost shouted his throat out.

The louder his voice, the more it proved his lack of confidence.

Beep!

The First-Year Team requested a timeout.

Both sides returned to the bench.

While leaving the court, Brandon Jennings, who had hit the three-pointer to stir up the heat, told Fan Xi: "I will pierce through your miracle with three-pointers tonight, I will take back the glory that belongs to me. I'm sorry, I have to destroy you."

"You don't need to be sorry," Fan Xi calmly told the grimacing Jennings: "Because, you! Can! Not! Win!"

Saying this, Fan Xi walked back to the bench.

At this time, John Wall handed Fan Xi a towel.

He was very grateful for Fan Xi's assists to him, and he also enjoyed this high-quality game tonight; he believed it was Fan Xi who helped everyone enter a higher realm, which was why they could play so closely against the full-firepower Second-Year Team.

Fan Xi took the towel and wiped off his sweat.

Mike Budenholzer announced news at this moment that left the bench in complete uproar: "Jack, you go down and rest, Gary Neal will fill in, you coordinate with John Wall's movement!!"

What?

As soon as these words were spoken, John Wall had the biggest reaction.

Blake Griffin was also very surprised.

Everyone looked at Mike Budenholzer in disbelief.

Everyone was used to playing with Fan Xi, and in their subconscious, they had already treated Fan Xi as the backbone.

Yet at such a critical moment, the interim head coach actually wanted to bench him.

Are you kidding?

Everyone looked in shock at the interim head coach Mike Budenholzer, who had calmly announced this decision.

Budenholzer looked very composed, but in reality, he was very smug inside; he enjoyed this thrill of wielding the power of life and death.

This was something he had planned all along.

Freezing Fan Xi at a critical moment could absolutely serve to destroy his self-confidence. Young people couldn't withstand this kind of neglect; they would definitely be flustered, uneasy... and thus self-doubting.

However, just at this moment.

McHale stood up.

He said: "This is just a joke. Jack will not go down to rest, he will stay until the very end."

McHale stared sharply at Budenholzer; he was a former legendary superstar of the Celtics, the Seal-the-Paint move he created was still active in the NBA paint, and today he was even the general manager of the Celtics. In terms of experience in the basketball world, he was levels above Budenholzer.

Although he was not the head coach, his words carried great weight.

Budenholzer hurriedly explained to him: "Jack is already very tired, him staying on the court might have side effects."

"No, you cannot erase this kid's hard work with a 'might' reason. It was him who brought the game to this important juncture, no one can make him leave the court, not even you. Even if you are an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs," McHale said, hitting the nail on the head.

Budenholzer felt guilty, he pretended to be calm: "I'm doing this just to win the game."

"Enough!"

Fan Xi's voice suddenly rang out firmly.

He walked over and took the tactical board from Stoudemire's hand. He made an unexpected move; he actually drew tactical routes directly on the board and told Budenholzer: "If it's just to win the game, then I can take full responsibility for this game. Mr. Budenholzer, you can rest now."

What???

All the players looked at Fan Xi in shock once again.

No one thought that Fan Xi, who had been calmly delivering assists throughout the game, would say such things at a critical moment. Was he firing the head coach? Didn't he look like someone who was very timid?

How was he so... brave?

Even McHale was caught off guard; he had always thought Fan Xi was the kid who needed his protection. But now, this guy's reaction exceeded the boundaries of his imagination.

Budenholzer's eyes widened.

"I know you have been targeting me all along, but I don't care. I'm just here to win. I want to tell you, Mr. Budenholzer, your tactical ability is really terrible!"

Fan Xi said this coldly, then called Cousins and other teammates over: "DeMarcus, I need you to stand here in a moment to provide a screen; Blake, you need to cut through, if there's an opportunity, I will give you a direct chance to attack the rim. And John, you need to roam on the weak side, you are our strongest Plan B. Wesley, coordinate well with John, your job content is this..."

Fan Xi pulled the players over to talk.

The players, in addition to their shock, actually listened to everything Fan Xi said.

Clearly, Fan Xi had always been a role player who silently delivered ammunition, and everyone thought he was assisting his teammates. Now, he was actually starting to coach his teammates.

Moreover, no one felt it was out of place; they just listened to Fan Xi's suggestions like that.

"If we hit a three-pointer, the Second-Year Team will put in Curry; Brandon Jennings is nothing but a paper tiger, not enough to fight us to the critical moment..."

Fan Xi said confidently at the end.

His whole body was radiating a kind of convincing self-confidence.

"What??? This guy is actually directing tactics? Where did he get this confidence??"

Charles Barkley shouted on TV when the screen showed Fan Xi setting up tactics: "He is simply arrogant; there has never been such a cocky point guard in NBA history. If he loses, he will definitely be doomed!!"

"However, I think he's super cool," Kenny Smith said from the side: "If he pulls it all off, then he will become the coolest rookie in history. He has indeed proven that he stands alone, and he already possesses the strength to skip levels and enter the All-Star Game."

Kenny Smith's words received even greater agreement from the audience.

The Miracle Child, he should have been doing more amazing things, shouldn't he?

At the same time, when the fans in China saw this scene, they were even more excited.

All along, people thought Chinese people were low-key and introverted.

However, in Chinese poetry, there has always been the spirit of "wielding power and pointing out the landscape."

"Fan Xi is worthy of being a new generation of Chinese kid; they are confident, strong, unafraid of power, and dare to be the first. This scene of him directing tactics reminds me of Sun Jihai playing at Crystal Palace back then; strong people are strong people wherever they go."

"I hope the First-Year Team wins!"

The Chinese commentator said with great excitement.

Beep!

The whistle blew.

The game entered the stage of bayonet-to-bayonet fighting.

And Fan Xi also rewrote this game into a combination of "personal destiny and team victory or defeat."

If he succeeds, he will be a peerless rookie.

If he fails, he will definitely be criticized and kicked while he's down.