Chapter 70: Two No. 1 Picks, the Biggest Troublemaker, First-Year Leader

Fan Xi took the lead and walked at the very front.

John Wall, following behind him, looked at Fan Xi with inexplicable emotions.

All along, he had looked down on Fan Xi from a condescending posture, thinking that Fan Xi was just an undrafted player, just a rookie who became popular by luck, and was not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him.

But tonight, from the moment Fan Xi walked into this arena, his quiet peace at the beginning, his composure when facing questioning, his lightness when facing isolation... all changed his attitude inadvertently.

Just now, when Mike Budenholzer made the final decision to throw him to the bench and not let him play. He, who had always been passive, suddenly seemed like a different person. The moment he picked up the tactical board and said he would take full responsibility for the game, his resounding posture made John Wall clearly see a fierce tiger.

Asking himself, John Wall thought he couldn't do these things.

If it were himself, he felt he would have fought back aggressively when players isolated him, and when teammates didn't pass him the ball, he would take the ball and go solo. And when the head coach froze him at a critical moment... he would very likely walk away and then expose it extensively in the media the next day to fight for his rights.

However, Fan Xi didn't do that.

He bravely challenged authority to his face.

His courage came from the powerful self-confidence in his heart. In fact, he was so peaceful before because of this.

John Wall looked at Fan Xi's No. 30 back, and he felt Fan Xi's figure getting taller and taller.

His posture changed from looking down to looking level, and now he was looking up a little bit.

His inner world underwent earth-shaking changes. He no longer regarded Fan Xi as a rookie from a humble background, and his arrogance turned into a bit of admiration.

Blake Griffin had similar psychological activities.

The two favored sons of heaven could not help but admit that this undrafted player's peace, courage, tenacity, and toughness... were all a cut above them.

Beep!

The whistle blew.

Wesley passed the basketball to Fan Xi almost without any hesitation.

Fan Xi became the well-deserved backbone and absolute core of this team.

Phil Jackson, watching this scene in front of the TV, showed a gratified smile. From the moment he saw Fan Xi pick up the tactical board, he knew that the last superstar he had been waiting for in his career had sprouted.

Throughout his entire career, he has been ridiculed by his peers as... relying on superstars to mooch championships. The two three-peats with the Bulls relied on Jordan, the league's number one player at the time. The three-peat with the Lakers relied on Shaquille O'Neal, the league's number one player at the time, and the recent two-peat with the Lakers relied on Kobe, the league's number one player. Now that Kobe Bryant is gradually sliding from the number one position, people feel he will no longer be magical.

But God was not unkind to him, actually unearthing another superstar at the age when the Zen Master was about to die.

Phil Jackson stroked his KFC-grandfather-style beard proudly and thought to himself: The world says I rely on superstars, but they don't know that only I have the eyes to unearth the No. 1 player in the league, and only I can let them grow into towering trees to shade me and achieve glory.

Brandon Jennings on the court came to Fan Xi's side with a frivolous manner.

This second-year player, who had made a big name for himself in his rookie season but was now surpassed by Stephen Curry, still had great ambition. He intended to become famous again on Fan Xi's head.

He showed his cunning and said to Fan Xi: "I will let you break through, because I will block you from behind."

Fan Xi ignored his trash talk at all. He quickly completed the assault, cut rapidly to the left, and his sharp speed and explosive power burst out. Brandon Jennings was passed by half a beat in one step.

He hurriedly chased. After Fan Xi took another step forward, he stopped abruptly and then changed direction to the right... Brandon Jennings followed the lateral move to the right like a puppet being manipulated.

Little did he know... Pfft!

He crashed directly into Cousins' strong body.

Cousins was extremely surprised.

He followed Fan Xi's instructions and ran from the restricted area to a position one meter from the free-throw line after two breaths. He just happened to arrive... and Brandon Jennings crashed into the door, like a fly falling into a spider web.

Fan Xi stepped back.

Exited the three-point line.

Jumped up and shot!

Jennings couldn't chase and defend at all.

First-Year Team's Taj Gibson was also blocked behind by Cousins... He originally thought Cousins went up to set a screen for Fan Xi, so he ambushed inside in advance. Little did he know Fan Xi's plan was outside the three-point line... Swish!

The basketball fell into the net in response.

An uncontrollable wave of cheers erupted in the Staples Center.

Los Angeles fans gave Fan Xi the greatest respect and support.

Fan! Fan! Fan!

The sound waves on the scene were one wave higher than the other.

And then, they began to shout in unison: MVP! MVP! MVP!

Fan Xi gently raised his right hand to respond.

His movements were extremely dashing.

Chinese fans across the ocean saw this scene through the TV signal, and it was boiling. The TV host was so excited that his voice cracked: "Fan Xi is Fan Xi. Across the four seas and all nations, for thousands of generations, there is only one Fan Xi. He is our Chinese super point guard. He satisfies all our imaginations about a point guard. I am proud to have such a player!!!"

Yes, Fan Xi satisfied the most intense dreams of Chinese basketball fans. Finally, a true perimeter superstar had appeared.

And this was only his first season.

Charles Barkley was stunned and unable to speak. His lips opened and closed, unable to make a sound. Fear and worry constantly invaded his nerves. He seemed to return to that nightmarish year of 2002, when he kissed a male donkey because of another Chinese person.

This time, Kenny would definitely not let him hang a sign saying 'Smith' on a male donkey's neck. He would definitely stick his own butt up. He loved Jack Fan too much.

"Jack! It's Jack again! He hit the basket to catch up with the score. Now there is 1 minute and 38 seconds left in the game, the two teams are tied, back to the same starting line. The First-Year Team still has a chance. If they win, Jack will be the MVP without suspense. Even the home fans know it. Listen to those shouts from the heart!!!"

Kenny shouted excitedly when Fan Xi hit the three-pointer.

At the same time, the Second-Year Team hurriedly used the dead ball time to make substitutions.

Just as the First-Year Team expected, Brandon Jennings was substituted off the court, and replaced by Fan Xi's college friend, who was identified by Fan Xi as the most terrifying player on the Second-Year Team... Stephen Curry.

When Fan Xi's prophecy was fulfilled again, the First-Year Team's eyes looking at Fan Xi could not hide their worship.

On this point, even McHale, who was sitting on the bench, was shocked. He muttered to himself: Could Jack be the legendary one-in-a-million genius at reading the game? Just like Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson??

The names he read out were more shocking than the last.

The San Antonio assistant coach, Mike Budenholzer, who had just been stripped of his head coach qualifications by Fan Xi, sat on the side in fear. He felt more and more chilled. If he forced out such an excellent Lakers point guard, he would have no face to return to San Antonio.

Now, besides regret, he could only pray, pray for the second-years to win, so that Fan Xi's arrogant fighting spirit would be broken.

He had already thought of the lines he would use to complain to the media righteously after the first-years lost. He wanted to destroy this arrogant rookie.

"Defense! Defense!!"

Fan Xi clapped his hands in the front court, constantly reminding his teammates to move.

At the same time, he had been staring at Stephen Curry.

The second-year Curry had already embarked on his own path to becoming a superstar, but he had just started, and Fan Xi still had a chance to interfere with him.

Stephen Curry tried to change direction under Fan Xi's defense, but was keenly captured by Fan Xi. Fan Xi's current explosive power and speed were both above Curry's, coupled with his originally taller body and longer arms with wider coverage, Curry seemed a bit sluggish.

He wandered around the three-point line for a few seconds, didn't get an opportunity, and immediately passed the basketball to DeRozan decisively.

Then, he started running quickly.

Fan Xi also followed his footsteps closely, like a shadow.

Curry didn't get an opportunity.

But DeRozan succeeded in attacking Wesley hard at the free-throw line. Although John Wall went over to double-team, he still couldn't stop DeRozan from sending the basketball into the basket with a turn-around fadeaway jump shot.

This was a very standard classic guard offensive posture, very much like the one passed down by Kobe and Jordan.

The second-years led by 2 points again.

Fan Xi received the inbound pass from Griffin.

Then, he made an astonishing move.

He passed the basketball to John Wall.

This was the first time he had handed over ball control since taking over from his teammates.

Wall himself was a little surprised.

Fan Xi said: "You go one-on-one against James Harden. I believe in you. I will roam on the weak side."

John Wall was a little flattered. He didn't expect that when Fan Xi was betting everything, he would still pass the basketball to him and let him go one-on-one... You know, he had previously targeted and despised him so much.

John Wall was moved by Fan Xi's broad mind.

He swore he must make this shot.

When he arrived at the front court, James Harden pressed up and used his strong body to block Wall. This black player, whose template was Ginobili, also often did defensive work at the Thunder.

John Wall couldn't break through Harden for a while, and he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

Just at this moment, Blake Griffin did something unexpected. He ran out and blocked Harden for Wall... This forward, who was previously incompatible with Wall and almost fought for the MVP, actually had the spirit of helping others.

Wall hurriedly succeeded, used a lightning assault to cut through Harden's defense, and went straight into the restricted area.

But just as he rushed into the paint, he was entangled by Ibaka.

Ibaka was a defensive tough guy, extremely good at helping defense.

Just when John Wall didn't know what to do, Fan Xi suddenly killed his way out, and Wall hurriedly passed the ball over.

Fan Xi caught the basketball, continued to advance, and brought both Ibaka and Curry's defense into the crowded paint.

Just at this moment, Fan Xi looked back at the moon in the double-team, and the basketball was thrown out. John Wall picked up the basketball. He had a chance to attack the basket directly, but seeing Griffin also starting to accelerate and charge, he threw the basketball along the way. Griffin jumped up like a heavy bomber, grabbed the basketball, and smashed it hard toward the basket... Boom!

The dunk happened!

The basket made a painful roar.

Shaking and swaying.

Bowing to Griffin, the No. 1 pick of 2009.

The Staples Center was excited.

The cheers overlapped again, one wave higher than the other.

This ball let people see the combined power of the three major leaders of the 2009 class.

Two No. 1 picks plus the strongest undrafted player in history.

Kenny Smith clicked his tongue secretly on TV: "This is definitely the best cooperation of the night! Who would have thought that the three people who were at odds before the game would complete such a tacit and perfect dunk combination at the last moment?"

No one could have thought of it.

Including themselves.

Griffin landed after the dunk. He looked at Fan Xi excitedly. Fan Xi stretched out two hands, Griffin hit his left hand, and John Wall hit his right hand.

The three looked at each other and smiled.

"Hey, man, I told you long ago that the talent of our class is incomparable to them."

Griffin said proudly.

John Wall hurriedly pricked him: "Actually, you are the leader of 2009, you just repeated a grade."

Hahahaha!

Griffin laughed very proudly.

"Defense!"

Fan Xi reminded, and the three retreated quickly.

There were 48 seconds left in the game at this time.

According to the 24-second offensive convention, both sides had one offensive opportunity.

However, the Second-Year Team launched a rush attack under the instruction of the head coach.

Stephen Curry launched an assault on the restricted area, but was blocked by Fan Xi at the free-throw line. He quickly passed the ball to Harden. Harden feinted and passed to DeRozan.

When DeRozan shot again, Fan Xi flew over, and his strong jumping ability presented a sky-covering effect.

DeRozan was greatly affected.

Bang!

The basketball hit the iron.

A voice came from under the basket: "I'm still here!!"

Big cousin Cousins jumped up violently, overpowering the two second-year players who were fighting for the offensive rebound, and grabbed the rebound, forcefully waving his elbows to clear the obstacles.

He passed the basketball to Fan Xi.

Fan Xi nodded approvingly at him. He, who was extremely tough a second ago, looked like a child rewarded by a kindergarten teacher the next second, actually a little shy.

"Make this shot and take the lead!"

Fan Xi shouted.

Morale and momentum were all on his side.

At this time, he had completely become the leader of the first-years. He was the co-lord of the rookies, and the two No. 1 picks and the biggest troublemaker were all tightly surrounding him.

Fan Xi arrived at the front court, pressed down the rhythm, and signaled the whole team to disperse.

He went one-on-one against Curry.

Curry stuck to him like glue. Although Curry was not a defensive tough guy, he knew Fan Xi's technical movements like the back of his hand.

He also told Fan Xi: "Don't think about shooting with the ball in front of me. I knew you before the game. You lack this ability."

This sentence did bring pressure to Fan Xi.

However, who is Fan Xi?

His pace did not stop. He started suddenly with his head down, like an angry bull... He rushed to Curry's left side, with the momentum of breaking bamboo!

... ===== CHAPTER 71 =====