The Best Point Guard

"I’m calm. I’m really calm! This is nothing to write home about for me, if you know my career well enough."

After receiving his gold medal on the highest step of the podium, Su Xi returned to the courtside, all of the Chinese Team’s gold medals hanging around his neck.

Because after the award ceremony, Yao Ming had led the way by hanging his own gold medal around Su Xi’s neck. Then, all the other Chinese players had bowed to him in worship.

Su Xi, of course, deserved such an honor.

But in truth, he was incredibly emotional at that moment. He knew he had received the highest possible respect, which was exactly what he wanted.

Isaiah Thomas, watching from the side, was quite moved. He kept muttering to himself, ’I’ve learned something new! I’ve learned something new!’

When Su Xi said this to the reporter, anyone else would have been accused of bragging.

But for Su Xi, he was simply stating a fact.

Because ever since his high school days, Su Xi had been a champion.

Then came college, where he became the NCAA champion, even getting an unprecedented quadruple-double and hoisting the MOP trophy. After entering the NBA, he won three championships and three Finals MVPs.

An Olympic gold medal in 2004, and now a World Championship gold medal in 2006.

Had Su Xi ever lost a championship? Had he ever lost a gold medal?

Never.

So, for Su Xi, this was just a simple, direct statement.

The fans watching on TV couldn’t help but marvel at how incredible he was.

The CCTV reporter then asked, "In this tournament, we used a lot of new players. Before it started, you said this year’s World Championship was to train the squad for the 2008 Olympics. May I ask how effective that training has been?"

Su Xi smiled and said, "That’s a softball question."

"Just look at how those young guys performed. They were fantastic; they won the championship. They even turned Yao Ming into a garbage player who only gets on the court during garbage time. Heh heh, Coach Zhang, am I right?"

Su Xi gave a shout-out across the airwaves.

This was a reference to Coach Zhang’s classic line... ’The game has reached garbage time, and both sides are sending in some garbage players.’

Coach Zhang, sitting in the studio, turned bright red. It wasn’t from embarrassment, but excitement. He hadn’t expected Su Xi to remember his slip of the tongue from all those years ago. But now that Su Xi had brought it up, that gaffe was bound to become a classic quote.

After all, if Yao Ming was now a garbage player who only saw the court in garbage time, just how powerful must the Chinese Team be?

"So, are you confident about our chances in 2008? I mean, can we pull off an unprecedented three-peat? Can we add a gold medal from basketball to the medal tally?"

The CCTV reporter asked the question on the mind of every fan in the country.

Su Xi didn’t hesitate for a second. He said, "Of course. As long as I’m on the court, I won’t let the championship fall into anyone else’s hands."

"What if the Dream Team assembles a team more powerful than any before?"

Su Xi laughed. "Who can guess how strong I’ll be in two years? I’m still on the rise. I’m nowhere near my peak yet."

This statement from Su Xi thrilled the fans.

It also made many of his haters despair.

Why? Because Su Xi was telling the truth.

He had already won every honor in the world of basketball, yet he was still just a kid—even younger than many of the rookies in the 2006 draft. This year’s sixth pick, Brandon Roy, was older than him.

How agonizing must that be for his detractors? Su Xi had already dominated the NBA and the international basketball scene without even reaching his peak. Once he was in his prime, could the Dream Team really win?

It seemed he really might dominate an entire era, just like Michael Jordan.

And the level of difficulty for him was much, much higher than it had been for Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan was a member of the Dream Team, while Su Xi was leading a team whose best historical achievement was merely reaching the world’s top eight.

"Alright, that’s a wrap for this year’s World Championship. I’m glad I could accompany all of you on this journey. Goodbye!"

Su Xi waved to everyone and ended the interview.

Then, Su Xi moved out of the camera’s frame.

The reporters continued to interview Yao Ming and the others. This was a tremendous honor for the Chinese Team.

Of course, Isaiah Thomas was also interviewed.

He expressed that he was very fond of Su Xi and the national team, and he was thrilled to be able to fulfill his own dream with the Chinese National Team.

Finally, he said with self-satisfaction, "Some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Although certain villains banned me from international competitions during my career, I knew I would eventually have my day. I knew I would create even greater miracles. Now, I have realized my dreams of an Olympic championship and a World Championship. I love Su Xi, and I love China."

Isaiah Thomas’s mood at that moment was very much that of a successful man looking back on past hardships.

Then, a reporter asked him about the Knicks’ arrangements for the new season, as well as their plans for player acquisitions.

He stated that everything was proceeding according to plan.

When asked about their goals for the new season, Isaiah Thomas replied with a smile, "Whatever Goat Su Xi says, goes."

But by this time, Goat Su Xi had already left the arena.

For a long time after that, Su Xi disappeared from the public eye, only appearing in various commercials.

Su Xi returned to China.

He switched into vacation mode and went to Huang Xiaoman’s home. Just as he had suspected, Huang Xiaoman’s family was a large and powerful clan.

This presented some challenges to their relationship. An elder in her family asked him about the rumors concerning him and female celebrities. He was about to say it was all water under the bridge, but Huang Xiaoman changed the subject.