The Best Point Guard

The CCTV commentator said, "I don’t know, but I feel like the Knicks’ strategy is to just overwhelm the masters with sheer chaos."

In reality, what he wanted to say was: ’I feel like the Knicks are using the long-lost "play however the hell you want" tactic.’

Fans all across China agreed.

But they had to admit, the Knicks’ games were incredibly entertaining.

Everyone got to show off, and everyone loved to show off.

In Su Xi’s words, everyone was becoming a better version of themselves.

Madison Square Garden Arena was buzzing with excitement. The lead was slowly built during the latter half of the second quarter.

Once the third quarter started, their lead began to grow.

This was because Yao Ming’s stamina was dropping. The Knicks used Eddie Curry and Jerome James to take turns battling him. Yao Ming was no Su Xi; he couldn’t solve his stamina issues once and for all. His performance would inevitably dip by the third quarter, especially in a physically demanding game.

Mutombo came in to sub for him, shoring up the Rockets’ defense to an extent. But he was just too old; the tree they used to carve his age into had been cut down long ago. Some people said he was well into his forties.

While his performance justified his salary, that’s all it did.

When the fourth quarter started, the Rockets’ slump was on full display.

They had Yao and McGrady, arguably the best inside-outside duo in the league, but beyond them, they had nothing else.

The Knicks might have been previously labeled a team of bad contracts—a collection of the old, weak, sick, and injured.

But under Su Xi’s leadership, they were genuinely playing better and better, with everyone bravely showing off their talents. Even Anfernee Hardaway, Tracy McGrady’s own idol, checked in during garbage time and tried to charge the paint for a slam dunk.

But the ball clanged off the front of the rim and bounced away, drawing a wave of shrieks and laughter from the entire arena.

It made for great television.

Hardaway laughed along with them. He was just enjoying this moment of being healthy.

Even though he couldn’t drive into the paint at will and throw down a graceful dunk like in his youth, just being on the court and part of a team that was improving every day felt amazing.

Although many teams were interested in his expiring contract, he really didn’t want to leave. He wanted to retire as a Knick.

「The game ended.」

The Chinese Derby had once again ended with Su Xi victorious.

Yao Ming had yet to tough out a single derby victory.

But he was used to it.

The gap in their on-court status had become clear after Su Xi won his first championship. Although Yao Ming was already considered the second-best center in the NBA, Su Xi was, after all, a superstar who had dominated two giants in a row.

After the game, Su Xi invited Yao Ming to dinner, with Scarlett Johansson joining them.

As they were heading to the restaurant, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian deliberately blocked their car, fervently expressing their desire to sleep with Su Xi.

They were incredibly forward.

Right in front of Scarlett, they said, "...What’s wrong with Jack having two more girlfriends? He already has so many, so why not add us? We’ll never criticize you in the media. We’ll be on your side and help you."

Scarlett fought back the urge to slap them.

Su Xi, with practiced ease, had security separate them before driving away.

"Well, now I’ve seen everything," Yao Ming said in Chinese. "Those two are pretty famous on TV. Their way of expressing affection is certainly... direct."

"Damn it, they think I’m some Casanova," Su Xi cursed. "Am I the type to just screw around? I’m all about feelings. Demanding I sleep with them right off the bat... what the hell do they take me for?"

Su Xi was furious.

Yao Ming gave an awkward laugh from the side. ’I don’t really get what Su Xi means by "all about feelings." In my book, being "all about feelings" should mean being loyal, faithful, and committed to one person. I get the sense Su Xi’s version means you shouldn’t just jump straight into bed. You should cultivate some feelings first, then make your move. It’s like how guys don’t like porn that gets straight to the action; the ones with a bit of plot are the best.’

Yao Ming had a lot going on in his head, but he didn’t say any of it out loud.

It fit his reserved and thoughtful persona.

"You guys are playing fiercely now. When I used to play against Eddie Curry, it was like punching cotton—he was so soft, I loved to just bully him in the post. Tonight, he actually dove for a loose ball. How did you motivate him?"

Yao Ming continued talking about the game. "And then there’s Jalen Rose. He was passing all night. He used to be the type to just put his head down and go as soon as he got the ball. During our halftime meeting, we were all saying the Knicks look like a completely different team."

"What did you do, give them some kind of magic potion?"

Su Xi smiled. "A dream! You know? I gave them a dream."

"A dream? You talked to them about a dream? Not about women?" Yao Ming was baffled. In his mind, not many NBA players talked about dreams and ideals, and according to public perception, this group of Knicks players was the last bunch who should possess such things.

"If you achieve your dreams, will there be any shortage of women?" Su Xi retorted matter-of-factly.

Yao Ming thought about it for a moment and nodded in deep agreement.

Then, Su Xi asked Yao Ming, "What about you? Are you planning to keep playing for the Rockets? This is your contract year, right?"

"Yeah. The Rockets are negotiating an extension with me right now. They want to give me a 5-year, $70 million contract," Yao Ming said. "It’s just a hair under the max."

Su Xi was stunned. He said, "They’re not even willing to offer you the max?"

"We’re still negotiating, still negotiating," Yao Ming said.

"That’s not something that needs to be negotiated. They should be handing you the biggest contract they possibly can, no questions asked. If it needs negotiation, that means they’re disrespecting you," Su Xi said earnestly.