The Best Point Guard

"Why don’t the Knicks just play by themselves?"

Some even said the Knicks would be done for next season because they had absolutely no desire to defend their title.

The Knicks were just a ragtag bunch. Their success was a fluke, and failure was their default setting. Now that they’d won a championship and achieved fame and fortune, how could they possibly still have the willpower to fight for another title?

Jordan also publicly commented on Su Xi’s statement.

He said, "I think he’s joking. I’m treating it as a joke. Who would actually think something like that could come true?"

He also said he wasn’t afraid of being replaced, claiming he was irreplaceable because he was one of a kind. But he stressed that "GOAT" is just a concept—that everyone is a GOAT, everyone is their own GOAT.

When the God of Basketball started spouting these kinds of feel-good platitudes, you could just imagine how cornered he felt.

On the court, Su Xi was relentlessly chasing down his accomplishments.

In the world of business, the official launch of Su Xi’s brand—and its immediate move into mass production—posed a serious challenge to his own sneaker line.

This was especially true for the new generation of signature shoes from Su Xi’s independent brand, which sold out on pre-orders in New York before they were even released.

The same thing happened in Indiana, and a buying frenzy swept other cities across the United States.

Most importantly, it had become a full-blown phenomenon in Asia.

The premium on Jordan’s shoes had long since been driven down. Asian fans supported Goat Su Xi as the real God of Basketball. Now that they had their own God of Basketball, why would they continue to pay for the one from the past?

Except, of course, for a small minority of spineless sycophants.

Jordan’s production lines were even forced to make adjustments, which dealt a tangible blow to his financial interests.

That’s why he had no choice but to step forward and respond to all of this.

Su Xi, however, couldn’t be bothered with all the commotion. He boarded a plane for Asia. His work in the United States was mostly done, and he planned to return just before the new season began.

He had more work and business to attend to in Asia.

After a long flight, he arrived in Japan.

Before he even got off the plane, a staff member traveling with him said, "I can already hear the cheering down below, Jack. You’re incredibly popular."

Su Xi’s agent, O’Connor, was a natural contrarian. He wanted to refute the brown-noser from a physics standpoint.

But when he pressed his ear against the window, he did, in fact, hear screaming.

This amazed him.

In fact, Japan had cleared all recent flights, giving Su Xi the kind of treatment reserved for a head of state.

Worshipping the strong was in their very bones.

When Su Xi represented Asians in the United States and beat the American players they practically worshipped into the ground, their reverence and fawning over him reached an unprecedented level.

On television, they would use honorifics whenever his name was mentioned. Moreover, many films, TV shows, and even manga were filled with praise for Su Xi.

Su Xi was just that incredible.

That’s why the entire airport was completely mobbed when Su Xi landed.

Things hadn’t been this crazy the last time he was here, which was just last year.

After all, last year he had only won back-to-back championships. This year, it was a three-peat, and he had also become the King of New York.

Su Xi was escorted through a special exit. He couldn’t appear in public, as it would have created an unprecedented security challenge.

His meet-and-greet was scheduled at a soccer stadium, and it was still packed to capacity.

It was a sea of humanity.

Su Xi received a welcome of unprecedented warmth. During his time in Japan, he could turn on any TV and see his own face.

Su Xi sealed numerous business deals there.

As O’Connor put it: "This is insane. It’s basically a stick-up. All you have to do is hold their product for a couple of pictures and you walk away with a million USD. There’s no easier money to be made."

O’Connor said he was starting to feel numb to money.

O’Connor wasn’t someone who was particularly interested in money; his pay from Su Xi was practically on commission. Of course, Su Xi wasn’t stingy either and had gifted him a house and a car.

It was just that he had no obsession with money. The Nevada Giant Cannon just wanted to flex, to enjoy the feeling of being superior.

It was a feeling he had only experienced in the two or three years he’d been by Su Xi’s side.

O’Connor and his staff had thought the reception in Japan was exaggerated, but that was before they arrived on the Korean peninsula.

The peninsula was even crazier, because there were more girls, and they were sexier.

They didn’t look like they knew much about basketball, but their desire for Su Xi was plain to see. They desperately, desperately, desperately wanted a piece of him; even just touching his hand was enough to make them tremble with excitement.

So, on the peninsula, the events were also held in soccer stadiums. And women made up over sixty percent of the crowd.

Hosts were constantly asking Su Xi what he thought of the local women.

What else could Su Xi say? He could only reply, "They’re great, very beautiful, with great figures."

Then, they would ask, "Are you interested in finding a Korean girlfriend?"

Uh...

Su Xi could only offer an awkward smile.

The crowd erupted in waves of screams.

What puzzled O’Connor was that in Japan, many companies wanted Su Xi to endorse women’s products.

For the sake of the money, he agreed to almost all of them.

After raking in the cash on the peninsula, he headed to Hong Kong and Macao. Everywhere he went, he was met with the same frenzy.

In Asia, Su Xi’s popularity was simply unrivaled.

After the whirlwind tour of those four locations, Su Xi returned to mainland China and could finally relax a little. He could take a break for a while, as there were no public events scheduled.

His first stop was the national team’s training facility in Yuedong.

Yao Ming was already there, training hard for the upcoming World Championship.

He no longer played in the Asian championships, wanting to give the younger players a chance.

But the World Championship was a must-play.

Su Xi, however, hadn’t made up his mind yet. This year’s World Championship was being held in Japan. He had just come from there and had vivid memories of the crowds; he was worried his presence would cause things to get out of control.

Having grown up in the United States, Su Xi wasn’t used to such scenes.

The national team’s training camp was full of new, young faces. Su Xi’s arrival made everyone extremely excited, but they were all very disciplined and wouldn’t run over without permission from the coaching staff.

However, the intensity of their practice games visibly ratcheted up.

Yao Ming said, "These young guys are all playing harder to show off for you. They’re hoping to catch your eye."

Su Xi nodded. "That’s the kind of showmanship basketball should have."

"Our team for ’08 will be selected from this group," Yao Ming said. "Are you ready? We have to win the title again on our home court. Besides, you said you were going to bring the New York Knicks five championships, so three Olympic gold medals for our national team isn’t asking too much, is it?"

Yao Ming was teasing Su Xi about his comments at Madison Square Garden Arena.

Su Xi, however, asked at that moment, "Where are you planning on going?"

Yao Ming’s rookie contract had expired, and he hadn’t yet re-signed with the Rockets, even though they had extended an olive branch last year.

But now, Yao Ming was taking Su Xi’s advice.

Su Xi’s advice had always been the same: Go to the Lakers!

They had the encyclopedia on how to utilize a dominant center, and the Lakers were a great fit for Yao Ming. Kobe was a great fit for him, too.

"I’ll probably be going to Los Angeles," Yao Ming said. "We’re discussing a sign-and-trade. The Lakers are very sincere, and so is Kobe. He told me he doesn’t want to be hurt by a second Chinese player. He said he practically lived in Indiana trying to recruit you, but you still hurt him."

"But didn’t I introduce you to him? He’s so petty," Su Xi said. "When you get to the Lakers next season, you need to take the ball out of his hands more. I’m going for the scoring title next season, and I don’t want to get into a shooting contest with that monster."

"I don’t think he’ll be scoring as much next season. He’s changed a lot," Yao Ming said. "If the sign-and-trade goes through, our goal next season will be to make a run for the championship."

"Let’s see you make it out of the West first," Su Xi said with a confident shrug.

’It would be interesting to actually face Yao Ming in the Finals,’ he thought.