The Best Point Guard

This ’nickname’ greatly boosted Nate Robinson’s fame in New York and even across the country. More and more women started asking him out, including some minor celebrities. A fast-food brand even hired him for a commercial where he’d jump up to make french fries.

So, he had become Su Xi’s die-hard follower.

He said with a disdainful look, "There’s no way LeBron James is better than you. He’s a star manufactured by hype. How can he be a superstar who brings his own system? He’s clearly a giant baby who sucks the lifeblood out of his team. The whole team serves him, and he plays multiple positions to maximize his strengths and hide his weaknesses. He takes all the credit, and his teammates take all the blame."

Su Xi looked at Nate Robinson, surprised that he had such insight.

Eddie Curry, who was beside them, chimed in, "Jack, if you had Nate Robinson’s jumping ability, you’d be perfect."

Eddie Curry’s face was much sharper now. He had lost over 25 pounds during the two weeks of preseason. His figure was still a bit chubby, but he looked much healthier. In fact, without the extra fat on his face, he was actually quite handsome. He had also gone on the talk show with Su Xi, where Su Xi called him the most talented center in Knicks history, saying that even if he didn’t train and just relied on his natural talent, he could still dominate ninety percent of the centers in the league.

He also said, "Eddie Curry has large palms, long fingers, and strong knuckles, which means he has a unique advantage in another area. Plus, he’d definitely be handsome if he slimmed down."

Even though Eddie Curry knew Su Xi was just flattering him in front of a national audience, he was still thrilled. Who the hell wants to be a slacker? When everyone around you is looking at you with admiration, when the audience is gasping in amazement, when a female producer writes her number on your palm with a marker after the show... who the hell could resist that?

’If that wasn’t a great judge of talent, what was?’

’If that wasn’t a great leader, what was?’

Eddie Curry had recently seen an increase in business opportunities in New York City, but he didn’t attend any of them. He was going to train and lose weight in secret at home.

When Nate Robinson heard what Eddie Curry said, he slapped his forehead. "That’s right! If Jack had my jumping talent, he could dunk LeBron to death."

With that, he turned around, patted Su Xi’s shoulder with utmost sincerity, and said, "Jack, if only you had my jumping talent."

The moment he said it, Su Xi felt a jolt run through his entire body.

He had instantly obtained the super jumping ability he had been hoping for all this time. He never would have dreamed of it... He had originally thought that at his current status, no one would ’gift’ him a jumping talent.

But then he ran into Nate Robinson.

Nate Robinson was definitely a minor player on the Knicks, but his jumping ability was a genuine, top-tier super talent.

’I’ve searched high and low for this, only for it to fall right into my lap.’

Su Xi was good to Nate Robinson without any ulterior motives. If there was any motive at all, it was simply to build his own crew and, in the process, motivate the other players.

Favoring one faction to light a fire under another has always been the golden rule of locker-room politics.

Su Xi obtained the super jumping ability, completing the loop of his super talent system. He had finally become a "super hexagon warrior."

Although the super talent still needed points added through training and competition, having the talent in the first place meant that improvement would be a matter of course.

"Thank you, Nate. I think I’ll definitely be able to train up my jumping ability," Su Xi said gratefully to Nate Robinson.

Robinson waved his hand. "What’s there to thank me for? I just said some empty words, but the help you’ve given me is real."

This remark made David Lee and Jalen Rose, who were standing nearby, nod in agreement.

They were all sharp enough to understand. Su Xi bringing them on television was a form of promotion in itself. What’s more, Su Xi had spared no effort in boosting their fame, even largely ignoring questions about his rumored girlfriends.

After that event, they had been deeply branded as part of Su Xi’s faction.

Not that there was anything wrong with that. Su Xi was the team leader, so they were supposed to follow him anyway. Plus, following him brought tangible benefits. Who wouldn’t want that?

’You think Jerome James, Quentin Richardson, and Jamal Crawford don’t want in?’

’They just haven’t found a way yet.’

Isaiah Thomas was very impressed with Su Xi’s management skills. In less than a month, Su Xi had basically settled the locker room, and the atmosphere and the players’ competitive spirit had clearly improved.

Thomas didn’t really get it. ’Why is it that when I try to be one of the guys, and Jack is one of the guys, the results are so different?’ Last season, Stephon Marbury had come just short of slamming the table and confronting him.

The Smiling Assassin couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

While he also tried to be "one of the guys," his method was of a more literal sense.

Smoking hookah with core players, hitting nightclubs together, sharing tips on picking up women, even playing cards together and then refusing to pay the change he owed when he lost... How could that produce any positive results?

A head coach still needs to have some authority.

Su Xi had reminded him of this more than once.

...

On November 1st, Madison Square Garden Arena was ablaze with lights. James Dolan was in the front row, grinning from ear to ear. It was another game where ticket prices were raised at the last minute and were still in high demand.

Many NBA owners envied Dolan. They envied how the guy could hand out trash contracts left and right and still be raking in the dough.

There was nothing to be done. The location was just too damn prime. And his old man had been too damn good at running the business.

So, he was now making money without even trying.

When Su Xi made his entrance as the final player, the entire arena erupted in a tsunami of sound. Screams and cheers rose and fell like a hurricane passing through.

LeBron James stood by the visiting team’s bench, watching the infinitely glamorous Su Xi bask in the adoration of thousands. His heart was thick with jealousy.

He was genuinely pissed off by Su Xi’s fame and especially wanted to tear off his mask... He came into this game with one goal: to beat the Knicks, crush Su Xi, and set things right.

He believed Su Xi had only earned his previous honors by relying on the overall strength of the Pacers.

’Now, it’s time to get back to the main plot.’

’The era of the Chosen One has arrived.’

’Su Xi is just an appetizer.’

TWEET!

The whistle blew, and the game began.

To everyone’s surprise, the Knicks’ starting lineup tonight was: Anfernee Hardaway, Su Xi, Jalen Rose, Antonio Davis, and Eddie Curry.

Hardaway had played in the preseason, but only for about 10 minutes per game. At the time, people thought that alone was a miracle.

But no one expected the Knicks to have the famously "made-of-glass" player in the starting lineup for the very first game of the new season.

’What is Isaiah Thomas doing?’

’Is he trying to trade Hardaway? Putting him on the court on purpose to prove he’s still got gas in the tank?’

The Cavaliers’ starting lineup was: Snow, Hughes, James, Gooden, and Ilgauskas.

Mike Brown had built a strong defensive lineup for the Cavaliers. Although Gooden was a bit weak on defense, he was a budget replacement for Carlos Boozer. He could enrich James’s pick-and-roll game.

TAP!

Eddie Curry won the jump ball against Ilgauskas.

The ball was tipped to Hardaway.

Hardaway took the ball and advanced it steadily. He no longer had the same spark and grace of his youth.

However, his height and feel for the ball were still there.

When Su Xi posted up on Hughes, Hardaway quickly passed him the ball.

Hughes was a decent defender, but his post defense was a bit lacking.

Su Xi used his strength to create space. Two bumps, a shoulder fake, a probing half-turn with his left foot to bait Hughes off balance, then a spin into a fadeaway jumper... SWISH!

The basketball dropped precisely into the net.

A very standard shooting guard’s play.

Moreover, the set of post-up moves was as smooth as flowing water, demonstrating a high level of skill.

Although Su Xi’s current scoring technique couldn’t compare to top-tier monsters like Kobe or Tracy McGrady, his 90-point super offensive skill was enough for him to beat eighty-five percent of the league’s defenders one-on-one.

Hughes was definitely not in that other 15%.

After scoring, Su Xi glanced at LeBron.

His gaze was slightly provocative.

But before he could say anything, Jalen Rose, standing nearby, piped up, "Don’t bother looking, LeBron. You’ll never learn footwork like that in your life."