harleyscars Chapter 23 The All-Star Game Prelude
Chapter 23 The All-Star Game Prelude
December 1, 2008. Times Square, New York.
Although it is deep winter, the crossroads of the world are still bustling with people.
Countless tourists and New Yorkers stood in front of the giant Nasdaq screen, craning their necks, their eyes filled with shock and fervor.
On the screen, the miracle that occurred 48 hours earlier in Madison Square Garden is being played on a loop.
0.8 seconds.
The video was slowed down tenfold.
Zach Randolph's high-lob pass, which could even be described as a mistake, flew towards midfield.
A red figure soared into the air.
He incredibly caught the basketball, which was too high, with one hand.
Time seemed to stand still.
Brandon Roy, who was guarding him, had already landed, while Li Xiangbei was still hanging in the air. Using his terrifying core strength, he forcefully twisted his center of gravity at the last moment before his body was about to land, and threw the ball out.
"brush!"
Even without sound, the visual impact is enough to take your breath away.
Commentator Mike Brin's hoarse roar seemed to transcend the screen, exploding in everyone's minds:
"He defied gravity! Gravity was merely a suggestion to him!"
"That's Jordan-esque hang time!"
This is Li Xiangbei's first "god-level calling card" for establishing himself in this alliance.
The latest issue of Sports Illustrated has already been sold out at the roadside newsstand.
The cover captures the moment Li Xiangbei looks down at Roy from the air. The title, in large white font, reads:
"GRAVITY IS A SUGGESTION"
……
Manhattan, Tribeca Apartments.
Li Xiangbei lay on the sofa, holding the magazine in his hand, and casually flipped through a couple of pages.
"Jordan-style hang time?" He chuckled, touching his knee.
That was the result of the combined effect of the [Steel Knee Pads] and [Core Strength]. Of course, there was also a tiny bit of the "Guaranteed Hit Aura" granted by the system at play.
[System notification: Reputation points have surged.]
[All-Star voting bonus: Now enabled.]
[Current Status: Trending Across the US (You're the most talked-about person this week).]
Just then, David Lee called, his voice as excited as if he had won the lottery.
"Hey! Li! Did you see the official results of the first round of voting? My God! You're insane! The whole world is insane!"
"What's wrong?" Li Xiangbei asked knowingly, his tone calm.
"Check the official website yourself! Barkley was so angry on TV he almost called the police!"
……
TNT Studio.
Charles Barkley's bald head looked particularly shiny and was now flushed red under the studio lights.
"This is unfair! This is definitely cheating! This is a hacking attack! Where is David Stern? Go check the internet connections in China!"
Barkley pointed at the data on the big screen behind him, spitting as he spoke.
2009 NBA All-Star First Round Voting Results (Eastern Guards):
Li Xiangbei (New York Knicks): 1,520,388 votes.
Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat): 804,213 votes.
Allen Iverson (Detroit Pistons): 658,442 votes.
In the West, even Kobe Bryant, who had just led his team to a championship and whose popularity was at its peak, only just surpassed 120 million votes in the first round.
Li Xiangbei, a second-round pick and a rookie who has played for less than two months, has a vote count that is not only nearly double that of Dwyane Wade, who is second in the East, but also surpasses Kobe Bryant, making him the current vote leader in the entire league!
"One and a half million votes?! In the first round?!"
Barkley clutched his head, looking like his worldview had collapsed. "That 0.8 seconds is cool, that ketchup is cool, but how could he have more than Kobe? Did they send red envelopes to every IP address that voted? This is cheating! We need to investigate the IPs!"
Shaquille O'Neal, standing next to him, was laughing so hard his whole body was shaking.
"Charles, admit it, you're jealous. Utterly jealous."
O'Neal pointed to the photo on the screen of Li Xiangbei's game-winning shot.
"If I could be like him, I could get just as many votes. And..."
O'Neal winked, and his funny expression amused the entire audience.
"Look at this kid's face, he looks like he's destined for Hollywood. Plus, he's New York's savior, and he has the support of the entire Chinese market. I think 1.5 million votes isn't enough."
……
Oklahoma City.
Kevin Durant is curled up on the sofa scrolling through Twitter.
As last year's Rookie of the Year, his stats this season have been explosive, but in the All-Star voting, he was completely overshadowed by that kid from New York.
But that wasn't the worst thing for him.
What upset him the most was that the woman tweeted again.
Scarlett Johansson retweeted the NBA's official voting link, adding the caption: "Every vote is a fight against gravity. I want to see him fly in the All-Star Game. @LiXiangbei [heart]"
Durant looked at the heart and felt like he'd been fed a lemon.
He couldn't resist posting a tweet using his main account:
"@ScarlettJohansson I can score in 0.8 seconds too, and my wingspan is much longer than his. Why don't you text me? Lee is so lucky. Is this the power of the New York media?"
This tweet, full of sour grapes, was instantly bombarded by netizens.
"Kevin, stop being so sour, go buy a bottle of ketchup first."
"You want to drink your bathwater, while others want to drink champagne. That's the difference."
"KD, focus on playing basketball. Your demeanor... is definitely not as good as Lee's."
Durant was so angry that he turned off his phone, grabbed a basketball, and rushed to the training facility.
"Just you wait! When I get to the All-Star game, I'm going to challenge him to a one-on-one match!"
……
Miami. American Airlines Arena.
Dwyane Wade had just finished a high-intensity strength training session. He was shirtless, sweat dripping down his muscles, his eyes fixed on the television on the wall.
The program was playing a highlight reel of Li Xiangbei's killer moves.
"152 million votes..."
Wade wiped away his sweat, a cold smile playing on his lips.
As a representative of the 03 golden generation, and a superstar who had already won the Finals MVP in 06, how could he lose the All-Star vote to a rookie who had only been in the league for two months? And by almost half?
This is not just a difference in popularity; in Wade's view, it is a challenge to his dignity.
The scene where he was faked out in the opening game is still being played repeatedly in various highlight reels.
Dwyane.
Coach Spoelstra came over and handed him a bottle of water. "Don't worry too much about those numbers. It's just a fan game."
"I know, Coach."
Wade took the water bottle, crushed the plastic bottle, and made a cracking sound.
"That shot with 0.8 seconds left was really spectacular, but I lost to him last time because I underestimated him and also because of bad luck."
Wade turned around and looked at his teammates who were training.
"This is Miami. This is my territory."
"He said he wanted to make me run hard during the opening game. Okay, I'll remember that."
"Next time, I'll show him what real 'lightning' is. Hopefully, his knees are ready to take the impact."
……
Miami International Airport.
As the entire Knicks team walked out of the terminal.
But what awaited them was a barrage of gunfire and artillery fire that had been waiting for a long time.
Reporters swarmed forward, shoving microphones directly in front of Li Xiangbei.
"Li! Congratulations on becoming the first-round vote leader! Are you surprised by this?"
"Barkley said you rigged your votes by relying on the Chinese market, how did you respond?"
"Wade just said in an interview that he lost to you last time because of luck, and he said he'll get his revenge at American Airlines Arena. Are you scared?"
Li Xiangbei took off his sunglasses, looked at the reporter who asked the question, and gave a bright smile.
"Unexpected? No. For someone with over a billion supporters, this is just basic stuff. If Sir Barkley is envious, he could consider going to China to learn square dancing; maybe that would gain him some followers."
"As for Dwyane..."
Li Xiangbei paused.
"He said it was just luck last time? And he wants to get revenge?"
"Okay."
Li Xiangbei put his sunglasses back on.
"Since he wants luck so badly, I'll lend him a little bit of that 0.8 seconds of luck."
"Otherwise, I'm really afraid the game will end too early, which would be so boring."
"Tell him I'm waiting for him at the American Airlines Center. Don't be late."
That night.
In a Miami nightclub.
Beasley is currently surrounded by women on both sides. He was so badly defended by Li Xiangbei in the opening game that he questioned his existence and still has psychological trauma.
"Michael, are you going to start against the Knicks tomorrow?" the hot girl next to me asked.
Beasley's hand trembled, and the wine spilled all over the floor.
"Um... I think my back has been hurting a bit lately. Maybe being a substitute would be good."
In the Heat's locker room, Wade watched Li Xiangbei's interview video and slammed a towel on the floor.
"Borrowing luck? Arrogant brat."
"Tomorrow, I'll make sure you can't even cry anymore."