The Best Point Guard

Chapter 432: Chapter 8: Fired-up Curry

A single Knicks preseason game drew over 20,000 fans, filling Madison Square Garden Arena to capacity. The ticket prices were even higher than regular-season games for other teams, yet were still in high demand.

New York fans might have been impatient, but they were also genuinely rich.

A vast middle-class population and an exceptionally prime location underpinned the Knicks Club’s prosperity.

Over the past few years, no matter how much the Knicks floundered, they remained the most valuable and profitable team in the entire league.

This season, acquiring Su Xi was like giving a tiger wings.

Just look at the fashionably dressed, A-list socialites and celebrities in the front row; they were all here for Goat Su Xi. New York’s circle of wealthy women had long since marked Su Xi as their number-one prey. The Knicks’ top star had made basketball take root in their hearts. Back in July, a famous female tycoon had even put out an offer: "If Su Xi spends a night with me, I’ll pay 5 million USD upfront. And if he gives me an experience of pleasure I’ve never felt before, I’ll add a 10 million USD bonus."

You can never fathom the sheer depth of a city like New York.

And you have no idea how extravagantly this ’old-money’ crowd flaunts their wealth.

Su Xi’s appearance sent the courtside into a frenzy of screams, while a hurricane of cheers erupted throughout Madison Square Garden Arena.

The Big Apple City had placed great hopes on Su Xi. They hoped he would break the curse and lead the Knicks to glory... even if the current Knicks roster looked... frankly, not very good.

But hadn’t Little Sheep Su Xi always been creating miracles?

As David Lee took the court, he whispered to Su Xi, "Jack, maybe Eddie should start. I don’t feel confident enough."

Su Xi clapped him on the shoulder, smiled at Eddie Curry who was standing nearby, and said, "Don’t worry, just go out and play. If you struggle, Eddie here will sub in and set things right. Stoudemire is nothing to be scared of. If we’re talking pure talent, Eddie’s leagues better than him."

David Lee looked at Eddie Curry with admiration.

Eddie Curry puffed out his chest slightly. "In front of me, the only thing Stoudemire can do is take shots from the outside."

As soon as David Lee heard that, his confidence was instantly boosted.

The Knicks’ starting lineup for tonight was: Su Xi, Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Antonio Davis, and David Lee.

The Phoenix Suns’ starting lineup was: Steve Nash, Barbosa, Jim Jackson, Kurt Thomas, and Stoudemire.

The whistle blew, and Stoudemire won the tip-off against David Lee.

The ball went to Nash.

Su Xi and Nash were matched up.

Su Xi’s current talent list was as follows:

Super Explosiveness Talent: 99.

Super Speed Talent: 98.

Super Strength Talent: 99.

Super Flexibility Talent: 100.

Super Coordination Talent: 95.

Jumping Talent: 80.

Super Agility Talent: 93.

Super Physical Talent: 92.

In terms of talent, the 6’4", 205-pound Su Xi completely overwhelmed Steve Nash. Additionally, his Super Sense of Distance Talent was maxed out. His Super Spatial Awareness Talent was at 92%, Super Entangling Defense at 98%, Super Low Center of Gravity Rhythm Talent at 97%, and Super Offensive Talent at 89%.

Su Xi’s talent was at the absolute top of the league, putting him in the same tier as LeBron James. LeBron’s vertical was a bit better, as was his raw size and weight.

On a technical level, however, Su Xi was far beyond James.

And that was why Su Xi was ranked in the top five for the upcoming season, while LeBron James was merely a gatekeeper for the top ten.

However, basketball isn’t a sport decided purely by individual ability. No matter how strong you are, it’s all for nothing if you can’t lead your team to victory.

Was Jordan in 1990 any weaker as an individual player than he was in 1998?

Of course not.

Steve Nash didn’t get bogged down by Su Xi. He quickly executed a pick-and-roll with Kurt Thomas and dished the ball out immediately. Nash’s passing while pushing the pace in transition was second to none.

His individual characteristics were a perfect match for the team’s strategy, allowing him to command the entire system as if it were an extension of his own body. That was why his race against Su Xi for the regular season MVP last season had been so intense.

Although Nash remained graceful about the MVP result, he secretly held a grudge. He felt that since the Pacers’ regular season record had declined from the previous year, Su Xi hadn’t brought a significant enough improvement to the team and thus didn’t deserve to win the award.

That’s why he’d made a point of starting tonight, hoping to kick off his new season with a win.

Even if the game’s outcome wouldn’t count toward the regular season standings.

Jim Jackson caught his pass and sank a jumper.

Quentin Richardson’s defense on him was as effective as scratching an itch through a boot. It was limp, like an impotent man wearing three condoms, failing to apply any meaningful pressure.

Su Xi glanced at Quentin.

Quentin’s face was all chubby cheeks, and he didn’t show the slightest hint of remorse for the defensive lapse.

To him, it was perfectly normal. His expression screamed, ’You can’t expect to get any satisfaction from an impotent man.’

David Lee passed the ball to Su Xi.

Su Xi pushed the ball upcourt with considerable speed. He made a quick slash at the top of the three-point arc, sinking his center of gravity so low his body seemed to skim the floor. Steve Nash’s defense was nonexistent, like air. As Su Xi executed a sharp crossover and exploded past him, Nash’s eyes remained frozen, staring at where Su Xi had just been.

It was like a classic trope from a Japanese samurai movie: two swordsmen draw and slash past each other, their figures separate, and then—freeze frame!