Chapter 48: The Acrobat King's Performance
P.J. Tucker and Dragic, like two hungry wolves closing in, instantly blocked all of Lin Feng's paths forward.
Their bodies pressed in tight, arms outstretched, obscuring his vision and compressing the space.
The atmosphere in the Staples Center suddenly tightened.
The suffocating feeling from the previous game seemed about to repeat itself.
However, just as the double-team was about to close, Lin Feng made a move that caught everyone off guard.
He stopped his dribble.
His body came to a sudden halt, and he used the momentum to turn his back, facing completely away from the basket.
This move caused Tucker and Dragic's lunges to miss, and the two almost collided due to inertia.
They were both stunned.
Back to the basket? What was he doing? Passing?
But the other Lakers players were being smothered by the Suns' defenders; there was no passing lane at all.
In the instant countless guesses flashed through the defenders' minds,
Lin Feng moved.
He didn't turn around, and he didn't look.
He simply tossed the basketball from behind his back with one hand, casually lofting it toward the basket.
The action was nonchalant.
There was no sense of power, no apparent technique.
It was like someone in their backyard casually tossing a piece of trash into a bin.
The basketball cleared Tucker and Dragic's raised arms and sailed over their bewildered heads.
It flew into the air, tracing an absurdly high and strangely curved arc.
Everyone's head was tilted back.
That ball didn't look like it was headed for the rim at all.
Its target was the top edge of the backboard!
"Thud!"
A dull sound echoed.
The basketball struck the top edge of the white backboard frame squarely!
Then, under the gaze of twenty thousand pairs of eyes, something that defied the laws of Newton occurred.
The basketball didn't bounce away.
As if pulled by an invisible force, it fell bizarrely and vertically downward.
"Swish!"
Another crisp sound of the ball hitting the net, a sound that broke the hearts of the Suns players.
It went in again!
If the first basket was a stroke of genius born of luck and physical imbalance,
then this shot was a blatant subversion of the common sense of basketball!
P.J. Tucker, the tough guy known for his iron-blooded defense, was completely frozen.
He slowly lowered his raised arms and turned his head, looking at the still-swaying net in disbelief.
He had defended all the top scorers in the league.
He had seen all kinds of unreasonable baskets.
But he had never seen anything like this.
How do you defend this?
How was he supposed to guard a madman who threw the ball at the top of the backboard with his back to the hoop?
Dragic simply threw up his hands; he looked toward the coaching bench, his eyes filled with despair and bewilderment.
Coach, how do we defend this?
Tell me, how on earth are we supposed to defend this?!
On the sidelines, Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek, who had just sat down, sprang back up again.
His mouth was open, but he couldn't say a word.
Roar? Protest?
What was he going to protest?
Protest that the opponent wasn't following the standard playbook?
The Lakers' bench hadn't just exploded; it had gone nuclear.
Nick Young jumped straight out of his seat and rushed to the sidelines, performing a full prostrate bow in Lin Feng's direction.
"My God! This is the true SWAGGY P!"
At the commentator's desk, Marv Albert fell silent.
In his decades in the business, it was the first time he felt his vocabulary was so impoverished.
"I... I don't know what to say, Chris."
"I can only say that what the Phoenix Suns encountered tonight might not be a basketball player."
Chris Webber took over, his voice carrying a dreamlike tremble.
"He's a magician."
"An eastern magician who has turned the Staples Centerinto his personal magic show stage."
Suns' possession.
Dragic's mindset had clearly been completely rattled by those two previous baskets.
His dribble was unsteady, and under Nash's constant pressure, a rushed pass flew straight out of bounds.
Turnover!
The Staples Center erupted in cheers.
Possession returned to the Lakers.
Nash brought the ball across half-court; this time, he didn't even bother with a symbolic play setup.
He handed the ball directly to Lin Feng.
Then, like a loyal spectator, he ran to the corner to completely clear out the space for Lin Feng.
The stage belongs entirely to you now.
The Suns' defense was in total disarray.
Hornacek was shouting from the sidelines, telling them to maintain their formation.
But the players' conviction had been destroyed.
Facing Lin Feng with the ball again, they were caught in a dilemma.
Go for the double-team?
He would throw the ball in using a method you couldn't even imagine.
Don't double-team?
He would blow past you with his lightning-fast first step!
Amidst the hesitation, the Suns eventually bit the bullet and sent three men over, forming an even tighter enclosure.
Tucker, Dragic, and Shannon Brown, who had rotated over to help.
The three of them pinned Lin Feng down outside the three-point line.
Surely there was no way out this time, right?
However, Lin Feng's personal performance had only just begun.
Facing the triple-team, he suddenly flashed a smile.
Immediately after, he made a move that drove the entire NBA arena wild.
He gently tossed the basketball into the air!
The ball didn't fly high, just enough to clear the heads of the three defenders.
"What is he doing?!"
"Is he committing suicide?!"
Just as everyone gasped, Lin Feng's body moved like a boneless loach.
He squeezed right through the gap between Tucker and Dragic—a gap so narrow it seemed impossible to pass through!
Then, on the other side, he steadily caught the descending basketball.
The entire process was seamless, filled with the creative and uninhibited flair of streetball!
The three defenders were left completely in the dust!
After catching the ball, the path ahead of Lin Feng was wide open.
He took one dribble forward and took off on one foot near the free-throw line!
His body traced an elegant arc in the air, looking as if he were drifting through the sky.
Finally, with an effortless flick of the wrist,
the basketball obediently found the bottom of the net once more.
"Swish!"
At the commentator's desk, Marv Albert could no longer control his emotions. He grabbed the microphone and roared with all his might.
"This isn't basketball!"
"This isn't an NBA game!"
"This is AND1! This is a streetball tour!"
"Oh my God! He's turned an NBA court into his own personal playground!"
At that moment, the Suns' defensive system was declared completely collapsed.
The players' mindsets were totally broken.
On the next possession, Lin Feng drove with the ball again.
A humiliated and furious P.J. Tucker gave up on any defensive play and used a crude football tackle to slam Lin Feng to the floor.
"Whistle—!"
The referee's whistle blew without hesitation.
Flagrant foul!
Lin Feng stood up from the floor, brushed the dust off himself, his face devoid of expression.
He walked to the free-throw line.
Inside the Staples Center, twenty thousand fans spontaneously began a rhythmic chant.
"Show-Time!"
"Show-Time!"
"Show-Time!"
The mountain-shaking cheers heralded the birth of a new king.
On the sidelines, Lakers head coach D'Antoni had already tossed aside his clipboard.
He simply stood there with his arms crossed, a smile of gratification and appreciation on his face.
He didn't need to do anything.
He only needed to quietly enjoy this storm of offense, orchestrated by Lin Feng, which was magnificent to the extreme.
The remaining time turned entirely into Lin Feng's personal show.
Ultra-long-range no-look threes.
Double-clutch reverse layups after the drive.
Fadeaway jumpers over two defenders.
He used all sorts of inconceivable ways that completely defied basketball logic to tear through the Suns' defense time and again.
The whistle blew to end the third quarter.
On the big screen at the Staples Center, Lin Feng's stats for the quarter were displayed.
Thirty points in a single quarter!
The game had officially entered garbage time.
Lin Feng was subbed out, receiving the highest honor of a standing ovation from the entire crowd.
He calmly walked back to the bench.
At that moment, the broadcast camera didn't follow him.
Instead, it focused precisely on another person on the sidelines.
Kobe Bryant.
He wasn't cheering and celebrating like the others.
His expression was more serious than ever before.
He turned his head and whispered a few words to the lead assistant coach, Phil Handy, beside him.
After hearing them, the expression on Phil Handy's face instantly shifted from initial excitement to solemnity and shock.
Chapter 49: Kobe's Public Praise
Phil Handy looked at Kobe, the expression on his face shifting from initial excitement to solemnity.
He fully understood the weight of Kobe's words just now.
"Kobe, you mean..."
"I don't need to say what I mean, you just need to do it."
Kobe's gaze didn't leave the court, following the young figure walking toward the bench.
"Find all the footage of his games, including the training camp."
"I want to see them."
Phil Handy nodded solemnly.
He knew that something big was about to happen.
The remaining time in the fourth quarter completely devolved into a performance by the bench players.
The Suns had long since surrendered; the starters were all sitting on the sidelines, watching the Lakers' bench with complex expressions.
The final whistle blew.
125 to 98.
The Los Angeles Lakers slaughtered the Phoenix Sunswith a massive 27-point lead.
On the big screen at the Staples Center, Lin Feng's stats were finally frozen in place.
32 minutes played, 18-of-25 from the field, 5-of-8 from three-point range, and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.
A staggering 49 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
In the second half alone, he personally scored 40 points.
The entire Staples Center cheered for him once again... In the Los Angeles Lakers locker room.
The atmosphere was as heated as if they had already won the championship.
"Crazy! Lin, you've gone completely insane!"
Nick Young rushed over, grabbed Lin Feng, and shouted exaggeratedly.
"Tell me, how did you do it? That shot with your back to the basket—were you aiming for the top edge of the backboard?"
"And that self-pass alley-oop! How did you squeeze through the gap between those two guys?!"
Lin Feng felt a bit helpless being shaken by him.
"I just threw it up there."
"I just squeezed through randomly."
Nick Young froze for a moment upon hearing this answer, then shook him even more frantically.
"Oh, God! Listen to that! Is that even human talk?!"
"Just kill me! I'd rather be beaten to death by you than listen to you act cool like this anymore!"
Pau Gasol and Nash stood to the side smiling, watching the young players fool around.
In their smiles, besides joy, there was more of a heartfelt shock.
As battle-hardened veterans, they knew better than anyone just how revolutionary what Lin Feng did tonight was.
It had already moved beyond the scope of basketball technique discussion.
head coach D'Antoni walked over and patted Lin Feng on the shoulder.
"Get ready, Lin. You're coming with me to the press conference later."
He looked at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with nothing but admiration.
"Tonight, you are the sole protagonist."
...At the press conference site.
The place was already packed to the rafters with media reporters from all over the world.
Lenses and microphones were all aimed at the podium, and camera flashes flickered frantically like they cost nothing.
When Lin Feng and D'Antoni walked in, the air in the entire room seemed to ignite.
All the reporters raised their hands high, like a forest eager for irrigation.
D'Antoni cleared his throat and said a few customary pleasantries, but no one was listening.
A reporter from the Los Angeles Times snatched the first opportunity to ask a question and pointed the microphone directly at Lin Feng.
"Lin, congratulations on a big win and scoring a season-high 49 points. We saw you score in many inconceivable ways tonight. Is this a completely new style of play?"
Lin Feng picked up the microphone, his expression calm.
"I'm just playing basketball."
This answer clearly didn't satisfy the reporters.
Another senior reporter from ESPN immediately stood up, his question even more pointed.
"Lin, we all saw your shots in the third quarter, like the floater after losing your balance and the bank shot with your back to the basket."
"In traditional basketball concepts, these are extremely irrational shot choices."
"What I want to ask is, can these moves be replicated through training? Or was this just a flash of inspiration for you tonight?"
This question voiced what everyone was thinking.
The entire press conference fell silent instantly.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Lin Feng's answer.
They wanted to know how this young man would explain his magic-like performance.
Lin Feng looked at the reporter and was silent for two seconds.
Then, he gave an answer destined to be recorded in NBA history.
"I don't know if it's rational."
"I'm just using my body to put the ball in the basket in the way that feels most comfortable."
The words fell.
The reporters on the scene were stunned collectively at first.
Immediately afterward, everyone showed expressions of ecstasy.
They frantically recorded this sentence in their notebooks and phone memos.
A golden quote!
This was definitely the best quote of the year!
[Lin's Philosophy: Scoring in the Most Comfortable Way!]
This headline had already appeared in the minds of countless reporters.
It was concise, arrogant, and filled with irrefutable confidence.
Just as the reporters thought the night's highlights had peaked...
The side door of the press conference was suddenly pushed open.
A tall figure wearing a black suit walked in under everyone's gaze.
Kobe Bryant!
The commotion on the scene was ten times stronger than when Lin Feng said his golden quote earlier!
Why was he here?!
Kobe rarely attended post-game press conferences for the regular season unless there was an extremely special circumstance.
He walked to the side of the podium, didn't sit down, but just leaned against it with his arms crossed over his chest.
This action itself sent a strong signal.
He had something to say.
A very bold reporter from Sports Illustrated immediately turned the focus to him.
"Kobe! Your rare appearance here—is it to evaluate Lin Feng's performance tonight?"
"What do you think of his shot choices, which in many people's eyes are completely irrational?"
The question was full of provocative intent.
Everyone knew Kobe's personality.
He was a basketball obsessive, a faithful believer in fundamentals.
He would praise hard work and skill, but he would never tolerate this kind of near-"showboating" style of play.
Everyone thought Kobe would use his signature tone to reprimand this rising star.
To tell him what real basketball was.
Even D'Antoni looked at Kobe with a bit of nervousness.
Kobe picked up a microphone nearby, and the entire room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
He looked at the reporter with a serious expression.
"Rational?"
He asked back, his voice not loud, yet clearly audible to everyone.
"Winning is the ultimate rationality."
The room erupted!
This answer was completely beyond everyone's expectations!
But it wasn't over yet.
Kobe paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, finally landing on Lin Feng beside him.
In an unprecedentedly solemn tone, he spoke a sentence that shook the entire sports world.
"And some of his shots tonight..."
"Even I can't do them."
Boom!
These words were like a nuclear bomb exploding in the small press conference room.
The reporters went completely insane!
Some even stood up from their chairs out of sheer excitement.
Kobe Bryant!
That aloof black mamba who never easily admitted anyone was better than him!
He personally admitted that some of Lin Feng's moves were things even he couldn't do!
What an astonishing evaluation!
Amidst everyone's shock and fervor, Kobe put down the microphone, but he wasn't finished.
He added one final sentence, providing the ultimate definition for tonight's miraculous performance.
"He's not playing basketball."
"He's creating art."
Having said that, Kobe ignored everyone's reaction, turned, and walked straight out of the press conference.
Chapter 50: unlimited firing rights and a New Subject
The commotion at the press conference reached its peak after Kobe turned to leave.
The reporters were like sharks scenting blood; some swarmed toward the side door, trying to catch up with Kobe, even if just to ask one more question.
The others turned all their lenses and microphones even more feverishly toward Lin Feng on the podium.
"Lin! Kobe said even he couldn't do your moves! Is that true?"
"Lin! Have you and Kobe talked privately? Has he already designated you as his successor?"
"Do you believe you've already surpassed Kobe in certain aspects?"
The questions became increasingly sharp and explosive.
D'Antoni frowned, about to stand up and end this press conference that had already spiraled out of control.
Lin Feng, however, gently pressed down on his arm.
He picked up the microphone and faced the countless feverish eyes below, his expression remaining calm.
"Kobe is the one and only legend."
"I am just a player chasing after his silhouette."
"As for those moves..."
Lin Feng paused, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"Next time, I will try to score in a more rational way."
After speaking, he put down the microphone, gave a slight nod to all the reporters, and then left the scene with D'Antoni under the escort of staff.
His answer was watertight, yet filled with new suspense.
A more rational way?
Weren't those miraculous shots of his rational enough?
The reporters looked at each other, then erupted with even greater enthusiasm, fingers flying across keyboards to transmit everything that happened tonight to every corner of the world... In the Lakers' locker room.
When Lin Feng pushed the door open and entered, he wasn't met with cheers of victory, but an eerie silence.
Nick Young, Sacre, Gasol... everyone was looking at him as if he were a monster.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Feng felt a bit uncomfortable under their gaze.
"Kobe..."
Nick Young's lips trembled as he pointed to the television in the locker room, which was replaying clips from the press conference.
Kobe's line, "Even I couldn't do it," was being played on loop.
"He... he admitted it himself!"
Nick Young suddenly rushed forward, grabbed Lin Feng's shoulders with both hands, and shook him vigorously.
"What kind of spell did you cast on him?"
"That obsessive! That jerk who never admits anyone is better than him! He actually said you were better than him!"
"This is even more ridiculous than you scoring thirty points in a single quarter!"
Pau Gasol also walked over and patted Lin Feng on the shoulder, his expression complex.
"Lin, do you know what this means?"
"Starting tonight, your status in Los Angeles is completely different."
Steve Nash leaned against his locker and shook his head with a smile.
"Pau is being too subtle."
"It should be said that starting tonight, your status in the entire league is different."
Kobe's public praise carried more weight than any statistic or any single victory.
It was like an invisible crown, placed on Lin Feng's head by the king of the previous generation... The next day, at the Lakers' training facility.
The atmosphere was entirely different from before.
All the staff, even including the cleaning ladies, would stop in their tracks when they saw Lin Feng and greet him with looks of awe and admiration.
The way his teammates looked at him had also changed.
It was no longer as if they were looking at a promising rookie or a reliable scorer.
But as if they were looking at a true leader who could guide them to victory.
Before practice started, head coach D'Antoni called Lin Feng into his office.
"Sit down, Lin."
D'Antoni personally poured him a glass of water, unable to hide the smile on his face.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Not bad, Coach," Lin Feng replied.
"That's good."
D'Antoni put down the glass, leaned forward, and his expression became serious.
"Lin, what I'm about to say is very important."
"From today on, from this very moment, you have unlimited firing rights in my tactical system."
Lin Feng's hand, holding the water glass, stopped in mid-air.
unlimited firing rights.
These words, for any basketball player, represented supreme trust and status.
"Coach, I..."
"You don't need to doubt it."
D'Antoni interrupted him.
"This is a decision I've made after careful consideration, and I've communicated it with management."
"In Phoenix, this privilege belonged to Steve Nash."
"In my plans for Houston, this privilege originally belonged to James Harden."
"And in Los Angeles, now, it belongs to you."
D'Antoni stood up and walked to the tactics board.
"I don't care if you've just crossed half-court or if you're being triple-teamed in the corner."
"Anytime, anywhere, as long as you feel you can take the shot, go for it boldly."
"The team's wins and losses are now on your shoulders."
D'Antoni turned around, looking at Lin Feng with burning eyes.
"Are you ready?"
Lin Feng put down the glass and stood up.
He looked at his head coach and gave a heavy nod.
"I'm ready."
...That night, the training facility was empty.
Lin Feng was practicing shooting alone on the court, feeling the sense of arbitrary control brought by 'Formless Shot'.
He didn't even need to aim; his body's instinct would automatically adjust the angle and force of the release.
This feeling made him intoxicated.
"You really like this feeling, don't you?"
A familiar voice echoed in the empty arena.
Lin Feng stopped and turned around.
Kobe had appeared on the sidelines at some point, dressed in black training gear, his expression unreadable.
"Kobe."
"Follow me."
Kobe didn't waste any words and turned to walk in one direction.
Lin Feng put down the basketball and followed.
They once again arrived at that familiar video analysis room.
Kobe closed the door, and the only sound in the room was the hum of the projector.
He didn't speak, just pressed the play button.
What appeared on the screen was the game footage from last night against the Suns.
The first frame froze on Lin Feng's world-shaking turnaround bank shot.
"This shot was beautiful."
Kobe spoke, his voice calm.
"Fans all over the world will cheer for you."
He picked up a laser pointer and drew a circle on the screen.
Inside that circle was Nick Young, standing outside the three-point line in the corner with his hands raised, completely unguarded.
"But did you see him?"
"When you chose that high-difficulty turnaround shot, he had already been open in that spot for a full three seconds."
Lin Feng's pupils constricted slightly.
Kobe didn't give him time to think and pressed the next clip.
On the screen was the 'AND ONE' where Lin Feng was flagrantly fouled by P.J. Tucker but completed a miraculous floater before hitting the floor.
"A great basket, reflecting your tough physical confrontation and core strength."
Kobe again used the laser pointer to circle another person.
Chris Kaman, who had just rolled to the basket.
"You completed a brilliant 2+1, but the price was your body crashing hard against a two-hundred-and-sixty-pound giant and falling to the ground."
"If you could have been 0.5 seconds earlier and passed the ball under his arm, your teammate Kaman would have completed an easy, unguarded two-handed dunk."
"Both result in two points; which one is easier and safer?"
Kobe turned off the projector.
The room fell into darkness.
Only Kobe's eyes shone startlingly bright in the dark.
"Your new ability gives you infinite possibilities on the offensive end."
"It gave you the weapon to kill games."
"But it also brought you a new obsession—you've started to indulge in solving problems in the most difficult and flashy ways."
Kobe's voice was like a cold scalpel, dissecting the complacency that had just begun to grow deep within Lin Feng.
"You've started to enjoy being a magician, enjoying the gasps of the crowd and the despair of your opponents."
"But you've forgotten the most important point."
Kobe spoke word by word, each one striking heavily against Lin Feng's heart.
"Flashiness is just the process."
"Victory is the only purpose."
"When a simple pass can end the battle, do not use a shot that gambles on luck."
"When your teammate has an opportunity, trust him and give him the ball; that is what a leader should do."
Kobe walked up to Lin Feng and looked him straight in the eye.
"D'Antoni gave you unlimited firing rights, but that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."
"It means you must use the most rational way to finish every attack."
"Your goal shouldn't just be a scoring title or making the All-Star team."
"Your goal should be this."
Kobe reached out and pointed to a photo hanging on the wall.
It was the scene of the Lakers' last championship, the whole team lifting the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
"A championship ring."
Kobe's words were like a bucket of ice water, completely waking Lin Feng from the lightheadedness caused by his divine skill and external praise.
He understood.
'Formless Shot' brought him more than just unstoppable scoring ability; it was a brand new test regarding 'choice'.
He took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to this legendary figure who was both a teacher and a friend.
"I understand, Kobe."
Just then, the phone in Lin Feng's pocket vibrated slightly.
He instinctively took it out to have a look.
On the screen was a newly pushed news notification.
From the official NBA social media account.
Chapter 51: Official Deification, The Spurs' Disdain
It was a push notification from the official NBA social media account.
Lin Feng subconsciously swiped his screen, his fingertip touching the notification.
A well-produced video highlight reel automatically began to play.
The cover of the video was the moment from last night when he was knocked to the ground by P.J. Tucker but still managed to toss the ball into the hoop.
A large, eye-catching English title with fire-burning effects occupied the entire screen.
[Can You Believe It? The Acrobat King of the Basketball Court! Linsanity 2.0 Is Coming!]
(Can you believe it? The Acrobat King of the basketball court! Linsanity 2.0 is coming!)
Rousing rock music blared.
The first shot of the video showed him facing a triple-team, elegantly tossing the ball into the air, then squeezing through the gaps between defenders to catch it for a layup.
Following that was the goal where he had his back to the basket, bounced the ball off the top edge of the backboard, and it fell eerily into the net.
Then, there were those unreasonable three-pointers from the preseason that he took just after crossing half-court.
Every goal was accompanied by the heart-wrenching roars of the live commentators and slow-motion replays of fans in the stands holding their heads in shock.
The video editor was clearly top-tier; they had strung together all of Lin Feng's illogical scoring methods in the most visually impactful way possible.
At the end of the video, the frame froze on Kobe's serious face at a press conference.
"Even I can't do that."
"He's not playing basketball."
"He's creating art."
Kobe's words became the ultimate endorsement for this video.
The video ended, and the screen displayed its statistics.
Posted less than an hour ago.
Views: three million.
Shares: two hundred thousand.
The social networks across North America, and even the entire globe, were set ablaze by this video.
Lin Feng stared at his phone screen, silent for a long time.
Kobe's teachings from earlier seemed to still echo in his ears.
"When a simple pass can end the battle, don't use a shot that relies on luck."
"Victory is the only objective."
But now, the whole world was going crazy over those shots of his that "relied on luck."
The league officials had even personally crowned him as the "Acrobat King."
The feeling was a bit strange.
He exited the video and looked at his social media account.
His follower count was skyrocketing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The comments section was flooded with messages from all over the world.
"My God! This is what basketball should look like! So gorgeous!"
"eastern magician! Please take my knees!"
"From today on, I'm your fan! You're much more interesting than those beasts who only know how to dunk!"
Lin Feng silently put away his phone.
Kobe looked at him and didn't ask anything.
"Go back and rest early."
"Understood." Lin Feng nodded, turned, and left the video analysis room... The next day.
Lin Feng's global popularity experienced a terrifying, explosive growth.
That video titled [Acrobat King] surpassed thirty million views across the entire web in just twenty-four hours.
"Acrobat King."
"eastern magician."
These two nicknames spread like wildfire, becoming the most prominent labels on him.
In the official NBA store, the sales of Lakers jerseys printed with "LIN" and number "24" jumped from the middle of the league rankings directly into the top five overnight.
His ranking was second only to the four top superstars of the league: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Derrick Rose.
Countless commercial endorsement offers flew into his Agent Rich Paul's inbox like snowflakes.
Early in the morning, Rich Paul called, his voice filled with uncontrollable excitement.
"Lin! You're famous! You're completely famous!"
"Nike has already sent over a new contract offer. They're willing to give you a five-year, seventy-million-dollar contract! It comes with a personal signature shoe!"
"There's also Gatorade, McDonald's, 2K Games... Do you know? 2K even wants you and LeBron to be on the cover of next year's 'NBA 2K15' together!"
"We're rich! Lin! We're really going to be rich!"
Lin Feng listened to his Agent's wild joy on the other end of the line, but his own emotions were very calm.
"Rich, calm down."
"How can I calm down? Do you know how much these endorsements are worth combined? This is just the first wave! There will be more in the future!"
"Hold off on all these offers for now. Tell them I'm not in a hurry," Lin Feng said.
Rich Paul was stunned on the other end.
"What? Not in a hurry? Lin, this is cold, hard cash!"
"I said, I'm not in a hurry," Lin Feng repeated, his tone brook no argument.
He knew very well that part of the current hype was just superficial heat.
Only by continuing to win and translating his on-court performance into solid results could this commercial value truly solidify.
He took Kobe's teachings to heart.
Victory was the foundation of everything... Lakers practice facility.
As soon as Lin Feng walked into the gym, he was grabbed in a hug by Nick Young.
"Hey! Acrobat King! Our eastern magician is here!"
Nick Young winked and mimicked Lin Feng's spin-around shot from the video, nearly twisting himself into a pretzel.
"Quick, tell me, how did you practice that move? I want to learn it too!"
Lin Feng pushed him away helplessly.
"I suggest you don't learn it. I'm afraid you'll be out for the season."
"Hahahaha!"
A burst of laughter erupted in the locker room.
His teammates looked at him with eyes full of good-natured teasing and genuine admiration.
Clearly, they had all seen the video that was going viral across the internet.
However, amidst this joyful atmosphere, an undercurrent of "overpraising to kill" was also quietly surging.
On the television in the practice facility, a famous basketball commentary program was playing.
Two commentators were heatedly discussing the topic of Lin Feng.
One of them, a white-haired veteran commentator, looked serious.
"I admit, this young man's performance is highly entertaining. He reminds me of 'White Chocolate' Jason Williams, maybe even more flamboyant."
"But do you really think this style of play can lead a team to victory?"
The other younger commentator countered, "Why not? He scored 49 points in the last game and led the team to a 27-point victory!"
The veteran commentator shook his head, his words sharp.
"One game doesn't prove anything. Basketball is a five-man sport. Victory comes from sound tactics and efficient teamwork."
"And what he's doing is playing in an extremely individualistic way. Those high-difficulty shots are essentially harmful to team basketball."
"When he makes them, he's a hero. But what happens when he misses? He becomes a cancer to the team."
"To be blunt, this is a form of sophisticated egoism. He enjoys all the cheers and the spotlight while leaving the risk to the entire team."
The veteran commentator concluded.
"This style of play might make him an All-Star or a social media superstar, but he will never be able to lead a team to a championship."
These words caused the atmosphere in the locker room to cool down.
Nick Young shouted indignantly, "What does that old man know? He's just jealous!"
Gasol and Nash exchanged a look, their expressions somewhat grave.
They knew that while the old commentator's words were harsh, they weren't entirely without merit.
This was exactly what Kobe had been worried about last night.
Just then, head coach D'Antoni walked in, clapped his hands, and drew everyone's attention.
"Guys, the scouting report for our next opponent is out."
He pinned a document onto the tactical board.
When everyone saw the logo on it, they fell silent.
It was the silver and black Spurs logo.
The San Antonio Spurs.
The most disciplined team in the league, with the highest tactical literacy, and the most emphasis on team basketball—a truly steely squad.
They were also the natural nemesis of Lin Feng's flamboyant style of play.
D'Antoni's expression was very serious.
"This will be a tough battle. They are completely different from the Suns."
Meanwhile, in far-off San Antonio.
After the Spurs' practice, head coach Gregg Popovichaccepted a routine interview by the sidelines.
A reporter handed over a microphone and asked a question everyone was concerned about.
"Coach, you'll be facing the Los Angeles Lakers in the next game. What are your thoughts on their rising star Lin Feng and his flamboyant 'acrobatic basketball'?"
Popovich took a sip of water, expressionless.
He glanced at the reporter and, in his signature tone that was so flat it was almost cold, said simply:
"I prefer five-man team basketball, not a circus."
Chapter 52: Popovich's 'Circus Theory'
Popovich glanced at the reporter and, in his signature tone—flat to the point of being cold—spoke indifferently.
"I prefer five-man team basketball, not a circus."
Within half an hour, these words spread throughout the North American sports world via the digital recorders and cameras of the reporters on the scene.
It was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a pan of boiling oil.
The entire media landscape erupted.
ESPN's flagship show, 'Pardon The Interruption,' followed up immediately.
"Tony, what do you think of Popovich's 'Circus Theory'?"
"Michael, it's obvious. Gregg Popovich never criticizes players by name, but every word of that sentence points directly at that high-flying kid in Los Angeles."
"He believes Lin Feng's style of play destroys the team."
"Yes, he's defined Lin's flashy basketball as a grandstanding circus performance."
TNT's 'Inside the NBA' crew even interrupted their planned segment for this.
Charles Barkley's loud voice echoed through the studio.
"Circus? I love the circus!"
"People pay money to see the circus! Don't they?"
"This kid is making the game fun in his own way! What's wrong with that?"
"When a player can throw the ball in while facing away from the basket, I don't care if he's playing team basketball, I just want to see it again!"
Kenny Smith wagged his finger in rebuttal.
"Charles, you're missing the point."
"Popovich is talking about the philosophy of winning."
"What is the Spurs' success built on? Discipline, passing, and finding the best shot opportunity."
"Whereas Lin Feng's style in the last game was built on finding the most unbelievable shot opportunity."
"These two philosophies are naturally opposed."
Shaquille O'Neal laughed from the side.
"All I know is, if that kid tried those tricks in front of me, he'd get a taste of my backside."
"But seriously, I really want to see what happens when the circus meets the army."
The debate spread from the professional basketball commentary circles to every fan's social media home page.
Supporters believed Lin Feng was the embodiment of art, the direction of basketball's evolution.
Opponents firmly believed he was just a media-hyped traffic star whose playstyle was selfish and inefficient—a cancer to the team.
Lin Feng's name was pushed to the forefront like never before.
Amidst this overwhelming wave of public opinion, the NBA officially released a new announcement.
Fan voting for the 2013-2014 NBA All-Star Game had officially opened.
Thanks to the momentum from the official 'God-making' campaign and the massive controversy brought by the 'Circus Theory'...
Lin Feng's voting page received a flood of clicks within the first hour of opening.
One week later.
The NBA officially announced the results of the first round of All-Star voting.
When that list appeared before the eyes of fans worldwide, everyone was stunned.
Western Conference.
The top three frontcourt players were Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, and Blake Griffin.
This was within everyone's expectations.
But when eyes moved to the backcourt list, the entire basketball world felt a sense of shock.
First place: Kobe Bryant, 501,210 votes.
This result was a foregone conclusion; even though Kobehad not yet returned from injury, he possessed unparalleled popularity globally.
Second place: Lin Feng, 485,336 votes.
This name was like a heavy bomb, detonating all forums and communities.
His vote count surpassed the third-placed Clippers' core, Chris Paul (398,561 votes).
It also exceeded the fourth-placed Golden State Warriors' rising star, Stephen Curry (320,114 votes).
An undrafted rookie who had played fewer than ten official games had parachuted directly into the second spot for the Western Conference backcourt in the first round of All-Star voting.
This result left countless experts and media personalities wide-eyed with disbelief.
"Crazy! The fans have all gone crazy!"
"On what grounds? Just because of those few circus-like baskets?"
"This is an insult to truly elite guards like Chris Paul and Stephen Curry!"
"He doesn't deserve the position! If he actually makes the All-Star starting lineup, it will be the biggest joke in NBA history!"
The controversy surrounding Lin Feng became even more intense because of this list.
At the center of the storm, the Los Angeles Lakers had already boarded a private plane to San Antonio.
In the team's tactical meeting room, the atmosphere was heavy.
head coach D'Antoni stood before the tactical board, his expression the most serious it had been since he began coaching the Lakers.
"Guys, I know it's very noisy outside right now."
"Forget everything said in the media, forget that damn All-Star voting."
"Right now, we are focused on only one thing: our next opponent."
He used a marker to heavily circle the San Antonio Spurs' logo on the tactical board.
"San Antonio is the most tactically disciplined team in the league, bar none."
"They don't make mistakes; they operate like a precision machine."
"Any careless turnover we make will be seized by them, and we will pay the price."
"This is going to be a tough battle."
D'Antoni's gaze finally landed on Lin Feng, but he said nothing more.
After the meeting ended, the players dispersed.
Lin Feng was about to go rest when Kobe called out to him.
"Lin, come here for a second."
The two walked to a quiet corner in the back of the cabin.
"You saw what Popovich said?" Kobe asked.
"I saw it," Lin Feng nodded.
"He wasn't talking to the media."
Kobe leaned against the window, watching the clouds streak past outside.
"He was talking to you, and he was talking to the referees."
"He's setting a psychological expectation for everyone: this kid from China plays irrationally, recklessly, even dangerously."
"Once he successfully implants that impression, any controversial move you make on the court will be met with harsher whistles."
Lin Feng listened quietly.
Kobe turned his head to look at him.
"Popovich is the craftiest old fox in the league."
"Since he said those things before the game, it means he definitely has a special'surprise' prepared for you on the court."
"Be careful. Don't fall into his trap."
Lin Feng felt the solemnity in Kobe's words.
He knew Kobe was using his own experience to warn him.
Popovich's contempt was like a thorn pricked into his heart.
He wanted to respond to that 'circus' label with a resounding victory.
But he also remembered Kobe's previous teachings.
Winning was the only objective.
He clenched his fist, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound.
"I understand, Kobe."
...The night of the game, San Antonio, AT&T Center.
The atmosphere in this arena was completely different from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
There weren't as many Hollywood stars, nor as many flashbulbs.
The spectators wore uniform silver and black T-shirts, sitting quietly in their seats with serious expressions, as if waiting for a solemn ceremony.
When the PA announcer introduced the Lakers players, Lin Feng was greeted by a stadium full of boos.
Lin Feng stepped onto the court and began his shooting warm-up.
He could feel the gazes from the Spurs players opposite him, filled with scrutiny and disapproval.
The whistle blew to start the game.
The Lakers won the tip-off.
Nash brought the ball across half-court and, according to the tactical plan, immediately handed the ball to Lin Feng.
The moment Lin Feng caught the ball, the boos throughout the arena reached a crescendo.
The one responsible for defending him was the Spurs' newly minted All-Defensive Team member, Kawhi Leonard.
A young man known for his 'Claw' and cold-blooded defense.
However, a strange scene occurred.
Leonard merely spread his arms and stood symbolically in front of Lin Feng, maintaining a distance of one step.
He didn't press up; he didn't initiate contact.
Lin Feng was a bit surprised but immediately adjusted, preparing to use the space for a direct pull-up jumper.
But just as he brought the ball up, he caught an unusual sight out of the corner of his eye.
Danny Green, who was originally defending Nick Youngon the other side, had silently shifted a step toward him.
Tim Duncan, guarding the interior, also moved a step up from under the basket toward the free-throw line.
Point guard Tony Parker even left Nash open, his center of gravity shifting toward Lin's side.
The other four Spurs players were like four invisible tentacles, forming a faint encirclement.
Lin Feng had never seen this defensive formation in any game footage.
It wasn't a zone, nor was it a press.
It was like a malicious net cast specifically for him.
Chapter 53: The Iron Cask Formation, "The Lin Feng Rule"
The other four Spurs players were like four invisible tentacles, forming a faint encirclement.
Lin Feng had never seen this defensive formation in any game footage.
It was neither a Zone defense nor Man-to-man.
It was like a malicious net cast specifically for him.
Kobe's warning on the plane instantly flashed through Lin Feng's mind.
"He'll definitely have a special'surprise' waiting for you on the court."
So, this was the surprise.
He didn't hesitate.
The more it was like this, the more he had to break it in the toughest way possible.
He began to dribble, lowering his body slightly.
Opposite him, Kawhi Leonard's famous "poker face" showed no expression.
His large hands spread out like two giant iron pincers; he wasn't in a hurry to go for a steal, but simply blocked Lin Feng's path to the basket.
With a fake burst of speed, Lin Feng leaned his body to the right.
Leonard's center of gravity only shifted slightly, not biting on the fake at all.
Lin Feng immediately followed up with a behind-the-back dribble, switching the ball from his right hand to his left, shifting his center of gravity along with it.
He wanted to use his best rhythm changes to challenge this Defensive Player of the Year.
Just as he completed the crossover and prepared to launch an "Formless Shot."
That net moved.
Danny Green, who had been defending Nick Young on the other side, cut across toward Lin Feng's left flank like a ghost, abandoning his assignment.
He cut off any possibility of Lin Feng continuing his drive into the paint.
Tim Duncan, guarding the interior, also took a large step from under the basket toward the free-throw line, raising both arms high like a moving stone wall.
At the same time Lin Feng changed direction, Kawhi Leonard pressed up, using his disproportionately long arms to shroud Lin Feng's passing lanes.
In front was Leonard's Death Grip.
To the left was Danny Green's interception.
Ahead was the barrier erected by Duncan.
Within less than a second, the three of them formed a triangular cage.
All passing lanes were sealed off.
All shooting angles became incredibly narrow.
Lin Feng felt as if he had crashed into a forest of arms.
This was Popovich's answer.
He didn't believe for a second that Lin Feng could score in a conventional way, so he used the most extreme method to limit Lin Feng's "unconventionality."
There was no time to make further adjustments.
Lin Feng forced a jump, leaning back in the air, and used his terrifying core strength to toss the ball over Leonard's fingertips.
This was an extremely difficult fadeaway jumper.
The basketball traced a high arc through the air.
Every eye in the arena was fixed on that orange ball.
"Clang!"
A crisp sound of the ball hitting the rim.
The ball struck the front of the rim, bounced high, and was easily rebounded by Duncan.
The AT&T Center erupted in a massive cheer from the Spurs fans.
Lin Feng landed and glanced at Popovich on the sidelines.
The white-haired old man sat composed on the coaching bench, his face devoid of expression as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.
At the TNT broadcast booth.
Kenny Smith let out a gasp of amazement.
"My god! Did you see that?"
"This is Gregg Popovich's response!"
Charles Barkley also dropped his playful expression and became serious.
"This isn't a simple double-team."
"The Spurs used four people to form a moving cage to target Lin Feng alone."
"Leonard is responsible for delaying and interfering, while Duncan and another wing player are ready to collapse at any time. They've completely left open the Lakers' weakest offensive point on the court, the center Chris Kaman!"
"Popovich is gambling! He's betting that Lin Feng's individual ability cannot pierce through an Iron Cask Formation composed of three defensive stalwarts!"
"More importantly, he's betting that Lin Feng won't dare, or rather can't, pass the ball to that completely open role player!"
The live broadcast cut to a reporter on the sidelines typing rapidly on a keyboard.
In the title of his draft, a new term was being born.
"The Lin Feng Rule" — The Lin Feng Rule.
This defensive system, tailor-made specifically to limit a first-year rookie, was bestowed with such a weighty name by the media within the first minute of its birth.
On the court, the transition began.
The Spurs executed their textbook team offense.
Parker used a screen from Duncan to drive into the paint, drawing the Lakers' defense.
Just when everyone thought he was going for a layup, he flicked his wrist, sending a no-look pass to the other side.
Danny Green caught the ball with no one in front of him and easily sank a three-pointer.
The lead was widening.
It was the Lakers' turn to attack.
Nash still handed the ball to Lin Feng.
The same scene played out again.
Lin Feng held the ball, Leonard kept his distance, and Danny Green and Duncan watched like hawks.
Chris Kaman was left completely open near the free-throw line, his hands raised high, his face the picture of bewilderment.
Lin Feng was caught in a dilemma.
Force a shot? The previous result had already proven how difficult that path was.
Pass?
Kobe's teachings echoed in his mind once more.
"When your teammate has an opportunity, trust him and give him the ball. That's what a leader should do."
Lin Feng made his choice.
He made a fake move with the ball, pretending he was going to force a drive.
The Spurs' defensive formation instantly collapsed inward.
Duncan and Green pressured him simultaneously.
Now was the time!
Lin Feng flicked his wrist, sending a precise bounce pass through the gap between Leonard and Duncan.
The basketball arrived steadily in Chris Kaman's hands.
In front of Kaman, within the paint, it was wide open!
This was an even easier scoring opportunity than during practice.
The Spurs fans in the AT&T Center let out gasps; they hadn't expected Lin Feng to make such a choice.
On the Lakers' bench, Nick Young and others were already prepared to stand up and cheer.
However, Kaman, who had received the ball, appeared incredibly nervous.
He had perhaps never had such an easy opportunity in a formal game.
His movements were somewhat stiff.
He dribbled once, adjusted for two steps, and then jumped for a layup.
Everyone thought this was a guaranteed basket.
"Clang!"
The basketball struck the rim hard and then slid out.
A wide-open layup from point-blank range had actually missed!
Kaman himself was stunned; he clutched his head, his face full of frustration and disbelief.
The entire arena went silent for a moment before erupting into massive laughter.
On the Lakers' bench, the players who were about to stand up sat back down awkwardly.
Lin Feng watched this scene without saying a word.
He didn't blame Kaman.
But in his heart, something that had just been established developed a slight crack.
He chose to trust his teammate, but in return, he got such an absurd mistake.
The Spurs seized the opportunity; Parker launched another fast break, assisting Leonard for a successful layup.
The score gap widened further.
D'Antoni shouted anxiously from the sidelines, but his voice was insignificant in the noisy arena.
The next possession.
Lin Feng held the ball at the top of the arc again.
The Spurs' defense was still that "Lin Feng Rule."
Leonard stood before him, with Danny Green roaming the flank.
Chris Kaman was once again left completely open, like a lonely scarecrow.
This time, Kaman waved his arms even more vigorously, his eyes full of longing, wanting to make up for his mistake just now.
Lin Feng looked at him, then at the defensive cage in front of him.
His brain was working at high speed.
To pass, or not to pass?
Reason told him he should continue to pass.
The logic of basketball is to give the ball to the teammate with the best opportunity.
But Kaman's absurd mistake just now was like a needle pricked into his heart.
His hand paused for a moment between passing and shooting.
In that fraction of a second of hesitation.
On the sidelines.
Gregg Popovich picked up his water cup and took a light sip.
Those eyes, which seemed able to see through everything, calmly watched the struggling young man on the court.
He saw through Lin Feng's hesitation.
He also saw through the true caliber of the role players on this Lakers team, aside from those few stars.
Chapter 54: The Strangled Beast
Reason and instinct clashed fiercely in Lin Feng's mind.
Passing was the tactically correct choice.
It was the only path to victory that Kobe had taught him.
But Chris Kaman's butterfingers, that ridiculous missed open layup, were like a comical caricature that wouldn't leave his mind.
Chris Kaman was still near the free-throw line, waving his arms like a helpless child.
His eyes were filled with a longing for the ball and an eagerness to make up for his mistake.
Lin Feng saw it.
But in the end, he looked away.
He chose to trust his own hands rather than his teammate's.
He moved.
Instead of passing again, he used a violent crossover to launch a determined assault on Kawhi Leonard's defense.
The Spurs' defensive formation collapsed inward as if rehearsed.
Danny Green came over for a double-team from the wing, blocking his left side.
Tim Duncan stepped up from the paint, blocking the path ahead like a stone buddha.
The great net of the "The Lin Feng Rule" descended upon him once more.
But this time, Lin Feng didn't look for a gap to pass.
He was going to tear through this net in the most unreasonable way possible!
Formless Shot!
Just before his body collided with Leonard, his center of gravity suddenly shifted back, and his whole body leaned back at an incredible angle.
At the same time, he flicked his wrist, tossing the ball high.
It was a shot that completely disregarded the defense.
But the Spurs' defense was equally unreasonable.
Leonard's long arms followed him like a shadow the moment he leaned back, obscuring his vision.
Duncan's help defense was perfectly timed, his massive palms covering every area the ball might fly through.
Clang!
The basketball hit the side of the rim and bounced out.
Duncan didn't even need to jump to easily secure the rebound.
The Spurs immediately launched a counterattack.
Tony Parker was like a sports car speeding on the highway, reaching the front court in an instant.
He single-handedly tore the Lakers' defensive formation to shreds.
Parker made a nimble Spin Layup, easily scoring two points.
The point gap continued to widen.
The Lakers' bench was silent.
D'Antoni's face looked as bad as it could get.
On the court, Lin Feng gasped for air, watching Parker's back as he scored easily, then looking at the expressionless Popovich on the sideline.
An anonymous rage flared up from the bottom of his heart.
The next possession.
Nash dribbled the ball over, glancing at Lin Feng and then at the open Kaman, his face full of hesitation.
"Give it to me!"
Lin Feng stepped forward and demanded the ball directly from Nash.
His eyes were filled with an indisputable determination.
Nash opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing, silently running to the corner.
Lin Feng faced Leonard once again.
This time, there was no feeling out.
With a series of between-the-legs dribbles, his rhythm was blindingly fast.
Like a thoroughly enraged beast, he intended to use primal violence to break through the cage tailor-made for him.
He forced a breakthrough!
Leonard's defense was like a rock, his footsteps following closely.
Danny Green arrived for help defense again.
Lin Feng leaped forcefully between the gaps, curling his body in mid-air to avoid Green's block, then used an extreme double-clutch to flick the ball in from the other side of the rim.
This move transcended the scope of basketball; it was more like an acrobatic performance.
However, under the rim, the stone buddha who had been silent for over a decade, Tim Duncan, had long been waiting.
He simply extended his arm.
Smack!
A crisp sound rang out.
The basketball was slammed hard against the backboard by his hand.
Lin Feng fell heavily to the ground, but the referee's whistle didn't blow.
It was a clean block.
The AT&T Center erupted!
Fans cheered wildly, applauding Duncan for his perfect defense.
The Spurs launched another fast break, this time featuring Manu Ginobili coming off the bench.
His eerie Euro-step drive shook off the Lakers' last line of defense, leading to an easy layup.
1-for-6.
Under the Spurs' iron-clad defense, Lin Feng's personal stats became incredibly ugly.
D'Antoni could no longer bear it.
He gestured to the scorer's table for a timeout.
A piercing buzzer sounded.
Lin Feng climbed up from the floor and walked to the bench without a word.
D'Antoni walked up to him with a clipboard, his face ashen.
"Lin! What are you doing?!"
His voice was slightly distorted by anger.
"Run the plays! Pass the ball! Did you hear me?!"
Lin Feng took the towel from the assistant coach and wiped the sweat from his face without looking at him.
"Pass to who?"
He asked back coldly.
"Pass to Kaman so he can miss that damn layup?"
D'Antoni was choked up by his words, his lips trembling with rage.
"Listen! Basketball is a five-man game! You can't solve everything by yourself!"
"Calm down! Trust your teammates!"
Lin Feng looked up, his eyes filled with cold stubbornness and frustration.
"Coach, they can't win."
"Only I can."
D'Antoni looked at those eyes burning with fire and was momentarily speechless.
He knew this young man had completely lost his head.
He wasn't playing against the Spurs right now; he was throwing a tantrum at Gregg Popovich.
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
In the second half, the situation on the court didn't change; if anything, it got worse.
Lin Feng completely transformed into a beast trapped in a cage.
He frantically charged at the inescapable net the Spurshad set for him, over and over again.
Using an Formless Shot from the zero-degree angle at the baseline, with his body almost parallel to the ground, he tossed the ball toward the rim.
The result: an airball.
He tried to use speed to force his way through the double-team of Leonard and Green.
Instead, Leonard stripped the ball directly from him, adding another turnover.
He was like someone fighting an invisible wall, getting battered and bruised, only to exhaust his energy in vain.
Every difficult miss resulted in a smooth, team-oriented offensive play by the Spurs.
Every turnover turned into an easy transition score for the opponent.
The lead grew from 10 points to 15, then to 20.
Any suspense in the game had completely vanished by the third quarter.
The Lakers players seemed lost on the court, their morale sinking to freezing point.
Lin Feng, the once-omnipotent eastern magician, was now like a paranoid gambler who had lost all his chips but still refused to leave the table.
The final buzzer of the game finally sounded.
112 to 87.
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a crushing 25-point defeat on the road.
The giant electronic screen displayed Lin Feng's stats for the game.
5-for-22, 15 points, but with 6 turnovers and 5 shots blocked.
It was a shocking sight.
Lin Feng rested his hands on his knees, his chest heaving violently, sweat dripping from his chin onto the floor.
The entire AT&T Center echoed with the cheers of the victorious Spurs fans.
Those sounds were so piercing in his ears right now.
The players began to leave the court.
Kobe walked over, said nothing, and just patted him on the back.
Just then, the Spurs' head coach, Gregg Popovich, slowly walked onto the court.
He first gave Kobe a warm hug and exchanged a few low words.
Then, he walked toward the Lakers' bench.
He passed by Lin Feng.
He stopped and looked at the despondent young man.
Popovich didn't speak; he just reached out and gently patted Lin Feng on the shoulder.
The gesture carried an elder's scrutiny of a junior, even a faint, imperceptible trace of pity.
Then, he turned and left without leaving a single word.
This gesture was more lethal than any trash talk.
It was as if saying: Kid, welcome to the real league; your little tricks won't work here.
Lin Feng froze in place, as if all his strength had been drained.
TNT's live cameras faithfully recorded this scene.
Immediately after the game, sports media across America found their hottest topic for the night.
The headlines of major sports websites were occupied by a striking title.
"The Circus Crushed by the Army! Popovich Teaches the All-Star Vote-Leader a Lesson with a 25-Point Blowout!"
Chapter 55: An All-Star Starter Amidst the Voices of Doubt
On the team's private plane back to Los Angeles, the atmosphere was depressingly heavy.
No one spoke.
The shadow of the crushing defeat loomed over everyone. The players sat in their seats, some with eyes closed to rest, others staring out the window, but their minds were clearly elsewhere.
Lin Feng sat by the window. The clouds outside the porthole were sliced through by the wings, but he couldn't focus on anything.
In his mind, every segment of the game replayed on a loop.
Kawhi Leonard's expressionless face.
Tim Duncan's massive hand that seemed to blot out the sky.
And finally, Gregg Popovich walking past him, giving him that pitying pat.
That gesture was like an invisible needle pricking his dignity.
This wasn't just a physical failure; it was a comprehensive crushing of his basketball philosophy.
Everything he relied on, the skills he took pride in, proved to be so ridiculous and powerless before the San Antonio Spurs' precision war machine.
"Circus."
Popovich's word no longer sounded like contempt, but a cold verdict... The plane landed at Los Angeles International Airport.
The players dragged their exhausted bodies out of the terminal, greeted by media reporters who had been waiting for a long time.
Flashbulbs went off in a blur, and countless microphones were thrust toward them.
"Lin! Do you have any response to Coach Popovich's 'circus theory'?"
"Losing by 25 points—do you think this was caused by your style of play?"
"Some critics say your flashy style is a cancer to the team. What's your take?"
Sharp questions hit Lin Feng one after another.
Expressionless, he walked through the crowd without saying a word, escorted by team security.
Back at his downtown apartment, Lin Feng threw himself heavily onto the sofa.
He turned on the TV; almost every sports channel was discussing last night's game.
ESPN's star commentator, Stephen A. Smith, was roaring at the camera in his signature exaggerated tone.
"I told you so! I told you so! This kind of juggling-act basketball simply doesn't work against playoff-level defense!"
"5-for-22 shooting! 6 turnovers! 5 shots blocked! Are these the stats the second-place All-Star vote-getter should be putting up? This is simply pathetic! Disgraceful!"
In the TNT studio, Charles Barkley also rarely didn't defend Lin Feng.
"I'm disappointed. I thought he would respond in a smarter way, but he didn't."
"He's like a bull charging into a wall. Popovich just stood there and watched him bash his head until it bled."
Kenny Smith sounded like a triumphant prophet.
"It's been proven that flashy juggling is vulnerable before true team basketball."
"Popovich gave the whole league a lesson, an open class titled 'How to Restrict Lin Feng'."
"He's just a stat-padder, a performer who can't win games."
The comments online were even harsher.
"He doesn't deserve the position! He wants to be an All-Star with that kind of play?"
"The Lin Feng Rule! If every team defends him like this from now on, he's useless!"
"The biggest cancer on the Lakers, trade him quickly!"
The voices that had previously put him on a pedestal turned into the most vicious curses overnight.
Lin Feng turned off the TV and threw his phone aside.
The whole world was negating him.
Falling from the clouds to the bottom of the valley only took one game, it seemed.
The next day, at the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility.
The atmosphere was as heavy as it had been on the plane.
The players went through routine shooting drills, but there was almost no communication between them.
Chris Kaman was practicing free throws at the other end of the court. He made no eye contact with Lin Feng the entire time, deliberately avoiding him.
When some role players were in scrimmages, their first instinct upon getting the ball was no longer to look for Lin Feng.
That invisible rift was quietly spreading within the team.
Lin Feng was facing the biggest crisis of trust since entering the NBA.
D'Antoni tried to reunite the team through tactical drills, but the effect was minimal.
Lin Feng remained silent during practice. He just mechanically completed every movement, his eyes hollow.
Nash walked over to him and handed him a bottle of water.
"Don't care about what they say, Lin."
"We all know how great you are. That was just one bad game."
Lin Feng took the water and just nodded, not saying a word.
For the first time, he began to doubt himself.
In the following days, Lin Feng seemed like a different person.
He completely closed himself off, arriving at the practice facility before dawn every day and not leaving until late at night.
He practiced his shooting frantically, over and over again.
He practiced his drives against the air, simulating scenarios against Leonard and Duncan.
Sweat soaked his jersey, but he felt no fatigue.
He just wanted to use this method to combat the confusion and sense of frustration in his heart.
Just as this storm of public opinion sweeping across America reached its peak, the NBA officially announced the results of the second round of All-Star voting.
When the news arrived, the entire Lakers team was in the tactical meeting room watching footage for the next game.
The assistant coach's phone buzzed. He took a look and froze on the spot.
D'Antoni gave him a dissatisfied look.
"What happened?"
The assistant coach looked up at Lin Feng with an expression that was a mix of shock and absurdity.
"Coach... the second round of All-Star voting results are out."
He paused, his voice a bit dry.
"Lin... is number one in the Western Conference backcourt."
The entire meeting room fell silent.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Lin Feng.
Nick Young was the first to react. He jumped up and shouted in disbelief.
"What? First place? He surpassed Kobe?"
"My god! How is this possible!"
On the official website, the list was incredibly clear.
Western Conference Backcourt Players List.
1st Place: Lin Feng, 998,542 votes.
2nd Place: Kobe Bryant, 950,788 votes.
3rd Place: Chris Paul, 785,441 votes.
After experiencing that humiliating defeat, Lin Feng's vote count hadn't dropped; instead, because of the massive controversy, it had seen explosive growth.
Countless fans who supported him used their votes to launch a counterattack against the critics.
They wanted to use this method to tell the world that they loved Lin Feng's basketball.
This result was like a nuclear bomb, completely detonating the entire public opinion arena.
If the first round's results were just surprising, this time, it was pure madness.
"This is the ultimate insult to the sport of basketball!"
"A player proven unable to bring victory, a selfish performer, is going to stand on the All-Star stage representing the league's highest honor as a starter?"
"The NBA is finished! The fans have voted for a joke!"
"The most 'water' All-Star vote leader in history!"
The massive controversy was like a tsunami, completely submerging Lin Feng.
He became the center of the storm, a collection of contradictions.
The peak of fan popularity, the bottom of professional evaluation.
After practice that day, Lin Feng stayed alone in the empty arena.
He sat on the floor, looking at the basketball in his hand with complex eyes.
Becoming the vote leader didn't bring him a shred of joy; instead, he felt it was incredibly ironic.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from behind him.
It was Kobe.
He wasn't in his practice gear, just casual clothes, holding a ball.
He walked to Lin Feng's side and also sat down.
"How does it feel? Becoming the All-Star vote leader." Kobe's voice was very calm.
"Like a joke." Lin Feng gave a self-deprecating smile.
Kobe didn't smile. He looked at Lin Feng with sharp eyes.
"So, are you planning to let it be a joke?"
Lin Feng didn't answer.
"Are you planning to listen to those commentators, change your style of play, and become a 'good player' in their eyes?" Kobe continued to ask.
"I don't know." Lin Feng's voice was full of confusion. "What they said is right. I lost, and I lost badly."
"I've lost too."
Kobe said flatly.
"I lost to the Detroit Pistons, I lost to the Boston Celtics. They said I was too selfish, said I couldn't win a championship without Shaq. The whole world was laughing at me."
He tossed the ball in his hand to Lin Feng.
"Do you know what I did afterward?"
Lin Feng looked up at him.
"I went and got two more championships."
Kobe's tone carried no emotion, yet it had the weight of a thousand pounds.
"When you are bright enough, slander and praise will arrive at the same time. What you can do is not try to shut their mouths, but stand on a higher stage and make them shut up themselves."
His gaze fell on the championship banners hanging high above the arena.
"They gave you a stage, a stage the whole world is watching."
"Now, go to Houston, to the All-Star court."
"And win it your way."
...A week later, Houston.
The 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend officially kicked off.
As the biggest topic of this All-Star Game and the newly crowned vote leader, Lin Feng became the focus of all media pursuit from the moment he arrived in Houston.
At the charity gala hosted by the league, he was surrounded by reporters so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through.
"Lin, what do you have to say about the 'most water vote leader' evaluation from the outside?"
"Do you think you are truly more qualified to be a starter than Chris Paul?"
"Will you use your 'circus' style of play again in the All-Star Game?"
Questions shot at him like sharp arrows.
Surrounded by countless flashbulbs and microphones, Lin Feng felt a bit suffocated.
He was just about to open his mouth to respond.
Just then, a clear yet slightly lazy, magnetic female voice came from outside the crowd behind him.
The voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly penetrated all the noise.
"It seems a trapped beast is more attractive than a free one."
Chapter 56: Reunion at the Gala
This voice pierced through the reporters' noisy questions and fell clearly into Lin Feng's ears.
Lazy, magnetic, and carrying a hint of playfulness.
Lin Feng turned his head toward the direction of the voice.
At the edge of the crowd, a lady holding a glass of champagne was watching with great interest, as if enjoying an intriguing play.
She wore a well-tailored black evening gown that outlined her breathtaking curves, her snow-white skin shimmering with an ivory luster under the brilliant lights of the banquet hall.
Her golden curls cascaded loosely, her red lips were full, and her eyes were hazy; her entire being radiated the ultimate charm of a mature woman.
It was her.
Scarlett Johansson.
That Hollywood queen he had met once at the Staples Center.
Her appearance caused the reporters who had been surrounding Lin Feng to instantly shift their focus.
Flashes went off even more densely than before, almost turning the area into broad daylight.
"Scarlett! What are your thoughts on Lin Feng?"
"Are you also here for the Charity Gala?"
The reporters, like sharks scenting blood, swarmed over with even more excitement.
Scarlett, however, completely ignored the cameras and microphones surrounding her.
She stepped forward, her graceful figure swaying as she walked straight through the agitated crowd of reporters to stand before Lin Feng.
The scent of perfume, mixed with the fragrance of champagne, drifted into Lin Feng's nostrils.
She raised her glass and gestured toward Lin Feng.
"I watched your game against the San Antonio Spurs."
Her voice wasn't loud, yet it possessed a power that quieted the surroundings.
"They were certainly 'friendly' to you."
There was obvious banter in her words, but in those emerald eyes, a different kind of interest sparkled—one that was almost inquisitive.
Feeling the countless gazes focused on him, Lin Fengcurled his lips in self-deprecation.
"It seems my 'circus performance' failed to please everyone."
He thought he would hear a few polite words of comfort or courteous agreement.
However, Scarlett gently shook her head.
She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear, her breath carrying a hint of warmth from the wine.
"No, I actually found it quite interesting."
Lin Feng was stunned.
Interesting?
A twenty-five-point crushing defeat, a suffocating experience of being completely locked down by a tactical system—someone actually used the word "interesting" to describe it?
Scarlett's red lips curled into a charming arc.
"That struggle, that unwillingness."
"That posture of being targeted by the whole world, yet still attempting to tear through everything in the most primitive way."
She looked into Lin Feng's eyes, as if trying to see through to the wretchedness deep within his soul.
"There is a kind of... broken beauty in it."
Broken beauty?
Those words, like a faint electric current, struck Lin Feng's nerves.
During this time, he had heard countless criticisms, ridicules, and denials.
Everyone was telling him he was wrong. That his playstyle was a cancer, and his flashiness was worthless.
Even Kobe was teaching him how to use victory to strike back.
But no one had ever been like the Scarlett before him.
She didn't talk about winning or losing, nor did she judge right or wrong.
What she saw was the struggle itself.
And, she appreciated that struggle.
The feeling was strange, like someone suddenly telling you in the middle of dark ruins that the silhouette of the wreckage was beautiful.
Scarlett's words were like a singular key, opening a door in his heart that had never been touched, one he hadn't even noticed himself.
He had always thought that to conquer these women at the top of the world, he needed omnipotent strength, overwhelming victories, and a radiant image.
Just like the invincibility and protection he showed when facing Yinna.
Just like his dominance on the court when attracting Taylor.
But now, Scarlett was telling him that failure, struggle, and wretchedness... the things he was desperate to shed, were equally lethally attractive in the eyes of others.
He keenly realized that this Hollywood queen, hailed as the sexiest woman in the world, seemed more interested in his state of "hitting a wall" and "struggling" than in his "omnipotent" performances.
Her appreciation stemmed from a deeper obsession with the primitive, wild, and even destructive forces within human nature.
A bold, even somewhat risky conquest plan began to quietly form in his mind.
Perhaps, to win her over and obtain the divine skill she represented, what was needed was not to play a perfect victor.
But to perform that "broken beauty" to the extreme.
The confusion and unwillingness in Lin Feng's eyes quietly underwent a change at this moment.
A deep, calculating glint flashed across his eyes.
He picked up another glass of champagne from a waiter's tray and lightly clinked it against Scarlett's glass.
There was a crisp "ding."
"A toast to this 'broken beauty'."
His tone still carried self-deprecation, but there was an added sense of composure in his eyes.
The sense of appreciation in Scarlett's emerald eyes deepened.
She liked how quickly this man caught on.
She took a sip of champagne, then pulled an exquisitely made card from her clutch and handed it to Lin Feng.
The card was black with a fine texture, printed with a string of numbers in gold foil, with no name or title.
Just a private phone number.
"If you have time," Scarlett's voice carried a faint, lingering invitation, "I'd like to invite you to appreciate some real 'broken artworks'."
Her gaze lingered on Lin Feng's face for a moment, her red lips parting slightly.
"Perhaps, you will find new inspiration."
Having said that, she winked at Lin Feng, turned, and swayed her graceful figure as she disappeared into the depths of the crowd in the banquet hall.
Leaving Lin Feng alone, standing there, clutching the card that still held a trace of her warmth.
The surrounding reporters wanted to ask more, but they were driven back by Lin Feng's cold gaze.
He looked down at the string of numbers.
The cold notification tone of the [charm basketball system] rang in his mind.
[Detected clue for unlocking a "Generation of Miracles" skill...]
[Target Character: Scarlett Johansson]
[Unlockable Skill: "kurokos basketball" — Seijuro Akashi's "Eye of the Heavenly Emperor"]
Lin Feng put the card into his pocket, his fingertips clearly feeling the outline of its edges.
He knew this wasn't just a simple business card.
This was the admission ticket to the next divine skill.
And "broken artworks" was the secret code for him to knock on this door.