Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 328 The Eve of All-Star Weekend

He scored 62 points, breaking his personal scoring record.

After the game, Chen Fang admitted that he had provoked a reporter by asking who the Lakers' father was during the game.

Despite the Lakers' epic trade, they were still thrashed.

LeBron James' highest scoring record in his 15-year NBA career is less than that of a second-year rookie.

These news items are all major news, prompting media reporters to go on a frenzy, writing articles and flooding social media with news.

As David said, the league is really starting to take the Clippers' rise seriously and the fact that Chen Wang is the ceiling of the team's strength.

Technical experts and broadcasters analyze what makes Chen Wang so remarkable, while trading experts analyze the Clippers' operations and personnel combinations over the past two years.

Tactical experts focus more on what tactics make the Clippers so powerful despite having a salary of just over 50 million.

From personal skills to systems, from personality to alliances, Chen Wang has been placed under the spotlight for analysis and commentary.

For example, regarding Chen Wang's personality, from his time at Chaminard to USC, experts carefully analyzed his travel itinerary and interview records, and determined that Chen Wang perfectly fits the competitive personality required to contend for the championship.

Because of his high emotional intelligence and basketball IQ, Chen Wang is always able to unite the team and develop a tacit understanding with the coaching staff. This allows him to place himself in a good team atmosphere whether in high school, college, or the NBA.

The Clippers are now completely controlled by Chen Wang, who has a firm grip on management, coaching staff, and players.

These achievements alone are already quite astonishing; it's hard to imagine how the Chinese managed to do it.

Before Chen Wang came to the NBA, there were compatriots who had come before, but Yao Ming did the best. Even after playing for nine seasons, Yao Ming still did not reach the level of power that Chen Wang currently enjoys with the Clippers.

It's no exaggeration to say that Yao's efforts over nine seasons couldn't compare to Chen Wang's rookie season.

Some people look at this issue from another perspective, for example, Yao Ming is widely respected and recognized by the league's management, stars, and fans because of Shaquille O'Neal.

King Chen also gained respect by defeating the warrior.

This is the most fundamental reason why some star players, throughout their entire careers, fail to gain widespread respect. The core reason is that they did not defeat the best teams and star players at the time.

Looking back at the former superstars, if Allen Iverson hadn't faced off against Michael Jordan and hit that pull-up jumper after a crossover, he wouldn't have become known in the league so quickly.

Kobe's performance in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals is considered a landmark moment in his rise to prominence.

In this game, Kobe performed exceptionally well in the crucial moments, helping the Lakers defeat the star-studded Trail Blazers and successfully advance to the NBA Finals.

Now, Chen Wang is also on this path, proving time and time again that he will become a superstar without any doubt.

Similarly, his stats are impressive, ranking among the top in all five major statistics: points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, and basketball IQ.

Moreover, when facing formidable enemies, King Chen never faltered, repeatedly putting on a classic performance.

By scoring 62 points, Chen Wang not only set a new scoring milestone for himself, but also deepened the existing impression of him through his data and remarks.

Arrogant and boastful words, incredible physical abilities, a rich repertoire of offensive skills, a charismatic leadership style, and exceptional emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills—these have all become the hallmarks of Prince Chen.

When a reporter asked Chen Fang at the post-game press conference if he knew why James didn't appear in the fourth quarter, Chen Fang appeared very calm.

“I’m not curious, but if you want to talk about it, I’m willing to listen.”

So the Lakers reporter said that James had strained his inner thigh during the third quarter, which is why he unfortunately didn't appear in the fourth quarter.

The implication is that if James, who had already scored 28 points in the first three quarters, had continued playing in the fourth quarter, the Lakers might not have lost, since they only lost by a few points in the end.

Chen Fang laughed. He had just found out as well, but he wasn't sure if James was genuinely injured or if it was a strategic move.

"Let's talk about this after we finish the game next time." Chen Fang didn't want to stir up too much trouble in public.

But the reporters didn't want to, so they all extended the topic, bringing up the pre-match discussions about the underdog and the champion.

This annoyed Chen Fang, so he banged on the table.

"Hey guys, I know you want trending topics and sensational stories. I get it, because it means whether your wallets can get any bigger."

"But you also need to think from my perspective. If I give in to your wishes, it means my wallet will be empty."

Two sentences were enough to shut the reporter up in embarrassment. The press officer next to him glanced at Chen Fang a few more times. It was not an ordinary person's ability to stop the conversation without offending anyone.

He had seen many hasty answers, but rarely had he seen Chen Wang speak nonsense, unless he himself intended to.

"I always believe in one thing," Chen Fang said, changing the subject: "Winning is the most important thing."

"We are professional players, and the boss pays us salaries in the hope that we will win."

"If we can't win the game, talking about anything else is pointless."

"I don't want to talk about when the Clippers lose, because there's no excuse. If you lose, it's because you played poorly."

"When we win, I don't want to talk too much, because it's only temporary. No one can keep losing forever, and it's hard for us to guarantee that we can always perform well."

"So, let's stop with the polite words and let things be good for everyone."

After finishing speaking, Chen Fang stood up, nodded to the press officer, and indicated that it was his turn to come out and clean up the mess.

The next day, the aftermath of yesterday's match was still unfolding, but Chen Fang had already put it out of his mind and was packing his bags at home.

Because the Clippers are about to embark on a league-leading six-game road trip.

Pistons, Raptors, Hornets, Pacers, Celtics, Timberwolves.

The Pistons and Raptors are playing back-to-back games, while the remaining four opponents are all on separate days apart. Considering the strength of the opponents, the distance, and the time, these are very difficult away games.

After this away game, the Clippers won't face any more difficult challenges.

And after this away game, the next game is the All-Star Weekend, which is a rare opportunity for relaxation for the players, but for Chen Fang, it is an ordeal.

On January 25, the league announced the starting lineups for the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star games.

Western Conference: James, Chen Fang, Harden, Curry, Durant.

Eastern Conference: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker.

Interestingly, the top three in terms of votes this time were James, Chen Fang, and Doncic.

All three received around four million votes, which is quite remarkable, especially considering that Chen Fang and Doncic are both in their rookie years. This also reflects the global tension.

One represents Europe, and the other represents Southeast Asia.

Chen Fang's performance in the NBA certainly won over China.

There were large numbers of votes cast in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

This information was also widely publicized domestically, arousing a great sense of national pride.

At the same time, Chen Fang was also selected for the World Team in the Rookie Challenge. This time, he could have turned it down. Although he could have balanced both, Chen Fang didn't want to work so hard.

Even though his vote count almost surpassed James', which sparked a lot of discussion, Chen Fang didn't think it mattered.

Yao Ming's vote count was also terrifying back then, winning the top vote in both 05 and 06. However, he didn't get much playing time, let alone score any points.

This is not only because Yao's game is not entertaining enough, but also because the All-Star game is too fast-paced. For a heavy center like Yao, too much back-and-forth running completely depletes his fighting power.

But Chen Fang is different. Many people are optimistic about what kind of brilliance Chen Wang will shine in this All-Star event. Some even aspire to win the All-Star MVP honor. People around Chen Fang can't help but come to inquire about his thoughts.

Chen Fang smiled but remained silent. Everyone around him knew that unless Chen Fang was interested, it would be difficult to force him to do it.

Agent Duffy knew very well that he had no right to control business collaborations, and he would rather not have the money than accept anything that didn't meet Chen Fang's standards.

That makes sense. Chen Fang's talent for investing is far more terrifying than the basketball talent he displays in the NBA. Duffy invested with him for a few months, and his returns were more than what he earned in several years as an agent. That's why Duffy has clear eyes, a simple and honest demeanor, and obediently plays the role of a tool.

I'm going to lie down now; keeping Grandpa Chen company is my main job.

The reason Chen Fang was unwilling to talk more about this topic was because the All-Star system had been reformed.

The captains of the East and West teams will select players for the All-Star game. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will each select five players from the starting lineups of the East and West, and then fill the remaining spots from the reserves.

In the previous timeline, James' picks were: Harden, Irving, Leonard, and Durant.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's lineup is: Curry, Walker, George, and Embiid.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this player selection. James's selection strategy and player position pairings tend to favor players with stronger offensive capabilities, while also incorporating personal feelings and relationships.

For example, they chose Wade to compensate his brother and to please Heat fans.

In short, it was all a show. James put on a spectacular show, both inside and out, making his image as a great older brother shine brightly.

On the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo genuinely wanted to win, and his selections based on roster rationality made him seem rather naive.

So, in Chen Fang's words, the All-Star reform, which allows captains to choose their teammates, is yet another demonstration of what it means to be worldly and socially adept.

It's not about basketball IQ, it's about emotional intelligence. James demonstrated his high emotional intelligence when selecting players.

This is why Chen Fang didn't speak. In fact, whenever reporters mentioned the All-Star game, he would avoid it and even reminded the team's press officer that he would not respond to any topics related to the All-Star game.

Would LeBron James pick him?

Chen Fang felt it would be difficult. He had been doing alright before, but after this game, James would definitely have a grudge.

Judging from Chen Fang's petty nature, it's highly likely that James will use the All-Star opportunity to bring a group of superstars to mess with him.

Just Leonard alone is making Chen Fang uncomfortable; James couldn't possibly not see it.

So on February 8th, during the live player selection, we watched LeBron James's performance.

If he had chosen Leonard first, then he would have been really targeted.

If it were Durant, this would be considered normal practice.

After thinking about it, Chen Fang found it amusing and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Wu Zi, who was helping him tidy up his clothes from the away game, asked curiously, "What are you grinning about?"

"I remembered something interesting." Chen Fang straightened his expression.

"what?"

"It's trivial and not worth mentioning." Chen Fang brushed it off lightly. To put it bluntly, it was all his own petty thinking that made him think of others, and it wouldn't be funny to say it out loud.

At 3 p.m., Chen Fang drove Wu Zi to the airport. Before boarding, Chen Fang asked, "All-Star Weekend, have you decided where to go?"

"I want to go back to China, the Chinese New Year is coming soon!" Wu Zi's words stunned Chen Fang.

What number?

February 4th!

"Then I'll be playing away from home...!" Chen Fang was frustrated. He had really been too busy. The thought of Wu Zi being alone at home during the New Year made him feel very sad.

"It's okay, it doesn't happen often. Just focus on your game, and my brother and I will take care of ourselves," Wu Zi comforted him.

Chen Fang sighed. This was inevitable. Behind the glamour, there were things he couldn't control.

"We'll go back to China for the Lantern Festival during All-Star Weekend," Chen Fang decided.

"Yay!" Wu Zi exclaimed happily, cupped her husband's face, and gave him a big kiss as a reward.

Once on the plane, Chen Fang sat next to head coach Rivers as usual. Generally speaking, when away games are not long enough, Chen Fang, as a member of the tactical discussions, often needs to sit with the coaching staff.

"We can't let our guard down. This away game will be tough," Rivers said first.

"I know this trip was very tiring."

Chen Fang lay back in his seat and muttered, "The Raptors and the Celtics are both quite strong."

"Also, the game against the Raptors on Sunday, February 3rd, is Chinese New Year's Eve." Rivers, as the head coach, first offered his congratulations before revealing his true intentions.

"How do you plan to fight this match?"

Chen Fang also fell into deep thought for a moment.

New Year's Eve, Raptors, Leonard. (US time is more than half a day ahead of Beijing time, so the dates in this article are the next day in Beijing time.)
Having lost to the Raptors last time, he was determined to get revenge, and coincidentally, they met on New Year's Eve.

“This match will be watched by even more people in China, and I also need to send New Year’s greetings to fans all over China, so naturally I can’t lose,” Chen Fang said, frowning.

Rivers nodded; this was what he was worried about.

Both of them knew that although the Raptors didn't seem very formidable on paper, their actual combat strength was extremely high.

This is similar to the Clippers. They seem to be playing passively, but the chemistry they create is something that even superstars can't suppress.

The Raptors are the same. Leonard leads the team single-handedly, and the team's roster is very balanced. They have everything, and there are very strong players in every position.

The Clippers are in a bad situation right now, with Dillon and Beverley still on the injury list.

Sandwell is doing well recently, but no one knows how long this situation will last.

They lost to the Raptors even with a full roster; this time, the odds are against them.

Chen Fang is under real pressure; that's the crux of his dilemma.

"First of all, this is a back-to-back game. You need to play more freely against the Pistons, otherwise you won't have the stamina to play against the Raptors." Rivers explained the coaching staff's previous assessment and began to communicate with Chen Fang.

Chen Fang nodded, this time he didn't insist: "Okay, I'll take a break."

"Secondly, if it's not possible, we shouldn't force it. We need to look to the future. The Clippers can't afford any more setbacks, especially for you." Rivers voiced his biggest concern.

Chen Fang didn't refute it, as this was a taboo subject, but he had to listen to what the coach said.

Injuries are most likely to occur when playing away from home; if you get injured, it's all over.

"Third, don't think about All-Star Weekend for now, don't get distracted."

Chen Fang nodded again, and after a moment of contemplation, he smiled.

"Coach, don't worry, I'm all ears. Besides, I haven't really thought much about the All-Star game, I'll just let things take their course."

“Great. Once Dillon returns, the team will stabilize. It seems like this is a good thing.”

"Yes, that's a good thing. Difficulties can stimulate potential, and I believe everyone has the ability." Chen Fang thought so too.

Rivers was relieved. He had never coached such a confident player before. Sometimes he envied himself for being able to just relax and have a carefree life.

At this moment, the plane began to take off. With the centrifugal force and the feeling of being pushed back, Chen Fang looked out the window. The earth was rapidly shrinking, and his inner thoughts gradually drifted away.

This is sure to be an extraordinary New Year. I hope everything goes well.

Wish me luck, Motherland.

(End of this chapter)