Basketball miracles

Chapter 70 [Making a Statement]

Charles Barkley did not attend the press conference; he is not a star player, and no reporters wanted to interview him.

Many 76ers fans still think Barkley is a "bust," especially compared to Xiao Tu.

Aside from Lakers fans, fans of all teams love to discuss one topic: "What if we had drafted Sebastian Shaw?"

Because Xiao Tu was drafted late in the first round, the level of discussion surrounding him was astonishing. Even many Bulls fans hoped the team would draft Xiao Tu instead of Jordan.

He who controls the inside controls the game.

This statement has had a profound impact and is regarded as a truth by all basketball enthusiasts.

At the Lakers' press conference, reporters, as usual, first asked Xiao Tu to share his thoughts.

Xiao Tu said, "The Lakers are stronger overall, and we won easily today. But I'm very happy because we beat the traditionally strong 76ers."

A reporter asked, "You led the game in both points and rebounds, and you put up impressive numbers against Moses Malone's 76ers. What are your thoughts on that?"

"Malone is an MVP-caliber superstar, and I enjoyed playing against him. I didn't play against him for very long, otherwise I might not have been able to put up such impressive numbers. Also, I felt that he wasn't in great form today and didn't perform at his best."

Xiao Tu's words seemed modest, suggesting that the other player wasn't in good form. However, he pointed out that Malone is an MVP-caliber player, and his role in leading the Lakers to a resounding victory had already proven his ability.

Malone has always played this style of play; everyone knows that. He was simply performing at his normal level. Malone's field goal percentage this season is 46%, so how much difference can his 43.9% in this game make?

No matter how you look at it, Xiao Tu is too strong. Especially when it comes to rebounding, he can out-rebound Malone, which proves that his future prospects are very bright.

It had only been a little over a season since the Lakers were swept by the 76ers in the 1983 NBA Finals. If Dr. J (Irving) was getting old, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was actually older.

The Lakers' main roster change is the addition of rookie Xiao Tu, whose role is undeniable.

Xiao Tu winning the rebounding title this season is almost a foregone conclusion; his rebounding ability is indeed superior to that of Moses Malone, who is ranked second. The two have similar rebounding styles, but Xiao Tu is a better jumper.

1978-79赛季，马龙在火箭队场均能砍下24.8分17.6篮板。肖途篮板15+看起来没什么奇怪的，就是天赋碾压。

A reporter asked, "Are you aware that you're currently ranked sixth in the MVP rankings?"

Xiao Tu smiled and said, "I know, but I don't really care. In my opinion, this year's regular season MVP will definitely belong to Magic Johnson."

As soon as he said this, reporters took pictures, and it became another big news story.

Xiao Tu is able to take honors lightly because he knows he has no chance of winning MVP this season. He casually praised his superstar teammate, even though saying so might have some negative impact on his future chances of winning an award.

Xiao Tu knew that speaking up for his teammate to win the award at this moment would earn him a lasting friendship. Remaining silent, on the other hand, could potentially hold his teammate back and cause a negative impact.

As everyone knows, Magic Johnson is the leader of the Lakers. If even the rookies don't respect him and make sarcastic remarks, he'll only end up giving away the MVP award to an outsider.

Xiao Tu answers questions crisply and concisely; a moderate degree of sincerity can win trust, which is a sure-fire weapon. Of course, he won't be sincere all the time, because constant sincerity would be a sure way to kill.

Xiao Tu believes his chance to win MVP came after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar relinquished ball possession. He didn't take enough shots, finishing the regular season with just over 20 points; how could he compete? Even if his stats barely met the requirements, he lacked the experience.

Xiao Tu started it, and the Lakers immediately went into a phase of teammates praising each other.

Johnson was overjoyed when Xiao Tu said the MVP was a sure thing for him. Riley, seeing his expression, had a bad feeling; he was preparing to go back to Los Angeles and "beat ten" to celebrate.

Riley planned to talk to Johnson on the plane, urging him to focus on playing basketball and stop chasing women. He had to talk to him; Johnson certainly wouldn't ask his teammates to pad his stats.

Xiao Tu's words were beneficial to Johnson's chances of winning the award, but they also put him in the spotlight.

It would be incredibly embarrassing if Johnson didn't win the regular season MVP in the end. In any case, his scoring average must be over 20 points per game to be considered acceptable.

Johnson's current stats of 17.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 15 assists aren't impressive enough. If he improved to 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 15 assists, plus a best-ever performance, there wouldn't be much controversy surrounding his award. No reporter asked Xiao Tu to comment on Barkley, and nobody even remembered him. If Barkley hadn't taken sides against the Celtics, not many fans would know him; let's not even mention him.

When the news broke that evening, Adidas executives were ecstatic. Major media outlets showered Xiao Tu with praise, further boosting his popularity.

Moses Malone's evaluation of Xiao Tu is particularly important.

People know that Malone was Hakeem Olajuwon's mentor, but he believed that Shaw was the best rookie.

Although Ma Long didn't say he was inferior to Xiao Tu, he was 29 years old and in his prime, while Xiao Tu was just a rookie. Anyone who watched the match knows that Xiao Tu's speed and jumping ability were superior to Ma Long's, while their strength was roughly equal.

Judging from his talent, as long as Xiao Tu doesn't suffer a serious injury that causes his physical condition to decline, even if he doesn't develop the skills to play like Ma Long in the future, he can still surpass him and become an MVP-level superstar.

Ma Long is the best example. He has always been a rough guy who lacks technique, but he succeeded by relying on his physical strength.

Xiao Tu's popularity has now surpassed Ma Long's, and Ma Long's weaknesses are not limited to his on-court performance.

Malone is probably the player who speaks most unclearly and whose interactions with the media are the most uncomfortable for others. He is not good at expressing himself, his speech is mixed with slang from impoverished subcultures in the South, and he seems somewhat slow-witted.

Xiao Tu wouldn't play like Ma Long, treating him merely as a stepping stone. He had researched Ma Long online in 2003 and found that Ma Long's playing style was subpar.

Karl Malone's future is widely underestimated by experts and the media. His accolades and statistics certainly place him among the top 20 all-time, but American media almost unanimously believe he's not in the top 30. He's more like direct evidence of the NBA's overall weakness in the 1970s and 80s.

Adidas is ramping up production to expedite the release of Xiao Tu's first signature shoe. The boss has given him a firm order: he must wear the new shoes during the Slam Dunk Contest and the All-Star Game at All-Star Weekend.

The commercial will also be released during Celebrity Weekend, and it's sure to grab everyone's attention.

At the start of the season, Xiao Tu performed well, leading people to believe he was simply riding on the coattails of a superstar and lacked individual talent. However, as the season progresses, many fans have adopted a new narrative: "Xiao Tu is the Lakers' true star player."

The Lakers used to lose because of their poor rebounding. Shaw is the rebounding leader this season. What else could he be but a key player?
It wasn't just retired star Wilt Chamberlain who criticized Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's poor rebounding and soft playing style. This season, Abdul-Jabbar's rebounding numbers were a career low, and his scoring was only slightly higher than Xiao Tu's; nobody felt he was more impactful.

Xiao Tu's free throws are more lethal, his scoring efficiency is higher, and his playing style is far superior to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's.

The media hype surrounding Xiao Tu is astounding, which is bad news for Magic Johnson, as it could split the MVP voting. However, Johnson himself doesn't seem to care and continues to play his part as before.

Commissioner David Stern was very satisfied with Xiao Tu's performance, and NBA viewership and attention began to rise. He also believed that Xiao Tu could maintain his form and would likely become the league's best player in the future.

Xiao Tu has played ten seasons in the league and is still under 30 years old, right in his prime. How can other stars compare to him?
The other 84 draft picks also benefited, with fans believing this year's draft class had the highest success rate, a golden generation. All teams collectively misjudged the draft; the strongest rookie was the 23rd pick, a first in NBA history.

These gimmicks made Xiao Tu an instant sensation across the United States, and his popularity consistently surpassed that of Jordan.

Jordan scored more points, but he seemed to be just padding his stats and never led his team to victory against any big-name stars. The Bulls' characteristics this season were distinct: they struggled against weaker teams and faltered against stronger ones.

Stern didn't mistreat Jordan, giving him star refereeing and a lot of exposure. Several rookies in this draft class deserve promotion; a single genius can't produce classic games alone, he needs equally matched opponents.

If the league wants to find a nemesis for Xiao Tu, they need to look among this year's rookies. He's too young; if he were to face an established star as a rival, he could outlast them.

Jordan and Olajuwon are currently the best players in the league to challenge Xiao Tu in the long run.

The 76ers suffered a crushing defeat at home, effectively ending their status as championship favorites. Media outlets widely believe that Dr. J (Julius Erving) is past his prime, and relying solely on Moses Malone is insufficient; a rebuild is imperative for the 76ers.

Well-known powerhouses can't beat the Lakers, and weaker teams pose even less of a threat. Experts can't think of anyone who can end the Lakers' winning streak, and it'll be some time before the Celtics face the Lakers.

On the way back to Los Angeles, Xiao Tu opened the newly acquired brass treasure chest.

The reward was another intermediate-level physical fitness training halo, and he was increasingly looking forward to the dunk contest in February. He still had time to improve his physical fitness; he had already mastered many special moves in his first competition.

(End of this chapter)