The first punch that shocked the basketball world

Today we'll only do an hour of warm-up to get used to the venue.

After practice, the bus took us to the hotel.

A standard room in a typical chain hotel is shared by two people.

Lin Fei and Mike Taylor shared a room.

After taking a shower, Lin Fei called his aunt to let her know he was safe.

Taylor leaned closer.

"Want to go out for a stroll? It's a big city like New York, you should see it for yourself."

Lin Fei had just gotten off the plane and was training again, so he was a bit tired.

I'm really not interested in shopping with a grown man.

If it were Sofia or Emily, I might consider it.

"I'm not going." He waved his hand. "You go by yourself."

Taylor shrugged and went out on her own.

Lin Fei had only been lying down for two minutes when his phone rang.

It was sent by Sofia.

I've arrived in New York. Which hotel are you at?

The reporters accompanying the team were supposed to be on the same plane as the players.

She was delayed by an interview in Los Angeles, so she took the next train.

Lin Fei sent over the hotel address.

[The recreation room on the third floor awaits you.]

A dozen minutes later, Sofia replied.

Lin Fei put on his coat and went downstairs.

The recreation room on the third floor is small, with a pool table, a Lego table, and a few massage chairs.

Sofia sat in the corner, coloring a plaster doll.

The little dinosaur shape was painted in bright, colorful colors.

"What is this thing?" Lin Fei sat down next to it. "It looks pretty weird."

Sofia rolled her eyes at him.

"A Tyrannosaurus Rex plaster doll." Her paintbrush kept moving. "Want to paint it together?"

Lin Fei shook his head.

This isn't something a macho man should be doing.

"I'm going to play some billiards. Find me when you're done."

Lin Fei walked to the pool table and started a game for himself.

It's been a while since I played, so I'm a bit rusty.

After playing two games, I gradually regained my touch.

A moment later, Sofia walked over holding the doll.

"Is it pretty?"

Lin Fei looked up.

The combination of green and red is an eyesore.

He was internally cursing how damn ugly it looked, but he still smiled outwardly.

"It looks pretty good."

Sofia put the doll aside and picked up the golf club.

"Give me two rounds."

The three games are over.

Sofia didn't win a single game.

She threw the pole down, deflated.

"I'm not playing anymore. Playing ball with you is really boring."

Lin Fei couldn't stop laughing.

"Shall we go for a walk?" he suggested.

"Okay."

Sofia tied her hair up: "I often come to New York for business, I know this area well. Let me show you around this international metropolis."

The two went downstairs.

Just as I stepped out of the hotel, I ran into Mike Taylor, who was returning from shopping.

The scene was a bit awkward.

Taylor recently invited Lin Fei to go, but Lin Fei said he was too tired to go.

I happened to run into Sofia while we were out shopping.

Lin Fei touched his nose, feeling a little embarrassed.

Taylor, on the other hand, looked completely understanding and winked.

"Wow, Sofia's reporter is so dedicated! She even personally takes the players out for interviews?"

Sofia blushed and glared at him.

"Get lost. A grown man gossiping all day long, aren't you ashamed?"

As Taylor brushed past Lin Fei, she winked at him intently.

That means—brother, seize the opportunity.

Lin Fei shrugged and didn't reply.

Follow Sofia outside.

I strolled around the street twice, but didn't go too far.

I had a classic New York thick-cut steak sandwich and checked out the nearby Flatiron Building.

Lin Fei is not a travel enthusiast.

Shopping is more fun when you have someone with you.

More than two hours later, it got dark.

The two returned to the hotel.

Sofia lives on the journalists' floor, not the same floor as the players.

After saying goodnight, they each went to their rooms.

Lin Fei took a shower and went straight to sleep.

Early the next morning.

The hotel's buffet breakfast was surprisingly good.

After dinner, the whole team headed to the stadium.

I didn't go to that big restaurant yesterday.

There's a Justin Bieber concert over there today, and they've taken up the space.

The game was moved to the small stadium next door.

During the warm-up, fans gradually entered the stadium.

Lin Fei glanced at it and saw that there were probably more than three thousand people.

It was twice as many as the game in Utah.

New York has many rich people, but also many poor people.

Paying a few dollars to watch a Development League game is a form of entertainment.

There were many more reporters carrying cameras on the sidelines, as well as several people in formal attire who were writing and drawing in notebooks.

They're obviously scouts from various teams.

Lin Fei's heart beat slightly faster.

The exposure is much higher than the last one.

Before the game, Harris called the players together.

"The opponent is stronger than the Lightning." He tapped the clipboard. "Play zone defense tonight, pay attention to rotations."

He paused for a moment, then looked at Lin Fei.

"Lin, you're starting tonight."

...

The players from both sides enter the field.

Lin Fei's opponent is quite famous.

James White.

Nicknamed "Ultimate Slam Dunk King".

With insane jumping ability and spectacular dunks, he's a player who's a national internet celebrity.

What Lin Fei didn't know was that the Lakers scouting team had come specifically to see James White.

White has just amicably parted ways with Fenerbahce in Türkiye and wants to return to the NBA.

It just so happens that this game is against the Lakers' affiliate team, and the Lakers sent two scouts to scout the team.

White didn't take Lin Fei seriously before the match.

A yellow-skinned newcomer, I've never even heard of him.

His first attack was intended to teach the newcomers a lesson.

White is 2.01 meters tall and weighs 98 kilograms, with explosive physical abilities.

However, its startup speed is not top-notch.

On his first attempt to break through, Lin Fei managed to block the attack by moving sideways.

After a confrontation, White's rhythm was completely thrown off.

He lost the ball himself.

The next two rounds.

White's initial drive was disrupted, and his subsequent forced shot went wide.

Lin Fei defended all three of his attacks.

Lin Fei has accurate footwork, is tough in combat, and has good anticipation.

Do not provide takeoff space; deploy at medium to long distances.

White's shooting has always been inconsistent.

It was extremely difficult to play against them.

It wasn't until a little over four minutes into the first quarter that White seized a fast break opportunity, scoring his first point with a one-handed dunk.

After the foul, he waved his fist at the audience, trying to save face.

But that's about it.

Lin Fei's defensive strategy is very clear.

Release the ball but not the drive; stay close to the opponent and don't give them any space to jump.

White felt incredibly frustrated, unable to muster any strength.

On the offensive end, Lin Fei still doesn't dominate possession of the ball.

Off-ball movement, corner three-pointers, layups, fast break dunks.

Very efficient.

At the end of the first quarter, the Defenders led by 6 points.

Lin Fei had 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Rest during the holiday.

White sat on the bench, complaining to the coach.

"That number 9, the yellow-skinned guy, is too tough on defense; I can't get past him."

On the other side, Raymond Hall sighed and said to Harris.

"This kid has been performing so consistently; it looks like we won't be able to keep him around for much longer."

Harris didn't speak, but nodded.

I felt both happy and sighing.

Finding a treasure is a good achievement, but you can't keep that treasure.

In the press box, Sofia kept pressing the shutter button.

His face was full of smiles.

The better Lin Fei plays, the more explosive her interview becomes.

She seems to already see the article become a huge hit.

In the second quarter, the substitutes clashed.

The Knicks pulled back a few points.

However, once the main players returned, the point difference widened again.

James White was effectively shut down by Lin Fei, preventing the Knicks' leading scorer from scoring and causing their offense to go cold.

At halftime, the Defenders led by 14 points.

林飞10分5篮板2助攻2抢断1盖帽。

One-on-one, he completely dominated White.

...

Los Angeles.

Marcus Tucker nestled on the sofa and called Ryan West.

"Ryan, do you have time to watch the Defenders vs. Knicks game today?"

The person on the other end of the phone sounded annoyed.

"No time, I'm busy."

It just died.

Marcus, undeterred, fired two more shots.

Persuasion and relentless pleading.

"Just take a look! That kid's defense is amazing! You won't regret it if you see it once!"

Finally, West lost his patience.

"Alright, alright, I'll look at it when I have time."

Click, and the call was disconnected again.

Marcus lit a cigarette and took a dejected puff.

"Kid, this is all I can do for you."

...

In the Lakers' office.

Ryan West is indeed busy.

The team has been having a lot of bad luck lately.

Nash and Gasol have both been injured and will be out for a while.

They couldn't find suitable replacements in the free market.

As a scout, he was under immense pressure.

Marcus just called, but he didn't take it seriously at first.

He had almost forgotten about that Chinese trial player.

After finishing the report at hand, I took a break.

He remembered what Marcus had said about the game.

Since I have nothing else to do, I'll click to take a look.

The live stream was right in the middle of the second quarter.

I spotted number 9 on the field at a glance.

Lin Fei.

On the defensive end, he was like a plaster, making it impossible for James White to move an inch.

Their defensive support and cover were incredibly fast; they filled in wherever there was a gap in the defense.

He's accurate at stealing the ball, has a strong box-out, and is a solid rebounder.

He doesn't steal the spotlight on offense; he catches the ball and shoots immediately, with an exceptionally high shooting percentage.

West leaned forward slightly.

He didn't even notice the cigarette ash falling on his pants.

He initially thought it was just an ordinary person with connections.

This defense...

He frowned and muttered to himself.

"Did I misjudge him? Is this kid really a defensive genius?"

...

The second half.

Lin Fei remained focused on defense.

He knew there were scouts on the sidelines.

When a player from the Development League enters the NBA, they are never judged by how many points they score.

Defense, discipline, and tactical execution are what scouts value most.

He plays like a team player, doesn't seek personal glory, and plays with all his might on the defensive end.

He took 9 shots and made 7.

It's frighteningly efficient.

The final whistle blew.

108:90.

A resounding 18-point victory.

林飞全场18分7篮板4助攻2抢断2盖帽。

It has a strong presence on both offense and defense.

James White scored only 11 points, shooting less than 30% from the field.

It's completely locked down.

...

Los Angeles.

In West's office, the ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts.

Throughout the match, he smoked one cigarette after another.

The live stream went black.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

My fingers tapped lightly on the table.

A long time passed.

He opened his eyes, a smile playing on his lips.

He lit another cigarette and slowly exhaled smoke rings.

His eyes shone brightly through the swirling smoke.

"He's definitely a guy worth betting on."