The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 613 - 299 Birth of Joker_2

"How did the final game go?" Jokic asked curiously, knowing that Durant was currently the second-best player in the League, right after Hansen.

"He scored 34 points but made only 11 of 29 shots and had 5 turnovers, while I scored 20 points." Even after all these years, Hansen’s memory of certain games remained crystal clear.

"I definitely couldn’t play that well." Jokic put himself in the situation.

"Nikola, you’re good at everything, it’s just that you lack confidence."

Jokic scratched his head awkwardly, uncertain why Hansen thought he could be an all-star!

"You should know, I was playing against KD who averaged 30 points per game, and you are up against a 39-year-old man; are you worried he might try to flop?" If Garnett hadn’t been in the locker room right then, Hansen would have used him as an example.

Duncan, although slightly more enduring than Garnett, wasn’t much stronger now.

Hansen’s words stunned Jokic.

"I’ll defend him," Jokic said after snapping back to reality.

"You mean, blow him out," Hansen corrected.

Jokic nodded but didn’t repeat Hansen’s words.

Hansen shook his head slightly but he didn’t press the issue.

Jokic’s personality was like tepid water, not so easy to ignite.

Hansen then picked up his phone and resumed browsing for gifts.

However, Jokic’s disruption only made Hansen feel more troubled.

"Boss, are you picking a gift for your girlfriend?" Jokic curiously asked, not having left yet.

Hansen nodded, then put away his phone, realizing today was not the day to find the right gift.

"Does she have any hobbies?" Jokic continued.

Hansen looked at Jokic.

Of course, Jokic didn’t have any designs on Ajalee; he hadn’t even met her yet. He clearly just wanted to offer some suggestions.

But still, Jokic was a rookie; wasn’t that like a virgin sharing poker experiences?

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Hansen asked politely.

To his surprise, Jokic nodded quickly.

That took Hansen aback.

Jokic was only 20 this year, and he was a Serb, not an American; it’s akin to being from East University.

But what truly surprised Hansen was what Jokic said next.

"I had one when I was 16."

Sorry, he had underestimated Jokic.

The guy looked naive and honest but he played early lover!

Still, if that was the case, Jokic did have some experience in this area.

"As for hobbies, she likes basketball, animals, sports, and writing songs, that’s about it."

"To find someone who also loves basketball, you’re very lucky, chief," Jokic said with a look of envy.

"I think a pet might be a good gift, like a cat or a dog. Not only would it be something she loves, but it would also be a constant reminder of your gift," Jokic suggested.

Hansen looked at Jokic, then quickly smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.

You’re the one, my dear Joki!

Speaking of which, he and Ajalee had met at a pet market.

That evening, the Cavaliers hosted the San Antonio Spurs at their home court.

Quicken Loans Arena was, as usual, packed.

"I think Hansen is a greater player than Jordan. He can do anything he wants on the court," Popovich said in a pre-game interview, highly praising Hansen.

His words made many Cavaliers fans reflective; Hansen’s excellent performance in last season’s playoffs had finally convinced Popovich.

However, the old fans knew about the history between the two; Popovich’s words were less likely praise and more likely a jinx.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups for both teams were announced.

San Antonio Spurs: Parker, Danny Green, Leonard, Alderich, Duncan

Cavaliers: Irving, Hansen, Tucker, TT, Jokic

When Popovich saw Jokic in the starting lineup, he clearly blinked in surprise.

The Cavaliers hadn’t released any hints before the game, catching him off guard.

After the game started, Jokic and Duncan took the jump ball at center court.

Neither of them was particularly quick off the ground, but it was the younger Jokic who came out on top, securing the first offensive opportunity for the Cavaliers.

Irving took the lead at the opening.

Irving called Jokic for a pick and roll and then drove at Duncan.

However, the quality of Jokic’s screen was mediocre, letting Irving get caught in a double team.

But after rolling off, Jokic quickly got free, and Irving demonstrated his improved passing ability, finding the angle to bounce the ball to Jokic.

After receiving the ball, Jokic was faced with Leonard collapsing in to help defend, smartly holding the ball and directly pushing Leonard to send the ball to the basket.

But he clearly underestimated Leonard’s defensive capabilities, who timed his jump perfectly and blocked Jokic’s shot.

Parker recovered the ball with a quick turn, and the Spurs launched a fast defense-to-offense transition, with Parker performing his signature spin layup against Irving.

However, he didn’t notice Hansen on the other side, and by the time he shot, Hansen had pinned the ball against the backboard.

After passing more control to Irving, Hansen wasn’t just wandering around on the court; he invested more energy into the defense.

Following a defensive rebound, Hansen saw Jokic, who had just moved past the three-point line in the backcourt, and made a long throw to him.

Jokic received the ball with only the similarly unready Duncan before him.

It was at that moment, facing Duncan, that Jokic recalled what Hansen had said the day before.

The man before him was indeed still called Tim Duncan, but he was no longer the insurmountable peak.

Jokic drove with the ball; his speed wasn’t fast, but the rhythm was fluid.

This drew gasps from the crowd.

Previously, Jokic had played the role of a low-post back and three-point space-holder off the bench.

But clearly, that wasn’t all he could do.

In a moment of closing distance with Duncan, he made a direct change of direction to break through.

Duncan seemed not to expect that the big rookie before him could make such a move, or perhaps his steps could no longer keep up.

Among the gasps of the fans, Duncan was just passed at the free throw line.

But he was Duncan, and even in a season plagued by plantar fasciitis, his defense was still top-tier in the league.

He turned to chase down, ready to cover Jokic’s shot with his long arms.

But Jokic’s next move again caught him by surprise.

After getting past Duncan, Jokic didn’t shoot directly; instead, he accelerated towards the basket and took off under the rim to complete a two-handed slam dunk!

Although his athletic ability was poor, once believed to be the reason he couldn’t play in the NBA, clearly, much had changed after more than a year of effort.

More importantly, this was clearly a second choice he made after sensing the threat from Duncan.

The arena was instantly filled with cheers from the fans.

Although Duncan had aged, he was still Duncan.

Just like the time Jordan was shaken by Iverson, although it was a very routine play, it became a brilliant starting point for Iverson’s career.

The same logic applied to Jokic’s attack.

Number 21 was on the court, but after tonight, everyone would know who number 15 was.

TNT still had the broadcast rights for the regular season games, and The Big Three would appear at the focus of the battle.

Right after Jokic dunked, O’Neal shouted from the commentary booth:

"That’s the Joker!"

Previously, Curry had gotten Jokic’s name wrong, but with a starting lineup list provided by a staff member in his hand, O’Neal, as a nickname master, had crafted this nickname for Jokic!

Jokic couldn’t hear O’Neal’s shout from the commentary booth; in fact, after dunking, he simply turned around and headed back down the court, his expression calm.

His defensive transition was already slow, and he couldn’t afford to be chased down again.

Hansen couldn’t help but smile when he saw this.

Though Jokic might not seem confident off the court, he truly could unleash all his abilities on the court.

That was a talent in itself.

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