Chapter 193: Chapter 20: [Feels Like a Lifetime Ago, the China Derby Arrives Again]

Su Xi wasn’t a standout player at Syracuse University in the beginning. It wasn’t until the National Championship tournament that he started playing better and better with each game. He especially stepped up after McNamara got injured. In the final championship game, he was instrumental in turning the tide, achieving an unprecedented super quadruple-double in NCAA history and being named MOP.

"Jack, I never would have dreamed that you’d be the first one from our class to become an All-Star," Carmeron Anthony said with a sigh. "Back then, I was even thinking of having you become my assistant agent after graduation. With your brains, you definitely could have become a top agent in the NBA."

McNamara sighed as well. "Yeah. I didn’t expect it either."

Then, he suddenly punched Su Xi in the chest. "You bastard! Do you know how I managed to get over my obsession with Jessica Alba? I started stanning Scarlett Johansson! But now... look at you! They’re both fighting over you!"

"Why do you always go for the idols I worship?"

McNamara looked like he was genuinely about to cry.

Carmeron Anthony, however, burst out laughing. He couldn’t help but offer a terrible idea. "Hey, man. Next, you should find the ugliest female celebrity to crush on. If she gets together with Jack too, then that’ll prove Jack is really targeting you."

McNamara shook his head. "But I only go for looks."

"Then you deserve it," Antonio said, no longer feeling sorry for him.

The three of them chatted and laughed for a long time. Antonio was now starting to show off his collection of cigars and red wine; he was acting more and more like a high-society type.

McNamara lamented, "You really gotta be an NBA player. One of you became a man of the upper class, while the other spends his days *on* the upper class."

Antonio shot him an annoyed look.

Then, McNamara went to the pool to have some fun with the pretty girls.

Antonio had arranged it for him.

That’s what bros are for—loyalty.

"Jack, you’re really popular now, but a lot of people are jealous of you," Antonio said. "A lot of superstars want to teach you a lesson."

Many basketball media outlets and players believed Su Xi had disrupted the NBA’s ecosystem, especially after his All-Star votes broke historical records. Many superstars, not just Tracy McGrady, were saying that Su Xi had ridden on the coattails of women to get ahead, that he wasn’t a basketball star at all, but a Hollywood star.

Su Xi couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to any of this.

But Antonio, being a good friend, was a little worried.

Once the NBA superstars collectively target a rookie, it’s easy for that rookie to be suppressed. Even someone as strong as Kobe was kept on the bench back in the day. And Jordan, as amazing as he was, was once isolated in the All-Star locker room by the assassin and his crew.

Su Xi said, "I’m not thinking about that right now. Antonio, let’s play some one-on-one."

Antonio readily agreed.

They played a round, with Su Xi on defense and Antonio on offense, just like before.

After entering the NBA, Antonio’s offense had become more and more polished, and he was improving quickly. This was why he was able to lead Denver into the top eight in the West.

However, the improvement in Su Xi’s defense was even greater.

Antonio took 15 shots on offense but only made 7.

Su Xi stopped him 8 times, a frighteningly high success rate. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Although Antonio said out loud it was because he hadn’t warmed up, inwardly he was stunned. Su Xi’s physical gifts were improving too quickly—his strength, explosiveness, speed, coordination, and especially his flexibility.

And on top of that, his defense was getting tougher and tougher.

All of this made Antonio see him in a completely new light.

After they finished playing, the two of them lay on the floor, and Antonio couldn’t help but ask Su Xi, "Jack, is there any possibility of you and LeBron patching things up? LeBron came to Denver last week, and when he mentioned you, he said you let him down."

"He blames you entirely for why you two split. He also said you’re still provoking him now."

Antonio said this as a friend to both of them, hoping to mediate their conflict.

Su Xi spread his palms, incredulous. "I don’t know why he’d say that."

"But I don’t think we can go back to how things were unless he changes his mindset," Su Xi said. "He’s always felt that I should be beneath him. He wants me to do well, but he doesn’t want me to do better than him. Do you know what I mean? He wants our relationship to be like Pippen and Jordan."

"But I don’t think he’s shown Jordan’s level of dominance."

Su Xi was being very sincere with Antonio. This was the first time he had discussed his relationship with James since leaving the Cavaliers.

Antonio looked thoughtful. After a moment, he said, "Actually, I never thought you two were a good fit from the start."

"Let’s not talk about this anymore." Su Xi waved his hand dismissively.

Antonio started talking to Su Xi about his love life. Antonio was a playboy, and entering the NBA had only further unleashed his nature. He fooled around a lot more than Su Xi did.

But he didn’t make the headlines for it.

...

The Indiana Pacers continued their winning streak in Denver, and then the Pacers set foot in Texas.

They were about to begin a brutal road trip through the Southwest Division.

The Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Rockets—the three powerhouses of Texas were considered a litmus test for any contender. If you wanted to win a championship, you had to get through them.

The last time Su Xi was here, he was with the Cavaliers.

They lost to the San Antonio Spurs and the Mavericks, and against the Rockets, he was traded right before the game.

So, for Su Xi, it felt like a lifetime ago.

Barkley also joked about Su Xi on TV: This time, Little Sheep Su Xi probably won’t get traded before the China Derby, right? If he sings during halftime again, I feel like record companies will be lining up to sign him directly.

It’s worth mentioning that the Houston Rockets pulled a big stunt this time.

They announced in advance that they would be inviting Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Duff to perform at halftime.

This sent the "Scarlett-Su Xi" shipper fans into a collective frenzy. Entertainment media outlets scrambled to report on it, and for a moment, the hype was as overwhelming as a tsunami.

This also meant it was possible for Su Xi to see Scarlett for the third time.

To be honest, Su Xi felt a small sense of anticipation.

After all, he and Scarlett had been intimate.

Besides, Scarlett possessed the Super Agility talent.

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