Intentional Fist

Paul came over and wrapped his arms around him, trying to calm him down. But Chen Xi grinned from across the way and added,

"There's an old saying back home: 'A dog that bites doesn't bark.' You've still got a lot to learn."

Redick, who had yet to calm down, immediately let his emotions take over again.

"I'm gonna rip your mouth off, you damn yellow pig! You son of a bitch!"

At that, Chen Xi's face darkened at once.

I only made a couple of sarcastic remarks, and you've already started spewing shit?

Without another word, he charged forward, ready to give Redick a good beating. Unfortunately, before his palm came within a few dozen centimeters of Redick's face, Griffin shoved him away.

Chen Xi stumbled back two steps, and Westbrook rushed forward and gave Griffin a hard shove.

As the confrontation threatened to spiral out of control, all three referees hurried in and separated the players at the center of the fracas.

But they couldn't hold Chen Xi back. He jerked his arm free of Grant, who had stepped in to stop him, and slipped past Paul like an eel. Then he charged forward and landed an Intentional Fist square on Redick's ugly face.

Redick saw stars. Unable to keep his balance, he toppled backward.

Griffin and Little Jordan only just reacted in time, but before they could even try to retaliate, Adams had already wrapped both arms around Chen Xi and hauled him back to the Thunder's half of the court. The referees had also closed in, so they could only give up in frustration.

"Oh my God! We can't believe what we're seeing! Is this a WWE show? Chris Chen just knocked Redick out with one punch!"

At courtside, Ian Eagle, who was calling the game that day, looked stunned.

"Let's take a look at the replay. The referees may need to review the footage to determine what level of penalties to give the players involved."

"Here we can see Chen and Redick exchanging words. It doesn't look like they said much, but Redick was visibly furious. What exactly did Chen say?"

"Oh, Redick's being held back by CP3. This should've ended right there, but clearly it didn't. They're still arguing over Paul's head. I never thought CP3's height would be a disadvantage in a situation like this, but he can't keep the two of them apart."

"God! What kind of footwork is that? Chen twisted around and slipped past Paul. Damn! That punch looks painful! You dead, son of a bitch!"

After watching the replay several times, the head referee that day, Mark Dyson, walked over to the scorer's table, took hold of the microphone, and announced the penalties.

Chris Chen: Second-degree intentional foul, ejected

Redick: First-degree intentional foul

Westbrook: 1 technical foul

Griffin: 1 technical foul

A classic case of everyone getting punished. Chen Xi had thrown a punch and injured Redick, so he might also face a fine and suspension after the game.

But he didn't care. He only regretted that he hadn't hit Redick harder. Damn it! If I were the team leader, I'd be waiting outside his locker room!

Too bad he wasn't. If he tried, his own teammates would probably pin him down halfway there.

With boos and curses raining down from the Staples Center crowd, Chen Xi slowly made his way toward the players' tunnel. He grinned as he walked, taunting the fans by making AI's signature listening gesture.

The entire arena erupted, deafening curses surging toward the ceiling.

Redick was still lying on the bench, being examined by the team doctor. Now that he'd cooled off, he was starting to regret it. If I'd known he was this hotheaded, why'd I provoke him?

After the technical free throws were taken, the game resumed. But after what had just happened, nobody had any interest in playing.

The Thunder eventually defeated the Clippers 80–74, earning their fourth straight win to start the season and taking the top spot in the Western Conference.

But that clearly wasn't what anyone cared about anymore. When the game ended, the media swarmed toward both locker rooms like hyenas catching the scent of blood. They couldn't wait for the press conference; they just wanted to interview the people involved as soon as possible.

"Chen, we'd like to know what you and JJ argued about that made him so angry."

"Chen, were you trying to help the Thunder win by resorting to those tactics?"

"Chen, would you be interested in a career change? How about joining WWE?"

"Chen, was the gesture you made as you left the court meant to provoke the Los Angeles fans?"

"Chris, what's your type?"

"Chen, as a rookie who's only played four regular-season games, you've already assaulted a veteran at the very start of your career. Have you considered how disrespectful that was to him?"

Did something weird slip in there?

"This is the locker room..." Chen Xi said helplessly, looking at the crowd of reporters in front of him. He was usually overlooked; he'd never gotten this kind of attention before.

"Maybe he wasn't playing well, maybe it was something else. Who knows? After he got mad, he tried to attack me with Trash Talk, but he couldn't win the argument."

Chen Xi shrugged, then let some of the anger he hadn't yet worked off show.

"I was only answering a few of his insults. He brought it on himself. He used racist language against me and even insulted my mother. One punch was getting off easy!"

"Damn it, he called me a yellow pig? I had no idea a professional player making millions a year in the NBA could say something like that so openly."

"Chen, are you sure that's really what he said?"

"Of course. He said it right in front of CP3. The referee and Russell were nearby. I'm sure they'd be willing to back me up."

Chen Xi's words caused an uproar.

It was said that people tended to emphasize what they lacked most.

In the country with the worst racial discrimination, racism was precisely the one thing you couldn't bring out into the open.

Chen Xi pressed his advantage, taking the moral high ground before kicking Redick in the ass and slapping the label of racist on him.

Hey, you wanted to mess with me? If this still isn't enough, I'll bring out environmentalists, vegetarians, Walmart shopping bags, gay people, people with gender dysphoria, animal-rights activists, and AI worshippers—and stack all those buffs on you.

I'll destroy you!

Once the explanation that Redick had made a racist remark began circulating, the media immediately turned their fire on him, condemning him from every direction. No one wanted to be branded the same way, even when the discrimination was against a Yellow person rather than a Black person.

Redick faced a horde of reporters on the other side, too.

"He's a lunatic! You saw it yourselves—Chris Gabriel couldn't even stop him. He's a violent thug through and through!"

"Redick, Chris just told reporters that you made a racist remark to him and insulted his mother, who died when he was young. Is that true?" A reporter who'd gotten the latest inside scoop on their phone had already received the first-hand story from the locker room next door.