Although the game was over, Chen still had some "work" to do tonight.
He had to wait for the league staff to go through the motions of voting, then collect a brand-new award.
Soon, under the expectant gazes of the fans in attendance, the Thunder players gathered at center court. They waited for a staff member to step forward, stand directly in front of the cameras, and announce to fans around the world who was the first recipient of a new award established by the league this season.
"The winner of the NBA 2021–2022 Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award is—Chris Chen!!"
"Whooo!"
As soon as the announcement rang out, cheers erupted throughout the arena.
The result had never really been in doubt.
If Chen wasn't the Western Conference Finals MVP, then no one deserved it.
He'd put on two 50-point triple-double performances in Games 1 and 3. Across the five games, he'd averaged 41.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 2.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks.
Those staggering numbers, along with the visible impact he'd had on the games and the awe he'd inspired in fans, made him the undisputed choice for the Western Conference Finals MVP award.
After the Golden State players left the court and returned to the locker room, only Oklahoma's voices remained in the arena.
And all those voices were now cheering Chen Xi in unison.
As for the man of the hour, he came out from among his teammates without getting carried away or changing expression. He accepted from a staff member the trophy that had just entered the public eye for the first time in league history—the Earvin Johnson Trophy.
It was named after the Lakers' legendary point guard, Magic Johnson.
The trophy represented the glory built by the powerhouse team that had once