"He wasn't power-hungry and was happy to share the ball... But the fact is, in terms of efficiency, having Chen Xi handle the ball and run the offense more was actually the safest offensive approach for the Thunder during that stretch..."
"The reason was simple: Chen Xi was just too good on offense!"
"Nobody could stop him when he drove with the ball from the top of the key or either wing!! Against weaker defenders with slower sideways movement, all it took was one Crossover Step to leave them hopelessly behind. Then he could glide into the paint and finish in the mid-range area where he was most effective."
"And even against elite wing defenders like Butler and Leonard, Chen Xi only needed a few more sudden stops and changes of direction to get past them!"
"Chen Xi's mid-range shot was absurdly accurate—steady as a rock. It was around that time that it gradually developed into the ultimate nightmare for defenders across the League today."
"It's worth noting that Chen Xi was very close to Kobe. The two were reportedly like brothers despite their age difference, and Chen Xi even bought a home in Los Angeles near Kobe's. But when it came to their play on the court, Chen Xi's mid-range offense actually didn't look much like Kobe's."
"Unlike Kobe, he didn't tend to catch the ball in the post or at the elbow and attack with his back to the basket. Instead, he preferred to face up and go straight at his defender. He liked to stop abruptly after driving and pull up for a mid-range jumper, much like Russell Westbrook. He also liked to start an isolation from the top, lower his center of gravity, and force the defender to retreat before hitting them with a hesitation move