Transition offense.
"Swish!"
Hamilton used his excellent off-ball movement to get an open look and calmly sank a mid-range shot.
Knicks possession.
Su Yan was still on the right side of the arc, one step beyond the three-point line when he caught the ball. Prince had once again failed to come over and guard him.
It wasn't that he wasn't playing defense.
He'd genuinely left Su Yan another step of space.
Seriously, man, you're giving me this much room? You think that little of me?!
Ever heard of getting careless and losing Jingzhou?
Su Yan smiled faintly, didn't hesitate, and raised the ball for another three-point arrow!!!
The sun shone over the incense burner, sending up purple smoke. This three-pointer was right on target.
"Swish!"
Another one.
"Again?"
Prince's expression shifted between gloomy and stunned. He couldn't believe it.
Let me say thank you, because you've brought warmth to all four seasons.
Su Yan gave Prince a grateful look. Thanks to him, he'd made two three-pointers and instantly earned 6,000 × 2 = 12,000 USD.
He definitely owed him a thank-you.
But that look only drove Prince closer to the edge.
Nearby.
The team's second-leading scorer, dual-guard Rodney Stuckey, also looked surprised. "Those eight threes last game weren't just a fluke? He had a lot of luck on his side, didn't he?!
"Besides.
"The coach said he was a pretty boy. What kind of fighting ability could he have?"
At first, Stuckey hadn't believed Coach John Kuester when he called Su Yan a pretty boy.
Come on.
This was the NBA.
There weren't any really handsome guys here, just a bunch of rugged men. Even people known as heartthrobs, like Iverson and Kobe—
They were only handsome by NBA standards. Most of their appeal came from their charisma.
Compared to other people, they were pretty average.
At first, he'd scoffed at Su Yan's looks, too.
But after seeing him in person, he realized he'd been wrong.
Su Yan really was stunningly handsome.
And the key was... his good looks came with a rugged edge. He was both refined and elegant, radiating an incredible masculine charm.
It was hard to associate Su Yan with a basketball player.
Stuckey even seriously wondered whether the Su Yan who'd made eight threes last game and beaten Thunder's Big Three was actually the same person.
He had to hand it to him.
Stuckey couldn't argue with Su Yan being called a "pretty boy."
As for his basketball skills, he still wasn't convinced. Just like Prince, he thought those two threes had been pure luck.
"Hey, Tayshaun!"
Stuckey went over to Prince. "That breakout game last time gave him some confidence, but he's just a pretty boy. He doesn't look like he can fight at all.
"Just watch.
"I'll go after him and teach him a lesson, knock that weird confidence out of him. He'll be finished after that."
"Sounds good to me."
Prince agreed with interest. "If it's Rodney, Su Yan's in for a rough time!!!"
Stuckey had been the 15th overall pick in 2007—not a bad pick at all.
A shooting guard, he was good at driving through contact and could also pull up for jumpers. He was an offensive player who could both drive and shoot.
In his third year, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game.
On the Pistons.
He was a capable second option. Teaching an undrafted rookie a lesson ought to be a piece of cake.
"Tap!"
As possession changed, Stuckey did indeed find Su Yan on the left side of the arc. He dribbled while sizing him up.
What the hell...
Was this really the kind of face an NBA player was supposed to have?
If you were a woman, I'd find some way to pin you down.
What the hell was I thinking? I'm messed up, having thoughts like that about a man.
Stuckey slapped himself to clear his head.
Su Yan: ???
Seriously, man, why'd you just slap yourself?
Trying to lower my guard by hurting yourself?
Did you disgust yourself that much?
Su Yan couldn't figure it out, but he couldn't help taking a jab at him. "Hey, man, nobody cares about your looks. You don't have to be that insecure."
"Cut the chatter!"
Stuckey snorted, switched the ball between his legs, then accelerated the instant it reached his right hand.
No fancy moves.
Just pure strength.
Su Yan looked like a dashing, graceful gentleman. Stuckey instinctively figured he was a pushover.
And he had the "pretty boy" label, too.
So he'd shatter at a touch.
"Thump!"
They collided, and Su Yan took a token step backward.
First, he was playing for money. If he could make an easy three, he didn't like physical contact.
Second, he wanted to test Stuckey's strength.
After all... if his opponent really tried to force his way in, he wouldn't back down.
Steals, blocks, even protecting the rim with a well-timed contest—all of it could earn him points.
That meant playing serious defense could make him money, too.
"He's got some strength, but not much."
Su Yan smiled with confidence, utterly charming.
When Stuckey charged into him again, Su Yan met him head-on and stood his ground.
Small forward versus shooting guard.
With Basic Body Enhancement, Su Yan was stronger than the average small forward. He had no reason to fear Stuckey.
Stuckey powered into him again, as if he'd run into a wall. Su Yan didn't budge.
WTF?!
He'd just knocked Su Yan backward a moment ago.
Why wasn't Su Yan moving this time? It felt like a wall of muscle was blocking his way!
Was this really the so-called pretty boy?!
Stuckey was stunned.
He was still trying to process it, but Su Yan didn't give him time to think. The moment he hesitated—
Su Yan struck.
Fast, precise, and ruthless.
He smacked the ball right out of Stuckey's hands, darted forward, and seized it.
Steal +1.
"Beautiful steal!"
D'Antoni shouted from the sideline. Assistant coach Morrison Bolton was excited, too. "Su Yan really can play defense!"
"Over here, Yan!"
McGrady raced ahead and reached the front court first. No one was in front of him. It was the perfect chance to run a fast break.
"Got it!"
Su Yan didn't hesitate, either.
He threw a long pass. The power and angle weren't perfect, but it was an easy pass to receive.
McGrady slowed down slightly and caught the ball with no trouble.
One-on-one with the rim.
He took three steps, raised the ball high to the heavens—
"Boom!"
He slammed it through with one hand, giving the fans a feast for the eyes.
Su Yan, whose looks were off the charts and who'd made quite a splash last game, and McGrady, one of the Four Great Shooting Guards.
These two Knicks fan favorites.
Their connection instantly set the whole arena ablaze.
"You little punk, sneaking up on me! That's not playing fair!"
Stuckey cursed at Su Yan.
He was being pretty unreasonable.
Su Yan didn't take it lying down. "You're the one losing focus while playing. You're a real piece of work."
"Just you wait. I'll smash that pretty-boy face of yours this time."
When they faced off again.
Stuckey was finally taking Su Yan seriously. He wouldn't show off until he'd scored on him at least once.
He used every trick in his arsenal—physical contact, a change of direction, a spin, and a pump fake—to shake Su Yan and get half a step ahead. Then he drove straight for the rim.
"Get in position for the rebound. Just go up for the layup!"
Ben Wallace barked.
He gave Stuckey all the confidence he needed!
"I've got this!"
Stuckey was brimming with confidence. He was already thinking about how to taunt Su Yan.
Rookie, welcome to the NBA.
Or maybe... you punk, I only need thirty percent of my strength to deal with you!!!
The next second.
Just as the ball he'd released was about to touch the backboard, a huge hand smashed it against the glass!!!
Before you continue