Goodwin stopped and turned to look. Yao Ming was approaching, followed by reporters and photographers.
Familiar skin.
Goodwin was a little stunned.
A fellow countryman?
No, no. I'm a white ghost now.
Yao Ming soon reached Goodwin and slung an arm around him. Facing the cameras, he said, "This is my best friend in the NBA, Goodwin."
Best friend?
The reporters and photographers were taken aback. Even Goodwin was stunned.
Two seconds later, Goodwin came to his senses and replied in a language everyone there could understand, "Yao, aren't you worried your boss will get jealous and give you a hard time when you get back?"
Yao Ming laughed. "You think Francis is that petty?"
"Hahaha! I'll go whisper in his ear, then."
Yao Ming's eyes widened. You could do that?
He blurted out a Chinese expletive. "Damn! You can do that? Then I'd better take you out first!"
Yao Ming went after Goodwin with a vengeance.
Goodwin was impressed, even as he let out a scream.
The two horsed around in front of the cameras like a pair of friends.
"Yao, was he speaking Chinese?" the reporter asked as soon as they finished fooling around.
Yao Ming knitted his brows, then replied with an amused smile, "Didn't you just hear him?"
The reporter nodded.
Seeing that, Yao Ming turned to Goodwin. "Come on, say a few more things. My countrymen can hardly believe it."
"That'll cost you. A hundred per word."
"Get lost! Talking about money ruins the friendship."
"Then I'll get lost." Goodwin pretended to walk away.
"Get back here!" Yao Ming grabbed Goodwin by the collar and yanked him back.
Goodwin: "..."
Don't I deserve to save face?
"Yao, you made me lose face in front of 1.3 billion friends. Just you wait—I'll crush you on the court one day." Goodwin sounded like a certain cartoon wolf making a promise: "I'll be back!"
Yao Ming burst out laughing. "I'll be waiting for you in Houston."
For a moment, the two locked eyes, and an invisible spark seemed to crackle between them.
Just then, the reporter reminded them, "Sorry to interrupt, but you two won't have a chance to face each other in the remaining games this season."
Yao Ming: (ÒωÓױ)!
Goodwin: (ÒωÓױ)!
"But you'll have a chance to meet next season. I'm really looking forward to seeing you two go head-to-head," the reporter continued.
The two silently nodded.
"Yao, I'll just have to beat you up next season, then," Goodwin said. He'd be even stronger next season. Maybe he wouldn't reach the very top, but he'd definitely make it into the first tier.
"Goodwin, I was about to say the same thing to you," Yao Ming shot back, refusing to yield.
Watching them trade barbs, the reporter smiled. He hadn't expected there to be an NBA player across the ocean who spoke such fluent Chinese. It was truly astonishing.
The reporter then conducted a brief interview with Goodwin.
The interview made its way across the ocean to China, letting Chinese fans everywhere know that the NBA had a handsome player who spoke fluent Chinese. His name was Goodwin.
Before leaving, Goodwin turned to Yao Ming and said, "Thanks."
"Don't forget to treat me to a meal."
"No problem."
After saying goodbye to Yao Ming, Goodwin returned to the locker room, packed his things, and left. He didn't attend the postgame interview. Would it really make any difference whether he was there or not? He was just a nobody.
Goodwin didn't go to watch any of the three events the next day. He had no interest in them at all. He'd rather train than sit around watching.
Goodwin didn't miss the main event on the third day.
Sitting in the stands, he watched the familiar superstars warming up: Kobe Bryant, McGrady, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Brad Miller, Andrei Kirilenko, Peja Stojakovic, Sam Cassell, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming...
OMG!
As he watched, Goodwin felt a sudden urge to get out there and play.
Goodwin: Paul, get down here.
Paul Pierce: Get lost! (ノ｀Д)ノ
"Tweet!" The whistle blew, and the 2003–04 NBA All-Star Game was underway.
Right off the bat, Iverson connected with Vince Carter. Iverson casually tossed the ball off the backboard, and Carter came flying in and hammered home a one-handed tomahawk dunk!
The entire arena erupted.
Just a few minutes later, they put on another show. After the Eastern Conference stole the ball, Iverson led the fast break. Same recipe as before—only this time Iverson tossed the ball straight into the air. Carter read his intentions perfectly, caught the pass with ease, and slammed it home!
"Ahhhhh!" Goodwin jumped up from the stands and cheered excitedly.
Then the other superstars started showing off their signature moves.
Kobe pulled off a difficult, acrobatic layup, taking off early against Carter, twisting through the air, and banking it in for the and-one. Kidd dished out a no-look pass. On the fast break, he kept his eyes wandering before whipping a left-handed, round-the-moon pass to a streaking Martin for a two-handed slam.
McGrady threw the ball off the backboard and dunked it himself. He drove past Kirilenko, charged into the paint, tossed the ball off the glass, caught it with both hands, and threw it down.
Yao Ming and Francis worked together. The younger guy caught the ball! Francis drove in, drew the defense, and tossed a perfect alley-oop to Yao Ming for a monster dunk.
The German Tank, Nowitzki, wasn't about to be outdone. He drove in from beyond the arc and threw down a tomahawk dunk.
Then came the fun. Shaquille O'Neal grabbed the rebound and refused to pass to anyone. He charged up the court, lowered his center of gravity, faked a shot, spun around, and strung together a series of guard-like moves before missing the layup.
"Hahahahaha!" "Hahahahaha!" "Hahahahaha!" The whole arena roared with laughter.
As the game wore on, both teams gradually settled into a rhythm. Neither side wanted to lose.
They traded baskets and refused to back down, keeping the score close.
In the end, a three-pointer from Kobe and a Tim Duncan bank shot from midrange sealed the win for the West.
136:132
The Western Conference All-Stars won by four points, making it the first time in history that a team had won the All-Star Game three times in a row.
The MVP went to Shaquille O'Neal, who finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
After watching, Goodwin was left wanting more. This was what the All-Star Game was all about: dazzling dunks and a fun atmosphere, with a suspenseful finish that kept everyone guessing.
He wanted to play in it so badly!
At that moment, Goodwin made up his mind. Next year, he'd try to make the NBA All-Star Game. He was going to become an All-Star.
A surge of untamed energy welled up inside Goodwin, driving him toward his goal.
Training, training!
Goodwin hurried off to the training facility to get to work.
Before you continue