Karl Malone Was Stunned: "That's a Move Even I Couldn't Pull Off!"

"Jason Kidd has already announced that he'll enter the NBA draft after this season, and Keith Van Horn will become the new face of the Pac-12!"

Inside the University of Utah basketball arena, United States

The TNT commentators at the scene were warming up the crowd before the game.

Everyone in the home crowd had their eyes on Keith Van Horn.

Van Horn absolutely deserved all the attention and expectations he was getting.

Never mind his average of 25 points and 8 rebounds over three preseason games.

Back in high school, Van Horn had been the spitting image of Larry Bird.

At 6'10", he could overpower opponents inside and shoot from midrange and long range. His ball-handling, footwork, and passing were all polished to perfection.

His draft comparison was none other than the great Bird.

And there at the game...

A familiar figure slipped in quietly.

The crowd erupted.

It was the Utah Jazz's star leader—

Karl Malone!

John Stockton was with him, too.

When reporters at the scene interviewed Malone and Stockton, Malone answered without hesitation. "Don't ask why I'm here. Of course I came to support the Utes!"

The fans erupted in cheers once again.

Ever since entering the NBA in 1985, Karl Malone had never left Utah.

He was practically a franchise legend for the Jazz.

But why would he come to watch a college game?

Never underestimate the NCAA's status in American sports.

It was perfectly normal for NBA players to follow college basketball.

Besides, Malone and Stockton both played for the Utah Jazz.

The game was nearby, and they had some free time, so they came to watch.

"Keith Van Horn is the reason I came here to watch."

Meanwhile, John Stockton also had words of praise for Van Horn:

"The name Keith Van Horn will soon sweep across the United States. Carl and I both believe he'll lead the Utes to the biggest stage."

If there was one thing that had drawn the two men all the way to the game...

It was Keith Van Horn.

At 6'10", he was even two inches taller than Karl Malone.

An all-around player, the next Larry Bird.

That description was honestly a little intimidating.

"John, next time you talk about Keith Van Horn, leave me out of it."

But...

Once the reporters had moved on, Malone turned to Stockton and said, "No matter how good he is, I don't like him."

"Or rather, I don't like his style of play."

Among active NBA players, Karl Malone was arguably one of the top three power forwards, and you could make a case for him as the best.

Though Malone had developed his midrange and long-range shooting to an elite level to expand his offensive game, and had a decent touch as a high-post facilitator, deep down he still preferred to bully his way to the basket and overpower people.

Just look at those powerful Kirin arms of his to see how much he loved physical play.

A technical power forward like Keith Van Horn...

In Malone's eyes, he didn't even qualify as a power forward.

Wasn't the guy just an oversized small forward?

The Mailman even worried that a player with Van Horn's build might not be able to withstand one of his signature elbows in the NBA.

"I knew you wouldn't like him."

Stockton smiled. After playing alongside Malone for so long, the two had developed a strong bond.

He pointed toward the other end of the court.

"The kind of player you like is over there."

Malone didn't say a word. He gazed toward the far end of the court.

If Stockton had come to watch Keith Van Horn...

Karl Malone had come for a different name: Li Fei.

"He doesn't look especially bulky, but you can see every contour of his muscles."

"The muscles in his shoulders and arms are so clearly separated, it's like looking at a national border."

As a gym rat himself, the Mailman could tell at a glance just how solid Li Fei's muscles were.

Of course...

That alone wasn't enough to earn the Mailman's admiration.

No matter how much people hyped Li Fei's physique, it still didn't make him a power forward who relied on strength.

But what Malone liked...

Was the punch Li Fei had landed on Glenn Robinson.

The Mailman liked players who were tough, didn't back down, and went straight at anyone who crossed them.

Especially as an old NBA tough guy himself, Karl Malone could tell how impressive Li Fei's punch had been.

In terms of both force and reach...

It was top-tier!

Soon, both teams' starting players took the court.

The game began.

The Golden Bears' starting five were Jason Kidd, Michael Bryant, Lamond Murray, Green Stewart, and Li Fei.

As for the Utes, aside from Van Horn, the other four were practically nobodies.

"Thump!"

Li Fei easily won the jump ball, and Kidd immediately snatched it and fired a long pass.

"Whoa! Am I seeing things? They're doing it again!"

"Li and Jason pulled off a jump-ball alley-oop in a preseason game. I never thought they'd recreate it here!"

The commentators cried out in astonishment.

A jump-ball alley-oop was ridiculous enough to happen once.

Everyone had assumed it was a fluke.

But...

Li Fei charged past the three-point line, leaped off one foot, and swung his right arm straight out in midair.

To be honest, the pass was a little off.

But Li Fei's huge hand still clamped down on the ball, and at a terrifying height that put his chin above the rim...

Bang! He slammed it through the hoop.

2–0

"I told you not to underestimate this Chinese center."

Karl Malone's eyes widened. "That's a move even I couldn't pull off."

Beside him, the usually unflappable Stockton looked just as stunned.

"This guy's way too fast for a center..."

Stockton looked at Malone. "Seriously, Carl, I like that play. Should we give it a try sometime?"

"I'll do my best to make the pass even easier to catch than Jason Kidd's."

Malone said nothing. He just kept watching.

Bro, you might make the pass easier than Kidd's, but what about how I feel?

Karl Malone might have been a hot-tempered old schemer, but at least he knew his limits.

That jump-ball alley-oop from Li Fei demanded an absurd level of athleticism.

It wasn't something a player like him could...

Just then, Van Horn got the ball and prepared to take Li Fei one-on-one.

After Li Fei had opened with a thunderous dunk, Van Horn, playing on his home court, had to defend his pride.

The moment he got the ball, the crowd's excitement surged.

Malone wanted to see what Van Horn could do, too.

Van Horn faced Li Fei and used a series of triple-threat fakes, then suddenly dropped low and drove left. The move was smooth; he really didn't look like a big man.

Then he suddenly bounced the ball and stepped back inside the Paint.

Karl Malone's eyes lit up from the bench.

He had to admit...

The kid really did have a bit of Larry Bird in him.

However...

The next moment...

Li Fei snatched Van Horn's step-back jumper right out of the air.