"My popularity's still way too high, Kevin."
Hearing the cheers from the fans, Barkley knew he'd been recognized again.
With a helpless look, Barkley said to Kevin Johnson beside him, "I've got sunglasses and a mask on, and I'm bundled up from head to toe. How can they still recognize me at a glance? Is this what they call charisma?"
Kevin Johnson beside him nearly burst out laughing.
What charisma? You've got none!
It's that unmistakable butt of yours.
You could spot it even on a pitch-black night.
You saw his rear before you saw his face.
Last season, the Phoenix Suns made it to the NBA Finals, where they pushed Michael Jordan into the best form of his life, averaging 41 points per game. The hard-nosed Piggy Man had completely won over the basketball fans of Phoenix, becoming the city's new king.
For the title-starved Suns, Flying Pig was already the greatest player in franchise history.
Of course.
Kevin Johnson's performance was nothing to scoff at, either.
It was no exaggeration to say that Kevin Johnson was one of the most underrated second options of the '90s.
Nearly every season, he consistently put up around 20 points and 10 assists.
He'd never had a bad postseason, and had even outperformed his regular-season form several times.
So when the two arrived at the game, the fans applauded them without holding back.
As soon as they took their seats, reporters hurried over to interview them.
"Heh, even you know me better than Charles does."
As a former UC Berkeley player, Kevin Johnson was the reporter's first interview.
"Even Charles doesn't know I played for UC Berkeley. He only knows that I played for California in college."
After teasing Barkley, Kevin Johnson nodded without hesitation. "That's right. I have no reason not to support UC Berkeley."
"I agree with Mr. Wilt. Superstars can take care of everything in big games."
Last season, Kevin Johnson had endured six grueling games against Michael Jordan.
He'd truly come to believe it.
Superstars really could take care of everything.
And Li Fei had an ace supporting him, to boot.
Even Jason Kidd, an old one-and-a-half star.
It was no exaggeration.
When Kevin Johnson looked at Jason Kidd, it was like looking at himself.
Their playing styles weren't exactly identical, but they were pretty darn close.
"Kevin's supporting Li Fei because he's his junior from the same school."
Beside him, Flying Pig unexpectedly took the opposing side.
"I believe Arkansas will pull off an upset against UC Berkeley!"
"Let's wait and see!"
After watching the reporters leave, Barkley turned to Kevin Johnson and quietly asked, "If you get the chance later, ask your junior Li Fei for his number."
Kevin Johnson laughed out loud.
After working with Barkley for so many years, he knew not only what was going through that pig's head, but even what the Flying Pig had eaten for lunch just by the sound of his farts.
Barkley had long since seen Li Fei as the team's future center.
But after so many years in the NBA, he knew how deep the waters ran here. Just like a 35-year-old baby, they were very deep.
There was nothing strange about Kevin Johnson supporting Li Fei.
But if Barkley supported Li Fei at a time like this...
His intentions would be a little too obvious.
The whole NBA would start to suspect that the Suns had made Li Fei their target.
And that would make it much harder for the Suns to pursue him!
Of course, it was all just Flying Pig's smokescreen.
As they were talking,
the game began.
The teams lined up for the opening tip.
By now, the Phoenix fans had excitement written all over their faces.
"The entire crowd has been waiting for this moment."
TNT commentator Kevin Harlan rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Even in the NBA, we've never seen a player go straight from the tip to an alley-oop dunk."
Even for these fans who watched NBA games all the time,
an alley-oop right after the opening tip was still something fresh.
On the court,
Li Fei easily beat the 2.08-meter-tall Dwight Stewart in the jump ball.
The next moment, Li Fei took off toward the basket.
But—
To the disappointment of the Phoenix fans, it looked like there wouldn't be a chance for an alley-oop this time.
Arkansas's center hadn't even jumped. As soon as the referee tossed the ball up, he turned and ran back on defense.
"Arkansas is getting back on defense incredibly quickly. They've even given up on the jump ball. It looks like they came very well prepared for this game!"
"Oh, wait—what just happened? Even with every player back on defense, Jason Kidd's cannonball pass is still heading into the Paint!"
Just as the commentators began to lose interest,
an orange basketball sailed across half the court and toward the Paint.
Trying an alley-oop when there's no chance for one is like trying to keep going when you've already run dry.
Why?
Because—
Even though Arkansas's two big men had raced back on defense,
they still weren't tall enough.
Li Fei took off from the free-throw line, almost stepping on it as he launched himself into the air.
With his shoulders level with the rim, he stretched out his right arm, spread his fingers, and controlled the ball. Then, with an air of absolute, disdainful dominance, he slammed it straight through the hoop.
"Stop him!"
Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson rushed onto the court and shouted, "Even if you have to foul him, stop him!"
Like the players on the court,
Coach Richardson thought the alley-oop off the jump ball had fallen apart.
But the moment he let his guard down, Li Fei took off from the free-throw line and flew.
If Li Fei made this dunk, the crowd would go wild.
On the court,
Dwight Stewart and Williamson were playing all-out defense.
One hurled himself at Li Fei head-on.
The other charged into him from the side.
In a dangerous situation like that, one wrong move could land you on a stretcher.
Most people would have tried to avoid it.
Even O'Neal would have thought twice about facing a double-team like this.
But Li Fei, whose muscles didn't even look particularly bulky, didn't hesitate for a second.
As if!
Even hesitating for a second would be disrespectful to his Titanium Physique and Permanent Invulnerability Buff.
"Bang!"
Li Fei gripped the ball in his right hand. The two defenders fouled him at the same time, but he still managed to slam it through the hoop.
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The baseline referee blew his whistle the instant Li Fei dunked. He'd get one free throw.
Li Fei hit the floor, then immediately got back up.
As far as the eye could see,
he didn't have a scratch on him.
"Oh! My! God!"
"What just happened? I can't believe my eyes, ladies and gentlemen!"
"Even though the defense was already set, Li Fei still completed the alley-oop off the jump ball and dunked over the defender—and drew a foul in the process!"
Kevin Harlan was stunned at the TNT broadcast table.
"That could be upgraded to a flagrant foul. Everyone knows how dangerous that play was, but Li Fei didn't back down at all."
"That's right, Kevin."
Doc Rivers nodded beside him. "The referees are reviewing the replay to decide whether to upgrade the foul."
"The most important thing is that Li Fei wasn't hurt at all. His play is unbelievably tough!"
"Li Fei's play has a reckless, life-or-death kind of beauty."
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