The Best Point Guard-Chapter 39 - 37: Let’s Make Him the Lottery Pick

"I’m going to destroy you, Little Sheep Su Xi."

Daniels said in a bizarre tone.

Su Xi nodded. "Okay."

His face was full of eager anticipation.

This took Daniels by surprise. He’d never encountered an opponent like this. He was a huge fan of China; he loved Bruce Lee and had seen countless kung fu movies. ’Is this what they call "persuading with virtue" in Chinese culture?’ he wondered.

He became cautious. Every kung fu movie he’d ever seen told him that people who were good at "persuading with virtue" were also incredible fighters.

If he had attacked decisively, Su Xi might not have been able to stop him. Daniels’s physical attributes and technical skills were all outstanding. At the NCAA level, he was a superstar.

But when he settled into his position, ready to try some skilled moves on Su Xi...

Su Xi was delighted.

Compared to Daniels, Su Xi wasn’t just several levels more handsome—he was also stronger. His explosive power was a little better, too... though they were more or less on par.

However, Daniels’s flexibility was excellent, and his body was very coordinated. His rating was 89%, meaning he had nearly 90% of Jessica Alba’s flexibility. Although there’s a qualitative difference between 89% and 90%, for a man—let alone a tall basketball player—to have that kind of flexibility was outstanding.

He performed two pump fakes in front of Su Xi, his body twisting into a bizarre posture. Defenders were often fooled by it.

Su Xi was thrilled. The more flamboyantly Daniels twisted, the more actively his Super Flexibility Talent was triggered.

After Daniels dodged and weaved in front of him for five seconds, Su Xi’s Super Flexibility Talent rose from 76% to 77%.

At the same time, Daniels finally made a real move. He executed a quick crossover, immediately followed by a shot fake... but Su Xi didn’t fall for it at all. Instead, he pressed closer. Su Xi’s defensive philosophy was to counter a myriad of changes by remaining unchanged.

Shock was written all over Daniels’s ugly face. ’Damn it, he really *is* "persuading with virtue"! How is he so strong?’

He quickly gathered the ball and turned, just as he was about to make a stealthy pass.

Su Xi suddenly lunged from the side, his long arm reaching right into Daniels’s grasp to snatch the ball, yanking it down hard. Daniels couldn’t withstand the freakish strength. His center of gravity was thrown off, and Su Xi naturally ripped the ball away.

Daniels froze, staring at the referee. He looked like a bullied kindergartener: weak, pitiful, and helpless.

"What Little Sheep Su Xi? This is a ravenous Wolf Jack!"

James Dolan yelled excitedly from his seat. He then watched as Su Xi passed the ball to Carmeron Anthony. Anthony drove into the paint and threw down a beautiful 360-degree spinning dunk.

Syracuse University took the lead.

More than half the people in Madison Square Garden Arena were shouting, "MOP! MOP! MOP!"

Although the Final Four hadn’t even started, the New York fans were already eagerly crowning Carmeron Anthony.

"What do these people know about basketball?"

James Dolan grumbled resentfully, "I guarantee you, the greatest player in this arena is number 33, Little Sheep Su Xi!"

Er...

The ’brain trust’ flanking him exchanged worried glances. ’The boss is getting a little carried away,’ they thought.

But with Little Sheep Su Xi playing so well and so tough on the court right now, they couldn’t really say anything.

’Better to just stay quiet.’

’That unremarkable Little Sheep Su Xi will show his true colors sooner or later.’

They were both convinced of it.

Any insider could see the massive gap between Anthony and Su Xi. It was like the difference between a Ferrari and a tractor.

’James Dolan really doesn’t know a thing about basketball.’

They were starting to agree with the *New York Times*’s criticism of James Dolan.

The game continued.

Coach Jim Boham was incredibly excited on the sidelines. When McNamara got injured, he’d thought tonight’s game was a lost cause. He never expected Su Xi to come in and work another miracle, shutting down two of Auburn University’s stalwarts, Kilingsworth and Daniels.

Next...

As Auburn University’s point guard, Levin, brought the ball up the court, Su Xi immediately met him at the top of the arc with arms outstretched to block his path. It was because Duanni was out of defensive position.

Levin was tall, an anomaly among point guards, who often used his height mismatch to overwhelm defenders.

Some called him the Magic Johnson of the NCAA.

But his style of play was actually incredibly agile.

His Flexibility Talent was rated 91.

He wasn’t far off from a Super Flexibility Talent.

That’s why, despite being 6’5" with a high center of gravity, he could still play point guard.

He bent low, his body coiling into a shocking posture, like a cooked shrimp curled into a ball. This allowed him to build up explosive power.

He took a sudden, powerful stride forward, his body rising with the movement.

Just from that single move, Su Xi, who was defending him tightly and mirroring his every motion, absorbed two more points into his Super Flexibility Talent... reaching 80%.

At 80% Super Flexibility Talent, he had already reached a proficient level.

Su Xi immediately used his superior explosive power to keep up.

Levin spun quickly. His body was built differently from most people. His legs could still be striding forward while his torso was already completing the turn. It was as if his upper and lower body were detached: the top half twisted first, then the bottom half followed.

Many defenders found the move impossible to predict, but Su Xi stayed with him. It seemed to be a defensive instinct granted by his Super Flexibility Talent.

With his go-to move failing, Levin forced up a jump shot, but Su Xi was right there to contest it.

CLANK!

The shot clanked off the iron.

Hakeem grabbed the rebound.

He passed it to Su Xi.

Jim shouted from the sideline, "Great play!"

He never dreamed that in three straight possessions, Su Xi would shut down Auburn’s ’Big Three,’ who had been on fire just moments ago.

Their offensive rhythm was instantly shattered.

Su Xi brought the ball past half-court and ran a pick-and-roll with Hakeem. He drove in alone, pushing against Kilingsworth’s strong frame for two steps before kicking the ball back out to Hakeem.

Hakeem took an easy shot... SWISH!

He scored.

Syracuse University built on its lead.

BZZT!

Auburn University had no choice but to call a timeout. Just moments ago, they had been full of confidence, sure that victory was in their grasp.

Now, they had to figure out how to stop that monster, Su Xi. How on earth could he shut down all three of their core players?

Auburn University’s head coach couldn’t believe his eyes.

That something so surreal could actually happen.

’One guy can lock down a power forward, a tall point guard, *and* a super scorer?’

’Is this the confidence that allowed him to challenge all the top talents in the United States on national television?’

"No more discussion. Use this year’s lottery pick on him."

James Dolan slapped his thigh and stood up. "You don’t have to try to talk me out of it. The team’s a mess from listening to you guys anyway. So we might as well do it my way."

Dolan was dead set on his decision. He then got up and left Madison Square Garden Arena.

Halfway out, a bearded white man shouted at him, "Damn you, Dolan! You should sell the Knicks! The Knicks are a spiritual treasure for all of New York City!"

Dolan gave him two thumbs up, then turned to the bodyguard behind him and said, "Notify security to eject him immediately. Add him to the list of people banned from Madison Square Garden."

The bodyguard hurried off to carry out the order.

"Who the hell does he think he is, provoking me? To hell with the citizens of New York. The Knicks are mine."

James Dolan muttered under his breath.

This was, after all, the same owner who got into shouting matches via email with a lifetime Knicks Club member and then permanently banned him.

The ’brain trust’ watched from the sidelines, trembling with fear.

But they remained resolute. They had to stop the boss’s willful decision.

Using a lottery pick on Little Sheep Su Xi would become a historic laughingstock for the entire league.

The cautionary tale of Michael Jordan picking Kwame Brown was still fresh in everyone’s minds.

They absolutely refused to be the scapegoats for this.

...

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