The Best Point Guard-Chapter 49 - 47: TJ Ford, Step Up Your Game

"You’re incredibly explosive. You almost made me hit the floor."

Su Xi walked over and told TJ Ford with complete sincerity, "You’re the most explosive person I’ve ever seen."

Su Xi was being completely sincere.

In return, however, TJ Ford’s face filled with rage. He glared at Su Xi, his tone venomous. "It’s just one play. Don’t get cocky. I’ll make you pay."

’Make me pay?’

’What kind of price?’

’Is he going to keep trying to drop me with that insane explosiveness?’

As Su Xi thought about the explosive power bursting from TJ Ford’s lightning-fast engine, he felt a thrill of anticipation. He hoped TJ Ford would keep his word. "Mhm. Okay."

Su Xi nodded, his simple response driving TJ Ford to the brink of madness.

TJ Ford instantly lost his composure, audibly grinding his back teeth.

He’d never met anyone so arrogant, so conceited, so utterly defiant. He swore he would make this person pay dearly.

At that moment, the national broadcast and the jumbotron overhead replayed the entire sequence of Su Xi’s steal. The crowd watched as Little Sheep Su Xi dove, his entire body lunging for the ball. He recklessly abandoned all self-preservation, stretching out his hand for the steal and catching himself with a palm on the floor at the last second. The Super Dome Arena erupted. Everyone was stunned. ’You can play defense like that?’

This wasn’t basketball, this was rhythmic gymnastics.

"How is his core so flexible? No, his whole body seems soft, like he’s made of rubber!" Chatford, a draft expert renowned for his sharp and accurate eye for talent, shrieked on the broadcast. His praise had changed the fates of rookies before. "That’s practically a ballet move! It’s like an acrobat on a unicycle tossing bowls onto his head!"

"Those guys from China are all freaks of nature."

Chatford’s evaluation resonated with the fans watching at home. Many NBA team staff members were also amazed.

For Su Xi’s flexibility to reach this level, in the eyes of professionals, meant that his body could perform more incredible technical moves, and his risk of injury would drop drastically. In a high-intensity game, the more flexible you are, the less likely you are to get injured.

TJ Ford brought the ball up the court again, aggressively looking to take on Su Xi one-on-one.

He tangled with Su Xi at the top of the arc, his crossovers still quick and sharp—this time, even more sudden than the last.

His moves sliced through Su Xi’s center of gravity, leaving him rocking unsteadily.

But Su Xi had a smile on his face.

Because his Super Explosiveness talent was fusing again.

TJ Ford unleashed a series of incredibly wide crossovers. The combo was a dead ringer for Allen Iverson’s first matchup against Jordan.

His moves made the fans in the arena shout in excitement.

Iverson subconsciously rose to his feet.

He didn’t think Su Xi could stop Ford this time. But something was strange. Even though Su Xi was clearly off-balance, rocking from side to side, he still had a smile on his face. ’Is he a masochist?’

Because TJ Ford was going all out, his explosive power completely erupting.

This triggered Su Xi’s own explosive power to accelerate its fusion. It was a testament to Su Xi’s mental fortitude that he wasn’t laughing out loud.

When TJ’s fifth consecutive, violent, wide crossover came, the screams in the arena grew frantic.

This was a reenactment of Iverson shaking Jordan.

Even Jordan couldn’t stop Iverson.

Could Su Xi stop him?

TJ Ford saw his chance and suddenly drove forward a step. Su Xi subconsciously retreated.

Just then, TJ Ford screeched to a halt and executed a step-back, his feet jerking violently backward.

Then he quickly rose up for the shot. His release was a fraction slower, and his vertical wasn’t what a young Iverson’s was.

Neither was his height.

But the combo was executed in one smooth motion.

Everyone thought this would become a classic NCAA moment.

But no one, including TJ Ford, could have guessed what would happen next.

At that exact moment, Su Xi’s Super Explosiveness talent fusion percentage skyrocketed to 90%, reaching the top tier. And because it was a ’Super’ talent, it was even better than a normal top-tier one.

The instant TJ Ford left his feet, Su Xi exploded forward. He extended his astonishingly long arms and jumped... even though his vertical wasn’t that impressive.

But Su Xi’s standing reach was 261 centimeters, higher than that of most big men.

THWAP!

Just as TJ Ford’s seemingly guaranteed shot left his hands, it was snatched directly out of the air by Su Xi’s huge palm.

Like a suction cup.

The roaring cheers of the entire arena paused for an instant, then erupted with even greater intensity.

This was indeed a classic NCAA highlight, just not the one anyone expected. The roles had been instantly reversed.

Allen Iverson clutched his head on the sideline. He had been all set to celebrate Ford’s play.

’He actually caught it?’

’How did Little Sheep Su Xi close that distance so fast? His explosiveness seemed to have suddenly surged.’

’And he actually snatched the shot right out of the air... Just how strong are his hands?’

LeBron James couldn’t believe his eyes either. He’d been certain that TJ Ford had made a fool of Su Xi and was already preparing to boost his team’s morale. He’d been about to shout, ’It’s alright, Jack! Keep your head up! You’re the best!’

But now, Su Xi had actually snatched the ball out of the air.

The Super Dome Arena was absolutely electric.

"Too flashy."

Su Xi tossed out the remark and quickly pushed the ball up the court.

"TJ Ford is no Iverson, but Little Sheep Su Xi is doing his best Jordan impression with that one-handed catch-block!!!"

The draft expert shrieked on TV, his excitement hitting a fever pitch and igniting the passion of the viewers at home. "I can say with certainty that Little Sheep Su Xi is a lottery-level talent! He’s still being underestimated! The explosiveness he just displayed on that defensive play is NBA-elite, and his hands are just phenomenal! To be able to snatch a shot right out of the air! I’m telling you, folks, that’s not just about having big hands. It requires incredible strength and dexterity. Why can’t you ever grab a doll from a claw machine? Because you lack the strength and control!"

SWISH!

At the three-point line, Carmeron Anthony caught a no-look pass from Su Xi and easily sank the three.

Two possessions to start the game.

5-0.

The Super Dome Arena was completely fired up. The moment of Su Xi’s catch-block was replayed over and over.

SU!

SU!

SU!

A unified chant echoed through the arena.

Before the game, TJ Ford said he didn’t know any "Little Sheep Su Xi." He ought to be well-acquainted by now.

The kind of acquainted where you get fried on both sides.

Stripped on one play, blocked on the next.

This was, by far, the worst start to a game the prodigious TJ Ford had ever had.

Lying in his hospital bed, McNamara was flailing his limbs in excitement, feeling an intense rush of vicarious revenge. He was so ecstatic he felt like he could crush his own nuts!

’That’s insane! Jack! I knew you’d take care of TJ for me!’

’TJ, who would’ve thought you’d have a day like this! I was just embarrassed in a scrimmage, who cares? Three thousand people saw it, tops. But you? You’re getting embarrassed in the Final Four of the national championship, in front of at least thirty million viewers!’

HAHAHAHA.

McNamara slapped his thigh in excitement. At this moment, he even felt that he wouldn’t be angry even if Little Sheep Su Xi had both Lucy Huang and Jessica Alba at the same time.

’The strong deserve to have it all.’

In front of his TV, Larry Bird let out a groan. ’Jack, oh Jack, how many more surprises do you have up your sleeve? You’re shining so bright now, but where am I supposed to find a draft pick high enough to get you?’

The more insanely Su Xi played, the more damn nervous Larry Bird got.

At first, he thought the 40th pick would be a sure thing. Then he adjusted to the 30th. After that, he steeled himself and aimed for a top-20 pick.

’Now, with Jack playing like this... he might even be a lottery pick.’

’After all, TJ Ford is a lottery-level talent himself. By dominating him like this, isn’t Jack just using him as a stepping stone?’

’I hope Jack tones it down a bit from here on out... and for God’s sake, would TJ Ford please put up a fight?’

Larry Bird couldn’t help but root for TJ Ford, which felt somewhat absurd.

Kobe Bryant was also watching the game, along with Shaquille O’Neal and other teammates. They were on the team bus, about to head to Sacramento.

Surrounded by his teammates, Shaquille O’Neal was shouting, "You see that? I’m telling you, I’m high on this kid! I went to see him play live. He’s a point guard version of The Shark!"

"TJ Ford’s shaking and baking is useless, all flash and no substance. True dominance is about laying down the hammer. Just like me, dunking in the paint! I love this kid."

"Hey, Phil, bring him to the Lakers."

O’Neal yelled in his gruff voice.

Phil Jackson looked a bit awkward. He instinctively glanced over at Kobe.

Kobe was sitting by himself in the back, head bowed, lost in thought.

Sigh.

Phil Jackson sighed. A thought suddenly struck him: ’Maybe we really should find a player that both Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe can like. Someone to act as a bridge between them.’

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