The No.1 Anti-Fans in Basketball-Chapter 168 - 116: Career Night_3

After the game really began as a team, Hansen was able to find opportunities.

Especially with his enhanced physical fitness, his off-ball movement also became much more agile.

When Hansen continuously shook off his pursuers and received Conley’s pass to glide in for a layup from the side of the paint, Brown’s eyes were filled with despair.

Throughout the first half, Hansen alone took 16 shots and made 11, scoring 27 points and setting a new personal record for points in a half!

Under his leadership, the Grizzlies had extended their lead to 20 points by halftime.

The game was virtually over at that point.

Coming back for the third quarter, Hollins had stopped standing on the sidelines and instead sat back on the bench.

Clearly, with the significant lead on the scoreboard, he didn’t need to micromanage from the sidelines anymore.

At this time, the Grizzlies players were consciously setting up plays for Hansen.

Players aren’t machines; tonight, Hansen’s form and his crucial few minutes that stabilized the game were clearer to them than to anyone else.

Especially among the starters, Johnson had no scoring ability; neither Conley nor Little Gasol were obsessed with stats, and the only one who did care—Guy—had also been won over by Hansen.

During this quarter, Hansen scored another 16 points alone and broke the record for the highest points scored in a single quarter, pushing his total to 43 points, securing his first 40+ point game.

By the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers were trailing the Grizzlies by a full 26 points.

The game was truly devoid of suspense by now. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

During the final quarter break, Joerger approached Hansen to ask if he wanted to start the fourth quarter and play a little more.

Clearly, the coaching staff was asking if he wanted to pad his stats a bit more.

After all, Hansen scoring more than 40+ was already the highlight of his career.

If he could push that score a bit higher, to say 50+, it would make for even better publicity.

Hansen shook his head.

If the opponent were the Heat, and it had been garbage time like this, he wouldn’t mind going back out there to play, as that could spur LeBron fans to give him benefits of doubt.

But tonight, this road game felt fake as if it were staged.

That meant little to him.

However, Hansen wasn’t just sitting idle off the court, as he noticed Conningham was on the floor.

After watching for a while, he discovered that Conningham had developed a long two-point shot after taking a step back from the three-point line.

This little move significantly complicated defending against him.

Although he was no longer in Cleveland, this kid really hadn’t slacked off.

Then, Hansen also "incidentally" noticed Thabeet’s performance on the floor.

That guy... was somewhat an eyesore.

He looked big, but his actual physical confrontation was so poor that even a bump from Carroll could send him reeling.

A big man without physicality could never hold his ground in the NBA.

With just over five minutes left in the game, the point difference was still 30+.

At that moment, when the camera returned to Grant, someone in the audience started chanting uniformly,

"Who is your daddy!"

Those familiar words—who could resist them?!

Even Hansen couldn’t keep composure.

You could at least leave some dignity for the management.

Even just a little.

After that chant, Grant, who had been trying to hold on, ultimately couldn’t sit still and left his seat early.

This place was impossible to stay in.

Nevertheless, the shot of him rising to leave was bound to become a classic photo for the Cavaliers’ season.

After the game ended, the players from both teams went through the final handshakes.

The new recruits of the Cavaliers looked somewhat dejected, as they definitely would not wish to experience another night like this.

On the other hand, the old players such as Conningham, while shaking hands with Hansen, were all smiles and talks.

Since the Cavaliers had started the season this poorly, aiming for a tank, they had limited things they could do.

Instead, watching Hansen have the game of his life, they felt happy for him.

After the game, Hansen attended the post-game press conference.

A considerable number of reporters arrived, many of them local.

The events of tonight were too incredible, and the topics were completely engaging.

"Hansen, tonight you scored 43 points, a new career-high. What does that mean to you?"

Does it mean it’s my career night?

"I’m really grateful for my teammates, their support tonight was my biggest motivation, and I’m also thankful to the coaching staff for their trust, and of course, I want to thank the fans here tonight, that meant a lot to me."

Hansen’s response was unusually normal.

"Did you expect something like this to happen tonight?" the reporter probed further.

"I didn’t expect it, really didn’t," Although he had a hunch from the airport that tonight would be different, with all the shouting and even the final cry of "Who is your daddy," it was beyond his expectations.

"This experience is touching and something that I will always remember. Fans are like that; they are the most genuine and adorable people." Hansen spoke sincerely.

The Cavaliers’ management is terrible, but the Cleveland fans are great.

However, it was this contradiction that had created such a unique scene tonight.

"Does tonight’s performance have something to do with the Cavs trading you?" the next reporter’s question hit home.

"Yes, before the game, my desire to play was very strong, I wanted to prove something by my performance," Hansen didn’t disguise,

"But now, being able to give a performance like this for the fans here, I think that’s even more meaningful."

"We all know you and LeBron once played for the Cavaliers, does your growth now have to do with those experiences?" this was from an ESPN reporter.

"Next question."

...

After the press conference ended, Hansen returned to the locker room to get ready for a shower.

Conley was still there and directly approached him as he entered: "Zack..."

It seemed Conley was preparing to talk about something regarding Durant tonight.

"Mike, I’ve got something on tonight."

Hansen didn’t respond to Conley’s remark and started to take off his jersey to shower.

He really wasn’t in the mood to deal with anything about Durant at the moment because Swift was still waiting for him.

The game on the court was over, but there was another intense game waiting for him tonight.

He must thank his old Cavaliers teammates for letting him rest during the fourth quarter—he felt incredibly energized now.