The Best Point Guard

Su Xi was also giving Yi Jianlian this kind of direct, personal instruction.

He brought a completely new style of coaching.

Highly practical, advanced skills.

After all, Su Xi was the man who had conquered the NBA. If they could just learn a fraction of what he knew, it would be like having the Midas touch.

They were all highly talented Asian players. If their game sense could just catch up, they would definitely have a chance to make their mark in the NBA.

After switching sides, Yi Jianlian took on Nowitzki one-on-one.

Su Xi had told him to be more aggressive with his moves, to dare to use fakes, to not be so rigid—to be more fluid.

Yi Jianlian took one step on his drive, then pulled up, pump-faked, and released his shot!

CLANG!

The shot missed, but Su Xi crashed the boards and tipped it in with one hand.

Su Xi praised Yi Jianlian, commending him for having the confidence to use a fake.

He realized Yi Jianlian was a very straightforward person, and you couldn't be too straightforward on the court.

To use an imperfect analogy, he was like an honest player in a poker game. He never bluffed. He'd just look at his cards right away. If he had a good hand, he'd win. But if his hand was bad, he'd be the one losing—and he'd lose quietly, without any sense of participation, without making any impact at all.

In any card game, you have to be willing to bet, to play mind games. You can only control the game and win chips when your opponents can't tell if you're bluffing or not.

Being too predictable just wouldn't work.

The game continued.

Su Xi was essentially coaching on the court, and surprisingly, the Chinese Team hadn't fallen far behind.

At the end of the first quarter, the Chinese Team trailed by 3 points.

Then, as the second quarter began, everyone expected the Chinese Team to bring in their starters, like Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi.

But they didn't.

Instead, Cheng Jianghua was swapped out for another rookie, Liu Xiaoyu, who was also under 17.

Su Xi was really giving the young guys a chance, personally escorting them through the fire.

The German Team played fiercely, but under Su Xi's leadership, the Chinese Team grew increasingly resilient. Though they still trailed in the second quarter, their morale was clearly rising.

A brutal game like this, a final like this, was without a doubt a huge opportunity for growth for the players, both technically and mentally.

During the halftime break, the CCTV commentator said, "At first, I didn't understand why Su Xi was doing this—why he would take such a gamble in the finals. The World Championship gold medal is on the line, the highest honor."

"But now I get it. This is what Su Xi meant when he said he was preparing for the Olympics. He wants to develop these young players; he wants them to grow by fire in the most brutal competition."

"At this moment, I feel I understand what a true God of Basketball is. This is it."

"The God of Basketball isn't someone who leads a group of powerful, mature teammates through a cakewalk. It's someone who helps young, mistake-prone players grow and become stronger."

"Watching Liu Xiaoyu, Cheng Jianghua, and Yi Jianlian adapt to the pace of the game—becoming more composed, more relaxed—I know that Su Xi has once again chosen the right path."

"I'm truly grateful that we have such a trailblazer for our country's basketball. I believe that under his leadership, the Chinese Men's Basketball Team will only get better and better."

"Without him, we might have faced a talent gap after Yao Ming's retirement, perhaps even falling from our pedestal in Asia. But now, with Yao Ming sitting on the bench, I'm not the least bit worried."

"Moreover, Su Xi has launched extensive grassroots basketball programs in China. He's not just bringing basketball courts to rural villages; he's also sending grassroots coaches to the United States for training, and he's cultivated numerous nutritionists and conditioning specialists... He is fundamentally changing the DNA of Chinese men's basketball. It's a truly great and remarkable undertaking."

"I believe that superstars will continuously emerge for the Chinese Men's Basketball Team. We will absolutely see a wave of players with superb technical and tactical skills. They may never reach Su Xi's level, but they will form the backbone of the Chinese Men's Basketball Team's future!"

"I firmly believe that day will come!"

The CCTV commentator was being dramatic, but his words struck a powerful chord across the nation.

It was true; basketball in China had been booming over the past year or two. Su Xi had introduced sound basketball philosophies, and he had also arranged with his many brand partners to sponsor domestic middle school, high school, and college basketball leagues.

With a constant stream of funding, an increasing emphasis on the sport, and more scientific training methods...

...it was only natural that the youth development pipeline would become more and more successful.

Furthermore, domestic clubs were becoming more willing to invest capital. Just this past summer, both Marbury and Tony Battie had arrived.

This kind of exchange was bound to lead to positive developments.

BZZT!

The whistle blew, signaling the start of the second half.

The Chinese Team still didn't send in Yao Ming, but Wang Zhizhi took the court.

Wang Zhizhi had always harbored a nagging thought: if he had just gone to the NBA two years earlier, maybe there would've been no room for Nowitzki. He believed his own skills were no worse than the German's.

But Su Xi had told him that even if he had gone three years earlier, he still couldn't have replaced Nowitzki.

Because while Wang Zhizhi's talent was exceptional for an Asian player, and his skills were top-tier, his innate gifts just couldn't compare to Nowitzki's. Nowitzki might have looked average in terms of running and jumping, but in truth, his balance, shooting touch, and feel for the game... these were all at an all-time-great level.

On top of that, his physical conditioning was better than Wang Zhizhi's, as were his offensive skills.

So, the whole comparison was a non-starter.

That said, if Wang Zhizhi had gone to the NBA three years earlier, his defense and conditioning would have improved. He could certainly have played at an elite level in the NBA, but getting beyond that... would have been tough.

Wang Zhizhi had left the NBA of his own accord. The truth was, he could still get a contract there if he wanted one.

After he came on, Su Xi gave him two one-on-one opportunities, and he sank them both.

His touch was hot, and he helped the Chinese Team close the gap.

Furthermore, with him on the court, Su Xi picked up the offensive pace and started to run and gun.

With Su Xi controlling the ball, the full might of the Chinese Team's offense was unleashed.

The German Team's slight lead quickly evaporated.

And the Chinese Team began to build a lead of their own.

By the end of the third quarter, the Chinese Team was up by 3.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Su Xi led the three-point shooters on another rampage.

With a 10-point lead, the Chinese Team finally brought in Yao Ming.

Yao Ming said with a laugh, "So I'm the team mascot now."

Su Xi replied, "With your size, you bring a whole lot of luck."

Su Xi even put on a Beijing accent, imitating their team leader.

It sent the entire bench roaring with laughter.

Yao Ming's appearance on the court crushed any lingering hope for the German Team, and the lead widened even further.

The CCTV commentator was already celebrating the victory. Back in China, fireworks were being lit in many places, and countless fans were excitedly slamming their tables.

You could say the entire basketball community was ecstatic.

With two minutes left, the German Team pulled their starters, effectively declaring garbage time.

Su Xi left the court with a stat line of 21 points, 15 assists, 15 rebounds, 6 steals, and 3 blocks.

He would, without a doubt, be named the World Championship's Most Valuable Player.

Even after leaving the court, Su Xi wasn't idle. He and Yi Jianlian suddenly hoisted Isaiah Thomas up and unceremoniously stuffed him into the large drink cooler.

Isaiah Thomas yelped in surprise.

But the entire arena erupted in laughter.

The atmosphere was joyous.

BZZZT!

As the final buzzer sounded.

The Chinese Team were champions once again. They stood atop the highest podium, gold medals around their necks.

Su Xi had once again completed his duty for the national team, brilliantly and flawlessly.

Moments later, Su Xi was lifted up by Yi Jianlian and the others and tossed into the air.

It was a display of everyone's affection for Su Xi.

And just as Su Xi landed, Isaiah Thomas clambered out of the cooler, picked it up, and dumped its contents all over Su Xi's head.

The celebratory mood was infectious.

Nowitzki watched from afar, a dazed look on his face.

'Why does this feel so much like the NBA Finals?'

'Why is it Isaiah and Su Xi celebrating again?'

'Is it possible that I can't really beat them?!'

...

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