bookbashuk Chapter 56 Villain vs. Flea
Chapter 56 Villain vs. Flea
Knicks training facility.
The training facility was unusually lively today because All-Star Weekend is fast approaching.
General Manager Donnie Walsh walked into the locker room with a radiant face, holding a black envelope with gold lettering in his hand.
"Gentlemen! Please be quiet!"
Walsh clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Given Guy's withdrawal due to injury, and that unforgettable game a few days ago... President David Stern has just sent a formal invitation."
He handed the envelope to Li Xiangbei.
"Li, congratulations. You have been officially invited to participate in the 2009 Phoenix All-Star Slam Dunk Contest."
Cheers and whistles erupted in the locker room.
Randolph led the applause: "Boss! Show the world your tomahawk dunk! Take the basket!"
However, amidst this jubilation, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
"What?!"
Nate, who was sitting on the ground tying his shoelaces, felt a surge of sour jealousy.
This short man, who is only 1.75 meters tall, has an exaggerated expression on his face.
"This is unfair! This is a rigged operation!!"
Nate pointed at Li Xiangbei.
"Dude, you're just a three-point shooter! And when you do dunk, it's just a regular game dunk! Your dunks are as steady as an old man crossing the street—no passion! No creativity!"
"Dunking is my territory! I'm the 06 champion! I'm here to defend my title! You're putting me in a difficult position!"
Li Xiangbei was sitting in a chair.
He glanced at the furious Nate, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Nate."
"That's not a dunk. That's called 'throwing yourself into the basket'."
"Phoenix is a desert, Nate. There are only cacti and the sun there."
"What we need is a violent aesthetic that shines like the sun, not one that bounces around like a flea with its feet burned by sand."
"Pfft—" David Lee couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Nate was so angry that his face turned red.
"What kind of aesthetics do you know? Can you fly over Dwight Howard? Can you do a between-the-legs hand switch?"
Randolph, always eager for drama, clapped his hands and egged on, "Hey, this is getting heated! Why don't you guys have a go right now? I bet the boss will win, after all, he's got long legs."
Wilson chimed in, "I bet on Nate; small guys have explosive power."
……
Under the basket on the training court.
Two minutes later, everyone else was cleared out of the three-point line.
Only Li Xiangbei and Nate remained under the basket.
"Look! That's what a dunk looks like!"
Nate held his breath and took the ball to the three-point line.
Accelerate, sprint, and slam the ball hard onto the floor.
A bouncing ball!
Nate catches the ball in mid-air, spins 360 degrees like a top, and then slams it down with both hands!
"boom!"
Despite its small size, it has a truly powerful visual impact.
After landing, Nate roared at Li Xiangbei and even made a muscle-flexing gesture.
Li Xiangbei nodded: "That's right, if it were a circus troupe recruiting, you would definitely have been accepted."
After saying that, he picked up the ball and walked to a position one step inside the free throw line.
He didn't accelerate his run-up; he simply dribbled the ball twice and then suddenly jumped.
He caught the ball in mid-air with one hand and performed an extremely graceful, sweeping motion. Although it wasn't as difficult as Nate's 360-degree turn, the sense of suspension and the elegance of seemingly walking in the air created a completely different kind of aesthetic.
"Bang!"
One-handed dunk.
"That's called talent, Nate," Li Xiangbei clapped his hands.
Nate gritted his teeth: "That doesn't count! I'll pull out all the stops in Phoenix! If you lose, you have to buy me a Ferrari! The latest model!"
Li Xiangbei shook his finger.
"I'm not short of money, Nate. You can afford a car too."
He walked up to Nate.
"If we're going to gamble, let's gamble on something about dignity."
"What are we betting on?" Nate asked warily.
Li Xiangbei pointed to his feet, those black "Rogue Generation" shoes.
"The warm-up session before the All-Star Game."
The loser has to take the whole set of shoe-shining tools—shoe polish, towel, and brush.
"In front of tens of thousands of live audience members and hundreds of millions of live viewers worldwide."
"Give the winner a shoe that shines brighter than a mirror."
Randolph gasped, "That's too cruel! That's practically... a public execution!"
For NBA players, face is more important than anything else.
This kind of bet is even more painful than losing a million dollars.
Nate's competitive spirit was completely ignited when he saw Li Xiangbei's provocative eyes.
"Alright! Let's bet!"
Nate roared.
"make a deal."
Li Xiangbei turned to Randolph: "Zack, did you record it?"
Randolph held up his phone, grinning lewdly: "Full HD, uncensored, boss. Already sent to the group."
……
Under Armour flagship store in Times Square, New York.
It must be said that Kevin Plank is a business genius.
When he learned about the bet within the team, he immediately had the GG department create a marketing plan overnight, titled "Civil War".
The latest pornographic films are playing on a huge LED screen.
The screen was split in two.
The person on the left is Nate Robinson.
He wore a pair of fluorescent green basketball shoes—the "Krypto-Nate" colorway that Under Armour specially designed for him (as a sign of his restraint towards Howard "Superman").
The background features explosions and graffiti in an American comic book style, representing chaos, passion, and unpredictability.
Nate roared at the camera, "I can fly over Superman!"
On the right is Li Xiangbei. He is wearing those black and purple "Villain" combat boots.
The background is a cold, steel jungle and a dark Gotham City style, representing order, domination, and ruthlessness.
Li Xiangbei adjusted his wristband: "Even Superman needs a Villain."
GG typed: Choose your faction.
This video garnered over a million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours.
The fans were absolutely ecstatic.
"I'm a member of the 'Kelina' faction! Small people can fly too!"
"I'm a 'villain'! Li Xiangbei's domineering aura is so captivating!"
Under Armour's sales have surged again.
Regardless of who wins, Under Armour will be the biggest winner.
……
2009 2 Month 12 Day.
The entire Knicks team boarded a chartered plane bound for Phoenix.
Inside the cabin, Nate was wearing headphones, listening to high-energy rap while twisting his body in his seat.
Li Xiangbei sat by the window, looking at the layers of clouds outside.
He touched his knee.
With the system's support, his legs were filled with power.
The system panel slowly appeared in my mind.
[Slam Dunk Contest countdown: 48 hours.]
[Mission: The Limits of the Sky.]
[Guaranteed Upgrade Mission: Pending Initiation.]
Phoenix…
Li Xiangbei muttered to himself.
"Nate, Howard, Fernandez."
"The real show is just beginning."