Chapter 465: What Right Do You Have to Criticize Him?
109 to 83.
The Suns blew out the Knicks on the road, but nobody cared about the final score. The only thing anyone wanted to know was whether Chen Yan was hurt.
His fall had been violent, and he had been taken off on a stretcher. Fans were terrified it was a spinal injury.
At the post game press conference, Mike D'Antoni did not hold back.
"That was a dangerous play," he said. "Nate Robinson should be suspended."
A reporter pressed the obvious question. "How is Chen Yan? That's what everyone wants to know."
"I don't know yet," D'Antoni replied. "He's still being examined."
Even Steve Nash, normally calm to the point of irritating opponents, could not keep his temper.
"That was emotional," Nash said, jaw tight. "He was trying to take Chen out."
Nate Robinson tried to play innocent in his own interview, insisting it was not intentional. The public was not blind. The replays told the story, and the criticism online nearly drowned him.
…
After the media session, D'Antoni went straight to check on his star.
When he arrived, he froze.
Chen Yan was sitting there talking with team doctor Thomas Carter like nothing had happened.
"Chen," D'Antoni asked, still tense, "are you okay?"
"Everything's normal," Chen Yan said with a relaxed smile. "If Thomas didn't stop me, I would've gone back in."
D'Antoni exhaled and shook his head. "Your body is ridiculous."
Thomas Carter cut in, still cautious. "Don't celebrate yet. The X ray shows no structural damage, but we're doing an MRI tomorrow."
The worry was still in his eyes.
…
That night, Chen Yan's phone became a hotline.
Friends called one after another, checking if the rumors were real.
Durant called 8 times in a row before he finally got through.
"Chen," Durant said, voice tight, "are you okay? I saw the news. Why wasn't anyone answering?"
"KD, I'm fine," Chen Yan replied. "I was getting checked and I didn't have my phone."
"You sure?" Durant asked. "I saw you get wheeled off."
"It was a hard fall," Chen Yan said, still calm. "But I'm fine now."
Durant cursed under his breath. "That damn Nate. If I get a chance, I'm elbowing him."
Chen Yan laughed. "KD, since when do you elbow people?"
"No choice. I've been watching a lot of Kobe highlights," Durant said, then added, "and yours too."
Once he knew Chen Yan was okay, Durant's tone loosened.
"Don't worry," Chen Yan told him. "You'll see me again in a few days."
"Good," Durant said. "Rest these next 2 days."
…
After that call ended, Kobe called.
Their relationship was always complicated, rivalry mixed with respect. Kobe offered to connect Chen Yan with the best specialists if he needed them.
Chen Yan thanked him sincerely. The gesture meant something, even if he doubted he would need it.
Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, and Sun Dasheng checked in too.
Taylor Swift called as well.
She sounded like she was about to cry. She had not watched the game and only heard about the injury from a friend. Chen Yan ended up comforting her while laughing, like she was the one who had taken the fall.
After that, he called home.
He knew his parents would be terrified.
…
Meanwhile, the media went completely feral.
"Serious Injury! Chen Yan Could Miss the Rest of the Regular Season!"
"Suns Win the Game, but Lose the War!"
"Chen Yan Returns to Phoenix Overnight, Situation Not Optimistic!"
"Falling Star, This Fall Could Change His Career!"
"Spinal Injury? Career Ending Risk!"
Chen Yan had disappeared into the tunnel and no one could reach him. The team flying back to Phoenix right after the X ray only made the mystery worse. Many outlets assumed the injury was so severe that he refused interviews.
The next day, Chen Yan went to a local rehab center in Phoenix for more tests. Reporters swarmed the building until the entrance became almost impassable.
Inside, Thomas Carter stayed with him the entire time. D'Antoni showed up too, unable to hide how much he cared.
Hours later, the results finally came in.
Thomas Carter stared at the report, frowned, and shook his head.
"No way."
D'Antoni's heart dropped instantly. "What is it? How bad is it?"
Thomas looked again, then slowly exhaled.
"His health is excellent," he said. "No muscle damage. No overuse issues. Nothing."
Chen Yan smiled. "I told you. I'm fine. I know my body better than anyone."
D'Antoni's face broke into relief, like someone had cut a rope off his neck.
He patted Chen Yan's shoulder hard. "You're an iron man."
In the NBA, durability was a talent too. The league was full of players with insane gifts who lived injured, stuck in the world of what could have been.
Thomas Carter stayed meticulous. "I still recommend he rests for 1 game, then we monitor him."
D'Antoni nodded and turned to Chen Yan. "You're sitting the next one."
"No problem," Chen Yan said easily. "I'll follow the plan."
He had his own reason to accept it. The system had already told him to avoid intense activity for 3 days.
…
Outside the rehab center, dozens of reporters waited, cameras loaded.
When Chen Yan finally walked out, microphones rushed toward his face.
He spoke calmly into the chaos. "I feel great. I'm ready to play anytime. A small thing like this won't beat me."
But 1 day later, he did not play against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Suns lost 81 to 96. The whole team went ice cold. Only Stoudemire and Azubuike reached double figures.
Fans missed Chen Yan immediately, and the media pounced again.
If he was really fine, why did he sit?
Speculation returned overnight.
…
On January 25th, Chen Yan shut it down himself.
He started against the Atlanta Hawks.
Before tipoff, an ESPN reporter asked bluntly, "Chen, are you playing hurt tonight?"
"I'm 100%," Chen Yan answered without hesitation.
"100%?" the reporter repeated. "That fall looked bad. Fans are worried."
"100%," Chen Yan said again. "I'll talk on the court."
He did exactly that.
Chen Yan scored 15 points in the 1st quarter and finished with 38 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, leading the Suns to a road win.
A near triple double, and every rumor collapsed under the weight of live footage. His burst, his speed in transition, the height on his jumper, it all looked the same.
Anyone watching knew the truth.
He was fine.
…
When the league saw Chen Yan healthy, David Stern quietly breathed easier.
If Chen Yan had missed the season, or suffered a long term injury, Stern would have wanted Nate Robinson's head on a spike.
This season, the league had invested heavily in promoting Chen Yan. Plans were already in motion to expand deeper into the Chinese and broader Asian markets, including a marquee event: the Suns vs. Rockets New Year game on January 26th.
Chinese New Year was a massive cultural moment, and Stern would never waste it. He scheduled a matchup featuring 2 Asian stars on that day.
Fans loved the idea.
In the past, families watched the Spring Festival Gala together. Now they could watch the NBA together too. Even people who normally did not care about basketball would tune in because of the connection.
And with Chen Yan cleared to play as scheduled, many fans said the same thing.
He was overseas chasing his dream, he could not even go home for the New Year.
So what right did anyone have to criticize him?