Chapter 134: The Rookie Challenge Begins! After swatting his opponent, Chen Hao quipped: "No sleeping allowed here!"
Ben Wallace's sudden attack on Chen Hao caught many people completely by surprise.
And when they saw Chen Hao catch Ben Wallace and throw him away, everyone was utterly shocked.
Ben Wallace's weight was no joke!
And he had already charged, yet in that situation, Chen Hao easily caught him and threw him out!
This guy's strength was too terrifying!
Chen Hao actually gave Ben Wallace a bit of face; when he threw him, he didn't throw him directly to the ground, but rather towards the stands.
He wanted to let those VIP Fans in the front row experience Ben Wallace's impact, after all, they had paid a hefty price, so letting them enjoy some extra special service seemed like a reasonable thing to do.
So, when Ben Wallace crashed into the front row VIP seats, a chorus of screams instantly erupted.
These Fans quickly got up, fearing being hit by Ben Wallace.
As a result, the front row of the audience fell into chaos!
Upon seeing this, the referee rushed over, attempting to stop Chen Hao from attacking Ben Wallace again.
Unexpectedly, Chen Hao had no intention of finishing off Ben Wallace; he was already walking towards the locker room without looking back.
Ben Wallace's strength was simply too weak, and he was in the late stage of his career, so there was no need to quibble with him.
The reason Chen Hao didn't go for the kill just now was because Ben Wallace had warned him from behind when he launched his attack.
At the very least, Ben Wallace still had a little bit of martial ethics, and that was why he wasn't severely beaten by Chen Hao.
At this moment, Ben Wallace had been pulled up from the stands by the Chicago Bulls players; he had not suffered any serious injuries.
However, being thrown out directly by Chen Hao this time was not very damaging, but extremely humiliating.
Even his teammates felt that Ben Wallace was on the verge of dying from vexation!
Chicago Bulls Fans even started booing him loudly because Ben Wallace's performance was simply too disappointing for them.
Not only did he fail to knock Chen Hao down, but he was casually thrown out by Chen Hao, which was indeed a very embarrassing thing.
Ben Wallace heard the loud boos from the home Fans, his expression turned extremely ugly, and he directly shook off his teammates' support, walking towards the locker room without looking back.
The Fans on site saw his behavior and once again started cursing at him loudly.
And Pippen, upon seeing Ben Wallace treated this way, shook his head helplessly and said:
"These Fans are truly disappointing!
Ben's behavior was truly inappropriate!"
Back in the locker room, his teammates were all very surprised by Chen Hao's recent actions, believing Chen Hao's strength was simply terrifying.
Chen Hao smiled and spread his hands, saying:
"That's because I skillfully used the 'four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds' technique from Dragon Country Kung Fu.
Using inertia, I directly threw him out!
If I have a chance, I can teach you guys!"
Chen Hao's words made the Boston Celtics players incredibly excited:
"That would be truly great!
Then no one will dare to provoke us on the court anymore!"
Chen Hao smiled and shook his head, saying nothing more.
As halftime ended, the second half of the game began!
Chen Hao only symbolically played for five minutes before being substituted out.
Because the outcome of this game had already been completely decided, Chen Hao's personal score was finalized at 65 points.
Slamming 65 points in a single regular season game—this result exceeded everyone's expectations!
Moreover, he achieved this personal score in less than thirty minutes of play; if he wanted to pad his stats, it seemed he could easily break Kobe's scoring record.
Therefore, after this game, the media extensively reported on Chen Hao's performance in this game.
Especially the Boston local media, who even described Chen Hao as the contemporary God of Basketball, because he broke Jordan's scoring record at the Chicago Bulls' home court.
And at the beginning of the game, he had also disregarded Jordan's presence, not engaging in any pleasantries with him.
So, in the eyes of Boston Celtics Fans, Chen Hao should do this, because he is the God of Basketball in the hearts of Boston Fans.
Whatever he wants to do, he doesn't need anyone else's Pointing fingers (criticism).
After this game, there were three more days until the All-Star Weekend.
Therefore, an All-Star craze swept across All-America, and many Fans were eagerly anticipating the arrival of this grand event.
And Fans who liked Chen Hao were all waiting for Chen Hao to participate in the three All-Star challenge events.
In fact, besides these three challenge events, Chen Hao, as a first-year rookie, also had to first participate in a Rookie Challenge.
Their opponents were second-year rookies.
Therefore, this game also received a lot of attention.
Due to Chen Hao's excellent performance in the regular season, many Fans believed that Chen Hao could easily win the MVP in this game.
But this was only what Fans who liked Chen Haothought; those who were critical of Chen Hao believed it would be difficult for him to win the MVP in such a game.
In response, Chen Hao stated in a pre-game interview:
"For this game, my idea is to contribute a wonderful performance to the Fans.
As for the MVP, I genuinely have no intention of competing for it."
Chen Hao's words surprised many reporters; could it be that Chen Hao was really so laid-back?
But when the game truly began, they realized that what Chen Hao said was not the case at all.
The starting lineup for the first-year rookies was:
Chen Hao, Oden, Durant, Conley, A'lian.
The starting lineup for the second-year rookies was:
Bargnani, Aldridge, Roy, Gay, Millsap.
Actually, the second-year rookies' strength was truly not weak, with Roy and Gay, and Aldridge and Bargnani in the paint.
Therefore, they were determined to win this game.
Although Chen Hao had performed explosively in the regular season, this was an exhibition game, with little defense.
Both sides just needed to showcase their best offense, which meant it would be a scoring battle.
So, at the beginning of the game, the second-year rookies took the initiative!
Roy opened the scoring with a pull-up three-pointer from beyond the arc.
In return, Chen Hao, with the ball at the top of the arc, completed a high pick-and-roll with Oden, then directly threw the ball into the air!
The latter cut to the basket, jumped high, and slammed the ball forcefully into the hoop with both hands!
This Ohio State University duo reunited in the NBA!
After completing the dunk, Oden was very excited and shouted loudly at Chen Hao:
"Hey, that's it! It's so much fun playing with you!"
To Oden's shout, Chen Hao smiled and quipped:
"Ready to be fed?
I'll feed you until you puke!"
Roy, as Oden's teammate, felt an indescribable feeling in his heart when he saw Oden so happy.
So he decided to let Oden experience what true scoring was like; he quickly dribbled the ball past half-court.
It was his turn for a high pick-and-roll with Aldridge!
Aldridge, Oden, and Gay were all teammates, so they were very familiar with each other.
This time, Oden stood directly in the paint, waiting for their arrival.
Seeing that Oden didn't follow up, Roy directly used the screen to shoot a pull-up three-pointer!
Because in his opinion, Oden not following up was giving him an opportunity to shoot!
Little did he know, the moment Roy shot the pull-up three-pointer, a figure leaped up beside him!
He directly swatted Roy's three-pointer away!
The basketball quickly flew towards the frontcourt, and the one who blocked Roy was none other than Chen Hao!
As Chen Hao swatted the ball away, he also quickly sprinted towards the basketball!
Although there isn't much defense in this type of challenge game, it doesn't mean there won't be blocks!
Especially since Chen Hao was also very interested in Roy, this guy known as the Yellow Mamba, his strength was truly not to be underestimated.
Actually, with a roster like the Portland Trail Blazers, it would be very simple for them to make a difference in the Western Conference.
Little did they know, the Portland Trail Blazers had hired a quack doctor, casting a shadow of injuries over all their players.
It was either this one injured or that one injured; there was never a time when the roster was complete.
So, in such an incomplete lineup, it was indeed very difficult for the Portland Trail Blazers to make a difference in the playoffs.
Getting back to the main topic, after Chen Hao swatted Roy's shot, he took the lead, rushing to the front and picking up the ball!
The frontcourt was already empty!
In this situation, Chen Hao directly entered performance mode!
Since he was going to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest, he might as well warm up during the game!
Chen Hao dribbled the ball to near the free-throw line!
He actually took off directly from the free-throw line!
Chen Hao performed a "raising the torch to the heavens" move in the air, his movements incredibly graceful, like an eagle spreading its wings, quickly flying towards the hoop!
Chen Hao's dunk was incredibly elegant and fluid, even comparable to Jordan's free-throw line dunk back in the day!
This time, Chen Hao successfully completed a free-throw line dunk in a live game!
It wasn't until he landed lightly that the Fans on site finally reacted from their shock:
"My goodness! What did I just see? He actually dunked from the free-throw line?!"
"This is absolutely insane! This guy pulled off a free-throw line dunk in a live game!"
"Is this a warm-up for the Slam Dunk Contest?"
"If he uses this dunk in the Slam Dunk Contest, that would definitely be a perfect score!"
"I'm already looking forward to the start of the Slam Dunk Contest!"
After completing the free-throw line dunk in a live game, Chen Hao's teammates went wild.
A'lian and Oden, among others, all rushed to Chen Hao, shouting loudly at him.
To his teammates' enthusiasm, Chen Hao smiled and said:
"Calm down, it's a regular operation, no need to be overly excited!"
And the second-year players, upon seeing Chen Haoperform this explosive dunk, also had incredibly shocked expressions.
As a dunker, Gay was now greatly impressed by Chen Hao's dunk.
Because if he were to do it, he couldn't; the takeoff distance was simply too far!
And this was in a live game, which made it even more difficult!
Therefore, Gay's gaze towards Chen Hao changed; it was a fervent look of admiration.
Chen Hao felt Gay's gaze on him and said to him with a smile:
"Want to learn?
I'll teach you!"
Gay's expression instantly became excited after hearing this:
"Really?"
"Fake!"
Chen Hao's expression suddenly turned serious, and then he ran towards the frontcourt.
If there was anyone in the league whose name and jersey were most unpopular, Gay would likely be one of them.
After all, this guy's name was simply too easy to misunderstand.
In American culture, "gay" means homosexual.
Therefore, Chen Hao had a natural sense of repulsion towards Gay because of his name.
No choice, some people, he really just couldn't like.
After being mocked by Chen Hao, Gay's expression instantly became awkward!
Then, in a fit of rage, he glared fiercely at Chen Hao's retreating figure, vowing in his heart to complete a dunk over Chen Hao's head!
So, this offense was initiated by Gay!
He used Bargnani's screen at the top of the arc and charged directly into the paint!
Seeing that A'lian was defending him, his mood became even more excited!
Because in his opinion, A'lian's defense simply couldn't limit his offense!
So, Gay actually wanted to dunk over A'lian in front of everyone!
At this moment, A'lian, seeing Gay jump up to challenge him, also knew that this guy was coming for him!
A'lian instantly leaped with all his might, raising both hands high, attempting to block Gay's dunk!
But Gay's physical prowess was simply too explosive!
Moreover, he took off very fully this time, so his jumping height was clearly higher than A'lian's!
This dunk was about to succeed!
Just as the Fans on site were preparing to cheer loudly, a figure appeared behind A'lian!
And he was even higher than A'lian!
Who else could it be but Chen Hao?
The moment Gay was about to dunk over A'lian, Chen Hao appeared!
His right hand firmly pressed down on the basketball in Gay's hands, and the immense force directly knocked Gay from the air to the ground!
And Chen Hao directly confiscated the ball!
Since Chen Hao jumped from behind A'lian, while he swatted Gay, he was also essentially riding on top of A'lian's head!
Chen Hao's block this time was completed by riding on his teammate's shoulders!
This scene made all the players on the court gasp in cold air.
Chen Hao's block this time was simply too domineering!
To block Gay, he actually rode on his own teammate!
Actually, Chen Hao didn't intentionally ride on top of A'lian's head to complete the block; he simply had no other choice!
After all, if he didn't do that, A'lian would have been dunked on!
Rather than being dunked on by an opponent, it's better to be ridden on top of by a teammate!
Chen Hao thought so, and he acted accordingly!
So, after landing, Chen Hao somewhat awkwardly said to A'lian:
"Hey, brother, I really didn't mean to just now!
I just didn't have enough time!
That's why I did it!"
A'lian smiled and quipped:
"It's only you!
I wouldn't let anyone else ride on my head!"
Hearing A'lian say that, Chen Hao smiled, knowing A'liandidn't mind.
Then, Chen Hao, holding the ball with one hand, looked at Gay who was lying on the ground, and mocked with a smile:
"Hey, no sleeping allowed here!
If you want to sleep, go sleep on the bench!"
Chen Hao's words, which were meant to kill the heart, almost made A'lian, who was beside him, lose his composure!
Gay, upon hearing this, got up with a face full of anger, wanting to confront Chen Hao.
But he was pulled away by his teammates; this was an exhibition game, and there was truly no need for a conflict.
Just as the Rookie Challenge was in full swing, a trade between the Boston Celtics and the Nets had quietly begun.
Rondo of the Boston Celtics and A'lian of the Nets both became bargaining chips in this trade!
Chapter 135: taylor Cosplaying Scarlet Witch! Meeting at the Peak!
From the perspective of Boston Celtics General Manager Angie, trading Rondo for A'lian was a very worthwhile deal.
Because Rondo had completely lost the coach's trust, after all, the conflict between him and Chen Hao was irreconcilable.
A'lian, on the other hand, was not highly valued by the New Jersey Nets.
The Nets drafted A'lian with the sixth pick mainly because they coveted the Dragon Country market behind him.
But after half a season of observation, they found that A'lian, due to his personality, struggled to integrate with the team.
In other words, A'lian's performance was disappointing to the Nets.
So, when Angie proposed trading Rondo for A'lian, the Nets were also very interested.
Putting aside Rondo's personality, as a point guard, he could play a significant role on the court.
He possessed a clear mind and was very familiar with tactical applications; this guy was a born conductor.
The only disagreement was that Angie believed a one-for-one trade would be a huge loss for the Boston Celtics, and the Nets would have to add more trade assets.
This put the Nets in a dilemma; they didn't want to give up more, but if they didn't, they wouldn't get Rondo.
So, after a few days of deliberation, they finally agreed to include a second-round draft pick to acquire Rondo.
Angie ultimately accepted the Nets' offer.
Therefore, even before the Rookie Challenge ended, this trade was successfully completed!
The All-Star Rookie Challenge, the first quarter, had ended.
Surprisingly, the first-year rookies led the second-year rookies by as much as 15 points.
Chen Hao, in only 7 minutes of play, had already scored 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
All the Fans in the Stadium were cheering for Chen Hao, demanding that he continue to play.
So, with 8 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Chen Hao was substituted back into the game.
The cheers from the crowd grew even louder, and among those watching the game was Chicago Bulls legend Pippen.
He was the most attentive to Chen Hao; he was, after all, Chen Hao's biggest supporter, so he would follow Chen Hao's All-Star performance throughout.
In fact, before this game began, Pippen had even personally invited Jordan to watch, as Jordan had also arrived in New Orleans.
However, Jordan declined Pippen's invitation.
Because he didn't want to see Chen Hao's arrogant face again, Jordan even said with a look of disdain:
"It's just a Rookie Challenge, isn't it?
No matter how capable that guy is, can he score 50 or 60 points?
Besides, even if he wanted to pad his stats, his teammates and coach wouldn't let him!"
So, at this time, Danzi still looked down on Chen Hao, believing that Chen Hao could not reach his level.
However, Chen Hao had already scored 20 points in the first quarter; if he wanted to, he could easily break the scoring record Danzi mentioned.
Pippen really wanted to tell Danzi Chen Hao's current score, to give him a good shock.
But at this time, Danzi was already squandering his money in a New Orleans casino.
He didn't care how many points Chen Hao scored, and he didn't even want to go to tomorrow's Skills Challenge.
After all, casinos were much more fun than Stadiums.
Just thinking about how Chen Hao showed him no respect, Jordan wanted to see him make a fool of himself.
And if Chen Hao lost tomorrow's Skills Challenge, then he would already be in a winning position.
So, he had to be present at tomorrow's Skills Challenge.
Therefore, he had to have a blast today, even staying up all night was acceptable.
The final result of the Rookie Challenge was that the first-year rookies defeated the second-year rookies, with Chen Hao scoring a whopping 56 points, along with 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
This massive triple-double also set a new scoring record for the All-Star Rookie Challenge.
In addition to Chen Hao's eye-catching performance, A'lian's performance was also commendable; his pick-and-roll cooperation with Chen Hao was very effective.
Under Chen Hao's excellent passes, A'lian was almost fed to the point of throwing up today.
In less than 20 minutes of play, A'lian also achieved a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, with a field goal percentage as high as eighty percent.
Such a terrifying shooting percentage was built on Chen Hao's passing.
Basically, as long as A'lian received a pass from Chen Hao, A'lian was already in a completely open position.
So, A'lian only needed to boldly shoot or dunk to score!
Thus, immediately after the game ended, the live commentator emotionally said:
"The chemistry between Chen Hao and A'lian is simply too good!
I can't imagine how powerful they would be if they were on the same team!"
Just as the commentator's words fell, the director handed him the latest trade information.
It clearly stated the trade information between the Boston Celtics and the Nets.
At this moment, the commentator looked at this trade information, his face filled with shock.
After a brief moment of shock, he quickly adjusted his emotions and then said in an excited tone:
"Just received the latest trade information!
The Boston Celtics and the Nets have completed a trade.
The Boston Celtics have sent Rondo to the New Jersey Nets.
In return, they received this year's sixth pick, A'lian, and a second-round draft pick!
Oh my God!
I just said that if A'lian and Chen Hao were on the same team, their strength would definitely be incredibly powerful.
Now it seems that I actually predicted it!
This is simply unbelievable!
Chen Hao and A'lian are both from Dragon Country.
Now they are playing on the same team; I believe there is nothing more perfect than this outcome!
I can't wait to see A'lian's performance with the Boston Celtics!"
When the commentator announced this trade information, the entire Stadium of Fans instantly erupted in an uproar.
Because this trade was simply too sudden!
Before this, there had been no rumors about this trade, and then it just happened?
However, when they thought about it again, they realized that this trade was actually the best outcome for both sides.
This was a win-win trade!
A'lian was clearly not suited for the Nets' tactical system; he was more accustomed to shooting from the outside and was not keen on attacking the basket.
And Rondo had already had an irreconcilable conflict with Chen Hao at the beginning of the Summer League, so he was destined to be traded.
Now, the Nets had acquired Rondo, the commander on the court, which would greatly enhance their backcourt strength.
Conversely, the Boston Celtics had acquired A'lian, which would also greatly enhance their interior strength.
Just as the commentator had just said, Chen Hao and A'lian were both from Dragon Country; there were no communication barriers between them.
This would make their cooperation incredibly seamless, and many offensive plays would naturally come together.
Moreover, the Boston Celtics' interior strength was not very strong at the moment, with only Jefferson; sometimes it was difficult to find rotation players.
Now it was different; after A'lian arrived, he could start, or he could serve as Jefferson's backup; in any case, it would greatly improve the Boston Celtics' interior strength.
If the Boston Celtics primarily relied on Chen Hao before, now their overall strength would definitely rise by a notch.
It wasn't that A'lian alone could bring a huge increase in strength to the Boston Celtics, but rather the chemistry between him and Chen Hao that was the key to the increase in strength.
When this news reached A'lian's ears, his expression was also stunned.
Because he had never received any rumors that the team might trade him.
But now the trade had happened so suddenly!
And he was traded to Chen Hao's team, which indeed greatly surprised A'lian.
The Rookie Challenge just now made A'lian feel incredibly comfortable playing with Chen Hao!
He didn't even need to say anything to Chen Hao; Chen Hao already knew his offensive intentions and passed the ball perfectly to him.
All A'lian needed to do was shoot boldly and confidently score!
This feeling was simply too comfortable!
A'lian had struggled ever since he joined the Nets.
But playing with Chen Hao, he didn't have that feeling, and Chen Hao was also his fellow countryman; nothing could make A'lian more excited than this news!
At this moment, Chen Hao's expression was very calm after learning the news.
His teammates, seeing his calm demeanor, curiously asked:
"Hey, Chen, aren't you surprised by this trade at all?"
"Of course not surprised, because I think it's a very reasonable choice!
If I were the general manager, I would also make such a trade choice!
This is a win-win choice!"
Chen Hao's words left his teammates all surprised.
They indeed didn't expect Chen Hao to think so thoroughly, but it also showed Chen Hao's sharp insight.
Chen Hao's teammates were actually there to support Chen Hao and cheer him on.
After all, everyone knew that Chen Hao was about to begin his challenge journey tomorrow!
And the bet between Jordan and Pippen was about whether Chen Hao could win the Championship in all three challenge events.
As Chen Hao's teammates, they certainly hoped that Chen Hao could defeat all opponents and sweep all the championships.
That was why they were present at the scene!
As Chen Hao was chatting with his teammates, A'lianwalked up to Chen Hao with an excited expression.
"Brother Hao, did you hear?
We're teammates!
This is really exciting!
From now on, I'm your little brother; please take care of me!"
Regarding A'lian's humble words, Chen Hao smiled and waved his hand, saying:
"Don't say such empty words!
We're playing fellow countryman basketball.
Anyway, when playing for the Boston Celtics, you just need to remember to relax and do your best!"
The other Boston Celtics players also greeted A'lian one after another.
After all, A'lian would also be one of them from now on.
More importantly, A'lian was also Chen Hao's good brother, so they naturally had to give A'lian enough face.
The news of A'lian being traded to the Boston Celticsquickly spread throughout the league.
So, when Chen Hao and A'lian attended the post-game press conference, reporters began to ask Chen Hao for his thoughts on the trade.
Chen Hao's answer was concise and to the point:
"This is an S-class trade, and I think it's quite perfect!
A'lian's arrival will definitely take our team's strength to the next level!"
Chen Hao's confident answer made the reporters very curious; they thought Chen Hao might be overly confident.
So, they started focusing on Chen Hao's Skills Challengetomorrow:
"Are you nervous about tomorrow's Skills Challenge?"
"Of course not nervous! I'm even very much looking forward to it!"
Chen Hao's confidence made these reporters very curious:
"Then aren't you worried that you'll lose this game?
Once you lose this game, then Scottie will lose a Championship ring."
"Hey, can you guys have a little more faith in me?
Why can't Michael lose a Championship ring?
Is he really invincible?
Do I really have no chance to win three consecutive championships?"
After speaking, Chen Hao left the press conference directly.
He didn't want to waste words with these reporters, after all, his time was quite precious.
Before this game began, taylor had already told Chen Hao that she had arrived in New Orleans.
taylor's schedule had been packed recently, with basically no time to meet Chen Hao.
This had already made taylor miss Chen Haoimmensely.
So, before the All-Star Weekend arrived, taylor had already made plans for a vacation, to spend these few days with Chen Hao.
And now, what Chen Hao had to do was rush to the hotel where taylor was staying, because taylor had already messaged him, telling him that today she was cosplaying the Scarlet Witch from the Marvel heroes.
She had even prepared a Scarlet Witch battle suit herself, just to wear it and 'spar' with Chen Hao.
Therefore, Chen Hao was full of interest in taylorcosplaying Scarlet Witch, and naturally he would ignore the press conference at this time.
Chen Hao had become the most watched star of this All-Star, so as soon as he left the Stadium, he was followed by many paparazzi.
Although Chen Hao knew he was being followed by many paparazzi, he didn't pay too much attention, after all, these paparazzi just wanted to dig up some useful news from him.
Besides, he wasn't doing anything illicit now; he was just going to see taylor cosplaying Scarlet Witch.
It wasn't a big deal for them to know; anyway, they couldn't possibly see what kind of super-friendly things would happen between him and taylor.
When Chen Hao knocked on taylor's hotel room door, what appeared before him was taylor, dressed in the Scarlet Witch battle suit.
taylor's figure was originally very tall and slender, and now that she was wearing the Scarlet Witch battle suit, her legs appeared even longer!
This was a high-waisted battle suit, and Chen Hao's face was full of pleasant surprise at taylor dressed as Scarlet Witch:
"I didn't expect you to perfectly pull off this outfit.
I really love it!
Do you know what will happen when you wear this battle suit?"
"What will happen?"
"You might not even have time to get out of bed and walk!
And this night, I might let you experience the joy of 'meeting at the peak'!
And the kind that stays at the peak!"
"Then that's really exciting!
Before you came, it was already 'back to the south' here!"
After speaking, taylor pointed to her important area with her finger.
Chapter 136: Sour Grapes? But taylor's Grapes Are Sweet!
That night, taylor, holding Chen Hao's tungsten-titanium alloy microphone, sang all night long, seemingly wanting to display all her stage skills for Chen Hao to see.
And Chen Hao, likewise, met all of taylor's requests, letting her sing all the songs she liked.
Even Chen Hao, with his tungsten-titanium alloy kidneys, felt his body was a bit overwhelmed after watching the performance for one night.
In fact, the main reason was not physical exhaustion, but mental torment.
After all, if many things are done too much, it's easy to develop aesthetic fatigue.
But fortunately, with the Scarlet Witch battle robe on taylor, Chen Hao was still able to hold on until the end, until taylor was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep.
It was already morning, and what awaited Chen Hao was the arrival of the All-Star Challenge.
First, the Skills Challenge, then the Three-Point Contest, and finally, the Slam Dunk Contest!
These three events would all be held on the same day!
So, regardless of whether Chen Hao could win the Championship in these three events, the sheer physical exertion alone would be enough to challenge him.
This was why most people were not optimistic about Chen Hao winning the Championship in all three events.
Therefore, the All-Star day's events attracted even more attention than all previous All-Star Weekends' viewership ratings.
Danzi and Pippen's bet on Chen Hao winning the Championship was enough to draw significant interest.
Moreover, both of them would also appear today to watch Chen Hao's three competitions live.
The event, already broadcast live worldwide, became even more anticipated!
As the protagonist of this incident, Chen Hao naturally received the most attention.
His every move was closely tracked and reported by numerous paparazzi.
Therefore, Chen Hao's behavior of entering a hotel the previous night and not returning home was quickly reported.
As a result, even before the games had started, Chen Hao's gossip news had already been known by many Fans.
When they learned that Chen Hao had chatted about life with taylor all night long, they felt as if they had eaten dirt.
After all, at this time, taylor's music had already begun to make its mark in the United States, more and more people were starting to enjoy her music, and her popularity was also growing.
It was truly depressing that even such a rising star in the music world could not escape Chen Hao's clutches.
Especially taylor's male Fans, they even openly threatened to boycott Chen Hao, calling on all male Fansnot to watch any of Chen Hao's games.
However, what these male Fans didn't know was that there were too many Fans who liked Chen Hao, and his rumored relationship with taylor, imperceptibly, actually increased taylor's exposure.
Therefore, taylor's Fans should not blame Chen Hao; on the contrary, they should be grateful to him.
Without Chen Hao, taylor would not have become so popular within this year; Chen Hao's popularity was the most terrifying.
When Chen Hao arrived at the competition venue, bleary-eyed, numerous reporters had already surrounded him.
They all asked Chen Hao about his confidence in today's events, which made Chen Hao very impatient.
"Aren't they just a few challenge Championships?
Isn't it an easy task?
Why don't you believe I have such strength?
Anyway, I will make Michael willingly offer his Championship ring!
Scottie Pippen's judgment is the most accurate!"
After speaking, Chen Hao walked directly into the locker room, no longer bothering with the reporters' questions.
Watching Chen Hao yawn and say such arrogant remarks with sleepy eyes truly made people very displeased.
Many reporters even whispered directly:
"Looking at his condition, let alone winning the Championship in three events.
I think he'd be impressive if he could even complete one event!
It seems this guy really stayed up all night yesterday!
This guy really thinks his body is made of steel!
No man can resist a woman's full-force attack!"
Apparently, these reporters did not believe Chen Haowould perform well in the upcoming events.
They all thought that Chen Hao's arrogance was actually to attract attention.
After all, being able to gain popularity from the God of Basketball would be quite effective.
Just as Chen Hao was changing his jersey, the audience watching today's grand event had basically all taken their seats.
Jordan and Pippen both had special VIP seats, which the league organizers had specially arranged for them.
After all, the immense attention these few events received today was mainly due to the bet between the two of them.
Therefore, they naturally had to arrange everything for these two future Hall of Famers, the Chicago Bullslegends.
At this moment, Jordan was clearly in a very happy mood; he even jokingly teased Pippen, saying:
"Hey, Scottie, did you see the news today?
The reporters actually said that guy stayed up all night!
Some reporters even said his combat power was stronger than yours!
I remember your strongest record in one night was about four times, wasn't it?
This was even publicly stated by your wife in an interview!
And she said that after completing those four rounds, you still had a perfect performance in the subsequent game.
This shows that your physical strength is also quite outstanding!
But compared to this guy, you seem to be quite far behind!
I just wonder if he can still run on the court later?
Or perhaps, he might already be too weak to walk now?"
Pippen's face looked very ugly, because he had also learned about Chen Hao's exploits from last night.
Now being teased by Jordan like this, his mood was naturally not good at all.
"Damn it!
Why can't this guy control his desires properly?
What time is it now?
He's still busy playing with women?
What a terrible guy!"
Hearing Pippen also complaining about Chen Hao's behavior, Jordan's mood became even more cheerful:
"Hey, you'd better think about which year's Championshipring you're going to give me!
I don't really care, whatever you want is fine!
Hahaha.
I didn't expect that even after retirement, I could still win another Championship ring!
It really makes me happy!
Next time, if you still want to bet with me.
Please be sure to find me, the stakes are still Championship rings, how about it?"
Jordan had even started to consider winning Pippen's other Championship ring.
Pippen's face completely darkened, and he didn't want to talk to Jordan anymore.
Because even he felt that it would be extremely difficult for Chen Hao to win three Championships in these three events!
If he didn't even have the stamina, what the hell was he going to do?
As Jordan and Pippen chatted, the players participating in the Skills Challenge appeared on stage.
The players participating in this year's Skills Challengewere:
Chris Paul from the Charlotte Hornets;
Dwyane Wade from the Miami Heat;
Chen Hao from the Boston Celtics;
Deron Williams from the Jazz.
When these contestants appeared on the court, the Fanserupted in huge cheers.
Especially Chen Hao's appearance, the sound reached its climax.
Despite Chen Hao having a lot of gossip, and even his behavior last night being very absurd.
But it still couldn't stop the Fans' love and enthusiasm for him, after all, Chen Hao was best at creating all kinds of miracles.
Moreover, judging from Chen Hao's condition when he just appeared, he didn't seem as bad as imagined.
Even Pippen, upon seeing Chen Hao appear on the court full of energy, once again gained confidence in Chen Hao.
Little did he know, just as Pippen was about to show off a bit to Jordan, Chen Hao suddenly let out a big yawn at that moment.
You know, at this very moment, the live close-up was directly on Chen Hao!
Thus, Chen Hao's yawn was clearly seen by the entire audience!
Pippen, who had originally held some hope for Chen Hao, completely gave up!
Danzi, on the other hand, burst into laughter at this moment:
"Hahaha, this guy is really too surprising!
I feel like if you just let him lie down, he could fall asleep instantly!
His state is exactly the same as when I appeared on the court after an all-night gambling session!
This guy, when it comes to disappointing people, has never disappointed anyone!"
Pippen: "..."
After the commentator finished introducing the contestants one by one, Chen Hao unexpectedly walked towards Pippen's direction.
Seeing Chen Hao walking towards him, Pippen's face became very ugly.
He didn't want anyone to remember the bet between him and Jordan right now, but Chen Hao walking over wasn't that reminding everyone of their bet?
"Damn it, what's he doing here?"
Pippen cursed in a low voice.
Soon, Chen Hao appeared in front of Pippen, still looking dispirited, and said to Pippen with a gloomy expression:
"Hey, Scottie, I'm really too sleepy today!
I somewhat regret participating in these three events!
It feels too unprofitable!"
Upon hearing Chen Hao's complaint, Pippen could no longer hold back:
"Damn it!
You yourself didn't get a good rest last night, running off to play with women!
Isn't this what you brought upon yourself?
Now you still have the nerve to tell me you're sleepy?"
Seeing Pippen's agitated expression, Chen Hao was very surprised:
"How did you know I was playing with women last night?
Were you following me?"
"The whole world knows!
I don't need to follow you!"
Pippen said in an exasperated tone.
After hearing Pippen's reply, Chen Hao immediately nodded thoughtfully and said:
"That's right, people who can't eat the grapes always say the grapes are sour!
But I've tasted taylor's grapes, and I know their true flavor.
Forget it, let them continue to be jealous!
Don't worry, the Championship is still mine!"
Chen Hao's words not only left Pippen with a face full of question marks, but even Danzi beside him looked disdainful.
Clearly, in their opinion, Chen Hao was still trying to show off at this moment, which was truly very awkward!
And Chen Hao, seeing Pippen's expression, roughly guessed his true thoughts.
Chen Hao smiled and patted Pippen's shoulder, saying:
"Hey, I know what you want to say.
But I advise you not to say it!
Moreover, I just said.
I'm so sleepy today, but I still came to participate in the competition.
That means I put in too much extra effort!
So, after I win three Championships, can you transfer the Championship ring you won to me?
I'll win one back for you next time?"
Chen Hao's words were truly shocking!
At this moment, Pippen was beyond complaining; he just quietly watched Chen Hao's forced display of confidence.
And Chen Hao, seeing that Pippen didn't speak, directly said:
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as a yes!
It's settled then!
Michael heard it too!
You can't go back on your word then!"
After speaking, Chen Hao turned and walked towards the court.
From beginning to end, he hadn't even given Jordan a direct look.
After all, in Chen Hao's opinion, Jordan underestimated him, so there was no need for him to have any interaction with him.
Pippen was now so angered by Chen Hao that he was speechless; he even considered leaving the venue immediately.
Because he had no reason to believe what Chen Hao had just said; with the guy yawning constantly, where did he get the confidence to win the Championship?
Just then, the live host announced that the Skills Challenge had officially begun!
The rules were very simple: clear all checkpoints in the shortest time possible.
These checkpoints included dribbling, passing, shooting, and layups.
All were basic basketball technical movements, requiring speed, accuracy, and decisiveness!
The competition was divided into two stages: preliminaries and finals!
The preliminaries started first, with two people starting simultaneously!
Deron and Chris Paul were the first to compete!
There was a saying in the NBA to describe Deron's career:
"Eat, sleep, beat Chris Paul!"
Now they met in the Skills Challenge.
So, for Chris Paul, this was an opportunity to prove himself.
Thus, when the starting whistle blew, Chris Paul began to dribble and move frantically!
Passing was no problem, going past the dummy was no problem, shooting was no problem, then the final layup!
Chris Paul actually made a mistake!
The first layup missed, and he only scored on the second tip-in!
On the other hand, Deron completed all checkpoints in one go, ultimately easily defeating Chris Paul and achieving an excellent time of 35 seconds, while Chris Paul only had 37 seconds.
So, in this round of competition, Deron crushed Chris Pauland easily advanced.
Indeed, the iron rule of eating, sleeping, and beating Chris Paul remained unbroken!
The next round was the showdown between Wade and Chen Hao!
At this moment, Chen Hao still looked half-asleep, even staggering as he walked.
Seeing Chen Hao in this state, Wade felt very relaxed, believing he could easily defeat Chen Hao.
Pippen, watching from the sidelines, didn't even want to watch the game anymore, because Chen Hao's condition was simply too poor!
It would be a miracle if he could even complete the game!
As the referee's whistle blew, the game officially began!
Wade and Chen Hao started simultaneously!
Chen Hao, who had been bleary-eyed, instantly switched to another mode the moment the whistle blew!
His eyes instantly became incredibly sharp, and he immediately dribbled forward!
Passing the dummy, passing, shooting, layups, all were done in one go, without any obstruction, incredibly smooth!
When Chen Hao easily completed the layup to end the game, the timer stopped at 24.5 seconds!
The best historical record was thus born!
As for Wade, his time was 36 seconds, a full 11.5 seconds slower than Chen Hao!
At this moment, the entire venue was silent, all stunned by Chen Hao's brilliant performance!
Especially Pippen, he couldn't believe what he saw was real, so he directly slapped Danzi's face!
"Fuck!
What are you doing?"
Chapter 137: Skills Challenge Champion in Hand! Let Deron face the 58-punch attack!
"I thought I was dreaming, that's why I slapped you!"
Pippen couldn't suppress the smile on his face, but Jordan's expression became extremely grim:
"Then why didn't you slap yourself?"
After Danzi finished speaking, he elbowed Pippen hard, returning the slap he had received.
However, Pippen wasn't angered by Jordan's retaliation; he even burst out laughing:
"Hahaha, I really wasn't wrong about Chen Hao!
He not only easily advanced, but he also broke the Skills Challenge record!
Michael, are you panicking now?"
Jordan's face turned extremely ugly after Pippen's taunt, but he still stubbornly said:
"He only advanced to the finals. Breaking the record doesn't mean he can win the ultimate championship.
This event inherently has a certain element of luck.
His luck must have run out!
He won't be able to perform so smoothly later!"
Pippen heard the strong jealousy in Jordan's words and said with a smile:
"Although there's an element of luck, isn't luck also part of strength?
Besides, in my opinion, he doesn't seem to have given his full effort yet!
Just wait and watch his performance!"
Jordan didn't reply to Pippen's words; he looked towards the court with a gloomy expression.
At this moment, all the Fans in the arena were incredibly shocked by Chen Hao's performance, shouting his name loudly.
And the other contestants all looked dumbfounded.
Especially Wade, he stared blankly at the timer, unable to think of anything to say for a moment.
Actually, Wade was very confident about this Skills Challenge.
After all, among so many guards in the league, he was known for his speed, especially in the skill of steals and fast breaks, where he was considered second to none.
But today, when competing against Chen Hao in the Skills Challenge, he lost miserably.
Chen Hao defeated him with an overwhelming advantage, being a full 11.5 seconds faster, which made it impossible for him to accept this fact.
So, when Wade saw Chen Hao's result, his first thought was that the timer was broken.
Thus, Wade walked directly to the referee, and said with a puzzled expression:
"Hey, referee, this timer isn't broken, is it?
How could he be so much faster than me?"
Actually, the referee was also very shocked when he saw Chen Hao's completion time, and had also wondered if there was a problem with the timer.
So, when Wade came up to ask him, even he was a bit unsure:
"How about we watch the replay?"
Wade immediately echoed:
"Yes, we need to watch the replay to confirm if the timer is broken!"
The other contestants nearby all heard the conversation between Wade and the referee, but none of them spoke up.
Instead, Chen Hao even said with an approving look:
"I think what you said makes a lot of sense!
We must watch the replay!
There must be absolutely no problems!"
Chris Paul looked at Chen Hao's performance with even more confusion:
"Are you really that confident in your own strength?
Even I, in my prime, wouldn't dare to say I could achieve that result!
Your result this time really might be a timer error!"
Chris Paul's words almost made Chen Hao laugh out loud:
"Hey, Chris, don't compare yourself to me, okay?
What's your level, and what's my level?"
Chen Hao's words almost made Chris Paul's mentality collapse, but he thought of Chen Hao's various misdeeds on the court and ultimately chose to endure it.
And at this moment, the big screen in the arena also showed the detailed process of Chen Hao's recent game!
From the moment he took the ball, the timer started!
First, he dribbled past defenders, then accurately passed the ball into the hole, followed by a shot, and finally a layup!
The timer showed no problems from start to finish; it was always running.
Chen Hao completed all the checkpoints very smoothly, without any lag.
Therefore, Chen Hao's result this time was genuine and valid, and it was clear that he hadn't even given his full effort.
At this moment, both Wade and Chris Paul were filled with frustration and shock.
They hadn't expected Chen Hao to possess such strong abilities, especially the way he completed these checkpoints with such ease, which was delightful to watch.
Compared to them, there was truly a world of difference!
Even Deron's expression became particularly solemn after seeing Chen Hao's performance!
He had originally thought that after defeating Chris Paul, the championship would be his for the taking.
But he never expected Chen Hao's strength to be so terrifying, and it seemed like he hadn't even given his full effort, which put even greater psychological pressure on him!
However, Deron quickly adjusted his mindset, because he knew that luck played a big part in this competition.
So, Chen Hao's luck might not be as good in the finals!
Thus, Deron proactively walked up to Chen Hao and said to him calmly:
"Undeniably, your performance just now was indeed perfect.
But I'm sure there was an element of luck involved.
So, in the finals, I bet you absolutely won't be able to replicate such a perfect performance!"
Chen Hao looked at the confident Deron, his smile very bright:
"Who gave you the confidence to believe I can't complete the game like last time?"
"My intuition!"
"How about a bet?"
"Okay, what's the bet?"
"If my time is faster than last time, then you have to grant me a request!"
"If I'm not as fast as last time, then I can grant you a request.
You can ask for anything!"
Deron's expression became very surprised after hearing Chen Hao's words:
"Are you serious?
If you're not as fast as last time, I can ask for anything?"
"Of course, they can all testify!"
Chen Hao smiled and looked at Wade and Chris Paulbeside him.
And Chris Paul and Wade, after hearing Chen Hao's words, all looked like they were enjoying the drama, and they all said to Deron:
"Hey, Deron, hurry up and agree to him!
We're all rooting for you!
This guy is just too arrogant!
You must defeat him!"
Under the encouragement of Wade and Chris Paul, Deronalso became very interested in Chen Hao's proposed bet:
"You said it, if you don't beat your previous time, then you lose!"
"Of course, my word is my bond, you can ask for any request!"
"Alright, it's a deal, I'll bet with you!"
"Aren't you curious what request I'll make of you?"
"No need, in my opinion, you simply can't surpass your previous time!"
Deron said confidently; in his eyes, he truly believed that Chen Hao's previous time was already the limit for this event!
He couldn't possibly complete the game in a shorter time!
Chen Hao's expression was quite playful regarding Deron's confidence.
"It seems you're still full of confidence in yourself!
In that case, let's begin!"
The host had actually been by their side the whole time, and he had heard Chen Hao and Deron's bet clearly.
So, at this moment, the host quietly asked Deron and Chen Hao:
"Can I announce your bet?"
The implication was whether he could tell the audience about their recent bet.
To this, Deron excitedly said:
"Of course I don't mind, you should ask for his opinion!"
And Chen Hao, after hearing Deron's words, said to him playfully:
"Are you sure you want the Fans to know about this bet?"
"Of course! You can't possibly be faster than before!"
After receiving Deron's affirmative reply, Chen Hao said to the host with a smile:
"Since he's agreed, of course I have no objection!"
After getting the consent of Chen Hao and Deron, the host was clearly very excited.
So, he announced the bet between Chen Hao and Deronto all the Fans, and the entire arena immediately erupted in excitement.
Even Pippen, after learning of this news, was also shocked, followed by anger:
"Damn it!
What is this guy doing?
Doesn't he know how difficult it is to surpass that time?
He has already completed this game perfectly; he can't possibly be faster than before!"
In Pippen's opinion, Chen Hao's initiative bet with Deronwas a wrong decision, which would make him a laughingstock.
If Chen Hao and Deron were betting on who could win the final championship, that would be no problem at all, because Chen Hao had an absolute advantage.
But the problem was that they weren't betting on whether Chen Hao could win the championship, but whether Chen Hao could break his own record!
Records aren't something you can just break whenever you want!
Not everyone is like the King of Bragging, Larry Bird, who always manages to back up his boasts.
So, in Pippen's opinion, Chen Hao's forced bragging this time was a bit excessive!
If he really couldn't break his own record, then he would be a clown!
This was a completely unnecessary bet!
And Jordan, who was nearby, immediately became happy after learning about Chen Hao's bet:
"Hey, Scottie, see!
Turns out someone is even more of a gambler than I am!
This guy is just too arrogant!
He won't even win the championship!"
After the host announced the bet between Chen Hao and Deron, the game finally began!
Because Chen Hao had the fastest time, Deron started first.
Deron actually had no psychological burden now, because he felt it didn't matter whether he won or not.
But he was absolutely confident that he could make Chen Hao lose this bet, so he could make a request to Chen Hao!
At that time, if Chen Hao really won against him, and he asked him to give him the prize money and medal, he believed Chen Hao's expression would surely be very ugly, wouldn't it?
Or, making him publicly admit that he was a clown would also be a good choice!
Anyway, he just wanted to make Chen Hao look foolish in front of all the Fans, and that would be enough to make him happy!
Perhaps because he had no psychological pressure, Deron's start this time was very smooth!
He first quickly and smoothly dribbled past the mannequins, and then completed the pass cleanly.
At this point, only 12 seconds had passed, and he had already completed half of the checkpoints!
After arriving at the shooting area, Deron controlled his rhythm very well, quickly shooting after taking the ball!
The moment he shot, he knew he would make it!
So, Deron directly picked up the basketball and quickly dribbled towards the last checkpoint!
Sure enough, when Deron was dribbling and preparing to complete the layup, his shot went straight through the net!
Deron easily completed the final layup, and the time stopped at 26 seconds, only 2.5 seconds slower than Chen Hao's previous 23.5 seconds.
Deron's speed and time were already quite excellent!
When he saw the time, he immediately shouted excitedly!
Even Chris Paul and Wade, who were watching nearby, rushed to him with excited faces to congratulate him!
Looking at them, it seemed like Deron had already secured the win.
It was Chen Hao's turn!
Chen Hao watched Deron, Chris Paul, and Wadecelebrate with a slight smile, showing no signs of nervousness; he even let out a big yawn.
The cameras at this moment were aimed at Chen Hao, and everyone was full of anticipation for Chen Hao's upcoming performance.
However, in the eyes of many, it was indeed quite difficult for Chen Hao to break the record he had just set!
Just like Deron's completion time, he was already close to perfect, but he was still more than two seconds slower than Chen Hao's previous record.
Now, for Chen Hao to break his own record, it really was as difficult as ascending to heaven!
And just when all the Fans were not optimistic, Chen Haohad already started!
Dribbling past defenders, Chen Hao completed it very smoothly, even smoother than Deron just now!
And Deron and the others were all watching Chen Hao's performance at this moment, the smiles on their faces no longer as unrestrained as before!
When Chen Hao successfully completed the pass, Deronnoticed that less than 10 seconds had passed, which was a full two seconds faster than him!
And the smile on his face had completely disappeared!
Chris Paul and Wade, who were nearby, both clenched their fists nervously and said:
"It's okay, the last two checkpoints are the hardest!
He might get stuck at the shooting checkpoint!"
It was Chris Paul who spoke, but just as he finished, Chen Hao had already shot and made a swish!
At this moment, only 14 seconds had passed!
Only the final layup remained!
And Wade spoke at this moment:
"Don't worry, even a layup can be missed!"
Just as Wade finished speaking, Chen Hao seemed to have a telepathic connection.
He actually turned his head towards Deron and gave them a victory gesture.
After doing all that, Chen Hao took the ball and rushed to the basket, completing the game with an tomahawk dunk!
The time stopped at 20 seconds!
Chen Hao broke his own record and won the bet against Deron!
And the Fans in the arena, at this moment, completely erupted in madness!
Too strong!
Chen Hao even wasted a little time to provoke Deron, and despite that, he still easily broke his own record!
In this Skills Challenge, Chen Hao broke the event record twice in a row and utterly defeated Deron!
And after completing the game, Chen Hao proactively walked up to Deron and said to him with a look of regret:
"I'm sorry to disappoint you!
I actually broke my own record!
It seems you'll have to keep your promise!
Are you ready?"
At the same time, Danzi, who was sitting courtside, also stood up angrily and walked directly towards the audience tunnel!
Clearly, Danzi was extremely frustrated at this moment; he hadn't expected Chen Hao to easily win the championship of this event.
This meant that Chen Hao had already secured his first championship in three events.
Next up for him was the Three-Point Contest!
Deron's face was very grim; he now realized he had fallen for Chen Hao's trick.
But having made the bet in front of the entire audience, he couldn't back out.
So, he could only grit his teeth and ask:
"What do you want me to do?"
"It's simple, say one sentence in front of your good buddy, Chris Paul!"
Chapter 138: Three-Point Contest Begins! Chen Hao: You're All Here to Compete for Second Place!
"What are you talking about?"
Seeing the playful expression on Chen Hao's face, Deronfelt a premonition of ill omen and quickly pressed him for an answer.
Chris Paul, who was nearby, also heard what Chen Haosaid to Deron. His face darkened as he stared intensely at Chen Hao, his gaze full of hostility.
As for Wade, he was now watching Deron and Chen Haowith great interest, curious to see what Chen Hao would make Deron say to Paul.
Under Deron's gaze, Chen Hao gestured for the host to hand him the microphone.
The host immediately passed the microphone to Chen Hao, who smiled, put it to his mouth, and loudly declared:
"Hey, Deron, right now, in front of all the Fans in the arena...
Tell Chris Paul that he will never touch the Western Conference Finals floor in his entire life!
Say it's from you!"
After Chen Hao finished speaking, both Deron and Paul's faces instantly became incredibly grim. Wade, on the other hand, was now on the verge of bursting out laughing!
Because everyone in the league knew that Paul's playoff luck had always been terrible, and despite his strong skills, he would always be dominated by Deron whenever they faced each other.
Therefore, making Deron say such words to Paul was undoubtedly a direct insult, and it was indeed the greatest harm to Paul.
Paul never dreamed that Chen Hao's seemingly innocent bet with Deron, where Deron lost, would actually result in him, Paul, being the one hurt. Paul was once again filled with anger towards Chen Hao.
Paul's fists were even clenched at this moment. He glared fiercely at Chen Hao and growled in a low voice:
"You're dead!"
Chen Hao, however, responded to Paul's accusation with a calm expression, saying:
"Hey, I'm just making him state a fact to you.
Why do you harbor such hatred towards me?
Besides, he lost, so he should honor his bet and fulfill his promise properly!
Right, Deron?"
Chen Hao turned to look at Deron with a smile, his expression now incredibly grim.
Deron had initially thought Chen Hao would make him do something outrageous, but he never expected it to be making him say extremely insulting words to Paul.
Honestly, such a request, for Deron, wasn't really an insult, or even challenging at all.
But these words were extremely insulting for Paul.
Chen Hao's goal was to create a rift between Deron and Paul, to worsen their relationship at this moment. Chen Hao's intentions were truly malicious!
But who told him to agree to a bet with Chen Haobeforehand?
He originally thought it was impossible for Chen Hao to break his own fastest record, but he broke it in an instant, and even with great ease. This was indeed an unbelievable feat.
And at this moment, after learning of Chen Hao's demand from Deron, the audience instantly erupted in loud laughter.
Although this was the home court of the New OrleansHornets, most of the Fans were Hornets Fans.
But this was the All-Star Weekend, so there were still some Fans from other cities, and they weren't Paul's Fans.
So when they learned that Chen Hao wanted Deron to say such words, their expressions became very excited.
They were all waiting for Deron to say those words.
And after Deron felt everyone's gaze on him, he knew he couldn't avoid it.
So, he could only spread his hands apologetically to Paul and say:
"Hey, Chris, you saw it all.
I was forced into this.
If you want to blame someone, blame this damn guy!
I can only do as he says!
You can't take your anger out on me because of this!"
After speaking, Deron took a deep breath.
At this moment, when Paul saw Deron's demeanor, he knew this guy was going to fulfill his promise.
Paul's fists were already clenched tightly. He glared fiercely at Deron, his face exceptionally grim.
Deron could only choose to ignore Paul's gaze!
"Hey, Chris Paul, I'm telling you a fact: you'll never touch the Western Conference Finals floor in your entire life!"
Deron finally said those words to Paul. Some Fans in the arena erupted in curses, while others burst into laughter.
In any case, the most exciting part of this Skills Challengeturned out not to be the competition itself, but this little interlude after the event.
As for Chen Hao, his face was now full of smiles. He nodded with satisfaction, and as he was about to turn and leave, Paul, with clenched fists, erupted!
From beginning to end, Chen Hao had been targeting him, making him look foolish, so he had to pay the price for it!
So, as Chen Hao turned to walk towards the player tunnel, Paul suddenly rushed towards Chen Hao's back, his fist smashing fiercely towards the back of Chen Hao's head!
Clearly, Paul intended to ambush Chen Hao and knock him out on the court!
When the Fans in the arena saw Paul's action, they were all stunned!
Even Deron looked at Paul in horror. He never expected Paul to be so angry as to ambush Chen Hao!
Just when everyone thought Paul would easily hit Chen Hao, Chen Hao suddenly ducked and turned at the last moment, easily dodging Paul's sneak attack!
Paul's punch missed!
Not only did he fail to hit the back of Chen Hao's head, but he also lost his balance, stumbled, and almost fell to the ground!
Chen Hao, however, was now looking at Paul with a playful expression, smiling and teasing:
"Hey, Chris, why are you so careless?
You can't even walk properly; you're going to fall!"
After speaking, Chen Hao suddenly moved forward, grabbed Paul's shoulder, and instantly exerted force, directly lifting Paul entirely!
Finally, amidst Paul's terrified shouts, he directly threw Paul flying!
The entire audience watched this scene in disbelief!
They never dreamed that they would get to see a fight at the All-Star Weekend; it was truly worth the price of admission!
And after Paul was thrown flying by Chen Hao, he landed on the ground, let out a scream, and then fell silent.
Clearly, Paul must have fallen into a coma!
After doing all this, Chen Hao spread his hands innocently to the referee and said:
"Hey, referee, you all saw it, he started it!
I was just reacting defensively!"
After speaking, Chen Hao walked towards the player tunnel with a relaxed expression, not even glancing at Paul.
The referee was completely bewildered!
He never expected a conflict to occur on an All-Star court.
In reality, the referee was also very clear that this time, Paul truly brought it upon himself.
Chen Hao merely mocked him, and he actually tried to ambush Chen Hao. Wasn't that asking for death?
However, now was not the time to blame Paul. His condition seemed very serious and he needed to be immediately sent to the local hospital.
Thus, an emergency rescue operation began.
And the reporters at the sidelines were all chasing after Chen Hao, wanting to know what he was thinking.
As Paul's Fans, their hatred for Chen Hao had now reached its peak; they even wanted to rush down and beat Chen Hao up!
Chen Hao had offended most of the live audience, and what awaited him next would surely be endless curses and mockery!
But for Chen Hao, he didn't care about any of that. What he was concerned about now was which moves to use for the Slam Dunk Contest.
Pippen had watched the entire game. He witnessed Chen Hao's brilliant performance and also saw Chen Hao make Deron thoroughly humiliate Paul.
So, when he saw Chen Hao easily dodge Paul's sneak attack, he knew Paul was in for a miserable time!
Indeed, Paul was fiercely thrown to the ground by Chen Hao, and even fell directly into a coma. Pippen felt no sympathy for Paul.
After all, behavior like Paul's in the NBA of the nineties would definitely have resulted in a severe beating.
So, in Pippen's opinion, Chen Hao did nothing wrong; he should respond to Paul's ambush with such dominance.
"If this guy had been born ten years earlier, he would have been a formidable rival for our Bulls!"
Pippen said in a low voice, filled with emotion.
When Chen Hao threw Paul to the ground, Commissioner David Stern quickly learned of the incident.
He had actually been following the live broadcast of the game. When he saw Paul ambush Chen Hao, he knew Paul's outcome would be tragic!
So, what he needed to consider now was whether to penalize Chen Hao.
However, if Chen Hao were penalized, his All-StarWeekend trip would be ruined, which would undoubtedly greatly disappoint many Fans who were following Chen Hao's performance.
Because the reason this All-Star Weekend had such high viewership was actually because of Jordan and Pippen's bet on whether Chen Hao could win three championships.
If Chen Hao were penalized and then suspended, that bet would be directly voided!
Fans would naturally be very disappointed, so Chen Haocouldn't be suspended, or even penalized.
In Stern's view, Chen Hao hadn't done anything wrong at all.
Paul simply couldn't control his emotions and had a sensitive, fragile heart; he brought this upon himself.
Therefore, David Stern decided to handle this incident with a cool head.
Because the most important thing right now was the All-Star Weekend, and the Three-Point Contest, which was about to begin, was the main focus!
Half an hour was used to rearrange the court layout.
So, after resting for half an hour, Chen Hao reappeared on the court.
Now he was going to participate in the Three-Point Contest, and many sharpshooters were among the players in this event.
And Danzi, who had just stormed off, reappeared courtside.
Although Chen Hao had already won his first championship, Danzi believed it would be quite difficult for Chen Hao to win the Three-Point Contest.
You know, the league was not short of super shooters.
Moreover, the Three-Point Contest emphasized consistent performance and shooting rhythm; everyone's skills were actually quite similar.
Therefore, it was basically impossible for Chen Hao to win the championship with an absolute advantage.
Furthermore, Chen Hao didn't frequently shoot from beyond the three-point line in the regular season; he focused more on shots inside the paint.
Although Chen Hao's three-point shooting percentage was high, in Danzi's opinion, it was far from enough.
So, Danzi, with a confident expression, turned to Pippenand said:
"Hey, he can't win the Three-Point Contest!
The others are far superior to him!"
And Pippen, after hearing Jordan's words, actually smiled and nodded, replying:
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right!
Chen Hao might not actually win the championship!
Hahaha."
Upon hearing Pippen's reply, Danzi's face instantly became incredibly grim, because Pippen was clearly being sarcastic!
"This damn guy, he'll regret it later!"
Players participating in this Three-Point Contest included Richard Hamilton, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Kapono, and Peja.
These were all renowned shooters in the league, and their goal was to win the Three-Point championship.
Especially Nash and Hamilton, they were determined to win the championship.
Among them, Hamilton, when interviewed by the host, explicitly stated:
"Hey, you know, I'm a loyal fan of Michael.
I'll do my best to win the Three-Point championship and let Michael win this bet!"
Hamilton's words instantly made the Fans in the arena cheer loudly.
And Dirk Nowitzki, who was nearby, also had a very excited look:
"Clearly, Richard overlooked my strength.
In my opinion, Michael must win the championship with my help!
So, the Three-Point Contest championship belongs to me!"
Steve Nash, who was nearby, laughed after hearing this:
"Hey, you're all too arrogant!
In my opinion, this Three-Point Contest championship must belong to me!
As for you guys, none of you will be my opponents!"
The competition hadn't even started, but the contestants had already begun a war of words.
At this moment, the host handed the microphone to Chen Hao, and everyone voluntarily stopped, wanting to hear what he would say.
Chen Hao shrugged with a relaxed expression and spread his hands, saying:
"Honestly, in my opinion, you're all here to compete for second place!"
Chen Hao's words instantly made all the contestants' faces darken, because Chen Hao directly ignored their existence, implying they were only fit to compete for second place.
And Pippen, courtside, burst out laughing after hearing Chen Hao's arrogant words:
"Hahaha, well said!
Too well said!
Yes, they're all here to compete for second place!
Chen Hao is the Three-Point Contest champion!
Do you see?
This guy is even more arrogant than you!"
Pippen said to Danzi with a playful expression.
Danzi's expression was incredibly grim. He said in a low voice:
"Arrogance won't end well; not everyone is that damn Larry Bird!"
"Indeed, but I can guarantee that Chen Hao's score will exceed 5 points!
Don't you agree?"
Jordan: ". . ."
Chen Hao's words instantly drew maximum animosity; all the contestants were holding their breath, determined not to let Chen Hao win the championship!
With the referee's whistle, the Three-Point Contestpreliminaries began first!
Chen Hao was scheduled to appear last; the preceding contestants all made their appearances.
And their expressions were all very serious, and their shooting percentages were quite good.
Nash scored 24 points, Hamilton scored 23 points, Nowitzki scored 25 points, and Kapono scored 24 points; all very high scores.
Everyone's attention was on Chen Hao; it was finally his turn to appear!