Staples Center, Los Angeles!
"I can't use any words right now to describe how I'm feeling at this very moment!"
Smith, from the courtside commentary booth, excitedly shouted, "Kai Chen, from Duke University, has once again shown us with his performance that he could be the next Michael Jordan, the next Kobe Bryant!"
"Guys, this is simply unbelievable!"
It wasn't just Smith; Charles Barkley, sitting next to him, added, "Kai Chen drove the ball in and drew a foul while being defended by both LeBron and Ingram!"
"LeBron and Ingram's defense on that play was already pushed to the limit, but Kai Chen still managed to make the shot!"
The game continued, and the third quarter hadn't ended yet.
LeBron seemed a bit tired; his 35-year-old body simply couldn't withstand such a fierce back-and-forth battle with the young Kai Chen.
So much so that when Kai was near him, he could clearly hear LeBron's heavy breathing.
Normally, LeBron wouldn't be so aggressive. He had already scored 40 points in just 26 minutes on the court.
He would usually allocate his physical energy more reasonably at his age, using passes to facilitate his teammates' offense and substituting that for some of his own scoring methods.
Perhaps tonight, LeBron would still post a very high individual score, but he certainly wouldn't attack this aggressively while disregarding his stamina.
However, he also couldn't tolerate Kai Chen answering score after score on the offensive end.
He couldn't accept it, and his competitive spirit wouldn't allow it either.
After a series of exchanges with Kai, he had long since abandoned the idea of single-handedly defending and completely shutting down his opponent.
He clearly felt Kai Chen's monstrous offensive talent; it was simply impossible to shut him down, even difficult to limit him.
Perhaps it would have been possible when he was younger.
But now, he absolutely couldn't.
"This kid is even stronger than he was in college!"
LeBron glanced at Kai Chen beside him, sighed inwardly, then took the ball from Lonzo Ball and pulled up for a mid-range jumper.
"Swish!"
For this possession, he chose an easier, more energy-saving way to score.
But Kai Chen, back on offense almost instantly, answered with another two points.
Immediately after, LeBron received the ball from Lonzo Ball at the elbow, faked a triple-threat, and then decisively drove from Kai Chen's left.
Kai Chen's speed was not slow at all; with the system's boost, he easily stayed tight on LeBron.
"Bang!"
Their bodies collided violently.
Feeling the strength in Kai Chen's body, LeBron couldn't help but frown.
But he wasn't someone to be trifled with either.
After failing to break through with brute force, LeBron spun, faked Kai Chen out, then spun back, gaining a half-step advantage, and rose for a smooth mid-range jumper!
After the ball left his hands, LeBron even turned away early, not bothering to look, already running back toward his own half.
In his view, the shot had completely escaped the defense and was guaranteed to go in.
"Oh no!!"
However, what he heard was not the roar of the crowd—
but a chorus of gasps!
Kai Chen, who had been a half-step behind LeBron, exploded into the air like a rocket.
He snatched the ball cleanly with one hand in mid-air!
Mid-air block!!!
"Oh my god!"
Smith, at the courtside commentary booth, leapt up in excitement, and his headphones slipped off from jumping too high.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what have we just witnessed?!!!"
Smith quickly grabbed his headphones and roared into the microphone, "Kai Chen just delivered a mid-air block on LeBron James!!"
"This is simply unbelievable!!"
Barkley, sitting next to him, was equally stunned. "Kai Chen, who was a half-step behind LeBron, actually completed the recovery and blocked LeBron James with one hand!"
"LeBron's offensive choice on that play was already pushed to perfection—his rhythm control, spin, and release were flawless!!"
In other words, LeBron's offense on that possession was nearly perfect.
And it was precisely that perfection which made Kai Chen's defense look even more absurd.
"I'll bet that if Kai replayed that possession, he wouldn't block it again!"
After calming down, Smith sat back down. "The talent Kai Chen has displayed is absolutely terrifying!"
"But this also proves how accurate my talent evaluation is!!"
If Kai Chen could fully realize his potential, the happiest people would be the Los Angeles Clippers' management—followed closely by Smith himself.
"Oh my god, what kind of talent is this?!"
"No wonder Kendall Jenner can be his girlfriend; I want to experience that kind of strength too!!"
"This might be the most humiliating play of LeBron's entire career."
In the stands, the Los Angeles Lakers fans who had been ready to cheer were left collectively dumbfounded.
Just as the commentators said.
LeBron had executed a perfect offensive possession—but Kai Chen's defense was even better.
On the court, LeBron stood frozen in place.
But Kai Chen wasn't done yet.
Dribbling the ball, Kai blew past LeBron in one step, accelerated into the frontcourt, and with an empty basket ahead of him, how could he pass up such a chance to put on a show?
Inside the free-throw line, Kai took off on one foot, switched the ball from his left hand to his right in mid-air, and unleashed a ferocious right-handed tomahawk dunk!!!
92:82!
Kai Chen erupted in the third quarter, pushing the Clippers' lead into double digits.
Even as the lead continued to grow, Coach Rivers on the sideline clenched his fists tightly.
He could hardly believe that the strategy Kai Chen proposed at halftime had actually worked.
Transition offense—Los Angeles Lakers possession.
Ingram passed the ball to Lonzo Ball, who was completely wide open.
Unfortunately, Lonzo's three-pointer clanged off the rim.
The second-year guard's shooting percentage was still painfully low.
Beverley had completely ignored him on that possession.
Jeff Green secured the rebound cleanly, and the Clippers immediately launched a counterattack.
Beverley pushed the ball up quickly and fired a pass to the deep corner, where no one seemed to be.
Just as the fans thought the Clippers were about to waste the fast break—
At the very last moment, just before the ball went out of bounds, Kai Chen appeared, saved it in stride, and launched another wide-open three!
"Swish!"
The ball cut through the air like a blade leaving its sheath—clean and lethal.
95:82!
The lead continued to grow steadily!
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