Curry shook his head and laughed. "What's special about my game? I'm just a pretty ordinary guard. I'm not even that strong."
"No, no, no!"
Steve Nash waved his hands. "Stephen, your three-point shot is very distinctive. It's not just accurate—your release is incredibly fast. That's your offensive identity.
If you can really bring that out, you'll be very dangerous.
It's just that your role overlaps with Monta Ellis, which keeps you from fully tapping into your potential. That's why your numbers look so average."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Curry understood, but he didn't take it too seriously. He smiled easily. "I'm not as good as you're saying. I'm only a second-year player—I still need time to grow."
As they were talking, the waiter brought the dishes over.
"Food's here, food's here. Let's eat,"
Austin said.
"Eat, eat!"
Curry was already starving. The rich aroma of the food wiped away any interest in continuing the conversation. Blake Su was just as hungry, and the group quickly dug in.
After the meal.
Curry lounged back in his chair without a care for appearances.
Austin straightened up and said to Blake Su, "Mr. Blake Su, I originally planned to invite you out another day, but since we ran into each other today, I suppose it's fate.
So, have you thought it over?
Would you be willing to let me be your agent?"
Blake Su extended his hand, smiling lightly. "Of course. I hope we can work together and achieve a win-win."
"That's great."
Austin gripped Blake Su's hand firmly, his mood lifting immediately.
"Oh~"
Curry reacted a beat late and exclaimed, "Doesn't that mean Blake Su and I will have the same agent, under the same roof?"
"That's right,"
Austin said with a smile. "Don't worry. I'll do everything I can to secure the best resources for both of you."
"Heh!"
Curry was delighted. "Blake Su, then from today on, we're friends. We should hang out sometime."
"No problem."
Blake Su nodded with a smile.
Curry had always been easygoing, and he was a future superstar. Making a friend like this ahead of time seemed like it could be pretty interesting.
"Wait."
Curry suddenly remembered something and turned serious again. "Blake Su, even though we're friends, I won't go easy on you in tomorrow night's game.
On the contrary.
I'll defeat you as an opponent and let the whole league know that the recently hyped 'guard-style' center is my defeated rival.
Hahaha~"
Curry got excited just saying it.
"Tch~"
Blake Su snorted, amused. One second he was talking about being good friends, the next he was talking about blowing him out on the court—such an elementary-school personality.
After chatting for a bit longer, they went their separate ways.
On the way back to the hotel.
Blake Su asked, "Steve Nash, what do you think of Curry, this second-year player?"
"Very good,"
Steve Nash said, running a hand through his hair. "Just like I said earlier, I think Curry has tremendous potential. He just hasn't had the right opportunity to show it."
It had to be said.
Steve Nash was remarkably farsighted. Curry might look ordinary now, but in the future, he would elevate the three-point shot to an entirely new level and push the 'small-ball era' to its peak as a true superstar.
"Then…"
Blake Su smiled. "What if we brought Curry to the Suns? What do you think?"
"Huh?"
Steve Nash was startled, then said in a low voice, "That would be amazing. Curry and you, combined with what's left of my playmaking ability… I think the Suns would be even stronger than last year.
But… Curry wouldn't come, would he?"
"How would we know if we don't try? Steve Nash, I need your help."
"Alright. I'll do my best."
Exactly.
As a time traveler, Blake Su knew better than anyone just how strong Curry would become. The current Suns desperately needed a sharpshooter like him.
With Steve Nash's help secured,
Blake Su didn't hesitate and immediately messaged Austin, having him—now Curry's agent—try to persuade Curry to come to the Suns. With Austin, Nash, and himself working together, they had to seize this chance and lock Curry down before he truly became a superstar.
...
The next day.
The Suns arrived early at Oracle Arena, training in the visitors' practice facility as they actively prepared for that night's game.
Last night.
Several other games had been played around the league.
In the Bulls versus Bucks matchup, Derrick "Pooh" Rose put up 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists, easily defeating the Bucks and leading his team to a 10–2 record.
Second in the Eastern Conference, behind only the seemingly invincible Miami Heat.
You had to know.
This was only Rose's third year in the league, yet he was already carrying a team as the lone star to such an impressive record. That was truly terrifying.
Meanwhile.
The Clippers also faced the Trail Blazers.
The Trail Blazers edged out the Clippers by three points. The returning "Beast," top pick Griffin, finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. One violent, aesthetically brutal dunk after another
allowed fans to fully savor the physical gifts of this "Beast."
"Worthy of the name 'Beast.' That athleticism is insane."
"Yeah, Griffin scores way too easily. If his team weren't so weak, they probably would've won tonight."
"He'll overpower Wall and take Rookie of the Year this season, right?"
"Hard to say. Wall is strong too."
"Hey, you've all got it wrong. This year's Rookie of the Year is definitely Blake Su."
"..."
Fans argued back and forth on Twitter.
9:00 PM.
Oracle Arena.
The Warriors and Suns matchup officially tipped off.
During warm-ups, Curry greeted Blake Su. But Blake Su kept things clear in his mind—the court was the court. Even if he wanted Curry as a future teammate, he wouldn't show him any mercy.
Soon.
Warm-ups ended, and the starters took the floor.
Golden State Warriors starting lineup: point guard Stephen Curry (191 cm), shooting guard Monta Ellis (191 cm), small forward Dorell Wright (201 cm), power forward David Lee (206 cm), and center Louis Amundson (211 cm).
Phoenix Suns starting lineup: point guard Steve Nash (191 cm), shooting guard Jason Richardson (198 cm), small forward Grant Hill (203 cm), power forward Channing Frye (211 cm), and center Blake Su (215 cm).
"Jump ball!"
Blake Su and Amundson went up for the tip.
Blake Su exploded upward like a spring, rising more than half a hand above Amundson and easily tipping the ball away, giving the Suns the first possession.
"Tsk…"
From the commentary table.
Van Gundy exclaimed, "Incredible height, incredible wingspan, terrifying vertical. Blake Su's physical gifts are downright frightening. Going up for a jump ball against him is like trying to stop a cart with a mantis."
"Yeah,"
Mike Breen echoed.
On the court.
Steve Nash pushed the ball up, used Blake Su's screen, and flicked a no-look pass to Hill on the opposite side. Hill pulled up for a mid-range jumper, but it was just a bit short, and David Lee secured the rebound.
Combo guard Ellis brought the ball up, facing Hill at the left arc. After a series of crossovers, he suddenly accelerated, blowing past the no-longer-young Hill, only to be met by Richardson's help defense.
"Whoosh!"
Ellis tossed the ball high into the air. Under the rim, David Lee bent his knees and took off.
"Boom!"
An alley-oop slam.
"Roar!"
David Lee let out a shout after the dunk, pounding his chest with swagger.
Warriors (2) : (0) Suns.
Steve Nash brought the ball back up and handed it off to Blake Su. David Lee stepped up to defend. Though he was a power forward, Blake Su was on the perimeter, so Lee—who had relatively good mobility—took the assignment.
Besides.
Having just finished an alley-oop dunk to start the game, Lee was brimming with confidence.
But Blake Su didn't even look at him. Lowering his center of gravity, the moment the ball settled into his right hand, he burst forward at blinding speed, instantly blowing past David Lee and appearing behind him.
"Huh? What is David Lee doing? Why does he look like a wooden post, standing there without moving?!"