Chapter 61: Are You Treating the NBA Like the NCAA? Welcome to the New Season
After the brief drama with Paul Pierce, reporters kept prodding Chen Yan for more comments, clearly trying to stir the pot.
But Chen Yan shut it down quickly.
"That's it from me," he said firmly. "I'm here to play basketball, not get into a war of words. I don't want any off-court distractions messing with my debut."
As tip-off neared, fans began pouring into the American West Arena.
The atmosphere grew more electric by the minute.
By the time warmups started, the 19,000-seat arena was packed and buzzing with energy.
Despite the Suns' inconsistent records in recent years, their fast-paced style kept fans interested. And now with Chen Yan joining the squad, ticket sales were soaring.
International students, Chinese expats, and old NCAA fans filled the seats. Many had followed Chen Yan since his Texas Longhorn days.
"Chen! Chen Yan! Over here! I don't know how to say this in Chinese, but I'm your biggest fan!"
During warmup shots, a white kid near the court shouted desperately for an autograph.
Chen turned, spotted the boy rocking a Texas Longhorns jersey—his college jersey—and jogged over with a smile.
The kid couldn't have been more than eight years old, but clearly, he'd been a loyal fan for a while.
Chen signed the jersey with a grin. Dreams like that deserved to be honored.
What he didn't expect was a chain reaction.
Suddenly, dozens of fans crowded the railing, shouting his name, asking for autographs, selfies—even his sneakers.
Chen laughed helplessly.
"You guys want me to debut barefoot or what?"
The fans roared with laughter. Chen took a few moments to sign some more, but he knew if he tried to satisfy everyone, the game might tip off before he was done.
A few feet away, Stoudemire nudged Hill and pointed.
"Look at that guy—already living like an All-Star."
Hill chuckled. "He's got the fans wrapped around his finger."
Nash joined them, towel draped over his shoulder.
"Don't laugh—I'm gonna ask for his autograph after the game. My twin daughters wouldn't shut up about him yesterday."
Stoudemire raised an eyebrow.
"Your girls like basketball already?"
"Nope," Nash replied. "They just like pretty boys."
Stoudemire burst out laughing.
"Damn, that explains it. No wonder they cried last season when me and Marion held 'em. Guess we're not their type."
---
Game Time
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! Tonight's regular-season matchup features the Phoenix Suns against the Toronto Raptors!"
Yu Jia's excited voice echoed from the CCTV5 broadcast studio.
"This game marks the Suns' season opener—and Chen Yan's official NBA debut!"
Zhang Weiping chimed in with equal enthusiasm:
"Wow! Starting in his very first NBA game—it's clear that Coach D'Antoni has a lot of trust in him. Let's hope Chen Yan plays his heart out!"
Back home in China, fans crowded in front of televisions. Dorm canteens, cafes, and student lounges were jam-packed.
Everyone was tuned in. Everyone was ready.
Chen Yan was about to take his first step into the NBA.
Suddenly, the arena lights dimmed. It was time for introductions.
One by one, the Suns' starters were called out—Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Boris Diaw…
Finally—
"AND STARTING AT SHOOTING GUARD… FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS… CHEN YAAAAAN!"
The arena exploded in cheers.
Chen high-fived his teammates as he ran to center court, his heart pounding.
He paused, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
This was it. The beginning of his pro career.
"You ready?" Nash asked, giving his shoulder a firm squeeze.
Chen cracked a nervous grin. "A little."
"That's normal," Nash said, nodding. "Man, I was so nervous in my first game, I almost cried. Seriously."
Chen laughed, the tension in his chest loosening.
"Listen," Nash said. "If you see a chance to run—run. Be aggressive off the ball like we practiced. I'll find you. Just play your game."
Chen nodded. Having Nash by his side—his mentor, his floor general—settled his nerves more than anything else could.
---
Starting Lineups:
Toronto Raptors:
PG: José Calderón
SG: Anthony Parker
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Andrea Bargnani
Phoenix Suns:
PG: Steve Nash
SG: Chen Yan
SF: Raja Bell
PF: Boris Diaw
C: Amar'e Stoudemire
Many had expected D'Antoni to ease Chen into the rotation off the bench, maybe have him play a role similar to Leandro Barbosa's last season.
But clearly, the Suns had other plans.
Management wasn't just betting on Chen—they were investing in him. He was their future on the wing.
Nash was still elite, but he was 33. The team needed someone to bridge the next era, and Chen had the skill, swagger, and work ethic to be that guy.
As for the bench, Grant Hill was tasked with leading the second unit. The veteran forward had both the experience and composure to guide Phoenix's young players.
---
Tip-off.
The referee tossed the ball up at center court.
Stoudemire leapt high and swatted it back—Suns ball!
Phoenix immediately fell into their run-and-gun rhythm, spreading the floor and pushing the pace. The Raptors hustled back on defense—everyone knew that if you blinked against the Suns, they'd burn you in transition.
After crossing half court, Chen Yan sprinted straight to the corner, following Steve Nash's subtle hand gesture—a silent cue in the Suns' playbook.
His matchup for tonight? Anthony Parker, a seasoned 32-year-old veteran.
Though not a household name in the NBA, Parker was a legend in Europe. He'd been named one of the 50 greatest players in EuroLeague history and had won back-to-back MVPs in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. Over there, he was the man. But in the NBA, he had transitioned from a primary option to a role player.
Still, anyone who snatched an MVP trophy in Europe wasn't someone to take lightly. Chen Yan knew better than to underestimate him just because American fans didn't chant his name.
At the top of the arc, Nash and Stoudemire executed the Suns' signature pick-and-roll—vintage Phoenix basketball.
The Raptors read the play well and switched quickly on defense. Nash didn't force it to Amar'e. Instead, with his trademark finesse, he flicked his wrist and zipped the ball to Chen Yan in the corner.
Chen caught it clean.
Immediately, he hit Parker with a smooth pump fake.
Parker didn't bite—years of elite Euro experience kept his feet grounded.
But Chen didn't care if the fake worked. Without hesitation, he exploded down the baseline with a sudden burst of speed.
Just as Parker retreated, Chen slammed on the brakes and yanked the ball back with a nasty step-back!
This time, Parker bit—hard. He lunged forward, off balance.
With a lightning-quick crossover through the legs, Chen completely broke the EuroLeague MVP's ankles.
Each move had crazy separation. On the broadcast, Chen looked like he was skating.
Then—BOOM.
Turning into a white blur, Chen slashed down the lane. Bargnani rotated to help, but he was too slow. Chen Yan was already airborne.
Two hands.
Violent slam.
BOOM!!!
The American West Arena exploded.
"OH MY GOD!!!" Barkley shouted from the broadcast booth. "Chen just baptized Bargnani! First possession of the season and we're already getting Top 5 Plays material!"
Kenny Smith laughed. "Yo, is he treating the NBA like it's the NCAA?! That was straight-up disrespectful!"
On ESPN's national broadcast, the replay played in slow motion—Chen hanging on the rim, chest heaving, fans going wild.
Nash jogged over and patted Chen's backside with a grin. "Well damn… So this is what you meant by 'a little nervous'?"
Chen smiled back and gave him a friendly shoulder tap. He wasn't fazed—at all.
Once he stepped onto the court, the jitters melted away. He was locked in. That was just his nature—fully committed, fearless, and tunnel-visioned on the game.
The Raptors brought the ball up the other way.
Calderon crossed half court and bounced it inside to Anthony Parker. While Parker could handle the rock, the Raptors' system didn't really let him do much with it. So he took one dribble, then handed it off to their offensive hub—Paul Pierce.
While doing so, he subtly screened Raja Bell, adding a little veteran savvy to the hand-off.
Chen saw the play unfolding and took a big stride to fight through Parker's screen, cutting off Pierce before he could build momentum.
Just a half-second slower and Pierce would've had a clear lane to the rim.
Seeing the rookie in front of him, Pierce's eyes lit up.
He loved schooling youngbloods—especially ones hyped up by the media like Chen Yan.
He backed him down to the right wing, around the 45-degree mark, then stuck his rear out—classic Pierce. Three hard bumps later, he spun around and rose into a smooth fadeaway jumper.
In his mind, the trash talk was already locked and loaded:
"Rookie, welcome to the NBA."
But—
"SLAP!"
Before Pierce could even extend his arm for the shot, Chen cleanly picked his pocket with a god-tier steal.
"Shit!" Pierce cursed silently, watching the rookie streak away with the ball.
Chen bolted down the court—Suns on the fast break.
But halfway through, Nash and Raja Bell pulled up and slowed down.
They knew.
They weren't needed this time.
Chen flew solo, gliding through the paint like a phantom.
BOOM!!!
Another thunderous dunk rocked the Raptors.
This time, Chen jogged back toward Pierce, grinning.
"Welcome to the new season," he quipped, brushing past him.
Pierce stood there, stunned.
Wait… those were supposed to be my lines. This damn rookie just snatched my moment!
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