Chapter 423: Public Support, Post Match Interviews
"Oh man," Charles Barkley said on the TNT broadcast, sounding more entertained than concerned. "Chris got put to sleep with 1 punch. He picked the wrong opponent. That was like an amateur stepping into the ring with a pro."
Barkley had always loved a little chaos. In his playing days he had thrown elbows, traded shoves, and collected technicals like souvenirs. Watching a scuffle from a safe distance was practically a hobby.
Kenny Smith stayed calmer, but even he could not ignore what everyone had just seen. "Chen's hand speed looks like his first step. The whole thing ended instantly."
Barkley grinned. "This is the 2nd time Chen has dropped somebody on an NBA court. He's got a 100% knockout rate. That might be the most efficient stat in league history."
"Fortunately Chris seems okay," Kenny said. "He came to after a few dozen seconds."
Kenny added, "Chen's counter was so quick Chris probably doesn't even know what hit him. He can watch the slow motion when he's fully awake."
Barkley shrugged. "I don't think he wants that replay. Some highlights are not meant to be relived."
Paul might not want to see it again, but the fans definitely did. Radio stations replayed the clip on loop, because they understood what the public wanted.
As much as people claimed they watched for pure basketball, moments like this lit up the sports world in a way a normal box score never could. Hockey drew massive attention in North America for a reason, and fighting was part of its culture. The NHL even had rules to regulate it.
The NBA could never copy that. No helmets, no padding, and bodies built like tanks. If those guys really fought, somebody would get seriously hurt. And Commissioner David Stern would never allow it. He had spent years pushing the league toward a cleaner, global image.
…
When play finally settled again, the Suns kept scoring.
Chen Yan's line was locked in at 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. After the ejections, the game slid into garbage time fast. Phoenix had Stoudemire and Nash to keep the offense organized. New Orleans lost its only true engine. Without Paul, their half court offense turned into a grind of forced shots and late clock prayers.
By the 4th quarter, the Suns were basically using the night to get young guys reps.
At that point, almost nobody cared about the final score. Reporters who covered New Orleans were already sprinting through the arena corridors, trying to get in position for the post game rush.
The final horn sounded, Suns 117, Hornets 93.
But the headline was never the margin.
Online, comment sections and forums exploded. American fans argued about whether Chen Yan had trained in boxing. Overseas fans were furious about the broadcast choice in their market, because many of them missed the live moment and had to settle for replays.
Elsewhere on television, another game crawled to the finish, 76 to 72. The contrast only made people complain louder.
Most of the noise, though, leaned in Chen Yan's favor. Outside of New Orleans, very few people defended Paul. Cameras had caught the extra contact and the cheap shots earlier, and Paul threw the first punch. Sympathy was hard to find when you started the fire.
Public support did not make Chen Yan feel better.
After the game, his emotions were tangled. He knew punishment was coming. Even if he was defending himself, he had still knocked out a star.
And honestly, he had not expected Paul to go down like that.
Chen Yan had held back. He was not trying to seriously hurt anyone. But the jaw is a vulnerable point, and a clean shot can shut the lights off fast. In rare worst cases, a violent snap of the head can cause serious damage.
That thought sat heavy in his stomach.
…
At the post game press conference, Chen Yan walked in and instantly became the only thing anyone wanted to talk about.
The first question came sharp.
"Chen, the league has been promoting a message of staying away from violence. What's your explanation for what happened out there?"
Chen Yan did not dodge it. "First, I'm sorry. I want to apologize to every fan watching, and especially to any kids who saw that. I set a bad example. That should not happen on a basketball court. We're supposed to let our game do the talking. My actions were wrong, and I hope nobody imitates it."
Right now, an apology was the smartest move. Great players had lost their temper before. The difference was how you handled it after. Chen Yan understood the league was trying to market him, and he also understood how quickly that support could disappear if he acted arrogant.
Another reporter pressed. "You've said before you don't advocate violence, but you knocked out Chris Paul tonight. How do you explain that?"
"I still oppose violence," Chen Yan said. "Especially on the court. But if someone throws violence at you, you also have to know how to protect yourself. That's the truth."
His message was simple. He did not start it.
A third reporter jumped in. "Your punch looked professional. Have you trained in boxing?"
"It's a hobby," Chen Yan said. "I practice combat training for conditioning and reaction, and yes, for self protection when necessary. Like tonight."
Again, he emphasized the same point. He reacted, he did not initiate.
…
Afterward, Suns players backed him publicly.
Amare Stoudemire told reporters, "Nobody wants to see that. But Chen wasn't the instigator. He defended himself. If he doesn't protect himself, maybe he's the one on the floor. Nobody wants that."
Steve Nash was measured. "Chen is humble and kind. He's not someone who throws punches for fun. Everything happened so fast we didn't even have time to separate them. We hope Chris is safe and gets back on the court soon."
Coach Mike D'Antoni tried to balance honesty with advocacy. "Hitting someone is wrong, I'll say that clearly. But context matters. Chris escalated it and threw the first punch. If the league punishes Chen too harshly, what message does that send? That players should just take a punch and hope for the best?"
On the Hornets' side, everyone defended Paul. That was expected. Teammates do not publicly abandon their star, even when they know he crossed the line.
The best news came quickly. Paul's post game evaluation showed he was fine, with only a mild concussion. For an NBA player, that was still serious, but it was not catastrophic.
Reporters tried every angle to get a quote from Paul, but New Orleans kept him shielded. The official line was that he needed rest.
The real reason was obvious.
Starting a fight, throwing the first punch, then waking up on the floor was not a story anyone wanted to tell into a microphone.
.....
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