During halftime of the Thunder–Heat game.
American Airlines Center.
The Suns and Hornets were finishing up their warm-ups.
At the broadcast booth,
Mark Jackson said, "The Hornets are seventh in the West—a playoff team. Beating the thirteenth-ranked Suns shouldn't be a problem."
"No, no, no!"
Jon Barry shook his head repeatedly, his face full of surprise. "Mark, haven't you heard? The Suns have a very strong rookie center named Blake Su.
Last night,
he needed only half a quarter to lead the Suns to a 22-point comeback against the Wizards—and capped it off with a game-winner.
With Blake Su on the floor, the Suns' overall strength rises by one—no, several levels. The Hornets won't have an easy time tonight."
"What?!"
Mark Jackson's eyes went wide in disbelief.
He'd been busy renovating his new house last night and hadn't followed the basketball news. Hearing this now left him stunned by the level of dominance Blake Su had shown.
"My god!"
"Jon, you're telling me a center who attacks from the perimeter, drives, takes outside jumpers—and does it with elite accuracy? That's unbelievable. I can't wait to watch Blake Su play."
Mark laughed.
"Me too,"
Jon Barry nodded with a smile, then pointed toward the court. "Here we go—the game's about to start."
Warm-ups ended.
Both teams' starters took the floor.
Phoenix Suns starters: 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).
New Orleans Hornets starters: point guard Chris Paul (183 cm), shooting guard Marco Belinelli (196 cm), small forward Trevor Ariza (203 cm), power forward David West (206 cm), and center Emeka Okafor (208 cm).
"Jon, is that Suns center wearing number 0 Blake Su?"
Mark asked.
"That's him. One game was all it took—he went from end-of-the-bench to the starting lineup overnight."
"He looks unusual for a center."
"That's right. Blake Su has a rare skill set. Based on last night's performance alone, the talent he showed doesn't lose out to Yao Ming back when he played for the Rockets."
Jon said with admiration.
As the commentators spoke, the game tipped off.
"Jump ball!"
Blake Su and Okafor lined up at center court.
The referee tossed the ball into the air. Both players jumped—but Blake Su's arm rose at a visibly faster rate, reaching more than a full hand higher than Okafor.
"Smack!"
He tipped the ball cleanly.
"This—?!"
Okafor froze.
"Blake Su just out-jumped Okafor by a full hand on the tip. That vertical is terrifying,"
Mark said, clicking his tongue.
Jon Barry added, "It's not just his vertical—his wingspan is incredible too. With both combined, Okafor had no chance."
The Suns gained possession.
Nash brought the ball up to initiate the first offense. At the top of the arc, he called for a screen, faked a drive to the left wing, then kicked it to Richardson in the left corner.
"Whoosh!"
A three went up.
"Clang!"
A bit too strong. Fortunately, Frye secured the rebound and kicked it back out to Nash. Seeing Blake Su calling for the ball, Nash swung it over.
"Smack!"
Left high post.
Blake Su caught the ball as David West stepped up to defend. At just 206 cm, West was clearly half a head shorter than Blake Su. Still…
Facing a rookie center holding the ball on the perimeter, the two-time All-Star—30 years old and in his prime—was brimming with confidence.
Blake Su lowered his center of gravity slightly, preparing to attack.
"Hey, rookie center,"
West pressed up on him. "You're really going to try to drive me from the perimeter?"
Blake Su glanced toward the paint, shrugged, and said, "Of course. I may be a center, but… the perimeter suits me better."
West shook his head, unconvinced. "Then go on. Put the ball in the hoop behind me—if you can."
"Here I come."
The moment the words fell,
Blake Su planted his foot and exploded to the right.
One step.
Fast as the wind.
So fast it was impossible to defend—he blew past West immediately.
And because West was a power forward whose speed was never his strength, the visual impact of a center blowing by him in one step was even more shocking.
"Whoa!"
The fans in the front row gaped in disbelief.
"Swish!"
Blake Su pulled up for a stop-and-pop jumper. With the [Peak Anthony Jump Shot] activated, a wide-open look like that was impossible to miss. The ball dropped cleanly through the net for two points.
"So… so fast…"
West stood there dumbfounded. He couldn't believe a center could move like that.
"No way. I must've lost focus—that's the only reason he got past me."
Trying to reassure himself, West locked onto Blake Su again on the next possession, eyes wide, fully locked in, determined to stop him this time.
But… he couldn't.
"Swish!"
No fancy moves. Just pure speed and a precise jumper. Blake Su blew past West again and calmly knocked down another shot.
Suns (4) : (0) Hornets.
"Hahaha!"
Nash laughed out loud and jogged over to slap hands with Blake Su. That lightning-fast burst left him both shocked and exhilarated—one word summed it up: joy.
"Amazing!"
From the broadcast booth,
Mark Jackson leaned forward, staring at Blake Su as he exclaimed, "What is this? Are we sure this guy is a center—and not a guard?!"
"Hahaha!"
Jon Barry laughed loudly. "You ever seen a 215-centimeter guard?"
"Tsk, tsk…"
Mark couldn't help clicking his tongue. "Blake Su is unbelievable—no, his talent is terrifying. Center height, guard-level drives and jumpers.
West has absolutely no answer."
"Exactly,"
Jon said. "Blake Su getting past two-time All-Star David West is as easy as crossing an empty street in the early morning."
On the court.
West's expression darkened.
He was a bona fide All-Star power forward, yet a rookie center had blown past him twice on the perimeter and scored jumpers right over his head—twice in a row.
It was humiliating.
"Damn it!"
West clenched his teeth, fury and shame mixing together as he glared at Blake Su, wishing he could pin him to the floor and grind him down—anything to salvage his pride.
Play continued.
Paul brought the ball up, facing Nash at the top of the arc. After a series of rhythm dribbles that looked like a drive was coming, he suddenly whipped a behind-the-back pass to West on the left low block.
Wide open.
"Clang!"
Known for his mid-range accuracy, West rose for the open jumper—but the ball struck the rim and bounced out. Blake Su grabbed the rebound.
"That didn't go in?"
West clenched his fists, completely frustrated. After being beaten twice in a row by Blake Su, his mindset was unraveling, and his touch was slipping with it.
He shook his head hard, forcing himself to calm down, retreated on defense, and once again squared up against Blake Su at the free-throw line.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Blake Su dribbled with consecutive crossovers, lowering his center of gravity. He feinted left with the ball in his left hand—then suddenly rose up for the jumper. West lunged forward to contest.
But Blake Su was simply too tall.
"Swish!"
The ball sailed over West's head as if guided by GPS, dropping cleanly through the net.
"Shit!"
West cursed angrily after getting scored on again.
On the very next possession, Blake Su faced West at the free-throw line once more—the same setup, the same motion. He went into his shooting form again.
"Ahhh!"
West roared and threw himself forward with everything he had.
The next instant, his pupils shrank sharply—because Blake Su hadn't jumped at all.
He stepped straight into West's body.
"Beep! Beep!"
The whistle blew.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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