Chapter 609: Extremely Popular!
As the final buzzer sounded, the score froze at 123 to 100.
Sharp eyed fans quickly noticed something unbelievable.
Chen Yan had scored 1 point more than the entire Grizzlies team combined.
Tonight, Chen Yan broke 2 records. Along with setting a new single game scoring record, he also made 16 3 pointers, breaking the NBA single game record from beyond the arc.
The arena exploded into thunderous cheers.
Without question, every roar was for Chen Yan.
Unlike usual, Chen Yan did not head straight for the tunnel after the game. The fans were too passionate tonight, too overwhelmed, and he had to respond.
He walked around the court, raising his hand toward every section of the stands. Each time he lifted his arm, the applause grew louder, rolling through the arena like another wave.
"This feels like an earthquake," Diaw said with a smile. "I don't think the fans were even this loud when we won the championship."
"That was different," Raja Bell said. "Winning a championship is joy. Tonight is the shock of witnessing a miracle."
ESPN reporters were already waiting at center court. There was no way they would miss a moment like this.
During the interview, Chen Yan could not help looking up at the big screen several times, staring at his own stat line as if he still could not believe it.
"Incredible. This is unbelievable," Chen Yan said. "I never imagined a player could score 101 points, and I definitely never imagined it would be me. I just tried to stay aggressive and play every possession the right way. Honestly, I still don't fully believe this is real. Somebody pinch me so I know I'm not dreaming."
The ESPN reporter, naturally, did not miss the chance. She reached out and lightly pinched him, drawing a wave of laughter from the crowd.
The segment effect was perfect.
Back in the locker room, after Chen Yan finished showering, the familiar routine began.
Stoudemire and Diaw had prepared a sheet of A4 paper with "101" written on it. Nash, dressed in a suit, also appeared in the locker room.
Chen Yan smiled as he held up the paper. First, he posed alone. Then, he took a group photo with his teammates.
After learning from the chaos of his previous 89 point night, Phoenix did not open the locker room to the media tonight.
Reporters wanted to interview Chen Yan?
They could go to the press room.
At the press conference, Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins, Kevin Love, and Mike Conley all looked defeated.
No one wanted to attend a press conference under these circumstances. Sitting there felt less like answering questions and more like being publicly humiliated.
"He made our defense look like scenery," Hollins said. "His shooting, his ball handling, his drives, everything was at the highest possible level tonight. He is the number 1 scorer in the league right now. He looked like a combination of Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Allen Iverson."
Hollins sounded like a Chen Yan fan, but anyone who watched the game knew he was not exaggerating.
Love spread his hands helplessly.
"People always call Jordan the God of Basketball, but I never played against Jordan. I've played against Chen Yan. What I can say is that Chen Yan is the God of Basketball in this era. No, in some ways, he has already surpassed Jordan. Jordan never scored 101 points."
Conley forced a bitter smile.
"You might not believe this, but Chen's score went up so fast that at one point, I thought the scorer's table was broken. It felt like they were multiplying his points instead of adding them. I took 1 sip of water, and he went from 30 to 40. We ran 2 possessions, and he was already at 50. Then 60, 70. Man, I don't even know how he did it."
He paused, then continued.
"Honestly, this game was a show for the fans, a celebration. But for us, for everyone in the Grizzlies organization, it was a disaster. We would rather lose by 40 or 50 than let someone score 101 on us. But it happened. All we can do is look forward. We still have games to play, and our goal this season is to make the playoffs. Everyone in this locker room is still working toward that."
From those statements, anyone could see that the Grizzlies were a group of honest players. If they were a team full of dirty veterans and reckless enforcers, Chen Yan probably would not have reached 101.
Phoenix's press conference started later than usual because the Suns players had celebrated wildly in the locker room.
Chen Yan's comments were similar to what he said after his 89 point game. The only real difference was that the number had changed from 89 to 101.
At that very moment, fans all over the world were discussing the same name.
Chen Yan.
Sports News devoted a huge portion of its broadcast to Chen Yan's performance, and the show ran far past its scheduled time.
The next day, countless media outlets used the photo of Chen Yan holding the "101" sign as their cover image. It was the same classic pose once associated with Wilt Chamberlain, and Chen Yan was clearly paying tribute to him.
Chen Yan's popularity reached a new peak. Regardless of age or gender, as long as someone had watched basketball or even heard of basketball, they claimed to be a Chen Yan fan.
Some fans joked that Chen Yan now had 6 billion fans.
The biggest regret for the major North American broadcasters was that none of them had carried the game live. Because of that, they had missed the greatest individual performance in basketball history.
American fans suffered the most. They could only watch replays or search for recordings to experience Chen Yan's night after the fact.
Legends and current NBA stars also reacted to Chen Yan's 101 points.
Iverson said, "A new idol has appeared in the league. Every player will set Chen Yan as a target, and his 101 points will become something people chase."
Nowitzki said, "He didn't just break the single game scoring record and the single game 3 point record. He changed the league's entire basketball logic. Before him, not many players were taking those super long range shots. After him, players try them almost every game. Soon, that kind of shooting won't belong only to Chen Yan."
Nowitzki was not just talking. In his latest game, he himself attempted 2 super long range 3 pointers from 1 step beyond the arc.
James said, "Chen Yan is an outstanding player. I'm happy to see him have a game like that. It's a treasure for the NBA and for everyone who loves basketball."
Rodman looked confused and said, "How did he leave the court alive?"
Bill Laimbeer, one of the core members of the old Bad Boys Pistons, was even more direct.
"If he was on the other side against me, he wouldn't score 30, because I'd take him out."
Pippen was the most stunned of all. He had always been critical of Chen Yan and had repeatedly belittled him in public. After this game, he would probably stay quiet for a long time.
Chen Yan was delighted to see reports about him dominating every page. No one dislikes being popular.
Right now, Chen Yan was the NBA's biggest traffic machine. Even Kobe could not compare with him.
Someone even happier than Chen Yan was Li Ning.
Chen Yan's performances during this stretch sent Li Ning sneakers flying off shelves. The brand's influence and market value rose almost in a straight line.
Originally, Li Ning had planned to release an 89 point special edition sneaker for Chen Yan, but that plan was urgently stopped.
Why release an 89 point edition when he had already scored 101?
Time Magazine once again invited Chen Yan to appear on its cover for the next issue.
The NBA's official website also temporarily changed its homepage background to a photo of Chen Yan.
Kim Kardashian once again made a direct private invitation to Chen Yan and even traveled to Phoenix hoping for a chance encounter. She knew Chen Yan would not respond, but she still wanted to ride the wave of his popularity.
Everyone wanted a piece of Chen Yan's heat.
Li Ning canceled the 89 series.
Now, they would go straight to the 101 series.
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
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