NBA: Basketball Legend.

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: David Stern’s Attention and Magic Johnson’s Praise

Chapter 89: David Stern’s Attention and Magic Johnson’s Praise

Despite the resurgence of recent tabloid drama, Chen Yan’s public image remains untarnished in the eyes of his fans. So far, the only gossip tying him to controversy revolves around Taylor Swift—and even then, it’s more romantic than scandalous.

In fact, some fans have grown to adore the pairing. Chen Yan and Taylor Swift? Stylish, powerful, eye-catching—it’s hard not to root for them.

Still, off-court drama pales in comparison to the buzz surrounding Chen’s on-court dominance.

After dropping 51 points and drilling a buzzer-beater to steal the game, Chen has become the undisputed headline of sports media—both domestic and international.

”Clutch DNA! The Buzzer-Beater That Froze Kobe!”

”Unstoppable Heat! 29 Points in One Quarter—New Rookie Record!”

”Mamba Reincarnated? Teammates Call Him ’Black Bangkok!’”

”Chamberlain 2.0? Youngest Player Ever to Score 50+!”

”Championship Piece? The Suns Just Found Their Secret Weapon.”

”Future of Phoenix,” ”Rookie of the Year Locked In,” ”Born Scorer”—

The praise hasn’t stopped pouring in.

Chen Yan’s meteoric rise hasn’t gone unnoticed by NBA Commissioner David Stern, either. Stern sees more than just talent—he sees a goldmine.

Compared to bigs like Yao Ming or Yi Jianlian, Chen’s graceful, flashy playstyle is tailor-made to draw eyes and sell jerseys. He’s the kind of star who doesn’t just win games—he wins markets.

With Chen on the scene, Stern is now thinking beyond China. His new vision? Crack open the entire Asian basketball market—and Chen Yan is the key.

And if anyone knows how to play the long game, it’s Stern. This is the same man who once waited two hours in a CCTV studio just to get his foot in the door with China. His ambition, patience, and strategic mind made the NBA a global empire.

Now, with Chen rising fast, the league is clearly pushing him into the spotlight. More airtime, more interviews, more hype. That kind of exposure is a double-edged sword, though.

With the fame comes a target. Defenses will tighten. Scouts will obsess over his tape. And if Chen’s game doesn’t keep pace with the buzz? The backlash could hit hard.

Meanwhile, over on TNT’s nightly NBA segment, a special guest stopped by: none other than Magic Johnson.

The host leaned forward with a grin. ”Alright, Magic. Let’s talk about the league’s newest phenom—Chen Yan. First week: Player of the Week. Six straight 30-point games. Back-to-back 40s. Youngest to ever drop 50. And that game-winner in Kobe’s face. Earvin, is this a dream start, or what?”

Magic let out his signature chuckle. ”Man, this ain’t a dream start—it’s straight out of a movie script!” he said, throwing his hands up with a grin.

The host laughed. ”Seriously though, what’s your take on this rookie monster?”

Magic nodded, that iconic smile never leaving his face. ”He’s smooth, man. Unique. Talented. The kid’s got a whole arsenal—fast breaks, step-back threes, buzzer-beaters with the rock, even off-ball movement that’ll leave defenders spinning. And he’s hungry to score. Once he sees that first shot go in? You better pray he doesn’t catch fire.”

The host leaned in, playing devil’s advocate. ”But he’s got no post game. No low-block work at all. At least nothing we’ve seen yet.”

Magic smirked. ”Maybe not on the ground. But you ever see that layup over KG last game? Mid-air bump, 180 spin, kiss off the glass? That’s airborne post-up, baby.”

He stood up, laughing as he mimicked Chen’s aerial twist like he was back on the court.

The host cracked up. ”Haha, okay! Okay! You got me there.”

What made Magic so beloved—aside from being a Laker legend—was his ability to hype without hate. He rarely spoke ill of any player, always keeping that easy smile and showman’s charm.

Then the host threw in one more question. ”After the game, Chen said he loves playing on the road because the hostile crowd ’gets him going.’ Said it lights a fire under him. What’s your take on that?”

Magic chuckled again. ”Shoot, maybe the Suns need to hire some actors to sit in the away section and heckle him every night. That way we get a Chen Yan explosion every game.”

”Hahaha! Earvin, you think Chen’s already locked up Rookie of the Year?”

”The season’s still young,” He replied, smiling. ”But no doubt—Chen’s definitely one of the frontrunners right now.”

Magic Johnson chuckled, cool as ever. His media savvy was top-tier. He knew not to go too far and risk stepping on toes.

”How’s he different from the other rookies?”

”Simple,” Magic said. ”Most rookies still gotta grow into their game. Chen? He just needs to keep up what he’s already doing.”

”You’re saying he’s already fully developed?”

”Not at all,” Magic clarified. ”He’s still got room to grow—but the level he’s at now? It’s already polished and damn impressive.”

The host raised his eyebrows, slowly catching on. So the biggest Chen Yan supporter... was sitting right next to me?

---

November 13 – Los Angeles (Staples Center)

The Suns were back in LA, but this time they weren’t facing the mighty Lakers. The opponent tonight? The other team at Staples—the struggling Clippers.

There were some changes to the Suns’ starting lineup. Raja Bell was out, suspended three games after a flagrant foul in the previous matchup. Coach D’Antoni slotted in veteran Grant Hill to fill the gap.

Hill wasn’t concerned about whether he started or came off the bench. At this point in his career, all he wanted was to stay healthy and contribute where he could.

Taylor Swift didn’t show up tonight. Apparently, pulling an all-nighter at the studio had wrecked her sleep schedule. She needed a few days to reset.

As Chen Yan jogged onto the court, he was met with a wall of boos from the stands. It wasn’t Clippers fans—they were too few. It was Lakers fans, clearly still salty from the previous beatdown. Tonight, their hate was focused squarely on Chen.

The Clippers were a mess this season. Their core duo, Corey Maggette and Elton Brand, were stat-padding specialists. Great numbers, but zero impact on winning.

Maggette especially—once the ball touched his hands, you could forget about teamwork. He was locked in on one thing: getting his 20+.

The front office knew it, too. This year was a wash—they were just letting the guys fill up the stat sheet to build trade value for a roster reset next season.

Tip-off. Game on.

Maggette and Brand came out firing, putting up the first four points for the Clippers. But it was empty effort. Neither of them gave a damn on defense.

The Suns smelled blood early. Phoenix blasted off with a 15–4 run, forcing an early Clippers timeout.

By the end of the first quarter, the Suns had built a double-digit lead with ease.

Tonight, Chen Yan could feel something different in the flow of the game. His teammates were moving better around him—cutting harder, trusting his reads, swinging the ball when needed. It wasn’t just talk anymore—they trusted him.

And trust in the NBA? It’s earned, night after night, with performance and consistency.

Chen didn’t drop 30 tonight—not because he was off, but because the Clippers were just that bad.

By halftime, the Suns had crushed their spirit. Four minutes into the third quarter, Phoenix was up by nearly 30.

The boos turned to silence, and then to empty seats. Staples Center started emptying out before the third even ended.

Coach D’Antoni, seeing no reason to risk anything, pulled all the starters early.

Final Score: Suns 118, Clippers 87.

A full-on massacre.

Chen only played 23 minutes, going 9-of-14 from the field, 2-of-4 from deep, and 4-of-6 at the line. He finished with a smooth 24 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds.

The scoring was spread around:

Steve Nash posted a double-double with 16 points and 15 dimes.

Stoudemire dominated with 26 points and 10 boards.

Bench mob stepped up too—Hill, Diaw, Barea, Azubuike, and Barnes all scored in double figures.

It was textbook Suns basketball: fast, smart, and unrelenting.

---

Postgame Press Conference – Staples Center

Chen faced the media again after the win. And just like last time, the questions weren’t just about hoops.

Reporters couldn’t help themselves—they zeroed in on his relationship with Taylor Swift.

”Chen, is it true you and Taylor are dating?”

”We’re just friends,” he said calmly. ”I admire her talent, and she respects what I do. That night in the studio? We were just working on music together.”

”Making a baby?”

Someone in the back blurted it out—and the whole room erupted in gasps and laughter.

Chen blinked. Damn media was always chasing chaos.

”The relationship between Taylor and me is professional and respectful,” he said, deadpan. ”We’re working on a track. If all goes well, it’ll drop soon.”

He hadn’t planned to reveal the project yet. He wanted it to be a surprise. But now, he had to throw it out there to shut down the gossip.

”Is the song about your love life?”

”Was the studio session the inspiration?”

”Is Taylor skipping the game tonight to avoid controversy?”

The press had officially turned wild.

Chen leaned back in his chair. Playing against teams like the Clippers? Easy.

Dealing with the media’s love life obsession? Now that was a challenge.

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