NBA: Basketball Legend.

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: This Guy Evolves Too Fast!

Chapter 116: This Guy Evolves Too Fast!

After the entrance ceremony, both starting lineups stayed at center court for introductions.

Suns Starters: Steve Nash, Chen Yan, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Amar’e Stoudemire.

Celtics Starters: Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, Kevin Durant, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins.

Truth be told, the Celtics had a solid lineup.

Rondo, now in his sophomore year, was showing signs of real maturity. Al Jefferson was already a legit 20-and-10 threat in the low post. Tony Allen? One of the league’s most elite wing defenders—Kobe himself called him the toughest guy he ever faced.

Off the bench, Boston had strong depth too. Kris Humphries, Carlos Delfino, and Jorge Garbajosa—recently acquired from Toronto—rounded out a tough second unit.

If Paul Pierce were leading this squad, they’d easily make the Eastern Conference playoffs. But the ceiling wouldn’t be much higher than a first-round appearance. With Durant as the new centerpiece, however, the Celtics were clearly playing the long game. His ceiling was already higher than Pierce’s. For now, Boston was focused on developing ”Slim Reaper” into their franchise guy.

The opening tip was seconds away.

Stoudemire easily won the jump ball against Kendrick Perkins.

Perk, for all his defensive grit, was never known for his hops. The man was a tank down low, strong enough to body prime Shaq. But that size came at a cost—he just couldn’t elevate, which is why his rebounding numbers never quite exploded.

Nash brought the ball up, calling for a high pick-and-roll with Stoudemire.

With a tight screen, Nash turned the corner and attacked the Celtics’ interior.

Then, without even looking, Nash fired a slick pass to the wing—pure vintage.

Chen Yan was already curling off a down screen, catching the ball at a clean 45-degree angle beyond the arc.

But he didn’t pull up.

Tony Allen had read the screen and fought over it like a madman. He was already up in Chen’s grill.

Tony Allen stood just 6’4” (193 cm) with a 6’9” (206 cm) wingspan. His stats this season weren’t flashy—6.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game—but his true value was on defense.

This was the man Kobe called ”the best perimeter defender I ever faced.” It wasn’t just his athleticism or footwork. It was that relentless motor. He never gave up on a play, and this possession was no exception.

Chen Yan gave him a couple of jab steps, a hard hesitation, then a fake spin. But Tony stayed glued to him. Not even a twitch.

Nash circled back outside, ready to reset the offense.

Chen glanced toward Nash as if to swing the ball... and that’s when Tony lunged, trying to jump the pass.

But it was a fake.

With a flick of the wrist, Chen zipped a no-look bounce pass to the baseline.

[Passing Master Activated!]

Raja Bell had snuck behind the defense and caught the pass in stride for the easy reverse off the glass.

Buckets!

The upgraded Passing badge gave Chen’s passing another level of sharpness.

”Whoa! Chen Yan showing off some playmaking today!” Zhang Weiping exclaimed on CCTV5. ”That dish had a bit of Nash’s flavor to it. Looks like he’s been learning!”

”Beautiful pass,” Yu Jia added. ”People forget—Chen dropped a 50-point triple-double last game. He’s got this in his bag!”

As the Suns jogged back on defense, Nash gave Chen a sly grin and slapped him on the backside. Even he hadn’t seen that pass coming.

Next up: Celtics ball.

Durant called for the iso right away.

Raja Bell stepped up to take on the rookie phenom.

KD gave him a couple of slick crossovers, then swayed his hips and created just a sliver of space.

Durant’s physical tools were unreal. That 6’10” frame, 7’5” wingspan, and freaky coordination allowed him to create separation that most wings could only dream of.

But his finishing, right now, was still inconsistent. Too skinny. His core strength hadn’t caught up yet, and it showed.

Clang!

He bricked the jumper off the front rim.

Diaw grabbed the board and looked up the floor.

But instead of dishing to Nash, he went straight to Chen Yan.

From the corner of his eye, he saw that Chen had already hit the gas.

Chen’s first step was a lightning bolt. He was a blur, already past half-court before most players had even turned around.

Tony Allen didn’t gamble this time. He stayed back as the last line of defense. One misstep, and it was an automatic two points.

Chen Yan exploded past the three-point line. Long strides. Full sprint. He dropped the ball low, pulled it back, then burst forward again.

Tony Allen stayed with him—for about half a second.

Chen flicked the ball over Tony’s head mid-air, switched hands, and came crashing toward the basket.

BOOM!

One-handed tomahawk slam.

Pure violence at the rim.

”Goddamn, that was nasty!”

”Yo, that’s his signature step-through into that one-arm slam!”

”So easy for him. For real, that dunk is like a layup for this dude.”

The crowd was electric. Even the opposing fans couldn’t help but let out a gasp.

Chen Yan’s fast break was a spectacle—power, speed, and grace all in one.

The Celtics had the ball.

Rondo crossed half-court and signaled a play. Durant curled off the baseline, caught the pass, and rose for a mid-range jumper.

”Bang!”

Another brick.

Chen Yan had switched onto him just in time, getting a solid contest on the shot. The ball clanked off the front rim and bounced far.

Chen Yan took a quick step back, grabbed the rebound, and immediately kicked it ahead to Nash.

And just like that—he was off to the races.

There’s a reason why they say running without the ball is faster than running with it. Chen Yan turned on the jets, sprinting up the court like a man possessed.

Tony Allen groaned and gave chase. In the past two possessions, he felt more like a damn sprinter than a defender.

Two steps beyond the three-point arc, Nash hit Chen Yan in stride.

Perfect pass. Perfect timing.

Chen Yan didn’t slow down at all—he caught it on the move and charged into the lane like a freight train.

Tony Allen was glued to him. His mind was already made up: if Chen Yan tried that ghost step again, he was dragging him down. No mercy.

But Chen Yan didn’t give him the chance.

Just outside the free throw line, Chen suddenly pulled the ball behind his back—hard stop.

Allen flew past him like his brakes gave out, skidding all the way to the baseline. He didn’t fall, but it was damn close. The crowd ooohed.

Now wide open, Chen Yan rose smoothly.

”Shua!”

Pure.

When Chen got into that fast-break rhythm, even elite defenders like Tony Allen were helpless. He wasn’t just quick—he was calculated, always one move ahead.

Back on the other end, the Celtics stayed committed to running the offense through Durant.

This time, Rondo found KD again. Al Jefferson stepped up to set a high screen. Durant used it well and pulled up from the elbow.

”Splash!”

Finally, a bucket.

2 to 6.

Chen jogged back, grinning. He gave KD a friendly slap on the butt.

”Bout time that went in. Another miss and I was gonna call the cops—damage to public property.”

Durant laughed. ”Chen, you’ve been learning that NBA trash talk, huh?”

Both were smiling, but everyone in the building could feel the tension brewing. The real battle was just getting started.

Now it was Phoenix’s turn.

Nash worked the baseline looking for a seam but didn’t find an opening. He handed it off to Chen Yan on the wing. Raja Bell floated up to set a screen.

Raja wasn’t a shot creator. His game was all movement, defense, and dirty work. He set the pick cleanly, and the Celtics switched—Durant on Chen Yan now.

A one-on-one.

The Instant Noodle Brothers showdown.

Durant clapped his hands, ready. ”Let’s go! I know your moves, bro. You’re not getting past me.”

Chen Yan smirked.

He broke out his signature: the Answer Crossover.

Durant saw it coming. He knew Chen’s bag—moved early, cut off the driving lane.

KD’s lateral movement was insane. Long legs, elite coordination, smooth as hell. He slid into position perfectly.

But Chen wasn’t done.

He dropped low, lowered his center of gravity—and just when Durant prepped for the blow-by...

Pull-up jumper. Cold.

Caught completely off-guard.

Durant had no time to react. All he could do was watch.

Chen Yan elevated, core tight, legs swinging into rhythm. Smooth release.

”Swish!”

The arena erupted.

Not just because of the bucket—but because it looked damn good.

Durant threw his hands up, frustrated. He didn’t expect that move. In college, Chen relied on crossovers and rim attacks. But in the NBA? Pull-ups were now part of his arsenal.

The Celtics couldn’t slow the Suns early. When the first quarter rotations hit, the scoreboard read:

Suns 20, Celtics 10.

Chen Yan had 7 points on just 3 shots.

Durant also had 7—but it took 7 attempts to get there.

On the bench, Durant stared at the floor, deep in thought.

Chen’s passing, his strength, the way he picked his spots—it was all different now. Better. Sharper. Stronger.

He wasn’t the same kid from the NCAA anymore.

And if KD wanted to keep up...

He had to evolve—fast.

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