thefictionvixens Chapter 5 The Cleaners of Madison Square Garden
Chapter 5 The Cleaners of Madison Square Garden
September 29, 2008, Tarrytown, New York.
The Knicks' official training facility.
The air was filled with a smell, not just the smell of fermenting sweat, but more like the decadence and arrogance accumulated by this lousy team over the years.
In the locker room, hip-hop music was blasting loudly.
Stephon Marbury, once known as "The Lone Wolf" but now alienated from everyone, was lounging lazily in a chair, wearing Gucci slippers. Next to him sat Zach Randolph, the big man known as "The Black Bear," who had just been traded and was munching on a hamburger while glancing at the doorway with a menacing look.
When Li Xiangbei pushed open the door carrying his training bag, the noise in the locker room did not lessen; in fact, several people deliberately whistled.
Ignoring the stares, Li Xiangbei walked straight to the locker with his name on it—the narrowest one in the corner, usually reserved for marginalized people.
"Hey, that kid who went 58 seconds."
Marbury's voice pierced through the music, carrying a veteran's unique arrogance and provocation. He held up a finger and pointed to the empty backpack covered in mud on the ground.
"Don't you know the rules? Go buy me a dozen donuts. Strawberry flavor, and if there's not enough frosting, I'll let you inhale them through your nose."
Randolph burst into a gruff laugh, his massive body trembling with each laugh: "Did you hear that, rookie? Boss Stephen's hungry. It's a rookie's duty, hurry up, run there!"
Several veteran players nearby, such as Jamal Crawford and Eddie Curry, chose to remain silent and watch the spectacle. Bullying among rookies is a culture in the NBA, especially among second-round picks.
Li Xiangbei stopped unzipping his backpack.
He slowly turned around and looked at Marbury, who was once exceptionally talented but now made a mess of the locker room.
"Stephen," Li Xiangbei's voice was eerily calm, completely devoid of the panic of someone who had been bullied, "your contract has only one year left before it expires, right?"
Marbury was taken aback, not expecting this kid to dare talk back: "What did you say?"
"I suggest you eat fewer donuts." Li Xiangbei pointed to Marbury's slightly overweight belly, his eyes filled with a hint of mocking pity. "Otherwise, when you're unemployed next year, even the CBA might not want you. Although the level there isn't high, they only want people who can run."
(At this time, Marbury had no idea that a few years later he would indeed find his home on the other side of the ocean. This prophecy from the time traveler sounded like the most vicious curse at that moment.)
The locker room fell silent instantly. The music seemed to freeze in place by those words.
Marbury's face instantly turned ashen, a fury born from having his sore spot touched. He flung off his slippers, rushed forward barefoot, and grabbed Li Xiangbei's collar.
"What did you say, you yellow-skinned monkey?! Do you want to die?!"
However, before his hand could even touch Li Xiangbei, his wrist was grabbed by a hand that, while not particularly thick, was strong.
Instead of retreating, Li Xiangbei stepped forward, his deep eyes radiating an aura of tyranny. It was the pressure bestowed by the system, the gaze of a predator towards its prey.
"Want to fight?"
Li Xiangbei lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear it.
"Still want to play ball? Pick one. I'll go with you."
Marbury looked into Li Xiangbei's eyes and was momentarily stunned. He seemed to see his younger self in him, that arrogant and overbearing arrogance. But he quickly realized that this young man was more cold-blooded and more dangerous than he had been back then.
Just then, a sharp whistle broke the deadlock.
"What are you all doing?! Is that my changing room or a nightclub in the red-light district?!"
New head coach Mike D'Antoni walked in, his signature mustache trembling with anger.
Marbury angrily flung his hand away, glaring fiercely at Li Xiangbei: "Consider yourself lucky. When we get on the court, I'll tear you to pieces."
Li Xiangbei loosened his collar and smiled calmly: "I'll be waiting."
……
Training Course.
"Listen! I know you guys were a pile of crap last season. But I'm here now, and we're going to play brand new basketball!"
D'Antoni waved his whiteboard, his voice echoing in the empty arena.
"Run! That's the core! I want you to finish the offense in seven seconds! No thinking, just run and shoot! If you can't run, then go to the water bench!"
"Now, the entire team will run back and forth! Until I say stop!"
The whistle blew.
The Knicks' veteran players reluctantly began their sprint.
For the first 10 groups, everyone was able to maintain their formation.
In group 15, Randolph was like an overheated tractor, his hands on his knees.
In the 20th group, Marbury's face began to turn pale, and his steps became heavy. Crawford also began to pant heavily, his vest soaked with sweat.
"Hurry up! Is this your speed?!" D'Antoni roared from the sidelines. "How can we play run-and-gun offense with this kind of stamina?!"
We reached group 30.
Most people had already started jogging or even walking. The only sounds in the training hall were heavy breathing and the squeaking of shoes on the floor.
Except for one person.
Li Xiangbei.
He maintained a good sprinting speed. Every time he touched the baseline, every time he turned and pushed off the ground, it was textbook perfect. His sweat only slightly dampened his bangs.
With the system's support, his physical strength was no longer a weakness, but rather an advantage.
As Li Xiangbei passed by Marbury, who was bent over retching, for the 31st time, he turned his head and whispered:
"Tired already? Stephen, I've only just warmed up."
Marbury looked up at the departing figure, a flicker of fear appearing in his eyes for the first time. Was that guy... made of iron?
On the sidelines, D'Antoni's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and then his eyes began to shine.
He stared intently at the stopwatch in his hand, then glanced at Li Xiangbei, whose stopwatch was still accelerating.
"Perfect stamina...perfect rhythm..." D'Antoni murmured to himself, as if he had seen a rare treasure. "This is the engine I've been looking for. This is the kind of endurance that even Nash didn't possess!"
……
In the afternoon, there was an intra-team scrimmage.
Main team (Blue Team): Marbury, Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Randolph, Eddie Curry.
Reserves (White Team): Li Xiangbei, Chris Duhon, Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Jerome James.
This was a massacre of rookies by veterans—at least that's what Marbury thought.
"Give me the ball." Marbury held the ball and sneered at Li Xiangbei, who was guarding him. "Rookie, I'll show you what NBA-level competition is like."
Marbury lowered his center of gravity and made a signature change of direction to break through.
This tactic might have worked against his previous defenders, but after running 30 sets of shuttle runs, Marbury's legs were starting to feel weak.
And Li Xiangbei? He still has decent physical strength.
When Marbury attempted a second change of direction, Li Xiangbei, as if he had known his route beforehand, shifted his body laterally, blocking the position like a wall.
[Defensive pressure: The opponent's stamina decreases, allowing for a breakthrough.]
"Snapped!"
Li Xiangbei's hand moved with lightning speed, directly slicing the ball out of Marbury's hands.
"What?!" Marbury exclaimed in surprise.
Li Xiangbei gave him no chance to react, intercepting the ball and immediately making a solo run down the court.
Upon reaching the frontcourt, facing an empty basket, he didn't choose to dunk, but instead suddenly stopped beyond the three-point line.
Marbury chased after them with all his might, and in a fit of rage, tried to block the shot.
Li Xiangbei watched Marbury pounce on him, a smirk playing on his lips. As he jumped, he uttered a deadly trash talk:
"Stephen, look at this ball, this is your lost youth."
[Guaranteed winning amount: 1/5]
The basketball flew past Marbury's fingertips.
"brush!"
A crisp sound as it enters the net.
"Great shot!" D'Antoni couldn't help but pump his fist in celebration from the sidelines. That's what run-and-gun offense is all about! A steal and a fast break three-pointer—that's art!
The next ten minutes became Li Xiangbei's personal showcase.
Next round.
Li Xiangbei broke through using David Lee's screen, drawing double teams from Randolph and Curry.
He didn't try to take credit for himself; instead, he delivered a brilliant behind-the-back bounce pass, accurately finding David Lee who was making a run down the court.
"boom!"
David Lee slams a two-handed dunk!
"Great pass, Lin!" David Lee roared excitedly.
The next round.
Marbury lost his composure and forced a pull-up jumper, which missed.
Li Xiangbei grabbed the rebound and transitioned to offense.
He received the ball in the corner, and Marbury had already given up on defense, just staring at him blankly.
Li Xiangbei made no unnecessary movements.
Jump and flick your wrist.
[Guaranteed winning amount: 2/5]
"brush!"
Score: Substitutes 21:5 Starters
This is not just a blowout, it's a purge.
The whistle blew, and the match ended.
D'Antoni walked to the center of the court, his gaze sweeping over the entire team, finally settling on Li Xiangbei, who was covered in sweat but still looked radiant.
He turned to look at Marbury and Randolph, whose faces were grim, and said in a cold voice:
"I think the result is already obvious. In this team, reputation is bullshit, form is what matters."
"I hereby announce that the starting point guard for the regular season opener in two days will be Li Xiangbei."
Marbury abruptly looked up at D'Antoni, staring incredulously: "You're going to ruin me for a second-round pick?!"
"You ruined yourself, Stephen," D'Antoni said mercilessly.
Marbury slammed the basketball he was holding onto the floor, the huge echo reverberating throughout the training facility. He didn't even take off his training vest, turning and heading straight for the locker room door.
"I quit! You bunch of lunatics!"
Just as he was about to push open the door and leave, a faint voice came from behind him.
Hey, Stephen.
Li Xiangbei stood in the center of the court, spinning a basketball in his hand, his tone as if he were saying goodbye to an insignificant passerby.
"Remember to close the door so the cool air from the air conditioner doesn't escape."
"Besides, I'm in charge here now."
Marbury's back stiffened for a moment, and in the end, he said nothing, slamming the door shut as he left.
"Bang!"
That loud bang marked the end of New York's old era and heralded the ascension of a new king.
Li Xiangbei looked around at his teammates who were silent as cicadas in fear, and finally his gaze landed on David Lee and Randolph.
"Alright, who will lead the next shuttle run?"
Randolph swallowed hard and silently stood at the bottom line: "Um... could you slow down a bit?"
Two days later. Madison Square Garden.
Scarlett Janssen received a front-row ticket.
"Let me see if that bad boy who dared to flirt with me on Twitter really has any skills."
Meanwhile, in the Heat's locker room.
Beasley looked at the photo on his phone of Li Xiangbei shooting a basketball with his eyes closed and set it as his screensaver.
"Tonight, it's either you or me who dies."