Yes.
Money talks.
After sending away their former franchise cornerstone, Amar'e Stoudemire, the Suns had originally been preparing for a full tank-and-rebuild. With plenty of cap space available, that was one of the reasons management could afford to be so extravagant.
Of course, when all was said and done, it was still Blake Su's on-court performance that truly justified this contract.
The Suns were willing to bet their future on this center—a player who possessed both proven ability and extraordinary talent.
After shocking the entire league with Blake Su's blockbuster extension, the Suns welcomed the Knicks at 9 p.m. that night.
Twenty minutes before tip-off.
Both teams were finishing their final warm-ups.
At the commentary desk, Van Gundy brought the microphone closer and said,
"This summer, Amar'e Stoudemire left the Suns and signed a five-year, one-hundred-million-dollar max contract with the Knicks.
The Suns took a sharp dive as a result.
But before they could truly sink to the bottom, they found a new rookie center with explosive talent—Blake Su—instantly restoring the Suns to last season's level of competitiveness.
Tonight, without a doubt, we're looking at a personal showdown between Stoudemire and Blake Su.
If Stoudemire gets beaten, will he regret leaving Phoenix?
Or will he… teach the rookie Blake Su a lesson?
Let's find out."
"That's right,"
Mike Breen echoed. "One is the recently departed Suns core, an All-Star–caliber starting power forward. The other is a supremely talented rookie center who won Rookie of the Week in his first week, drawing comparisons to 'The Big Diesel' Shaquille O'Neal.
Who's stronger? Who comes out on top? Stay tuned."
As the commentators built suspense, the atmosphere inside the Suns' home arena surged. Warm-ups soon ended, and both teams' starting lineups 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 York Knicks starters:
Point guard Raymond Felton (185 cm), small forward Wilson Chandler (203 cm), small forward Landry Fields (201 cm), power forward Danilo Gallinari (208 cm), and center Amar'e Stoudemire (208 cm).
"Jump ball!"
The opening tip was between Stoudemire and Blake Su. Although Stoudemire was officially listed as a power forward, he was more than capable of playing center.
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
Both bent their knees and leapt at the same time—a clash of pure athletic talent. Blake Su's fingers, clearly higher by a margin, told Stoudemire everything he needed to know.
"Smack!"
Blake Su tipped the ball first, winning the opening duel in the air.
"Not bad,"
Stoudemire glanced at Blake Su, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Nash collected the ball and pushed forward, initiating the Suns' first offensive possession. At the top of the arc, he faced Felton, used Hill's screen, and burst toward the left wing.
"Whoosh!"
Under the basket, Frye drifted to the side while calling for the ball, drawing defenders with him. Then—Nash pulled a sudden change of direction and kicked the ball back out to Blake Su at the free-throw line.
"Swish!"
Catch and shoot.
The ball cut cleanly through the net.
Suns (2) : (0) Knicks.
Phoenix struck first.
Felton brought the ball up and fed Stoudemire on the left high post. Facing Hill, Stoudemire gave a quick shot fake. As Hill's center of gravity rose—
"Whoosh!"
Stoudemire exploded forward, drove into the paint, and finished off the glass through contact with Frye. Clean and decisive.
"No wonder he's a superstar on a hundred-million-dollar contract,"
Van Gundy exclaimed. "Stoudemire is still terrifying. That rim-attacking ability is as dominant as ever—pure power."
Wow~
On the ensuing possession, Blake Su answered back immediately with another precise mid-range jumper. Chandler's contest was nearly perfect, but raw talent won out.
There was simply no stopping Blake Su from scoring.
"Swish!"
Before Van Gundy even finished speaking, Blake Su caught another brilliant pass—this time from Nash, who dished it behind his head while driving—and calmly buried yet another jumper from the free-throw line.
Three shots. Three makes. Six straight points.
Blake Su looked like a cold-blooded scoring turret. Give him the ball, let him shoot, and it turned into points—helping the Suns build momentum.
But…
As Blake Su knocked down that jumper and showcased his efficiency, a murmur rippled through the arena.
"Hey—"
"Doesn't it look like… Blake Su really only has a mid-range game? Tonight it's all jump shots again."
"Yeah. On that last play, Nash's pass was perfect. Blake Su could've driven in for a dunk, but he still chose the riskier shot."
"So he really only shoots mid-range…"
"..."
The quiet chatter continued.
On the court, Blake Su's three straight makes forced the Knicks to adjust. Their leader, Stoudemire, stepped forward to take on the assignment himself.
"Wow~"
"So early and Blake Su is already matched up with Stoudemire? The game's heating up fast. The outcome of this duel might decide the direction of the game."
On the floor.
Facing Stoudemire—an All-Star–level starting power forward, the former Suns core who had led Phoenix to the Western Conference Finals last year and battled the Lakers' towering frontcourt by himself—
Blake Su remained calm.
With [Iverson's Talent] and [Peak Anthony Jump Shot], he didn't feel inferior to the man in front of him. If anything… a spark of fighting spirit flared to life.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
A slow, controlled dribble in front of his body as he read the defense. Then, with the ball in his right hand, Blake Su suddenly burst to the right—blazing fast—leaving Stoudemire half a step behind.
"Screech!"
Blake Su stopped on a dime and rose for the jumper.
"Thud!"
Stoudemire recovered in time, soaring in for the contest. Blake Su's eyes sharpened as he raised the arc of his release to avoid the block—but the adjustment cost him his accuracy.
"Clang!"
The shot hit iron.
On the very next possession, Blake Su again shook Stoudemire by half a step and pulled up—only to be disrupted once more, the shot clanking off the rim.
"Blake Su got locked down by Stoudemire?"
"See? He really only has the jump shot. Once he's targeted, his accuracy disappears."
"Wow~"
Two straight possessions shut down, and doubt began to spread among the fans.
"Hm?"
Blake Su frowned slightly, then relaxed, letting out a faint smile.
"So this is All-Star level, huh? Pretty impressive. Looks like I underestimated you a bit."
"So you really only have that mid-range shot,"
Stoudemire said as he leaned in, his tone flat. "A center who relies solely on perimeter jumpers has a limited ceiling. You need to open up your offensive skill set.
Otherwise, you'll waste that incredible talent you were born with. Understand?"
"Oh?"
Blake Su paused for a moment. He couldn't tell whether Stoudemire was genuinely offering advice or simply playing the role of a veteran lecturing a rookie. Either way… being talked down to didn't feel good.
Still, Blake Su put on a harmless smile and replied calmly,
"Thanks. I'll respond to you next…
by blowing you out."