"This year's top pick, John Wall, dropped 35 points in a single game—that's the highest scoring performance by a rookie not named Blake Su. And Blake Su… in just six games, he's already recorded three 40-plus outings.
Tonight, he put up 45 points in only three quarters, setting a new career high. That's just ridiculously dominant!
I thought he might hit 50 and become the first 50-point scorer of the season."
Mark Jackson smiled as he spoke.
"No, no, no. That might not happen."
Jon Barry, who had been watching the stats closely, shook his head. "After three quarters, the Suns are already up by 22. Blake Su might not even see the floor in the fourth.
Or rather…
there's no need for him to play."
"Ah!"
Mark Jackson frowned. "If that's the case, that's really a shame."
The fourth quarter played out exactly as predicted—Blake Su never checked back in. Notably, Griffin came on for 5 minutes and 13 seconds but struggled, unable to spark a comeback.
Time kept ticking away.
With the deficit still above 20, the Clippers waved the white flag, emptied the bench, and effectively conceded.
In the end.
The Suns sank the Clippers and secured their sixth straight win.
Blake Su didn't reach 50, but in just three quarters, he finished with 45 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 blocks—resetting his personal single-game scoring record in the process.
"Hahaha!"
"Now that was satisfying! Absolutely satisfying!"
On the sidelines, General Manager Lance—who had come to watch in person—burst out laughing after the game, clearly in a fantastic mood.
"Lance, what's got you so happy? And… this is their home court. Keep it down a little."
Alvin Gentry walked over, shaking his head.
"Oh—right. Sorry."
Lance quickly realized he'd gotten carried away. He leaned closer to Alvin Gentry, grinning.
"Griffin was the top pick. Wall was the top pick. Neither of them could handle Blake Su—they both got blown out.
That means Blake Su is already operating above the level of a No. 1 pick. And I signed him. That's basically the same as drafting someone even better than the top pick this year.
Tell me… isn't that worth celebrating?"
"That's it?"
Alvin Gentry shook his head again, thinking to himself—what's there to celebrate? With Blake Su's ability, being better than a top pick is just standard. The league's true superstars are the ones he should be measuring himself against.
On the court.
Griffin walked up to Blake Su and pursed his lips.
"You won tonight, Blake Su."
"You played well too."
Blake Su smiled lightly.
Griffin blinked. He'd expected some trash talk. Instead, he got praise, and a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face. He steadied himself.
"You won this time," he said seriously. "But… next time we meet, I'll come back stronger. I'll beat you and take Rookie of the Year."
"I'll be waiting."
Blake Su shrugged, completely unfazed.
Griffin was still just a first-year rookie. He wasn't someone Blake Su needed to treat as a true rival.
Griffin's goal was Rookie of the Year.
Blake Su's goal, however, was… the championship.
Watching Griffin walk away, Blake Su narrowed his eyes.
"The Suns have never won a championship. If I brought one here… that might be pretty interesting."
...
The next day.
"Suns Stretch Winning Streak to Six — Rookie Blake Su Shows Elite Leadership!" — Miami Dolphin News.
"A 'guard-style' center. The 'center version' of Allen Iverson. Center Blake Su dazzles with his one-of-a-kind offensive game.
Watching Blake Su play is pure enjoyment."
— Fox Sports.
Early in the morning, major outlets were already rolling out fresh headlines about Blake Su.
On a street outside a residential complex in Phoenix.
Several elderly men sat around a chessboard, teacups in hand, chatting about recent happenings while enjoying their leisurely retirement.
"Hey, did you hear? The Suns have a rookie center named Blake Su. He crossed someone up on the perimeter one-on-one—apparently a pretty big-deal top pick.
What's his name? Griffin?"
A thin old man spoke in surprise.
"'The Beast'? Yeah, I know him. Tremendous talent. Future All-Star for sure. Wait—what did you just say? He got crossed by a center on the perimeter?!
How's that possible?"
"It's true!"
"A center crossing someone over? What kind of story is that? Sounds fake. Back in our day, centers battled in the paint. They didn't drift out to the perimeter.
And definitely didn't drop defenders."
"Exactly. Probably clickbait. Forget it—let's focus on the chess."
Seeing that no one believed him, the thin old man fumbled with his phone and pulled up a highlight clip from last night's Suns–Clippers game.
Then—
When they saw Blake Su drop Griffin with a crossover, the entire group froze in shock. The one who recognized Griffin nearly had his reading glasses slip off his face.
"Whew…"
After taking several deep breaths, he adjusted his glasses and slowly said,
"Is the game changing?"
...
Meanwhile, the internet was on fire.
"Blake Su crossed up Griffin? Hahaha, our Su God might be too strong."
"Not just strong. That was ruthless."
"Honestly, I'm jealous. I'm only 183 cm and in school I just fight for rebounds inside. Blake Su is 215 cm and crossing up the No. 1 pick on the perimeter.
That's a whole different world."
"And it's not just the crossover. Against the 'Beast' Griffin, 45 points in three quarters, plus 12 boards and 5 blocks. Blake Su's level… there's no ceiling."
"Before Blake Su arrived, the Suns were 2–8. After he joined? Six straight wins. That kind of impact—I almost forget he's a rookie."
"Almost? Drop the 'almost.'"
"Exactly. Blake Su isn't a rookie. He's a super rookie. A super center!"
"Blake Su is amazing, but… the Bulls led by the 'Windy City Rose' are on a tear too. After the Heat's upset loss to the Wizards yesterday,
the Bulls with Rose are closing in on the Heat and might take the top spot in the East."
"John Wall, who's been living in Blake Su's shadow, finally had his moment last night. Sure, it helped that the Heat's 'Big Three' kept turning the ball over.
But a win is a win.
This year's top pick finally has some presence again."
"Still, among the top three rookies—Blake Su, Griffin, and Wall—I'd say Blake Su is clearly the best."
"Bingo!"
"…"
The thrilling slate of games from the night before kept fans talking nonstop.
But it wasn't just the fans paying attention to Blake Su, the rookie who seemed to peak the moment he debuted.
Inside the Nike headquarters. Inside the Adidas headquarters—the two heavyweights of the NBA sneaker world.
At that very moment, in two separate offices, two different managers were studying the same player's data and highlight reels on their computers.
From time to time, satisfied smiles appeared on their faces.
And that player… was Blake Su.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser