A highly anticipated showdown turned into a one-sided massacre.
As fans marveled at the Suns' dominance and Blake Su's brilliance, their interest in the Suns–Mavericks matchup faded almost instantly.
Everyone's attention shifted to the upcoming clash between the Suns and the Bulls.
"The showdown between 'Monster Rookie' Blake Su and 'Windy City Rose' Rose is going to be insane!"
"Both of them are electric on offense. Just imagining them going head-to-head gets my blood pumping!"
"Don't forget, last week's Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Rose and Blake Su. Player of the Week versus Player of the Week—this is guaranteed fireworks!"
"Counting down the hours…"
The fans had already set their sights on Suns vs. Bulls.
But the next day, major newspapers and media outlets certainly didn't let last night's game go to waste. They rode Blake Su's momentum hard, using Dirk Nowitzki as the backdrop to further highlight the overwhelming dominance of this "Monster Rookie."
As for Nowitzki—
He felt helpless, even a little frustrated and embarrassed, but he didn't argue back. In interviews, he made no excuses for his poor performance.
Last night, he had truly been beaten by Blake Su—on both ends of the floor.
As the Mavericks' franchise cornerstone and an All-Star–caliber power forward, he had no interest in talking his way out of it. Instead, he would train harder, improve himself, and defeat Blake Su on the court next time.
...
The buzz among fans, the media hype, and Blake Su's jaw-dropping performances sent his popularity soaring just weeks into his NBA career.
Many teams around the league were kicking themselves for not offering a premium contract to sign him earlier.
Meanwhile, countless companies, blown away by his repeated standout performances, were eager to work with him and sign endorsement deals.
Blake Su had officially become a hot commodity.
As for Blake Su himself—
With Austin's help last week, he rented a well-located three-story villa totaling 145 square meters near US Airways Center, finally leaving behind hotel life.
Last night, the Suns flew back to Phoenix overnight. By the time Blake Su returned to the villa, it was nearly 2 a.m.
When he woke up, it was already 1 p.m.
He checked his phone—two missed calls from Austin and two unread text messages.
He immediately called back.
"What's up, Austin?"
"Blake Su, I've got great news. A ton of sneaker companies are trying to sign you right now. Your god-tier performances have made you incredibly sought-after.
This morning, Wagner from Adidas came again and directly offered a massive five-year, $100 million contract to sign you."
"Oh?"
Blake Su responded calmly, waiting for more.
"Back in 2007, 'The Chosen One' Durant signed a seven-year, $60 million deal with Nike as a rookie. Even though that was in '07, this five-year, $100 million offer you've received already surpasses Durant's deal.
In my opinion, it's even comparable to the seven-year, $90 million contract 'The Chosen One' LeBron signed with Nike as a rookie in 2003.
In short, Adidas isn't just offering big money—they're telling you they believe your talent is on par with LeBron and Durant. It's a very strong offer.
And… Wagner's attitude was extremely positive and proactive. It's obvious Adidas genuinely wants you."
Blake Su asked, "What do you think?"
"I think it's a solid offer. The term isn't too long, and the money's significant—definitely worth considering.
But… Adidas's market presence still isn't as big as Nike's.
So I suggest we wait a little and see what Nike offers. If the gap is huge, we go with Adidas. If it's close, we choose Nike. They can provide you with more resources."
"Mm."
Blake Su nodded. He had no intention of agreeing right away. The initiative was in his hands now—and he intended to keep it there. He had that confidence.
After a brief pause, he added, "Austin, give Adidas some feedback. Tell them… I don't need such a high guaranteed figure. I'd rather lower the base amount and take equity instead."
"You mean… Got it. I understand."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The call ended.
Blake Su narrowed his eyes.
What's the point of a fixed payout? Equity was far more interesting. The more the brand earned, the more he earned. Sure, there was risk—if sales underperformed, his share would shrink.
But—
Blake Su had absolute faith in his current body and skill set. Not to mention the System's random missions. Complete one, earn rewards, and grow even stronger.
Thinking of the random mission—
"Tomorrow night's opponent is the Bulls, the top team in the East. Beat them, and I'll receive [Eagle Spear], a reward that boosts steal ability.
That win is non-negotiable."
After settling the matter with Austin, Blake Su opened his phone and checked the two unread messages.
The first was from his mother, Dolores Su, reminding him that the weather was getting colder and to stay warm. A gentle warmth filled his chest. He replied with a few caring messages.
The second was from Quinnie. She said something had come up recently and she would need to postpone her visit. Blake Su responded that it was no problem—she was welcome anytime.
He didn't even really know who she was or what she looked like, yet they somehow seemed close.
As soon as he finished replying, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Ah, whatever. Things will sort themselves out."
He tossed his phone aside and went back to sleep.
...
That evening.
The Bulls crushed the Knicks in just three quarters, further cementing their dominance in the East. "Windy City Rose" put up another dazzling stat line: 37 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.
It was as if he were announcing to the entire league—
This season belongs to Rose.
His explosive, almost theatrical scoring display only intensified fans' anticipation for the next night, when he would head into the Suns' home court and attempt to snap their 12-game winning streak.
The next day.
Perhaps because of the overwhelming anticipation, the hours seemed to fly by.
9 p.m.
US Airways Center.
A full hour before tip-off, the arena was already packed. The roaring atmosphere made it hard to believe this was a small-market city.
Suns versus Bulls.
Players from both teams had arrived early and were warming up on the court.
At the same time—
Inside the ESPN studio.
Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy were seated in front of the monitors, ready to call tonight's game.
As the camera panned across the packed arena, Mike Breen smiled.
"Take a look at this crowd. If you didn't know better, you'd think we were in a major market."
"Absolutely," Jeff Van Gundy said with a grin. "And that's largely thanks to Blake Su. His tremendous popularity has drawn a huge number of fans, which is why the arena is this electric tonight.
Of course, we've got the Western Conference's fifth-seeded Suns, riding a 12-game winning streak, taking on the Eastern Conference-leading Bulls.
'Monster Rookie' Blake Su versus 'Windy City' Rose.
This matchup is loaded with intrigue. It's no surprise the excitement is through the roof."
...
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