With the rebound in hand and having achieved a triple-double, Link didn't stop there; on the contrary, his performance became even more "insane".
He seemed to want to set even more records.
Link stole the Passing from Kenyon Martin and passed the ball to Jason Richardson, who then made a powerful dunk. At this point, the score difference had been extended to 41 points, with 5 minutes remaining in the game.
"Cruel!"
"These guys are too cruel."
Charles Barkley grinned in the TNT Broadcast Booth.
Kenny Smith rolled his eyes and muttered, "Damn it, you keep saying they're cruel, but you seem to be incredibly eager for it."
The NBA Rookie Challenge, from 1994 to now, had a maximum point difference of only 8 points, which was last year's NBA Rookie Challenge. But now it has reached 41 points, and... the First-Year Players are not stopping.
At this moment...
The head coach of the Second-Year Players team, realizing the seriousness of the situation, quickly called a timeout.
If the point difference remained over 40 at the end of the game, he and the 2000 draft class would be nailed to the NBA's pillar of shame.
...
...
On the First-Year Players team's side, the head coach actually wanted to go easy and was about to subtly suggest it...
At this moment, Link suddenly spoke:
"Guys..."
"I think you all know how the outside world evaluated us when we entered the draft!"
Link's words were like a lightning bolt, stinging the memories of all the players.
"That's right!"
"Weak Draft Class, WTF! They think we are the weakest draft class in NBA history..."
"A Weak Draft Class full of trash!"
"Those damn media outlets have said countless times that rookies from the late first round of other years could easily become lottery picks in our draft, and even lottery picks could become number one draft picks."
...
...
"Shit!"
"Damn it!"
At this, Arenas, who was Link's substitute, immediately burst out with expletives.
"Everyone, do you agree with the outside world saying we are a Weak Draft Class?" Link suddenly raised his voice, his gaze sharp as he swept over everyone.
"No!" All the players stood up and shouted in unison.
"Everyone, are we a Weak Draft Class?" Link asked again.
"No!"
"Everyone, are you content?"
"No!"
Link continued:
"Then let's continue to widen this damn point difference!"
"I believe that even ten or twenty years from now, tonight's game will be mentioned by countless people."
"I also believe that after tonight, the outside world will never dare to say that our 2001 class is a Weak Draft Class!!!"
"Don't worry, I won't hog this glory!!!"
...
...
After Link finished speaking.
The other players, as if injected with adrenaline, responded with almost roaring voices.
Such a huge commotion startled the Second-Year Players on the opposing side.
What happened to them?
Why did they suddenly become so fierce!
Yes, fierce!
Each of them had eyes full of fighting spirit, as if they wanted to fight to the death.
Are you kidding me? We are the ones trailing, the ones about to be nailed to the pillar of shame.
...
...
The timeout ended, and the game continued.
Arenas and Link took the court together.
Arenas watched firsthand as Link took a Three-Point Shot, then confidently turned his back in a showy celebration.
At this time, Arenas did not yet have such a celebratory move.
Because of this...
Link became the "original."
Arenas, who was on fire, also imitated Link after hitting two consecutive Three-Point Shots, but he made a mistake, becoming the "original" for Nick Young.
Although this scene was somewhat comical and funny...
However, the Second-Year Players couldn't laugh at all.
The score difference was continuously widening.
130 to 88!
138 to 90!
Until the end of the game...
140 to 92!
58 points!!!
...
...
Link led the 2001 rookies, who were labeled a "Weak Draft Class" by the outside world, to victory over the Second-Year Players team, extending the point difference to 58 points.
Of course...
The 2000 class was also considered a "Weak Draft Class" by the outside world.
After the game, the Second-Year Players collectively refused to shake hands with Link and the First-Year Players, returning directly to their locker room.
It was clear that the Second-Year Players, having lost by 58 points to the First-Year Players, were extremely upset, but Link didn't care about that.
Moreover, Link also received a series of generous rewards from the System.
[Ding, congratulations Host for leading the First-Year Players team to create the largest point difference in the NBA Rookie Challenge. Rewarding Host with 2000 Goat points.]
[Ding, congratulations Host for scoring 47 points in a single game of the NBA Rookie Challenge, breaking the record for the highest individual single-game score in this event. Rewarding 500 Goat points.]
[Ding,...]
[Ding,...]
The System rewarded Link with 4000 Goat points in one go!
...
...
After the All-Star Rookie Challenge.
Sports media across America were reporting on tonight's First-Year Players vs. Second-Year Players game.
Link also received text messages from most of the 2001 rookies.
[Wow, Link, you were right, my popularity skyrocketed, haha, now people recognize me when I walk down the street.] - Gilbert Arenas.
[Link, thank you for letting me experience what a true superstar is.] - Joe Johnson.
The huge point difference!
Made the game's topic popularity surge.
The popularity of the NBA Rookie Challenge, to be honest, had not been high in recent years, even less than the Slam Dunk Contest.
But this year was completely different...
Link, one of the strongest rookies in NBA history, lived up to expectations by setting numerous game records.
At the same time, the First-Year Players not only defeated the Second-Year Players but also beat them by 58 points.
Indeed, as Link said, the outside media had begun to re-evaluate the quality of the 2001 rookies.
...
...
The next day.
The NBA All-Star Weekend held the NBA Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Contest.
Link, who hadn't signed up to participate, watched as a spectator.
And for Link, this was a different kind of relaxation.
February 15, 2002.
The main event of the NBA All-Star Weekend kicked off.
The NBA 2001-2002 All-Star Game began!
Starting players for both sides:
Eastern Conference:
After the whistle blew, Kobe immediately challenged Michael Jordan to a one-on-one, and Kobe also guarded Link on defense.
Jordan came over to set a screen for Link at this moment...
As a teammate, Michael Jordan naturally knew that Link couldn't beat Kobe one-on-one.
But Link waved his hand and said, "Michael, take back your screen!"
Jordan immediately rolled his eyes.