Chapter 33

Section 4 of the game started in no time. Right at the beginning, Zhou Yi rushed into the Trail Blazers’ paint, forcing a foul on Dante Cunningham, and made both free throws. Then, Zhou Yi intercepted Ammon Johnson’s pass and assisted McGrady to score. Wesley Matthews was like a sharpshooter among the Trail Blazers’ bench players, scoring repeatedly from beyond the arc, forcing John Kuester to call a timeout. After the timeout, the Pistons stepped up their defense on Wesley Matthews, even assigning Prince to guard him. But Wesley Matthews, as if empowered by God, continued to score from beyond the arc, putting immense pressure on the Pistons. Zhou Yi whispered to Prince, “Tyshawn, let me handle him.” “You?” Prince asked in surprise. “Yeah, leave it to me!” After seeing Zhou Yi’s determined gaze, Prince nodded. Monroe’s free throws were quite steady; the ball went straight into the basket without any pause—three-point shot successful! Ammon Johnson spun with the ball before passing it to Rudy Fernandez beside him. Instead of attacking himself, he immediately passed the ball into the paint, and without stopping, handed it to LaMarcus Aldridge. After catching the ball, LaMarcus Aldridge faced Monroe and with a simple shoulder shake made Monroe misjudge, leaving him helpless as LaMarcus executed a stunning backdoor jump shot. Aside from his occasional issues with three-pointers, LaMarcus’s jump shots from anywhere inside the three-point line were quite reliable—the ball went straight into the basket, instantly offsetting the impact of Monroe’s previous three-pointer.

At a critical moment, Zhou Yi made another contribution—he blocked Wesley Matthews’ jump shot, grabbed the ball, drove fast, and passed it to McGrady. By then, McGrady had moved back, creating distance from Rudy Fernandez, with only the basket in front of him. If he scored, the Pistons’ morale would rise, but Rudy Fernandez would never let McGrady do so. He grabbed McGrady immediately, sending him to the free-throw line but preventing him from scoring, thus dampening the Pistons’ morale. The Trail Blazers had experienced firsthand the terrifying strength of the Pistons when they were in a hot streak, especially Zhou Yi, who scored 4 three-pointers in the second quarter and racked up 19 points—something truly terrifying for a rookie.

McGrady made both of his free throws, and the teams continued to alternate scores, though the Pistons still led by 13 points. In the second quarter, Zhou Yi’s amazing three-pointers cooled down in the third quarter but suddenly erupted again in the fourth. Receiving a clever pass from McGrady, Zhou Yi hit two consecutive three-pointers from the same spot, quickly widening the lead to 19 points. Just as Zhou Yi hit his second three-pointer, the Trail Blazers’ head coach, Nate McMillan, called a timeout early. With less than 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter, McMillan called a timeout to bring in his starters to try and close the gap. After the timeout, the Trail Blazers went with their full starting lineup, and the Pistons did the same, beginning the final showdown.

Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, as the inside and outside duo, launched a fierce counterattack once play resumed. The Pistons clearly didn’t want to give away the victory they were on the verge of securing, so they fought back hard. But the Trail Blazers’ attacks were too terrifying, especially Brandon Roy’s unstoppable jump shots, which gave the Pistons a lot of trouble. With just over 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers had narrowed the gap to 10 points, increasing the suspense of the game. Seeing the Pistons’ defense being torn apart by Brandon Roy, John Kuester decisively called a timeout. After that, the tired Ben Wallace was replaced by Samuels and Dalembert, while Greg Monroe and Zhou Yi, who had been substituted earlier, returned to the court, along with McGrady.

The current Pistons lineup on the court is Durham Porter, Monroe, Prince, McGrady, and Zhou Yi, while the Trail Blazers are playing with their regular starting lineup.
Once the game started, both teams fought fiercely, especially the Pistons, whose fighting spirit was fully ignited by the loud boos from their home crowd. Although McGrady couldn’t contain Brandon Roy, Zhou Yi and Prince constantly assisted him in defending, preventing Brandon Roy from scoring too easily.
Lamarcus Aldridge, under Durham Porter’s pressure, also lost his rhythm, leaving the Trail Blazers with only Brandon Roy as their main scoring threat.
Brandon Roy roared, charged into the Pistons’ paint, and delivered a powerful dunk to vent his anger. Perhaps Roy’s dunk boosted the Trail Blazers’ morale, as the rest of the team played even harder.
At that moment, Zhou Yi could feel the immense pressure in the entire arena, but it didn’t stop him. After driving past half the court, he glanced at Monroe and McGrady. Monroe stepped up to provide a screen for McGrady, and Zhou Yi accelerated his drive. McGrady followed him into the paint. Lamarcus Aldridge went to the outside with Monroe, while Marcus Camby was tied up by Durham Porter, leaving the Trail Blazers’ paint empty.
Andre Miller stayed close to Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi didn’t mind. He passed the ball to McGrady, who had rushed into the Trail Blazers’ basket. Though no longer at his peak, McGrady still managed a small windmill dunk after catching the ball. After the dunk, he roared and swung his arm forcefully—he hadn’t felt that sense in a long time.
…
Despite giving it their all, the Trail Blazers ultimately lost at home. Yet they didn’t let their opponent win easily either; the outcome was decided in the last two minutes of the game, with the Pistons winning 96:90.
The highest scorer of the game wasn’t Brandon Roy, not Lamarcus Aldridge, not McGrady, nor Prince—it was a Chinese player named Zhou Yi, who scored 37 points, including 8 out of 11 three-point attempts, and provided 11 assists, becoming the brightest star of the game.
“Charles, I lost. I lost willingly!” Kenny Smith sighed and said.
Chapter 136: Extraordinary

By defeating the Trail Blazers, the Pistons have now won four consecutive games, rising to second place in the East standings. Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith’s bet saw Kenny Smith lose. Kenny Smith is the kind of person who can accept defeat gracefully—he not only admitted his loss but also fulfilled his promise to kiss Charles Barkley’s butt. However, due to Charles Barkley’s strong opposition, Kenny Smith had to give up on it. After the game, Kenny Smith was interviewed by an ESPN reporter. During the interview, he highly praised Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance in the match and revealed the entire details of his bet with Charles Barkley. Charles Barkley did not stop Kenny Smith; instead, he and Reggie Miller confirmed what Kenny Smith said. This bet made headlines in the news the next day, shocking many fans, just as much as another bet between Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith regarding Yao Ming. Of course, that’s another story. Of course, Zhou Yi wouldn’t care about such things, as he had no time to pay attention to them. After the game against the Trail Blazers, Zhou Yi and the Pistons’ head coach were interviewed by an ESPN reporter, but the interview was brief. During the interview, the reporter also told Zhou Yi and Kurt Rambis about Kenny Smith’s bet. Zhou Yi simply frowned, said some official remarks, and ended the interview. John Kurt Rambis, on the other hand, talked with the reporter for a while. He seemed very pleased about the bet between Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley and cooperated well with the reporter’s questions, while also highly praising his protégé Zhou Yi’s performance. After leaving the Rose Garden, the Pistons returned to the hotel. After a short rest, they ate something and then went back to their rooms to rest. … After beating the Trail Blazers, the Pistons had two days off. But in reality, Zhou Yi and the others only had one day off, as they had to train with the team the next day.

Zhou Yi lay in his hotel room, thinking about tonight’s game. He was quite satisfied with his performance that night. However, he knew that luck played a big role in his results. Though confident in himself, he also had a clear understanding of his strengths and weaknesses.

“When can I improve my shooting accuracy to the level I had today?” Zhou Yi murmured to himself.

With a wry smile, he added, “Even shooters like Ray Allen or Reggie Miller don’t have such great form in every game. But with more practice, my accuracy will definitely improve. Sigh, I still need to work harder on my shooting.”

“By the way, that bet between Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith is pretty interesting. I wonder if it’ll be in the news tomorrow.”

“Ah, forget it. I’d better not think about it. I won’t arrive in Detroit until tomorrow afternoon, so I can get some more sleep. I was really exhausted from playing today. Hehe, but it was worth it—37 points and 11 assists!”

It wasn’t until 10 a.m. the next day that Zhou Yi slowly opened his eyes. After a physically demanding game the previous day, it was understandable that he woke up so late.

After knocking on the door and getting Zhou Yi’s response, Bynum came in and invited him to explore Portland together. From Bynum’s lecherous gaze, it was clear he wanted to go out and try his luck, maybe even meet a beautiful woman. But Zhou Yi had no interest. He was too tired from the previous day and wanted to rest properly, so he politely declined Bynum’s invitation.

Zhou Yi spent the day in his hotel in Portland, surfing the internet and reading news. When the time came, he prepared to return to Detroit with the team.

After Zhou Yi scored 37 points and 11 assists, helping his team win, the biggest reaction came from China. After all, he was Chinese, and his impressive stats, along with leading his team to a victory over the strong Trail Blazers, earned him great admiration and pride. Especially when people learned about the bet between Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, it caused a huge stir among most fans. Not only in China but also in the United States.

……

The plane landed smoothly at the airport. Shortly after Zhou Yi returned to Blake’s home, Xiang Yun called him, inviting him to go out for dinner.

The place they had agreed to meet at was a Chinese restaurant. When Zhou Yi walked in, Xiang Yun was already sitting by the window, sipping tea slowly from her cup.

“You arrived so quickly? Are you eager to see me?” Xiang Yun teased with a playful smile.

Zhou Yi shrugged helplessly and sat down across from her. “By the way, where’s Zhao Hui?” he asked.

“Oh, he has some matters to attend to. Why?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Xiang Yun nodded smilingly and pushed the menu toward him. “Let’s order food.”

Zhou Yi glanced at the menu, ordered a few dishes at random, then handed it back to her.

“Zhou Yi, you’ve really become famous in the United States now!” Xiang Yun said with a laugh.

“Not bad, I guess,” Zhou Yi replied with a faint smile.

“Not bad? Don’t you know that all the news today is about you? Even Kobe, who scored over 40 points yesterday, didn’t cause as much hype as you have,” Xiang Yun joked.

Zhou Yi helplessly picked up his teacup and took a sip. “You didn’t bring me out just to talk about this, did you?”

“Uh… I’m happy for you. Why such an attitude?” Xiang Yun seemed slightly offended.

Zhou Yi realized he might have gone too far and explained, “That’s not what I meant. I just wondered if you don’t want to talk about something else?”

After saying that, he regretted it a bit, as his words carried hidden meaning.

Xiang Yun looked at him with a slight smile and replied, “Alright, then let’s talk about something else!”

They talked about many things—some domestic issues, a brief discussion about their future plans, and also exchanged stories about their pasts. Both of them seemed in a good mood today, so their conversation was pleasant.

Looking at Xiang Yun’s delicate face, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but think of that adorable girl he missed almost every day.

“I wonder what surprises Keer will bring me.”

Chapter 137: Backstep Jump Shot

“Zhou, you’ve almost mastered the catch-and-shot. With a little more practice, you’ll be able to perfect this skill. So starting today, you need to practice another technique—the backstep jump shot. Tracy will still be guiding your training. Do you have any objections?” John Kuster said to Zhou Yi with a smile.

Zhou Yi nodded and replied with a smile, “Coach, no problem!”

“Alright, Tracy, you take care of teaching Zhou how to do the backstep jump shot,” Kuster said, turning to McGrady.
“Sure, coach, don’t worry!”
On the practice court at the Auburn Hills Palace, all the Pistons players were sweating heavily as they trained, while Zhou Yi practiced the backstep jump shot under McGrady’s guidance.
“Zhou, actually your backstep jump shot isn’t bad at all. I’ve observed you in games. It’s just that your movements aren’t very coordinated—let’s say they’re a bit stiff, and your shooting percentage isn’t very high either,” McGrady said honestly.
Zhou Yi nodded while listening and said, “Actually, I basically imitated yours for my backstep jump shot.”
“Uh… well then I’ll teach you how to do it properly and systematically,” McGrady said, blushing slightly.
“The backstep jump shot is a fairly difficult technique. The purpose of stepping back is to prevent being blocked by the defender, but getting the right timing for jumping and the right angle of stepping back requires considerable skill to master accurately. The most important things are maintaining balance while in the air and landing properly—any slight mistake can lead to falling or even twisting an ankle. This shooting technique is often used when facing defenders who are taller or have better jumping ability. The key to defending against a backstep jump shot is to swat or block the ball before or the moment it’s shot. Of course, it’s still very difficult if the opponent guards the ball well,” McGrady explained while demonstrating the move.
Even though McGrady no longer had the same physical condition as before, his backstep jump shot was still extremely graceful. Watching McGrady’s movements, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but admire his extraordinary talent.
“You must know who’s the most famous figure known for using the backstep jump shot, right?” McGrady asked with a smile.
“Michael Jordan,” Zhou Yi replied without hesitation.
“Mm, you’re right. The backstep jump shot was Jordan’s strongest move in the later stages of his career. Thanks to his excellent jumping ability, his 1.98-meter height, which was above average for a guard, and his stronger physique compared to other guards, his backstep jump shot was almost unstoppable. So even in the later years of his career when his speed wasn’t what it used to be, he could still score over 20 points per game. Even in his last season, he averaged over 20 points per game.
The backstep jump shot also requires exceptional sense, because as you step back, your body loses balance temporarily—your whole body tilts, but your hand and the basket remain in a straight line. That’s how you can feel the ball and guide it smoothly into the basket.”

Moreover, the backstep jump shot is generally used for mid-range shots and rarely for three-pointers. However, the backstep for three-pointers is usually a powerful scoring tool that only superstars like Kobe can use effectively. Overall, the backstep jump shot is an essential skill under intense defense, and almost every NBA guard since Jordan has mastered it. But the most powerful and graceful backstep jump shot is still Jordan’s classic version. “I think the key to the backstep jump shot is the height of the jump, not the distance backward—just moving the body back appropriately is enough. Moving too far backward can result in insufficient hand strength, making it hard to shoot well. The backstep jump shot usually involves a turning motion. In Jordan’s classic move, he would face away from the basket, hold the ball with both hands. Taking a right turn as an example: he would take a small step forward to the right with his left foot, turn right, jump, and shoot. The left turn is just the reverse of the right turn. The key is to practice a lot; once you get the feel for it, it becomes easy,” continued McGrady. While explaining to Zhou Yi, McGrady also practiced with him several times. “If you dribble with your right hand and break through from the right, it’s better to use a fake move first. The defender will definitely follow you on your left side. When the ball is within their shooting range, the closer it is to the basket, the higher the shooting percentage. Suddenly move slightly to the left to make the defender think you’re breaking through there, which also creates space for your backstep jump shot. Then, suddenly pull back and assume a stance with your left foot in front and right foot behind. Note: at this point, you need to be fully prepared to shoot. Now, face the basket, but keep the basket and your shoulders in a straight line, then rotate counterclockwise and jump. As you rise, keep your upper body in your usual shooting position, and your right leg will naturally swing forward. Great! Now you can shoot easily using the momentum from the rotation and arm strength. That’s right!” McGrady said to Zhou Yi with a laugh. Under McGrady’s continuous guidance, Zhou Yi has already mastered the essentials of the backstep jump shot, but it will still take a long time of practice to fully master this skill. “Tracy, thank you so much! You’ve even sacrificed your own practice time to help me train!” Zhou Yi said, sitting on a bench beside McGrady and looking at him, a bit embarrassed.

“Why say such things? We’re brothers; it’s only right to help each other. Besides, when I help you, I get to review the material too—feels great!” Maddie said with a smile, patting Zhou Yi’s shoulder.
“Hehe, you’re right. We’re brothers!” Zhou Yi replied, smiling as he hugged Maddie.
“Hey, what are you two doing?” Bynum ran over from the court, seeing Zhou Yi and Maddie sitting by the side, and asked with a smile.
“We’re tired from practicing, so we’re taking a break,” Zhou Yi answered with a smile.
Bynum sat down on the other side of Maddie and started drinking from a bottle of drink.
“Zhou, you need to practice your backspin jump shot more. You’ve basically mastered the technique; it just needs more practice. Keep practicing hard, and you’ll master it completely,” Maddie said seriously to Zhou Yi.
“Hmm, I get it.”
“Good, let’s get back to training!”
“Okay!”
With that, the two walked side by side back to the training court, ready to have their training clothes soaked with sweat.
“Those two never take a break!” Bynum said helplessly, sipping his drink while sitting by the side of the court.
“Will, hurry up and train!” a stern voice echoed throughout the court.
“Ah? Got it, got it!”
Hearing this voice, Bynum immediately ran faster than a lion and returned to the court to continue training. Seeing Bynum’s frustrated expression, the crowd burst into laughter.
Chapter 138: The Sunk Ship – Pistons Claim 5th Straight Win
“Hehe, we won!” Maddie said with a smile, hugging Zhou Yi’s shoulder.
“Yeah, this game was pretty easy. But Blake Griffin is really strong—he almost broke through the defense in the paint!”
Maddie nodded and smiled, “Yes, but winning the game is what matters most.”
The Pistons, filled with joy, headed toward the visiting team’s locker room, leaving the disappointed Clippers players and home fans behind in the court.
The Los Angeles Clippers (1 win, 8 losses before this game) continued their losing streak. After losing at home to the Pistons, their record became 1 win, 9 losses, putting them in second-to-last place in the West.

Blake Griffin of the Clippers recorded a double-double in 9 consecutive games, scoring 24 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Aside from him, four other Clippers players also scored in double figures. The Clippers suffered a fierce attack from the Pistons in the third quarter, which allowed the Pistons to build a large lead. The Clippers lost at home 88-109 to the Detroit Pistons (6 wins, 2 losses prior to this game), suffering their fifth consecutive loss, while the Pistons achieved their fifth straight win.

Blake Griffin scored 24 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Clippers. Ryan Gomez added 14 points, Eric Gordon contributed 15 points and 6 assists, Brian Cook scored 10 points and 7 rebounds. Rookie Eric Bledsoe had a solid performance, scoring 12 points and 8 assists.

On the Pistons’ side, Charlie Villanueva, who started in the bench, scored the highest amount for the Pistons with 27 points and 9 rebounds. Chinese player Zhou Yi hit 5 out of 7 shots for 13 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Tashaun Prince scored 19 points, Tracy McGrady scored 14 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds from 5 out of 9 attempts, and Will Bynum also performed well with 11 points and 5 assists. Greg Monroe scored only 7 points and 6 rebounds, while another rookie, Taylor Hansbrough, had a disappointing performance with 6 points and 4 rebounds. However, two veterans had strong shows: Ben Wallace scored 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks, and Samuel Dalembert added 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

After securing a victory over Portland in their last game, the Pistons had two days off. In this game, they thrashed the Clippers on the road, showing signs of their former status as a top team. They are now closing in on the Celtics, who hold first place in the East, posing a threat to their lead. The Celtics currently have a record of 8 wins and 2 losses, with the Pistons just half a game behind them.

The starting lineups for both teams were as follows:
Clippers’ starting lineup: Eric Bledsoe, Eric Gordon, Ryan Gomez, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Pistons’ starting lineup: Will Bynum, James Posey, Tashaun Prince, Greg Monroe, Ben Wallace

Tayshaun Prince scored 5 points in a row to start the game, giving the Pistons a 9-4 lead. After several back-and-forth attacks, Eric Gordon made two free throws, followed by Ben Wallace and Will Bynum combining for 6 points. Zhou Yi scored 5 points in the second half of the first quarter, pushing the Pistons’ lead to 23-11. Al-Farouq Aminu scored 5 points in a row, and Byron Davis added 3, leading their team to close the first quarter with an 8-2 run, leaving the Pistons ahead 25-19 at the end of the first quarter.

Zhou Yi started the second quarter with a jump shot, and Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon each scored, narrowing the Clippers’ deficit to 5 points. Although McGrady hit a three-pointer, Blake Griffin scored 5 points in a row to lead his team on an 8-0 run, tying the score at 32 with 6 minutes and 40 seconds left in the half. After the score was 36-all, James Posey hit a three-pointer, and Greg Monroe added a free throw, giving the Pistons a 41-36 lead. The Clippers scored 4 points in a row, Charlie Villanueva responded with 6 points, and Blake Griffin hit a jump shot, keeping the Pistons ahead 49-42. Charlie Villanueva hit another jump shot, putting the Pistons up 51-46 at the half.

Blake Griffin scored 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers in the first half, Eric Bledsoe added 7 points, and Ryan Gomez scored 8 points. For the Pistons, Charlie Villanueva scored 13 points, Tayshaun Prince scored 9 points, and Zhou Yi scored 7 points.

Byron Davis scored 3 points in a row at the start of the third quarter, and Al-Farouq Aminu added 3 more, leaving the Clippers trailing 56-59. Tayshaun Prince scored 4 points in a row, and Charlie Villanueva hit two consecutive three-pointers, leading their team on a 14-0 run and giving the Pistons a 73-56 lead of 17 points. Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon each scored 2 points, Will Bynum hit a 3-pointer, and Blake Griffin scored twice more, but Zhou Yi, who had just entered the game, scored 4 points in a row to lead his team on an 8-2 run. By the end of the third quarter, the Pistons led 80-62, a 18-point advantage.

Ryan Gomez hit both free throws to kick off the fourth quarter, and Villanueva, who came in as a substitute, had a breakout performance, leading his team to a 9-0 run that gave the Pistons a 25-point lead. Eric Gordon scored a three-pointer, and Samuel Dalembert hit two dunks, putting the Pistons up 26 points at 6:50 left in the game, 97-71. With such a large lead, the Pistons switched to their all-substitute lineup, and the Clippers tried to narrow the gap, but Zhou Yi and Austin Daye combined to score 8 points to stabilize the situation, allowing the Pistons to win 109-88.

After the game against the Clippers, Zhou Yi and his teammates returned to the hotel. Once there, they feasted under Coach Koost’s leadership, and after that, everyone went back to their own rooms.

“Zhou, wait a moment.”

“What is it, coach?” Zhou Yi asked curiously.

A hint of concern appeared on Koost’s face as he asked, “Are you okay after falling today?”

Hearing Koost’s words, Zhou Yi was momentarily stunned before smiling and saying, “I’m fine, coach. It was just an accidental fall; nothing serious.”

“That’s good. But if you feel any discomfort, let me know right away!” Koost said with concern.

Upon hearing this and seeing Koost’s worried expression, Zhou Yi felt warm inside and smiled, saying, “I know, coach.”

“Hmm, then go rest early. We head back to Detroit at noon tomorrow,” Koost said, relieved.

Zhou Yi nodded, said good night to Koost, and headed to his room.

Today’s game was largely one-sided. Aside from some trouble in the second quarter, the Pistons played quite easily, so Zhou Yi didn’t feel very tired.

“Ugh, I have to play away against the Kings the day after tomorrow, flying around all the time. It’s so annoying! Bynum was right—playing at home is great!” Zhou Yi lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, talking to himself.

“By the way, it’s my birthday the day after tomorrow. But if I adjust for the time difference, it should be my birthday tomorrow. I wonder what kind of surprise Keer will give me. I’m really looking forward to it…”

As he thought about it, that beautiful, somewhat cute and sweet, a bit mischievous, and of course, a bit depressed girl appeared in Zhou Yi’s mind again. But soon, another lively, understanding, and beautiful girl appeared in his thoughts.

“Ugh, I wonder how she is now…”

Chapter 139: Surprise? Secret?

Since the game against the Clippers was quite easy, Zhou Yi didn’t feel too tired, so he got up early the next day. After getting up and washing up, Zhou Yi went out with McGrady. To be honest, Zhou Yi’s family wasn’t short of money, and he had traveled abroad many times since he was young, but he had never been to Los Angeles before. So he asked McGrady to take him around Los Angeles, as McGrady was quite familiar with the city.

Los Angeles is a city in southern California on the U.S. West Coast. By population, it is the largest city in California and the second-largest city in the United States, after New York. Los Angeles is one of the world’s centers for culture, science, technology, international trade, and higher education, with many world-renowned institutions in various professional and cultural fields. The city and its surrounding areas have established Los Angeles’ international reputation and global status through popular entertainment such as movies, television, and music. Hollywood, famous around the world, is located in this city.

Zhou Yi followed McGrady to many places and saw many beautiful scenery spots. As the two were heading to the next attraction, McGrady’s phone rang. After hanging up, McGrady said to Zhou Yi with a smile, “We have to go back. Will said he’s getting impatient waiting for us. Next time when we have more time, I’ll take you on a proper tour of Los Angeles. I guess you’ve never been to Hollywood, right? Next time you come, I’ll take you there. It’s really fun, and there are lots of beautiful girls there!”
“Hmm, hehe! But Will must really like going there!”
After saying that, both of them burst into laughter, clearly very familiar with Bynum’s personality.

After returning to the hotel, the Pistons team flew back to Detroit.
……

At 3 p.m., Zhou Yi finally returned to Blake’s home. When he got there, he happened to find Blake at home. As Zhou Yi entered, Blake was about to leave, looking quite hurried.
“You’re back? Heat up the food by yourself; I’m going out for a bit,” Blake said as he headed outside.
“Oh!” Zhou Yi replied and went upstairs.
“Hey, Xiao Yi, uncle has a surprise for you!” Blake suddenly turned around and called out to Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi stopped, turned around, and asked with a smile, “What surprise?”
“Secret!” Blake said without looking back as he walked out of the villa. Soon, Zhou Yi could no longer see him.

Zhou Yi helplessly shrugged and continued walking toward his room.
“Secrets, more secrets. This is already the fifth time I’ve heard someone mention ‘secret’ these past few days. Before, Keer said she wanted to give me a surprise; when I asked her, she said it was a secret. Then those guys from Qin Tian also said they wanted to give me a surprise, and they told me it was a secret too. Yesterday, Coach Kuster said he wanted to give me a surprise, which was also a secret. Those guys from Bynum said the same thing. Today, Uncle Blake said the same. What exactly is this surprise? What secret is it?” Zhou Yi lay on the bed helplessly, sighing. His face showed confusion, but more so, anticipation.
There was no training scheduled for today, so Zhou Yi simply played on his computer in his room after dinner. After opening his new email account, although there weren’t as many emails as before, there were still quite a few. After checking each one, a look of suspicion appeared on his face. The senders were mostly his friends and Mo Keer, with messages wishing him a happy birthday and saying they wanted to give him a surprise. Zhou Yi replied to them one by one. As he continued scrolling, a new email arrived. When he opened it, he was stunned, his expression turning unnatural.
“Zhou Yi, are you okay? Today is your birthday—happy birthday! —Xia Tingting”
A sense of bitterness arose in his heart. He didn’t know how to deal with this girl and could only feel a hint of guilt, after all, he already had a girlfriend.
“Thank you. How are you? —Zhou Yi”
After replying to the email, Zhou Yi turned off his computer. He no longer felt like playing. Putting on his sports clothes, he headed to the gym. His physical combat skills had improved a lot, but if he encountered someone with extraordinary physical abilities like Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, or Deron Williams, he would still be defeated.
…
The next morning, Zhou Yi went to the Auburn Hills Palace Arena early. Upon arriving, he was surprised to find himself alone. With a wry smile, he was escorted by staff to the locker room. After changing, he headed toward the training court. As he walked, a sexy and stunning woman came toward him. Upon closer look, it was her.
“Coming to train so early?” Jessica asked lightly.

“Yes, Miss Jessica, you came early too, didn’t you?” Zhou Yi replied cautiously. He couldn’t help but feel anger and fear around this blond, long-legged beauty.
“Hehe, I’m used to it. By the way, I heard it’s your birthday today. Happy birthday!”
Zhou Yi stared at the beautiful woman in front of him. To be honest, she looked even more beautiful when smiling. Her golden shoulder-length wavy hair, light brown eyebrows, big sparkling eyes, long eyelashes, a small nose, and lips that were slightly thick but playful—truly, among all the girls Zhou Yi had met, she was the most beautiful. Even Phoebe paled in comparison to this stunning beauty.
“Hehe, thank you!” Zhou Yi replied with a slight smile.
After saying that, he lowered his head and ran toward the training field. He didn’t want to stay with this stunning beauty even for a second. To be honest, if it were just a regular beauty, Zhou Yi wouldn’t mind staying a bit longer, but this woman had a very bad temper.
“Hey, wait!” Jessica called out to Zhou Yi from behind.
“Uh, Miss Jessica, is there anything else?” Zhou Yi asked cautiously.
“I mean, am I that scary? Scaring you into running away so fast?”
Zhou Yi sighed inwardly. “Uh, I’m sorry, Miss Jessica. I still have a lot of training to finish, and there’s a match tonight too. That’s why I got so anxious. If I did anything wrong, please forgive me!”
“Never mind. I know my temper isn’t great. You all keep avoiding me. Alright, go train!” Jessica sighed and walked in the opposite direction.
Zhou Yi stood there in shock until Jessica’s figure disappeared from sight before he could react. He gave a bitter smile and continued toward the training field.
“This Miss Jessica… she’s a bit strange…”
Chapter 140: Jessica
“Hey, did you provoke her? Are you looking for trouble?” Bynum looked at Zhou Yi with pity and asked.
Zhou Yi scratched his head and laughed. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? Do you still want to stay with the Pistons? Do you know who that girl is?” Seeing Zhou Yi’s confused expression, Bynum said to him helplessly.
“Jessica? Isn’t she our team’s doctor? Honestly, every time I see her, I feel scared. It’s like my heart starts pounding just by looking at her.” Zhou Yi whispered to Bynum, afraid that others might hear.

Bynum frowned. “Nervous? It’s natural to be nervous—everyone gets nervous when they see her. Tell me, do you know Jessica’s full name?”
Zhou Yi thought for a moment before shaking his head.
“Her full name is Jessica Karina Davidson,” Bynum replied, sighing at Zhou Yi’s confused expression.
After hearing Bynum’s answer, Zhou Yi nodded, said “Oh,” and then went back to training as if he hadn’t paid any attention to Bynum’s words at all.
Seeing that the guy still didn’t get it, Bynum stepped forward, tapped him, and asked, “Dude, don’t you know who she is?”
“She’s just Jessica, right? Oh, right—Jessica Karina Davidson, our team’s doctor. Seems like she holds a high position among the doctors,” Zhou Yi replied indifferently.
“Heh, a high position?” Bynum sneered, looking at Zhou Yi with disdain.
“Hey, Will, stop slacking off and train harder!” Head coach John Kuster’s stern voice echoed throughout the field, causing everyone to laugh.
After being warned by John Kuster, Bynum had no choice but to calm down. He slowly approached Zhou Yi, trying to talk to him again.
“Dude, I’m warning you—how dare you laugh at me? Were you pretending to be clueless just now?” Bynum asked angrily.
“Pretending to be clueless? Pretending about what? You said you were warning me—warning me about what?” Zhou Yi tried to hold back a smile, looking at Bynum in confusion.
After throwing a ball, Bynum glanced secretly at John Kuster and replied in a low voice to Zhou Yi, “It seems like you really don’t know Jessica’s identity. Do you know Bill Davidson?”
“Bill Davidson? That sounds familiar. I think I’ve heard of him.”
“Nonsense. If you’d never heard of him, you wouldn’t be on the Pistons either,” Bynum replied irritably.
“Then stop keeping us in the dark. Who exactly is Bill Davidson? And what’s his relationship with Jessica?” Zhou Yi pressed further.
“Sigh, Bill Davidson is the owner of the Pistons, the team’s boss,” Bynum replied helplessly, now completely speechless about Zhou Yi. No wonder he dared to have anything to do with Jessica.
“So it’s the big boss! Wait—Bill Davidson, Jessica Karina Davidson…” Zhou Yi exclaimed in shock.

Bynum gave Zhou Yi a half-smile, especially when he saw Zhou Yi’s surprised expression, making his smile even wider. “Gued it, right? Hehe, you’re quite brave. Jessica isn’t just the boss’s daughter—she also has a terrible temper. Even Mr. Joe Dumars, the general manager, doesn’t mess with her easily. Hehe…”
“Uh, it seems I really hit a wall. But I didn’t really bother her, so I guess she won’t trouble me,” Zhou Yi said slowly, trying to suppress his surprise.
“But she’s already remembered you clearly. You said yourself that after meeting her for the first time, you forgot her the second time, and she got furious over it, right? Hehe, you’re on her blacklist. I heard she’s very vindictive—she hates those who pretend not to remember her after meeting her!”
“I really did forget her that time. She can’t be that petty, right?” Zhou Yi sighed helplessly.
Bynum burst into laughter and patted Zhou Yi’s shoulder. “Haha, I was just kidding!”
“You guy…”, Zhou Yi said, then gave Bynum a sharp elbow.
“But seriously, that woman has a really bad temper. Next time, stay away from her. It’s common knowledge among our team,” Bynum warned, rubbing the spot he’d been elbowed.
Zhou Yi nodded. “Yeah, I get it. Even if you didn’t say anything, I’d stay away from her.”
“Zhou Yi, Will, what are you two doing? Get to training immediately! If you slack off again, you’ll have to do 200 push-ups and 1,000 shots, all making hits,” Koost’s strict voice rang out once again across the training field.
Hearing this, Zhou Yi and Bynum had no choice but to train seriously, stopping any further chatting. Especially Bynum, who seemed to work even harder than Zhou Yi.
The Pistons trained until 12:30 p.m. After a short break, they packed up and boarded the team’s private plane to Sacramento at 1 p.m. That night, they were going to play away against the Sacramento Kings.
“If we go by the local time, it’s my birthday today. I wonder what surprises I’ll get. I can’t wait!” Zhou Yi sat at the end of the plane, filled with anticipation and curiosity.
“What are you thinking about?” McGrady asked, sitting next to Zhou Yi and noticing his distracted look.

Zhou Yi smiled slightly and replied, “Nothing much.”
“Hehe, I watched the backspin jump shot you practiced before. It’s really good now—you’ve improved a lot. To be honest, you have great basketball talent,” Maddie said, patting Zhou Yi’s shoulder with a smile.
“Hehe, thanks. Without your guidance, I wouldn’t have improved this much. Since we’re brothers, I won’t say thank you any further.”
“Hmm, tonight, you…”
“Cough cough…” Bynum’s coughing interrupted Maddie. Maddie glanced at Bynum, gave a helpless wry smile, and stopped talking.
Zhou Yi glanced at Maddie, then at Bynum, immediately realizing there was something they were hiding from him. But Zhou Yi didn’t ask. Since Bynum had stopped Maddie from speaking, even if he asked, they wouldn’t answer.
…
Around 4 p.m., the group finally arrived in Sacramento. After resting briefly and eating something at the hotel they had reserved, they set off for ARCO Arena, the Kings’ home court, led by Kuster.
Chapter 141: The Coach’s Birthday Gift
The Pistons arrived at ARCO Arena quickly. It was almost 5 p.m., with the game starting at 6. Guided by staff, they were taken to the visiting team’s locker room.
“Sigh, the Kings’ locker room is still as shabby as ever!” Bynum dropped his luggage and plopped down on a bench, complaining to everyone.
“Hehe, stop complaining. Hurry up and get ready—the game starts in an hour!” Maddie found a spot next to Bynum, secured his luggage, and started changing.
Bynum could only sigh and get ready along with the others. Zhou Yi looked around. Indeed, the Kings’ visiting team locker room was as simple as Bynum had said. He remembered that during their away game against the Chicago Bulls, their visiting locker room was quite good—probably the best they had encountered so far on away games.
“Sigh, Will, which of the 30 NBA teams has the best locker room?” Zhou Yi asked curiously as he packed his things.

Bynum suddenly stopped and looked at Zhou Yi as if he were looking at an idiot. “Is that even necessary? Of course it’s the Dallas Mavericks. Don’t you know that Khuban is very rich? Sigh, the gap—this is the gap! In my opinion, even the Mavericks’ visiting locker room is better than the Kings’ home locker room, not to mention our Pistons’ home locker room. Sigh, the gap—this is a huge gap!” Bynum complained resentfully, with an urge to suggest that head coach John Kuest improve their locker room conditions.

“Heh, Will, be satisfied. It’s far worse than our team’s locker room, and you’re still complaining?” Teshian finished packing his belongings and had even changed into his clothes, smiling at Bynum.

“Sigh…” After changing into his clothes, Bynum glanced around and sighed heavily.

At that moment, John Kuest walked in, looked at everyone, and asked with a smile, “Are you all ready?”

“We’re ready,” they replied in unison.

John Kuest nodded slightly and said to them, “Today’s game is very important, so…”

“We must win!” they replied in unison, except for Zhou Yi.

A faint glint appeared in Kuest’s eyes, especially as he glanced at Zhou Yi a few times before smiling slightly. “I won’t say anything else. I already told you all before we came here; you should understand. Alright, guys, let’s go on the court!”

The Pistons’ players seemed quite energetic today. At Kuest’s command, they headed toward the court. In the player tunnel, Zhou Yi curiously asked Bynum beside him, “The coach said he talked to us before we came. What did he say?”

Bynum was stunned. His eyes moved around for a moment before he forced a smile and said, “How would I know what he said? It was probably just stuff about the game, tactics and such. Heh, let’s hurry up; we still need to do warm-ups!”

“Oh.” Zhou Yi followed Bynum toward the court.

“But it seems like the coach didn’t say anything about the game or tactics!” Zhou Yi suddenly said.

McDyess patted Zhou Yi’s shoulder and laughed, “Who knows? Stop thinking about that and focus on today’s game! It seems like you’re going up against last season’s Rookie of the Year, Terrence Evans. He’s quite strong.” McDyess suddenly said to Zhou Yi.

“Well, Tyreke Evans is indeed not easy to deal with,” Zhou Yi nodded in response.
Seeing that Zhou Yi stopped asking questions, Bynum breathed a sigh of relief, cursing inwardly that John Kuster had almost exposed himself. Thankfully, he and McGrady had dispelled Zhou Yi’s suspicions.
The group quickly rushed to the court, where the home team’s players hadn’t arrived yet. As Zhou Yi stepped out of the player’s tunnel, he ran into Blake.
“Hehe, Uncle, what are you doing here? It seems like you don’t often come to watch my games!” Zhou Yi asked with a smile.
Blake shrugged and laughed, “It’s your birthday today, right? How could I not come? Haha…”
Zhou Yi grinned and said, “You said you’d give me a surprise. I’m waiting for it!”
“Just wait and see. This surprise will definitely blow you away!” Blake said confidently, patting his chest.
“Okay, I know. Then I’ll go on the court to warm up first,” Zhou Yi said with a smile.
Blake nodded and smiled, “You need to perform well in this game. There are many people who care about you watching!”
“Okay, I know!” Zhou Yi ran to the court.
By now, the Arco Arena was packed, with cheers filling the air as everyone prepared to welcome their heroes. Sure enough, a few minutes later, their heroes stepped onto the stage.
The first to appear was the Kings’ star player, Tyreke Evans, whose entrance naturally triggered wild screams from the home crowd. As Tyreke Evans took the court, the other Kings players also appeared one after another, with continuous screams, but none as loud as those when Tyreke Evans entered.
The players from both teams were now warming up on the court. After nearly half an hour, all the players left the court, and the Kings’ cheerleaders performed an exciting dance show before the game started.
After the cheerleaders’ performance, the large screen at the arena displayed the rosters of the two teams’ 12 players. Then, the commentator introduced the starting lineups for both teams.
Home team, Kings: PG is Tyreke Evans, SG is Beno Udrih, SF is Omri Casspi, PF is Karl Landry, C is Jason Thompson;
Pistons: The point guard is the young Chinese player Zhou Yi…

With a “buzz,” the moment Zhou Yi heard that he was the starting point guard, that sound flashed through his mind, so much so that he didn’t even hear the introduction of the other starting players by the Pistons.
“Coach, I…”
“Go ahead. This is your birthday gift from the coach—don’t refuse!” Cooster smiled kindly and said to Zhou Yi repeatedly.
Zhou Yi was stunned for a moment before reluctantly nodding. He turned to Bynum and said, “Will, I…”
“Haha, why are you acting like a woman? Stop being so hesitant. You should have been the starter all along. Perform well—don’t disappoint your teammates!” Bynum interrupted Zhou Yi, laughing.
After hearing Bynum’s words, Zhou Yi couldn’t help but smile faintly. He patted Bynum’s shoulder and said seriously, “It’s worth it to have a friend like you!”
After that, the two shook hands tightly. Then, Zhou Yi and several of his starting teammates headed toward the court.
As Zhou Yi walked toward the court, he felt a very familiar presence in the stands, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t identify its source.
“Let’s go, the game’s about to start,” Maddie said, pulling Zhou Yi toward the court.
Volume 3: First Impressions
Chapter 142: Zhou Yi’s Debut
Upon reaching the court, Zhou Yi looked around. Today’s Pistons starting lineup was very different from usual, as four players who had mostly played as substitutes in the previous dozen games were now starters. Besides himself, the other three were Maddie, Greg Monroe, and Samuel Dalembert. Zhou Yi could understand Maddie and Greg Monroe being starters, but Samuel Dalembert… After thinking for a moment, he immediately realized why Samuel Dalembert was starting today—since the Kings were his former team, Cooster had arranged for him to start as a way to motivate him.
A short while later, with the referee’s whistle, this game, which was extremely different for Zhou Yi, officially began.
Using his years of experience, Samuel Dalembert easily outjumped the Kings’ young player, Jason Thompson. After grabbing the ball, he immediately passed it to Zhou Yi behind him.
“Swish!” With a swift motion, Zhou Yi scored the first point of the game, announcing it to all the fans with a clear, loud sound.

Zhou Yi smiled as he retreated while high-fiving his teammate. Suddenly, he felt a very familiar sensation, one that came from the audience. But Zhou Yi had no time to worry about that, as Tyreke Evans was already charging toward him with the ball.

After halftime, Zhou Yi stepped forward immediately, crouching down in preparation for defense. “You’re Zhou? I heard you’ve been performing exceptionally well lately!” Tyreke Evans said while controlling the ball.

“Thank you!” Zhou Yi replied calmly, focusing intently on guarding Tyreke Evans.

Seeing Zhou Yi’s indifferent tone, Tyreke Evans smirked coldly. He suddenly moved, stepping forward with his right foot, trying to cut past Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi wasn’t about to let him succeed easily; he moved alongside Tyreke Evans, staying close to him. Instead of getting annoyed, Tyreke Evans suddenly used a crossover to disrupt Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi was well-accustomed to this move and used it often himself, so he wasn’t thrown off balance.

“Not bad!” Tyreke Evans sneered.

After saying that, he leaned against Zhou Yi and switched to a back-to-back stance. Zhou Yi didn’t panic either; he stayed close, pressing his elbow against Tyreke Evans’s waist to prevent him from generating power.

However, Zhou Yi made a mistake. Tyreke Evans suddenly blocked him with his left hand, then turned and broke through from Zhou Yi’s right side. As Zhou Yi chased after him, a wall of flesh blocked his path. Looking up, he saw it was “Birdman” Karl Landry.

After getting rid of Zhou Yi’s defense, Tyreke Evans immediately executed a quick stop-and-jump shot. The ball bounced several times against the rim before falling through.

After scoring, Tyreke Evans gave Zhou Yi a smirkful look. Zhou Yi could detect a hint of contempt and disdain in his eyes, though it was hidden deeply.

It was Zhou Yi who had the ball again. After halftime, instead of holding onto it, he passed it directly to McGrady. McGrady grabbed the ball with one hand, glanced around, then used a fake move with his right foot. Beno Udrih was guarding McGrady, but the rookie was easily confused by McGrady’s moves and became disoriented. McGrady effortlessly got past Udrih’s defense and rushed inside the three-point line. Seeing McGrady in an open position, Tyreke Evans, who was closest to him, immediately stepped forward to cover him.

Maddie jumped and shot the ball, but it was aimed at Zhou Yi. After catching the ball, Zhou Yi didn’t hesitate and immediately took a mid-range jump shot. With a “clang,” it missed, but Greg Monroe grabbed the offensive rebound. Instead of shooting, Greg Monroe passed the ball back to Zhou Yi once again.

Tyrick Evans hadn’t yet closed in for defense, meaning Zhou Yi was still open. So after catching the ball, Zhou Yi took a deep breath and shot again. With a “swish,” the ball went through the net.

Tyrick Evans’s speed was roughly on par with Zhou Yi’s; in fact, he was slightly slower. So instead of relying on speed, Tyrick Evans used strength and physical fitness to compete with Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi didn’t slack off at all and kept a close eye on his opponent. Tyrick Evans was also quite surprised—this Chinese kid was truly as strong as others said. After several dribbles under his arm, Tyrick Evans suddenly changed direction, followed by a feint, but neither tricked Zhou Yi. He accelerated forward in a break, then suddenly stepped back and jumped to shoot. Zhou Yi wasn’t expecting such smooth movements and quick shots from his opponent, so he failed to block the shot.

“Swish”—another shot through the net. The score was tied at 4:4. The Kings had scored on their first two attacks, both scored by Tyrick Evans, while the Pistons’ 4 points also came from the same player—Zhou Yi.

After that, both teams’ shooting percentages gradually declined, but the Kings’ dropped faster. Although the Pistons’ percentage also fell, it remained above 60%.

Zhou Yi wondered why he seemed to be taking more shots than usual today, and it seemed like his teammates weren’t shooting much either, passing the ball to him instead. Just earlier, when Greg Monroe had a chance for a second attack after grabbing the offensive rebound, he didn’t shoot and instead passed the ball to Zhou Yi on the outside, which left Zhou Yi puzzled.

When the score reached 13:8, the first timeout of the game was called—by the Kings, as head coach Paul Westphal wanted to reprimand Tyrick Evans.

“Do you know why I called this timeout? Look, where’s your defense? That Chinese kid has already scored 9 points in front of you, more than our entire team. I know it’s not just your fault, but after all, it’s you who’s guarding him. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I hope you can give your best performance. Remember, you’re the leader of this team—you need to set an example. Got it?” King’s head coach Westphal said angrily to Terick Evans.

“Understood,” Terick Evans replied in a low voice.

“Good. Now perform well!”

After the timeout, the game resumed, and Zhou Yi’s fierce performance had just begun!

Chapter 143: A Solo Performance (1)

Once the game restarted, neither team made any changes to their lineups, as it had been less than 6 minutes since the start. The Kings launched an attack, with Terick Evans in control of the ball.

As soon as Terick Evans dribbled past the halfway line, Zhou Yi immediately took up his defensive stance, waving one hand in front of him to block his path while spreading his body to prevent easy breakthroughs. Zhou Yi already had decent defensive skills, and with the guidance of defensive ace Tashawn Prince, his defensive abilities were far above average.

Terick Evans looked at Zhou Yi in front of him. He knew this Chinese player was a rookie this season and had performed extremely well in previous games and preseason matches, but he hadn’t paid much attention to Zhou Yi before. The main reason was that Zhou Yi had joined the NBA outside of the draft. In his view, or in most people’s view, players who didn’t enter the NBA through the draft generally had little future. Look at the top-paid players in the league—how many of them didn’t enter via the draft? So, in Terick Evans’s eyes, Zhou Yi wouldn’t achieve much in the NBA. Even though Zhou Yi gradually gained some fame and recognition later on, he still didn’t take him seriously.

But after facing Zhou Yi head-on, his attitude toward him had undergone a dramatic change—though not entirely, it was still a significant shift. The more he fought against Zhou Yi, the more he realized this guy was no ordinary opponent. What annoyed him most was that no matter how he tried to defend himself, Zhou Yi always managed to find opportunities to attack, with an astonishing accuracy rate. Even more frustrating was that it seemed the other Pistons players lacked enthusiasm for attacking, passing all opportunities to this guy. The worst of it all was that his own shooting form was terrible today.

Tyrick Evans stared at Zhou Yi solemnly, then stepped forward with his right foot, accelerating to the utmost as he broke toward Zhou Yi’s right side. Yet Zhou Yi stuck closely to him like glue. Still, Tyrick Evans had ways to get free from Zhou Yi’s defense, and those methods had worked well in previous attempts.

He accelerated toward Zhou Yi’s right side, then suddenly pulled to the left, using his right hand to block Zhou Yi while dribbling past him with his left. Although Zhou Yi had strong defensive instincts, he lacked experience, so he really had no solution to this tactic. After breaking free, Tyrick Evans rushed to the basket, using his teammate Jason Thompson’s screen to score a layup.

During the Pistons’ attack, Zhou Yi drove with the ball and passed it to Greg Monroe on the right side of the basket. Greg Monroe feinted and passed the ball back to Zhou Yi.

“Why isn’t anyone attacking?” Zhou Yi frowned. But when he received the ball, Greg Monroe gave him a peculiar look, and Zhou Yi immediately understood.

“No wonder everyone was acting so strangely before, and no wonder they lack the desire to attack now and instead pass the ball to me. Haha, if that’s the case, I can’t refuse.” A hint of excitement appeared on Zhou Yi’s face as he glanced at his teammates.

Zhou Yi drove fast with the ball, cutting straight into the Kings’ paint for a layup, scoring.

The Kings quickly launched a counterattack but failed, with Greg Monroe grabbing the rebound and passing it to Zhou Yi. Now full of fighting spirit, Zhou Yi rushed toward the opposing half. Suddenly, he was outside their three-point line. He threw the ball—swish—and it went through the net.

Tyrick Evans stared at Zhou Yi with wide eyes, in disbelief.
“Is this guy crazy? How can his shooting accuracy be so high?” Tyrick Evans muttered angrily.
On the Pistons’ bench, Bynum stood up, waving a towel and shouting, “Zhou, give them more of a taste, haha…”
“No way. If I can’t defend him, I won’t let him defend me either. At least we need to trade blows so the coach won’t criticize me too much,” Tyrick Evans thought.
Tyrick Evans drove to the front court and gave Carl Landry a look. Carl Landry understood immediately and quickly set up a pick-and-roll. Zhou Yi was blocked by Carl Landry and couldn’t keep up with Tyrick Evans.
But just as Tyrick Evans broke through Zhou Yi, McGrady quickly moved in front of him. With McGrady’s help, Zhou Yi shook off Carl Landry and focused on both Tyrick Evans and Beno Udrih, who was with McGrady. Yet Tyrick Evans didn’t slow down despite McGrady’s defense; he dodged him with several quick changes of direction. After all, McGrady no longer had his former physical strength, and being over 30, it was normal that he couldn’t stop Tyrick Evans.
After breaking through McGrady, Tyrick Evans went straight for a layup. But at the moment he shot, Zhou Yi, who had been watching him, suddenly jumped and swatted his layup away. It was an absolutely amazing block—even McGrady praised Zhou Yi’s play, and Zhou Yi felt great about it.
But just as Zhou Yi was feeling pleased, the referee’s whistle blew.
“Pistons No. 37, offensive foul!”
That was the referee’s decision. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi’s joy vanished instantly, and he rushed to the referee to explain. But the referee wasn’t willing to change the call and warned Zhou Yi that if he kept talking, he’d be given a technical foul.
McGrady pulled Zhou Yi back and whispered, “Forget it. This is still their home court.”
John Kuester noticed something was wrong with Zhou Yi and quickly called a timeout. It was also time to make substitutions, as more than 7 minutes had already passed in the first quarter.

“Stop getting upset, Zhou. This is normal—after all, it’s the Kings’ home court. I saw that shot just now; it was a great block. You did well in the first quarter, and the coach is very satisfied. Now, take some time to rest, as I’ll have you on the court earlier in the second quarter.” John Kuster said with a smile, patting Zhou Yi’s shoulder.

Zhou Yi nodded, wiped the sweat from his face with a towel, and focused on the court.

Soon, the first quarter ended, with the Pistons leading the Kings 30-25 by 5 points. Of the Pistons’ 30 points, Zhou Yi scored 14, with a high shooting percentage—6 out of 7 attempts, only one miss. Terryce Evans, who faced Zhou Yi, also performed well, scoring 10 points, but with a lower shooting percentage.

After a while, the second quarter was about to begin!

Chapter 144: Dancing Alone (Part 2)