Chương 144: 2010 All-Star Candidates
Reporter: "Do you know that you've made it onto the All-Star candidate list?"
Lian Dao nodded with a smile. "Yes, I heard from Wilson and Paul. They were so excited about it that they even wanted to throw a celebration for me."
Lian Dao couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of seeing Danilo Gallinari's envious expression, knowing that his friend would have loved to join in the celebration.
In addition to Lian Dao, several Knicks players, including Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, and David Lee, also made it onto the All-Star candidate list. Unfortunately for Gallinari, his performance hadn't been as standout, and he missed the cut this time around.
Recently, the Knicks, especially Wilson and Millsap, have gained attention from many fans in China. Fans who admired Lian Dao also began to show support for his teammates. This newfound popularity even led to several lucrative advertising deals from Chinese companies, boosting their earnings significantly. Their agents quickly realized the benefits of aligning their clients with Lian Dao, just as Yao Ming's teammates in Houston had once profited from his global fanbase.
Lian Dao's influence within the Knicks is undeniable. As the team's designated core player and a rising star in the league, he not only strengthens the team but also brings substantial benefits to his teammates.
Reporter: "Last question, do you think you have a chance to make the All-Star team?"
Lian Dao's eyes sparkled with confidence. "Absolutely. I'm confident in my chances. But I'm not just aiming to make the team—I'm setting my sights on being an All-Star starter."
The reporter couldn't help but laugh at Lian Dao's boldness. It wasn't arrogance; it was the self-assuredness of a player who had quickly become a sensation. In just 13 games, Lian Dao had captured the hearts of fans across the United States, and his influence extended beyond New York. Even in Los Angeles, fans were eager to collect his red No. 1 jersey from his days at the University of Southern California.
Lian Dao's path to the All-Star game seemed almost certain. With his popularity both in the U.S. and in China—where a staggering 1.4 billion people could vote—it was hard to imagine him not making the cut. Yao Ming had been an All-Star starter as a rookie, and with Lian Dao's explosive performance, he seemed destined to follow in those footsteps.
Two days earlier, the list of candidates for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game had been released, and Lian Dao's inclusion was no surprise. However, it was noteworthy that Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian were not on the list. Yi had come close to making the All-Star team the previous season, but this year, he didn't even make the candidate list. Yao Ming, sidelined for the entire season due to injury, was also absent.
The NBA's unwritten rule of having at least three players from each team on the shortlist meant that not all the best players were necessarily chosen. The New Jersey Nets, for example, only had three players—Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, and Courtney Lee—on the list, which left Yi Jianlian out in the cold.
If not for the Knicks' outstanding record this season, they might have been limited to just three All-Star candidates. But with the best record in the league, the Knicks were granted four spots.
Although Yi Jianlian wasn't on the official list, fans could still vote for him by searching for his initials, "JLY," on the voting website. However, many fans were unfamiliar with this abbreviation, leading to fewer votes for Yi. Meanwhile, Yao Ming's injury meant his name wasn't even considered.
The 2010 All-Star voting had just begun, and the preliminary results wouldn't be known until the first phase concluded. However, given Yao Ming's success as an All-Star starter during his rookie season, it was almost certain that Lian Dao, with his massive fanbase in both China and the U.S., would achieve the same.
In fact, many students in China were not only voting for Lian Dao themselves but also mobilizing their parents to vote. Parents, often supportive of their children's interest in sports over entertainment, were eager to join in. Many of them also admired this rising basketball star.
As the only Chinese player in the NBA this season, Lian Dao had become the focal point for Chinese fans, who directed all their votes his way. Still, there was a lingering sense of regret among fans that Yao Ming was injured this season. Had he been healthy, they would have had the joy of watching two Chinese players share the All-Star stage.
Lian Dao had noticed these sentiments while browsing forums and could only reassure his fans, saying, "There will definitely be opportunities in the future!"
In the first 13 games of Lian Dao's rookie season, he made an explosive impact, averaging an astonishing 45.3 points, 14.6 assists, and 9.2 rebounds per game. This near-triple-double performance not only put him at the top of the league in both scoring and assists but also established him as a dominant force on the court.
The next closest competitor, LeBron James, was averaging 29.7 points, 8 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game, making it clear that Lian Dao was in a league of his own.
As long as Lian Dao maintains a performance level above 28 points per game, his spot as an All-Star starter seems virtually guaranteed.
On November 24th, at 10:30 pm, the Knicks faced off against the Lakers. This matchup was more than just a game; it was a clash between two of the biggest basketball markets in the United States, representing the largest economic cities, New York and Los Angeles.
The rivalry was intensified by the fact that New York had long held the top spot economically, while Los Angeles came in second. Naturally, the fans in Los Angeles harbored some resentment, especially considering the Knicks' poor performance in recent years, which had made them the target of ridicule among Lakers supporters.
The atmosphere at Staples Center was charged with tension, even before the game began. A reporter asked Lian Dao, "As the MOP of USC, how do you feel about returning to Los Angeles this time?"
This question caught Lian Dao off guard. How was he supposed to respond to a question about potentially leading the Knicks to a victory over the Lakers without provoking the ire of Lakers fans? Given Kobe Bryant's notorious competitive streak, Lian Dao knew that any hint of cockiness could result in Kobe taking him to task on the court.
So, Lian Dao opted for a diplomatic response: "I'm very happy to be back in Los Angeles. This city holds a special place in my heart because of my time with USC, and I'm really excited to share the court with Kobe Bryant, someone I've admired for a long time."
His answer seemed to satisfy the local media, who recognized the young star's contribution to the city by bringing an NCAA championship to USC just months before. As Lian Dao looked around the Staples Center, he was moved to see numerous fans wearing his old No. 1 USC jersey. The sight of this support brought tears to his eyes, as he realized that he had left a lasting mark on Los Angeles, a city that clearly hadn't forgotten him.
This emotional connection also explained why the local media went easy on him. While the media in Los Angeles can be just as tough as their counterparts in New York, they tend to be protective of their own, particularly when it comes to the Lakers.
Interestingly, the Clippers found themselves under intense scrutiny after a video of Lian Dao's workout with them surfaced. With Blake Griffin out for the season, fans and pundits alike criticized the Clippers for passing on the opportunity to draft Lian Dao. Every time Lian Dao led the Knicks to victory, it seemed like the Clippers were being chastised all over again by disappointed fans.
Many Lakers fans had secretly hoped that Lian Dao would somehow end up in purple and gold. The Clippers were only ever seen as a backup option, but everyone knew that the Lakers couldn't afford to land Lian Dao without dismantling their core team—a move that even the most die-hard fans couldn't support. So, the hope was that the Clippers would trade up to secure the No. 1 pick. Even though Lian Dao didn't end up with either Los Angeles team, it was clear that his heart would always have a place in the City of Angels.
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