Chương 383: Chapter 383: Shocking News! Yao Ming Joins the Suns
Just three rebounds short, and Wade Dong could have achieved the incredible feat of 20+20+20+20.
If Wade Dong had accomplished this, it would have been one of the most unbreakable records in NBA history, comparable only to Chamberlain's 100-point game and Wade Dong's own 5x5 performance.
Other records, such as Jabbar's total points, Stockton's total assists, Wade Dong's blocks, and assists in a single game, and Wade Dong's 37 points in a quarter, are also impressive, but they pale in comparison to the aforementioned records.
Although he fell short of the 20+20+20+20 mark, Wade Dong's 21 steals in a single game were equally awe-inspiring as Chamberlain's 100-point game.
Durant and the other five players finally understood what happened in the second half after hearing Varrick's account.
After McLemore was stripped by Wade Dong, the second half turned into a personal showcase for Wade Dong.
Gentry had Yi Nan, Whiteside, and Thompson all defend the inside, forcing the Kings to hesitate before entering the paint and limiting them to passing the ball on the perimeter.
However, Wade Dong's presence was too overwhelming, and the Kings' passes on the perimeter kept resulting in turnovers.
Moreover, Wade Dong seemed to possess a sixth sense, as he consistently anticipated the opponents' passes and snatched the ball away.
And that's not all...
Among the Kings' perimeter players, only Thomas could dribble the ball. Under Wade Dong's defense, McLemore and Thornton couldn't even handle the ball, and Wade Dong repeatedly forced turnovers by snatching the ball from their hands.
Kings' head coach Mike knew his players were shell-shocked by Wade Dong and were playing like they were sleepwalking.
But he was helpless... The Kings had no other players to substitute, so he had no choice but to keep those five on the court.
Mike didn't call a single timeout in the second half... He just hoped that Wade Dong would come out of the game soon.
Unfortunately, the Suns also had no one to replace him, so Wade Dong had to stay on the court.
When the final buzzer sounded, Mike felt like he had been released from prison, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, although his back was already soaked in sweat several times over.
Wade Dong's 21 steals in a single game were partly due to the Kings' lethargic offense, his elite stealing skills, and the 'Prophecy Potion.' Still, this record will be even harder to break than Chamberlain's 100-point game!
...
After the game, McCollum was the first to tweet: "You messed with the wrong guy. Now you know the Suns' pressure (Congrats to Dong Ge for getting 21 steals in a single game)."
Durant also tweeted: "I contributed to Dong Ge's 21 steals in a single game."
Since McCollum joined the Suns, Durant seemed to have found a kindred spirit, as McCollum also enjoyed engaging in online arguments.
O'Neal said, "I watched the live broadcast of the game, and it seemed like every ball automatically flew into Wade Dong's hands!"
Jordan said, "Even in our era, no one could have beaten Wade Dong."
James said, "It was insane! I didn't dare watch the second half of the Suns-Kings game; it would have made me shiver."
Iverson said, "When I was Wade Dong's teammate, I knew he would break the record for steals in a single game. His moves were too quick!"
Wade Dong's 21 steals in a single game earned him admiration from numerous superstar players.
...
The day after the game, the league announced punishments for the Suns and Kings players involved in the brawl.
Tian Zhen tried his best, but the players couldn't avoid being suspended, as the league didn't buy his arguments.
Durant and Curry: Suspended for 2 games.
Green: Suspended for 6 games.
McCollum, Barton, and Tucker: Suspended for 3 games.
Cousins: Suspended for 7 games.
Gay and Landry: Suspended for 2 games.
As for the fines, the team paid for Durant and the others, which cost Sarver several thousand dollars.
Cousins received the harshest punishment for his role in the brawl and for initiating the fight with his shoulder bump on Wade Dong. He was suspended for 7 games and fined $25,000.
Although the outcome could have been worse, it still affected the Suns.
The Suns' next game was against the second-ranked team in the East, the Pacers.
According to league rules, a team must have at least eight players available for a game; otherwise, the game may be postponed, and the team will be fined.
However, the Suns now had six suspended players, McGrady was injured, rookie Norl was injured, and Whiteside had sprained his ankle in the final moments of the Kings game.
The Suns only had five players available: Wade Dong, Thompson, Carter, Yi Nan, and Varrick.
Even if McGrady and Whiteside were included on the roster, the Suns still wouldn't have enough players.
The game against the Pacers was scheduled for two days later. Due to the Suns' special circumstances, the league eventually agreed to Tian Zhen's proposal to sign some free agents to 10-day contracts.
On the same day, Tian Zhen contacted some retired stars, knowing that these short-term signings were just a formality, and these players would only play a minimal role, perhaps for a few minutes, as the team would still heavily rely on Wade Dong.
In less than 10 hours, three players agreed to sign 10-day contracts with the Suns, but when their names were announced, everyone was shocked.
Yao Ming signed a 10-day contract with the Suns!
Nash signed a 10-day contract with the Suns!
Iverson signed a 10-day contract with the Suns!
These three retired stars were returning to the NBA???
Nash's decision was understandable, as he had retired before the start of this season, and his pre-retirement form could have allowed him to play for a couple more seasons without much trouble.
But Iverson and Yao Ming?
Especially Yao Ming... Hadn't he been retired for three years?
When Tian Zhen contacted Yao Ming, Yao Ming thought he was joking, but Tian Zhen was serious. He wanted Yao Ming to spend some time with the Suns, mentor Yi Nan, and give him more confidence in the NBA.
Before the game against the Trail Blazers, Wade Dong met Yao Ming.
"Brother Yao, do you weigh 300 pounds now?" Wade Dong asked, his eyes widening as he saw Yao Ming's belly stretching his jersey.
Wade Dong was a humble person. He addressed his seniors, like James, Kobe, and Iverson, by their first names, and he called Yi Nan 'Anan.' Since entering the NBA, there was only one person whom Wade Dong addressed as 'Brother,' and that was Yao Ming.
Yao Ming was the only player whom Wade Dong truly respected!
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