The first-year team displayed unprecedented unity. Tyreke Evans and Taj Gibson executed pick-and-rolls for Lian Dao. Receiving a pass from Brandon Jennings at the centerline, Lian Dao swiftly shot, capitalizing on his teammates' screen.
"Swish!"
The shot was astounding.
"Come on, this unreasonable three-pointer," James Harden muttered from the bench, reminiscing about the Knicks-Thunder game. Stephen Curry, waving a towel, cheered wildly, each of Lian Dao's threes hitting his excitement peak.
After nailing a centerline three, Lian Dao eased off further challenges. The All-Star stage wasn't his solo act. He shifted to organizing and distributing passes.
The sophomores, relieved Lian Dao stopped shooting, exhaled. If he continued, even a second-year win would make them mere backdrops, especially trailing. As Lian Dao orchestrated, Brandon Jennings and Tyreke Evans delivered dazzling dunks and threes.
Taj Gibson, reliving his NCAA days, thrived, especially when Lian Dao fed him easy baskets. Gibson sprinted, and Lian Dao's assists soared. With low defensive intensity in the All-Star Game, scoring efficiency ruled.
After three quarters, the freshmen led 118:99, up 19 points. Lian Dao and Curry's third-quarter synergy shone—Lian Dao sent 10 passes to Curry, who sank 6 of 10 threes. Lian Dao racked up 12 assists that quarter. Curry, benefiting from Lian Dao's pick-and-rolls, hit tough outside shots, deeply moved.
Curry's Warriors tenure was rough. Monta Ellis' public suppression limited his ball possession, with no pick-and-roll support. Every shot was a struggle. His January breakout didn't soften Ellis, who, post-injury, pressured him more. Curry began questioning his future, unsure if management saw him as a cornerstone or Ellis' sidekick.
In the fourth quarter, both teams intensified. The sophomores, down 19, faced a critical moment. Coach Patrick Ewing refused to let the freshmen triumph under his watch. But the first-year team, in rhythm, wasn't easily contained.
The freshmen defended fiercely, all craving victory. No defensive weak links existed, especially with Lian Dao and DeJuan Blair forming a formidable inside-outside barrier, thwarting sophomore attacks.
With Derrick Rose lacking offensive drive, Westbrook seized control, relentlessly driving for layups. Yet, the sophomores couldn't close the gap. Lian Dao exploited double-teams, feeding Blair under the basket, who savored Gibson's earlier cake-eating joy.
Lian Dao passed to Curry, freshly subbed, who drilled a crucial three, pushing the lead to 21. The sophomores couldn't recover. Final score: 148:130. The freshmen won.
Fans roared, electrified. The first-year players celebrated wildly. It was the first freshman victory over sophomores in seven years, a feat even LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony's class couldn't achieve. This rookie squad accomplished what many superstars hadn't.
The win ended the freshmen's seven-year Rookie Challenge losing streak. Westbrook led the sophomores with 40 points on 18-of-29 shooting, a game high. Had they won, he'd have secured MVP.
Lian Dao led the freshmen with 36 points, 27 assists, and 10 rebounds—a super triple-double. Evans added 26 points, 5 steals, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds; Blair posted 22 points and 23 rebounds, a massive double-double. Despite their efforts, Lian Dao's undisputed performance earned him Rookie Challenge MVP.
Lifting the MVP trophy, Lian Dao sparked thunderous cheers. Domestic TV viewers erupted, thrilled. This marked the first time a Chinese player won an NBA MVP trophy, albeit for the Rookie Challenge. If Yao Ming's NBA success was an outlier, Lian Dao's MVP proved Chinese players could excel in a sport dominated by others.
Held on Chinese New Year's Eve morning, the game drew staggering viewership. CCTV's preliminary stats reported 83.42 million live viewers, excluding Xlang Sports' online streams. Actual viewership far exceeded the data, shocking analysts.
After the game, Lian Dao and Guo Yuwei returned to their hotel. Whenever Guo Yuwei wore his No. 1 jersey, its fit accentuated her figure, never seeming oversized. She wore it only around Lian Dao, igniting his desire.
Lian Dao wondered if he had a jersey obsession. In his past life, he was romantic but not this flamboyant. He jokingly blamed the system.
System: Right, pin all dirty thoughts on me, shameless.
On February 14, Lian Dao would compete in the three-point and dunk contests. The three-point contest featured Lian Dao, Stephen Curry, veterans Paul Pierce and Chauncey Billups, center Channing Frye, and defending champion Daequan Cook.
The three-point contest evoked Larry Bird, who won the first three from 1986 to 1988, famously declaring, "You're fighting for second place." Michael Jordan, the meddling "Chicago Braised Dan," once scored a dismal 5 points, a career lowlight. Post-2000, the contest's allure faded, with low-scoring champions like Quentin Richardson's 19 points in 2001.
This year's lineup, bolstered by Billups, Pierce, and Lian Dao, promised excitement. Lian Dao's participation drew eyes to the 2010 contest. Stern smirked, pleased he'd invited Lian Dao, unaware Lian Dao's decision was independent.
Lian Dao averaged 14.3 three-point attempts per game, making 7.3 at 51%—a conventional weapon. Fans were eager to see if the veterans could outshoot him.