NBA: Basketball Legend.

Chapter 14: Others' Excellence is a Skill, but His Excellence is an Art!

"Nice shot!"

Durant stepped forward and high-fived Chen Yan with a grin.

Right now, in the Texas Longhorns' lineup, Durant's trust in Chen Yan ran deeper than with anyone else. It wasn't just because they vibed off the court, but also because Chen Yan's on-court ability was straight-up elite.

In the past few games, whenever he got a one-on-one, Chen Yan almost never missed.

Behind them, Julian Wright could only let out a helpless breath.

He'd watched film on Chen Yan before the game. He knew the guy liked to throw out those flashy crossovers in isolation situations. But he didn't expect the dude's body-ball control to be this freaky—he actually pulled off a crotch-level change of direction while in full motion!

"Beautiful drive, even better finish!" Barkley shouted from the broadcast booth. "Chen came in with a killer mindset today, making a strong statement right out the gate and putting Texas on top!"

"And this guy's got that camera sense," Kenny Smith laughed. "Did y'all see that? Right after the bucket, he smiled straight into the lens."

"Haha! This dude doesn't belong on the hardwood—put him on a Hollywood set already. He's got star potential written all over him."

While the commentators cracked jokes, Kansas responded with clean teamwork. They passed the ball in rhythm until it found Darrell Arthur down low.

Bang! Arthur tipped in the shot off the glass.

2–2.

Texas came back on offense.

DJ Augustin brought the ball up after the inbound. Chen Yan didn't ask for it this time—he moved down to the corner, eyes locked in, reading the floor.

At the top, DJ and Durant set up a classic pick-and-pop. DJ used the screen and drove hard while Durant popped out beyond the arc. Dangerous combo—DJ could slice inside, Durant could kill you from three.

As the defense keyed in on the pick-and-roll, Chen Yan, camped out in the bottom corner, suddenly took off—sliding up to the 45-degree angle beyond the arc.

Julian Wright reacted, chased after him.

But Chen Yan stopped on a dime and spun—a perfect reverse cut.

Bam. Wright was dusted.

His elite off-ball movement flashed hard in that moment.

DJ saw the window and rifled a bounce pass across.

Chen Yan caught it in stride. Waiting at the top was Kansas' big man, Sasha Kaun. Without hesitation, Chen unleashed his skill—[Phantom Step].

One sharp change of footwork—Kaun froze.

That split second was all Chen needed. He slipped past and reversed the layup clean.

Two more on the board!

Over the past few days, Chen Yan had been grinding with the Phantom Step. His understanding had leveled up big time.

This wasn't just a move to shake defenders off the dribble—it worked off the cut, too!

The arena lit up with cheers. Even Yao Ming clapped from the sideline.

He watched with appreciation in his eyes. This kid's got feel, he thought. It was that sense of "spirit" and rhythm—something rare, especially among chinese guards.

Kansas came back on offense.

Chalmers dished the ball to Brandon Rush at the top of the key. Rush couldn't get a clean look and swung it back. After a few passes, it landed in Julian Wright's hands.

Wright paused, scanning for options—

But Chen Yan struck.

[God-Level Steal]—Activated.

Snap!

With a clean swipe, Chen picked Wright's pocket like a thief in the night.

He broke into the open court with the ball—full throttle.

Only Chalmers had made it back.

One step past the three-point line—clutch down, second gear!

Vroom—

He blew past Chalmers without even needing a move.

"Boom!"

Straight to the rim. One-hand glide. Slam dunk.

"Holy crap! That speed?"

"He wasn't breaking down the defense—he was freaking levitating!"

"Dude's center of gravity is lower than Moss, and that guy's only 188cm. This is nuts!"

Fans courtside, especially those in the front row, caught every detail. No fancy handles. No wasted motion.

Just raw, explosive speed.

Score: 6–2. Texas up.

"Kansas hasn't locked in yet," Kenny said.

"More like Chen Yan's already running in playoff mode," Barkley replied. "That's six straight points. He's on fire."

Kansas inbounded again, trying to reset.

This time, their play worked—Rush came off an off-ball screen and pulled up for a jumper at the high post.

Clang! Off the front rim. The ball popped high, and Pittman snagged the board.

Kansas scrambled to get back. Chen Yan's last drive had rattled them.

DJ Augustin pushed the ball up and hit Chen Yan on the wing just past half-court.

Right now, Chen had the hot hand, and his teammates knew it. They gave him the rock without question.

He didn't rush it.

Palming the ball, Chen scanned the floor with calm eyes.

Pittman came up to set a screen.

Chen lowered his stance and burst toward the pick.

Julian Wright followed—but as he shifted around Pittman, Chen hit him with an in-out backhand crossover.

Too late.

Wright realized he got baited again.

He had no choice but to watch as Chen Yan sliced into the paint.

Near the free-throw line, Darrell Arthur stepped up.

Chen hit him with a lightning-quick shift—then a pull-back dribble.

Another smooth in-and-out move!

"Easy! Chen just sliced through like he's cutting tofu!"

Barkley shouted as Chen Yan casually cruised into the paint.

Kansas' big man, Sasha Cowan, stepped up to help on defense.

But how could he possibly keep up with Chen Yan's pace?

Just as Cowan was loading up to jump, Chen Yan was already in the air!

"BOOM!"

A one-handed dunk—nothing flashy, but the crowd lost its mind!

The Toyota Center erupted with cheers and screams that shook the rafters.

But what really got the fans hyped wasn't just the dunk.

It was Chen Yan's two consecutive directional shifts that straight-up cooked two Kansas defenders.

His pace wasn't blazing, but the rhythm? Pure mastery.

"Chen, man, I swear you're about to go nuclear tonight!"

Durant jogged over, hyped as hell. But KD wasn't jealous—he loved it.

He's that kind of guy. A real team player. Winning came first.

Chen Yan grinned and gave Durant a playful slap on the butt.

"KD, take out the 'I swear' part next time."

In the commentary booth, Barkley was practically yelling.

"Chen's got 8 straight points! He's takin' over this game already!"

Funny thing—before tip-off, Barkley thought Chen wouldn't get many touches.

Now? Not even five minutes in, and he was eating his words.

Not that he cared—Chuck was used to face-slapping moments.

Hell, the whole 'kiss a donkey's ass' saga was legendary by now.

Chen's early onslaught left Kansas straight-up dazed.

Luckily, Sasha Cowan responded with a quick hook shot down low—finally stopping the bleeding for Kansas.

Cowan's got polished footwork, soft touch, and solid post moves.

Chen remembered in his past life the Cavs had high hopes for him—

But dude never quite panned out. Climate didn't suit him.

Back on offense, the Texas Longhorns reset.

DJ Augustin brought the ball up, about to hand it to Durant.

But KD waved it off, motioning to give it to Chen instead.

Hot hands gotta eat.

Chen popped out for the ball.

Wright was glued to him, but another otated from the weak side.

Double team!

Not from the coach—just Kansas players reacting.

That's how scary Chen had looked so far.

They knew if he kept going 1-on-1, their morale was done for.

Chen didn't force it.

As the trap was closing, he took a step back and whipped the ball over to DJ Augustin, wide open.

DJ didn't shoot right away.

He took a second—on purpose—baiting the defense.

Brandon Rush took the bait and lunged.

Augustin was ready.

Just as Rush flew in, DJ flicked a quick pass to KD—Texas' most reliable outside scorer.

Durant rose up smooth.

"Splash!"

Nothing but net.

Durant and Augustin slapped hands. Then both jogged over and gave Chen a pat on the butt.

He might not have gotten the assist, but that play was 70% Chen Yan.

Scoreboard updated: 11–4, Texas rolling.

Kansas? Brutal start.

"Move the ball! Slow it down! Get a clean look!"

Coach Pete Caroll was yelling himself hoarse on the sidelines.

Clang!

Another missed shot.

Kansas looked totally shaken from Chen Yan's early barrage.

They were rushing everything.

Pittman hauled in the board and quickly fired it up court.

DJ took one dribble, then zipped a pass to Durant.

KD crossed half-court and dished a bounce pass to Chen Yan in full stride!

Chen caught it and never slowed down—straight line to the rim.

Wright had dropped back to stop him, but he was already too late.

Chen took a phantom step, shifting like a shadow.

Wright bit hard, leaning left.

Chen ghosted right.

Perfect combo of footwork and burst.

Wright was frozen.

"BOOM!!!"

Chen Yan exploded off the ground again, rim-rocking the whole damn Toyota Center!

"Wooooooo!!"

"Not again! That ghost-step's unreal!"

"Bro still dunked after that sidestep?! That's nuts!"

Chen Yan was straight-up putting on a show in the Sweet 16.

The whole crowd turned into a mosh pit.

People were jumping, screaming, even waving towels.

Not just in Houston—across the country, fans watching at home were losing it.

In the studio, Kenny Smith and Barkley stared at each other.

"What do you even do against a guy like that?"

Kenny asked, half-laughing.

Barkley just sighed.

"You pray. That's all you can do."

Kenny cracked up. "Ain't Kansas gonna call a timeout or what?"

WHISTLE!

Speak of the devil—timeout.

Kansas couldn't take it anymore.

Barkley was still dazed, looking like he'd seen a ghost.

"Damn... now I get why the media can't stop hyping this kid."

"Why?" Kenny asked, setting up the punchline like a perfect alley-oop.

Barkley smirked, voice full of awe.

"Because most guys pass with skill... but this dude?

He passes with art."

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