Chapter 74

"Beep—!"

In Phoenix, Arizona, at the US Airways Center.

The game between the 76ers, who were playing as the away team, and the Suns, a powerhouse in the league, finally came to an end. This match, which was expected to be a clear mismatch, ended with an unexpected yet reasonable outcome. The 76ers won the away game, defeating the Suns 105 to 96, securing their first victory on their western road trip.

"Let's go, let's go, what a disappointment!"

On the stands, the remaining die-hard fans began to leave. Seeing the dejected expressions of the Suns players and the ecstatic celebrations of the 76ers, the fans felt a mix of emotions.

In this game, the 76ers' core player Allen Iverson scored 35 points and 10 assists, along with 3 steals. Webber, the center, also contributed with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

The sharpshooter Kyle Korver had an excellent shooting performance, hitting 5 out of 8 three-pointers, scoring 17 points in total. Iguodala continued to play the role of a glue, contributing 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, making the Suns' shooters very uncomfortable on the wings.

However, the key to the victory was undoubtedly Chen Mu.

Shooting 9 out of 13 from the field and 4 out of 7 from the free-throw line, Chen Mu scored 22 points with an incredibly high offensive efficiency.

He grabbed 14 rebounds, 6 of which were offensive, dominating both ends of the court.

His 2 blocks and 3 steals, though partly due to luck, showcased his remarkable physical abilities and athletic nerve.

His 8 assists were second only to Iverson, making him the pivot of the team's interior play.

With two interior players capable of being playmaking centers, the 76ers had transformed, no longer the easy target they were at the start of the season.

Chen Mu's addition, a change at just one position, had brought about a qualitative improvement in the team. The good chemistry was evident, though Dellembert, dressed in a suit, might have felt a bit aggrieved.

From a record standpoint, the Suns, who were temporarily leading the Western Conference, had the 76ers under their thumb. However, the injury to their key interior player had weakened the Suns.

The long-awaited return of Stoudemire never materialized, and the team relied heavily on their perimeter shooting.

On the other hand, the 76ers had gained a versatile player like Chen Mu, significantly boosting their strength. The gap between the two teams, in reality, was not as large as their records suggested.

What made the Suns fans even more heartbroken was that the energetic Chinese player, who dismantled the Suns' defense with various offensive moves, was once a member of the Suns.

"If we could have kept him until the end of the season, we would have won for sure!"

Even with their excellent record, the Suns fans couldn't help but imagine.

What level would the team's offense and defense have reached if Chen Mu, a hidden starter, had been on the bench?

Thinking about this, many fans felt somewhat dissatisfied with the team's general manager, Colangelo, and voiced their complaints as they left.

"This Colangelo, the Chinese kid clearly has such great potential, why didn't he keep him? Even if Amare returned, it would have added another option in the interior!"

"Exactly, and the best GM? I think he only benefited from signing Nash; the team's recruitment is a mess!"

In the stands, two people were still seated.

"Phew...!"

Mr. Su let out a long breath. Although he had cheered for Chen Mu throughout the game, the fact that his local team lost left him with a conflicted feeling.

"Really tough, Chen Mu..."

Watching Chen Mu's back as he left through the player tunnel, Mr. Su shook his head and said, "If you become a superstar in the future and come to Phoenix as an away player, what should I do, ha ha...!"

Beside Mr. Su, Su Yin was also emotionally stirred.

Although her understanding of basketball was not deep, the image of the man who moved her heart, fighting hard on the court, was deeply etched in her mind.

The precise passes, the elegant mid-range shots, the powerful dunks—Chen Mu was like a bomber, wreaking havoc in the Suns' paint. Su Yin was excited by his performance, exclaiming several times.

When Chen Mu was fouled and fell to the ground, Su Yin's heart tightened, her heartbeat accelerating, and she was extremely worried.

As the fans left and the players' figures disappeared, the staff began to clean up. But Su Yin was still immersed in the game, the scenes overlapping in her mind, making her heart race.

"Alright, Yin, let's go!"

Mr. Su, still not fully satisfied, got up and patted his daughter's shoulder. "Let's go home. Your brother Mu won't be done for a while; he has to do post-game summaries and interviews, which will take about an hour."

"We'll go home first. On the way, send a message to this brat. If he's free, ask him to come out and we'll have some late-night snacks together."

Mr. Su smiled and said, "Dad also wants to meet this 'rival.' In our hometown, girls your age are already going on blind dates, ha ha ha!"

"Dad, what are you talking about...!"

Su Yin playfully hit Mr. Su, then shyly got up, her heart pounding.

Brother Mu... will he reply to my message?

In the away team's locker room.

"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!!"

The 76ers players gathered around Chen Mu, celebrating his return to form, overcoming the rookie wall, and once again showcasing his all-around skills.

Chen Mu laughed and joked with his teammates. This kind of performance in front of his former team was something the NBA big men loved, and they all celebrated for Chen Mu, again asking him to treat them.

"Reporters are here, everyone, watch your image and words!"

Coach Cheeks reminded everyone, and they all put on serious faces, ready to be interviewed.

The locker room door opened, and several reporters entered, quickly focusing on the team's star, Allen Iverson, before all crowding around Chen Mu.

"Hello, Chinese kid."

A female reporter with an intellectual charm, her neckline low, her white chest visible, asked, "Facing your former team, you put on a great performance, winning the away game with your teammates and almost achieving a triple-double. Do you have anything to say to your former team?"

"Well, the Suns were my first NBA team, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity they gave me. I also thank the fans and my former teammates for their support."

Thinking back to the end of the game, when Nash and his former teammates encouraged and congratulated him, Chen Mu felt warm and said, "Especially my former teammates, even though I dominated you in this game, I always remember the help you gave me."

"But on the basketball court, only giving your all is the greatest respect to your opponent. So the next time we meet, I'll still go all out and tear up your interior!"

"Very bold response~"

The reporter smiled and said, "What about the team's general manager, Mr. Colangelo, who let you go? We noticed that many fans expressed dissatisfaction with him, especially regarding the decision to let you go. Do you have anything to say?"

"Ha, well..."

Chen Mu laughed at the question, recalling how he glared at the VIP box every time he made a good play, knowing that this scene would be replayed after the game.

"Mr. Colangelo, I'm very happy that you gave me the opportunity to come to the NBA. I'm even more grateful that you let me go, giving me a sense of shame and motivation to practice hard, just to prove that you were wrong."

Chen Mu looked at the camera, as if speaking directly to Colangelo, and said with a slight smile, "You said I couldn't defend, so I practiced defense like crazy. I may not be a great defender, but I'm no longer a sieve."

"You also said I couldn't score, my mid-range shooting was terrible, and my passing was awful, so I worked hard on my offense. Now my mid-range shooting and passing are your nightmares. So I want to say to you..."

Chen Mu leaned in close to the camera, his face full of arrogance, and said arrogantly, "Now, do you regret it...?"

After he said this, the reporters looked at each other, surprised by the sudden arrogance of this big man from the East, who had shown a rare level of dominance. They were at a loss for the next question until Chen Mu got up and walked away.

Later, this interview was repeatedly broadcast by local TV stations and national sports media, interspersed with scenes of Chen Mu glaring at the VIP box during the game, hyping up this "revenge game."

Some media even went to interview Colangelo, asking the best GM, who was visibly upset, for his response to Chen Mu's comments.

"No comment!"

The best GM turned black at the mention of the question and slammed his office door shut.

But that was a different story.

In a five-star hotel in Phoenix, the 76ers players returned to their rooms, calling out to each other. The playful players were already preparing for the real "second half," and many teammates were still pestering Chen Mu to treat them.

"Got it, got it~ I'll treat you guys later!"

Chen Mu agreed to each request, but as he was about to enter his room, his phone rang.

Taking out his phone, Chen Mu's expression changed instantly, and he shouted to his teammates, "That... I won't treat you today! When we get back to Philadelphia, you can eat whatever you want. I have something urgent to do!"

"Who is it?"

Iguodala stepped forward and, after a quick glance, shook his head and said, "Your writing is so hard to recognize, translate it for me!"

"Uh, it's a friend I met while playing in Phoenix, a Chinese person, who wants to have late-night snacks with me." Chen Mu said without looking up.

"It's definitely a girl!"

Iguodala put on a detective Conan face and laughed, "I bet I'm right? You're quite the ladies' man!"

"Stop it!" Chen Mu playfully hit Iguodala and said as he walked into his room, "We're just good friends. I need to get ready... Oh, and tell Allen to book a bar and take care of the age restrictions for me!"

"No problem~"

Iguodala understood and gave a thumbs-up, then walked briskly to Allen Iverson's room.

"Phew..."

Looking at himself in the mirror, Chen Mu sighed and said to himself, "I guess... I'm not too ugly, right?"

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