Chapter 37: The Rain Man's Provocation
"Boom!" As expected, Ewing's first shot hit the rim and bounced out, with the ball landing on the left wing.
"Snapped!" Zhao Dong quickly moved two steps and grabbed the rebound. Ewing, positioned on the side, failed to secure the best rebounding spot. In response, Ewing immediately shoved Zhao Dong from behind to prevent him from turning around. At the same time, Sonics center Jim McIlvain, who had turned to contest the rebound, doubled down on Zhao Dong. As a newcomer to the league, Zhao Dong rarely faced double-teams near the basket, but today, he was experiencing just that.
"Boom!" The Rain Man, Shawn Kemp, elbowed Zhao Dong in the back, stiffening his body as McIlvain seized the opportunity to grab the ball.
"Dammit!" Zhao Dong, known for his fiery personality, became even more determined when provoked. His competitive nature only intensified under pressure. As the double-team applied more force, Zhao Dong responded with greater intensity. Protecting the ball with both hands at chest level, he quickly pivoted to the left, swinging his elbows. His right elbow knocked McIlvain's hand away, while his left elbow struck Kemp in the chest, forcing him to stumble back. The double-team was broken.
"Boom!" With Kemp retreating, Zhao Dong dribbled once with his right hand, took a quick step, and exploded into a powerful drive toward the basket. Kemp rushed to block the shot, but he was off balance and unprepared, failing to jump high enough. He only managed to make contact with Zhao Dong's right forearm.
"Boom!" Zhao Dong powered through, slamming the ball down forcefully, and the rim shook violently under the impact.
"Yeah!" The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Di!" The referee's whistle blew.
"Oh, a dunk! Zhao Dong just dunked over Kemp, completely overpowering his defender!" the commentator's voice boomed through Madison Square Garden.
Zhao Dong hung high above the basket, his intense gaze fixed on Kemp, who was left on the floor beneath him. The media cameras behind the baseline captured every moment. As Zhao Dong descended, Kemp got up, and the two locked eyes beneath the basket, their expressions filled with animosity.
"Boy, get out!" Being dunked by a rookie was humiliating for the league's top dunker, especially when it came at the hands of a center. Rain Man, Sean Kemp, was furious and immediately lashed out at Zhao Dong. "Number 40, you can definitely show off, if you have the guts," Kemp spat.
Zhao Dong, unshaken, retorted with disdain, "What did you say?" Kemp, seething, shot back, "You think I can't take you on?"
Peyton, noticing the rising tension, rushed over and intervened, standing between the two players. "He's just trying to get under your skin, don't let him get to you," he warned Kemp.
Zhao Dong, already turning to head back on defense, shot back, "Next time, I'll dunk on you again, idiot!"
Kemp's fury flared. "Bastard!" he yelled.
"Ignore him!" Peyton muttered, trying to calm his teammate. "This rookie is playing mind games, just like Rodman." He was right. Zhao Dong knew exactly how to provoke Kemp, exploiting a known weakness that had hindered Kemp's career. It was a psychological tactic designed to get under his skin, and Zhao Dong was playing it perfectly.
"That rookie knows what he's doing," said Spike Lee, the number-one Knicks fan, from the front row, addressing Hollywood star Tom Cruise. "But I think Rain Man will get him back. After all, he is the top dunker in the NBA. That kid is just some nobody. I don't even know his name. Is he Korean or Japanese?"
Tom Cruise laughed. "I'm not sure, but I think he's Chinese. His name is Zhao Dong."
"Chinese?" Tom Cruise responded, surprised.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Jordan and Pippen were watching the game, slightly taken aback. "It was just an accident," Pippen said with confidence. "Of course, Rain Man will get him back. He can jump higher than that guy."
Back in Madison Square Garden, Zhao Dong sank a free throw, and the Sonics began their offensive play. Zhao Dong had studied the Sonics' lineup thoroughly. He knew that their center, Jim McIlvain, was the weakest link in the starting five, while Ewing's defense posed a significant challenge. As a result, the Sonics rarely fed the ball to the center. Kemp, known for his inside offense, handled the offensive duties in the paint. Rain Man was particularly effective at finishing near the basket, with a back-to-the-basket game that rivaled even the future powerhouse, Stoudemire. He often collaborated with Gary Payton for lob passes, which had become a signature play for the Sonics.
Zhao Dong's defensive responsibility was heavy, but he was prepared. Meanwhile, Payton controlled the ball on the left wing, drawing Childs into a defensive stance. Payton made a quick pivot, surveying the court, while Kemp stayed outside at the right-wing three-point line. Kemp's shooting range was versatile—37% of his shots were taken under the basket, mostly dunks with a 50% success rate. His two-point shooting hovered around 44%, and his three-point shooting was modest at 22%. His ability to score in the post was more dangerous than his outside shot, making him a constant threat near the basket.
This shooting range also showcased Rain Man's physical fitness and strength. A solid two-pointer from a distance allowed him to break down the opponent's defense, and his guard-like athleticism enabled him to quickly shift from the three-point line to attacking the basket. Zhao Dong was fully aware of Rain Man's ability to hit mid-range shots, so he had no choice but to step out and defend.
At that moment, Rain Man made a quick cut from the weak side, heading straight for the basket. "Oops!" Zhao Dong, caught off guard, failed to cut off his passing line, and the defense was ineffective. As Payton saw Rain Man's movement, he quickly made a sharp pass, sending the ball to him just as he entered the paint. Rain Man took a quick step forward, and his explosive power allowed him to surge toward the basket with force. Ewing, at nearly 35 years old and dealing with past injuries, hesitated to challenge the dunk, knowing he couldn't handle such a powerful attack.
"Boom!" The Knicks' basket was shaken with the force of the dunk. Zhao Dong, chasing from behind, was half a step too late, failing to block the shot in time.
"Oooo..." Rain Man raised his hands in triumph as he landed. On his way back, he taunted Zhao Dong and Ewing, his actions brimming with arrogance. This was typical of him—after a powerful dunk, his emotions overflowed, and provoking the opposition became second nature. He thrived on this kind of in-your-face intensity.
"Shh!" The crowd erupted in boos.
"Look, Spike, that's Rain Man's tribute to that player," Tom Cruise observed excitedly from the sidelines.
"Zhao Dong will get him back," Spike Lee replied, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Look at Rain Man's brutality, it's starting," Jordan said to Pippen in Los Angeles, as they watched the game unfold.
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