At this moment, Ewing gained possession of the ball. He quickly advanced to evade the Supersonic defenders, swinging the ball to the right wing before sprinting into the frontcourt. Meanwhile, a frustrated Yuren, having been blocked by Zhao Dong earlier, rushed back on defense, sprinting through the middle to the backcourt.
"The Rain Man is retreating on defense, and Zhao Dong is pushing a fast break down the right wing!" The on-site commentator's excited voice echoed through Madison Square Garden.
"Attack and defense have switched! It's now Yuren defending while Zhao Dong drives towards the basket!" Sun Zhenping exclaimed from the sidelines.
Adrenaline surged through Zhao Dong as he charged into the paint area, his eyes locked on Yuren under the basket. With no hesitation, he exploded toward the rim. Yuren, his face twisted in determination, leapt to meet Zhao Dong mid-air, determined to block the shot and reclaim his dominance.
This was a time when there was no three-second defense rule and no reasonable collision zone; attacking the basket meant either charging through or soaring above the defense. Zhao Dong took the latter route. Planting his feet firmly, he launched himself into the air with tremendous power. For a brief moment, it seemed as though he had grown wings.
The entire arena held its breath as all eyes focused on the Supersonics' paint area.
Then came the collision. It was as if Mars collided with Earth. Mid-air, Yuren, who was 11 kilograms lighter, was sent flying backward. Despite his superior jumping ability—greater even than Zhao Dong, who had inherited Kobe's leaping talent—Yuren could only manage to graze the ball with his right hand. Zhao Dong, however, maintained a vise-like grip on the ball, refusing to let go.
"BOOM!" The thunderous sound of the dunk reverberated through Madison Square Garden, breaking the silence.
Yuren crashed to the floor, skidding backward as the impact left him sprawled out.
The arena erupted in chaos as the fans screamed, their cheers exploding like a volcano.
"Zhao Dong! That was Zhao Dong!" the commentator shouted hoarsely. "This is the most ferocious dunk! The so-called Rain Man is utterly helpless under Zhao Dong's dominance. This is our Knicks' warrior! Zhao Dong is the next tyrant of New York—the future ruler of the Knicks!"
The commentator's voice grew wilder, nearly incoherent as he shouted over the crowd.
In the ABC live broadcast booth, Cook and Hubie Brown exchanged stunned glances.
"Unbelievable," Hubie Brown muttered, his voice trembling. "This is sheer brutality. It's as if Zhao Dong views this as a battlefield!"
Cook's gaze lingered on Yuren, who remained motionless on the floor. "The yellow ruler," he murmured, "Zhao Dong is dominating the Sonics' paint area. He's not just ruling this game—he's doing it with unmatched ferocity, far surpassing the Rain Man's reputation for brutality."
The phrase "Yellow Ruler," broadcasted on ABC, etched itself into the memories of countless North Americans. In a Los Angeles hotel, Michael Jordan's expression darkened as the replay aired. Scottie Pippen glanced at his teammate and sighed inwardly. Michael, as long as this kid keeps playing like this, you're going to be in for a tough time. Who can stop him unless he's injured? Pippen thought, a wry smile crossing his face.
Back at Madison Square Garden, Zhao Dong hung on the rim, swaying slightly, his cold, intense gaze fixed on the Rain Man sprawled beneath him. A faint, confident smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. On paper, his strength wasn't equal to Rain Man's, but the results spoke for themselves. Rain Man, despite his reputation, was now at his feet.
Zhao Dong's speed, greater than Rain Man's, combined with his heavier build, gave him a terrifying advantage in physical confrontations. This combination was the key to his victory—it wasn't about brute force alone but leveraging his strengths to overpower a seemingly superior opponent.
Dropping to the floor, Zhao Dong turned to the roaring crowd, his voice cutting through the noise. "Is this dunk good enough for you? If not, I'll do it again. Twice, three times—until you're satisfied!"
The fans erupted in wild cheers, their energy reigniting the arena.
---
In a VIP suite, Knicks General Manager Neil Grant leaned back with a proud smile. "Boss, Mr. James Dowland, whatever anyone says, I'm proud of this signing."
James Dowland, the soon-to-be owner of the Knicks, chuckled. "Your signing might cost me a lot more in bonuses, but I can't say I'm unhappy about it." His tone betrayed his delight. Zhao Dong's stellar performance was driving up the Knicks' valuation—a promising development as Dowland finalized his purchase.
"I have to admit, Neil, you were right," Knicks owner Grace added, laughing. "I owe you an apology for doubting this signing."
Dowland stood by the window, gazing down at the court and the fiery Zhao Dong, who was whipping the fans into a frenzy. "Ewing's too quiet," he mused. "He barely interacts with the fans or his teammates. It's something to think about."
Grant stiffened, exchanging glances with Grace. The thought crossed his mind: Is Dowland considering a shift in the team's core leadership? Would Knicks fans accept such a monumental change?
---
On the court, Rain Man was benched—not due to injury but because his fighting spirit had been utterly crushed. He never returned to the game, retreating to the locker room in silence. Zhao Dong's dominant performance shattered the Supersonics' morale.
The Knicks capitalized on this, securing a decisive 105-97 victory—marking their 10th win of the season.
Zhao Dong remained on the court for the entire game, logging a season-high 41 minutes. His final stats were stellar: 12-of-20 from the field, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. He finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 6 blocks, alongside 2 turnovers and 4 fouls—a performance that cemented his rising status in the league.
After the Rain Man left the court, Zhao Dong adjusted his playstyle to focus more on three-pointers and mid-range shots to complete his task. However, this slightly affected his efficiency. Despite this, he delivered his first-ever 30-point and 30+10 performance, earning the game's best player honor for the second time in his career.
The Knicks had a balanced offensive output, with six players scoring in double figures. Allan Houston, Chris Childs, and John Starks each contributed 13 points, Charles Oakley added 11 points, and Larry Johnson chipped in 10 points. Unfortunately, Patrick Ewing struggled, shooting just 2-for-15 and finishing with 8 points and 9 rebounds, largely relying on free throws.
---
After the game, Zhao Dong was quickly surrounded by the media.
"Zhao Dong, you played so hard today. I was really worried you'd get hurt," Zhang Lili remarked with concern.
Wiping away sweat, Zhao Dong smiled. "In basketball, it's either the east wind overwhelms the west, or the west wind overwhelms the east. Rain Man is too strong. If you don't fight back, he'll knock you down. So, I had to fight harder than him—and I won."
Zhang Lili gave him a thumbs-up and said with a grin, "You did great. Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine," Zhao Dong replied with a smile.
"You still need to be careful," Zhang Lili cautioned. "You're young now and can handle it, but injuries can accumulate over time."
"Thank you, Director Zhang. I'll make sure to take care of myself," Zhao Dong nodded earnestly.
(TL: "Yellow Ruler" is a nickname for Zhao Dong that shows his dominance on the basketball court. "Yellow" refers to his Chinese heritage, and "Ruler" highlights his control and skill in the game. It represents his power and success as a player.)
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