Chapter 14: “best Point Guard”
It was impossible for Xu Ling not to know Ace Law.
But for this Jordan heir who started trash talking before the game even began, there really was no need to be polite with him.
⑴ Jordan’s famous saying: Trash talk should start before the game.
Hearing Xu Ling’s words, Law didn’t show any anger, just gave him a deep look, then turned and walked away.
“You really don’t know Ace Law?”
Roommate Cedric Craig asked in surprise.
“How could I not?” Xu Ling said, “Isn’t he known as the Lead Point Guard of the Big 12 league?”
Craig said: “Maybe the best point guard in college basketball.”
“So I offended him by saying that?”
“What do you think?” Craig gave Xu Ling a regretful look, “You actually said you didn’t know him.”
Xu Ling shrugged, not responding, just changing the subject: “How’s your physique?”
Craig’s face darkened: “Sigh, it’s just like that, not getting better.”
Xu Ling was speechless.
Craig was probably the person on the team he had the best relationship with; they were roommates, spent the most time together, understood each other the best. Craig had originally been a freshman heavily cultivated by the coaching staff, but unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a heart problem last month. His training volume dropped sharply, and his personal condition increasingly failed to meet college basketball standards.
“The Big 12 League Championship opener will be between Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University!” ESPN commentator Dan Shulman introduced the basics. “Whether it’s TTU or A&M, they are both strong contenders for March Madness spots. This game is bound to be a fierce battle. Dick, what’s your take?”
So, Shulman’s partner Dick Vitale naturally took over: “TTU went 13-2 in warm-up games, shaking off last season’s gloom and entering the national top 20. Eli Xu’s arrival has greatly eased the urgency from Julius Jackson’s impending graduation. I think TTU’s outside firepower is the key tonight. And everything for A&M is on Ace Law!”
“Over the past three years, Ace has grown into a top national player, and this year, he’s undoubtedly the nation’s best point guard. Considering many games will likely go down to the wire, considering Ace’s ability to lead his team to victory alone in the second half, considering he performs better the tenser the game, it’s safe to say his performance determines how far A&M can go!”
Xu Ling knew before the game started that Ace Law was the top point guard in the region, but hearing the noise from the sidelines, he realized he had still underestimated the guy.
However, all that just proved he was a great college player, because Xu Ling had almost no impression of him, and that impression inversely proved he performed averagely in the NBA.
Before tip-off, Knight said to the starters: “I don’t care if Ace Law is the nation’s best. I just know no one on the college court can decide the game’s flow single-handedly!”
With that, the players took the floor.
Xu Ling walked up to his opponent—Dominique Kirk, an undersized 3D guard. Listed at 193 cm, but standing next to Xu Ling, it was obvious he was short.
Xu Ling was 198 cm barefoot, listed at 201 cm with shoes, while Kirk’s height was clearly with shoes and inflated; his real height absolutely didn’t reach 190 cm.
But that hardware flaw wouldn’t have much impact on the college court.
Kirk had an excellent reputation in the Big 12 league; every coach said he played tough, was ruthless on defense, had a reliable spot-up three-pointer, and was a rare knife-wielding bodyguard for a star player.
“Heard you don’t know Ace?” Kirk mocked as soon as they met. “College Jordan isn’t that ignorant, is he?”
So Xu Ling had even more to say: “And who are you?”
First meeting, and the other wasn’t friendly.
But Xu Ling was used to it; ever since he trash-talked about becoming College Jordan, few opponents had been friendly.
But no matter; he wasn’t here to make friends.
Tip-off to start, A&M got possession first.
Ace Law pushed forward quickly with the ball. TTU wasn’t set, and the pick and roll was already set up on Julius Jackson.
Law threaded the needle straight to the basket; Daryl Dora was a step slow on defense. By the time he tried to contest, he’d given the opponent too much space.
Law easily laid up for points.
“Damn Daryl Dora!” Knight couldn’t sit still seeing that defense. “Why is he always a step slow?!”
That was the flaw Dora was most criticized for.
Before Xu Ling joined the team, Dora was the acknowledged top talent at TTU. He had a strong physique, speed, explosiveness, but a lazy attitude, unwilling to go all out; otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited until his senior year to become a starter.
Transition to offense, Jackson eager to answer back with the same, called a pick and roll. Law dared to drive to the basket more, while Jackson chose his more confident outside three-pointer.
“Bang!”
Hand not hot!
Since returning, Jackson’s condition had been off.
However, Xu Ling grabbed that long rebound.
But Xu Ling’s position wasn’t great for initiating offense, so he passed out to the perimeter.
Martin Zeno drove to the basket with the ball, layup missed.
Xu Ling retreated quickly, but it was a 3-on-2 fast break. Law faked a pass and laid up for real, drawing Jackson’s defensive foul and scoring.
“Go back to school, J.J.! You’re totally washed! You can’t guard me!” Law wouldn’t miss any chance to trash talk opponents and boost his team’s morale. “Rookie, know me now? You’re not even in my league!”
Xu Ling didn’t respond.
Then Law made the free throw for points, then went to interact with Xu Ling again: “See that? That’s strength!”
Jackson picked up the ball and yelled at Xu Ling: “Don’t let that bastard get to you; we’ll hit back right away!”
Xu Ling glanced at the score, 5-0, just the start, plenty of time left.
But affected? Who was affected was still up for debate.
Xu Ling wanted the ball, which had never been an issue before Jackson returned.
Instead, after Jackson returned, TTU’s power hierarchy was forcibly restored. The teammates who had won 12 straight with Xu Ling felt awkward, and Jackson hadn’t delivered matching performance.
Xu Ling was still trying to gel with Jackson, but he didn’t know how long his patience would last—maybe the next possession?
“Take the ball, TTU Jordan; not scared of Ace, are you?”
Kirk pressured Xu Ling while provoking him.
At that moment, Jackson passed to Zeno, preparing off-ball movement to find rhythm.
But Xu Ling backdoor cut to shake Kirk, pointed to the sky, and Zeno instinctively lobbed the ball up—inside the paint, Texas A&M’s starting center Joseph Jones, 208 cm, 125 kg meat shield, had already sensed TTU Jordan’s intent.
“Zeno lobs it—Eli backdoor cut! Oh he’s jumping! He’s flying—he’s flying!!!!”
Jones did react, but what kind of reaction? A genuine “just clumsy” big man; he at most turned around, while TTU Jordan charging in front exploded like a plane from standstill, leaping suddenly to a height Jones could never reach in his life. He grabbed the ball, body instinctively riding his opponent, right hand swinging a crescent moon with thunderous force, slamming the ball into the rim.
“BOOM!!!!!!”
“Whoa oh oh oh oh!!!!!!”
The commentator’s exclamations were drowned by the screams in United Spirit Arena.
The referee reminded Xu Ling it was a “2+1”.
So Xu Ling had time to enjoy the crowd’s reaction.
He could do that; he could hype the crowd for more feedback like Ace Law, but he didn’t.
“Oh~~he’s still talking to Dominique Kirk!”
The commentator shouted.
Xu Ling said to Kirk: “Didn’t you tell me to take the ball? Where’d you go after I did?”
Then, ignoring the crowd, even ignoring his opponent, Xu Ling strode to the free throw line, took the referee’s pass, and sank it.
3-5
On the way back, Xu Ling said to Zeno: “Good pass.”
Knight took it all in.
Leadership can perhaps be honed later, but that innate, instinctive ability to drive others and unite the team is one in ten thousand.
Julius Jackson had leadership. But when strength, talent, and game-reading ability created a crushing gap, leadership levels were cruelly stratified.
This was Jackson’s third game back, and he was still trapped in his mental demons, fixated on the rookie’s dazzling performance, fearing the shakeup of his core status, even imagining hearing national media mockery—a long-time team core losing his spot to a rookie in his senior year?
Knight knew full well that for TTU to go further, some people had to face reality and know their place.
But before that, Xu Ling needed to let Julius Jackson know—they really weren’t on the same level.
Clearly, Xu Ling realized that too.
“I’m done with you, J.J.” Ace Law blew past a distracted Jackson like lightning, tossing a contemptuous taunt as he drove to the paint. “Let that trash-talking rookie try!”
He went up for a light fingertip layup to end the possession.
However, just as the ball was about to leave his fingertips…
A red shadow, as if reading Ace Law’s drive, came from the weak side like thunder!
Smack!
A vicious nail-in-the-coffin block, smashing the ball hard against the backboard! The huge sound like a slap, crisply echoing through the arena.
Xu Ling landed, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the stunned Ace Law still recovering from shock, then said: “Now I know you, the ‘best point guard’ blocked by a rookie.”
With that, he ignored the opponent frozen in place and walked straight to Jackson.
“Captain,” Xu Ling used the title, but his tone was straightforward without negotiation, “that guy is mine.”
Jackson struggled inwardly. Rationally, he believed Xu Ling could contain Law, but emotionally, handing their opponent’s ace to a rookie felt like a blow to his dignity as captain.
“No, I can still…”
“You just got back; find your rhythm first.” Xu Ling cut him off, tone brooking no argument, but immediately tossed an irresistible out. “Besides, their #22 Kirk is the real problem—that guy’s like a mad dog. You need to help me tie him up.”
That sentence instantly ignited Jackson’s fighting spirit, burning away the awkwardness.
He immediately puffed his chest, full of confidence: “No problem, that mad dog is mine to teach!”
Right, it was your turn.
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