Chapter 19: Holy Infant
On January 20, 2007, a long line formed at the entrance tunnel of United Spirit Arena.
The game between Texas Tech University and University of Texas was about to take place here.
Moreover, both teams had super rookies who had recently risen to fame.
Xu Ling and Kevin Durant, they were the hottest topics in the Big 12 league.
Durant goes without saying, he was a natural genius, just as Bill Simmons said: “His floor is multiple years of All-Star selections, and his ceiling might be the greatest scorer in history.” If not for Shaquille O’Neal’s lingering influence still echoing in the league, based solely on Durant’s performance in his freshman season, he would have been enough to overpower Greg Oden and become the Number 1 Draft Pick.
However, now, the entire basketball world seemed to have reached a silent consensus. Scouts firmly believed that the 2007 draft would recreate the legendary pattern of 1992—Oden and Durant were just like this era’s Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning.
That giant, who was always unable to fully recover his health on the college court yet was hailed as the “new generation Shaquille O’Neal,” had almost already locked in the Number 1 Draft Pick spot in advance. This also meant that no matter how stunning a performance Durant put on, the highest position he could fight for at the draft would merely be the Number 2 Draft Pick.
But to Durant, all these outside voices were insignificant.
“The only thing I care about is basketball itself,” Durant said, “Everything else doesn’t matter.”
Such remarks would undoubtedly touch Xu Ling, who had fought tooth and nail to rise from an unknown to a potential lottery pick.
What’s more, as a traverser, he inherently carried a deep-seated black powder perspective toward Durant.
He didn’t care about titles like “new century’s strongest isolation player.” Of course, you could say Durant had his misfortunes too: at an age when he still firmly believed effort and struggle could win everything, a senior took “talent” straight to Miami and crushed his and his brothers’ dreams in the finals. More ironically, after that senior won the championship, he was whitewashed overnight from the media’s “villain” to a sports hero.
The collapse of old beliefs and the darkening of mindset seemed inevitable. As the era’s “second man,” the path he chose was imitation: that senior could team up with the league’s third man, the All-Star power forward who was tenth in MVP voting, so he simply parachuted into the 73-win runner-up that had just eliminated him—as long as he won the championship in the end, wouldn’t all controversies vanish into thin air?
Reality was exceptionally cruel, however. He found that controversies didn’t disappear but followed him like a shadow, mocked wherever he went. So he gradually lost control: arguing online, mocking teammates, and eventually even awakening the same talent as his “half-brother” Kyrie Irving—team dismantling. Dismantling wherever he went, no reason needed, just dismantle. Even Irving seemed to have turned over a new leaf in Dallas, but he still wouldn’t settle down. When the situation turned slightly unfavorable, his first reaction wasn’t to try solving it but “I’m done, you guys handle it yourselves.” It had to be said that though his envisioned redemption script completely flopped, in “running away” and “picking strong teammates,” he truly inherited that senior’s true legacy.
In Xu Ling’s view, Durant after leaving the Warriors was exactly like a snake—character, pressure handling, leadership all rotten to the core. But a person like this, in the present of 2007, his image was… how to put it?
Holy Infant?
Right, the Holy Infant.
The media said basketball was like oxygen to him. Despite losing his father young, unlike many black players from similar backgrounds who hated their fathers, he saw his absent birth father as a superhero; he chose number 35 to honor his mentor who died unexpectedly; he was humble and friendly, always photographed with a backpack, which contained only a basketball and a 《Bible》.
That night, as soon as Xu Ling arrived at the scene, he saw the baby-faced “Little Du” carrying that signature backpack.
This classmate, you’re not Durant, who are you?
That’s what Xu Ling thought.
“Not going over to say hi?” Rodreck Craig asked him.
“No interest,” Xu Ling said expressionlessly, “I just want to blow him up.”
Craig laughed: “If you can really do it, your draft pick prediction will rocket upward!”
“However.” He looked around and lowered his voice, “Tonight’s setup is no joke.”
Previous scouts were mostly low-key and hidden, observing in secret, but today—the scouting level had fully upgraded.
Several team decision-makers at the top level had personally shown up.
Celtics’ Danny Ainge, 76ers’ Billy King, Grizzlies’ Jerry West… and Golden State Warriors’ Chris Mullin.
On the right side of the stands, Mullin was animatedly watching the two super rookies warming up, starting his signature （and unreliable） passionate speech while watching:
“Kevin Durant! This kid really reminds me of Larry Bird!”
The assistant coach nearby almost dropped the tactical board.
Like Bird? Boss, did you not sleep last night… or drink fake booze at breakfast today?
Mullin didn’t sense anything off and got even more excited: “And look! This is a black version of Bird, with Kevin Garnett’s physique to boot!”
If Bird heard this, he’d probably run over from Indiana to beat you up.
Though he didn’t say it out loud, the assistant knew in his heart that Mullin was here for Eli Xu today—because per lottery predictions, the Warriors were more likely to pick Xu Ling than Durant.
All this had to start from a trade not long ago. Since the Palace of Auburn Hills incident two years prior, the Pacers, once dominant in the Eastern Conference, were now just a shell. Reggie Miller retired, young Shaquille O’Neal was plagued by injuries, and with internal and external troubles, the team was beyond saving and in irreversible decline.
Better to cut losses timely than prop up the face of the franchise, cashing out decisively before total devaluation.
So Mullin seized the opportunity, using a few “failed lottery cases” as chips to trade from the Pacers for Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson, forcibly assembling a “losers’ league.” He secretly hoped: what if this random mix actually sparked some chemistry?
It was in this context that Mullin turned his eyes to Eli Xu—this young man not only had a great physique and could score, more importantly: he didn’t play like a rookie at all, steady and experienced with few mistakes. Mullin admired that maturity beyond his years.
He originally thought everyone showing up today—including himself—was there for Durant.
Until he looked up and saw Jerry West and Danny Ainge sitting upright on the opposite stands.
Mullin muttered to himself: They must be here for KD too, right?
Probably?
Warm-ups ended, Knight called Xu Ling over: “Remember last night’s setup?”
“Got it.” Xu Ling remembered, of course. For this showdown, Knight had spent two hours on video analysis last night, focusing on dissecting Durant.
According to Knight’s “intelligence source,” Durant’s physique was weak, he never trained strength, couldn’t even do a standard bench press.
Since he was an “empty frame,” just bulldoze his slight build relentlessly.
“Good as long as you remember.” Knight’s tone was grave, “Your defense will be the key to tonight’s outcome.”
“Meaning if we lose, it’s all on me?” Xu Ling countered.
This veteran putting so much pressure right away, was that appropriate?
Knight stared straight into his eyes, words piercing the heart: “Of course you can choose not to take full responsibility. As long as you don’t see yourself as the leader, no one can force you to carry it all.”
With that, Knight just looked at Xu Ling with a provocative expression.
This scene was just like when Xu Ling had publicly goaded Knight into admitting he was the greatest coach in history.
Facing the old coach’s retaliation with the same tactic, Xu Ling smiled and said no more.
Then, both starting lineups took the court.
University of Texas had not only Durant but another future NBA face—their starting point guard D.J. Augustin.
Xu Ling finally saw Durant up close in person.
This feeling was completely different from his past life gnashing teeth in front of the screen spamming “Slim Reaper go die.”
Xu Ling had anticipated Durant might be friendly, but he didn’t expect
“Hey, nice to meet you,” Durant said very friendly, “Texas Tech’s Jordan, I’ve heard of you for a while!”
Xu Ling’s inner monologue: Wait, no! Give me back the Durant I know who breaks down after missing a key pass, rants at Green, and gets shut down speechless by “we were champions before you came”!
“Same to you.” Xu Ling smiled on the surface, ranting wildly inside.
The referee tossed the ball into the air.
Xu Ling silently prayed: Win the tip-off, must win this one!
Perhaps hearing Xu Ling’s prayer, the Daryl Dora with the abysmal tip-off success rate unusually won the jump ball.
Xu Ling sprinted forward quickly.
The Longhorns had clearly studied their game habits; once they lost the tip-off, they retreated full speed, giving no fast break opportunity.
Frontcourt five-on-five, Xu Ling ran to the outside, received the pass, turned around, and the arena noise erupted.
“Oh my god, Eli vs KD! It’s happening this quick!”
Fans roared excitedly.
“Attack! Hit him!!!”
Such cheers would invisibly increase pressure on the player, forcing isolation even in bad position.
Xu Ling with the ball, jab step right—even though Durant was a natural genius, right now he had only realized a bit of talent on offense, with a long way to go on defense.
Just a shake from Xu Ling exposed tons of flaws, retreating a big step.
Xu Ling rose for a jump shot.
Decisive, crisp, beautiful shooting form.
Anything else?
Look, perfect arc…
“Swish!”
Xu Ling’s trash talk was usually defense-triggered, but today, he couldn’t hold back the impulse inside.
“You average so many points, is it because you don’t defend at all?”
Xu’s mouth ran off, and Durant bit immediately—perhaps he was a natural debater, think about how he later argued with the whole internet on Twitter.
Durant froze, face full of “you’re insulting me”: “Nonsense! I never have!”
Xu Ling nodded, as if suddenly realizing: “Oh, so you just… suck at defense.”
Durant didn’t know why this Texas Tech Jordan he met for the first time talked so damn annoyingly; he decided to respond with action.
But Xu Ling didn’t back off. He stood near midcourt like a predator waiting for prey, calmly watching Durant approach step by step.
As soon as Durant crossed halfcourt, Xu Ling stuck to him like glue—intensity, stickiness, hustle, whatever he wanted, Xu gave it, and this was exactly the defense type Durant hated most at this stage.
In just over ten seconds, under Xu Ling’s relentless pressure defense, the unadjusted Durant made the night’s first turnover.
Durant immediately fouled Xu Ling tactically, whistle blew.
He raised his hand signaling, but his gaze went straight to Xu Ling, eyes shedding all politeness, left only undisguised confrontation.
