The Best Point Guard

Chapter 387: Chapter 122: [I, the Regular Season MVP. Nike, Pay Up!]

Before the regular season MVP was announced, the 2004-2005 All-NBA Teams were revealed first.

The selections were hugely controversial.

But at the same time, it also spoke to just how fierce the competition was in this year’s regular season.

The five players on the All-NBA First Team were: Steve Nash, Su Xi, Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal.

After Nowitzki and Steve Nash went their separate ways, they each had the best season of their respective careers. As a result, even scoring champion Allen Iverson didn’t make the First Team, nor could any of the league’s other small forwards secure a spot.

The All-NBA Second Team consisted of five players: Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Stadumier.

The debate over the Second Team was even greater.

This was because the five players on the First Team were, on the whole, undisputed. Su Xi, Nash, and O’Neal were the strongest contenders for regular season MVP, Duncan’s spot was rock-solid, and Nowitzki had posted a career-best performance with an excellent team record.

Under these circumstances, these five were beyond question.

But the Second Team? On what grounds?

Players like Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady were relegated to the Third Team.

The Third Team was: Arenas, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Shaun Marion, and Ben Wallace.

The moment the All-NBA rosters were released, fans went into a frenzy. It got to the point where the NBA league office had to issue a statement, explaining that the selections were based on a comprehensive judgment of various factors, including team record, individual statistics, and media impact.

This attempt at damage control failed to satisfy the fans.

In contrast, there was little controversy surrounding the All-Defensive Team selections.

Because defense is plain to see. You can either stop someone, or you can’t.

It’s a single-subject test.

The All-Defensive First Team roster was: Su Xi, Bruce Bowen, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Ben Wallace.

Putting these five together, there was no room for doubt.

The All-Defensive Second Team roster was: Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Kirilenko, Little O’Neal, and Marcus Camby.

There wasn’t much disagreement here, either.

Although Pacers fans were a little resentful that Artest didn’t make an All-Defensive team, it was understandable. After all, he had been suspended for so long.

But then, on what grounds did Ben Wallace get in?

Wasn’t he suspended for a long time, too?

While fans were busy debating the All-NBA teams and stirring up conversation, the Pacers secured their third win in New Jersey.

Su Xi received a warm welcome in New Jersey. With everyone believing the Nets had no hope of advancing, the New Jersey fans were more than happy to cheer for Su Xi. After all, he was still considered the pride of New Jersey basketball.

New Jersey fans took pride in Su Xi. This was where he had grown up.

After the game, a local reporter even asked Su Xi, "Why not bring your talents back to New Jersey? The entire Hudson Riverfront would erupt in celebration over your decision."

Asked such a direct question, Su Xi was caught off guard. For the first time, he didn’t give a direct answer to a reporter’s query.

However, when facing a question from a reporter about the MVP race, Su Xi’s attitude was resolute. He said, "I’m an All-Defensive First Team player and an All-NBA First Team player. First Team everything, the best record in the East, plus averaging nearly a triple-double. Tell me, if I don’t get the MVP with that resume, who will?"

Whether it was his team’s record or his individual performance, Su Xi’s case was solid.

Of course he was going to fight for it.

There was a bonus for the regular season MVP, after all.

And who would turn down free money?

Over at Nike, heads were spinning. This was because of the terms in his original contract.

Making an All-NBA team during his contract: a 10 million USD bonus.

Winning regular season MVP: a 20 million USD bonus.

Winning Finals MVP: a 20 million USD bonus.

And if he won either the regular season MVP or the Finals MVP in consecutive years, there was an additional 20 million USD bonus.

This year, Su Xi’s shoe sales were incredibly good—the numbers were astronomical. Sales in Asia were legendary and unprecedented, and they were selling extremely well in North America, too.

Nike was raking in cash.

But if Su Xi won the regular season MVP and also repeated as Finals MVP, they would basically be working for him.

Back when they signed the contract, who the fuck could have predicted Su Xi would be this dominant? He made the All-NBA team like it was child’s play, and now he was making a run for regular season MVP.

The crucial thing was, they felt like Su Xi wasn’t even trying his hardest yet. After all, many experts in the basketball world were still questioning whether Little Sheep Su Xi was a true superstar, always attributing his achievements to flukes and good luck.

Nike was now full of regret. Super regret.

And the thing they regretted even more... was that back then, with a grand wave of his hand, Phil Knight had offered another incentive for Little Sheep Su Xi: if Su Xi won either the regular season MVP or the Finals MVP in consecutive years, he would get a 5% share of his shoe sales revenue.

That was another massive payout.

If this kept up, Nike really would be working for Little Sheep Su Xi.

At the time, Phil Knight believed that Su Xi winning a Finals MVP or a regular season MVP—or even making an All-NBA team—were all distant possibilities. I mean, even someone as heralded as "The Chosen One," LeBron James, only made an All-NBA team in his second season, and it was the Second Team at that.

But here was Su Xi, effortlessly making both the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team.

’The thing is... no matter how you look at it, there seems to be an element of luck involved. But why is it always Su Xi who gets lucky, and not someone else?’

Normally, a player who wins Finals MVP as a rookie and then vies for the regular season MVP in his second year should have the aura of an undisputed king. Yet in the eyes of the so-called experts, Su Xi was just another superstar. The basketball media wasn’t exactly promoting him with great fanfare.