Two Players Down

In the fourth quarter, substitute players cycled in and out, but Bucks coach Scott Skiles kept Brandon Jennings on the court. In the previous three quarters, Jennings had struggled against Chris Duhon and Wilson Chandler, managing only 7 points on 21 shots, along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Skiles hoped to rebuild the young player's confidence by giving him extra minutes.

Lian Dao had faced Brandon Jennings in high school when Jennings played for the prestigious Oak Hill High School. In that match, Lian's Whitney High School team suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Jennings. At that time, Jennings could hardly have imagined that the tall, thin player who hardly acknowledged him would one day become a rising star in the NBA.

Jennings was still grappling with the effects of pre-game comments from Bogut, which had left him feeling uneasy. After all, a player he had once overlooked was now entering the NBA as the first overall pick and impressing everyone with his outstanding performance at the start of his rookie season. The media had dubbed him a "supernova," and Jennings couldn't accept that reality. He believed he was just as good, if not better than Lian Dao.

He felt slighted that he had been picked tenth overall while Lian Dao, a player he barely recognized, had gone to the Knicks—his desired team. Jennings often cursed the Knicks for their poor judgment, wishing he could have played for them instead.

If Lian Dao didn't understand Jennings well enough, Chris Duhon and Wilson Chandler would have faced significant challenges defending him. Jennings was a fast, pick-and-roll point guard with an erratic shooting touch. He could break through defenses but struggled to finish and relied heavily on his left hand. Although he played aggressively on defense without drawing many fouls, he had difficulty with physical confrontations.

As a quick left-handed guard, Jennings possessed natural scoring instincts and a high-arcing shot from long range. He could push the pace of the game but was limited by his poor right hand. Thus, defending Jennings required shutting down his left side, especially his left-handed drives.

Recognizing these weaknesses, Lian Dao and his teammates targeted Jennings effectively. As a result, Jennings' statistics reflected his struggles throughout the first three quarters.

In his rookie season, Jennings famously scored 55 points in a single game against the Warriors, a feat that placed him second among rookies, only behind Wilt Chamberlain's 58 points. However, even that remarkable performance would only rank third by today's standards. His high-scoring game was partly due to the league's unfamiliarity with him; without NCAA experience and having failed the SAT, he had turned to the European league, where NBA teams paid less attention.

His transition to the NBA was further complicated by teams not knowing how to defend against his left-handed shots and drives, a challenge the Warriors faced during that historic game. However, as the season progressed, teams began to recognize his reliance on his left hand, leading to targeted defenses that contributed to Jennings' inconsistent performance in the latter half of the season.

Ultimately, he was overshadowed by players like Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry, with Evans winning Rookie of the Year honors by averaging 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

By his second season, Jennings faced issues with offensive efficiency, poor shot selection, and predictable left-handed drives. Once the league caught on to his limitations, he quickly fell from grace. If Jennings had committed to improving his shooting and right-handed skills, his career trajectory could have been vastly different. Unfortunately, his early fame left him disoriented.

Returning to the court, the game concluded with the Knicks triumphing 125-105, leaving Jennings to reflect on the harsh realities of competition.

After the game, the Bucks filed a complaint with the league, accusing Lian Dao of malicious behavior. This situation created a headache for NBA Commissioner David Stern in the office.

"This cash cow has thorns. We've only just started the season, and two players have already ended up in the hospital," he thought, feeling the weight of the issue.

"Commissioner, the Knicks ranked first in viewership ratings for their recent game against the Cavaliers. Other countries are also interested in acquiring NBA broadcasting rights," his assistant informed him.

Lian Dao's popularity was not limited to China; his influence was rapidly spreading throughout Asia, thanks to his stellar performance in the Asian Championships and strong start to the season. His good looks, exceptional skills, and substantial earnings at a young age had earned him fans across various Asian countries, including affluent nations like Singapore.

Additionally, New York, as the economic center of the United States, represented the largest basketball market in the country. This season had already demonstrated the immense power of the New York market.

Stern took the folder from his assistant and reviewed the ratings for the Knicks vs. Cavaliers game. His jaw nearly dropped in shock. The viewership numbers were approaching those of the NBA Finals!

While the ratings for other Knicks games weren't as high as the Cavaliers matchup, they were still equivalent to playoff numbers. Stern noticed that several Asian countries had applied for the rights to broadcast Knicks games live.

"This is potential revenue—a beautiful opportunity that can't be ignored!" he thought. Despite the thorns associated with Lian Dao, his personality and the excitement he brought were undeniable.

"Were there any issues with Lian Dao in the game footage?" Stern asked.

"No issues were found in the game video, but Bogut is suspected of a malicious foul," Vice President Mark Tatum replied.

Stern paused, considering the implications.

"If there's no problem, we should dismiss the Bucks' complaint and warn them against any petty tactics," Stern instructed.

"However, Lian Dao did send someone to the hospital, which is serious. We should consider a strong penalty; we can't set a precedent for such behavior," the other vice president, Xiao Hua, countered.

"Adam, the responsibility doesn't lie with Lian Dao. If we impose harsh penalties, we risk losing credibility with the fans. Excessive punishments could lead to overreach of our authority," Tatum interjected.

"The evidence clearly indicates that Lian Dao is not at fault, so the penalty must be fair. I've made my decision," Stern said decisively, raising his hand to interrupt Xiao Hua, who was about to speak again.

Xiao Hua and Tatum exchanged glances before leaving the commissioner's office.

As Stern watched Xiao Hua walk away, he felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. Xiao Hua's perspective seemed limited; rather than acting as a vice president, he came across as a businessman overly focused on immediate gains.

While there was nothing wrong with prioritizing interests, Stern was displeased with Xiao Hua's tendency to harm the league's long-term viability for short-term profit. In particular, Stern had strongly opposed Xiao Hua's suggestion to collaborate with a gaming company to manipulate playoff outcomes.

Though Stern hadn't punished Xiao Hua for past transgressions, he was now frustrated to see him threatening the league's future.

Lian Dao's actions had indeed crossed a line, and Stern knew he needed to address the situation.

"I should call that kid from the Knicks and remind him," he muttered to himself.