Chapter 60: Making History! Rookie Wins Fan Vote, Dunk Contest Begins

With the Warriors on a 25-game winning streak, the final results for All-Star voting were announced. Although LeBron James made a strong late push, receiving substantial support from media, coaches, and players, Tang Lei, backed by his loyal Chinese fanbase, held onto the top spot. In the end, he secured his place as the 2019 Charlotte All-Star Game's top vote-getter.

The official All-Star starting lineups were announced:

Eastern Conference Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker.

Western Conference Starters: Tang Lei, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Paul George.

Tang Lei led fan voting with 4,804,124 votes, making him the first rookie in NBA history to earn the title of vote leader. This accomplishment shocked the league and the basketball world, setting a new historical benchmark. As team captains, Tang Lei and Antetokounmpo would each select their teams for the All-Star Game.

Meanwhile, fan favorites like Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade missed out on All-Star selections due to lower votes from media, coaches, and players, sparking frustration among fans. The backlash was intense, with fans expressing anger over rule changes that reduced fan voting power to 50%.

Amidst the controversy, the NBA eventually responded, adding Wade and Dirk Nowitzki as honorary All-Stars, which helped calm fans.

…

With fan anticipation building, the 2018-2019 All-Star Weekend finally began. In addition to playing in the All-Star Game, Tang Lei was invited to participate in the three-point and dunk contests, thanks to his frequent appearances in the highlight reels with 3+1 plays and stunning dunks.

On February 16, the Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge kicked off the weekend. However, as the All-Star vote leader, Tang Lei bypassed the rookie game.

On February 17, the Dunk Contest began, followed by the Three-Point Contest and Skills Challenge. Before the main events, NBA invited various celebrities to entertain the crowd. While many fans enjoyed the music, Tang Lei wasn't particularly interested in the American rappers with eccentric tattoos and flashy styles.

Soon, the Dunk Contest participants were introduced:

 1. Dennis Smith Jr.

 2. John Collins

 3. Miles Bridges

 4. Hamidou Diallo

 5. Tang Lei

This year's lineup was generally considered weaker, especially compared to the legendary 2016 showdown between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon. Tang Lei was the only widely recognized name in the lineup, with the others having little public presence.

For star players, the Dunk Contest has limited appeal. Winning is nice, but the risk of being outshone by a rookie is high. Jordan's infamous three-point contest performance remains a lasting blemish on his legacy. Even for champions like Kobe, who won the Dunk Contest, few remember it as a defining achievement. For many established players, the Dunk Contest is simply entertainment, with little at stake.

As the Dunk Contest began, the atmosphere was moderate. The main draw was Tang Lei; without him, interest would likely have been even lower.

Tang Lei drew the first slot in the preliminaries. With the announcer's introduction, he removed his warm-up jacket and stepped onto the court.

…

In the Tencent Livestream Room Across the Ocean

"Wow! Thunder King is first up—I wonder what he has in his bag!"

"With his insane vertical and core strength, I bet we're in for something special!"

"Seriously? Who are these guys? The only player I know is Tang Lei!"

"Sigh, each year the Dunk Contest gets worse. Remember 2016 with LaVine and Gordon? That saved the Dunk Contest."

"Hush, Thunder King is up!"

…

Tang Lei took the ball and positioned himself near the center circle. The crowd held its breath, noticing his distance from the hoop.

As anticipation filled the arena, Tang Lei sprang forward, accelerating toward the basket. Near the free-throw line, he coiled his legs and launched himself into the air.

From the stands, it looked like he was soaring—gliding.

As his body reached its peak, Tang Lei raised his left hand and slammed the ball through the hoop just as he began his descent.

"OHHHH~~~! A free-throw line dunk! That's Jordan's spot—that's Jordan's distance!!"

"An homage to Jordan! Perfect score!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, unable to believe the leaping ability of this tall, slender player from the East. Curry, watching courtside, was in awe, collapsing into Thompson's arms in astonishment.

The judges, equally impressed, awarded Tang Lei perfect tens across the board. They hadn't expected much from this year's competition, but Tang Lei's opening dunk electrified the arena.

Next up was defending champion Hamidou Diallo from the Thunder. However, Tang Lei's powerful start seemed to unsettle him, as he missed his first two attempts. Though Diallo finally nailed his third try, the magic was gone. The audience remained unfazed, knowing the initial excitement had been missed.

Diallo ended up scoring two eights and three nines. The other contestants followed, with only John Collins delivering a somewhat memorable dunk, scoring one perfect ten and four nines. The rest were relatively forgettable.

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