Chapter 194: Confirmed for the 2008 Olympics! Pre-Match Interview!
Kobe Bryant's post-up game had always been among the finest in NBA history, especially for a guard. His signature footwork, the "Mamba Dance," was sharper and more guard-oriented than even Hakeem Olajuwon's famous "Dream Shake."
After learning from Kobe, Chen Yan's offensive arsenal was now nearly complete—post-ups, mid-range shots, face-up jumpers, drives, three-pointers. There were no gaps left. He had become a true offensive technician, a player who could score from anywhere on the court.
Still, both newly acquired skills—Mamba Dance Lv.1 and Post-Up Technique Lv.1—were only entry-level. To reach Kobe's level of mastery would take years of repetition and refinement.
When the morning practice ended, the Western Conference All-Stars began their official team scrimmage.
Though it was called "practice," the session was more about loosening up, tossing some passes, and laughing between trick shots. Everyone knew the real show would come under the lights that evening.
After practice, it was lunchtime.
Chen Yan met up with Yao Ming, and the two went to a nearby Chinese restaurant. But it wasn't just a casual lunch—it was also a meeting with representatives from the Chinese Basketball Association.
Chen's phenomenal performance over the season had drawn their attention for months. They'd long wanted him to join the national team, but this All-Star Weekend finally gave them the perfect chance to make it official.
For Chen Yan, there was no hesitation.
Who wouldn't want the honor of wearing their country's uniform—especially to compete in the Olympics at home, in Beijing?
It was a dream. A once-in-a-lifetime chance.
The 2008 national team was already stacked with talent—Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Wang Zhizhi, Zhu Fangyu, and the legendary Monkey King, Sun Yue. That generation would later go on to break through the "Group of Death" and reach the Olympic quarterfinals, the best finish in Chinese basketball history.
But with Chen Yan joining the roster, expectations were instantly raised.
A semifinal appearance? A medal? Maybe even—if fate smiled—a shot at the championship?
To quote Li Ning's famous slogan: Everything is possible.
Still, Chen had one concern—the NBA schedule. The Suns were in contention for a title this year, and the playoffs could overlap with Olympic training camp.
But the Basketball Association had already thought of that. They valued Chen Yan's participation so highly that they were ready to accommodate his NBA schedule. If his team advanced deep into the playoffs, he would simply join the training camp later.
There were no rigid restrictions, no demands—just full support.
With Yao Ming helping mediate, the conversation flowed smoothly. Over plates of kung pao chicken and mapo tofu, they finalized the agreement.
By the end of lunch, Chen Yan was officially included in the 24-man Olympic training roster.
Only 12 players would make the final team, but everyone in that restaurant knew—if Chen stayed healthy, his spot was guaranteed.
When word reached Coach Jonas Kazlauskas, the usually stern Lithuanian couldn't contain his excitement. He reportedly danced around his hotel room before cracking open a bottle of red wine to celebrate.
Jonas had followed Chen's progress since his rookie debut. He knew exactly what kind of impact a guard of Chen's caliber could have—speed, shooting, vision, and, most importantly, the ability to take over when it mattered most.
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Later that afternoon, after the Eastern Conference finished their practice, the All-Stars gathered for a group photo and the final round of media interviews before the main event.
And once again, Chen Yan was the center of attention.
Reporters surrounded him like a storm—microphones thrust forward, cameras flashing in every direction. Questions came so fast that other players could barely get a word in.
Chris Paul, standing nearby, could only shake his head.
This was his city—New Orleans—and yet somehow, the crowd around Chen was three times bigger than his.
"This is insane," Paul muttered under his breath. "Home court advantage doesn't even help me."
The camera flashes were relentless. Some reporters even complained later that their storage cards and batteries had run dry because of how long Chen's interview lasted.
But Chen handled it all with poise. After half a season in the NBA spotlight, he was used to it.
One reporter began, "Chen, this is your first All-Star appearance. How's the experience been so far?"
Chen smiled modestly. "It's been amazing. The fans here are incredible. The atmosphere is pure energy. I'm really enjoying the weekend."
Another reporter, grinning mischievously, leaned forward. "So, Chen, practicing all night—didn't that affect your conditioning for the game?"
Chen blinked, caught off guard. "Practicing all night? What do you mean?"
The reporter smirked. "Come on, you and Taylor. The hotel staff said your 'practice sessions' were… pretty loud."
The press area erupted in laughter.
Chen froze for half a second, then shook his head, chuckling helplessly. These gossip reporters… nothing's sacred anymore.
But with cameras rolling, he kept his cool. "Taylor and I are both professionals," he said smoothly. "We take the All-Star performance seriously. A little extra rehearsal never hurts."
The crowd burst into laughter again, and Chen handled it like a pro.
Another reporter followed up quickly. "Chen, what's your goal for the All-Star Game tonight? Are you aiming for the MVP trophy?"
Chen raised his hands. "No, no. The All-Star Game is just a celebration for me—a little vacation in the middle of the season. I'm here to have fun, not chase trophies."
The reporters exchanged amused glances. That line sounded very familiar.
After all, he'd said almost the exact same thing before the Rookie Game—and then dropped 55 points to win MVP.
They smiled knowingly, some already whispering among themselves.
"If this guy says he's 'just having fun,'" one reporter muttered, "we'd better keep our cameras ready. History says he's about to explode again."
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