Chapter 7: Shamelessness in the Face of Courtesy?

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The Seagulls launched an attack.

Outside the right-wing three-point line, shooting guard David Frank faked a shot and then drove forward. After stepping inside the three-point arc, he abruptly stopped and took a jump shot.

As Frank began his drive, Tang Bei moved out from under the basket. When Frank stopped for his shot, Tang Bei had already covered the three-meter distance in two big strides. Then, like a great bird, he leapt into the air and swooped down.

“What?”

Seeing a towering figure suddenly appear overhead, David Frank was stunned beyond belief.

“Smack!”

In the next moment, the ball he had just released was fiercely swatted away by an iron palm, sent flying into the stands.

“WOW!”

This violent, gifted block created a powerful visual impact. Over 200 fans felt their adrenaline surge wildly and erupted into cheers.

“Such talent!”

Eric Fletcher, who had only just met Tang Bei two days ago and was watching his first game, was equally astonished by this defensive play.

“What?”

“God, what did he just do? How is this even possible?”

Rick Sand and Jim Brewer jumped to their feet, their faces filled with disbelief.

“This kid’s athleticism is incredible!”

Rick Sand’s eyes were shining. Tang Bei’s block had covered over six meters of defensive ground.

Even more astonishing was that Tang Bei was a heavy center weighing 135 kilograms. In Rick’s understanding, no center in basketball history had ever made such a defensive play.

Not even Shaquille O’Neal, the top prospect during his NCAA days, had pulled off anything like this.

Such a defensive feat had never appeared in NBA history either; if it did, it would be etched forever.

“Once back, we must immediately create a draft file on him.”

Jim Brewer, moved by the block, was equally impressed.

Meanwhile, the Seagulls’ players, both on and off the court, saw their morale drop after the block.

Facing such a talented opponent as Tang Bei, fear took root in their hearts.

“Clang!”

The Seagulls attacked again. This time David Frank didn’t dare to drive in; he shot a three-pointer directly but missed badly.

“Mine.”

Tang Bei, the tallest player on the court and perfectly positioned, grabbed the rebound and immediately passed to point guard Tom Morris, then began a fast break.

He sped down the center lane, and as he crossed the arc, only the Seagulls’ small forward Williams had returned to defend the paint.

Williams had come back from the right arc, a shorter distance, meaning Tang Bei’s speed was not slower than Williams’.

“Ball!”

Seeing Tang Bei charging in, Morris, holding the ball at the right-wing three-point line, shouted and passed it inside.

Tang Bei slightly slowed near the free throw line, jumped to catch the pass, and after landing, took a small step before launching himself two meters from the basket.

“Shit!”

Williams, confronted by this charging beast, mustered his courage to jump and block.

But he made the gravest mistake: he severely underestimated Tang Bei’s speed and had no idea of his impact force. Otherwise, he would have dodged to the side.

“Bang!”

With both hands, Tang Bei powerfully slammed the ball down, the loud crash echoing again through Dennis Arena.

“Boom!”

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At the same time, the heavy collision resounded. Williams flew backward like he had been hit by a bus.

He crashed heavily onto the floor and slid uncontrollably into the media section, knocking over several reporters sitting on the floor.

“WOW!”

Though the Seagulls’ crowd numbered only about 200, at that moment, their cheers surged with the force of a thousand voices.

“Basketball is my future. I am not a big fool, no!”

Tang Bei landed, adrenaline raging, and shouted upward in excitement, venting his exhilaration.

In front of him on the floor lay his opponent, coughing painfully.

“Ho ho ho…”

Bearded commentator Chuck Lyons let out an excited yell, then shouted:

“Did you see that? An absolutely violent dunk over the rim, he must have jumped at least three feet high.”

Baron Ross shouted excitedly, “And he can push the fast break too. He really is another Shaquille O’Neal, a super-sized Rain Man. We’re not lying.”

“Well done, Tang. Use your talent to dominate your opponents!”

Seagulls’ head coach Mias Lance waved his fists excitedly.

“This monster!”

Jack Wilson, the Seagulls’ backup center at the five position, gasped upon seeing the play.

He glanced at the silent starting center Rick Hanks, thinking, “Hey Rick, this is going to give you a headache.”

Hanks thought to himself that he’d probably lose his starting spot soon, but luckily Tang Bei wouldn’t be with the Seagulls long, so he could remain the top backup for now.

He glanced back at Jack Wilson, silently telling him, “Dear Jack, you should start looking for a new team.”

Williams, knocked down by Tang Bei, couldn’t get up. After examination by the team doctor, it was confirmed he had several broken bones and multiple muscle strains. A stretcher was brought onto the court.

Losing their starting small forward, the Seagulls’ coach cursed fiercely inside:

“Damn it, such a big man, such talent — he’s a cheat code in the CBA. How can we even play the rest of the game?”

Suddenly, a conflict broke out on the court.

“You bastard!”

Seeing Williams seriously injured and out of the game, his good friend, power forward Carl Lewis, was furious. Having just been slammed by Tang Bei himself, his anger doubled. He shouted and charged at Tang Bei from behind.

Tang Bei heard the sudden sound of sneakers scraping the floor behind him and became alert. He sidestepped just in time to avoid Lewis.

Instantly reacting, Tang Bei blocked with his left arm and pushed Lewis away with his right hand.

From Lewis’s punch, it was clear he knew Tang Bei wouldn’t fight properly — the punch was weak, slow, and lacked power, so he didn’t bother retaliating.

“Fuck you!”

Failing to hit Tang Bei and nearly being pushed down, Lewis charged again in fury.

“Don’t take advantage of my kindness!”

This time Tang Bei retaliated without hesitation.

“Smack!”

After dodging, his right hand swung out, delivering a heavy slap across Lewis’s face. The crisp slap sounded like a whip crack.

“Ah!”

Lewis’s upper body suddenly jerked backward as he spun and collapsed to the floor, several teeth scattering across the court.

“Oh!”

The crowd gasped in shock.

“Beep! Beep!”

The referee immediately blew the whistle and ran over.

Lewis lay dazed on the floor, half his face numb, head spinning, looking at Tang Bei in terror. His rage had vanished with that slap.

The Seagulls’ players were stunned to see Lewis slapped down and lose teeth.

Once they recovered, none dared act rashly. Lewis was the toughest guy on their team; no one wanted to provoke him.

They even avoided eye contact with Tang Bei. Tang Bei’s gaze swept everywhere; their eyes quickly averted. Fear of Tang Bei had completely taken hold.

The referee quickly issued a ruling: Tang Bei received a technical foul; Lewis, having thrown two punches without connecting but showing clear malice, was given a flagrant foul and ejected.

From that point on, Tang Bei did only one thing: he used his talent to dominate the Seagulls’ interior defenders.

There was no particular technique—just raw talent. Whether facing one defender or two or three, no one could stop him under the basket.

Whenever he caught the ball inside, regardless of how many defenders surrounded him, he simply rose up and slammed it down.

The Seagulls, pushed to desperation, resorted to fouling tactics, finally discovering Tang Bei’s weakness: he lacked fundamental skills and had hardly practiced free throws.

But even so, they could not stop Tang Bei’s inside offense, as he scored many and-one plays.

Moreover, the fouling tactic was a double-edged sword. By the final quarter, the Seagulls’ interior players were nearly all fouled out, forced to concede defeat.

Still, this tactic greatly affected Tang Bei, causing him to commit multiple traveling violations and turnovers.

He also experienced the rough style of CBA play.

Whenever he approached the basket, a series of hidden elbows would land as expected. By the end of the game, his body was covered in bruises and welts.

Of course, he was not one to suffer losses silently. He usually returned the favor immediately, elbowing back many opponents.

Thanks to his mastery of various martial arts and combat techniques, he learned quickly; his elbows were stealthy and precise, pure hidden strikes.

By the end of the game, nearly the entire Seagulls’ frontline was incapacitated. Few dared approach Tang Bei anymore.

Tang Bei played a total of 32 minutes, shooting 14 of 16, making 5 of 14 free throws, and finishing with 33 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 7 turnovers, and 5 fouls.

“Eric, you were right. I have to thank you for the invitation.”

After the game, Rick Sand sincerely said to Eric Fletcher.

“Yes,” Jim Brewer agreed.

Fletcher said, “Rick, Jim, this year is a big year for big men in the draft. Besides Shaquille O’Neal, there’s Alonzo Morning, Christian Leitner, Tom Gugliotta, and Tang — five outstanding big men.

Among these five, Tang and Shaq have the highest talent, and they are the only two true centers. I believe you will make the right choice.”

Jim Brewer and Rick Sand smiled and nodded.

The Timberwolves and Mavericks currently hold the league’s worst and third-worst records. Even if they don’t get a top-three pick, their standings guarantee a top-five pick. Among these five big men, they will surely get one.

As for whom to pick, they will need careful study.

Tang’s talent is undeniable, but his fundamentals are poor, and he lacks NCAA experience — much like Shawn Kemp in ’89, whose future was uncertain.

Though he played well today, the overall CBA standard is too low, and opponents too weak, so the stats are inflated.

At that moment, Tang Bei approached. The two general managers, who had been much friendlier before the game, proactively gave him their contact information.

Both, representing their teams, invited Tang Bei for tryouts.

After seeing them off, he asked, “Eric, do you think they’re satisfied with my performance?”

Fletcher smiled, “From their attitude just now, you already know my answer. Yes, they are very satisfied.”

Tang Bei smiled, seemingly envisioning a bright future ahead.

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