Alex Mo stood at center court holding both the Three-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest one in each hand. The crowd at Gund Arena was still roaring, waiting for him to speak.
He took the mic, paused, and said calmly:
"Honestly… I don't have much to say. Winning both events tonight feels about the same as eating and sleeping."
Then he handed the mic back.
That was it.
The entire arena froze for three seconds.
That's it?That's the whole speech??
But the more the fans thought about it, the more it fit. Alex Mo hadn't been challenged all night. The three-point contest looked like a warm-up. His dunks did things that ignored gravity. Tonight, he really did make the impossible look casual.
The phrase spread like wildfire online:
Eat. Sleep. Win championships. Repeat.
Even the commentators couldn't deny it.
THE HEADBAND MOMENT
As Alex walked off the court, he pulled off his black IM-series headband—the one he'd worn during every big moment—and tossed it toward the crowd without looking.
A kid dove forward, landing flat on his stomach.
Stephen Curry. Eleven years old.
He clutched the headband like it was the Holy Grail.
A photographer snapped the moment.Overnight? Viral.
The nickname appeared online the next morning:
"The God-Headband."
Nike woke up, saw the pictures, and immediately approved a plan.
The IM headband became the GHB Series God's Headband.
Every Nike store in America had a line by sunrise.
Every Nike store in Asia had a longer line by noon.
People weren't just buying a headband. They were buying a piece of the legend that exploded on live TV.
THE LOS ANGELES HEADBAND GANG
Inside the West All-Stars locker room, hours later, the hype still hadn't died. Alex was sitting with Iverson and Ben Wallace—a trio that had unintentionally become the league's newest meme.
Iverson walked in wearing a thick white headband with the official NBA logo.
"Bro, I tried to get Reebok to make me one like yours," Iverson muttered, touching the band. "But they ain't payin' the $200 fine every time I put it on. Nike is crazy for that."
Alex laughed. "Man, with the way you shoot, you should pay them to let you wear one."
Iverson smirked, pointing at Alex's hair. "You started something, superstar. Headband Mo. Headband AI. Now we just need"He turned. "Ben… what are you wearing?"
Ben Wallace strutted in wearing a random thin headband that looked three sizes too small.
"Mo gave me this," Big Ben said proudly. "Since I put it on, I feel calmer. More focused. It's like… a spell."
"A spell?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "Ben, that's not a spell. That's cuttin' off your circulation."
Ben ignored him completely, touching the headband with reverence.
Alex studied him for a moment.
"…Ben."
"Yeah?"
"You ever think about growing your hair out?"
Ben paused. "Like… an afro?"
"A big one. Huge. If you're gonna play center at your height, the hair can help you look like 6'10" instead of 6'7" on the court."
Iverson burst out laughing.Ben froze.Alex stayed serious.
"Trust me. Grow it out. Make it loud. Make it you."
Ben considered it deeply.
"…You know what? I might do that."
And thus, the NBA would unknowingly witness the birth of the Headband Gang: Alex, Iverson, and Ben Wallace, three completely different personalities united by one piece of cloth.
PRE-GAME INTERVIEW
Right before tipoff of the All-Star Game, a reporter pulled Alex aside.
"Alex, did you hear? Fans overseas gave you a nickname. They call you The Martial Saint."
Alex blinked. "Wait… what?"
"And Allen Iverson is 'The Boxing King.' Ben Wallace is 'The Roaring God.'"
Iverson snorted. "Boxing King? All because I punched KG once?"
Ben Wallace puffed out his chest. "Roaring God fits. I do roar."
Alex shook his head, laughing. "Man… fans everywhere really got imagination."
THE ALL-STAR GAME BEGINS
Eastern Conference Starters:Penny Hardaway – Michael Jordan – Scottie Pippen – Grant Hill – Patrick Ewing
Western Conference Starters:Gary Payton – Allen Iverson – Shawn Kemp – Karl Malone – Alex Mo
The moment Alex walked on the floor, he felt two pairs of eyes burning into him.
Jordan.Pippen.
The Bull duo didn't even hide it.
Jordan folded his arms.
We meet again, kid.
Alex cracked his neck.
Come get your smoke, then.
Ewing walked up for the jump ball and grinned.
"Long time, Alex."
"Yeah. Long time."
The ref tossed the ball up.
Ewing didn't even bother jumping; he just stepped aside.
Alex tipped the ball easily to Gary Payton.
THE FIRST PLAY
Payton didn't hesitate. He launched a full-court bounce pass between Ewing's legs. The ball shot forward like a missile.
Alex caught it in full stride, stepped around Pippen with a wide Eurostep, and hammered the dunk over Grant Hill and the rotating defense.
2–0, West.
Payton slapped Kemp in the chest.
"Learn from Alex, man! That's how you start a game!"
Kemp groaned. "Bro, I don't move like that!"
"Yeah, that's the problem! MOVE!"
Jordan received the ball next possession, posting Iverson deep.
Turn. Fadeaway.
Classic.
Except Alex exploded from behind, erasing the shot and sending it into the third row.
The crowd roared.Jordan stared at Alex.
Alex stared right back.
Next play, Payton led a two-man fast break with Kemp and Alex sprinting behind him.
He threw the ball up near the rim.
Kemp went up.
Alex went up higher.
Alex snagged the lob above Kemp's head
and dunked over Shawn Kemp himself.
A Western Conference teammate.
The arena lost its mind.
Kemp stood there, stunned.
"Dude… you dunked on ME!"
Alex patted his shoulder. "Bro, you jumped late."
Iverson fell over laughing.
Jordan cracked a smile.
Even he wasn't expecting this.