Chapter 228: Even If You Lose, You Still Have Something to Brag About? Taylor Swift's Wild Side
The reporters didn't find Chen Yan's confidence annoying—if anything, they loved it. Every smirk, every quote, every over-the-top celebration was gold for headlines.
Because for the media, buzz meant traffic, and traffic meant money.
Chen Yan's eighth consecutive triple-double had tied him with legends and pushed his name into global conversation. He had surpassed Michael Jordan's record, but even that wasn't the pinnacle. Long before Jordan, one man had gone further—the "Emperor of Basketball," Wilt Chamberlain, who once recorded nine straight triple-doubles.
Chen hadn't just joined history; he was chasing it.
"Eight consecutive triple-doubles, an unprecedented rookie performance!" one headline read.
"Next goal: to break an ancient record!" said another.
"Chen Yan smiles faintly—Chamberlain's record is about to be shattered!"
Sports networks around the world buzzed. Talk shows debated him. Commentators couldn't stop bringing up his name. "Is this kid the perimeter version of Wilt?" one anchor said. "He's not just scoring—he's rewriting what it means to dominate a game."
Chen enjoyed the attention. Every player dreamed of this level of spotlight—adoration from fans, awe from the media. But he wasn't getting carried away.
As Barkley and Kenny Smith often reminded the audience, what Chen was doing might look effortless, but it wasn't. Some of those triple-doubles had come down to the final rebound or last assist. It took skill, discipline, and a little luck. A triple-double wasn't just about personal ability—it was also about the right teammates, timing, and game flow.
Still, the world couldn't wait for the next game.
Because the next opponent wasn't just anyone.
The Los Angeles Lakers.
It was the matchup everyone wanted—Chen Yan versus Kobe Bryant.
The Suns and Lakers had been bitter rivals for years, and this season's first two games were instant classics—buzzer-beaters, trash talk, tempers flaring. Fans knew that when these two teams shared a court, something electric always happened.
As the players walked out during introductions, the boos at Staples Center were deafening.
Kobe and Kevin Garnett looked at each other and grinned. This was their kind of atmosphere—pressure, noise, and the thrill of a home crowd hungry for payback.
From the opening tip, the Lakers came out swinging. Kobe hit his first jumper, Garnett bullied his way into the paint, and before the Suns even knew what hit them, it was a 9–0 run.
After two straight losses to Phoenix earlier in the season, the Lakers weren't here to entertain—they were here to destroy.
Chen Yan tried to push back, but with both Nash and Stoudemire out, the Suns' offense sputtered. The Lakers' defense was suffocating, led by the relentless energy of Kobe and Garnett. Every drive met resistance, every shot was contested.
At halftime, the scoreboard told the story: Lakers 57, Suns 43.
It was one of the Suns' lowest halftime totals all season.
D'Antoni could only shake his head. "Keep fighting," he told his players. "We've been down before."
Coming out of the break, Chen set the tone. He drove into the lane, drew two defenders, and slipped a slick no-look pass to Azubuike, who finished the layup.
Next possession, Chen found him again—this time on the perimeter.
"Splash!" The net barely moved.
Azubuike caught fire, scoring five straight points. For a moment, it looked like Phoenix might spark a comeback.
But Kobe Bryant wasn't having it.
On the next possession, he switched assignments and locked in on Azubuike himself. It didn't matter that Azubuike was just a role player—Kobe was in full assassin mode, and anyone in his way was fair game.
The message was clear: not tonight.
Azubuike struggled to get open looks after that. With the Lakers' defense collapsing on every drive, the Suns' offense quickly fell apart again.
Chen tried to carry the load, but his path was blocked by Eddie House, the Lakers' midseason pickup who had quickly become their defensive spark. House wasn't a star, but his relentless pressure on the perimeter combined with Garnett's rim protection made Chen's life miserable.
After the All-Star break, the Lakers had transformed. House's arrival gave them defensive flexibility they'd been missing. Kobe could focus more on offense, while Garnett anchored the back line like a general.
Midway through the third quarter, the Lakers' rhythm was unstoppable. Garnett barked orders, House hounded Chen, and Kobe—calm, calculated—started sharing the ball.
This wasn't the young Kobe who wanted every shot. This was the veteran who knew when to trust his teammates. As long as they delivered, he'd keep feeding them. And when they didn't—well, that infamous glare would return.
The Lakers closed the quarter on a devastating 11–2 run, capped off by a Garnett dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.
By the time the horn sounded, the score was 87–62.
The Lakers had blown the game wide open.
Chen Yan's numbers were solid—25 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists—but for once, it wasn't enough.
Just when everyone thought the Suns had given up and the final quarter was already devolving into garbage time, Coach D'Antoni kept Chen Yan on the court!
That's when Chen Yan's haters finally found their motto!
"The team is already falling apart, and he's still out there trying to rack up stats? Have some shame!"
"Cheating! The king of cheating!"
"Even getting a triple double like that is meaningless!"
"Cheating for the sake of cheating, that's too much!"
"Shameless! Chen Yan still wants a triple double when he's trailing so big. Has he considered his teammates' feelings?"
"A player like that is doomed to lose respect!"
But after a few minutes, the trolls quieted down. Chen Yan proved with his actions that he wasn't out there to rack up stats, but to catch up! With three consecutive three pointers, Chen Yan's sudden burst of form forced the Lakers to call a timeout. After the timeout, Kobe Bryant took the court to personally guard Chen Yan. Chen Yan stood up to the pressure, fighting hard, creating space, and sinking his fourth three pointer of the final quarter! Despite being significantly behind, Chen Yan had no intention of surrendering!
Thanks to Chen Yan's individual impact, the Suns briefly closed the gap to around 10 points, but the hole they had dug was too deep, and the Suns were unable to recover and had to surrender. The final score was 106-95, as the Lakers crushed the Suns at home! Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, two superstars, combined for 68 points. Chen Yan, meanwhile, became the "empty shot" group leader tonight, scoring 47 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Chen Yan's streak of triple doubles came to an abrupt end against the Lakers.
Despite his triple double streak ending, Chen Yan's tenacious performance earned everyone's respect!
"Chen is a game changer. He ripped through the Lakers' defense in the fourth quarter! His performance once again proved the Suns' early season trade was a success. With tonight's lineup, no one else can defeat the mighty Lakers. Chen Yan has done a fantastic job. Now all the Suns need to do is wait for Steve (Nash) and Amar'e (Stoudemire) to return!" Charles Barkley concluded with a chuckle after the game.
Kenny Smith, standing nearby, paused. "WTF!?! You can brag about losing?!"
Perhaps this was the pinnacle of exaggeration... But Kenny Smith thought, and Barkley didn't seem to be wrong.
After the game, the Los Angeles media hyped up the Lakers' revenge against the Suns! But as the Lakers' leader, Kobe Bryant didn't feel any sense of vengeance. Without Nash, without Stoudemire, and without Hill on the bench, how could a win against the Suns be considered revenge? In Kobe's eyes, it was simply a game he had to win.
Not only was there no joy, but after the game, Kobe even spoke to reporters with a stern face. "We got a win, but I'm very dissatisfied with the team's slackness in the final moments. This isn't the performance of a championship contender. We should reflect on this and strive to do better next game."
Although he didn't use any curse words, Kobe's words were powerful, and every word struck a chord with the Lakers players. If they didn't perform up to their expectations, even a win would still make them unhappy. Kobe held himself and his teammates to this high standard.
Fans also commented on the game on various sports forums after the game.
"Haha, the Lakers almost lost. If they hadn't had such a huge lead early on, they probably would have lost this game."
"They probably forgot Chen Yan's incredible scoring prowess in the final moments!"
"The Suns lost, but Chen Yan didn't!"
"Give Chen Yan three more minutes and we might have come back!"
"He almost got a triple double tonight, what a shame..."
"Chen Yan only cares about winning; a triple double is just a number to him!"
Although no one blamed Chen Yan, he took the responsibility for the loss in the post game press conference. "The responsibility for this loss is mine. I failed to motivate my teammates. It's my fault."
Before, when the team had Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire, Chen Yan only needed to focus on scoring, but now he clearly felt a different kind of pressure. This was probably the pressure a core player, a leader, had to face. It was something Chen Yan needed to adapt to, because sooner or later, he would become a leader.
After everything was over, Chen Yan arrived at Taylor Swift's home in Los Angeles. With his winning streak and triple double streak ended, Chen Yan needed to release his pent up emotions. The two, who hadn't seen each other in a month, were instantly captivated, kissing passionately!
"Baby, haven't you been hitting double digits in every game lately? Can you hit double digits tonight too?" Taylor Swift smirked at Chen Yan, revealing her wild side. Every time they met, Taylor and Chen Yan would try something different, partly to keep their relationship fresh and partly to find songwriting inspiration. Since being with Chen Yan, Taylor had gained a lot of inspiration, and these songs would be released in the future.
Chen Yan gave Taylor a sly look: "I'm afraid that's not appropriate."
Chen Yan wasn't worried about hitting double digits; he was worried about whether Taylor could handle it…
They say that only overworked cows can't plow the land, but Chen Yan isn't an ox; he's a pile driver. The kind that can pierce the earth's core.
"Huh?" Before Taylor could react, Chen Yan had already driven the ball through the lane, accelerating the next second and heading straight into the paint!
[TL: Check out my new fanfic, Soul Land: Thunder Dragon God (Douluo Dalu).
Join Yu Tianlin of the Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan on his rise to the top no system, no shortcuts, just pure talent and hard earned power.
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