Chapter 348: Celebration, Chen's Way of Showing Off
Under a roar of cheers, the Phoenix Suns gathered at center court and slipped into the Western Conference champion hats and celebration shirts the staff handed out. Confetti still drifted through the air as the ceremony setup rolled in, and the building felt like it was vibrating from the noise alone.
Then came the moment.
Steve Nash stepped forward on behalf of the team to accept the Western Conference championship trophy. When he lifted it, his eyes immediately glossed over.
It took 1 second to raise a trophy.
He had waited 12 years for that 1 second.
Around him, Suns players reached out like kids at a museum who had been told, just this once, touching is allowed. Hands brushed the gold, fingers traced the shape, and smiles flashed everywhere. Chen Yan was no exception. Making the NBA Finals as a starter in his rookie season, in his very first year, made tonight a marker he would never forget.
The online noise matched the arena.
"Incredible."
"Suns championship!"
"They just proved it, run and gun can win in the playoffs."
"The Lakers fought hard too, they deserve respect."
"Before the series, how can Kobe plus Garnett lose? After the series, Kobe plus Garnett… how did they lose?"
The 2nd seed eliminating the 1st seed was not a historic upset on paper, but plenty of fans still sounded stunned. Kobe sat high in this generation's basketball imagination, and pairing him with an all around force like Kevin Garnett made it easy for people to assume the Lakers were destined to win it all the moment the roster came together.
Before the series, many media outlets and analysts predicted Los Angeles would win 4 to 2. It was not just about talent on paper. Most people simply did not believe a sprint first style could survive the pressure, scouting, and physical grind of postseason basketball.
Phoenix had just spent 6 games proving them wrong.
Even the loudest bandwagon chants had already started pivoting from "My Lakers championship" to "My Suns championship." Championship chasing was a sport of its own, and those fans always knew how to find the warmest campfire.
On the court, Nash turned back toward the stands and spoke into the arena mic, voice thick with emotion.
"Thank you. Thank you for supporting us the whole way," he said. "I love you all. Your energy is what drives me, and I'm going to keep playing with that fuel until we lift the championship trophy."
Nash was not built for long speeches, but that was exactly why it landed. It was simple, honest, and it hit the building right in the chest.
The crowd answered with a single chant, loud enough to rattle the rafters.
"Championship!"
All across Phoenix, the belief was rising with the noise. The Suns had given the city a reason to stand taller, and everyone, from the top rows to the streets outside, felt like this was the moment their time had finally arrived.
…
While Phoenix celebrated, the Los Angeles Lakers did the hard part. They stood in front of microphones and owned the loss.
A reporter extended a mic toward Phil Jackson.
"Coach Phil, how would you evaluate this series?"
"The Suns played the basketball they wanted to play," Jackson said calmly. "That's why they advanced. Our guys competed, they played hard, and they played at a high level. I'm proud of them. In sports, even when both sides play well, someone still has to lose."
He had raised trophies 9 times. He had also lived through painful endings. A loss like this did not surprise him, even if it still stung.
Then a local Phoenix reporter sharpened the blade.
"Did Kobe's uncharacteristic performance tonight drag the team down and lead to this result?"
Jackson did not flinch.
"Kobe is our best player," he said. "He's also one of the best players in the league. He just won the regular season MVP. Nobody should question his ability. We also understand what a long season does to the body. Injuries affected him, but that's temporary. Next season, you'll see a healthy, strong Kobe."
Even on the worst night, he defended his star.
But the next question made even Jackson's face tighten.
"Since the best of 7 format was adopted, when your team wins Game 1, the series record was 46 wins and 0 losses. Tonight that got broken. What are you feeling right now?"
For a brief moment, his cheek twitched. The timing was brutal, and the intent was obvious.
Jackson still forced the calm back into his voice.
"I've never treated that as a rule," he said. "Wins and losses happen. That's the game. Congratulations to the Suns. They earned it, and they deserve to be in the Finals."
Kobe Bryant also took his seat at the press conference table.
Compared to earlier years, he looked more measured, even through the disappointment. The season was over, and the Lakers still had to give a final answer to the fans who had stayed with them.
When a reporter asked what he planned to do this summer after losing the series, Kobe answered without hesitation.
"Train," he said. "Train like crazy, and take it back."
Nobody in that room doubted he meant it. If there was a human being who hated losing on a personal level, it was him.
…
After the celebration settled into a steady buzz, Chen Yan took his turn in front of the cameras.
He was smiling, relaxed, and unmistakably himself.
"Chen, what does it feel like to win the Western Conference and reach the NBA Finals in your first season?"
"It feels unreal," Chen Yan said. "But it's the result of everybody. We've got great players and the most passionate fans. That's the real reason we keep winning."
Another reporter leaned in.
"Do you have anything you want to say to Phoenix fans?"
Chen Yan's smile widened.
"Not much," he said. "We just need to win 4 more games."
The room laughed. It was the cleanest kind of swagger, short, direct, and impossible to misread.
The next question followed immediately.
"The Eastern Conference Finals between the Detroit Pistons and the Cavaliers is tied 3 to 3. Who do you think advances?"
"The Cavaliers," Chen Yan said, without a pause.
"Why? Because of LeBron?"
Chen Yan shrugged.
"I just think they're easier to play."
The room went quiet, the way it always does when someone says the arrogant part out loud instead of politely hiding it.
It was bold, sure.
But at this point, with his game and his team speaking at full volume, pretending to be humble would have sounded less respectful than the truth.
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