Inside the Phoenix Suns’ locker room.
O’Neal was proudly showing off to Oakley, reenacting how he had ravaged Yao Ming in the paint during the first half.
Oakley wasn’t having any of it. He struck a boxing pose and said, "Shaq, if I were Yao, I would’ve punched you."
"He can’t beat me in a fight," O’Neal immediately retorted.
Nearby, a grinning Kevin Willis reminded him, "Shaq, did you forget? The guy blocked your shot."
O’Neal’s expression soured slightly as he hastily explained, "That was a fluke! A fluke, you understand?"
The group erupted in laughter. Nelson, who was standing off to the side chatting with Chen Yu, remarked with feeling, "That Yao kid is actually very talented. He’s really good."
The media and fans were just making a fuss, but in the eyes of professionals like Nelson, Yao Ming’s performance was already excellent.
He was a rookie, after all. There’s always an adjustment period.
And Yao Ming’s stats and performance were constantly improving, which was enough to show his immense potential.
Chen Yu nodded nonchalantly, but his mind was still on O’Neal’s weight problem.
’Was O’Neal getting blocked in the first half really just a fluke?’
As his weight increased, not only did jumping become more difficult, but his turning speed and agility also declined.
In a matchup between top players, a tiny disadvantage like that could affect the final outcome.
But when it came to weight loss, Chen Yu had done everything he could. He just couldn’t control the man.
After a period of hard work, they’d step on the scale only to find he’d gained a few more pounds. In those moments, Chen Yu truly felt the urge to just let him get injured. A month lying up in a clinic would guarantee he’d slim down.
The Lakers were keeping the score tight.
During the halftime break, however, Skiles didn’t make many adjustments.
They were still to play at the Phoenix Suns’ own pace.
The current Phoenix Suns had only one goal: the championship.
Therefore, the main task of the regular season was to build team chemistry and then go all out in the playoffs.
With the Suns’ current roster and talent, even without any tactics, a healthy O’Neal could carry the team into the playoffs all by himself.
That’s why, sometimes, Skiles would rather the team lose a game or two.
Losing exposed problems, which they could then find ways to solve. Once the playoffs began, it would be too late to fix anything.
Unfortunately, they just couldn’t seem to lose.
In the second half, the Lakers were pushing hard, but they still couldn’t take the lead.
Chen Yu’s gaze fell on Hardaway.
This season, Hardaway’s offensive efficiency was extremely high. His shooting percentage had returned to the level of his early days in the league when he made the All-NBA First Team, reaching about 52 percent.
His true shooting percentage was even close to 60 percent.
After a championship-winning season and with his body staying healthy, Hardaway had returned, stripped of all pretense. He had not only rediscovered his former self but had also evolved.
He was more consistent, and his ability to provide a safety net for the team had grown stronger.
If O’Neal was the invincible general charging into battle, then Hardaway was the grand marshal commanding from the rear, devising the overall strategy.
Normally, he didn’t compete for the spotlight. He kept a low profile, focusing on serving the forwards and ensuring their effectiveness.
But if the vanguard faltered, he could also lead the charge and crush the enemy.
So, in Chen Yu’s view, the current Hardaway was becoming an enhanced version of J Kidd—a master of controlling the game with scoring ability far exceeding Kidd’s.
When his teammates were on a roll, he would focus on passing and organizing the offense.
But if his teammates got stuck in the mud and the offense stalled, he would immediately take matters into his own hands, scoring through sheer individual skill to maintain the lead.
O’Neal also provided a safety net; just park him under the basket, and he’d guarantee you 20 points.
But Hardaway’s ability to raise the team’s floor was even stronger; he was the one who truly guaranteed the Suns’ baseline performance.
Chen Yu felt that with Hardaway’s current ability, if he were to truly unleash his offense, averaging 30 points per game and winning the scoring title would be a piece of cake.
But he clearly knew what he wanted and was willing to make personal sacrifices.
That was a rare quality.
Just as he was thinking this, there was a muffled grunt as Yao Ming and O’Neal collided in the paint.
The ball in O’Neal’s hands was slapped away by Yao Ming once again.
Another block.
McDyess, with his quick eyes and hands, scooped up the ball.
He flung it to Hardaway.
Facing a turning, pouncing Fisher, Hardaway acted as if he didn’t see him, pulling up for a shot.
It swished through the net.
This was Hardaway’s superb ability to raise the team’s floor.
But Yao Ming...
Chen Yu looked at Yao Ming. ’Not bad. He’s already blocked O’Neal twice this game.’
One could be called a fluke, but two? That had to be real skill.
"What a shame," Brian muttered beside him again.
Chen Yu knew what he was lamenting and chuckled inwardly. His gaze followed Yao Ming, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure standing in the corner of the Lakers’ bench.
He’d seen him before; it was the director filming the documentary about Yao Ming.
Looking at him, as if by some strange impulse, an idea suddenly popped into Chen Yu’s head.
’This might just be the solution.’
Chen Yu murmured to himself.
In the end, the Lakers couldn’t manage to steal a victory at the US Airways Center.
to 91, the Lakers lost by 5 points.
O’Neal had 31 points and 12 rebounds, an MVP-level performance as usual.
In comparison, Yao Ming’s 13 points and 9 rebounds were a far cry statistically, but to put up those numbers against O’Neal was already an outstanding performance.
Kobe once again scored 41 points in a losing effort.
When the game ended, Kobe did not look happy.
When you score 40 points and still lose, it can only mean that the Lakers’ strength is far inferior to the Suns’.
Come the playoffs, the Lakers would only lose even more badly.
Fortunately, this game also gave Kobe hope for the Lakers’ rise.
"That’s right. I don’t think Yao’s performance was worse than O’Neal’s. He’s really talented. In the future, he’ll become the best center in the league. Yes, the best, not one of the best," Kobe said confidently in response to a reporter’s question.
By the time the game was over and the players were leaving, it was late at night.
O’Neal, carrying his bag, was walking out and laughing with Hardaway when they ran into Chen Yu in the hallway.
"Shaq, got a minute?" Chen Yu approached him.
O’Neal looked at Chen Yu warily.
A chat at this hour was clearly not for a good reason.
"Can we not?" O’Neal asked, his face grimacing.
Chen Yu smiled. ’What do you think?’
Hardaway clapped O’Neal on the back, took the hint, and excused himself to leave first.
"Let’s go." Chen Yu started walking toward the parking lot with O’Neal.
Before Chen Yu could speak, O’Neal cut in, "Chen, if this is about weight loss, then I think you should just save your breath. I’m already strictly following your diet plan, and it’s been very effective."
’Strictly, my ass.’
Chen Yu cursed inwardly and said as they walked, "Let’s not talk about weight loss for now. Shaq, I’m thinking of creating a TV show. Could you give me some advice?"
O’Neal paused, then immediately perked up, curiously asking what kind of TV show Chen Yu wanted to make.
Being on TV, the whole entertainment thing—that he was interested in.
This was the United States, after all, where entertainment was king.
Chen Yu said, "I want to create a weight-loss reality show. It would combine medicine, exercise, and weight loss. You know how high the obesity rate in the United States is. There are weight-loss shows everywhere."
Things like weight-loss challenges, biggest loser shows, the Gillenitz diet method, and so on—they’re all enduringly popular and a dime a dozen.
"Weight loss?" O’Neal grew wary again, eyeing Chen Yu suspiciously. ’Is this aimed at me again?’
Chen Yu guessed what O’Neal was thinking and laughed. "It’s not entirely because of you. Look, I’m a doctor, and the best sports medicine doctor in the entire United States."
That probably wasn’t an exaggeration.
"And I know training. I opened a sports lab, you know about that. With my reputation, if I casually made a show teaching people how to work out, it would definitely draw a huge audience," Chen Yu continued.
O’Neal nodded subconsciously.
On this point, he didn’t think Chen Yu was exaggerating.
He was already a nationally famous doctor who also understood sports and had successfully treated a bunch of top-tier stars. In the field of sports and fitness, Chen Yu was the ultimate authority.
If Chen Yu made a fitness show, the ratings would absolutely explode.
Chen Yu went on, "But I don’t think just fitness is enough. You should know, working out is something the middle class and the wealthy enjoy. But for most ordinary people, the problem they face is obesity. So I want to incorporate weight loss. The viewership would be much broader, and it would be more profitable."
O’Neal stopped walking and began to seriously consider Chen Yu’s proposal.
The guy was a great basketball player, but he was also very smart and had a sharp business mind. He had started managing his own business investments as soon as he began making money in the league.
Just giving it a moment’s thought, O’Neal already felt Chen Yu’s proposal had a lot of potential.
Americans trust authority and idolize the strong. Chen Yu’s reputation would be the show’s biggest endorsement.
"Chen, are you asking me to invest?" O’Neal asked immediately.
He thought Chen Yu was looking for an investor.
Chen Yu shook his head.
How much could it cost to make a TV show? Chen Yu could afford it.
Even if he did need money, with his connections, he could easily find investors.
"Of course, if you want to invest, I can let you in on it," Chen Yu said with a smile.
’Money is money, no matter who it’s from.’
O’Neal’s eyes lit up, his face full of excitement.
Chen Yu felt the guy had taken the bait. He continued, "Shaq, I actually have another idea. To make the show an instant hit and generate massive buzz, I want to do it in a reality show format."
Reality shows in the United States have always been very popular.
The fundamental reason is that Americans are gossipy enough to love prying into the secrets behind celebrities’ lives.
"So, I want you to be on camera. To star in it as a guest, undertaking my weight-loss plan. I’ve even thought of a name for the show. We could call it ’Big Shark O’Neal’s 100-Day Express Weight-Loss Plan.’"
"By leveraging your influence and my professional expertise, we can start right now, follow your performance this season, and document you completing the weight-loss plan. It’ll definitely be a huge draw."
Chen Yu watched O’Neal with a beaming smile, baring his fangs.
O’Neal stared blankly at Chen Yu, a "fuck" nearly escaping his lips.
He wasn’t an idiot. At this point, how could he not understand Chen Yu’s true intentions?
So, after all that talk, this whole thing was aimed at him from the very beginning.

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