The game ended with a victory for the West.
Oden, who had racked up 25 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 blocks—a near 20-20—successfully lifted the MVP trophy.
Chen Yu stood up and applauded.
Not far away, Oden was already surrounded by a crowd of reporters.
Without a doubt, a superstar was on the rise.
The NBA scouts around him were also whispering amongst themselves.
Oden might still have quite a few issues. For instance, his technique was still a bit rough; out of ten plays, he probably relied on his physical strength for seven of them.
But he was improving.
When he first appeared on Chen Yu’s show, he was just a beast under the basket with nothing but a powerful physique.
But after training on the show, spending a year recovering from an injury, and sitting out a season to mature, his technique had actually become much more refined.
And he hadn’t lost his defensive skills.
In the scouts’ eyes, once he entered the NBA, Oden should be able to quickly adapt to the league’s intensity on the strength of his physique alone. And with his defense, he wouldn’t have to worry about a lack of playing time.
Once he got playing time, his technique could be developed gradually.
Besides, centers have a long development period anyway.
"Let’s go."
Chen Yu gave a slight nod to the many scouts present and left with Griffin.
Just as he had expected, Curry’s performance was average. He went 1 for 3 from three-point range, scoring only 5 points.
His playing time was also limited. Right now, he was still lacking.
In terms of talent, he was still a step behind.
However, just as they were about to leave the arena, he suddenly heard someone call his name.
He turned his head and saw it was Durant.
"What is it, Kevin?"
Chen Yu stopped in his tracks.
Durant ran over, panting, and said, "Sir, is your previous invitation still open?"
Chen Yu was slightly taken aback.
Durant’s face was boyish, but his gaze was resolute. "Sir, I want to go to Arizona!"
He hesitated, opening his mouth as if to say more.
Deep down, he had always been grateful to Chen Yu.
He would never forget that day. The day he received a letter from the production team of Chen Yu’s show.
That single letter changed his life.
He was exposed to a higher level of training. He made several new friends.
Most importantly, he won the competition, got a sponsorship, and fulfilled his dream.
He used the sponsorship money and the champion’s prize money to buy his mother a house.
A very big one.
When he brought his mother to that house for the first time, she looked at the spacious living room and cried.
Durant cried, too.
He knew how much his mother had struggled and sacrificed to raise him over the years.
He knew the bitterness of living under someone else’s roof.
He had practiced so hard precisely because he longed to change his mother’s life.
And thanks to Chen Yu’s show, he had done it.
A scrawny kid, thin as a twig, had become a nationally famous high school student. It was all because of that show.
So, when Chen Yu had extended the invitation earlier, he had already made his decision.
Deep down, there was even one more thing he wanted to say: he wanted to go to the Phoenix Suns, to play for Chen Yu’s team.
But before he could get the words out, Chen Yu interrupted him.
"That’s great, but I still suggest you go back and discuss it thoroughly with your parents. After all, Arizona is far away, and this isn’t a small decision."
Chen Yu wasn’t actually that concerned about whether he came to the University of Arizona or not.
Gold will shine wherever it is.
With that interruption, Durant didn’t get a chance to say he wanted to go to the Phoenix Suns.
"Train hard, and take care of your body."
After this final piece of advice, Chen Yu turned and left.
March Madness was in full swing. As the season neared its end, talk about the new rookies dominated the conversation.
One day, Ernest suddenly rushed to Phoenix to find Chen Yu.
Chen Yu met him at the clinic.
"Chen, there are so many reporters outside."
Ernest knew Chen Yu’s clinic never lacked for reporters, but the scene outside the main gate today still gave him a fright.
Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought Chen Yu’s clinic was under siege.
Moreover, he could see at a glance that ninety percent of them were foreign media outlets, like the BBC, Sky Media, and so on.
"It’s normal."
Every morning when Chen Yu came to the clinic now, he had to endure being mobbed by reporters.
The reason was the pile of soccer stars lying in his clinic.
All of them national team players.
The World Cup prospects for various countries—who would miss the tournament and who wouldn’t—all depended on Chen Yu.
To get firsthand information, how could the international media not surround the place?
Ernest suddenly stopped in his tracks.
That expression on his face—it was the look of a sudden burst of inspiration.
"Chen, I just had an idea!" Ernest’s face lit up with excitement. He continued, "We made a show about how to get into the NBA. So, by analogy, couldn’t we also make a show about how to get into the Five Major Leagues?"
"Yes, this definitely has potential!"
"Chen, I know a director in the United Kingdom—that Simon Fowler guy who does the pop idol shows. We could talk to him, then scout soccer prodigies from Europe. Chen, this would absolutely be a global hit!"
"No, not just Europe! We could also scout from South America. Aren’t a lot of soccer stars discovered in South America?"
"I’ve heard many of them even come from the slums. If our show discovered a talent like that, wouldn’t it be the perfect Cinderella story?"
The more he spoke, the more excited he became, his eyes gleaming.
"Hold on!"
Chen Yu quickly stopped Ernest.
"What, Chen? You think it’s a bad idea?" Ernest retorted.
Chen Yu led him toward his office and said, "What do you think?"
The Five Major Leagues have a comprehensive youth academy system and dozens of tiers of soccer leagues. Talented prospects don’t have to worry about finding a path forward or getting attention, so there’s no need for a show to give them more exposure.
Most importantly, soccer isn’t like basketball. In soccer, there are transfer fees; you can buy players.
All across Europe and South America, countless soccer agents roam like ghosts, trying to discover prodigies in the various lower leagues, sign them early, develop them, and sell them for a high price.
If Chen Yu were to produce this show, he’d be destroying their livelihood, disrupting a talent discovery system that has existed for decades.
Besides, when it came down to it, Chen Yu just wasn’t very interested in the show.
"Steven, what did you come here to see me about?"
Once they were in the office, Chen Yu gestured for Ernest to sit down and poured him a cup of coffee.
"Chen, I still think it’s a great idea."
Ernest hadn’t given up. He started counting on his fingers as he laid out the advantages Chen Yu would have in making this show.
He mentioned that Chen Yu was part of FIFA, had close ties with the Five Major Leagues, knew a ton of top-tier stars, and could easily invite them to appear.
As for funding, Chen Yu wouldn’t have to worry about that either. As long as he gave the nod, people would be lining up to throw money at him.
By the end, his tone made it sound as if Chen Yu would be some kind of sinner against the soccer world if he didn’t do the show.
"Stop!" Chen Yu cut Ernest off. "Steven, I know you’re here to persuade me, but I’m very busy this year. I really don’t have time to do a second season."
The success of the show two years ago had brought both fame and fortune to ABC.
Now, two years later, they had already contacted Chen Yu about doing a second season.
Because the kids from the ’91 and ’92 batches had grown up.
But Chen Yu had refused.
It was a World Cup year, so he was simply too busy and had no free time.
Ernest finally got back to the point. "Chen, I know you’re busy, but we already have one successful experience under our belts. All you need to do is lend your name to it. We’ll be responsible for the entire production process. We’ll do a good job."
"And you can just wait at home for the checks to roll in."

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