NBA: This center is incredibly strong.

On October 31, the 2000-2001 NBA regular season officially kicked off.

The season opener consisted of 13 games, with the Magic among them.

Their first game of the regular season will be an away game against the New York Knicks.

For the Magic, who only won 21 games last season, the first game of the new season means starting all over again.

At this time, Madison Square Garden was already packed with fans patiently waiting for the game to begin.

As the home team, the Knicks are a traditional powerhouse in the East, having made the playoffs for 13 consecutive years, and their strength should not be underestimated.

Although the Knicks' management traded away the highly decorated veteran Patrick Ewing during the offseason, their overall strength has not declined, and they remain a strong team worthy of the playoffs.

In contrast, the Magic only managed 21 wins last season, making them a truly weak team.

With the addition of two superstars, McGrady and Hill, the team's overall strength has improved in the new season.

But 1+1 is not necessarily greater than 2; it also depends on how well you perform on the day.

Therefore, from the outside perspective, the outcome of this match was a 50/50 chance, with either side having a chance to win.

.....

Inside the visiting team's locker room, the Magic players were preparing for the game.

Chen Yan sat in front of his locker, tying the shoelaces on his sneakers.

Hey, Chen.

A deep voice came from above.

Chen Yan looked up and saw Hill standing in front of him.

Why are your legs shaking?

Chen Yan looked down at his legs, which were indeed trembling slightly.

He instinctively brought his knees together and told the truth: "No, I was just too excited."

Because this game was McGrady and Hill's first game with the Magic, the league scheduled it for national broadcast.

If he can deliver a few highlight moments in the game, he'll definitely be able to collect a huge amount of emotional points.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan couldn't contain his excitement.

Hill curled his lip, thinking Chen Yan was just being stubborn.

He then sat down next to Chen Yan, transforming into a caring older brother and offering Chen Yan advice.

"Chen, I've been through what you're feeling right now. In Game 1 of the '96 playoffs, I was with the Pistons, and I was so nervous before the game that I threw up twice," Hill said, chuckling softly. "Later I realized something—nervousness isn't because you're bad, it's because you care too much. And caring about something is a good thing in itself."

Seeing that Chen Yan had shifted his attention, Hill continued, "When you go on the court today, your mind will definitely go blank for the first three minutes. That's normal. Everyone does. Just remember one thing—charge towards the basket and grab every rebound. Even if you forget the tactics and your positioning, as long as you dominate the Knicks' offensive rebounds, all 20,000 people in the arena will remember your name."

"Thank you, Grant, I'll remember that." Chen Yan expressed his gratitude for his teammate's concern.

"I'm happy to help you too," Hill said, then went back to her locker to get on with her work.

Hill had just walked away when McGrady approached.

He maintained his aloof persona, leaving only one sentence: "Rookie, remember, when running plays, I'll draw attention on the perimeter. If you need the ball, just ask for it, don't be shy."

"Tracy, I won't stand on ceremony," Chen Yan nodded and replied.

At that moment, locker room legend Darrell Armstrong leaned over and yelled in his usual booming voice, "Don't listen to their fancy talk! Let me tell you, kid, who's the Knicks' starting center again—Camby! That softie! The first ball you take, dunk it on him over the head! After you do, yell at him, and he'll avoid you like the plague!"

Laughter broke out in the locker room.

Armstrong clapped his hands and continued yelling, "What are you laughing at? I'm serious! Chen, if you dunk on the hoop crooked today, I owe you a meal!"

"Today I'm going to smash that basketball hoop so badly it'll break. Even Jesus couldn't stop me, I'm telling you!" Chen Yan joked.

Laughter broke out again in the locker room.

Amid the laughter, Chen Yan finally raised his head and looked around the locker room.

McGrady leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest. Hill was bandaging his ankle, Armstrong was still gesturing incessantly, and the veterans on the bench were preparing themselves, with one occasionally looking up and smiling at him.

Chen Yan felt a warm current surge up from his chest.

He couldn't quite explain what it was; it might be the weight of being trusted, or the reassuring feeling of being treated as one of his own.

Just then, the locker room door was pushed open, and head coach Rivers walked in, looked around, gathered all the players together, and gave them a final pep talk.

"Guys, we only have one mission today: to tell the entire league that the Orlando Magic are no longer pushovers. Can we do it?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" all the players shouted in unison.

"I'm very satisfied with your attitude. Now follow me, go and kick their ass to pieces, and win this damn match!"

"One, two, three—victory is assured!"

Everyone rushed out of the locker room like they'd been injected with adrenaline and ran towards the court.

Meanwhile, in the TNT studio, the hosts and guests were warming up for the competition.

"Welcome to the opening game of the 00-01 NBA regular season! Today we bring you the Orlando Magic versus the New York Knicks. I think most fans' attention will be focused on McGrady and Hill, but there is a newcomer worth our attention, and that is the Magic's hottest rookie recently - Chen Yan." TNT host Ernie Jensen flashed his signature smile at the camera and introduced the topic.

Kenny Smith flipped through the stat sheet in his hand and said, "Six preseason games, averaging 18.6 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Jason, you have to understand, the last time a rookie center put up these numbers, I was still wearing a Rockets jersey."

Charles Barkley, who had just joined TNT, chimed in: "You're wrong. Preseason is preseason. I've seen too many big men get taught a lesson as soon as they enter the league. How many of those preseason opponents were proper big men? Who were you matched up against today? Marcus Camby? Larry Johnson? Do you think an 18-year-old could handle that?"

"I think he can do it," Kenny Smith contradicted Barkley.

Barkley paused for two seconds, then said something that silenced the studio: "If Chen can get 15 points and 10 rebounds in this game, I'll kiss your ass. If you lose, you'll kiss my ass too. How about it? Want to bet?"

Smith shook his head: "I don't want to kiss your horny ass. Let's change the bet: whoever loses kisses a donkey's ass."

"OK, it's settled then," Barkley readily agreed.

Jason chuckled as he watched the two clowns causing trouble, then turned the conversation back to the live stream: "The match is about to begin, viewers, remember this name—Chen Yan. Tonight might be his true starting point, or his first lesson."

The scene cuts to Madison Square Garden, where Chen Yan is walking towards the center circle.