NBA: Basketball Legend.

Chapter 28 – The Duel Between Spear and Shield, Pre-Game Interview!

"Is this really a basketball venue?"

As Chen Yan stepped into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, for a moment he wondered if he had walked into the wrong place.

This arena was massive.

Built as the main stadium for the 1984 Olympics, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was one of the largest sporting venues in the world. With a max capacity of 92,000, it was usually home to football games—but tonight, it had been completely transformed into a basketball arena.

To make it suitable for hoops, the event organizers went all out: they rebuilt the central court area, raised the platform, and installed nearly 800 LED screens that had been pieced together into a super-sized display, roughly the size of a basketball court itself. They also closed off some sections with poor sightlines to improve the fan experience.

Even then, the turnout was insane.

76,000 fans packed into the Coliseum tonight to witness the showdown.

What did 76,000 people look like?

If they all stomped their feet at once, it could probably trigger an earthquake.

A basketball game drawing more fans than a football one? The only thing that could compare was the NCAA Championship itself—and even that was rare.

In the locker room, Durant slurped the last of his instant noodles, then looked up at the crowd in disbelief.

"Damn… this is wild. I've never played in front of so many people before."

"Don't get nervous, KD," Chen Yan said with a grin, patting him on the back.

"Nervous?" Durant laughed. "Nah, man. I'm hyped!"

The rest of the Texas team was just as wide-eyed, all letting out quiet "Wow"s as they looked around the venue.

This was the kind of stage every baller dreamed of.

And sure, they were still just college kids, but even most NBA players had never played in front of this kind of crowd.

---

Down by the court, the front row was packed with L.A.'s elite.

None other than Kobe Bryant had shown up in casual gear, holding his eldest daughter Natalia in his arms. He was joined by a few of his Lakers teammates—Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, and Smush Parker—all there to watch the hype live.

After all the headlines and buzz surrounding Chen Yan, Kobe had been paying close attention. Since the game was right here in L.A., it was only natural he showed up.

Vanessa didn't come along—she was heavily pregnant with Gigi and wasn't comfortable sitting through a packed stadium right now.

And it wasn't just current players in the building.

Lakers legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Elgin Baylor were all spotted courtside. Cameras captured each of them as the two teams warmed up.

The celeb crowd was just as stacked—Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Jessica Alba, and Taylor Swift, among others, were all in the house.

L.A. was home for many of them, and with a game like this? No one was missing it.

---

In the broadcast booth, Jeff Van Gundy couldn't help but joke:

"Is this the All-Star Game or the NCAA Finals?"

Mike Breen burst out laughing beside him. "You're killing me, Jeff. Seriously though, this place is insane. I feel bad for the folks in the back—they probably think they're watching ants play ball. And I doubt they can even see the jumbo screen clearly."

"But hey," Van Gundy replied, "being at the game in person, feeling that energy? That's something TV just can't replicate. I hope these fans leave with a memory of a lifetime."

Mike leaned back. "Alright then, Jeff. Let's hear it—who you got tonight?"

Van Gundy scratched his head. "Man, this one's tough. Florida's got six guys who are NBA-bound, and three of them are projected lottery picks. But Texas? They've got the ultimate wildcard—Chen Yan. The guy's been unstoppable this tournament."

Mike nodded. "Coach Billy Donovan's Florida squad is built around selfless, balanced basketball. All five starters average over 10 points, and they're holding opponents to just 56.8 points per game on 37% shooting. That defense is legit."

"But Texas? They're putting up 85.8 points per game through four rounds—the highest of any team in March Madness."

"So what we've got here," Mike said, "is the sharpest spear versus the strongest shield."

The hype around this matchup just hit another level.

---

On the court during warmups, Chen Yan stopped for a quick interview with an ESPN reporter.

"Chen, how does it feel to be playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tonight?"

Chen smiled. "Man, I just wanna hear the crowd go crazy. This is gonna be something special."

The reporter grinned. "You've racked up quite a few nicknames lately—'Iverson Plus,' '5cm Longer Wade,' and 'Young Jordan,' just to name a few. Got a favorite?"

Chen chuckled. "They all sound cool, but I'd rather people just call me by my name."

"Fair enough. You've been lighting it up all tournament long, but some critics say it's because the NCAA's defense isn't what it used to be. What's your take?"

He shrugged. "Guess that's my bad. I made it look too easy—gave folks the wrong impression."

The reporter leaned in. "Last question—Joakim Noah said earlier that only kids eat instant noodles, and they're not gonna lose to kids. You got a response for that?"

Chen raised an eyebrow. "Tell Noah after the game that eating him is easier than eating noodles."

He knew the reporter was trying to stir the pot, but Chen didn't back down.

This wasn't just about words—it was about setting the tone.

Dominate the moment.

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