Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 255 One-on-One Challenge Against Chamberlain

The game had become incredibly intense. Chamberlain was holding nothing back, playing with the intensity of a playoff game.

He made full use of his height, wingspan, and exceptional shooting touch. He no longer forced his way to the basket, but instead relied more on accurate turnaround jumpers, skyhooks, and agile footwork in the paint. He would use fakes to draw Lin Yan's attention, then exploit the timing difference to score. Although Lin Yan's defense was strong, Chamberlain's experience was too great; he always managed to find a gap to put the ball in. The score went back and forth: 3-2, 4-3, 5-4… Chamberlain repeatedly took the lead, but could never pull away.

Lin Yan combined his speed, jumping ability, and technique. He repeatedly used non-slowing changes of direction and spins to get past Chamberlain, scoring with various difficult layups and pull-up jumpers. He even started trying behind-the-back passes and no-look passes, leaving the Warriors players on the sidelines dumbfounded. When Chamberlain retreated in fear of his penetration, Lin Yan calmly took mid-range shots. His stamina seemed inexhaustible; even as the game progressed, his movements remained perfectly fluid.

Chamberlain grew increasingly apprehensive as the game progressed. He felt like he was playing against a monster—a combination of Jerry West's speed and Bill Russell's defense—and this monster was even stronger than him! He had never encountered such an opponent in his life. The five-ball agreement was long forgotten; both men were completely absorbed in the rhythm of the game.

It's unclear how long the fight lasted, but it probably exceeded half an hour. The staff at Madison Square Garden were stunned and forgot to clear the area.

Chamberlain began to breathe heavily. After all, he was a giant who had just played a 48-minute high-intensity NBA game, and the physical exertion was enormous. His steps became somewhat heavy, and his shooting was no longer as accurate as at the beginning.

In contrast, Lin Yan remained energetic and bright-eyed, his every start as swift as ever, and his every jump as powerful as ever.

The turning point of the game arrived. During an offensive possession, Chamberlain's signature turnaround jump shot, due to fatigue, had a slightly flatter arc.

"Bang!" The ball bounced off the back of the rim.

Lin Yan charged into the paint like a cheetah, and with his incredible speed and jumping ability, he managed to snatch the rebound over the massive head of Chamberlain!

"My God!" someone on the sidelines exclaimed.

Lin Yan received the ball and immediately launched a counterattack. Chamberlain tried his best to chase back, but his stamina was waning. Lin Yan sprinted forward, and just inside the free-throw line, he took to the air again. This time, he was unaffected and unleashed a powerful one-handed dunk!

"Boom!" The basketball hoop groaned in pain.

Goal! Lin Yan has taken the lead! This is a crucial lead in the final stages of the game!

Chamberlain, hands on his knees, gasped for breath, sweat streaming down his forehead. He looked at the young Asian man who had just completed a dunk and whose breathing had quickened slightly upon landing, his eyes filled with complex emotions—shock, exhaustion, but above all, respect and a long-lost excitement at encountering a worthy opponent.

On the final possession, Chamberlain had the ball. He knew this was his last chance. With his last ounce of strength, he leaned against Lin Yan, using all his experience and skill to create a series of feints, finally drawing a tiny sliver of space for a shot.

He takes a fadeaway jumper! That's his most trusted weapon.

Lin Yan also jumped with all his might to block the shot, his fingertips almost touching the basketball.

The ball's trajectory was straight, but in the air, it was clear that it lacked power—Chamberlain was out of steam.

The basketball bounced around the rim and rolled out... It didn't go in!

The match is over!

Lin Yan narrowly defeated basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain by a single point!

Lin Yan stepped forward and extended his hand to Chamberlain, who was slumped on the ground, too exhausted to speak.

Chamberlain looked at the hand, then at Lin Yan's clear and excited eyes, and suddenly smiled—a smile of relief and joy. He grasped Lin Yan's hand and used it to stand up.

"Kid..." he panted, slapping Lin Yan's shoulder hard, "You're a fucking monster! But... that was fucking awesome! I haven't been this tired or this happy in ages!"

Lin Yan smiled too, a genuine and radiant smile: "Thank you, Mr. Wilt, this is real basketball, it was exhilarating!"

Then, a deafening roar and commotion erupted from the sidelines. The Philadelphia Warriors players all rushed onto the court, surrounding the two men, staring at Lin Yan as if he were an alien. Tom and Mike were so excited they were practically incoherent. Coach Holt felt like he was about to faint; he had witnessed a miracle, a miracle created by his student.

That evening, in the empty Madison Square Garden, a legend quietly made his debut in a way no one could have imagined. And Wilt Chamberlain, a former legend himself, became his most powerful witness.

Half an hour later, Chamberlain finished showering and changed into a clean set of casual clothes, his wet curly hair still steaming. When his tall figure reappeared on the sidelines, Tom and Mike immediately rushed over like butterflies smelling nectar, excitedly handing him notebooks and pens incoherently.

Chamberlain seemed to be in a good mood. Although there was still a hint of fatigue from the fierce battle between his brows, he readily signed his name for the two excited teenagers and even patted Mike on the shoulder, making Mike almost faint with happiness.

After dealing with the young fan, Chamberlain walked straight to Lin Yan, who had been waiting quietly. Coach Holt held his breath, watching this scene with tension.

"Kid," Chamberlain began, his voice softer than before, but still carrying an undeniable air of authority, "Interested in playing for the Philadelphia Warriors?" He paused, then offered a tempting offer that would drive any basketball-loving young man wild, "If we team up, we can absolutely sweep the entire league, crush those green-shirted guys in Boston, and easily win the championship!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the quiet stadium.

Tom and Mike's eyes widened, and they clutched their mouths to keep from screaming, their bodies trembling uncontrollably with extreme excitement. Coach Holt felt his heart pounding in his chest, a voice screaming in his head, "Say yes! Say yes! This is the ticket to legend!"

Amidst everyone's expectant gazes, Lin Yan slowly shook his head.

He looked up and met Chamberlain's expectant gaze.

"No, Mr. Wilt. Thank you very much for your invitation and appreciation." His voice was clear and steady, "but playing basketball is just one of my hobbies."

"A hobby?!" Chamberlain's brow furrowed instantly, his voice rising involuntarily. "You call this a hobby?" He could hardly believe his ears. This kid possessed a devilish talent that even he found astonishing and troublesome, and now he was being told it was just a hobby?

Lin Yan nodded and explained, "The reason I wanted to fight you is because I wanted to know where my limits are when it comes to purely relying on technique and physical strength. I really enjoyed today's fight, thank you." His tone was sincere, then he changed the subject, adding with a hint of expectation, "Becoming a professional athlete isn't part of my life plan. But, Wilt, we can be friends."

He reached out to Chamberlain, handing him a slip of paper with numbers written on it, a genuine smile on his face: "Whenever you come to New York, feel free to contact me. We can still play together. Honestly, only playing with you truly exhilarates me, brings outing my best."

Chamberlain looked at Lin Yan's outstretched hand, then at his face, which seemed to say, "I'm telling the truth," and a surge of anger mixed with utter absurdity and helplessness rushed to his head. He practically wanted to grab the kid by the collar and roar, "Do you even know what you're wasting?!"

But Chamberlain was also an extremely proud man. Since the other party had already made their point, it would only make him look inferior if he insisted on going further.

"Tsk!" He finally let out a click of his tongue, extremely annoyed and somewhat frustrated, and exhaled heavily, as if to vent all the frustration in his chest. He stretched out his large hand and squeezed Lin Yan's hand tightly, then almost snatched a pen from Tom next to him and scribbled a string of numbers on the shoulder strap of Lin Yan's training uniform.

"Here! My contact information!" he said irritably, but his eyes held a hint of resentment and defiance. "Kid, you'll regret this decision! Next time, when I'm ready, I'll beat you to a pulp! You just wait!"

After saying that, he patted Lin Yan's shoulder hard, almost making the unsuspecting Lin Yan stumble. Then, without saying another word, he turned around and, with a complex and indescribable emotion, strode into the shadows of the players' tunnel without looking back.

As the enormous figure disappeared, Coach Holt, Tom, and Mike seemed to be released from their trance, letting out a long sigh of relief, as if they had just woken from a bizarre dream.

Lin Yan glanced down at the scrawled numbers on the shoulder strap, a pleased smile curving his lips.

"Next time? I'm looking forward to it." He murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of meeting a true rival.