Chapter 68: The Battle in the Spotlight

Fans betting on players’ performances on the court, or players betting on each other’s performances, was never much of an issue. However, when He Xinghui wagered on his own performance, it gave people the impression that he didn’t really respect the game. While others played for the team, this guy was out there trying to impress a woman. The ambition seemed a bit low.

Of course, that was just the opinion of those who liked to nitpick; most fans simply viewed this as entertaining gossip. A certain player, for the sake of his beloved goddess, was willing to challenge the league’s top scorer. That alone made for a captivating story.

Once the news broke, it quickly became the talk of both basketball fans and moviegoers. Since Charlize had a considerable fan base, anything concerning their goddess naturally drew their attention.

“Is He out of his mind? He actually wants to outscore Kobe?” one neutral fan joked.

If He Xinghui had just said he wanted to win the game, no one would have found it odd—after all, the Clippers were slightly stronger than the Lakers overall. But to say he would outscore Kobe? Few believed that. All the Lakers’ possessions went through Kobe, and his scoring ability was unmatched in the league.

“Ugly people make more trouble—he just wants to get Charlize’s attention,” a male Kobe superfan sneered. Whether it was challenging Kobe or pursuing Charlize Theron, both rubbed him the wrong way.

“Go, cousin! Crush Kobe and win over Theron!” Amidst the chorus of skeptics, a small group of He’s fans offered their emotional support. But it was only emotional—no one really believed He Xinghui could outscore Kobe at this point.

“I don’t know whether He or Kobe is better, but I hope Kobe wins,” said a male movie fan. They knew their chances were slim, but still didn’t want their goddess going on a date with another man.

“I support He. It’s such a romantic story. If a guy was willing to challenge Kobe just to take me on a date, I’d be thrilled,” answered a female fan, who saw the whole thing as pure romance.

With the nation abuzz, the upcoming Lakers-Clippers game instantly became the focus of intense attention. After their own games, even other NBA stars found themselves fielding questions from reporters about it.

“Of course Kobe will win; there’s no doubt about it,” said Tracy McGrady.

“I support He, but it’s very difficult to outscore Kobe,” said Yao Ming.

“A show-off. Players should focus on the game,” declared Chris Paul.

“He’s dreaming. Too arrogant—doesn’t know his place,” said Paul Pierce.

“I don’t care about any of this. I just want to win the championship for Cleveland,” LeBron James replied.

“It’s not about who wins or loses. The courage to challenge Kobe—that’s what will lead to success,” said Larry Bird.

Even the NBA’s official promotion for the game adopted the headline “Battle for Love,” clearly aiming to draw in Theron’s fans. For the first time, the promotional poster featured Kobe and He Xinghui, not Elton Brand.

Some TV stations that hadn’t planned to broadcast the game scrambled to adjust their schedules. TNT moved even faster, releasing a special interview program on the 5th, hosted by Barkley, Smith, reporter Lucy, and commentator Barboss, all discussing the topic.

Lucy, having a good personal rapport with He Xinghui, had access to firsthand information and was gaining popularity. Barboss, on the other hand, had recently boosted his fame by mercilessly criticizing He Xinghui. Even if his reputation was mostly negative, it was still fame. By the standards of notoriety, he was certainly successful.

“To outscore Kobe? Impossible. He simply doesn’t have that kind of ability,” Barboss stated bluntly, with Barkley in agreement.

Meanwhile, Smith and Lucy, both fans of He, took the optimistic view.

“He’s a player who creates miracles. I believe he can do it,” Lucy said.

“Lucy, Lucy, this is an objective and impartial show. You can’t be biased just because you’re close with He,” Barkley interjected, hamming it up for comedic effect.

“Charles, you can’t knock He just because you lost a bet and had to wear a skirt,” Lucy teased, making Smith burst out laughing.

Barkley looked as if he might cry; it seemed this embarrassing chapter would haunt him for a long time.

“Lucy, the reason miracles are called miracles is because they’re so rare and unlikely,” Barboss chimed in.

“Is that so? I remember someone saying He hit the rookie wall, and then He immediately dropped 28 points and hit the game-winner. Barboss, what do you say to that?” Lucy fired back, her fighting spirit on full display as she needled both Barkley and Barboss.

“That was then; we’re talking about now. Let’s break it down logically. First, Kobe averages over 32 shots per game. In this special matchup, he’ll probably take even more. With his forty-five percent shooting, that means…” Barkley began rattling off statistics—three-point attempts, free throws, true shooting percentage—using jargon few could follow.

In his analysis, Kobe would score at least 50 points that game. He Xinghui’s career high was only 36, so Barkley concluded He was doomed to lose.

“Charles, you can’t calculate it like that. Can you guarantee Kobe’s hot hand this game? And won’t He’s Clippers teammates help him out, give him more shot opportunities?” Smith countered.

“And can you guarantee He’s shooting touch?” Barboss retorted.

“He’s got a better shooting percentage than Kobe,” Lucy pointed out.

The four of them argued passionately, as if the game’s outcome depended on them. In truth, they were just spectators like everyone else. But their lively performance delighted the audience.

Thanks to the show, even more viewers became convinced Kobe would win, as Barkley and Barboss had carried the debate.

Meanwhile, an underground betting platform added several betting options for the game. Betting on Kobe to win paid out at 1.25 to 1; betting on He Xinghui paid out at 4 to 1. There were also options for guessing the combined point totals: 20 points paid out at 100 to 1, 30 points at 50 to 1, 40 points at 10 to 1, and so on.

Seeing those high odds, some couldn’t resist the temptation, while others, placing supreme confidence in Kobe, hoped to make what seemed like easy money.

Most people were rooting for Kobe, which only made He Xinghui more determined to win. He wanted to shock everyone and establish his own reputation. To rise above Kobe would be the perfect way to do it.