Odom stepped to the free-throw line, sinking one of two. Duncan secured the defensive rebound for the Spurs. Popovich called for a timeout, substituting David Robinson out for the officially entered Big Yao!
Although most of the Spurs fans in attendance were unfamiliar with the Chinese player in the number 11 jersey, a group of fans began excitedly chanting Yao Ming's name! These were Chinese fans working and studying in Texas.
Not just Chinese fans from the Alamo City, but also Chinese fans from Dallas and Houston had all come to San Antonio today, just to witness Yao Ming's first battle in his NBA career!
They waved five-star red flags. They had chanted He Xi Meng's name at the start of the game, and now, they were chanting Yao Ming's name...
Fortunately, Yao Ming got his chance to play just past the halfway mark of the first quarter!
How exciting it was to see two Chinese players on the court in the same game!
Frankly speaking, the Chinese fans working and studying in Dallas and Houston were intensely envious of the Chinese fans working and living in San Antonio...
Amidst the cheers of all the Chinese fans, Yao Ming adjusted his jersey and shorts, high-fived David Robinson, and officially took the court!
"Hey, Big Yao, be ready to catch the ball at the edge of the paint. If you get an opportunity, don't hesitate, shoot it decisively..."
As soon as Yao Ming entered the game, He Xi Meng decisively abandoned the highly enjoyable post-up play with Duncan and instead passed the ball to Yao Ming.
Yao Ming received the ball at the edge of the paint. Duncan had already pulled Brand to the other side of the basket, leaving Olawokandi to guard Yao Ming one-on-one.
"Welcome to the NBA, rookie!" Olawokandi grinned, welcoming Yao Ming in his slightly Nigerian-accented English.
Yao Ming pushed off his back... Awkward, he couldn't move him...
"You need to push a little harder, kid! With this much strength, don't even think about getting inside..."
Yao Ming ignored Olawokandi's chatter, turned, held the ball in front, faked with a jab step, shifted Olawokandi's balance, and then pulled up for a jump shot at the edge of the paint!
This was David Robinson's signature scoring move!
Just like Hakeem Olajuwon's Dream Shake, Patrick Ewing's Baby Hook, David Robinson's ultimate skill was the jab step!
Years later, there would be a saying in the league regarding the jab step: "For the perimeter, watch Anthony; for the interior, watch Robinson!"
The Robinson referred to here was number 50 for the Spurs, David Robinson!
As a rookie entering the league, Yao Ming benefited from proximity and received personal instruction from David Robinson, quickly mastering the essence of the jab step jump shot!
Yao Ming's basketball IQ was already very high, his shooting touch was soft, and coupled with his immense height, learning David Robinson's jab step jump shot was tailor-made for him! Even the Admiral himself had to admit that Yao Ming was even more suited to this technique than he was! The muscular David Robinson could play more aggressively, engaging in physical battles near the basket. However, a skilled move like the jab step jump shot was more suitable for a center like Yao Ming, whose physical confrontation ability was not particularly outstanding.
To Olawokandi's stunned gaze, Yao Ming's shot went in, scoring his first NBA career point! This first point seemed much easier than Yao Ming had imagined.
"That's Yao Ming! He's from the distant East, just like Xi Meng!"
"Compared to Xi Meng, Yao Ming is truly a giant!"
"It's hard to believe! With Yao Ming's height, he can perfectly replicate David's signature jab step! He's incredibly agile..."
"Yes, that jab step just now, Yao Ming's imitation was almost perfect..."
The Chinese fans in the stands immediately erupted in enthusiastic cheers, celebrating the little giant's successful first step in his professional career!
In the Spurs' broadcast booth, the commentators began to enthusiastically share all the information they knew about Yao Ming.
Meanwhile, the non-Chinese fans in attendance, listening to the commentators' introductions and looking at the replay on the big screen with a hint of surprise, could indeed see traces of the former Admiral in Yao Ming! That smooth, fluid jab step, combined with a soft touch as smooth as milk chocolate...
"Alright, the team seems to have found a good replacement for the Admiral..."
"Well done, Big Yao!" David Robinson, having just come off the court, also loudly applauded and celebrated with Yao Ming for making his first shot.
In terms of mentorship, David Robinson was absolutely outstanding!
During pre-game warm-ups, He Xi Meng had requested David Robinson to assist the coaching staff in special training for Yao Ming!
David Robinson not only happily accepted He Xi Meng's request but also unreservedly passed on his signature move to Yao Ming. Fearing that Yao Ming might not grasp the essence of the technique, David Robinson personally demonstrated the crucial aspects of the move on the court, allowing Yao Ming to take a shorter path and grow faster...
David Robinson's dedicated efforts made He Xi Meng feel a little embarrassed. With no other way to repay him, He Xi Meng recommended the Xi Meng Brothers Fund to the Admiral.
The Admiral was initially not very interested in these private equity funds, but he couldn't resist He Xi Meng's constant requests to invest at least a little, citing "taking care of a brother's business," and assuring him that he would absolutely not lose money...
David Robinson, unable to refuse, and after reviewing that the Xi Meng Brothers Fund was indeed a legitimate investment institution, symbolically invested $500,000!
For an ordinary person, $500,000 was no small sum. However, for an NBA star of David Robinson's caliber, it was less than one-twentieth of his annual salary for that season.
But David Robinson would never have imagined that this investment, which he considered a success as long as it didn't lose money, would become the most successful investment of his life, hands down, many years later!
On the court, Yao Ming, hearing David Robinson's call, gave a thumbs-up to David Robinson as he jogged back on defense!
This pair of honest master and apprentice seemed to be getting along quite harmoniously!
It was the Clippers' turn to attack. Olawokandi, unwilling to concede, postured against Yao Ming at the edge of the paint and gestured to McGinnis for the ball!
McGinnis didn't choose to pass to Olawokandi but instead gave it to Brand. Olawokandi, however, did not give up, changed his position, continued to set a screen, and continued to signal for the ball from Brand.
Brand was already struggling to score against Duncan, and seeing Olawokandi eagerly stepping up to attack, he turned and passed the ball to Olawokandi, letting him put in some effort.
Olawokandi, having successfully received the ball, backed down Yao Ming step by step, moving closer to the basket!
"Come on, kid, stop me! If you don't stop me, I'm going to dunk..." Saying this, Olawokandi, having successfully pushed to the basket, caught the ball, turned, shoved Yao Ming aside, and jumped up, preparing to dunk, to teach the rookie sensation a lesson...