The news that Lu Yao renewed his contract with the Thunder shocked the entire league.
Popovich scratched his head and regretted not pursuing this future star.
Riley shook his head helplessly, only blaming the conditions offered by the Heat for not being as good as the Thunder.
Among them, there are regrets, calmness, and doubts, but it does not change the fact that Lu Yao has renewed his contract with the Thunder with a maximum salary!
The reason why the Thunder can offer such a high price is because Dewey, the second young master, is really saving money.
In the past few years when Dewey and Young Masters have cooperated, as long as they can stay healthy, they can basically go straight to the Western Conference Finals.
This also makes the Thunder's salary space very abundant, able to accommodate another top-paid player.
Thunder, on the other hand, left this position to Lu Yao.
The Thunder's uniform staff naturally understood that they had to seize this opportunity before them, otherwise it would be a shame to have the meat on their lips taken away.
This contract renewal proves the Thunder's determination to compete for the championship this year!
During the warm-up time before the game, Lu Yao appeared in the Energy Center Arena wearing a Thunder jersey.
When the audience saw Lu Yao, the atmosphere in the audience was immediately ignited, and everyone shouted Lu Yao's name in unison!
Lu Yao raised his hands as if to say, Oklahoma, I'm back!
Tonight is also the focus of the showdown between Lu Yao and Antetokounmpo.
After all, in the past few days, Antetokounmpo has frequently posted doubts about Lu Yao online. This game is undoubtedly a battle that proves the strength of the two.
Barkley and Kenny Smith appeared in the commentary box as scheduled to introduce the starting lineup for this game.
"Oh! It's so interesting. The matchup between Lu Yao and Giannis tonight is destined to become the focus of the public."
Kenny Smith explained with a smile, and Barkley echoed from the side.
"Giannis publicly questioned Lu on the Internet before, which can be regarded as a rift before the game. The sparks of friction between the two must have been very intense."
"But I definitely support Lu. After all, in the previous game, I said that I am now Lu's biggest fan. I will fight with anyone who dares to question Lu!"
Kenny Smith chuckled and then said: "The game hasn't started yet, so it's not certain who will beat who, but I still support the Chinese center who won the best player of the week when he debuted."
Barkley curled his lips and said: "The only ones who can achieve this achievement are Shaq and Lu, but I think Lu is much better than Shaq at the time. It was really easy for me to handle Shaq at the time."
"Is that so? Then let's look forward to the start of the game..."
As Kenny Smith finished speaking, the warm-up time ended and players from both sides appeared.
Thunder DJ's voice was excited, Lu Yao walked out of the player tunnel, and the Energy Center suddenly burst into warm cheers.
When Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared on the stage, the DJ's voice weakened, and even the scene heard a burst of boos.
"Tall man, you will be severely humiliated by Lu tonight!"
"If you still want to question Lu, let's reach Lu's level first!"
The Bucks fans at the scene were also dissatisfied, but were suppressed by the loud Thunder fans.
From the beginning, the Thunder's momentum overwhelmed the Bucks.
The Thunder players also know that as Lu Yao's first game under his contract extension, they cannot lose!
As the referee's whistle sounded, players from both teams gathered in the center circle.
It was Lu Yao and Antetokounmpo who performed the jump ball.
Lu Yao and Antetokounmpo have almost the same physique, but Lu Yao beats the stronger James in jumping balls.
On the other hand, not many people are optimistic about the thin Antetokounmpo!
"Beep!"
As the referee's whistle sounded, the basketball was thrown into the air!
The two jumped up at the same time, reaching out to grab the basketball in the air.
Since there was no physical confrontation between Lu Yao and Antetokounmpo, this became a complete duel of talents.
But what Lu Yao has now is the template of peak Durant.
Durant at his peak, in one sentence, could do anything, heaven or earth.
Compared with Antetokounmpo, Lu Yao touched the basketball in the air first. He took advantage of the situation and shot the ball directly towards his own half.
Durant received the ball and quickly dribbled the ball across the half court and around to the three-point line on the wing. The Thunder players quickly got into position.
Lu Yao stood on the inside line, with Antetokounmpo waiting behind him.
Looking at the serious Antetokounmpo, Lu Yao smiled contemptuously and said mockingly.
"Look at Giannis, you can clearly feel how I will beat you tonight."
After saying that, Lu Yao suddenly turned around and slipped out of the bottom line without Antetokounmpo paying attention.
Antetokounmpo didn't react in time and was thrown away by Lu Yao for a long distance.
By the time Antetokounmpo caught up, Lu Yao had already received Durant's pass and decisively shot a three-pointer from the bottom corner!
When the basketball was released, Antetokounmpo watched helplessly as the basketball drew an arc in the air and hit the basket.
Lu Yao turned around gracefully and made a three-point gesture to the audience.
The scene suddenly burst into violent cheers!
The audience on the sidelines of the court even mocked Antetokounmpo.
"Giannis, where are you on your defense?"
Antetokounmpo gritted his teeth and looked at Lu Yao fiercely, thinking to himself.
When we land, I'll make you pay.
Immediately afterwards, the ball was handed over to the Bucks. The young Middleton received the ball and slowly pushed the ball across the half court to the top of the key to face Westbrook's defense.
For players like Middleton who prefer to combine sudden shots, Westbrook likes to defend players like this the most.
Westbrook's biting defense made Middleton feel overwhelmed and could only pass the ball out to Mayo in the bottom corner.
Seeing no one in front of him, Mayo was about to take a three-point shot, but he didn't expect that Lu Yao quickly pounced on him.
This made Mayo, who was about to take action, suddenly pause and quickly drop the ball to the top of the arc.
If he is not taken away in time, Lu Yao will be severely stuck in his position, and he will only face fouls and mistakes with a very small probability.
Obviously, Mayo's golf quotient is still quite high.
At the top of the arc, Mayo used Antetokounmpo's pick-and-roll, broke into the inside, faced Ibaka's defense inside, and handed the ball to Antetokounmpo, who also ran into the inside.
A very classic pick-and-roll tactic!
Antetokounmpo received the pass and no one in front of him could stop him. Just when he was about to jump up and hit a powerful dunk to boost the momentum of the Bucks.
A black shadow came out from Antetokounmpo's side.
Just because there's no one in front of you doesn't mean there's no one next to you.
"I'm going to prove to you if I'm a floater from the perimeter."
Lu Yao said coldly, and then directly pressed the ball in Antetokounmpo's hand and blocked it!
"I heard that you are quite crazy?"
