Lian Dao's historic sweep of the Rookie Challenge MVP, Three-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Contest made him the undisputed star of the 2010 All-Star Weekend. The media swarmed him post-game, eager to dissect his dominance—and his love life. That post-dunk kiss with Guo Yuwei had ignited a firestorm of interest.
Lian Dao sidestepped questions about his trophies, focusing instead on confirming Guo as his girlfriend when pressed. The reporters' faces lit up—headline gold. But he deftly steered clear of personal details. A man doesn't air his relationship in public. He pivoted to the upcoming All-Star Game, hoping to shift focus.
A Dallas Morning News reporter tried to trap him: "Are you aiming for the All-Star Game MVP?"
Lian Dao smiled, inwardly rolling his eyes. Nice try. "It's my first All-Star Game. I'm here to learn and soak it all in."
A Yahoo Sports journalist took another swing: "Who'll be the protagonist tomorrow?"
What kind of question is that? Lian Dao thought, sensing a minefield. You're begging me to piss off the whole roster. "Everyone's a star in this game," he said smoothly. "There's no supporting cast. We're all here to put on a show for the fans, and I believe every player will deliver."
He wiped metaphorical sweat from his brow, dodging the trap. After fielding the league-mandated three questions, Lian Dao bolted, wary of the media's penchant for digging pits. The NBA's rule—answer at least three questions or face a fine for "disrespecting" the press—felt like a cruel game. Every interview was a mental marathon, burning brain cells to avoid a misstep.
The next day, ESPN's headlines screamed Lian Dao's praises:
"An Epic Slam Dunk Performance Like No Other!"
"Sickle Saves the Dunk Contest!"
"New King Crowned, Shatters Larry Bird's Three-Point Record!"
"Sickle's Triple Crown and a Kiss for the Ages!"
The 2010 All-Star Game, hosted at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, drew a record-breaking 110,000 fans—the largest crowd in All-Star history. Injuries reshaped the rosters: Allen Iverson was replaced by David Lee, and Chris Paul and Brandon Roy bowed out. Kobe Bryant played, but only as a formality, with Chauncey Billups filling his spot.
Eastern Conference Starters: Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Lian Dao, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard.
Eastern Subs: Rajon Rondo, Joe Johnson, Derrick Rose, Paul Pierce, Gerald Wallace, Chris Bosh, Al Horford, David Lee.
Coach: Stan Van Gundy.
Western Conference Starters: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire.
Western Subs: Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Zach Randolph, Pau Gasol, Chris Kaman.
Coach: George Karl.
The West, plagued by injuries, leaned on younger talent, diluting their usual dominance. As the teams took the court, Lian Dao caught a glance between Wade and James. He knew what it meant. His All-Star Weekend spotlight—stealing the fan-voted starting spot over James, a feat LeBron hadn't achieved as a rookie in 2003—had stirred tension. James hadn't said anything publicly, but Lian Dao wasn't buying the "team player" act. He's jealous.
Coach Stan Van Gundy, sensing the dynamic, staggered Lian Dao and James' minutes to ease the friction.
Dwight Howard won the opening tip over Stoudemire, giving the East first possession. James, taking the ball, passed to Wade. Lian Dao ran off-ball, finding open space, but Wade ignored him, waiting for James to cut inside. The West's defense barely contested as James finished a two-handed alley-oop, drawing first blood.
The crowd of 110,000 roared.
In the West's response, Kobe fed Tim Duncan inside, who banked in a textbook shot. Back on the East's side, the pattern held: James to Wade, Wade holding court before passing back to James. Lian Dao kept moving, finding another open look, but James looked right through him, bricking a mid-range jumper.
Stoudemire grabbed the rebound and dished to Kobe, who, uninterested in scoring, passed to Steve Nash. Nash pushed the pace, finding Carmelo Anthony, who set up Stoudemire for a rare three-point attempt. Howard, playing to the crowd, let it fly without contest. Swish. Stoudemire's trey made it 5-2.
Lian Dao, fuming at James' freeze-out, kept running routes, but Wade and James operated like a two-man show, excluding him entirely. James clanked a three, but Kevin Garnett snagged the rebound. To everyone's surprise, the Wolf King didn't attack—he zipped the ball to Lian Dao, wide open beyond the arc.
Lian Dao didn't hesitate. Swish. The East's first three, two minutes in, came from the rookie.
Garnett, no stranger to James' antics, wasn't playing along. The Celtics-Cavaliers playoff battles had left bad blood, and Garnett relished making James squirm. The fans noticed too—Lian Dao's repeated open looks went ignored until Garnett intervened. Whispers of a deliberate snub rippled through the crowd and media.
On the West's next possession, Kobe signaled for a rest, having played minimally to honor his fan-voted start. As he passed Lian Dao, he clapped his shoulder with a knowing smile. "I believe you can handle it."
Lian Dao gave a wry grin. Handle it? I'm not even sure I believe that. Where Kobe's confidence came from, he couldn't guess.
Jason Kidd subbed in for Kobe, immediately syncing with Nash. Kidd cut inside, drew the defense, and kicked it back to Nash, who drained a three from deep. 8-5, West.