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Chapter 384 - 179. Compton’s three kings reunite

Chapter 384: 179. Compton’s three kings reunite

After resting at home for a day, on February 9th morning, Zhang Yang and Felton, Rondo, Gerald Wallace, Millsap, and Okafor met at the airport.

Zhang Yang was set to participate in the rookie game and the main game, while Gerald Wallace and Okafor were scheduled for the main game, and Felton represented the sophomores in the rookie game.

Rondo, with a January performance close to averaging 6+6+6, improved his season statistics to 4.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1 steal per game, continuing this trend, he hoped to achieve a rookie year average of 5+5+5 and made the rookie team.

Millsap, averaging 6 points and 4 rebounds, made the rookie team as well.

Given the performances of these two, Zhang Yang and Felton agreed that they definitely needed to make a big splash this year.

The boss wanted to join them in Las Vegas, so they took his private plane. The boss wasn’t there yet, so Zhang Yang took out his laptop, spent some money on airport staff to connect to the internet, and gathered his teammates to watch an ESPN column article, expressing that he couldn’t fathom what ESPN was implying.

Okafor glanced at the article, smirked at Zhang Yang, but immediately returned to a poker face.

Rondo just gave Zhang Yang a direct white-eyed look, but he didn’t say anything.

The ESPN column article ranked players based on their performances in the first half of the season for the East and West.

In the West, Nash was first, Nowitzki second, Kobe third, Yao Ming fourth, and Duncan fifth.

There was no controversy here; Nash and Nowitzki’s individual performances and their teams’ performances were the best; Kobe averaged 29.8 points, the highest in the West, Yao Ming played only 30 games but averaged 25.6 points, the only interior player this season averaging over 25 points per game; Duncan averaged 20+10, with the third-best record.

These five ranking in the top five in the West was unproblematic.

But in the East... Zhang Yang ranked first seemed so glaring, followed by James averaging 27 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, Arenas averaging 30.1 points, 6 assists, Wade averaging 27 points, 7.5 assists, and Kidd averaging 14 points, 8.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists.

Zhang played 46 games, averaging 25.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, with emphasis placed on his performance during the stage where he averaged 30 points on 26.5 shots.

That bold note looked like it was praising him for that period’s performance, but to the teammates from the Bobcats, it felt like it was suggesting Zhang Yang boosted his scoring average to 25+ during that period.

Before that period, Zhang Yang averaged 23 points, and after, he averaged 23.5 points.

Felton analysed, "Are they trying to stir up trouble within our team?"

His attention turned to the part of the player performance analysis that discussed Zhang Yang leading the Bobcats to the second-best record in the East.

If one really had to say Zhang Yang was the best player in the first half of the season in the East, it wasn’t impossible; with a record as the second in the East and averaging 25 points, he was the best in terms of team performance combined with personal scoring. The Pistons had a better record, but their player performances were very even, without even one averaging 20+ points.

There were players scoring higher than Zhang Yang, but the team records had a significant gap with the Bobcats.

But claiming Zhang Yang led the team was awkward to the point of discomfort; just half a month ago, ESPN was still saying that Zhang Yang’s scoring lead had only a 50% win rate.

Gerald Wallace said, "This is about setting Jack up as an enemy, right? They want all those superstars targeting him; Carter, Pierce all average 25+. If Jack were on the Celtics, I think it would be hard for him to average 20 points."

Rondo and Millsap looked at Zhang Yang upon hearing this... and nodded in agreement!

Felton then countered, "Jack could still get to an average of 20 points, just maybe with a worse shooting percentage."

As the two were about to veer off topic again, Okafor interjected, "Both possibilities exist, but there’s another possibility."

Gerald Wallace was about to argue with Felton, but hearing this, he asked, "What possibility?"

Okafor, "It might be paving the way for KING James, see, the column says Philip Saunders is the best coach in the East, and here, it says the strongest team in the East is the Chicago Bulls."

Gerald Wallace, "Paving the way?"

Okafor, "The Cavaliers playing us, the Bulls, and the Pistons, their odds are very low. First, they praise our three teams highly, so even if they lose to us, it isn’t shameful, and if they win, defeating us would be ’breaking the fear of Cats curse,’ defeating the Bulls would mean defeating the strongest team in the East, defeating the Pistons would be defeating the strongest coach."

Rondo finally spoke up, questioning, "Does anyone believe this?"

The veterans who had spent longer in the NBA all nodded in unison, "Yes!"

Rondo, "..."

This world is really freaking ridiculous!

Felton and Gerald Wallace began to fill Rondo and Millsap in about their bizarre experiences with the media during last season’s games against the Cavaliers, while Okafor helped Zhang Yang out and then quietly stepped aside; Zhang Yang also silently closed his laptop.

Gerald Wallace mentioned ’divisive tactics’, and Zhang Yang also felt that was possible, whether it was true or not, he called several core teammates together for an open chat, this potential issue could easily be resolved.However, Okafor voluntarily stepping forward to help was somewhat surprising to Zhang Yang.

...

After arriving in Sin City on Joe’s private plane that afternoon, Zhang Yang immediately dove into work.

Since Yao Ming had to withdraw due to an injury and couldn’t participate in business activities, this All-Star weekend was especially busy for Zhang Yang.

The All-Star weekend’s commercial activities, besides the fixed endorsements, included some big-money appearances by brands at the All-Star weekend.

Since Yao Ming didn’t come, most of these one-off jobs fell on Zhang Yang.

With no spare time over two and a half days, after completing his tasks and catching up on some sleep, it was already February 11th, Friday, and he continued with the tasks arranged by the league.

Since Yao Ming hadn’t come, the attention of the media from China was focused on Zhang Yang... he took a moment to complain to Yao Ming over a phone call during a restroom break, and Yao Ming laughed heartily in response — "Before you came along, I went through this every year; now it’s your turn to enjoy it."

After the morning’s photo shoots and interviews, Zhang Yang headed to the airport to pick up his parents and brother, and brought them to the vacation villa rented by Tellem.

He wasn’t worried about his parents and brother feeling lonely, as on Wednesday, the coaching staff from Compton High School and those two buddies had already arrived in the city.

Coaches John Johnson and Del Burke and their wives had come, and Thomas had finally found a girlfriend, a 23-year-old young teacher who had just graduated from college and was teaching at Compton High School, a sight that Zhang Yang called utterly wicked.

Thomas was a bit naughty when he was young. Could she be old enough to be his daughter now? A role model for sure!

Zhang Yang’s parents treated everyone to lunch at noon. His parents and the coaches sat at one table, while the ’kids’ sat at another. Zhang Yang had invited Felton over.

Last year, DeRozan and Harden didn’t arrive until Saturday night, and Zhang Yang was busy on Sunday, so he didn’t get a chance to introduce the three to each other.

When Felton arrived at the restaurant, he greeted Zhang Yang’s parents and met DeRozan, Harden, and Zhang Yang’s high school coaches.

Del Burke exclaimed, "Wow, we have four top ten high school players in the nation here!"

Felton, being quite outgoing, said, "Really? DeMar, James, what are your rankings?"

Harden replied, "I was ranked eighth when I came back from winter break."

DeRozan said, "Sixth."

In the 2007 class, the top player was Mayo, second was Love, third was Eric Gordon, fourth was Michael Beasley, and fifth was Rose. All tough competitors, DeRozan couldn’t climb any higher even though he gave his all to the point of bleeding.

Felton said, "Haha! I’m the highest! I was third in the 2002 class... Jack, why are you poking me?"

Zhang Yang had a conflicted expression. Knowing Zhang Yang’s nature, DeRozan promptly interjected, "Jack was ranked second in the nation."

Felton was flustered, regretting his earlier boast of ’Haha! I am the highest’. But he quickly found an excuse, "The 2005 class was weak. The top high school player was McRoberts. Your class can’t compare. The number one in 2002 was Stoudemire, and second was Anthony. Being third is pretty normal... Jack, why are you poking me again?"

DeRozan kept needling, "Jack’s class was 2006, the top player was Oden, and the third was Durant."

Felton asked, "Aren’t you and I from the same class, Jack?"

Zhang Yang said, "Didn’t you know that I skipped 12th grade and went directly to the NBA?"

Felton replied, "Uh... I always thought you were just younger for school. Man, you finished 11th grade and scored over 1500 to get into our school? It would have been great if I was born a few years earlier or you a few years later, then I could have copied your homework in college!"

Zhang Yang said, "I rarely attended classes; you couldn’t have copied my homework."

Felton replied, "Aren’t you always self-studying? Sometimes you attend classes. Can’t you help me with homework when you’re bored?"

Zhang Yang said, "It’s not impossible..."

DeRozan: "..."

It’s back! The long-missed unusual chat is here again!

Even after a year of scarce meetings, Jack was still just like before. Conversations with Jack could drift off-topic, and yet it never seemed like it was Jack’s fault.

If it weren’t for being so familiar with Zhang Yang, DeRozan might have thought there was something off about Felton... no, that guy definitely had something odd about him.

The news stated Felton, despite his recklessness and impulsivity, was smart, wise, had a great overview and leadership skills... DeRozan was not so sure... Oh right, there was another person here with some issues.

Harden said, "Jack, you would help with homework? I want to go to North Carolina too!"

DeRozan glanced at Harden, "They have Lawson and Ellington there, you would only be a substitute. If you want to enter the draft next year, you need to go to a team where you can start right away."

Harden’s excited expression froze, then shifted to dejection, "That’s true... DeMar, aren’t you also aiming for the draft next year? The starting guard and small forward for the Trojans are already filled, aren’t they? They seem not to be entering the draft this year, so how can you go?"

DeRozan replied, "I’ll just have to take their starter positions, James. If you’re willing to take someone’s spot, you can definitely get one."

Harden hesitated, "Taking someone else’s starting position... doesn’t seem right, does it?"

DeRozan said, "You should just go to the Wildcats, stop overthinking it. You’re going to enter the draft after your freshman year anyway. Whether or not someone can help you with homework by then won’t matter."

Harden said, "Right!"

This time, it was Zhang Yang’s turn to be speechless.

So many years had passed, and Harden was still the same. Although he had more ambition and drive than in Zhang Yang’s previous life, he still wasn’t fond of competing.

Could it be that a ’peace-elbow’ move was needed to enlighten Harden?

How about the ’bad boy Zhang San elbow’?

After chatting for a while, the four sat down to eat.

As they ate, Felton suddenly asked Harden, "James, Jack told me that you taught him the screen-fade three-pointer move?"

Harden replied, "I didn’t teach him... When I developed that move in 2005, he watched it a few times, learned it quickly, and even helped me improve it. However, his explosiveness isn’t as good as mine, so it’s not suitable for him. I haven’t seen him use it in your team’s broadcasts."

Felton asked, "James, do you have time this afternoon? Shall we go to the gym to practice?"

Harden answered, "Sure! I have time... Could we see Kobe Bryant?"

Felton replied, "Maybe, Jack has Bryant’s phone number; he should be able to call him out."

Harden said, "No, no, no, if we can meet him by chance, that would be great. If not, let it be..."

DeRozan watched Harden, and Felton chat so warmly and knew it was because they were all top ten high school players in the nation that Felton was so enthusiastic. Otherwise, he would likely only chat a bit out of respect for Zhang Yang.

Del Burke’s remark, ’all are top ten high school players in the nation,’ was to ensure they weren’t undervalued during the introduction.

DeRozan felt even more motivated. He knew he had to... no, he must perform even better in the future to continue being in the same circle as Jack!