No.1 in basketball scoring
Chapter 385 - 180. We’ve been in the rain

Chapter 385: 180. We’ve been in the rain

During lunch, Zhang Yang learned about the recent situations of DeRozan and Harden.

Last season, Harden had won the title of Mr. California Basketball, leading Lynwood High School to a 33-1 record and capturing the CIF Division I Championship. He was selected for the California First Team and All-American Second Team. Their only loss came during the league phase against the varsity team of Compton High School, but in the finals, he avenged that loss and led his team to the championship.

This season, Lynwood High School is likely to win back-to-back titles, having lost only two matches so far, one against Compton High School and the other against Southern California High School, their biggest competitors for the championship.

Harden might also win Mr. California Basketball again. His stats over two years haven’t changed much, averaging 30 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks per game, continuing to improve in skill, though there isn’t much room left for statistical improvement.

Last season, DeRozan averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game, leading the Compton High School junior varsity team to a 35-10 record and the Moore League regular season championship, and they won all 8 playoff games to claim the championship. He was selected for the California First Team and All-American First Team. He didn’t win Mr. California Basketball because it is only awarded to players in the CIF Division I.

This season, he has averaged 31.4 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals per game, leading the Compton High School junior varsity team to a 38-2 record with five games left in the regular season. As long as DeRozan maintains his performance, winning the championship shouldn’t be a problem.

The two players are in different leagues and although they can’t face each other anymore, it provides both of them opportunities to win championships and earn more honors.

Felton, when speaking of DeRozan and Harden’s high school performances, used an encouraging tone, adopting a senior’s demeanor.

High school champions, record-breaking stats, All-American teams... which one of the four present wasn’t? Without such achievements, they wouldn’t deserve to be at this table.

As a former All-American third ranked high school player, Felton had won all the awards Harden and DeRozan had.

Moreover, Felton wasn’t just third in basketball nationwide; had he chosen football, baseball in college, he could have earned full-ride scholarships, and if he opted for javelin, discus, or hammer throw in track and field, he would at least have received partial scholarships. During his sophomore to senior years in high school, Felton was the god of the Carolina region’s high school sports scene.

After lunch, the four of them headed to this year’s All-Star Weekend venue, the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Las Vegas.

Harden, "Wow, this is a college arena? It feels bigger than the Staples Center!"

Felton, who liked to make travel plans, replied, "This is the fourth largest basketball arena in the US, only bigger are the United Center in Chicago, the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, and the Verizon Center in Washington. It was completed in 2003, the arena is very new, and all the equipment inside is of the latest model. The league chose to hold the All-Star Weekend here because of this advanced sports venue.

I’ve heard from Michael that if Robert Johnson hadn’t funded the purchase for a team spot, the NBA’s 30th team might have been here. NBA Deputy Commissioner Silva has always been pushing for this, but Stern rejected it..."

The four entered the arena and went to the training court prepared for the second-year team.

There were already two people there, Ellis and Bynum.

When Bynum saw Zhang Yang arriving, he jogged over to them, "Jack, I knew you would come to train early."

Felton had faced Bynum a few times and didn’t notice anything amiss. It was the first time DeRozan and Harden were seeing Bynum, and that he could move so quickly with his massive 215 cm + 129 kg frame... from just this aspect, they could directly perceive Bynum’s talent.

Indeed, a super genius selected in the lottery area at the age of 17 along with Jack.

DeRozan and Harden exchanged glances: They needed to work harder, or next time they wouldn’t make the cut.

Zhang Yang introduced Bynum to the two top high school players of the year.

This distinction was still quite useful for an NBA player just entering the league. Bynum was also among the top ten in the US, the tenth of the class of ’05, and warmly greeted the two.

Also, Ellis, who only glanced back briefly upon seeing Zhang Yang and others before continuing his training, was also a top ten All-American, ranked second.

Zhang Yang didn’t get along well with Ellis, a fact known to everyone there, so they paid no attention to Ellis and continued their conversation.

Zhang Yang, "Andrew, I didn’t expect you to come train, too. I thought you’d take the chance to rest well while Kobe isn’t here."

Bynum, "Don’t mention that guy. A few days ago, my hair grew a bit longer, and he took me to shave it off just like his bald head. I wanted to rest too, but it was boring lying around in the hotel. That’s the sorrow of being a high school player; we can’t go to any of the legal places, so I came to train with you..."

Zhang Yang was speechless.

Has he really not noticed the change in himself?

In the past, if Bynum had been bored, his first thought definitely wouldn’t have been to train but to go bowling, play golf, attend music festivals... do those things he wanted to do before making big money in the NBA but couldn’t afford.

Before being selected by the Lakers, Bynum would just sleep when he was bored.

Now, when he’s bored, his first thought is training... Not to mention, Kobe has really learned how to pick up lessons. After teaming up with Jordan and Arenas to mess up Kwame Brown, he’s been much more patient with Bynum, stern but truly molding him well.

Of course, this doesn’t exclude Kobe’s simple jealousy of Bynum’s hair.

Zhang Yang told Bynum, "Andrew, when you have time, you should really thank Kwame Brown."

Bynum, "Ah? Okay, Kwame indeed gave me a lot of help. My low post defense improved so quickly because of his guidance. I always thought he was pretty bad, bringing shame to us high school players, but after becoming teammates, I realized how talented he really was..."

The four chatted for a while and then started training.

Harden and Felton went to share insights on the step-back three-pointer.

Harden had richer skills in this area, while Felton had stronger abilities, played at a higher level, and had more practical experience. They learned from each other’s strengths.

Bynum continued to practice free throws; his shooting percentage this season was 55%, a significant improvement in his awareness from last season, but his free throws were poor—with only a 53% success rate, rightfully earning him the nickname "O’Neal’s successor" among Lakers fans.

On January 15, during the game against the Warriors where he was "hacked," he missed four consecutive free throws in the last three minutes, almost wasting Kobe’s triple-double performance of 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists that night, thanks to Harden and Boxing Saint’s consecutive three-point misses.

Kobe had him work on that damn free throw percentage to get it up to 70% by next season. Under the pressure of the boss’s tyranny, Bynum had no choice but to train hard.

Over at DeRozan’s side, after warming up, he started challenging Zhang Yang to a one-on-one.

The last time they played one-on-one was back in July 2005 after Zhang Yang was drafted and went back to Hidden Mountain to spend time with his family—a year and a half had passed.

Back then, even though DeRozan lost more than he won against Zhang Yang, he could still compete.

This time, the gap was too big!

In the past nearly two years, Zhang Yang had learned a lot of techniques, some of which couldn’t be used in NBA games, some could be limited by strong defenders, but against DeRozan... he transformed into an offensive kaleidoscope, breaking through, post-play, quick stops, jump shots, step-back shots, layups... he was unstoppable.

His defensive fundamentals had also improved a lot compared to high school; he was already the best perimeter defender in California high school basketball by the 11th grade, and he limited DeRozan’s shots even more.

These gaps, DeRozan had anticipated.

But Zhang Yang’s physical condition had also improved significantly, speed, strength, DeRozan had no advantage at all... After several rounds of one-on-ones, DeRozan went to the window, looking at the sun in the sky, not knowing whether it was sweat or tears suddenly slipping down his cheek.

In those days, it was he who took Zhang Yang to play streetball... His mind exploded for a while, and DeRozan continued to practice hard!

By 3 PM, league staff arrived, and DeRozan and Harden said goodbye to the three of them and left the training venue to walk around. They had gotten their All-Star Weekend tickets early and went to the venue to watch the game that evening.

Other players from the sophomore team didn’t arrive until after 3:30 PM.

In the morning when work ended, Zhang Yang received a notice to gather at 4 PM to prepare for the game. Early arrivers like Bynum and Ellis, like Zhang Yang, were too young to enter a casino; the others went off to play.

Felton had also planned to go play after lunch, but compared to gambling, he preferred to chat more with Harden about using screens to make step-back threes.

Stern was so opposed to establishing the 30th NBA team in the gambling city for this reason.

Zhang Yang was not interested in going to a casino; occasionally playing small mahjong games or fighting the landlord with a few people was fine, but gambling... he was absolutely against it!

The other sophomore team members were Paul, Deron, Granger, David Lee, and Bogut.

When Paul arrived at the training venue, he gathered with Zhang Yang, Felton, and Bynum. A friend’s friend is a friend, the four of them formed a small group.

In the rookie game, Zhang Yang was somewhat different from the team; he called his teammates together.

The bad boys’ squad gathered 2005’s strongest power and talent. Granger, David Lee, Bogut heard Zhang Yang’s call and gathered around.

Deron and Ellis didn’t want to move, but they didn’t have a good relationship with each other, not considering the other as ’one of their own.’ If they didn’t join the crowd, they would feel isolated, so they had to step forward.

Two players not on good terms didn’t cause trouble, which made things easier. Zhang Yang said, "Last year we lost to the ’04 class. If we lose again this year, we’ll be pinned to the pillar of shame like the ’00 class. It doesn’t matter who gets the MVP, Monta, you get it, Deron, you get it, David, you get it... it’s all good, but tonight we must win!"

Zhang Yang clearly stated that the four of them were not competing for MVP, which reduced some of the animosity from Deron and Ellis.

Deron disliked Felton and, by extension, Zhang Yang. Hearing this, he was willing to go along with the plan.

Ellis hated Zhang Yang, but he recognized Zhang Yang’s ability. If he didn’t acknowledge an opponent even worthy of defeating him, then what was he?

He disdainfully said, "Beating the ’06 class, just win casually."

Zhang Yang: "I know, but we can’t take it lightly. If we lose, it’s embarrassing, and we have to win spectacularly... I’ve even named tonight’s operation, ’Operation Shred the Umbrella!’"

Paul curiously asked, "Why call it ’Operation Shred the Umbrella?’"

This... Zhang Yang started fabricating: "As we move forward on the path of basketball, we always face a lot of obstacles. Those difficulties, setbacks, are like one rainstorm after another. We all try to hold up an umbrella in the rain, to shield ourselves from the storm..."

It’s no wonder he’s a college student, he’s got a way with words. Ellis asked in a teasing tone, "So, we are supposed to pass our experience on to the rookies entering the NBA?"

Zhang Yang: "No, we’re going to tear apart the ’06 class’s umbrella! We’ve endured rain, and of course, we have to let them get rained on too, and it’s going to be a stormy rain!"