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Chapter 678: Jack Durant 285

Chapter 678: Jack Durant 285

Offensive training picked up the once-used rotation method of having dual point guards, Felton, Rondo, and Jarrett Jack paired up in twos, all getting some practice.

By the afternoon, the Bobcats had left Charlotte, traversing nearly the entirety of America, arriving at ’Rich City’ Seattle’s northwest ’Super Rich District’ on Mercer Island.

The wealth in Seattle was evident from the racial makeup of its population, with only 6% Black, 15% Asian—of which 5% were of Chinese descent, and 9% Jewish; apart from the black ghettos and multi-ethnic neighborhoods, most areas were considered very safe by American standards.

Mercer Island was one of the safest residential areas, where the proportion of Black residents was... considerably higher, about 10%, but they were all wealthy African Americans who valued security and quality of life even more than the whites, Chinese, and Hispanic residents, striving to distinguish themselves from other Black people.

Jordan was one of them; he owned three properties on Mercer Island, two large villas and a members-only fitness club.

Last season, when the Bobcats played in Seattle, Jordan didn’t take the players to stay at his vacation villas, but having won the championship, he’s been in high spirits for half a year and aimed to give his players a more enjoyable stay... proving that he’s not stingy!

A particular player always thought he was stingy, which really bothered him, but he couldn’t just say outright "I’m not stingy," which would be too something. He could only prove it through actions.

After resting for a night, on December 3, the Bobcats headed to the KeyArena to challenge the Supersonics on their home court.

During the morning preparation, Felton remarked surprise when he saw the Sonic’s roster and salaries, "The Supersonics’ payroll is so low, even lower than ours! Weren’t they the third highest-paying team in the NBA?"

Zhang Yang, "That was a few years ago, ever since they traded Payton away, they stopped paying luxury taxes. Each year their salary investments have gotten lower and their performance has worsened, their owner isn’t the coffee salesman anymore, they just changed owners this summer, to a guy from Oklahoma City."

Felton, "A guy from Oklahoma City? I heard Oklahoma City has been trying to attract one of the major league teams; our team almost relocated there. Jack, do you think the Supersonic’s owner might consider moving the team there?"

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

Zhang San decided then, if ever he played Werewolf with his teammates, he’d target fatty eldest brother with the first blade!

At 6:40 in the evening, at the KeyArena’s main court, the visiting Bobcats were the first to enter.

Zhang Yang was the last to run through the players’ tunnel, met with a sky of boos.

Feeling the rich basketball atmosphere at the venue, Zhang Yang felt sympathy for the Seattle fans.

The Supersonics had played 16 games, with a record of 3 wins and 13 losses, second to last in the Western conference, only the Clippers with a worse 2 wins and 15 losses, but local fans still greatly supported the Supersonics.

Zhang Yang looked towards the home team’s player tunnel; the first to come out was rookie second overall pick Kevin Durant.

The main reason Seattle fans could still passionately support the Supersonics this season was this genius.

Durant played all 16 games of the first month, averaging 17.8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block per game, revealing exceptional basketball talent. Although his 41% shooting accuracy, 25% three-point shot accuracy, and an average of 3 turnovers per game were sore points, his strengths overshadowed these flaws.

Taller than most teams’ interiors, yet with the speed of a guard, ball-handling skills, and already adapting to NBA’s physicality in his rookie year... The media dubbed Durant ’Tall Jack’ for his talent, and how could Seattle fans not be excited?

Yet, this team, this genius, would soon no longer belong to Seattle.

Probably after the Christmas owners meeting, the new Supersonics owner would likely submit a relocation application, right?

The Supersonic’s offseason moves, to others, merely seemed like a continuation of tanking, accumulating talent, nothing out of the ordinary.

But to ’third-eye’ Zhang Yang, every move the Supersonics made in the offseason hinted at the new owner’s desire to relocate.

Releasing Lewis, they didn’t even consider matching the contract, let alone discussing a sign-and-trade with the Magic.

Shopping Ray Allen around for expiring contracts, promising rookies, draft picks...

In the process of shopping their franchise players, the Supersonics and the Celtics took two extreme paths.

Ainge’s greed in shopping Pierce shocked other teams’ executives, and now no team dares to make a lowball offer to the Celtics, afraid of being scorned.

On the Supersonics’ side, other teams wanted to rob them blind. The lower the asking price from the Supersonics, the more ridiculous the offers from other teams.

But the outcomes for both teams were much the same. They couldn’t sell their franchise players; the Celtics were insatiable, while the Supersonics simply couldn’t get a satisfactory offer and naturally wouldn’t accept a trade. Pierce and Ray Allen, both in their prime All-Star years, becoming trade fodder became a drawn-out soap opera, still ongoing...

The Supersonics were definitely tanking. Failing to sell Ray Allen, he inevitably affected their tanking strategy. Their new owners didn’t want both to tank and to retain a deep roster of role players like Ainge did. Unable to sell Ray Allen, they gave away capable role players, asking for nothing in return, even swapping for air would do, which also helped them to reduce the payroll.

The Supersonics only kept Durant, Ray Allen, and the ones passing them the ball, Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour, having shipped off everyone else who could play... their salary for the season was as low as 47 million, over 10 million below the salary cap, the lowest in the league, even a few million below the Bobcats.

At 7:58 pm, the referees notified the starting lineups to take the court.

Zhang Yang and Felton, Hill, Okafor, Perkins stepped onto the court together. He looked at the opposing starters, Ridnour averaging 10.7 points and 6.8 assists, Ray Allen averaging 25.5 points, and rookie Kevin Durant, the second pick of the draft, averaging 17.8 points. The trio on the perimeter actually looked quite promising.

But the frontcourt ’twin towers’: averaging 6 points and 5 rebounds, Robert Swift—this wasn’t the draft bust; it was the first-round 12th pick of the 2004 class. The other frontcourt player was Francisco Elson, a blue-collar player the Spurs gave up after last season due to salary cap issues.

Elson had looked so good playing alongside Duncan, able to perform in the postseason like a second-string defensive cornerstone, with a shooting percentage as high as 60%. But after coming to the Supersonics, he only managed 4 points and 5 rebounds per game with a 39% shooting rate...

At 8 pm, the game started.

Okafor easily defeated Robert Swift on the jump ball, and the Bobcats took the first possession!

Felton advanced to the frontcourt, with the first play going to the younger brother—the big guy’s base play.

Durant stood in front of Zhang Yang, looking very excited, ready to go at it.

The media had dubbed him ’Little Jack,’ and he naturally compared himself to Zhang Yang. Both had been top three high school players in the class of ’06, with Zhang Yang second and Durant third. He had been eager to compete with Zhang Yang even before entering the NBA.

After Felton pulled up to the left corner, Zhang Yang started a one-on-one against Durant... the butterfly step in motion!

The exaggerated movements of the butterfly step seemed showy, easily getting under an opponent’s skin, and Durant felt a tinge of annoyance.

Watching Zhang Yang’s casual ball-handling movements, Durant seized the moment, pressed forward and reached for the ball... but Zhang Yang suddenly increased his dribbling speed, sidestepped, and accelerated past!

Durant was left completely behind!

Zhang Yang drove straight to the basket. Neither of Supersonics’ big men seemed intent on challenging the shot, allowing Zhang Yang to leap up and slam down a one-handed dunk for two points.

As Durant turned to catch up, all he could do was watch as Zhang Yang dunked.

After landing, Zhang Yang turned back and looked up, saying, "Keep at it, rookie, you were just a little bit away from stopping me."

As he spoke, Zhang Yang stretched out his arms as far as they would go...