in2ebook Chapter 133 Rookie Challenge
Chapter 133 Rookie Challenge
Cai Congxin was not disappointed upon hearing this.
He seemed to have known this outcome all along, but he was still unwilling to give up and called to ask for confirmation himself.
After learning the result, Cai Congxin hung up the phone.
Stone shook his head.
Harden clearly wants to go to Philadelphia to reunite with Morey; in other words, the Nets have become a stepping stone, a clown.
And this matter is far from over.
Harden's departure means the Nets' Big Three have failed.
What will Durant do then?
What should Kyrie Irving do?
The Nets' defeat seems inevitable.
But this is actually a good thing for the Rockets.
With the Big Three disbanded, the Nets' performance was predictably poor.
The Rockets own all of the Nets' draft picks or swap rights up to 27.
This means that for a considerable period of time to come, the Nets will likely be playing a supporting role for the Rockets.
Just as I was lost in thought, the phone rang again.
……
On the trading deadline day, one transaction after another was revealed by reporters.
The most explosive trade news was that Harden was traded by the Nets to Philadelphia in exchange for Simmons, Seth Curry, and Drummond, along with a first-round pick in 2022 and a first-round pick in 2027. Millsap also left in the trade with Harden.
This return is clearly a significant loss compared to the assets given to the Rockets when they acquired Harden.
Especially Simmons, who is widely recognized as the king of offseason training and the captain of the regular season cheerleading squad.
On this trade day, the Rockets actually made a trade, acquiring Schroder and Fernando from the Celtics in exchange for Theis.
Neither Schroder nor Fernando can be the future of the Rockets.
Aside from sorting out salaries, this deal was mostly just a transaction for the sake of a transaction.
For Stone, it was like, "You all say nobody wants to do business with me, but look, I've made a deal."
Of course, none of the players Stone considered to have great potential—Porter Jr., Wood, and even Gordon Sr.—were traded because of Stone's asking prices and other issues.
Woj had even foreseen this situation in a program a month ago.
With the end of the trading day, the lineups of each team are finalized.
This means that teams vying for the championship need to start their final push, while teams that are tanking also need to start working hard.
Rockets naturally fall into the latter category.
After the game against the Cavaliers, the Rockets lost all of their next seven games.
These seven games included strong teams like the Suns and Clippers, as well as teams like the Spurs struggling to make the playoffs.
Wang Xiucheng averaged a double-double of 19 points and 11 assists in these 7 games.
With Wang Xiucheng's support, Green and Shen Jing also delivered an exceptionally high level of performance, a rarity this season.
With this in mind, the Rockets' young trio welcomed the All-Star Weekend.
The All-Star starting lineups had already been announced, and based on votes from professional journalists and media, as well as player representatives from each team, Wang Xiucheng ultimately failed to make it into the All-Star Game.
In fact, Wang Xiucheng had already anticipated this outcome.
In NBA history, Yao Ming is the last player to make the All-Star Game in his rookie season, an achievement that even LeBron James has not accomplished.
It is precisely for this reason that the NBA changed the rules; otherwise, it would have been unfair, and Wang Xiucheng could have been promoted to the All-Star team by Chinese fans.
This year, due to injuries to Draymond Green and Kevin Durant, Adam Silver designated LaMelo Ball and Dejounte Murray of the Spurs as substitutes for the All-Star Game.
This displeased the Chinese fans.
You won't let us vote to promote someone, but you won't nominate Wang Xiucheng for the All-Star game. What's the meaning of this?
play?
Did you say in an interview that this year's rookies performed very well, especially undrafted player Wang Xiucheng?
As a result, he couldn't even make it to the All-Star game?
"Believe it or not, I won't watch the All-Star Game?"
"Yeah, I'm not watching anymore. Damn it, what's so interesting about the All-Star Game?"
"Just watch the Rising Stars Challenge and the Slam Dunk Contest."
"All-Stars my ass, I still have to do my manual labor."
A storm of boycotts against the All-Star Game unexpectedly swept through China during the first month of the lunar calendar.
After the game against the Clippers, Wang Xiucheng, Shen Jing, and Green arrived in Cleveland on owner Fertitta's private jet.
The All-Star Weekend schedule is very tight, especially for the Rockets who have a game today.
After all, the Rockets are a bad team, while teams like the Lakers and Warriors finished their games yesterday.
Tomorrow is the rookie game, so Wang Xiucheng and the others don't have much time to rest.
After arriving at the hotel booked by the alliance and putting their things away, Wang Xiucheng and his two companions went to the restaurant to have a late-night snack before going back to sleep.
I never expected that the hotel restaurant would be so crowded at this time of day.
Almost half of the NBA players gathered here to drink and chat.
That's probably why the league stepped in to book the hotel.
The appearance of Wang Xiucheng and his group naturally attracted some attention.
Draymond Green, who was chatting with Curry and James, was the first to spot Wang Xiucheng.
In fact, few people know that Draymond Green and LeBron James have an extremely good relationship, and Green has even been involved in some of James' business dealings.
Therefore, Draymond Green's emotional intelligence is extremely high, even in the entire NBA.
He has Curry protecting him on the court and James leading him off the court; few people can do that at the same time.
"Your Majesty, come here."
Draymond Green's loud voice rang out throughout the restaurant.
Many people looked on, but dared not say a word.
With Green's infamous reputation, they didn't want to meet their great-grandmother right now.
Wang Xiucheng glanced at the small group of three and didn't want to go.
Wang Xiucheng admitted that he did not have the ability to participate in that group.
But Zhui Meng strode over, grabbed Wang Xiucheng's arm, and pulled him to the booth before he could speak.
Shen Jing and Green both gave each other a helpless look.
Wang Xiucheng's rank is already different from theirs.
He didn't even glance at them.
So the two of them had no choice but to go find Cunningham and his fellow rookies.
"Go easy on me, or I'll trick you into committing a foul next time we're on the court." Wang Xiucheng felt as if his arm was being clamped by a pair of pliers.
"I've let go, I've let go."
Green seemed to have imagined that scene, so he quickly let go of her hand, since they had arrived at their destination anyway.
"Hey kid, I've been looking for you. I bet 100 yuan on you to win the dunk contest, so don't make me lose it."
James's voice rang out at that moment.
There are a few red lines that NBA players absolutely cannot cross.
Basketball betting is one of them.
As for your betting on other projects, such as football, or buying Super Lotto, the league won't interfere.
As for minor squabbles of a hundred or so dollars with friends, they are naturally harmless.
After all, a hundred dollars for these NBA players is probably only a few cents, or even less, for an average person.
Wang Xiucheng blinked. If James bets on himself to win, then someone else must bet on himself to lose, otherwise this scheme wouldn't be able to start.
Wang Xiucheng looked directly at Draymond Green, not Curry.
"You're betting I'll lose, right?" Wang Xiucheng asked with a smile.
Draymond Green, looking rather goofy, chuckled, which was taken as an admission.
He seemed a little embarrassed, but you couldn't tell if these black people were embarrassed.
Wang Xiucheng shook his head inwardly; this guy's emotional intelligence was indeed frighteningly high.
When he saw James betting on Wang Xiucheng to win, he immediately bet on losing instead of waiting for Curry to speak.
100 yuan is a small matter. What's more important is that it gives James and Curry something to talk about and allows them to bring you along.
Curry glanced at Green and the others who were still waiting for Wang Xiucheng in the distance and said, "Alright, I won't keep you any longer. Are you going to eat? Go on, we'll come cheer you on tomorrow."
In fact, there are no Warriors or Lakers players at tomorrow's Rising Stars Challenge, but as two of the league's biggest names, their presence here is meant to motivate these younger players and prevent it from seeming like nobody cares about these rookies.
The All-Star Game has never been a great show in recent years, and the Rising Stars Challenge has been even less popular. Without a few superstars and celebrities, even the audience might not want to come in.
Furthermore, Cleveland is a special city for James; even at the Rising Stars Challenge, he has to make an appearance.
After saying goodbye to these people, Wang Xiucheng returned to the group that belonged to him as a newbie.
Wang Xiucheng felt at ease in this group.
……
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now at the Cavaliers' home court. Interestingly, this arena is now called the Rockets Mortgage Arena. I wonder if it will bring good luck to Wang Xiucheng of the Rockets."
In a live broadcast room on the second floor of the stadium, Tencent Sports is broadcasting the game.
Wang Meng was speaking into the microphone: "Today, we have invited your old friend, Coach Zhang Weiping, to our live broadcast."
"Hello everyone, it's been a long time." Zhang Weiping, whose hair had long since turned white, greeted the microphone.
"Does Coach Zhang know this player, Wang Xiucheng?"
“Of course I know,” Zhang Weiping said. “This kid is really hardworking. I’ve been watching since his very first Rockets game, and he’s improved in almost every game.”
"And it seems like he's grown taller recently, and his playing style is becoming more and more reasonable."
As soon as Zhang Weiping finished speaking, Wang Meng shouted into the microphone, "Enter!"
"Let me briefly introduce the rules of the Rookie Challenge."
"28 first- and second-year rookies were selected by four retired legends to form four teams, and then they competed against each other. Whoever reached 50 points first would enter the finals. In the finals, starting from 50 points, the first team to reach 75 points would be the champion."
"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the NBA, so it's a good way to commemorate it," Zhang Weiping added cheerfully.
Wang Meng suddenly shouted, "Let's introduce the players from the Isaiah Thomas team!"
Isaiah Thomas, the Smiling Assassin, appeared on a specially constructed introduction stage after being introduced by the host.
Then there are the players from Isaiah Thomas: Achiuwa, Bain, Sadiqbe, Anthony Edwards, Haliburton, and Jaden Hardy.
The last person was Wang Xiucheng.
When the host announced Wang Xiucheng's name, the cheers and applause from the audience noticeably increased.
Even though Isaiah Thomas has two talented young players, Edwards and Harry Bolton, they can't match Wang Xiucheng in popularity.
Many big names were seated in the front row of the stadium.
Besides NBA players like James, Curry, and Jokic, there are many other stars.
Taylor Swift, Johnny Depp, Kanye West, Kylie Jenner...
These are the people Wang Xiucheng knows and can name; there are many more whose names he doesn't know.
Wang Xiucheng even knew Taylor Swift, who was the guest performer invited during the halftime break of the All-Star Game.
At this moment, Kylie Jenner, who had come with her best friend on the sidelines, stared wide-eyed at Wang Xiucheng, who was more than ten meters away.
Seeing Wang Xiucheng in person and seeing him on TV are completely different experiences.
Kylie Jenner's heart rate is now at least 120, a feeling she has never experienced with any other boy.
It seems that Wang Xiucheng possesses some kind of magic that makes women unconsciously drawn to him.
Kylie Jenner forcibly averted her gaze and looked around. Her best friend was also staring intently at Wang Xiucheng, with even a slight smirk playing on her lips.
Meanwhile, Taylor, watching from a distance, subconsciously bit his lip as he looked at Wang Xiucheng, seemingly thinking about something unhealthy.
Johnny Depp was sitting next to his daughter, Lily Rose Depp.
Lily was clinging to her father's arm, acting coquettishly, but her eyes were fixed on Wang Xiucheng. She whispered something to her father, and her face turned red.
"I have to have this man." Kylie Jenner pulled herself together and made up her mind again.
If it's just that you're attracted to this man, then maybe you have a problem with your judgment.
But if all the women are interested in this man, then there must be something wrong with him.
As for what the problem is, we'll have to talk to them up close to find out.
Since childhood, I've never failed to get anything I've wanted, and this man is no exception!
While Kylie Jenner was lost in thought, the introductions of the four teams had already finished.
Only Wang Xiucheng's Isaiah Thomas team and James Worthy's team remained on the field, warming up.
The second floor is the Penguin Live Streaming Room.
"Which team does Coach Zhang favor?" Wang Meng asked at this moment.
"Of course it's the Isaiah Thomas team. Wang Xiucheng, Anthony Edwards, and Haliburton are all highly regarded rookies. I just don't know how to arrange these three."
Zhang Weiping paused for a moment, then said, "All three of them can play point guard, but it's impossible for all three to play at the same time. It's time to test Isaiah Thomas." The game started soon after.
When Isaiah Thomas' starting lineup appeared, everyone was stunned.
James and Curry exchanged a few words in hushed tones, with Curry shaking his head as if somewhat puzzled.
Zhang Weiping even scratched his head, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Because Isaiah Thomas' starting lineup at this time included Edwards, Harry Bolton, and Wang Xiucheng all at once.
Besides these three, there's also Bain and Pistons' Stewart.
The tallest player in this lineup is actually Stewart, who only has a stat total of 205.
Edwards, Harry Bolton, Wang Xiucheng.
With all three players present, how should the ball be distributed?
Soon the answer was revealed.
Harry plays point guard and controls the ball.
Edwards plays the shooting guard position.
And Wang Xiucheng actually played the small forward position, a position he had never played before!
"With his height and weight, can he play the small forward position?"
Just when everyone was thinking about this question.
Harry Bolton dribbled the ball past midfield and then passed it directly to Wang Xiucheng.
The person guarding Wang Xiucheng was none other than his Rockets teammate, Jalen Green!