Chapter 112 111. I want to have another one-on-one duel with Kobe as a high school student!
Felton competed with Paul, Nash, and Wade for the Skills Challenge champion; Matt Carroll competed with Ray Allen, Nowitzki, Terry, Arenas, and Big Q for the three-point king...

Zhang Yang is a little envious. He plans to participate in all the competitions when he grows up. Whether he wins the championship or not is another matter.

Unfortunately, they all lost.

Wade won the Skills Challenge and Nowitzki won the Three-Point Contest.

Both competitions are quite interesting.

Don't underestimate Felton, he has solid basic skills and defeated Paul and Nash to enter the finals, but Wade was luckier in the finals and won the championship.

In the three-point contest, everyone's performance was not good. No one scored 20 points in the preliminaries and finals. But precisely because of this, fans are looking forward to seeing who can break the record of the God of Basketball.

But unfortunately, Big Q, who performed the worst, only scored 9 points in the preliminary round.

The God of Basketball is the God of Basketball. The records he left behind may not be broken even if the most dominant players of the contemporary era, such as O'Neal and Duncan, participate in the competition.

When it came to the dunk contest, Zhang Yang wanted to leave before the preliminaries were over.

Careless! He should have left with his parents after watching the three-point contest. He forgot that this year was the year Nate Robinson changed the rules!
8 times! He watched Nate Robinson do the pre-dunk move 8 times!
That’s not all. In the finals, he watched Nate Robinson’s pre-dunk moves four more times…

And Nate Robinson eventually won the championship, it can only be said that it was all thanks to the support of his peers.

The commentator started calling on James to participate in the competition again, and James actually went to the commentary booth to chat with the commentator, saying that he would definitely participate next time, which caused a climax among the fans in front of the TV.

James' fast break dunks in the game were fast and powerful, with high jumps and smooth dunks. They were really entertaining to watch and the audience was looking forward to them.

Today, it was Zhang Yang who envied Felton, Paul, and Matt Carroll for being able to participate in three events.

At night, they returned to the hotel and went to Paul's room to play CS. Zhang Yang mentioned the All-Star Game tomorrow, and then Felton and Paul were envious, no, jealous! Paul kicked Zhang Yang out of his room...

...

On Sunday, February 2th, the most important day of the All-Star Weekend has arrived.

After breakfast, Zhang Yang returned to his room and took a shower. After a while, there was a knock on the door. He opened the door and saw DeRozan, Harden, Tatum, and Jason Jr.

It was his first time attending the All-Star Game, so he definitely had to invite his old friends to watch the game together. Money is meant to be spent, so he covered all the expenses for flights, hotels, meals, accommodation, sightseeing and check-in.

Originally, Zhang Yang wanted to call them to the Rookie Challenge on Friday, but yesterday, Saturday, Compton High School, Lanewood High School, and Compton High School Moore League Second Team all had games. They just flew over from their respective cities last night, and when they arrived, all three events had already ended. They did not come to see Zhang Yang, rested in the hotel for a night, and came here after breakfast this morning.

Coach Thomas, Coach Burke and his wife, Coach Johnson and his wife, and Andy Tang and his wife also came to Houston and stayed at the hotel that Terem helped arrange. They didn't come early in the morning but came to join in the fun with the children.

The friends haven't seen each other for a long time, and each of them has a lot to say.

DeRozan and Abuya, together with the 11th and 12th grade basketball club members of Compton High School who were not selected for the main team, formed a second team to participate in the Moore League competition.

The Moore League has more games than the CIF Division I League. It started in September. After yesterday's game, exactly 9 games have been played. The Compton High School second team currently has a record of 40 wins and 32 losses, ranking third in the league. However, 8 of the 8 losses were lost in September and October. From November, December, late January to now, they have only lost 5 games in the past three months, which is a clear improvement.

Currently, DeRozan is averaging 29.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. There are still five games left, and he is only two wins away from the first place. He still has a chance to win the first place. Even if he fails, he still has a chance to win the final championship in the knockout stage.

The Compton High School main team led by Tatum is also okay. It is definitely not comparable to last season, but it is still acceptable. The record is similar to that of the season led by Afflalo and Ship, because Tatum's teammates are much better than Afflalo and Ship's teammates, such as wing shooter James Keefe, who is already in the top 100 in the United States.

Tatum improved a lot in his 12th grade, averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks per game. Although he has not yet made it into the top 2006 in the United States due to his weak scoring talent, he is also the focus of many universities. After entering , he has received calls from coaches from many universities. He does not want to stay in the university in California, and wants to go to North Carolina to become Jordan's junior...but he is very conflicted.

After going to North Carolina, he became Zhang Yang's junior! They were clearly in the same grade before!

Harden is the best performer among the three this season.

Last season, in the 10th grade, Harden made great progress compared to the 9th grade, but he only averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals per game. In the 11th grade, his strength had a qualitative leap. He played 26 games, averaging 28.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals per game. With the group of talented teammates at Ryanwood High School, he had a record of 25 wins and 1 loss, becoming the favorite to win the championship this season.

There is still a big gap between All-Star talent and super star talent. In the first semester of 9th grade, Harden could only make spot three-pointers and tank breakthroughs. He started to practice his skills hard in the second semester of 9th grade. In just two years, his strength has caught up with DeRozan.

DeRozan became autistic while chatting. The eldest brother is about to become the third brother!
DeRozan was upset, and Zhang Yang was even more upset.

DeRozan is almost two meters tall with shoes on!

Fortunately, Harden is with him. Harden has not grown much in the past six months. By the way, Tatum has stopped growing a long time ago. Tatum is still as tall as when Zhang Yang entered Compton High School. It turns out that he and little Jason are not born of the same mother. Zhang Yang remembers that little Jason was taller than DeRozan when he grew up.

Everyone is happy about Zhang Yang being selected as an All-Star starter. There is nothing to be jealous about anyway. As for the blow... Zhang Yang was not selected as an All-Star substitute, but was selected as a starter purely by voting. They would be upset if he was selected as a substitute.

...

This is Zhang Yang's first All-Star Game, and he has been keeping a low profile these days.

He also spent the day in a low-key manner today, praising others during interviews and not trying to grab the spotlight at charity events.

As a rookie, he did not try to steal the limelight, and indeed no one else targeted him.

He has always adhered to the idea that if you are weak, you will develop poorly.

This year's All-Star players from the Eastern Conference: Iverson, Zhang Yang, Gerald Wallace, James, and O'Neal start, while Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Wade, Arenas, Carter and seven others are selected as substitutes.

In the coaches' vote, Kidd lost to Arenas by 3 votes. Kidd was not selected for the All-Star Game last season, for two consecutive years.

West: Nash, Kobe, McGrady, Duncan, and Yao Ming started, and Parker, Ray Allen, Marion, Brand, Gasol, Garnett, Nowitzki and seven others were selected as substitutes.

Compared with the 5 guards on the Eastern Conference All-Star bench, a bunch of frontcourt players in the Western Conference, including Anthony, Kaman, Okur, Camby, Artest, Brad Miller... were not selected.

All-Star players also have their own cliques. Kobe and McGrady play together; Nash, Carter, Marion, and Brand play together; Gasol, Parker, and Duncan hang out together; James greets everyone, acting like a boss...

Zhang Yang stayed with Gerald Wallace and Yao Ming. Gerald Wallace had a very generous personality and had a great time chatting with Yao Ming. Zhang Yang was responsible for listening.

Gerald Wallace also took a photo with the Pistons' double Wallace All-Star center combination. The slogan of the photo posted online by the media was - the strongest last name in the NBA.

This sparked a wave of heated discussions. Just looking at this season, these three half-brothers do have the strongest surname together, and they are all keen on defense.

If the Pistons had selected Gerald Wallace at the end of the first round in 01, and he had played under Carlisle for two years, even if Larry Brown followed him, he would have been reused because of his passion for defense. Three Wallaces on a team... I can't even imagine it.

Night fell, and at 7 p.m., the players participating in the 2006 All-Star Game entered the Toyota Center.

At this year's All-Star Game, fans were the least biased because there were not many local people coming to watch the All-Star Game.

Zhang Yang played an away game here once, and the atmosphere was really bad, not even as good as the extremely noisy stadiums in Salt Lake City.

But when it came to the All-Star Game, local fans were not enthusiastic about scrambling for tickets. Most of the people at the scene were fans from other places, so the atmosphere was even better. Every All-Star player who entered the stadium was cheered loudly by the fans.

In such an atmosphere, at least there will not be a situation where player No. 8 is booed the entire time from entering the venue to receiving the AMVP.

He was booed by his hometown fans when he entered the stadium, and he continued to be booed when he got the ball. That night, No. 8 threw the ball 25 times on offense and defended Iverson to only 9 of 2 shots, and won the AMVP... His strength illustrates what it means to like the way you can't stand me but can't get rid of me.

After the players entered the stadium, it was Shark Time. O'Neal first danced a song, which ignited the whole audience.

Then O'Neal challenged various All-Stars, with Yao Ming, who was at home, being his main target.

This was Yao Ming's fourth All-Star Game. He was well prepared this time and danced for dozens of seconds. His movements were stiff and not very good-looking, but they were quite funny and sparked cheers again.

Zhang Yang also encountered a challenge. He suppressed the urge to fight and said he didn't know how to dance. O'Neal insisted on teaching him, so he followed and learned a few moves. Just when he was about to burst out with the words "Just because...", O'Neal ended his harassment of him, left a sentence "You are much more interesting than that high school student, he won't dance with me" and walked away.

Zhang Yang breathed a sigh of relief, but the melody was not sung, and the performance was not effective, which made him feel regretful. Zhang Yang understood why O'Neal is the most popular player in the league today. This popularity is not about popularity, because who can compare with Kobe, Iverson, and James?

One is a guy who I don’t know why the fans love me, so if they love me, I must play well; a rebellious and indomitable black leader; a son of American basketball... The popularity of these three people can be singled out in the entire NBA history. Jordan was not selected as an All-Star starter in his last year at the age of 40, but these three people, even if they couldn’t play in their last year, they couldn’t beat anyone, but they couldn’t escape being an All-Star starter.

But not all three of them are so popular with fans. Many people will pick on their shortcomings here and there or even attack them. But O'Neal is different. Everyone likes him and thinks he is the most dominant player in history.

The joyful pre-match activities are over and the game is about to begin.

While Zhang Yang was applying magnesium powder, Iverson came up to him and said, "Jack, you attack first when the game starts."

Zhang Yang: "Me first?"

Iverson: "Yes, we are going to help LeBron win the MVP tonight. I heard that the other team wants to help Tracy win the MVP. It will be difficult for you to score later."

Zhang Yang: "...Alan, you don't have to be so tactful."

Iverson: “Haha…”

After notifying Zhang Yang, Iverson went to O'Neal and James.

Zhang Yang thought about how James had been looking for people to chat with during the day, and it turned out to be about this matter. Not to mention, James's image in the outside world is indeed good at this stage, except for his layup steps...but he didn't even inform Zhang San about this matter.

Write it down in a little notebook!
The players from the opposing team also gathered together, probably discussing the game. McGrady wanted to compete for the AMVP, but it was not his own initiative. It was the treatment he deserved as the host team. The Rockets had two All-Stars, and Yao Ming was not suitable for this kind of game, so McGrady was the only one left.

Seeing Iverson and Kobe leading the two teams, Zhang Yang felt that it was more of a competition between the two rather than James vs. McGrady.

It is also possible that O'Neal wanted to compete with Yao Ming's team.

It's just that Kobe, O'Neal and Iverson have won three AMVPs in the past four years, and they might feel embarrassed to compete again, so they gave face to James and host McGrady.

It felt like a big battle was about to break out. Zhang Yang, as a spectator, was very excited. Now the stars were constantly having grudges and disputes, and no one would join in without being able to win. It was not like the All-Star Game in the future, which would become a dunk show along with the Rookie Game.

...

At 8 o'clock in the evening, the referee blew the whistle to start the game and threw the ball into the air.

O'Neal jumped high and easily defeated Yao Ming to win the jump ball, and the Eastern team attacked first!

Iverson advanced to the frontcourt, and Kobe was guarding the top arc.

The fans at the scene burst into cheers, the matchup between No. 3 and No. 8!

To the fans' surprise, Zhang Yang ran over from the side and Iverson passed the ball.

Nash followed: ??? Iverson, if you don’t like me, I might win the MVP for the second time in a row, just say it!

Switching defense with Kobe was embarrassing, but he couldn't defend... even if the opponent was just a high school student! Even though he was notoriously bad at defense, but letting a high school student beat him in front of the whole world... Nash seriously suspected that if he lost face and asked Kobe to switch defense, Iverson would take the ball back.

Just when Nash was about to say "mmp", he saw Zhang Yang waving at Iverson: "Allen, help me open up some space. I want to have another one-on-one match with Kobe as a high school student!"

Iverson laughed and said to Nash who was standing in front of Zhang Yang, "Steve, come with me. Don't get in the way of these two high school students."

Nash was overjoyed and quickly followed Iverson and left.

Kobe Bryant was speechless: You three have made the decision right now? Have you considered my opinion?

He was complaining in his heart, but his body was honest. He moved over as soon as Nash left Zhang Yang, not giving Zhang Yang a chance to make a sudden shot. Judging from himself, he was able to do such a thing back then, so he believed that the high school rookie on the opposite side could do the same.

As soon as Kobe stood firm, he heard the rookie on the opposite side talking.

"Yao, stop him!"

Kobe immediately turned his head to look... and saw Yao Ming standing under the basket with a confused look on his face.

Wait, isn't Yao Ming my teammate?

Kobe turned his head back...Fuck you!

He rushed forward immediately, but it was too late. Zhang Yang had already jumped up and thrown the ball.

The first throw of the game, with plenty of time to prepare and the rhythm right...it went in!
This operation stunned all the players on the field.

Iverson: Well done!

O'Neal: This high school student seems very polite in private, just like that high school student... which makes him dislike him a little bit. But during the pre-game activities, he is different. He says that he doesn't want to learn and can't dance, but his body is twisting very honestly. When it comes to such a game, he is completely transformed into a different person!
If that high school kid was this funny, why would they have fallen out?
Yao Ming: Is the contrast so big when we play, little brother?

Gerald Wallace: Oh, you're surprised? Go watch Jack and Jordan practice, and you'll know Jack's true colors.

The All-Star Game is just an entertainment game, and the players are both surprised and happy.

The fans in front of the TV also refreshed their impression of the rookie Zhang Yang. Just now when Zhang Yang asked Iverson to create space for him, the sound on the court was transmitted to the ears of the fans in front of the TV through the microphone.

Zhang Yang also "played tricks" on Kobe when he played against the Lakers for the first time, but it has been a long time since then. Zhang Yang is low-key and humble most of the time when he appears in front of the media, and people have the impression that he is a humble and polite talented player.

I didn't expect the All-Star Game to be so interesting! The close-up shot showed Kobe looking like he wanted to eat someone, and the fans in front of the TV were also very happy.

Kobe was so angry! He ran in and received the serve and pushed forward.

He wants to beat to death this rookie whose face is even thicker than his rookie season!
But when he got to the frontcourt and saw Zhang Yang guarding the top arc, Kobe, who wanted to break through and crush the opponent, hesitated.

Kobe heard the booing of the fans and looked at the rookie on the opposite side who was eager to try his best to defend without any fear in his eyes... He was the best scorer in the league, and it was okay for him to use his body to suppress the opponent on defense, but it was a bit too shameless for him to use his body to crush a high school rookie who had just entered the NBA on offense.

In that case, let’s compare techniques!

A sneak attack, right?
Kobe suddenly caught the bouncing ball and jumped...

Zhang Yang also jumped up immediately!
And he has a good grasp of the timing and position of his interference!
Kobe was very surprised, and quickly leaned back... and shot... but missed!
It's difficult to grab the ball and shoot suddenly without any preparation, and with a fade away, even he has no confidence.

O'Neal grabbed the rebound, raised it up and waved it, shouting excitedly to Zhang Yang: "Jack, come and catch the ball, gogogo, beat Kobe!"

No. 8 tried a sneak attack and failed! The Sharks were so excited!
At the same time, O'Neal was also surprised by Zhang Yang's defensive awareness.

He didn't realize that Kobe was going to launch a sneak attack just now, but this rookie actually figured it out!

Not to mention his defensive awareness and his fearless mentality when facing Kobe, a terrifying scorer who scored 81 points in the regular season, he was still having fun in the last round, but he immediately got into it when he returned to the defensive end. This ability to focus on defense at any time... Wow! He seems like his former little brother!

O'Neal looked at the opposite side, and sure enough, Kobe, who was retreating, had a serious expression!

……

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(End of this chapter)