"If only we could tank, how great would that be?"
Jerry Buss, one of the most legendary owners in NBA history, conveyed a wealth of information to Mitch Kupchak with just that short sentence.
Hearing this, Kupchak gave a bitter smile. "But Jerry, what if we could get a higher draft pick..."
Seeing his expression, Old Buss waved him off. "Mitch, I know what you're saying. But if even I, an old man who spends all his days chasing pleasures, knows that Zack is a rare commodity, then what kind of chips do we need to put on the table to impress those potential trade partners?"
Old Buss, who always had a good understanding with NBA Commissioner David Stern, knew perfectly well that no matter how terrible the Lakers' season turned out, the league would never give them the first overall pick.
Because, in most people's eyes, the Lakers' current dismal state was exactly what they deserved.
Historically, Kobe, who usually contended for MVP, wouldn't even receive a single vote next year. Before Kobe emerged from his darkest hour with that earth-shshattering 81-point "Dragon Slaying Feast," David Stern would make his stance crystal clear to the Lakers:
—"When an adult makes a mistake, they must bear the consequences."
However, perhaps seeing Kupchak's unwillingness to give up, or maybe because Zack genuinely touched Old Buss in that moment, after a moment of contemplation, Old Buss told Kupchak, "I'll help you get in touch with Kobe, and I'll convince him to come and see for himself what kind of player Zack really is. But that's all I can do."
---
On the court, after the timeout, Wake Forest and UNC found themselves in another brick-laying cycle. This game, with referees encouraging more physical play than usual, made it difficult for both teams to maintain a consistent shooting touch.
However, relying on their earlier lead, the Demon Deacons successfully took control of the game. During this period of intense play, Zack secured the win for Wake Forest with his rebounding.
On defense, Sean May, who repeatedly had rebounds snatched over his head, exclaimed in frustration, "Can you predict the future? Why does the damn ball always end up in your hands?"
This night, the always-smiling Zack truly kept activating his badges. But besides the badge effects, it was Zack's improved quickness off the ground, further developed over the summer, that was key to him always getting the first jump on rebounds.
With his exceptional wingspan, Zack boasted an impressive 9-foot-5-inch standing reach (approximately 2.88 meters). This astonishing static data meant that even if he misjudged the trajectory of a rebound off the rim, as long as Sean May couldn't control the landing spot immediately, he'd be left watching Zack snatch the rebound right over his head.
After all, even 7-foot-6 Yao Ming, affected by his arm span, only had a 9-foot-7-inch standing reach (approximately 2.92 meters).
When Zack's quickness was combined with his standing reach...
In the game, to stop Zack from wreaking havoc on offensive rebounds, Coach Roy had no choice but to have the two Williams brothers drop back on defense, forming a defensive line with Sean May to secure their own defensive boards.
On the court, Gray seized the opportunity. With Zack's facilitating, the Wake Forest "commissar" frequently launched shots, scoring 12 of his total 15 points in the final 10 minutes of the second half.
The Dean Smith Center was utterly dismayed. On a night without Chris Paul, Zack, with his ubiquitous on-court influence on both offense and defense, decisively defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels!
The final score was 70 to 58. Zack finished with a total of 28 points, 24 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 blocks, and 2 steals.
After the game, Coach Roy joked, "Tonight, Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman were playing on the court for Wake Forest, both wearing jersey number 10."
Evans, the culprit who caused Zack to miss a super triple-double that night, tried to redeem himself during the interview section. He told local media, "I can't express my praise for Zack in words. In my mind, he's the GOAT of college basketball!"
This season, LeBron James, who was aiming to lead the Cavaliers back to the playoffs, openly supported Zack in an interview the next day, saying, "I have to tip my hat to my good brother. You know, he's just incredible. He's the king of Winston-Salem; he reigned over the Dean Smith Center last night."
Since the start of the new season, praise for Zack has been non-stop. Although Zack was already tired of it, after every game, he would still instinctively open his computer and search for news reports praising him.
---
The next day, the same day LeBron James personally bestowed a crown upon Zack, the NCAA's penalty for Paul was officially announced. Just as Zack remembered, Paul would be suspended for one game due to that impulsive "Cannon Punch."
However, compared to the "Cannon Punch" in Zack's previous life, which would have sidelined Paul for a crucial game, this time, with Zack still leading Wake Forest, Paul not only avoided the media's harsh criticism but also gained support from many media outlets after they understood the motive behind his punch.
Paul's maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, was a legendary figure in the town of Winston-Salem during his lifetime. Whenever residents of Winston-Salem had car trouble, they would go to "Papa Jones'" gas station for help. Everyone in Winston-Salem respected "Papa Jones." He was kind, diligent, helpful, and worked hard every single day.
"My grandfather taught me that to reap, you must sow with your own hands."
Then, on November 15, 2002... Paul, who had been with his grandfather just the day before, watching a Wake Forest University game in person, suddenly received devastating news from his brother, C.J., on the 15th. That day, five young men, similar in age to Paul, broke into the gas station to steal money, kidnapping and beating "Papa Jones." To prevent him from crying for help, in the final moments of "Papa Jones'" life, these five young men even subjected him to inhumane abuse.
And so, "Papa Jones'" life ended at 61. Paul, who was with his grandfather just the day before, preparing to decide on a school, firmly resolved from then on that he would play for the Demon Deacons.
In the season opener of his senior year, to honor his grandfather, and at the suggestion of his teammates, Paul delivered a personal scoring explosion of 61 points, comforting "Papa Jones'" spirit in heaven.
"Chris Paul shouldn't have punched Julius Hodge, but shouldn't those who insulted him on the court by bringing up his deceased grandfather bear some responsibility?"
Under pressure from the media, the NCAA quickly issued a heavy fine to UNC's home court, the Dean Smith Center, and demanded that the Tar Heels punish the fans who had insulted Paul with references to his grandfather during the game.
"Thank you, Zack, thank you for winning that game for me."
That day, in the Wake Forest practice gym, Paul embraced Zack, saying gratefully. Zack patted Paul's shoulder and replied, "Chris, do you remember what you told me when we reunited?"
Paul nodded, and Zack continued, "You said that as long as I wanted to practice, you'd be there for me... Honestly, if it hadn't been for you during that time, I would have been really lonely by myself."
In that moment, watching the two "twin stars" embrace, teary-eyed, Evans, in his later "Historical Records" written for Zack, described it thus:
"The great King of Winston-Salem, his care for everyone on the team was meticulous, especially for his close comrade-in-arms, Chris Paul... He would fight for any one of us, and we were tightly united around him, listening to his teachings, and following him steadfastly... You ask why we were invincible in what was known as the 'Miracle Season'? Because wherever Zack's battle saber pointed, that was our direction forward!"
---
In December of that year, before the Christmas break, Wake Forest fans experienced almost the same script every day. You see, every morning after waking up, there would be good news of another big win for the Demon Deacons.
Undoubtedly, even during Tim Duncan's era, Wake Forest fans never walked with such pride as they did now.
On the 21st, Zack's 21st birthday, Wake Forest hosted their final opponent before the Christmas break: Georgia Tech. (Note ①)
Last season, in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, Wake Forest was defeated by Georgia Tech. Compared to last season, Georgia Tech not only retained most of their core players but also successfully recruited the new "North Carolina Basketball Mr." Anthony Morrow over the summer. In terms of overall strength, Georgia Tech, who even made it to the finals in March Madness last season, had undoubtedly gotten stronger.
However, since the start of the 2004-05 season, Georgia Tech has struggled, failing to replicate last year's glory. This is precisely the most charming aspect of NCAA basketball. Every season, the landscape of the NCAA undergoes a quiet, yet dramatic, transformation.
In terms of roster, Georgia Tech did get stronger. But... because the growth rate of players like Jarrett Jack and Will Bynum in Georgia Tech's roster couldn't compare to the top stars of other teams, in a horizontal comparison, Georgia Tech, in a sense, actually became weaker.
In this game, facing Georgia Tech's Australian center Luke Schenscher, Zack, right from the start, received a pass from the reinstated Paul and completed a memorable dunk right over his head.
The 216-cm (7'1") Schenscher would later play two years in the NBA as an undrafted player. But in Zack's eyes at this moment, compared to him, a snail's movement speed was fast. Although this comparison is overly exaggerated, in the NBA, with its defensive three-second rule, Schenscher's sluggish movement ability meant he was destined not to survive in the league.
On the court, with Paul's frequent assists, Zack clearly played more comfortably on his birthday night than before. This is why Zack still needed Paul, even though he had developed ball-handling and isolation skills. After all, in basketball, demanding individual offensive plays that drain energy can't compare to the joyous ease of getting "dunks" and easy points.
Zack's height and weight determined that he would find it difficult to run all over the court like Jordan or Kobe in the future. Therefore, only by knowing how to distribute his energy reasonably could he consistently maintain his dominance on the court.
Throughout the game against Georgia Tech, Wake Forest completely suppressed their opponent. Led by the twin stars of Zack and Paul, the Demon Deacons secured a victory with hardly any effort.
Therefore, compared to the game itself, what interested Zack more that night was clearly Kobe Bryant, who sat courtside, constantly scanning him with a chilling stare.
Why would the Los Angeles Lakers' star player, Kobe Bryant, suddenly visit Wake Forest? Zack didn't know, but he was very curious. Especially since the night before, Kobe had scored 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists for the Lakers with a dismal 2-for-16 shooting (12.5% field goal percentage) and a 27.6% true shooting percentage, leading the Lakers to a 72-82 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Zack was even more curious why Kobe would come to watch him and Paul play tonight. Was Kobe, suffocated by the Eagle County incident, looking to breathe some fresh air in Winston-Salem?
Unfortunately, the fans in attendance tonight were not friendly towards Kobe. In the eyes of the Demon Deacon fans, Winston-Salem was a peaceful, tranquil college sanctuary. A scoundrel like Kobe didn't deserve to sit in this arena and watch a game.
In fact, Kobe himself was already squirming. However, Zack's performance in this game was indeed as Kupchak had said: in this era, no one could remain indifferent to his talent.
And so, Kobe just kept sitting there. Even after the game ended, he remained in his seat. Since the Eagle County incident led him to withdraw, Kobe had become increasingly unaccustomed to interacting with people. Therefore, even though he really wanted to approach Zack after the game as a senior and casually chat with him, to truly understand if this kid was the "King's Aide" he envisioned, he still remained in his seat.
---
Fortunately, Zack's curiosity about Kobe prompted him to take the first step.
However, the next second, as soon as Zack opened his mouth, Kobe immediately thought about getting up and leaving.
"You're not at home with your wife, who's constantly being bombarded by the media, but you have the leisure to come here to watch college basketball? What, does the great Kobe Bryant want to show the world how heartless and ungrateful he is, and how weak, pathetic, cowardly, and incompetent he is after leaving the 'lazy and fat' Shaq O'Neal in his eyes?"
Zack had no special feelings for Kobe. His opening remarks to Kobe were merely a spontaneous reaction, recalling the history that was about to unfold. There was nothing he could do; Zack just couldn't control his urge to lash out at Kobe at this moment.
Or, to put it another way. In Zack's opinion, anyone who could resist "roasting" Kobe during this period must be a saint. After all, only a saint could choose to be tolerant and forgiving after learning about Kobe's actions during this time.
Unfortunately, Zack was no saint. So, he chose to unleash his verbal attack directly.
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Note ①: Why does the book always show the Demon Deacons playing home games? Because it's clear that the author skipped over the away victories