Wang and Chris Paul arrived at the basketball gym together. The gym was mostly empty, with only a few staff members, along with Paul's trainer and coach.
They watched as the team's star brought a rookie onto the court for a one-on-one session.
Their eyes widened—this was a rare privilege. Not every NBA rookie gets the chance to go head-to-head with a star player.
Technically, it was just a friendly scrimmage, but in reality, it was a veteran mentoring a rookie. First-year rookies, as the newest members of an NBA team, generally didn't have the right to challenge a team leader.
For example, when Kyrie Irving was a rookie, he idolized Kobe. Young and reckless early in his career, he even tried to play one-on-one against Kobe, boasting about wanting to impress his hero. But Kobe didn't even entertain the idea. In later regular-season matchups, everyone cleared the floor so the two could have isolation plays. At that stage, Irving was still too inexperienced, and his offensive moves against Kobe's defense were ineffective.
The gap between a rookie and a veteran was always huge, requiring time, adaptation, and hard work.
Chris Paul grabbed a ball from the hoop, stepped back to the three-point line, and casually tossed it to Wang:
"You first."
Wang caught the ball, glanced at Paul, and stood there completely relaxed, not moving to defend.
Paul clearly underestimated him, likely thinking he could dominate easily. And to be fair, there was a gap in their skill sets. That year, Chris Paul was arguably the best point guard in the league, leading in steals, with a player rating of 94—among the top in the NBA.
Standing just behind the three-point line, Paul chuckled:
"Thought you said you'd go all out. You're not gonna guard me?"
Paul snorted and smiled. "Go ahead, shoot it."
Wang grinned and shook his head. "Then I won't hold back."
He jumped, flicked the ball with a soft release, and shot—a textbook-perfect three-pointer.
With no defender in sight, the shot was effortless for a player with a 95 three-point rating. The ball arced perfectly and swished through the net.
Paul picked up the ball, laughing, and tossed it back. "Keep going."
Wang shot again from the same spot, with the same motion, almost robotic in precision. Another perfect swish.
The staff, coaches, and trainers on the sidelines murmured in amazement:
"Wang's shot is so smooth! Perfect form.""Step back beyond the arc, and he's already in his range?""Looks like last night wasn't a fluke.""Definitely worth signing if he keeps hitting like this."
Even Paul nodded. "Your shot's really accurate. Yesterday wasn't just a lucky night."
Wang smiled. "I'm confident in my three." "Still not defending?"
Paul smirked. "You're worried about me. How about a little wager?"
"If I win, you train with me every day this season—whatever I do, you do."
Wang was taken aback. That didn't sound like a punishment at all—it sounded like a huge opportunity. Training with Paul meant better development, tougher workouts, and more experience. Perfect for a rookie like Wang, who had been taught early in life: endure the grind now, and life will be easier later.
"Deal," Wang said. "And if I win?"
Paul laughed. "If you win, name your terms. Even if it's a mansion or a sports car, go ahead. But you won't win."
They got ready, and the ball was back in Wang's hands. This time he didn't ask about defense. He jumped immediately and shot with perfect form. Another swish.
Paul, slightly amused, realized Wang wasn't joking. The ball was already through the net before he even had a chance to defend.
"3-0," Wang said, holding up three fingers.
Even the staff on the sidelines whispered:"Chris is taking Wang too lightly!""Two more shots, and Wang could win.""Imagine if Wang actually wins—Paul's face!"
Player Development Coach Fred Vinson interjected: "Don't underestimate Chris. Once he gets serious, Wang won't get any easy shots."
After sinking three consecutive threes, Paul's expression turned serious. He focused entirely on Wang, stepping up to play real defense. The distance closed; Wang could no longer shoot freely.
Though only 6'0", Paul's defense was elite. That season, he made the All-NBA Third Team, the All-Defensive Second Team, and led the league in steals, averaging 2.4 per game.
Wang tried a few jumpers, but Paul was right there. He had no choice but to start dribbling, driving into the paint.
But Paul's defense and quick hands made it impossible. He stole the ball from Wang with flawless timing. By the time Wang realized, Paul was already at the three-point line.
Paul deliberately scored using Wang's style of shooting—right from where Wang had made his perfect threes. Wang barely had time to react.
"The first one," Paul said, holding up a finger.
Wang felt frustrated. His off-ball shooting was easier in team play, but in one-on-one, his weaknesses were exposed.
Round two, Wang applied tight defense, using his 91 perimeter defense rating and his silver Death Coil badge. Height, wingspan, vertical leap—he had advantages—but Paul's skill and speed made Wang work hard just to maintain position.
Paul crossed over, step-back jumper, smooth mid-range shot—Wang never lost his stance, but Paul created space anyway.
"Again," Paul said, dribbling between the legs and changing direction. Wang shifted quickly, blocked the lane, but Paul's Euro Step and rhythm fakes left him off-balance. Paul scored easily.
"Youngsters are too easy to trick," Paul laughed.
3-3.
The duel continued. Wang's defense was excellent but lacked experience. Against a superstar like Paul, positioning could only do so much.
The final point, Paul dribbled near the free-throw line, posted up slightly, and faked a jumper. Wang jumped, but Paul never left the ground, pivoted, and hit a smooth fadeaway.
Wang watched the ball drop, realizing he had lost. His face was serious, disappointed, yet he accepted the result.
[Ding! Duel complete. Final score: 3-5. Loss.][Mission Reward: 2 Free Attribute Points.]
Paul stepped up, fist-bumping Wang. "Your shooting and defense are solid, but your ball-handling needs work. Off-ball shooting alone isn't enough. Starting tomorrow, you train with me. Don't be late!"
Wang returned the fist bump. "Got it. I'll work hard."
The staff and coaches watched, smiling knowingly. This rookie was changing—and with Paul's help, he was going to improve fast.