One Year Left to Play-Chapter 196 - 64: I’m Bigger Than You!

This afternoon there's a scheduled training, but Zhang Hao wanted to train earlier and came in the morning. Besides him, Kenny Anderson also came, and yet another person showed up for training—yep, it was Jason Williams.

Kenny Anderson was working on his physique, finished earlier, and left. Jason Williams insisted on training longer than Zhang Hao. While Zhang Hao was taking a shower, Jason Williams came in.

Then Zhang Hao heard Jason Williams's speech.

Seeing Zhang Hao's complex expression, Jason Williams continued boastfully, "Look at my streamlined muscles, these broad shoulders, so many women scream for me when I go to the nightclub..."

Just as Jason Williams was proudly showing off his physique, in a scene almost too awkward to watch, Zhang Hao couldn't resist throwing a jab: "The two chubby guys at the entrance of the gym waving cash also make those women go crazy."

Jason Williams, who was posing like Schwarzenegger, suddenly froze and shouted, "You're jealous!"

"Jealous of what?"

"Jealous that I'm stronger than you!"

"I'm stronger than you."

"..."

"I jump higher than you."

"..."

"I run faster than you."

"..."

"My shooting is more accurate than yours."

"Great talent, so what? Sure it's impressive... If you're so tough, let's compare something other than basketball!"

Zhang Hao thought for a moment, lowered his head, eyes lit up, put his hands on his hips, and said, "I'm bigger than you!"

...

The grieving Jason Williams covered his face and left...

As he was running in the sunset, Jason Williams suddenly remembered something—he was supposed to ask Zhang Hao for that 500 US Dollar technical foul fine! Once again, that bastard got away with it!

On training days, Zhang Hao found the bickering with Jason Williams quite amusing.

This teammate once stood up for him, but after that day, never used it as leverage, not even when competing. Because of this, Zhang Hao held Jason Williams in higher regard.

Back at the apartment, Zhang Hao summarized the gains of the past few days, indeed there were many. Through practice, he now had new insights into the differences between a turnaround fadeaway and a catch-and-turn jump shot.

Not only is the turnaround fadeaway easier to create space, but most importantly, the rhythm, if accustomed to the rhythm of a turnaround fadeaway, is much more comfortable than a catch-and-turn jump shot.

Moreover, many defensive players struggle to adapt to defending this shooting style. Top-tier defenders might handle it indifferent, as Zhang Hao hadn't encountered them yet after starting to practice this, but against regular defenders, it's highly effective.

After lunch, Zhang Hao was preparing for a nap, planning to head to the gym at 1 o'clock, when suddenly, a notification came!

"Due to the impact brought by the host, Chinese basketball player Wang Zhizhi has successfully entered the main team of the Georgetown University Hoya Dog Team, fulfilling the personal coach enrollment condition."

While Zhang Hao was bewildered, before he could react, his mobile phone rang.

After answering the call, before Zhang Hao could ask who it was, an excited voice from the other end had already sounded off.

From the voice and language, Zhang Hao could tell who it was.

"Aix Big Brother, it's so great, I finally made it to the main team lineup during the last training game. I thought I was going to be relegated to play in the second league at George Mason University like Ma Jian, it's so great..." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Wang Zhizhi's booming, excited voice was slightly incoherent towards the end, his voice clearly trembling, obviously on the verge of tears.

Zhang Hao didn't know what Wang Zhizhi had gone through, but recalling his own experience when he first arrived in the United States, he could guess a bit.

He knew what Wang Zhizhi needed most at this moment, and said in a relaxed tone, "I always knew you'd make it. Be confident, you'll definitely become their star player."

If Zhang Hao's response had been a mere congratulation, Wang Zhizhi would have been very happy, but after that, he might have been uncertain again.

But Zhang Hao gave him hope... This approach is often criticized but undoubtedly it easily motivates young people, especially those born in the 70s.

At this moment, Wang Zhizhi also began to imagine...

Then Zhang Hao added, "But the real challenges are just beginning, you need to be prepared to face them."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhizhi put away his dreams and replied, "I know, I'll work hard, if it weren't for you, Big Brother, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to join the main team so quickly, I know that up next it's all on me."

"Me? I helped you?"

"It's like this, today after the club's training game, the coach asked me to his office. I thought he was going to relegate me to the affiliated school's basketball team, but instead, he informed me I was selected for the main team lineup, saying it was because he saw your performances in the preseason and decided in today's training game to make me the main attacking point for my squad..."

Listening to Wang Zhizhi's recount, Zhang Hao roughly understood what happened.

Even with Wang Zhizhi carrying the title of "World Youth Championship Best Center", he couldn't get performance opportunities in previous training games.

Considering it started in August, it had already been more than two months since the school year began! As far as Zhang Hao knew, by the end of August, Georgetown University had already begun to select main players for the new season.

Opportunities are indeed crucial, Zhang Hao didn't expect his performance in the NBA to help Wang Zhizhi, but it made him very happy.

Of course, even with opportunities, Wang Zhizhi still had to have the ability to seize them.

Fortunately, Wang Zhizhi didn't lose heart after sitting on the bench during training games for the past two months!

After chatting for a while, Wang Zhizhi brought up the main matter, "Big Brother, today the coach also discussed a matter with me, he asked me to choose a clear positioning, and I don't know how to decide, so I wanted to ask you. You know more about American Basketball than the older brothers on the national team, you know, I... I want to enter the NBA, Big Brother don't laugh at me, I really want to make it to the NBA."

With each "Big Brother," Zhang Hao felt more and more delighted. In a few years, when Younger Brother Yao enters the NBA, will he call me Big Brother too?

At that moment, Zhang Hao understood why Kenny Anderson loved being called Big Brother. It really felt good! The spirit of "Young and Dangerous" from back in the day surged up—Old Zhang is the head honcho of the American branch of the Chinese Men's Basketball Team!

However, there was a serious matter, no time for Zhang Hao to reminisce, so he asked, "What do you think your positioning is?"

"I also asked the coach what kind of positioning I should choose. He gave me two directions: one is to maintain my weight and become a traditional-play style inside player; another is to lose weight and become a shooting big man. The coach analyzed these two positions for me, each has its own advantages and disadvantages..."

Wang Zhizhi explained to Zhang Hao the analysis from the head coach of Georgetown University.

Very simply, Wang Zhizhi's current weight is relatively high at 116 kilograms, just 18 years old, mainly just chubby, definitely needs to lose fat and gain muscle, but his style is already accustomed, so after losing fat and gaining muscle, the technical adjustments won't be too drastic.

Moreover, Wang Zhizhi has great flexibility and has a foundation in footwork to go the traditional center route.

The downside is that Wang Zhizhi lacks explosiveness and going this route might make him less attractive during the draft.

Wang Zhizhi's shooting talent is also visible, so there's another route: become a shooting big man, more inclined towards power forward.

Zhang Hao felt this was more suited to Wang Zhizhi's NBA dream, but the problem is that it increased the risk, estimated to require losing about 10 kilograms, and after fully growing physically, keep the weight around 110 kilograms. The style would definitely change sharply, and his former weight advantage might disappear.

But if it's about getting into the NBA, Wang Zhizhi's weight isn't much of a weight advantage to speak of...

While Zhang Hao was thinking, a subtitle prompt appeared again.

"If the host intervenes in Wang Zhizhi's career positioning choice, the personal coach contract will be completed.

After signing, the host needs to actively promise to Wang Zhizhi that he can provide guidance for his growth anytime.

Development Goal: Wang Zhizhi becomes a first-round pick in the NBA draft.

During the development period, the host will receive longevity rewards for Wang Zhizhi's game participation, winning games, receiving awards, etc. If Wang Zhizhi successfully gets selected in the first round, additional rewards depending on the selection order are given.

Failure Penalty: If Wang Zhizhi's university basketball career ends without being selected in the first round of the NBA draft, the longevity rewards obtained by the host during this period will be deducted double in total."