One Year Left to Play

This player, the strongest on the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, won the dunk contest in his rookie season, averaged 20+ points as a sophomore, and despite constant changes in the Timberwolves’ lineup, still managed an average of 19.6 points in his third year.

As a result, the Timberwolves didn’t offer him a contract during the offseason, and not many teams bid for him. In the end, the Blazers signed him with a starting salary of $3.61 million over four years for a total of $19 million.

Players of the same caliber received long-term deals this summer ranging from $40 million to $70 million over 4 to 7 years.

The reason is that this guy is troublesome, undisciplined... among other negative traits.

But players like this often have one characteristic—they value loyalty.

That is, they have a punk’s personality.

"Arvydas Sabonis, 32 years old, 221 cm, 127 kg, ability rating 87, offense 81, defense 91, passing 86, three-point shooting 72, mid-range 83, layup 91..."

"Rashid Wallace, 22 years old, 211 cm, 104 kg, ability rating 80, offense 87, defense 66..."

"Steve Nash, 22 years old, 191 cm, 84 kg, ability rating 74, offense 85, defense 58, three-point shooting 87, mid-range 84, layup 88, speed 95, strength 65, stamina 96..."

"Robert Parker, 27 years old, 188 cm, 85 kg, ability rating 80, offense 88, defense 67, passing 91..."

"Jermaine O’Neal, 18 years old, 211 cm, 103 kg, ability rating 69..."

Zhang Hao looked at the ability ratings of the opposing team’s players that he valued. As expected, this team had backing from a major investor.

Paul Allen, one of Microsoft’s founders, tried to control the New York Knicks by increasing his shares in the American Cable TV Station in the summer of 1994 but failed. The Dolan Clan bought scattered shares at a higher price, inadvertently boosting the stock price of the American Cable TV Station.

Unable to acquire the Knicks, Paul Allen, out of frustration, made what was rated as the worst decision in American business history in the summer of ’95—selling all his shares of the American Cable TV Station.

Two years later, as someone who loved basketball and dreamed of being an NBA team owner, he turned his attention to the cash-strapped Blazers.

The NBA officials and the Blazers’ owner understood his intention of slowly buying back the Blazers, but the NBA officials were eager to welcome such a major investor, and the Blazers’ owner genuinely needed the money...

Although he’s not the owner of the Blazers yet, Paul Allen has already started paying for the Blazers’ player salaries.

With the current contracts the Blazers signed, their salaries will directly double in the 98-99 season, exceeding $50 million, with Rashid Wallace already securing an early extension of six years for $80 million, becoming the first player from the ’95 class to secure a big contract.

At present, besides the Lakers, Knicks, and Bulls, only Paul Allen-backed Blazers dare to make such moves in the entire NBA.

Yesterday, Paul Allen also came to Los Angeles. Zhang Hao received news that he had contacted Pelinka and arranged a meeting in two days. Before the meeting, Zhang Hao had to discuss it with Pelinka.

Turning off the player detection system, Zhang Hao stepped onto the court. The starting lineups of both teams were already on the floor.

The Lakers continued with their starting lineup: Magician, Doug Christie, Zhang Hao, Barkley, and O’Neal.

The Blazers fielded Nash, Isaiah Rider, Gary Trent, Rashid Wallace, and Sabonis as their starters.

Just in the past two to three minutes, while fans saw a conflict break out and engaged in heated discussions and spreading the news quickly, everyone at the scene already knew what had happened—Zhang Hao and Rashid Wallace’s bet was known by all. As both teams’ starters took the floor, fans cheered enthusiastically.

At 7:30 PM, the referee blew the whistle to start the game and tossed the ball into the air...

O’Neal easily beat Sabonis to win the jump ball. The Blazers’ players quickly retreated to defense, knowing the Lakers’ quick attack in the opening moments was formidable.

But being aware doesn’t mean having the capability!

Nash, just moving from the free-throw line to the wing, was assigned to guard the wing shooter Doug Christie when he saw Zhang Hao rushing in with speed almost matching his own!

Not daring to block, Nash stepped aside as Zhang Hao charged in at such speed with his hefty size.

Just as Rashid Wallace retreated to see Zhang Hao catch the ball up close, he rushed over to block Barkley on the other side...

Zhang Hao entered the paint and finished with an easy slam dunk for two points.

The veteran players, especially Rashid Wallace, Sabonis, and Gary Trent, who were from the same draft class as Zhang Hao, had all experienced Zhang Hao’s fast breaks. Although Nash, the rookie, knew about Zhang Hao’s explosive talent and strength, even making the All-NBA First Team as a rookie,

Watching Zhang Hao fast break like this left Nash wide-eyed!

It’s just too overwhelming!

It wasn’t until Rashid Wallace called out to Nash to inbound the ball that he snapped back to reality and advanced the ball up the court.

In the frontcourt, Nash saw Zhang Hao guarding the top of the arc.

The Magician went to guard the 203 cm, 113 kg forward Gary Trent, and the Magician being slightly slimmer, both had average forward speed.

Barkley stuck close to Rashid Wallace, and O’Neal was forced away from the three-second area to guard Sabonis, who had decent shooting ability.

Before the game, Nash knew Zhang Hao might defend him. Although he was confident since Zhang Hao, despite his great athleticism, was ultimately a center. However, seeing Zhang Hao’s calm face now, Nash became a bit at a loss.

Seeing this, Zhang Hao immediately pressed against him with a pressing defense!

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