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Chapter 82 - Chapter 81: That Crown!  

In his career as commissioner, David Stern had personally witnessed the rise of countless brilliant new stars. Among them were Michael Jordan, who changed people's perception of basketball the moment he entered the league; Hakeem Olajuwon, who led the Rockets back to the playoffs in his rookie season with "20+10" averages; Vince Carter, who was hailed as "Half-Man, Half-Amazing" shortly after his debut; and Tim Duncan, who was at his peak from day one. 

However, none of the aforementioned players' debut seasons were as explosive as Zack's this year. A rookie scoring 71 points in a single game. And in the context of the Warriors-Lakers rivalry... unfortunately, even the well-informed Stern couldn't find an accurate adjective in his dictionary to precisely describe Zack on this night. Stern could even foresee the immense controversy and protests from the entire Bay Area that would inevitably arise when the NBA announced its regular season awards this year. 

On this night, Zack wasn't like a god, or as if he were a god; he was a god. This season, his emergence not only further opened up the market for the NBA and brought unimaginable economic benefits to the entire Warriors team, but he also led the Warriors, who won only 13 games last season, directly into a formidable force that even traditional powerhouses couldn't ignore. In Oakland, tickets for Oracle Arena could no longer be described as hard to find; people had to pay several times the price to get tickets from scalpers, just to catch a distant glimpse of him. 

Compared to Yao Ming, Zack's physique, envied even by many NBA Black stars, had increasingly led fans to believe that Asian players could also fly in the NBA. This was the reality, despite being cruel to Yao Ming. So when Yao Ming officially requested a trade from the Rockets' management through Fegan this year, even those around Yao Ming, whom Zack considered hindrances, had to weigh the impact and shock Zack brought to this era. 

"Tell me, should we break tradition for him?" Stern asked Vice President Mark, turning to him. 

"His performance deserves for us to break tradition, but David, do you want a Messiah who will truly earn his place in the future, or a Messiah who will immediately become the face of the NBA now?" Mark asked. 

Stern thought for a moment and said, "What do you mean?" 

Mark smiled, "Let's just let things play out for a while." 

 

Staples Center. 

In the Warriors' locker room after the game. Seeing Zack, who couldn't even lift his arms while showering, and watching his teammates still celebrating Zack's 71 points, Brown sadly walked towards Zack with a towel. In Brown's eyes, at this moment, he was the only one in the world who truly felt for Zack. 

"What are you doing?" 

"I want to help you dry off." 

"Get lost! Stay away from me, @#!" 

However, to Brown's utter dismay, Zack completely misunderstood him. But... why did he then agree to let Biedrins help him dry his back the next second? 

"Your expression just now was really creepy," Zack said, turning to Brown. 

Creepy? 

"I... I was so sad I was almost crying, how was that creepy?" Brown asked, utterly confused. 

Patting Brown's shoulder, Zack said, "Andris said a few models from Latvia have been wanting to go on dates with him recently. He asked if you're interested in discussing life with them." 

Hearing this, Brown straightened up and said, "Then I'm very interested!" 

Zack smiled and said, "Go ahead, but remember to be safe. I don't want to see you telling the media the next day that I made you do it." 

Brown nodded, "Don't worry, boss, I'm not as silly as you think." 

That night, as Biedrins later recalled, the charming "scholarly" Brown, like a one-man army, conquered the hearts of those Latvian models off the court. However, what puzzled Biedrins was why Brown insisted on taking one of his jerseys and never returned it. 

That night, Zack's "Good Night, Los Angeles" was like a never-stopping alarm clock, leaving the entire City of Angels tossing and turning, sleepless throughout the night. 

That night, the entire basketball world needed time to digest Zack's 71 points in his rookie season, especially as the Warriors-Lakers war came to an end. People needed to savor it afterward and repeatedly ponder... what kind of revolution would this NBA top pick bring to the basketball world? 

ESPN's homepage featured Zack's world-renowned painting titled "Good Night, Los Angeles," stating: "This year, if Sports Illustrated doesn't select it as their cover, it will be truly difficult to earn our approval." 

Sports Illustrated replied the next day: "We're already rushing production. This will definitely be the cover." 

The Los Angeles Times, mimicking the earlier Chicago media, quipped: "Hmph! Such a Zack is not heroic at all!" 

The San Francisco Chronicle later retorted: "After all, in the eyes of Chicagoans, besides that 'basketball god' who's proficient in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, no one in the NBA can be a hero." 

An ABC reporter, eager for drama, asked Shaquille O'Neal the same question again on the night of the 12th during the highly anticipated Heat-Cavaliers game. 

"Shaq, do you now think the Messiah deserves Jovan Buha's praise?" 

Seeing this, O'Neal immediately cut off what he considered a baseless interview. However, Wade and James both offered their evaluations of Zack's 71-point game. 

Wade described: "Zack's achievements in his rookie season astound me. He's clearly a bigger Kobe Bryant." 

James commented: "Without a doubt, he held an unprecedented coronation ceremony in Los Angeles. I hope one day I can also receive more praise than criticism, like him." 

Although the Cavaliers had a chance to win 50 regular season games this season, James had been receiving a lot of criticism recently. As for the reason? Of course, there's no harm without comparison. The overly excellent Zack, even in James's heart at this moment, was labeled with the incredibly complex tags of "serious threat, but also a good brother." 

 

The impact of Zack's 71-point game continued to spread. Because after the second "Good Night, Los Angeles," adding the game-winning shot he made earlier at Staples Center, the City of Angels had already become his chosen land for acquiring divinity. Although purely based on statistics, Kobe also had a 70-point game and a "40+ triple-double" in these two games, as the losing team's MVP, even Kobe himself couldn't accept the notion of "the Lakers lost, but he didn't." 

"Jerry, there's no turning back in this world." 

Lakers General Manager's Office. 

Regarding Dr. Buss's regret and remorse expressed over the phone, Kupchak, as the Lakers' general manager, knew very well that at this point, the Lakers could no longer regret the past. 

"His performance indeed exceeded all our imaginations, but Jerry... if we can't find an interior player to contend with him in the next offseason, then time will absolutely not be on our side." 

Time wouldn't wait for the Lakers. In Kupchak's view, Kobe had already entered his prime. Originally, Lakers management could have patiently waited for the opportunity for revival to appear. But not anymore. Because the aggressively rising Warriors and Zack had already told the world: 

The future doesn't belong to any one team; it belongs only to the Bay Area. It's foreseeable that the NBA will experience an unprecedentedly volatile and trade-heavy offseason in two months. This is a series of chain reactions triggered by Zack; it's a world-ending tsunami he brought to this era! If they can't seize the opportunity to board that escape ark... then, at that time, no player outside the Warriors, and no team outside the Warriors, will be able to survive the entire league! 

Although Zack had not yet reached the pinnacle and achieved immortality, for those who had experienced the Michael Jordan era, how could they wait another decade? 

"That junior of yours is too outrageous, isn't he? 71 points in a single game? I watched the highlights, and every point he got in that game wasn't easy." 

San Antonio, looking at the newspaper, Parker looked up at Duncan. 

Hearing this, Duncan, with a charming smile, said, "He seemingly played three years in college, but in reality, he only took two years to become the tallest mountain at Wake Forest. I already warned the world that from the moment he stepped into the league, the NBA landscape would undergo a drastic change." 

Parker asked curiously, "Tim, do you also think he's stronger than you?" 

The next second, Duncan grabbed Parker's head and said, "I don't think so, but he is indeed one of the best players in the league right now." 

[Hmm, besides me, he's the strongest in the NBA.] 

At this moment, Duncan thought to himself. 

"Damn system! We're about to get our 60th win of the season, but we can only be ranked fourth in the West?!" 

Dallas. 

As the Suns and Spurs essentially locked up the top two spots in the Western Conference, the scene the Dallas folks least wanted to see before the playoffs finally entered their sight. That is, once they entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the West, they would face the Warriors, who always managed to create miracles against them, in the first round of the playoffs. This was undoubtedly one of the most dramatic moments in NBA playoff history. The Mavericks, who were very likely to achieve 60 regular season wins, would surprisingly have to face their least desired opponent in the first round of the playoffs. 

Phoenix. 

Mike D'Antoni also frowned at the already clear Western Conference standings. Because they, who along with the Spurs had a chance to be the top seed in the West, had no idea if being the first seed or the second seed would be better this year. On the surface, the first seed in the West wouldn't encounter too much trouble in the first round of the playoffs, but in the second round, this year's top seed would run head-on into the winner between the Mavericks and the Warriors. D'Antoni was certain that whichever team emerged victorious from that strong matchup would not be an easy opponent for the Suns to deal with. After all, the strength difference between the top teams in the Western Conference this season was almost negligible. 

However, compared to the Suns and Spurs, who still had some choice in opponents... this year's Nuggets and Jazz had no choice at all. Historically, the Denver Nuggets, who would have ranked third in the West with 44 wins, were currently facing a huge crisis. That is, with the rise of the Utah Jazz in the Northwest Division... if both the Nuggets and Jazz could win their next two games, then in the final regular season game, they would decide through a direct confrontation who would become this year's Western Conference third seed, and who would be eliminated. 

Yes, the winner would be the third seed in the West. The loser would go home directly. This was the reality that the Nuggets and Jazz had to accept under the current NBA system, after the Lakers and Clippers successively won their games on the night of the 13th, securing playoff spots. 

Anthony and Paul, this year, only one of them was destined to get a playoff ticket. If Anthony had the famous "Point Guard Hunter" Chauncey Billups by his side at this moment, Zack might be more optimistic about Anthony. But unfortunately, Anthony didn't. And this lifetime, the head coach behind Paul was Jerry Sloan, so Zack felt that Anthony was very likely to be the first of the "Banana Boat Crew" to be eliminated this year. 

It must be said that the Western Conference this season was indeed full of drama. In mid-April, the Dallas Mavericks, who officially achieved 60 regular season wins, had to face their least desired opponent in the playoffs. Due to the format, the Nuggets, who had been in the third spot in the West for most of the season, could be eliminated at the very end of the regular season. The entire Western Conference had become a chaotic mess in the final stretch of the regular season. 

Only the Warriors. From the moment they reached fifth in the West, they never changed their ranking until the last day of the regular season. But this didn't mean that the Warriors, who had already secured 53 wins before their regular season finale against the Blazers on the 19th, didn't detest the damned system and the outrageous environment of the Western Conference. Especially after David Stern's recent interview. 

"Zack has undoubtedly shown MVP-level performance, but you ask me if he will be this year's regular season MVP? Please rest assured, as a fair, open, and just league, the NBA has always had strict MVP selection criteria, and I believe we will definitely give everyone a satisfactory result in a month." 

 

Although not explicitly stated, Stern's words undoubtedly conveyed to the world the league's determination to continue adhering to the basic principles of the regular season MVP award. 

"To hell with fair, open, and just! When has the NBA ever truly been fair?" 

Within the Warriors team, upon seeing Stern's interview, almost all the players were feeling indignant for Zack. Except for Zack himself. Because he had already done everything he could, including speaking out to the league through the media earlier. So no matter the final outcome, Zack didn't care. Since he had already fought for what he could. Now, he had to focus on the upcoming playoffs. This was Zack's way of life; he always lived with clear understanding. 

On the evening of the 19th, for the regular season finale, Warriors owner Chris Cohan walked into the locker room before the game: "Gentlemen, I've prepared a grand celebration for you. Your achievements this season are undoubtedly something to be proud of. You should know that the last time the Warriors made the playoffs was in the 93/94 season, and back then, I wasn't even the owner of this team." 

As the most wanted target for assassination among NBA team owners (besides Leslie Alexander) in the current league, Cohan thought his impassioned opening speech would make the players, who were probably serfs or laborers in their past lives, eternally grateful... but to his disappointment, the scene he expected didn't happen. In fact, if it weren't for Zack and Dunleavy leading the applause for him, at this moment, the only difference between him and the air would be that air can be breathed, while he would only annoy the Warriors players in the locker room. 

Seeing this, the perceptive Cohan smiled and exited the locker room, complaining to Chris Mullin: "I am the owner of this team, and they are just a bunch of players working for me. Why do they ignore my presence?" 

Hearing this, Mullin, who had been through it all, said, "Players have always disliked condescending capitalists." 

Cohan frowned and said, "What, you don't like it either?" 

Mullin smiled and said, "As you said, you are the owner of this team, and I am only responsible for building a team that can bring you boundless wealth." 

Looking at Mullin, who was humble at this moment, Cohan said, "I am not Leslie Alexander. If this team truly has a chance to compete for a championship, I wouldn't hesitate to spend money. But you must first find someone to teach these players that they must respect the owner of this team." 

To this, Mullin said, "That would be difficult." 

Cohan was puzzled, "Why difficult?" 

Mullin shrugged and said, "Because our Messiah has always disliked restrictions. If he gets offended, I won't be able to explain it to you and the entire Bay Area." 

Cohan sighed, "Damn it, aren't people always supposed to be low-key, pragmatic, and humble? Why isn't he like a person at all?" 

Mullin explained, "He came to the United States when he was fifteen. In fact... before he showed his talent to the world, according to The New York Times, he was more like an ordinary American high school student who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun all day." 

Cohan patted Mullin's shoulder and said, "I'm very confident in leaving the team to you, and I'm very satisfied with your current achievements. But my interest in basketball isn't like Jerry Buss and other owners in the league. If one day the players truly anger me, this team might change owners at any time, do you understand?" 

Mullin nodded and said, "I understand." 

Understand? 

After watching Cohan walk away, Mullin immediately pulled out a bottle of his cherished fine wine from his pocket. Although Mullin had long since quit his old habit of excessive drinking, on nights like this, which were worth celebrating with a drink, Mullin didn't mind a few sips. 

"Owner? To hell with owner! The owner of these Warriors can only be the Messiah, and I, this former drunkard, will only be his butler." 

To prevent his light drinking from affecting the Warriors players who were about to play, Mullin even went to the restroom to drink this fine wine alone before the game started. And in the Warriors locker room, upon learning that Zack would host another unique celebration party after the regular season, the entire locker room immediately erupted in howls. 

"Stop howling, you bastards! If you keep howling, I'll make that old drunkard trade all of you to Minnesota!" 

As his relationship with Mullin deepened, "old drunkard" became Zack's affectionate nickname for "God's Left Hand." Unlike the NBA general managers Zack imagined, who would always appear stiffly in front of players, this former Warriors legend, who officially retired only in 2001, never put on airs in front of Zack. And he would often complain about the NBA stars of his era in front of Zack. 

"Don't believe the nonsense Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley tell you. Michael is an absolute bastard and a bully, and Charles? In my eyes, he's just like me, a poor soul without a championship ring." 

"Should I call you Mr. Chris Mullin, or...?" 

"Just call me old drunkard! Old Don (Old Nelson) used to call me that all the time, always cursing me, even hitting me. Anyway, a name is just a designation, you can call me whatever you want." 

"You don't look like an NBA general manager." 

"To hell with general manager! Remember, I'm just your butler on this team." 

"Like Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth?" 

"Batman? Does that guy even deserve to be compared to you?" 

 

In short, that was Chris Mullin. Although in public, he would go to great lengths to disguise himself as a gentleman, a well-read, highly knowledgeable general manager. But in private, this "old drunkard"... only wanted to personally witness Zack lift that trophy for the Warriors—the championship trophy that the Warriors last lifted dating back to the Rick Barry era. 

Mullin believed that day would eventually come. Because in Zack, he saw not only superb basketball skills but also a personality similar to Larry Bird's. That's right, Larry Bird was the person Mullin admired most in this league. Towards the end of his career, Mullin briefly played for the Indiana Pacers. At that time, the Pacers' head coach was Mullin's national team teammate from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Larry Bird. Although under Bird's leadership, the Pacers ultimately lost to the Lakers in that regrettable NBA Finals, when Mullin returned to the Warriors in the 00/01 season and saw his former dilapidated home team, Mullin secretly made a resolution. At least, he wanted to let the Oakland fans experience the joy of the playoffs again. The Golden State Warriors needed a figure similar to Larry Bird to re-energize. 

Oracle Arena. 

In the regular season finale, the Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers with almost no effort, securing their 54th victory of the season. However, after the game, the arena's big screen and the home DJ did not immediately display the upcoming playoff bracket. Instead, at the moment the game concluded, with the world-renowned painting "Good Night, Los Angeles" as the backdrop, they displayed Zack's average stats for his 82-game rookie season: 

27.0 points (2214 points) 13.1 rebounds (1074 rebounds) 7.0 assists (574 assists) 3.4 blocks (279 blocks) 1.3 steals (107 steals) 

Overall season shooting percentage: 50.8% Three-point percentage: 36.5% Free throw percentage: 81.7% 

Throughout the 05/06 season, Zack recorded thirteen triple-doubles, including two "40+ triple-doubles." His 71 points at Staples Center made him the first player in NBA history to score "70+" in a single game during his rookie season. 

The Warriors didn't need the league to crown their king. Because at this moment, under the gaze of Bay Area fans, Zack had already been crowned. 

"MVP! MVP! MVP!" 

In the stands, a golden wave formed by the live audience began to swell. They collectively chanted Zack's name. Their voices were so hoarse; some of them had saved several months' worth of salary just to watch this regular season finale. But since Zack had given hope to Oakland, the Bay Area fans naturally had to use their highest respect to add that well-deserved tile to Zack's coronation ceremony. 

At center court, as the cheers of the Warriors fans came from all directions, Zack immediately felt why Stephen Curry, in later generations, could stand alongside gods in the Bay Area as a mortal. To return to the playoffs, Warriors fans had waited for twelve years; historically, it was thirteen. To lift the championship trophy again, to lift that O'Brien Trophy that dated back to the Rick Barry era, they had waited for forty years. Twelve years is already a generation's youth. What about forty years? When the boys and girls who once witnessed the Warriors win a championship had grown old with gray hair, how could they not be crazy for Stephen Curry? 

On the court, when 98-year-old Sweety, with the assistance of staff, tottered to Zack, this elder, who had witnessed Rick Barry lift the trophy for the Warriors on television, tightly clasped Zack's large hands and said: "Watching you play has become a way of life for many Oaklanders, including me. Every night, I pray for you from the sidelines. From the moment I came to Oakland, I've never missed a single Warriors game, not even a minute. Thank you for bringing us back to the playoff stage after twelve years. We don't need Chicagoans or Angelenos to acknowledge you as a hero, because you are our hero." 

This is why competitive sports are always so captivating. When you witness history and create history, you have already become a part of history. 

Elderly Sweety. This elderly woman, who would be recorded in the Warriors' team history, would, in Zack's memory, personally witness the Warriors win the championship forty years later on her 106th birthday. This old Warriors fan, whom even Stephen Curry in later generations would affectionately call "Sweetie," was undoubtedly fortunate. At this moment, Zack felt as if his destiny was closely intertwined with these Warriors. 

In the stands, wiping away tears, Chris Mullin, the old drunkard, was already sobbing uncontrollably. Once, he had failed the Warriors fans' high expectations. Now, he hoped and prayed that Zack could, in the near future, bring back that long-awaited championship trophy for the Warriors fans. 

On the night of the coronation ceremony, Zack returned to his East Bay mansion and stayed awake all night. Warriors fans hoped to bestow a crown of significant weight upon Zack, but the weight of this crown... even Zack felt the strain. 

 

"The NBA 05/06 regular season has successfully concluded. Andrei Kirilenko's game-winning steal in the final moments successfully helped the Jazz return to the playoff picture. Jerry Sloan said after the game, basketball is damn beautiful, basketball is truly beautiful." - ESPN News Flash 

"When asked about missing the playoffs, Carmelo Anthony tearfully said that he would fully learn from this year's failures and guaranteed that he would lead the Nuggets back to the playoff stage next year." - The Denver Post 

"LeBron James, who successfully led the Cavaliers to a 50-win season and the fourth spot in the East, stated that he and his teammates would make a big splash in the upcoming playoffs." - The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) 

"Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson said in an interview that he still couldn't understand how a team that won 60 regular season games could be relegated to fourth in the West due to the playoff format." - The Dallas Morning News 

"When discussing the Warriors' regular season celebration party, Kwame Brown stated that it was a wonderful night and that he and his teammates are now ready to face the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs." - The San Francisco Chronicle 

"What's it like to be the league's rebounding leader and blocks leader in your rookie season? The Messiah said that he deeply regretted and felt sorry for narrowly losing the league scoring title to Kobe Bryant by nearly 9 points." - Sports Illustrated 

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