Chapter 63: James: I'm Not a Scorer
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Only O'Neal himself knows whether he meant to make a veiled criticism.
But it is an indisputable fact that Wang Chong outperformed James in their individual matchup during the game.
Throughout the game, Wang Chong shot 16 of 24 from the field, including 2 of 5 from three-point range and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, scoring exactly 40 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.
James, on the other hand, made 13 of 27 shots and 7 of 14 free throws, finishing with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists.
From a statistical perspective, one might argue that the two were evenly matched. After all, James also recorded 10 assists along with his 33 points.
However, James played nearly 10 minutes more than Wang Chong, and when both were on the court, they were consistently competing in scoring. In that regard, Wang Chong undoubtedly achieved a comprehensive victory, both in terms of points scored and shooting efficiency.
As the 13th pick in the first round of the 2003 draft, it is quite incredible that Wang Chong could go toe-to-toe with LeBron James, the first overall pick who is widely regarded as "The Chosen One," and come out on top.
This is not an isolated incident, as in the previous summer league, Wang Chong also scored 40 points against another standout player from the 2003 draft class, Carmelo Anthony.
These two 40+ point performances, both against the top rookies of the same class, are enough to establish Wang Chong's strength.
"Battle of the Top Rookies of 2003: Wang Chong 40+9 vs. James 34+8+10! Who is the Strongest Rookie of 2003?"
"Lakers Defeat Cavaliers 110-88 by 22 Points: Even with the New No. 1 Pick, Cavaliers Still Have a Long Way to Go."
"Biggest Dark Horse of the Draft? Wang Chong May Become the Next Kobe Bryant. Lakers' Championship Prospects Shine!"
Overnight, all major media outlets were abuzz with reports about the preseason game between the Lakers and the Cavaliers. Ordinarily, preseason games do not receive such high attention since the league doesn't even officially track statistics for these games.
However, this game was different.
James, with his high profile, naturally draws attention, and Wang Chong's Lakers are a storied franchise that garners significant interest in the league. Moreover, Wang Chong had recently embarrassed Carmelo Anthony in the summer league in a similar fashion.
Isn't this just a recipe for a hot topic?
When asked in a subsequent interview about his views on the game, James, at the center of the conversation, again had to face the media.
Despite his dissatisfaction, James maintained a composed, diplomatic tone: "It was a very exciting game, though there's still a gap in strength between us and the Lakers, especially in the second quarter when Kobe scored 17 points. That run really decided the game. They're a strong team—a dynasty team that's won three consecutive championships."
The implication was clear: he was deflecting the blame.
Firstly, it wasn't my fault we lost. The Lakers are very strong, and the real game-changer was Kobe's explosion in the second quarter, not this No. 24 rookie.
Unconvinced by his deflection, a reporter pressed on.
"In this game, Wang Chong scored 40 points, while you managed only 33. What are your thoughts on that?" the reporter asked.
"What do you think?" James replied, shaking his head without expression. "I don't have any thoughts on that. I'm not a scorer. For me, scoring isn't my first priority on the court. I prefer to facilitate my teammates and help them become better rather than focusing on scoring myself."
Though his words were diplomatic, it was evident to anyone paying attention that James was clearly unhappy, as his pain point had been struck.
James might claim that scoring isn't his focus, but he took 27 shots in this game, more than Wang Chong, who scored 40 points. Does that mean he really doesn't care about scoring?
In any case, Wang Chong's first matchup against James has come to an end, but it's only the beginning.
As long as they both continue playing in the league, there will be plenty more opportunities for them to face each other.
After the preseason game against the Cavaliers, the Lakers still had a few more preseason games to play, but they were of little importance and could be completely disregarded.
With the end of the Lakers' last preseason game in late October, the regular season that Wang Chong had been eagerly awaiting was finally about to begin!
The 2003-04 regular season, or more precisely, the first week of the regular season, was crucial for Wang Chong.
Because as early as a month ago, the system had issued a task requiring him to score at least 20 points in the season opener and to maintain an average higher than James and Anthony during the first week.
This task may seem simple on the surface but is actually quite difficult.
You must understand that both James and Anthony are the absolute focal points of their respective teams, commanding significant ball possession and shot opportunities. In contrast, Wang Chong is just a lower-tier player for the Lakers. Not only are the "Shaq and Kobe" duo ahead of him, but even Gary Payton and Karl Malone take precedence over him.
These players didn't get much playing time during the preseason, giving Wang Chong some opportunities to showcase his skills. But will he get as many chances during the regular season?
With this concern in his heart, the time finally came to October 28th.
The Lakers' regular season opener was scheduled for this day, where they would host the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks during this period were a powerhouse in the Western Conference, especially last season, the 2002-03 season. Led by Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley, the Mavericks posted a 60-22 record, matching the Spurs, and reached the Western Conference Finals before falling to the Spurs 4-2.
In the new season, the Mavericks upgraded their lineup by trading for the Celtics' All-Star forward Antoine Walker and forward Antawn Jamison, whose playing style is similar to Nowitzki's. Both players were reliable contributors who could average 20+ points and 7 rebounds per game before joining the Mavericks. Their addition undoubtedly made the Mavericks even stronger, positioning them as one of the most competitive teams in the West.
However, no matter how formidable the Mavericks' lineup is, it still falls short compared to the Lakers' "F4" combination. The matchup between these two teams is naturally filled with excitement.
Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant was unable to play in the Lakers' opening game.
Due to a call from the Eagle County police, he had to rush to Eagle County to assist in an investigation, forcing him to miss the team's crucial opening game.
Without Kobe, who was a key player averaging 30+ points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists last season, the scales of victory and defeat shifted. At the very least, without Kobe, the Lakers' lineup no longer held a decisive advantage over the Mavericks.
End of this chapter
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