Chapter 94: All-Star Weekend, Lakers Become the Biggest Winner
Guys there is already content on patreon, if anyone wants to become a chunin jonnin, hogake or God Shinobi.
patreon.com/Chuga320 (Have more than 10 additional chapters plis ;))
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Wang Chong, whose ability rating reached 89, noticed a slight increase in his attribute values. However, compared to his ability rating, another change made him even happier.
This change was evident when he checked his detailed data panel.
Name: Wang Chong
Age: 19
Height: 2.10 meters
Weight: 107 kg
Wingspan: 2.26 meters
Overall ability rating: 89
Growth model: Kevin Durant
Wang Chong noticed something immediately: his height had increased from 2.09 meters to 2.10 meters!
Although the difference is only one centimeter, in top-level sports, even a millimeter can make a significant impact. Not only had his height changed, but his weight had also increased. Previously, Wang Chong weighed 105 kg, which was already quite heavy for a small forward. Now, he weighed 107 kg. Despite this weight increase, his speed, agility, and jumping ability remained unaffected, and his agility even improved alongside his overall rating, reaching 78—just 2 points shy of Durant's peak agility rating of 80.
Given that Wang Chong was still young, with five months to go until his 20th birthday, his growth spurt wouldn't draw too much attention. A slight increase in height at his age is considered normal.
Especially when it's just one centimeter at a time, it's hard for anyone to notice.
Wang Chong speculated that his height would stop increasing once he fully merged with Durant's growth template card.
Durant's actual height has always been somewhat of a mystery in the league. His official height when he entered the league was listed at 2.06 meters, which was later adjusted to 2.07 meters. However, any NBA fan would likely dismiss this figure.
Durant's real height is closer to 2.10 or even 2.11 meters. This estimate is based on comparisons with centers like DeAndre Jordan and DeMarcus Cousins when he played for the USA Dream Team.
Jordan and Cousins are both officially listed at 2.11 meters, and Durant appears to be roughly the same height when standing next to them.
However, standing side-by-side comparisons can be misleading due to camera angles, which is why some fans believe Durant is slightly shorter, around 2.10 meters or less.
Wang Chong isn't certain of Durant's exact height. It doesn't matter much now; his height is already 2.10 meters, with potential for further growth.
While Wang Chong's growth is tied to Durant's template card, it doesn't mean he will be the exact same height as Durant. There's always the possibility he could grow taller.
However, being too tall has its downsides. A higher center of gravity can limit one's ability to dribble effectively. Even skilled big men like Antetokounmpo and Jokic, known for their dribbling, occasionally lose the ball due to their height.
From Wang Chong's perspective, a height of 2.08 meters is optimal. It allows for both interior and exterior play, combining the height for inside dominance with the agility needed for perimeter play.
Durant's height, while slightly tall for a typical perimeter player, is perfect for his unique skill set. His height allows him to shoot over defenders without compromising his mobility—a perfect balance.
Media Coverage After the Rookie Challenge:
"On the night of the Rookie Challenge, Wang Chong scored 41 points and shone throughout the game, earning the Rookie Challenge MVP!"
"In the battle for the strongest rookie, Wang Chong triumphs again, beating James to claim the Rookie Challenge MVP!"
"The difference in offensive efficiency is stark. James took more shots but scored fewer points than Wang Chong. Has the strongest rookie of the 2003 class been determined?"
"Wang Chong and Wade have rekindled their NCAA-era chemistry. The Wang-Wei duo is unstoppable!"
Typically, the Rookie Challenge doesn't receive much attention. However, the 2003 class was an exception, drawing considerable interest in both China and the United States.
When Wang Chong delivered a standout performance, scoring 41 points and clinching the Rookie Challenge MVP, he made headlines across major sports outlets. His popularity soared, and even the All-Star events the following day couldn't overshadow the buzz surrounding him.
The hype only began to diminish slightly on the third day when the All-Star Game took place.
The All-Star Game is generally more competitive than the Rookie Challenge, and this one was quite exciting.
O'Neal, replacing Yao Ming as a starter, shot 12 of 19 from the field, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, leading the Western Conference All-Stars to a 136-132 victory over the Eastern Conference. He also won the All-Star MVP, his second.
O'Neal's wide grin as he held the MVP trophy delighted the Los Angeles fans.
The Lakers emerged as the biggest winners of the All-Star Weekend, capturing two MVP awards: Wang Chong's Rookie Challenge MVP and O'Neal's All-Star Game MVP. This outcome signified that the Lakers were poised for both present success and future greatness. With O'Neal being the league's most dominant player today, and Wang Chong showing the potential to become a top superstar—perhaps even surpassing James, the "Chosen One"—the Lakers were in an enviable position.
As long as the Lakers can maintain their current roster over the next few years, they will always be favorites to win the championship.
In this game, Kobe also performed admirably, hitting 9 of 12 shots and scoring 20 points, along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. His performance was even more efficient than O'Neal's. With 36 minutes on the court, he was the only player from either conference to play more than 30 minutes.
But Kobe understood the importance of the current situation and wisely chose not to steal the spotlight. Instead, he played a supporting role, passing and assisting O'Neal several times, helping him secure the All-Star MVP—a dynamic reminiscent of Wang Chong and Wade's relationship in the Rookie Challenge.
It's worth mentioning that Yao Ming also performed well, scoring 16 points and grabbing 4 rebounds on 8 of 14 shooting.
This marked Yao Ming's best All-Star performance. In subsequent All-Star appearances, he didn't perform as well and was primarily there to engage with the audience.
This phenomenon isn't unique to Yao Ming. Most big men with simpler playing styles aren't overly enthusiastic about showcasing their skills in the All-Star Game. This includes players like Duncan, Nowitzki, and Gasol, who also rarely shine in these exhibition games. But this doesn't diminish their strength or historical significance. After all, the All-Star Game is primarily a showcase event.
End of this chapter
Note: Hi if you really like NBA novels, you can support me either in this pg with stones, reviews etc, or in patreon since the niche of sports and specially NBA is very small is Webnovel since people prefer to read Naruto, Pokemon, comics etc.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Chugamc
Chugamc Hi guys this is Chuga. If you read this far and liked it you can leave comments, stones and reviews which is very important for a new translator / author.
Love you.
patreon.com/Chuga320 (Plis <3 ;)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone