Chương 65: Barkley: I Am More Optimistic About Wang Chong Than James!
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As the Lakers boast the most luxurious lineup in the league, their first game of the regular season naturally attracted a multitude of media outlets for live broadcasts. Notable among them were the two well-known American TV networks, ESPN and TNT, as well as China's CCTV.
Inside the TNT studio, two of the network's most prominent commentators, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, were engaging in a pre-game discussion.
"Charles, the Lakers' rookie, Wang Chong, who wears No. 13, has been receiving a lot of attention lately. In the preseason and summer league, Wang Chong scored 40 points against both the No. 1 pick LeBron James and the No. 3 pick Carmelo Anthony. Many media outlets are now suggesting that Wang Chong might be the most talented and capable player of the 2003 draft class. What's your take on this?" Smith asked.
Smith had prepared well in advance, researching all things related to Wang Chong. He also knew that Wang Chong and Yao Ming were semi-fellow countrymen. The previous year, Barkley had famously lost a bet involving Yao Ming, resulting in the memorable incident of Barkley kissing a donkey's butt.
Although they hadn't discussed it beforehand, Smith figured that because of the Yao Ming incident, Barkley would likely not have much affection for Wang Chong and would probably criticize him. If he got emotional, he might even make another outrageous bet like the infamous donkey's butt wager.
However, Smith was caught off guard when Barkley took over the topic with a smile on his face.
"I'm very familiar with Wang Chong. You might not know this, but I've been following Marquette University's games since they reached the NCAA semifinals. I've watched a lot of games featuring both Dwyane Wade and Wang Chong."
"You just mentioned that Wang Chong might be the most talented and capable player of the 2003 class. I completely agree with that because I see in him the shadow of a guy I really hate but have to admire—Larry Bird."
Barkley shook his head and continued, "Both are tall shooters with accurate mid-range shots. Their styles are very similar. I've played against Bird, so I know better than anyone how difficult it is to limit a tall player who is good at shooting on the defensive end. I didn't expect there would be another Bird-like player in the league now..."
Smith was taken aback, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at Barkley. This was definitely not how things were supposed to go according to the script.
But Smith, being the seasoned commentator he was, quickly spotted an opportunity to stir things up and asked, "So, according to you, is Wang Chong really better than LeBron, who is widely regarded as the best No. 1 pick?"
This was clearly a loaded question, designed to spark controversy.
In today's America, James already had a massive following. These fans firmly believed that James was the strongest player who would definitely dominate the league and become a superstar akin to Jordan.
If anyone were to publicly state that a No. 13 pick from the first round was better than their KING, they would surely face an onslaught of criticism.
However, Barkley was not one to shy away from speaking his mind, especially on topics he felt strongly about. He would never back down unless he hit a brick wall.
So, when faced with Smith's loaded question, he nodded without hesitation.
"That's how it seems to me, at least," Barkley responded.
He then elaborated on his perspective:
"Wang Chong and LeBron are completely different types of players. In my view, LeBron is more like a Magic Johnson with enhanced offensive ability and physical fitness, while Wang Chong is like Larry Bird."
"The debate over who is better—Magic or Larry—remains inconclusive. But there is one thing I am certain of: if both were put on teams without other stars, Bird would definitely lead his team better than Magic. No matter how exceptional a point guard is at passing the ball, he is ultimately dependent on his teammates' performances and finds it difficult to win games on his own."
During the Magic-Bird era, the Lakers, led by Magic, did win more championships. However, we also have to consider the objective facts.
The Lakers' Big Three at that time were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy.
Meanwhile, the Celtics' Big Three consisted of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish.
In terms of the quality of the Big Three alone, the Celtics lagged behind the Lakers. At best, McHale was on par with Worthy, with their career stats and head-to-head matchups being almost identical.
But Parish and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were not in the same league at all.
Therefore, it's only natural that the Lakers won more championships during that period than the Celtics. However, this doesn't necessarily mean Magic Johnson was definitely stronger than Bird. It just shows that when both teams had star-studded lineups, Magic's organizational and playmaking abilities could better maximize the team's overall strength.
This is the dilemma with James as well.
Without superstar teammates, it would be tough for James to win a championship. However, players like Jordan, Bird, and even Kobe in his last two championships could win as long as they had one or two All-Star-caliber teammates.
This isn't about individual skill level but rather a matter of playing style. The ball-dominant core style means the entire team has to be built around that player. The floor is high, but the ceiling has significant limitations.
On the other hand, a pure scorer integrates well into any team system, serving as the primary scoring option—simple, direct, and efficient.
For instance, in Kobe's last two championships, the team's primary ball handlers were Odom and Gasol, and the overall team tactics revolved around Phil Jackson's perfected triangle offense. Kobe had plenty of off-ball tactical plays rather than taking on all the responsibilities himself.
Of course, it's a different story when Kobe goes into "The Lone Bryant" mode.
As a former top star who played in the league for many years and won a regular-season MVP, Barkley has a sharp understanding of the game.
He sees James as more akin to a version of Magic Johnson with enhanced scoring and slightly diminished passing. Such a player is bound to accumulate personal accolades, but he is not the type that Barkley favors.
Previously, Barkley had publicly expressed his admiration for Bird multiple times, praising his unstoppable shooting ability, various crafty moves on the defensive end, and his legendary trash-talking skills.
So, upon seeing Wang Chong, whose style closely resembles Bird's, he naturally became fond of the player.
However, Barkley doesn't yet realize that Wang Chong is not exactly like Bird but more like Kevin Durant, except that Durant has yet to emerge in the league.
Although both players primarily rely on mid-range shooting for scoring, Durant and Bird's playing styles have significant differences.
End of this chapter
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