章節 115: Signature Skill Package Targets: Iverson, Odom!
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"Ding – the U.S. men's basketball team won the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medal, and player Wang Chong was selected MVP!"
"Ding – System mission completed, please check the mission rewards."
Standing on the podium wearing the gold medal, Wang Chong couldn't help but smile as he heard the continuous notifications from the system.
There was only one reason for participating in the Olympics: to complete the system mission.
At this moment, the national flag was slowly rising, and the U.S. national anthem was playing. The U.S. men's basketball players stood with solemn expressions, watching their flag ascend. But Wang Chong was not fully present in the moment; he didn't feel connected to the American flag.
As soon as he received the system task rewards, he entered the consciousness space.
The reward this time was special. It wasn't points or badges but a Skill Package. According to the system, he could now choose two teammates and copy their signature skills.
Before the Olympics, Wang Chong had already decided who he wanted to emulate: Iverson and Duncan. Iverson's butterfly step and Duncan's 45-degree bank shot were unique skills in the league. However, after interacting with these stars up close, his thoughts had changed.
Iverson's Butterfly Step was a must-have. Wang Chong had no particularly powerful breakthrough move, and this would fill that gap.
But after seeing Duncan's 45-degree bank shot in action, Wang Chong realized it wasn't what he urgently needed. Although famous, it was not more effective than a direct mid-range shot like Durant's. Duncan's shooting percentage hovered just over 50%, while Durant's was nearly identical in terms of efficiency, with Durant outperforming him in total points. Wang Chong felt confident he could bypass the bank shot and still hit the mark directly.
That's when he considered choosing another player instead of Duncan. There were others on the Dream Team whose skills might be more useful to him. Skills don't always have to be famous to be effective.
"System, select Allen Iverson and Lamar Odom's signature skill packages!"
"The signature skill package has been selected. Allen Iverson: Signature skill: Butterfly Step. Odom: Signature skill: Left-handed ball control. You can enter the learning space at any time to learn the corresponding signature skills."
Exactly as Wang Chong had hoped, Iverson's signature skill was the iconic Butterfly Step. Any NBA fan familiar with Iverson knew of this move. Odom's signature skill, as Wang Chong expected, was his left-handed ball control, matching his title as the "Left-Handed Magician."
In the NBA, most players are right-handed, with only a few notable exceptions like Ginobili, Harden, and Odom. Despite his talent, Odom's career didn't reach its full potential, hindered by lack of self-discipline and desire to win. His highest achievement was being named Sixth Man of the Year.
Even so, Odom's abilities as a versatile big man were undeniable. Standing at 2.08 meters, Odom could protect the basket, run fast breaks, and make stunning assists. His left-handed control gave him the edge in these situations.
Wang Chong was satisfied with this choice. Being proficient with both hands on the court would make him harder to defend, a more valuable skill than Duncan's bank shot.
"The signature skill package requires entering the learning space for simulation learning. The outside world's time will be completely frozen during the learning period. Are you sure you want to start learning now?"
Wang Chong didn't hesitate. There was no reason to wait if time was paused.
"Start now!" he confirmed.
His vision darkened, and when he opened his eyes, he was back on the familiar simulation court. In front of him stood a short player wearing the No. 3 jersey, demonstrating Iverson's Butterfly Step on the court.
"It's time again," Wang Chong sighed.
The last time he had learned Durant's shooting package, he lost track of how long it took. In this virtual world, he couldn't feel time passing, nor did he feel tired, hungry, or bored. The system helped him focus solely on learning.
The same happened now. Wang Chong immersed himself completely in the process.
How much time had passed? He had no idea. But suddenly, the system's voice brought him out of his deep concentration.
"Butterfly Step learning complete. Progress: 85%."
Only 85%? Wang Chong felt a bit disappointed. That meant his version of the Butterfly Step would only be 85% as effective as Iverson's.
But it made sense. How could a 2.10-meter-tall player like Wang Chong perfectly learn the breakthrough skills of someone barely 1.83 meters tall? Even with 85% proficiency, his execution would still have a massive impact due to his size and reach.
Now it was time to learn Odom's left-handed ball control.
When Wang Chong opened his eyes again, the American flag was still rising. He felt disconnected, almost falling off the podium. He couldn't remember how long he had spent in the consciousness space. Ten days? A month? Half a year? It was all a blur.
What surprised him the most was that learning Odom's skill took much longer than Iverson's, even though it was less famous. But the challenge made sense—switching from dominant right-hand control to left-handed precision was no easy task.
Wang Chong had never been bad with his left hand, but Odom's mastery was on another level. After hard work, he had achieved 80% proficiency in Odom's left-hand control. It wasn't perfect, but it made his left hand almost as effective as his right.
Overall, Wang Chong's ball-handling abilities improved significantly, even though his overall rating and badge count didn't change. His offensive game with the ball had now reached a new level.
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The U.S. Dream Team's victory in Athens, with Wang Chong as MVP, caught the attention of China's basketball leaders. Seeing a Chinese player dominate among NBA stars like Iverson and Duncan made them wonder what could have been if Wang Chong played alongside Yao Ming for the national team.
On August 29th, the Athens Olympics ended, and the Dream Team returned to the U.S. The players had little time to rest, as the new NBA season loomed.
For the Lakers, it would be a challenging season without Shaquille O'Neal. However, Kobe Bryant was optimistic. With his legal troubles winding down and his position as the team's undisputed leader secure, Kobe felt ready to take on the season.
When Wang Chong and Lamar Odom returned to Los Angeles, Kobe unexpectedly invited them to a celebratory banquet. The relationship between Kobe and Wang Chong had never been close, especially after Shaq had taken Wang Chong under his wing. But with Shaq gone, things were different now.
End of chapter
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Chugamc
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