One Year Left to Play

Chapter 525 - 159: Even Jordan’s Record Will Be Broken!

Finally, Cassell spoke: "Aix, can I call you that? Or should I call you Zhang?"

Zhang Hao nodded: "Of course you can."

"Aix, you played really well! So smart, you utilized your advantages perfectly. I’ve never seen a player as smart as you." After Cassell finished speaking, he said goodbye and left.

Zhang Hao was full of question marks—"Was this... just to praise me?"

Zhang Hao was puzzled, and Cassell, although he had a friendly exchange with Zhang Hao, had no plans for further communication at the moment.

"4 out of 11 shots, 10 points, 5 assists, 1 steal... played too poorly! I need to earn his respect with my performance!"

...

...

Seven games with 40+ points!

In the game against the Rockets, Zhang Hao tied Jordan’s rookie record of seven 40+ point games, the highest number of 40+ point games by any active player in their rookie season!

This is also the highest record since Skywalker David Thompson, the 1975 first overall pick, had eight games of 40+ points, which occurred after the NBA and ABA merged in 1976, marking the modern basketball era.

Moreover, the Lakers have only played 53 games, with 29 remaining. Achieving 40+ points in a single game is a rare feat. Even for Jordan, who had over 100 such games out of more than 700, the probability was only one in six.

Many talented rookies... not just rookies, but many starters who have played for years, have never achieved a single 40+ point game.

However, after this game, the general consensus was that Zhang Hao had the potential to break Jordan’s rookie record for the most 40+ point games in the modern basketball era.

Zhang Hao was delighted with the media praise. He was increasingly enjoying this feeling and didn’t want to lose it... which meant he had to work harder and be more patient to become stronger.

That night, he entered study mode and reviewed the game against the Rockets.

The combination of brainpower, the utilization of his own strengths, and the outstanding performances of his teammates was the reason for winning this game.

However, the Rockets’ inherent weaknesses were becoming increasingly apparent. If either Drexler or Olajuwon were two years younger, they wouldn’t have been as easy to deal with.

Doug Christie surprisingly limited the nearly 34-year-old Drexler more effectively than expected. Although Olajuwon maintained his form better than Drexler, who lost his ability to average 20+ points before joining the Rockets, aging is inevitable. With Alexander unwilling to spend money on reinforcements and even cutting Drexler’s salary from a $9.81 million annual salary to a two-year $11 million renewal before the All-Star weekend to save money, Olajuwon often found himself struggling alone...

"This is our playoff chance. Compared to the Jazz, Supersonics, and Spurs, facing the Rockets in the second round gives us the best shot at advancing!"

"I need to continue improving my pivots, as Olajuwon easily blocked my pivoting lanes... I also need to figure out what to do after getting blocked—this move is becoming increasingly important to our team’s offense..."

...

The day after the game against the Rockets, the buzz surrounding Zhang Hao tying Jordan’s rookie record for 40+ point games truly came to light.

The best-selling newspapers in North America were in California.

The Knicks’ owner’s remark "God Loves Los Angeles" was spreading again.

Due to Jordan’s godlike performance this season, he’s seen as the pinnacle of basketball, and so Zhang Hao’s nickname "Fucker-Sky" became popular again...

Having led the team to five consecutive wins, Zhang Hao once again became the center of attention.

Meanwhile, last night, the Bulls lost an away game against the Phoenix Suns 96-106, ending their 11-game winning streak. Surprisingly, the end of their winning streak didn’t draw as much attention as the Lakers’ five-game winning streak and Zhang Hao’s 40+ points!

On a chartered flight from Phoenix to Chicago, it was very quiet. Everyone could see the world’s best player was agitated.

"Winning more than them, getting less attention; losing, still getting less attention, what more can I do?"

On the other hand, the Lakers’ away journey continued.

When the team staff started handing out down jackets on the plane, Zhang Hao understood why the Grizzlies had such a short stint in Vancouver and why Francis would rather bear a bad reputation than play for the Grizzlies.

Even at the end of February, Vancouver was still freezing!

During the February 26th evening game, Zhang Hao saw that less than 10,000 spectators had come to the venue, most of them for himself and the Magician, and knew the team was bound to lose money every year here.

Zhang Hao played hard in this game and remembered only two players from the opposing team.

One was the former leading scorer of the Lakers, future Lakers head coach Byron Scott, who wasn’t on the Pacers’ eight-player protection list after last season, allowing the Grizzlies to select him.

The other was this year’s sixth pick, Bryant Rivers.

At 22 years old, 213 cm tall, weighing 125 kg, with solid fundamentals, excellent post-up skills, strong rim protection, and an active presence. Also, as a white player, he averaged 13.8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in his rookie season so far. On the Grizzlies, the league’s weakest team, he was able to hold opponents to an average of just 101 points per 100 possessions, showing that the Grizzlies made a good choice in the draft.

But the rest of the Grizzlies were too poor. Their core point guard Greg Anthony, a backup point guard for the New York Knicks in his first four seasons, became the top scorer for the Grizzlies, averaging 14.4 points. Bryant Rivers, with an average of 13.8 points, was the second-highest scorer...

Lacking in offense and defense, against such an opponent, the Lakers played as if it was a game, winning decisively 114-90!

Zhang Hao played a few minutes in each of the first three quarters, totaling 24 minutes, with 8 of 14 shooting, including 2 of 3 from open three-point opportunities, and a perfect 8 of 8 free throws, gathering 26 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks before clocking out!

While happy to beat a weak team, Zhang Hao was even more thrilled to beat a fellow top-eight rookie from his draft class, earning a 10-day life reward!

With six consecutive wins, the Lakers improved their record to 44 wins and 10 losses!