Chapter 656: Chapter 203: Stunning Passing (Part 2)
O’Neal watched the scene with envy and jealousy, but there was nothing he could do. Last year, he noticed Zhang Hao because Zhang Hao was furious on his birthday night when the New York Knicks didn’t give him a ticket and then slaughtered the Knicks in that game.
O’Neal always treated Zhang Hao as a player of the same caliber, otherwise, it wouldn’t be worth the effort for him to think up little tricks that had no effect at all.
"I’ve decided! From now on, every year on my birthday, I’m going to ask a team for tickets! If they don’t give me any, I’ll crush them next time we face off!"
Zhang Hao, as always, kept a calm expression and high-fived his teammates, including O’Neal who turned his head during the high-five, then stood aside.
The DJ’s voice rang out again: "Next up, please welcome one of the 50 greatest stars, Charles Barkley..."
Hearing the DJ’s voice seemed somewhat excited, even trembling, Zhang Hao thought this DJ might be a fan of Er Pang... huh?
Something doesn’t seem right!
Watching Barkley run out and high-five with his teammates, seeing O’Neal and the Magician standing at the outermost lines of teammates, then the last one...
Initially, no one thought much of it, but when O’Neal ran out, with the Lakers’ three 50 greatest stars all outside the player tunnel, Zhang Hao was the first to come out, then the last one...
Then, George Lynch and Doug Christie came out.
Finally, introduced by the DJ with little enthusiasm, Kenny Anderson came out.
When Zhang Hao came out, the fans’ emotions reached a climax, whether it was boos or cheers, it was at a boiling point, when Barkley came out, the fans first booed, then realized—both were out already, who was left?
Thus, when the Lakers’ next three starters came out, the boos gradually diminished, by the time Kenny Anderson appeared, the fans’ enthusiasm for booing the Lakers at the beginning was almost exhausted.
The headliner Kenny Anderson numbly high-fived his teammates, his mind a mess—how did things turn out like this?
After the entrance ceremony ended, Kenny Anderson was trying to calm himself, when suddenly a high schooler popped up: "Boss Kenny, we’re counting on you!"
Seeing Zhang Hao, usually expressionless, rarely showing a smile and looking at him with sincere eyes, Kenny Anderson numbly responded: "Thank you, I guess..."
...
After the New York Knicks players entered, first, the four fifty greatest stars took a group photo together on site.
Zhang Hao looked at O’Neal in a suit, and the other three fifty greatest stars in jerseys.
At that moment, he realized just how much he wanted to stand with them...
However, it’s better to stand further away this time, since after the entrance ceremony ended, O’Neal wanted to retaliate against him, but he managed to dodge each attempt with nimble movements.
Zhang Hao was feeling envious when Alan Houston came up to him: "Aix, don’t worry about it, you just had a bit of bad luck, a little bit short. If you’d entered the NBA a year earlier, O’Neal’s spot would be yours!"
With a posture of an experienced senior, while unknowingly acting as if Alan Houston had also been selected as one of the top 50.
But after being around for so long, Zhang Hao knows, Alan Houston just enjoys the feeling of being a "senior", especially when he sees the 19-year-old Mr. Zhang.
Zhang Hao responded: "Yeah, there’s definitely me."
Zhang Hao’s confidence, Alan Houston is already used to it, he said: "Initially I thought I’d be going to Los Angeles to play along with you, I looked forward to it for so long, it’s a pity. Fortunately, I ended up in New York, with a higher salary, it’s alright... By the way, I heard you bought another sports car? The Ferrari 1997 F355 that’ll be released next year, how did you get it? How much did it cost? Perfect timing, my salary increased by 2 million a year, I could buy several cars annually."
"Uh... if in New York, Alan, you should buy more houses! Having just one or two cars to drive is enough, I’m also planning to buy a few houses in Los Angeles, they will surely appreciate in value over the coming years..."
Zhang Hao remembered, once the internet bubble era is over, the United States is heading into the real estate bubble era. When the internet bubble peaks in the next few years, many will sell houses to cash in on internet investments, even in New York and Los Angeles, when a large number of homeowners start selling to invest in the internet, house prices are bound to fall, that’s when he will make his move, and sell before 2006...
The topic somehow changed, Zhang Hao brought it back: "That car was sent by Ferrari when training camp started, I’m endorsing for them, didn’t charge any endorsement fee, and everytime they have a new car, they’ll gift me one."
"..."
It’s really maddening! Alan Houston again realizes why Zhang Hao attracts so much resentment.
Speaking so flatly about sponsors gifting cars annually like this... Anyway, let’s talk about buying houses, Alan Houston ignored the car issue, and said: "I also want to buy a house, where’s a good place to buy?"
"Just buy a house close to your arena, schools nearby are fine too, house prices are high, will rise a lot in the future, easy to sell, if you buy houses far away, even when prices rise, you can’t sell them, just prices without a market..."
...
Somehow, before the game, they started discussing real estate, at 5:28, the starting players from both teams came onto the court.
Having cleaned the magnesium powder, arrived at the center circle, Zhang Hao looked across at Chales with an ability rating of 84, Alan Houston 86, Charles Oakley 78, Larry Johnson 90, Ewing 93...
On the court, the strongest was their Lakers’ Barkley!
As for point guard, they also had an advantage, the Brooklyn Nets’ former starter and substitute were about to face off, both were very excited.
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