Smack!
Big Z won the jump ball cleanly against the "Western Conference's top center," Erick Dampier, giving his team the first possession of the game.
Speaking of Erick Dampier, the so-called Western Conference's top center...
That was a title he'd given himself. Sound familiar? Like some GOAT, right?
In 2004, Erick Dampier had just put up averages of 12.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.
On top of that, Big Shark O'Neal had just gone to the Miami Heat, making the Western Conference's interior look wide open.
Mark Cuban looked at Erick Dampier as if he'd found a treasure.
He promptly handed Dampier a seven-year, $73 million contract.
Naturally, Erick Dampier signed without a second thought.
After that, he started telling everyone he was the second-best center in the league.
Big Shark O'Neal: ???
Big Shark O'Neal wasn't having it. He went right after him, turned him into Hello Kitty, and mocked him, saying he should try his luck in the WNBA.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Houston Rockets in the first round of that season's playoffs.
Yao Ming absolutely destroyed Erick Dampier.
Dampier averaged just 6.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in that series—less than half his regular-season production.
Yao, on the other hand, put up a staggering 21.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game.
It became a black mark on Erick Dampier's career.
But the Dallas Mavericks and Nowitzki still thought highly of him.
Or maybe it was the Mavericks and Nowitzki who gave him the confidence to call himself the second-best center in the league.
Eric Snow scooped up the ball and quickly dribbled over half court.
As soon as he crossed the line, Eric Snow's eyes sharpened as he immediately looked for Su Yi.
Su Yi was already moving without