This Watered-Down Top Scholar Doesn't Seem So Watered-Down Anymore!

[Postgame Reward: 138 Peak Points]

[Peak Points: 327/4181]

Zhou Ze spent 200 Peak Points to exchange for one random draw.

[ Ding. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained a new badge—Corner Three-Point Shooter (Bronze). ]

[Corner Three-Point Shooter (Bronze)] Function Description:

1. When shooting corner threes, Three-Point attribute +5.

2. To upgrade to the next tier (Silver), you must make a cumulative total of 5,000 three-pointers in games or training.

This new badge delighted Zhou Ze.

At present, although Zhou Ze's Three-Point attribute was only 94 (94), he possessed four shooting badges:

[Three-Point Agent (Silver)]: Three-Point +8.

[Catch-and-Shoot (Silver)]: When receiving a pass, Three-Point +8.

[Sharpshooter (Bronze)]: Slightly improves resistance to shooting interference.

[Corner Three-Point Shooter]: Three-Point +5.

That meant that when Zhou Ze shot a corner three off the catch, his Three-Point rating gained +21, reaching a staggering 115. One had to know that the upper limit for every NBA attribute was 130.

He had already reached the level of an elite shooter, not to mention Zhou Ze's advantages in speed and height.

I really hope the next player template I load is a shooter type, one that can raise the ceiling of my shooting talent. Even a 3-and-D shooter would do. With just over 800 Peak Points, he could obtain another player template, and Zhou Ze could not help making a "wish."

After the game against the Chicago Bulls, Kim Kardashian, the second Kardashian sister, invited Zhou Ze to dinner. Even though she had a husband now, compared to their reputations, the Kardashian sisters cared more about public attention—traffic.

Spending a "one-night" with Zhou Ze, the hottest rookie in the league, would definitely draw countless eyes.

But Zhou Ze firmly refused.

With Kim Kardashian's reputation, even Cao Cao himself would probably shake his head.

The Lakers' final game of the week was against the Seattle SuperSonics—well, the Thunder's predecessor.

The SuperSonics also had a soft big man—Rashard Lewis.

This season, Lewis was averaging 20.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals. He was shooting 38.4% from three while making 1.8 per game.

Zhou Ze was averaging 20.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0 blocks, and 1.4 steals. He was shooting 39.8% from three while making 4.1 per game.

In terms of three-point percentage and volume, Zhou Ze completely outclassed Rashard Lewis. He was even more terrifying than Ray Allen, one of the league's elite Sharpshooters.

In the 2001-02 season, Ray Allen attempted 7.7 threes per game and made 3.3, shooting 43.4% from beyond the arc. More importantly, hand-checking, or HC, was still allowed at the time.

In addition, Zhou Ze's three-point percentage over his last four games had dropped significantly, to only around 32%. That had a great deal to do with his opponents gradually figuring out his style of play.

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Heavenly Dynasty Sports broadcast this game, with the familiar duo of Zhang Heli and Su Qun once again on commentary.

After the game began, Kobe and Ray Allen, both members of the Class of '96, did not take the lead in attacking. Instead, they watched the big men on their respective teams trade three-pointers.

The two matched up directly, and within the first two minutes of the game, each made two three-pointers.

Director Zhang could not help but marvel. "Zhou and Lewis, these two interior players, not only have soft touches from the perimeter, they're actually trading threes. You could hardly ever see such an unusual matchup in past games."

"Exactly. This is my first time seeing interior players shoot so frequently from outside. Still, both of their threes have been accurate. They're both two for four so far. Compared to banging away for points inside, this is certainly much easier. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, three-pointers will become the trend of the era." Su Qun's tone also carried a hint of disbelief.

On the court, SuperSonics starting point guard Luke Ridnour drove toward the basket after a strong-side pick-and-roll. On the weak side, Lewis ran without the ball, hoping to get another good shooting opportunity like before.

But Zhou Ze had gradually become familiar with his opponent's off-ball patterns. The instant the pass came, he lunged forward, like a goalkeeper diving for a ball, and directly completed the steal.

"The SuperSonics have been a little careless. They underestimated Zhou's speed," Zhang Heli said.

"That's right. Also, Zhou's style is simply the nemesis of shooter-type big men. His speed and strength are both superior to theirs. On top of that, shooter-type big men can't use screens as frequently as perimeter shooters do, which lets Zhou comfortably trail behind them," Su Qun analyzed.

After being stripped, Lewis hustled back on defense, putting everything into stopping Zhou Ze.

Lewis might have been weak physically, but he was not slow.

As for Zhou Ze, while he was fast, his acceleration was lacking. During the fast break, it was difficult for him to completely shake Lewis.

Seeing Zhou Ze half a step ahead of Lewis, Lamar Odom did not hesitate in the slightest and tossed up a high lead lob.

"Ah, Odom's pass is a bad decision!"

"Zhou hasn't completely shaken Odom yet. Their bodies have been in constant contact, battling each other. He won't be able to jump like that."

Zhang Heli in the broadcast booth could not help growing anxious.

But at the instant the basketball left Odom's hand, Zhou Ze, who had been tangled up by Lewis, suddenly unleashed a "second acceleration" and completely shook him off.

Lewis watched Zhou Ze leap into the air in front of him, leaving only his pert backside facing him. Catching the ball in midair, Zhou Ze slammed it down with a BOOM!

"Wow, what a thunderous dunk! Just as expected of Little Zhou. Then again, Odom's lob to Little Zhou wasn't entirely unreasonable. After all, the target was Little Zhou." Director Zhang smoothed over his earlier remark.

Su Qun beside him nodded in full agreement.

With that alley-oop slam, Zhou Ze demonstrated the difference between himself and Rashard Lewis.

Soon, beep! The referee's whistle sounded. Facing a double-team, Kobe fed the ball to Kwame Brown, who was half-open under the basket, but the butterfingered big man failed to catch it.

Kwame Brown's physical tools and athleticism were indeed worthy of being the top pick in a weak NBA draft class, but his problem was that his hands were small—smaller even than Kobe's.

Having wasted such a great opportunity, Kwame Brown immediately drew a grim expression from the demanding Kobe.

"Kobe, sorry. I'll definitely catch it next time," Kwame Brown promised, thumping his chest with a determined look in his eyes.

Zhou Ze was slightly stunned by those words. Was this really the bust of a No. 1 pick I'd first known? Shouldn't he be saying, 'Don't pass me the ball, I'm scared'?

Noticing Zhou Ze looking at him, Kwame Brown gave him a friendly, somewhat confident smile.

Zhou Ze smiled back.