"Xiaoming, you've really improved a lot."
"The hope of Chinese basketball rests with you."
"I hope you can lead us even farther."
Wang Zhizhi stood with his hands on his hips, his expression calm.
He knew this day would eventually come, but he hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.
No one understood the gap in talent between himself and Yao Ming better than he did.
Yet before this season began, whether at Mamba Academy or during national team training, Wang Zhizhi had still been able to keep Yao Ming slightly under control.
But...
This game was different.
This was Yao Ming's first playoff game. Wang Zhizhi had expected Yao Ming to look more inexperienced.
But Yao Ming seemed like a completely different person from the start of the season!
He faked, spun past him, drove into the paint, then hooked the ball over Dirk Nowitzki's head and calmly sent it through the net.
Unadorned!
Simple!
Yet incredibly efficient!
"Looks like the interior defense formed by Wang Zhizhi and Dirk Nowitzki is about to let our top pick put on an astonishing performance."
"The softest twin towers in the league! Yao Ming might drop 20-plus on their heads!"
Yao Ming excitedly pumped his fist.
He had finally defeated his former goal—the wind-chasing youth, Wang Zhizhi!
For so many years, Wang Zhizhi had been one of his goals. He was the first Chinese player to earn a spot in an NBA rotation, the leader and deadly weapon of China's national team on the world stage.
Before Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi had been the face of Chinese basketball.
But now!
Everything was different!
After Yao Ming defeated Wang Zhizhi, the strongest player in China was Yao Ming himself!
He would lead Chinese basketball forward!
It was his duty!
"Kareem, what do you