As two of the brightest stars in this NCAA tournament, there was a stark contrast in popularity between Wade and Anthony.
When Wade came onto the court, there were few cheers from the sidelines. Most of the audience knew that this guard, who had posted a 30+ triple-double in the semi-finals, was incredibly talented, but so what? 2003 was the era of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
When these two prodigious players declared their intentions to enter the NBA draft, the entire league was abuzz with anticipation for these future superstars.
While James was still widely considered the favorite for the No. 1 overall pick, Anthony's outstanding performance in the NCAA had sparked increasing support for him to claim that top spot.
Just like now, as Anthony walked onto the court, cheers erupted from the stands, with many fans shouting his name, as if he were already a long-established star.
Wang Chong's eyes lit up as he watched Anthony, who raised his hands high under the spotlight and calmly soaked in the flowers and applause from the crowd.
He knew that all of this could one day belong to him. Today, his goal was to pull Anthony down from his pedestal and climb up himself, making everyone notice him!
Anthony, smiling and waving at the fans, seemed to sense something. He turned his gaze toward Marquette University and locked eyes with Wang Chong, who looked back with a sharp, determined expression.
"Who is that...?"
Seeing the yellow skin and black hair, rare on the court, Anthony was momentarily stunned and immediately recalled Wang Chong's name.
While Marquette University was not known as a powerhouse in the NCAA, it was the biggest dark horse of March Madness, making it all the way to the finals. Syracuse University had spent considerable time investigating and analyzing this team.
Wang Chong was now regarded as the second most important player on the Marquette team, second only to Wade, and had naturally been a focal point of their scouting reports.
Anthony knew this was a center who excelled at mid-range and long-range shooting. His style was "soft," but his shooting was accurate, making him a dangerous scoring threat that required special attention.
But that was all. His style, reminiscent of Nowitzki's, was considered "soft" in the 2003 league, where rugged, aggressive play was more valued. While his scoring ability was notable, it didn't leave a strong impression.
At this moment, Anthony didn't take Wang Chong seriously. His focus was more on Wade.
In his mind, Wade—with his blazing speed and powerful drives—posed the biggest threat in this game.
The game was about to begin as the starting players from both teams stepped onto the court.
As the tallest player on the Marquette University team, Wang Chong took up his usual position as center, ready to jump for the ball.
Syracuse University's starting center was Hakim Warrick, who stood 2.06 meters tall.
This was the period when Anthony won the championship. Warrick was the only other Syracuse player, besides Anthony, to make it to the NBA. He entered the draft in 2005 and was picked 19th overall in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Warrick, known for his superior athleticism and leaping ability, had a respectable NBA career, averaging 9.4 points and 4 rebounds per game.
As the referee tossed the basketball into the air, before Wang Chong could react, a solid, dark figure sprang up, swatting the ball into Syracuse's backcourt.
It was Warrick.
Nicknamed "Helicopter," Warrick had an exceptional vertical leap and incredible speed, making him a formidable opponent. Despite being shorter than Wang Chong, his explosiveness allowed him to easily secure the ball.
Syracuse on the Offense.
After the point guard crossed half-court, he immediately passed the ball to the team's star, Anthony.
With the ball in hand, Anthony looked at the defender in front of him, and his expression suddenly froze.
At the same time, the game commentator spoke in surprise.
"Anthony has the ball, and the player guarding him is Marquette University's starting center, Wang Chong! Could this be a pre-planned strategy? Using a center to defend Anthony, who plays as a small forward—is this even viable?"
Others weren't sure if it would work, but Anthony sneered.
Never one to hold back, he addressed Wang Chong directly.
"Kid, do you really think you can defend me all by yourself? I have ten thousand ways to score against you!"
Known as an "offensive kaleidoscope" in the NBA, Anthony's offensive arsenal was vast and elegant, unlike LeBron James, who primarily relied on his physicality to drive to the basket.
If Marquette University thought they could guard him by putting a taller player in front of him, they were underestimating him!
But to Anthony's surprise, after hearing his taunt, Wang Chong simply smiled and softly replied, "Really?"
The next moment, Wang Chong lunged forward, sticking close to Anthony, his long arms constantly reaching out, trying to poke the ball out of Anthony's hands.
The attack was so aggressive that Anthony hadn't anticipated Wang Chong would risk an early challenge. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on the ball, momentarily caught off guard.
Close man-to-man defense is a common tactic, but it's typically used against players with weak fundamentals or slight frames.
Anthony, however, was skilled and physically strong, not at all a pushover. This type of close-pressure defense would usually give him an easier opportunity to blow by his defender.
That was Anthony's thought process, but when he tried to break past Wang Chong and drive to the basket, he was stunned to find he didn't have a good opening.
Wang Chong's tight defense was far more threatening than he had imagined.
The size difference between the two was evident. Anthony stood at 2.03 meters with a wingspan of 2.13 meters, an impressive build for a small forward. However, against Wang Chong—who stood 2.08 meters with a wingspan of 2.24 meters—he was clearly at a disadvantage. Wang Chong could easily crowd Anthony and continuously disrupt him with his long arms. A moment of carelessness almost cost Anthony the ball. For a few seconds, he could do nothing but clutch the ball to his chest, unable to make a move.
"???"
Anthony was stunned.
"How is this possible?"
Wang Chong's tight defense was so formidable that Anthony had never faced a defender with such skill and intensity, whether in high school or college leagues.
And it wasn't just Anthony who was surprised. The other four Syracuse players were just as baffled. This was the first time they had seen Anthony being forced into such a difficult position.
End of this chapter
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