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With O'Neal heading east to Miami, Malone officially announcing his retirement, and Gary Payton being traded to the Celtics, the once dominant Lakers squad had crumbled.
Under these circumstances, Wang Chong 's presence was no longer a threat to Kobe Bryant; rather, he had become his most valuable ally.
Kobe admired this rookie, who had averaged 20 points and 6 rebounds per game in his first season and had saved the Lakers from critical situations during the playoffs. After all, Kobe had played one-on-one with Wang Chong when he first joined the team.
He had almost witnessed firsthand how Wang Chong grew into an All-Star-level player at an astonishing rate in just one season.
Kobe knew that with Wang Chong's support, the Lakers' performance in the upcoming season wouldn't be as bad as some feared.
So, when Kobe and Lamar Odom returned from Athens, he immediately invited them for dinner. Kobe knew these two were the best players on the Lakers, besides himself.
"Congrats on winning the Olympic gold," Kobe smiled. "Honestly, I'm a little envious. I've got four championship rings, but no Olympic gold."
Kobe had missed the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of his wedding, and he had also missed the 2004 Athens Olympics due to external factors. It wasn't until the 2008 Beijing Olympics that he won his first Olympic gold medal.
But honestly, few NBA stars cared much for the Olympics. For the U.S. men's basketball team, winning gold was almost a given. Rather than spending their precious off-seasons on the Olympics, many opted for commercial deals to earn more money.
This mentality was what led to superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and James Harden declining to play in future Olympic games—a story for another time.
While Kobe's words sounded like a compliment, they also carried a subtle reminder.
I've already won four championships. One of you has one, and the other none. You should know who's the king of this team, right?
"In the new season, we're partners. The three of us together—no team can stop us!" Kobe said with excitement.
Watching Kobe's enthusiasm, Wang Chong wanted to tell him about what he'd learned since O'Neal left.
The boss tries his best, but there's truth to what his former teammates say about him.
Before Gasol joined, Kobe had nearly driven away his teammates and almost wore a Bulls jersey to force changes in the Lakers' management. Eventually, he had to wait for his savior—Pau Gasol.
But now Kobe had Wang Chong by his side, whose overall player rating was 91. This put the Lakers in a much better position than before.
However, Wang Chong was no Gasol, and certainly didn't have the same patience.
This season, Kobe wouldn't enjoy being the sole leader for long—soon, he would experience what O'Neal had felt playing alongside him for the past two years.
You want me to be Pippen? Haha! You must be joking. None of my skills are for assisting others. I'm built to score and lead, not to be second in command.
Though Wang Chong thought this to himself, he didn't say it out loud.
After all, Kobe was still the recognized leader of the Lakers, supported heavily by team owner Jerry Buss. It wouldn't be wise to clash with Kobe directly.
Wang Chong planned to "build a bridge in public but cross the river secretly."
His presence had already significantly impacted the Lakers. On one hand, they had won the 03-04 championship. And on the other, his presence had triggered a butterfly effect. Phil Jackson didn't step down as head coach after the finals.
In the 03-04 season, Jackson had submitted his resignation due to his dissatisfaction with the management's choice to trade O'Neal in favor of Kobe. The Lakers struggled the following year, and Jackson was eventually brought back, regaining control of the team. Even Kobe, who had ousted O'Neal, had to listen to Jackson in order to win after suffering an embarrassing first-round exit.
But now, with the Lakers as champions and O'Neal traded, Wang Chong stayed.
Jackson, a cunning veteran in the league, saw potential in this squad.
The combination of Kobe, Wang Chong, and Odom was undoubtedly promising—very promising.
Odom played a role similar to a less powerful Pippen: strong defensively, capable of organizing, and with the height advantage.
Kobe, of course, resembled Jordan.
As for Wang Chong, while his style wasn't quite like Jordan's, his shooting—both mid-range and long-range—was even more accurate than Jordan's.
If Odom became the team's axis, and the triangle offense was built around Kobe and Wang Chong, the Lakers could take off.
Of course, the team still had several issues to address, especially on defense.
While Wang Chong's defense was decent, it wasn't elite, and he was only capable of defending the perimeter. Odom also lacked the physicality needed to hold his ground. When facing teams with dominant centers, like the Heat with O'Neal or the Spurs with Tim Duncan, the Lakers would be in trouble.
Nonetheless, Jackson was eager to coach this team.
Meanwhile, Wang Chong knew that Jackson's bias against Kobe remained.
As long as Wang Chong could display better offensive efficiency than Kobe, he would naturally receive more opportunities. With the head coach's support, Wang Chong wasn't afraid of competing with Kobe on the court.
Though Kobe had superior individual skills, Wang Chong's natural advantages—height, wingspan, and league changes like the elimination of the hand-check rule—meant that in terms of pure offensive ability, Wang Chong wasn't inferior to Kobe.
Time flew, and by mid-September, Lakers players were reporting to training camp, and the team had their official photo session for the new season.
By this time, the Lakers' roster for the new season had mostly solidified, with some significant changes from the previous year.
At point guard, Gary Payton had been traded, but Derek Fisher opted to stay with the team, recognizing the Lakers' potential. The Lakers quickly re-signed him to a four-year, $21 million contract. In addition, Chucky Atkins, acquired in the Payton trade, would provide solid backup.
At shooting guard, Kobe was firmly established as the Lakers' leader. His backups were limited, with Sasha Vujacic, a first-round pick, and Kareem Rush as reserves, but Kobe didn't need much backup anyway. His playing time would likely remain around 40 minutes per game.
At small forward, Wang Chong was the undisputed starter, with Caron Butler, acquired from the Heat, as a capable backup. Though Butler had the potential to be a star, with Wang Chong's presence, his minutes would be limited.
At power forward, Odom and Brian Grant would share the responsibilities, while at center, the Lakers were weakest. Chris Mihm and Stanislav Medvedenko weren't anywhere near O'Neal's level, and this would be the team's Achilles heel.
After the team photos, Jackson told reporters, "Shaq's departure is a big loss, but we've gained youthful energy. We're ready for the challenges ahead."
Kobe, meanwhile, made his ambitions clear. "I want to be the best in the league, and now I have the chance to prove it. Watch out for this season!"
Reporters, of course, were eager to speak with Wang Chong, who had won MVP at the Olympics, beating out players like Iverson, Duncan, and Marbury.
Even U.S. head coach Larry Brown, known for his dislike of rookies, praised Wang Chong publicly, stating he was a smart player with great court vision.
This was significant because Brown had rarely relied on rookies during the Olympics. Wang Chong had been an exception.
Meanwhile, players like James and Anthony had seen little playing time, with James averaging 5 points and Anthony only 2. The two future superstars had been Wang Chong's substitutes, which was shocking to many.
With the new season approaching, everyone was curious: how would Wang Chong, James, and Anthony perform in the 04-05 season?
End of chapter
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