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At the start of the second quarter, Yao Ming and Wang Chao, who had been substituted early in the first quarter, returned to the game. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as the intensity of the game was starting to pick up. Everyone could sense that this quarter could be pivotal, and both teams were ready to put on a show.
As soon as Yao Ming re-entered the game, Steve Nash, always the facilitator, passed the ball to Yao on the perimeter. Yao, showing his versatility, took a mid-range jump shot but missed. However, he quickly followed his own shot, grabbed the offensive rebound, and tipped the ball in for a score. The crowd cheered loudly for the effort, and Yao's first points of the game got the Western Conference All-Stars off to a good start in the second quarter.
On the next possession, the Eastern Conference's attack began. Allen Iverson dribbled past Nash and tried a three-pointer, but the ball hit the rim and bounced away. The rebound fell right into Wang Chao's hands. A wide grin spread across his face as he secured the ball. He wasted no time, sprinting down the court in transition. Wang knew that in an All-Star game, the fast break is rarely defended seriously, so he pushed the tempo immediately.
As expected, Paul Pierce offered only a token defense, and Wang Chao blew past him with ease. Now faced with an open lane to the basket, Wang bent his knees, soared into the air, and slammed the ball into the hoop with both hands. The crowd erupted in awe.
"Wow! A thunderous slam from Wang Chao! You don't often see him dunk like this," the announcer exclaimed. Wang, known for his mid-range and long-range shooting, rarely showcased his dunking ability. However, this time, with no defenders in his way, he made sure to put on a show.
Although Wang Chao wasn't considered a dunk specialist, he had improved his dunking ability significantly over time. With a dunk rating comparable to Durant's, Wang's 82 rating wasn't on par with someone like LeBron James, but it was enough for him to pull off some impressive moves when given space.
The Western Conference All-Star lineup featured Nash, Ray Allen, Wang Chao, Tim Duncan, and Yao Ming, and with both Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady resting, the dynamic on the court changed significantly. Wang Chao, who had struggled to get touches in the first quarter, now found himself receiving more opportunities, particularly from Nash, who continued to find the open man with precision.
Nash, true to form, focused on distributing the ball, spotting any available teammate. This approach worked in Wang Chao's favor, as he moved to the corner to take advantage of his newly acquired corner three-point shooting badge. Nash found Wang Chao multiple times in the corner, and Wang capitalized by knocking down 2 out of 3 three-pointers.
The barrage of three-pointers, especially with Ray Allen also hitting from deep, caught the Eastern Conference off guard. The sudden offensive surge stretched the Western Conference's lead, much to the frustration of their opponents.
Wang Chao was thriving in these minutes, especially with Nash feeding him the ball. The chemistry between the two players was evident, and Wang had to appreciate Nash's vision and unselfish playstyle. For five minutes, it felt like everything was clicking.
However, as often happens in basketball, things changed quickly. The Eastern Conference called a timeout to regroup and adjust their defense. When play resumed, the Western Conference made substitutions, and Nash was replaced by Kobe Bryant. This shift brought a noticeable difference in the dynamic on the court.
Kobe, known for his fierce competitiveness, was not as focused on distributing the ball. While he wasn't averse to passing, it became clear to Wang Chao that Kobe had little interest in passing the ball to him specifically. Several times, Wang found himself open, only to watch as Kobe passed to someone else or took the shot himself.
Wang Chao couldn't help but notice the subtle tension between himself and Kobe. It wasn't something new, but now it was becoming more apparent. Kobe had always been the alpha on the Lakers, and Wang's recent rise to prominence had threatened that hierarchy. Despite being teammates, Kobe seemed to harbor resentment towards Wang for the way he was reshaping the Lakers' identity.
Wang Chao had heard the whispers. The media in Los Angeles had been discussing whether Wang should become the team's focal point, replacing Kobe as the tactical core. It wasn't a topic that Kobe took lightly. After all, he had worked hard to emerge as the face of the Lakers after Shaquille O'Neal's departure. Lakers fans had torn into Kobe after Shaq left for Miami, with signs saying, "We want Shaq, not Kobe" becoming common in the early post-Shaq years. Kobe had persevered through that storm and was now firmly established as the Lakers' leader.
But now, in Wang Chao, Kobe saw a new threat. Wang was younger and was already making a case to become the team's centerpiece. Kobe was not ready to let that happen, and his reluctance to pass to Wang during the All-Star game was a manifestation of that insecurity.
Despite the tension, Wang Chao continued to find ways to make an impact on the game. When Yao Ming grabbed a rebound, he often looked for Wang Chao to push the ball in transition. In one notable moment, Kobe asked Yao for the ball after a rebound, but Yao ignored him and instead passed to Wang, who was farther away but better positioned for a fast break.
This sequence raised eyebrows on the court. The Western Conference players noticed that while Kobe and Wang Chao were teammates, there seemed to be an unspoken rivalry between them. Some players might have been surprised by this, but most shrugged it off—it was the All-Star game, after all.
Throughout the second quarter, Wang Chao thrived, scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Combined with his three points from the first quarter, Wang entered halftime with 18 points, the highest total on the floor at that point. Thanks in part to his contributions, the Western Conference held a 65-51 lead at the break.
But things weren't all smooth sailing. After halftime, Kobe shifted gears, clearly aiming to compete with Wang Chao for the MVP title. In the third quarter, Kobe took over offensively, scoring relentlessly. However, his efficiency dropped, and the Eastern Conference, led by Shaquille O'Neal, made a run. By the end of the third, the lead had shrunk to single digits.
Wang Chao, sitting on the bench, could only watch as the Eastern Conference clawed their way back into the game. He didn't mind Kobe's struggles, as it strengthened his own MVP case, but he also knew that a Western Conference loss would eliminate his chances of completing his system mission.
With the game slipping away, the Western Conference coach, Gregg Popovich, made a move. Popovich subbed Wang Chao and Yao back in at the start of the fourth quarter, while Kobe remained on the bench. Wang instantly made an impact, hitting mid-range shots and creating space with Yao's screens.
Wang's sharp shooting helped the Western Conference pull away once again. With the game back under control, Wang continued to push the pace, scoring at will while Kobe watched from the sidelines. By the time Kobe re-entered the game with three minutes left, the MVP race was all but decided.
Wang finished the game with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 three-pointers, securing the All-Star MVP award with unanimous votes. Holding the trophy aloft, Wang couldn't help but smile, while Kobe, and even LeBron James from the Eastern Conference, couldn't hide their frustration.
End of this chapter
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