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The gap between Wang Chong and Kobe is truly minimal, as small as two decimal places, which highlights the intensity of this scoring battle.Before the start of the regular season, or even midway through it, no one could have imagined that the competition between Wang Chong and Kobe for the scoring title would be this fierce. It was even more incredible that, in just his third season, Wang Chong would be able to compete with a superstar like Kobe and win.
Although their average points per game were incredibly close, even a slight difference is still a difference.
Moreover, while their scoring averages were nearly identical, their shooting percentages were vastly different.
Kobe averaged 35.5 points per game with a 45% shooting percentage, which is already excellent for a guard, but it paled in comparison to Wang Chong's 52%.
Wang Chong's shooting percentage was astonishing. Not only did it exceed 50%, but his three-point shooting remained steady at over 40%, and his free throw percentage was 91%, earning him a spot in the 180 club.
The so-called 180 club refers to players who shoot 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the free-throw line in a single season, marking peak offensive efficiency.
Looking at the league's history, very few players have achieved this. Even Michael Jordan, who held most of the scoring records, missed out on the 180 club due to his three-point weakness.
Currently, there are only three members in the 180 club: Larry Bird, Mark Price, and Reggie Miller. Bird, who achieved this feat twice, stands out as an elite scorer.
In the 2005-06 season, two new players joined the 180 club: Wang Chong and the Suns' star, Steve Nash.
Nash's shooting splits were 51%, 44%, and 92%, and his offensive efficiency was no less impressive than Wang Chong's.
However, as a point guard, Nash's primary role was to facilitate plays, so his scoring average of 18.9 points per game was far less than Wang Chong's exaggerated 35.6 points.
But if you include Nash's 10.5 assists per game, even if all of those assists resulted in two-point shots, that's an additional 21 points. Combined with his own 18.9 points, that's 39.9 points, nearly hitting the 40-point mark!
Wang Chong averaged 3.6 assists per game this season, contributing to a total of 42.8 points, placing him on par with Nash.
This shows just how strong Nash is. He's won two consecutive regular season MVPs, and deservedly so. Nash will also be a frequent member of the 180 club in the future, achieving it four times in his career, the most in history.
Back to the main point.
Wang Chong surpassed Kobe on the scoring list with his 50+ points in the last game. Kobe was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. After all, he also worked hard for his points, averaging 35.5 per game!
Initially, Kobe averaged 35.4 points per game due to his determination to lead the Lakers into the playoffs, resulting in strong performances and aggressive shooting.
This season, the Lakers were stronger than in 2005-06, and their record wasn't as poor. Kobe wasn't under as much pressure, so it was quite remarkable that he was fighting at this level solely because of Wang Chong's exceptional play.
When it comes to the desire to win the scoring title, Kobe couldn't match Wang Chong's intensity. The system's generous rewards fueled Wang Chong's obsession with becoming the scoring champion.
Simply put, if scoring 50+ points wasn't enough to secure the scoring title, Wang Chong would push himself to score 60+, 70+, or even 80+ points to achieve it.
Of course, due to physical limitations, it remains uncertain whether Wang Chong could score 70+ or 80+, but he would certainly give it everything he had.
Even though their competitive spirits weren't on the same level, the fact that Kobe pushed Wang Chong so far shows just how dominant Kobe was during this period.
After Wang Chong officially claimed the scoring title, Kobe's notorious refusal to accept defeat became apparent.
When asked about the scoring title by reporters, Kobe scoffed.
"Scoring title? I don't care about that at all. I never pay attention to how many points Wang Chong scores. For me, winning the game is all that matters. I'll do whatever it takes to win!"
"So, I never aimed for the scoring title. The only reason I'm close to Wang Chong in scoring is because my ability to score is just that strong."
Kobe's words made Phil Jackson, sitting beside him, visibly uncomfortable. His expression resembled Sa Beining's reaction when Jack Ma claimed he didn't care about money.
Are you the only one who doesn't care about the scoring title?
For the past month and a half, you've been fixated on competing with Wang Chong, taking wild shots that have cost the Lakers several games they shouldn't have lost.
The Lakers finished the regular season with 49 wins, just shy of 50, ranking sixth in the Western Conference.
Throughout this time, Phil Jackson had tried to talk sense into Kobe, urging him not to get caught up in a pointless scoring battle with Wang Chong and instead focus on securing wins and improving the Lakers' playoff standing.
But Kobe didn't listen, continuing to take 30 shots to score 30 points, causing the Lakers to lose winnable games.
Now, after losing both the games and the scoring title, Phil Jackson believed the only thing Kobe had left was his stubbornness.
In reality, if anyone else had challenged Kobe for the scoring title, Phil wouldn't be as bitter. Kobe's 35.5 points per game on 45% shooting was solid.
The problem was that the player who took Kobe's scoring crown was Wang Chong, the player the Lakers had chosen to trade away in favor of Kobe.
Now, aren't you embarrassed?
Wang Chong is younger, more efficient, and has a better attitude. The Lakers let him go and stuck with Kobe instead.
Phil didn't know what Jerry Buss was thinking now or whether he regretted it, but he was sure that the Lakers management, led by Mitch Kupchak, had probably realized their mistake.
The Lakers team built around Kobe wasn't weak. The starting five were strong, and they had a Sixth Man of the Year contender in Ben Gordon off the bench.
Yet, despite all this, they only managed 49 regular season wins. In contrast, Wang Chong's Bulls, with a weaker roster, finished 56-26. Only the Pistons, Spurs, and Mavericks had better records.
This was a result that no one could have anticipated.
Fans unfamiliar with the Bulls were perplexed by their success, given their seemingly underwhelming roster.
But upon closer inspection, the Bulls were an underrated team.
It wasn't just Wang Chong, who averaged 35.6 points per game. The other players also contributed significantly.
Luol Deng and Raja Bell were solid on both ends of the floor. Deng improved to 14 points and 6 rebounds, better than his rookie season.
Raja Bell averaged 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, although his numbers were slightly lower than when he joined the Suns. This was primarily because the Bulls didn't have a playmaker like Nash to set him up.
But Bell's true value lay in his defense, not his scoring.
This season, the Bulls' defensive system was built around Bell, Deng, and Tyson Chandler in the paint. Their scoring stats didn't reflect their importance.
Chandler's numbers, 8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks, were blue-collar, but his rim protection was elite, making him the Bulls' defensive anchor.
On offense, Wang Chong's biggest help came from an unexpected source: rookie Monta Ellis, the 2005 second-round pick.
No one expected Ellis, who fell to the second round, to perform so well in his first season.
At the start of the regular season, Ellis looked lost, frequently driving to the basket only to get blocked.
At that point, Bulls fans and head coach Skiles were considering replacing him.
But Wang Chong believed in Ellis, and under his insistence, Ellis was given more time.
Gradually, Ellis adjusted to the pace of the league and began to shine.
His speed was remarkable, and his ability to drive and finish at the rim was impressive, especially against slower teams with immobile big men.
By the second half of the season, Ellis had become the Bulls' most reliable second scoring option behind Wang Chong, improving at a rapid pace.
By season's end, Ellis averaged 15.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, with a 42% shooting percentage. As a rookie, this was already an outstanding performance.
These stats made Ellis a strong candidate for the All-Rookie First Team and even a contender for Rookie of the Year, though his chances of winning were slim.
Unlike Ellis, who was a secondary scorer on the Bulls, Chris Paul became the leader of the Hornets, guiding them to a 38-44 record and averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists.
Ellis couldn't match Paul's scoring, rebounding, or assist numbers. His only advantage was the Bulls' superior record, but that was largely due to Wang Chong, not Ellis.
Ellis was only mentioned as a Rookie of the Year contender because, among the 2005 rookies, only he could challenge Paul.
Andrew Bogut, the 2005 first overall pick, averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds, unimpressive stats. Deron Williams, who would later rival Paul,
had a subpar rookie season with 10 points and 4 assists. Consequently, this rookie class had few standout players.
Still, Ellis was a pleasant surprise for the Bulls, adding firepower to their offense.
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By now, the 2005-06 regular season had come to an end.
Wang Chong, in his third season, won his first scoring title, and his excellent performance won him the approval of the system.
Wang Chong completed the task with an overall rating of 97!
At that moment, a stream of data flashed across Wang Chong's mind. It felt like a game, his character was leveling up, and his stats were improving.
Once the stream ended, Wang Chong could sense the changes in his body.
Was it strength, speed, or accuracy?
Maybe it was all of them!
End of this chapter
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