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In fact, this wave of seven consecutive away games had placed a significant burden on the Bulls. The fatigue from travel and the relentless schedule had pushed all the players' physical conditions to the limit, including Wang Chong.On November 21, in the fourth away game in a row, the Bulls faced off against the Denver Nuggets. It was yet another extremely tough match.
The accumulation of fatigue and lack of physical fitness remained minor issues, but the Nuggets' home court advantage loomed large. Denver's elevation at 1,600 meters above sea level meant the air was considerably thinner than in other cities, making it a notorious place for visiting players. When the Nuggets played at home, the physical demands were often higher than usual.
The Bulls were certainly no exception.
During the game, all members of the Bulls team appeared listless, struggling to move effectively on the court. Even Wang Chong found himself panting after just a few minutes of play in the first quarter, feeling his stamina drain quickly.
In this state, victory for the Bulls was naturally out of reach.
With a score of 109-113, the Bulls suffered a defeat on the Nuggets' home floor, marking their third consecutive loss.
Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony was delighted.
In his fourth season in the league, he had finally secured a face-to-face showdown with Wang Chong. It was emotional for him, a former pride of the sky, as famous as LeBron James, and the number one overall pick in 2003. Until this match, Anthony had never faced Wang Chong directly.
He had lost to Wang Chong in the NCAA Finals when the latter teamed up with Dwyane Wade. Since then, in summer league, preseason, and even during the regular season, whenever Anthony met Wang Chong, he had essentially been defeated.
As time passed, Wang Chong gradually established himself as the best among the rookies of the 2003 class, even surpassing James in skill. He became known as the strongest player from that class.
Even though Wade had managed to claim a championship + Finals MVP in the previous season, it was difficult to argue that he had surpassed Wang Chong, who had claimed the scoring title with an astounding average of 35.6 points per game. Wang's achievements were too explosive, making it hard to say that Wade had truly outdone him. After all, Wang Chong had won the championship two years before Wade. The Finals MVP was undoubtedly one of the highest honors, but Wang Chong's performance as the scoring champion with an average of 35.6 points was more impressive, while Wade's standout moments had occurred only in the Finals. Therefore, in terms of overall performance in both the regular season and the playoffs, there remained a slight gap between the two, leading many to believe they were now equals, ranking among the best of the 2003 generation.
Both players stood head and shoulders above their peers, with James trailing closely behind.
While James could not be compared to Wang Chong and Wade in terms of accolades, his personal statistics were impressive. Last season, he averaged 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, a feat unmatched in the league. His performance alone earned him widespread acclaim, and in the eyes of some, the players of the 2003 class should now be judged by Wang Chong, Wade, and James, equally dividing their prominence in the basketball world.
Anthony, once the favored prodigy, found himself trailing behind these three, relegated to the last spot among the "Four Kings" of 2003.
Including last season, Anthony averaged 26.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game—his best performance yet—but still stood as the weakest link among the four.
In the game against the Bulls, Anthony finally felt proud. He shot 9 of 20 from the field and made 10 of 12 free throws, finishing with 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. His performance was on par with Wang Chong's, who recorded 31 points and 5 rebounds.
However, for the Nuggets to win, Anthony's performance was not the key; it was the showing of their shooting guard that made the difference.
J.R. Smith, a renowned sharpshooter in the league, exploded during this game.
Despite Raja Bell's full defensive pressure, Smith hit 13 of 24 shots, 5 of 11 from beyond the arc, and was perfect from the free-throw line, scoring 36 points in total with an efficiency that surpassed even Wang Chong's.
Wang Chong experienced firsthand what it felt like to face a nervous knife. J.R. Smith's shooting display was truly remarkable.
After the game, Anthony was ecstatic in the post-game press conference, proudly stating that the Nuggets had more ambitious goals this season and aimed for a significant playoff breakthrough.
However, not many took him seriously.
The Nuggets' strength was genuinely average in the Western Conference. The primary reason for their playoff appearances in recent years was the high home-court advantage they enjoyed. With a remarkably strong home record, the Nuggets managed to secure wins that propelled them into the playoffs each season.
But once in the playoffs, they were often unable to maintain that success.
Since Anthony joined the Nuggets, he had faced first-round eliminations for three consecutive seasons.
During his rookie season, many had dubbed him a formidable and promising future star. In his second season, it became a question of persistent effort.
Last season, the Nuggets were again ousted in the first round, which sparked increased discussion about Anthony's capability to lead the team.
Although James' Cavaliers in the East were also swept 4-0 by the Bulls in the first round, James still had his stellar statistics to support him, unlike Anthony, who faced a different narrative.
Now entering his fourth season—a contract year—while Anthony's performance warranted a max salary extension, he wanted to do more to justify that contract.
Defeating the Bulls, the top team in the Eastern Conference, and Wang Chong, the scoring maestro, gave Anthony a surge of confidence and prompted him to make those bold statements. However, this confidence was clearly misplaced.
The Bulls were clearly out of form during this match, whether it was Wang Chong or the other players; they were exhausted from the relentless away games and were still struggling against the altitude in Denver.
Had the circumstances been different, or if the Bulls had been granted more rest, the outcome could have been entirely different.
Of course, Anthony would not agree with this assertion. Finally defeating Wang Chong once made him want to credit it to his own efforts and the strength of the Nuggets rather than outside factors. But that was the reality.
For the Bulls, their streak of seven consecutive away games continued, but the good news was that this time they finally had two days off. Their fifth away game was scheduled for November 21, against their former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers had been performing quite well this season, boasting a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, almost identical to the Bulls' 7 wins and 3 losses.
This improvement was primarily due to Kobe's adjustment to his new role this season. The results had shown that Kobe's reduced shooting attempts could provide the team with greater combat effectiveness, allowing guards like Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon to shine when playing at their best.
More than that, while the Lakers had diverged significantly from their historical developmental process, some key decisions still remained surprisingly similar given that they still represented the same franchise.
This summer, the Lakers successfully acquired Andrew Bynum via trade. Although he didn't start his rookie season with the Lakers, Bynum had played well in the Lakers' interior this season. He was certainly better than the Lakers' starting center, Eddie Curry. Had Bynum not been younger and shown much potential for improvement, the Lakers might have already benched Curry in favor of Bynum.
Wang Chong also recognized the Lakers' intentions and didn't directly send Eddie Curry to the bench. Part of the reason was likely because the Lakers wanted to maintain Curry's trade value for other teams in the league.
The Lakers had executed this strategy more than once or twice. As the largest franchise in the league, they possessed both the capital and the skill to make such moves.
Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and later Gasol, Howard, and even James, all exemplified the Lakers' vast resources and prowess.
In 2007, the Lakers had made a near-bargain deal to acquire Gasol from the Grizzlies. If Gasol hadn't been playing at an All-Star level with the Grizzlies, it could have been seen as giving him away for free.
Now, having traded multiple players and draft picks obtained from Wang Chong, all of them constituted better trade chips, which naturally would create a good market for them in the league. In the worst-case scenario, they might manage to acquire Gasol just as they did in 2007, with Odom and Bynum forming the well-known "three towers" combination of the Lakers.
Regarding the matchup between the Bulls and the Lakers, the Bulls, having enjoyed two days of rest, were especially focused on the outcome of this game as they recovered from their fatigue. After their loss to the Nuggets, the Bulls had already suffered three consecutive defeats. Losing four games in a row would completely obliterate the momentum they had built at the start of the new season.
Although the blame lay with the league's scheduling and the oddity of a series of seven consecutive away games, the Bulls were still affected by it, and they needed to ensure it didn't spiral further.
All Bulls players worked hard, and the defensive wing was filled with stars. Players like Deng, Gordon, and Hinrich were all well-prepared for this challenge.
As for Wang Chong, he was also eager to redeem himself after the loss to the Nuggets and was determined to perform well in this match against the Lakers.
The night before the game, Wang Chong prepared his gear. He had a profound sense of anticipation as he laid out his jersey, sneakers, and gear, eager to hit the court and battle it out. Though the game had not yet started, the excitement of competing against the Lakers filled the air.
Little did he know, the next day would mark the seventh death in a row.
On the morning of November 22, the Bulls arrived in Los Angeles and began their pre-game warm-up routines in the practice gym.
The vibe felt different. Wang Chong could sense that something was off, as the players moved lethargically, their eyes dull. The feeling lingered, creeping like a dense fog over the gym, surrounding the atmosphere of the entire team.
When it was time for the game, Wang Chong could still feel the remnants of the heavy fog clinging to him. It loomed over his shoulders, weighing heavily on him as they stepped onto the Staples Center court.
The matchup began as expected.
In the first quarter, the Lakers quickly found their rhythm, charging at the Bulls with intensity. With the crowd cheering and the spotlight on them, they executed their plays with seamless coordination, dominating the game. Kobe, feeling invigorated, showcased his determination, hitting jumper after jumper, building an insurmountable lead.
Even though Wang Chong fought valiantly, he could sense the pallor of defeat closing in, a stark contrast to the roaring support of the home crowd for the Lakers.
As the game progressed, the Bulls fell further behind. Despite Wang Chong's valiant attempts to lead his team, the Lakers, led by an unstoppable Kobe Bryant, continued to extend their lead.
By the end of the third quarter, the Bulls were down by over 20 points. Wang Chong, exhausted yet unwilling to give up, pushed through, trying to rally his teammates. "We can still turn this around!" he yelled, a fierce determination burning in his eyes.
But the echoes of doubt from his teammates, the fatigue etched into their faces, left little hope for a comeback.
As the final whistle blew, the Bulls walked off the court defeated once more, this time losing 120-98. The fog of defeat was heavier than ever, stifling their spirits as they left the court.
The night had claimed its seventh victim.
End of this chapter
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