One Year Left to Play

Chapter 396 - 117: Youngest Player Ever to Win Player of the Month!

"Can you learn once or twice, and keep at it consistently? The trainer said he’s serious about warming up before every game and does it even during back-to-back matches."

"Oh my God..."

"Good thing I didn’t taunt him back then, or I wouldn’t be able to hang in this team. I don’t want to leave Los Angeles..."

"Aix is turning 19 in a few days; when I was 19, I had just graduated high school..."

"Do you know what day Aix’s birthday is? Should I prepare a gift?"

"The 7th, I specifically asked. We’re going to New York to play the Knicks that day."

"Do you think Aix might become even better than the Magician in the future?"

"Hard to say, Aix is still so young... but the Magician won the Finals MVP at 20."

"No more talking, the Magician is here!"

Zhang Hao really wanted to ask—do you guys really think you’re whispering?

If so, can’t you keep it down a bit!

But a birthday gift can be prepared...

Good thing the Magician came, and unknowingly changed the topic to the strongest 20-year-old player in history, making the teammates shut their mouths.

The Magician heard those words but didn’t mind; he came over to warm up beside Zhang Hao.

The Magician lowered his voice, but his tone was casual as he said, "Aix, you don’t need to overthink, just play the game well, don’t see awards as a burden. There might be many people talking behind your back, whether good or bad, you don’t need to care about them."

"I don’t see it as a burden, I’m pretty happy."

Looking at Zhang Hao’s indifferent expression, where does he seem happy? Just a poker face handsome enough to be punched!

But saying that, he should be quite happy.

The Magician couldn’t help but tease, "You, just like Big Bird, won Rookie of the Month in your debut season, I never got that. You really might surpass me to become the Lakers’ best player."

"I’m far behind comparing with you guys, maybe I’ll struggle to play next, who knows if I’ll hit the rookie wall starting tonight."

"How come you have no dreams at all..."

The Magician was ready to chat with Zhang Hao about heart-to-heart stuff. Sometimes for a young player, winning an award isn’t always exciting and joyful. From his perspective, Zhang Hao, such an extremely self-disciplined player, might see the award as a burden.

Of course, Zhang Hao might also become arrogant.

Neither situation is what the Magician wants to see.

But there was neither situation, exceptionally self-aware, yet didn’t see the award as a burden. Joy when it’s right to be happy, and clear self-awareness when needed.

Looking at the anxious expression of the Magician, Zhang Hao rarely smiled: "I am used to putting myself at the bottom, so as long as I play decently, I won’t feel like I’ve failed. But if I play poorly, being already at the lowest level, it doesn’t matter, just try harder next time."

Darn! The Magician didn’t expect to hear a philosophy lesson...

...

The American Cable TV Sports Channel added a match to its schedule last-minute—Lakers’ away game against Utah Jazz.

Before the season started, all major TV stations’ regular season broadcast arrangements had scheduled 16 nationwide broadcasts for the Lakers.

But since Zhang Hao joined the Lakers, there have already been two additional broadcasts, and tonight is the third one!

This treatment is clearly of a phenomenon-level player.

At 7:10 PM, the teams entered the arena.

As a contender for the starting forward position in the Western Conference All-Stars, Zhang Hao encountered fierce boos when he entered the arena!

Zhang Hao had considered that he would definitely have a chance to be selected as an All-Star starter in the future, but never thought he’d have a chance in his rookie year, nor did he expect to be booed so badly in Salt Lake City due to competing for an All-Star starter position.

After entering, Malone ran to the Lakers’ bench to apologize to the Magician...

Malone was sincere or compelled by public opinion, while Magician’s fake smile or relief, anyway, on camera, the two met, smiled, and resolved the enmity.

Listening to Del Harris’s final pre-game arrangements, Zhang Hao always felt someone on the opposite bench was watching him, with some bad intentions...

Finally, Zhang Hao also felt how Damon Stoudamire felt when playing against the Lakers.

Currently, the Lakers are third in the West with 22 wins and 8 losses, Utah Jazz fourth with 21 wins and 9 losses, neither team wants to face the Rockets in the first round, which seems to be the top candidate for the fifth in the West.

So, the two teams are direct competitors.

Looking at Malone’s ability rating of 98... seven consecutive years in the First Team! And starting from his sophomore year, Malone has had 10 consecutive seasons with a defensive efficiency above 5, although he hasn’t had a season with a defensive efficiency reaching 8 like Olajuwon, nor a consistent performance above 7 like David Robinson.

But, Zhang Hao knows, Malone will one day outlast all these people, and take MVP...

"Indeed, longevity is the king! If you can’t win, endure until the opponents become old, I need to take good care of my body..."

Because Malone cursed the Magician, although they seemed reconciled before the game, the players from both teams had little interaction.

The final pre-game preparation time quickly passed, just as Zhang Hao twisted his body and prepared to sprinkle magnesium powder and enter the court, subtitles suddenly appeared!

"Specially contracted player Zhang Hao, in his rookie season, has won the Player of the Month award, becoming a popular choice for All-Star starter, successfully becoming an object of curiosity among major stars, with veteran stars in the same position seeing him as an eyesore. Task: Baptized Rookie? Triggered."

"Baptized Rookie?:

Objective: Can be triggered upon meeting conditions.

Reward: Pending, with probability of triggering at the time the objective is completed."

"Curiosity my foot! I’m just a rookie, am I really worth the curiosity of you big shots... what’s the deal with the question mark?"