He was humble and polite, yet incredibly arrogant.
Michael Jordan couldn't quite grasp how these two completely opposite traits could exist in the same person.
But when Zack earnestly declared, "I'm genuinely worried I might injure you," that was the most immediate impression Zack left on Jordan.
At that moment, looking directly into Zack's eyes, Jordan saw nothing but honesty and sincerity.
Yet, the thought of it infuriated Jordan.
Because didn't that mean...
This kid standing in front of him genuinely believed he could hurt him?
"If you're afraid of getting injured, don't play basketball." In the 1980s and 90s, this was a golden rule in the NBA.
For Jordan, who had battled his way through that era, if he had feared injury, he wouldn't have relentlessly charged through the "Detroit Pistons Bad Boys" and their rough fouls.
Fear of injury only makes you weak.
For a long time, Jordan had told himself this.
But now, he had only been away from the basketball world for a year...
"Don't worry about my identity or status; from now on, give it your all," Jordan told Zack on the training court, forcing down the rising anger in his chest.
Seeing this, Zack, knowing that further refusal might send Jordan to the hospital with high blood pressure, finally nodded under Jordan's undeniable gaze.
Immediately, Grover, who had a great understanding with Jordan, assigned four trainers from his team to Jordan's and Zack's teams respectively.
However, before this half-court three-on-three game began, out of goodwill, Zack pointed to the floor and said something that further exasperated Jordan: "Then I'll shoot from here later, and you can guard me from here."
"Wait, buddy! I told you to give it your all. Michael Jordan isn't as delicate as you think! And what do you mean, 'I'll shoot from here later'? Do you think you're Larry Bird?"
On the training court, looking at Zack's sincere eyes, Jordan grew angrier the more he thought about it and made up his mind.
Once this three-on-three game started, he would definitely show some real skills and let these youngsters know that "your grandpa is still your grandpa."
However...
What Jordan never expected was that as soon as the game began, Zack, who won possession by coin toss, took a shot from the exact spot he had pointed to, right in front of Jordan's furious defense.
Compared to his prime, Jordan's explosiveness and mobility had significantly declined.
Although he was still playing in the NBA in April of the previous year, a year of idleness had taken its toll on his physical condition.
If he were a few years younger, even with Zack's height advantage, Jordan would likely have been able to use his cheetah-like reaction speed to swat the ball before Zack's shot reached its apex.
But the moment Zack strongly rose for the shot in front of him, Jordan, who hadn't expected Zack to follow through, could only manage a strong contest, no matter how furious he was.
Swish!
Inside the training facility, as Zack's shot found nothing but net from his designated spot, the entire gym fell silent.
As the person who shot it, Zack hadn't actually expected it to go in.
Zack knew his shot was still unstable. This was evident from the visual data provided by the "Peak" system.
After all, he had only changed his shooting form a few months ago. And during his weight loss, he had to constantly adjust as his weight changed.
Plus, to achieve better muscle definition and strength later, he had to form new muscle memory.
So, even though Zack never slacked off on shooting practice, he still had to follow the objective laws of basketball.
However, in basketball, if Jordan gave Zack a chance to shoot, then Zack naturally had a chance to make it.
After the shot, to show that it was just a lucky make, Zack instinctively shrugged his shoulders at Jordan.
As a kid who grew up reading Jordan's biography, this unconscious shrug was deeply ingrained in Zack's DNA. Whenever he made a lucky shot in a game, he would habitually use this gesture to express helplessness to his opponents.
But today, Zack clearly forgot...
The man standing in front of him was Michael Jordan.
In the 1992 NBA Finals, after making six three-pointers in the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1, Jordan shook his head and shrugged at Magic Johnson, who was watching courtside. This game later became known as "The Shrug Game."
And from then on, the shrug became one of Jordan's signature moves.
Good! Very good!
First, he declares he'll shoot from here.
Then, after making the shot, he dares to shrug at him.
To be so arrogant even before entering the NBA...
At this moment, Jordan, utterly amused and infuriated by Zack, suddenly thought of the figure he had always admired in his mind.
He was sure: Zack was the person he had been looking for!
A template for Andrei Kirilenko?
In the same vein as Tim Duncan?
Charles Barkley's successor?
No, no, no.
In Jordan's mind at this moment, Zack was clearly Larry Bird reincarnated! (Bird: ?)
It's well-known in the NBA that you can question everything about Michael Jordan, but when it comes to his affection for "Bird's successor," even his haters wouldn't dispute it.
In 2006, even though the Bobcats knew Adam Morrison had congenital diabetes and needed regular insulin injections to maintain his health before he entered the draft, and Morrison's college teammates had already revealed that the guy never showered, wore only three identical T-shirts a year, and was truly "stinky, no need for extra salt"...
Jordan still wholeheartedly pushed for the Bobcats to use their third overall pick on Morrison, whose template was Larry Bird.
This was Michael Jordan's obsession with "Bird's successor."
No matter how many flaws you have.
As long as you're labeled a "Bird's successor" and Jordan, with his discerning eyes, personally confirms and subjectively decides you are indeed "Bird's successor"...
Then all your flaws will become strengths in his eyes.
Inside the training facility, Grover, feeling the air was a bit tense, wanted to temporarily stop the game and pull Zack aside for a few words. But Jordan, noticing this, suddenly roared at Grover, "What are you doing? This game has just begun!"
Then, turning to the bewildered Zack, Jordan said, "Good, show that confidence you had just now. Young man, if you don't have vitality, then what kind of young man are you?"
Seeing this, Grover, realizing he had misunderstood Jordan, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Although his former boss was always hot-tempered, Grover knew very well that if he genuinely liked a young player, no matter what they did to him, he would act as if nothing happened.
On the training court, over the next hour, Jordan's goodwill towards Zack skyrocketed.
When Zack cleverly bypassed his defense and completed an alley-oop with a trainer, Jordan distinctly felt his restless heart struck hard by this "Big Bird from the East."
Then, noticing Zack frequently shooting from beyond the arc while his touch was hot, Jordan looked at his heroic and upright shooting form and suddenly felt as if he had gone back decades, transforming into his younger, unattached self.
His heart beat faster and faster.
His breathing became more rapid.
On the court, even when Zack turned and posted him up, Jordan saw the ferocity of his own era in Zack's elbowing action.
Therefore, after Zack's post-up was called for a foul, Jordan immediately turned and furiously yelled at the trainer who was officiating, "That's a foul? I, Michael Jordan, don't have to win this game. Open your eyes; that's just a normal contact play!"
Although, shortly after yelling at the trainer, Jordan felt a sharp pain in his right rib... he gritted his teeth and willingly allowed Zack to increase the intensity for the rest of the game.
Beside him, Grover was dumbfounded by Jordan's performance that night.
Because whether it was Kwame Brown back in the day or LeBron James when he first gained national fame... none of these young players who had once received Jordan's attention made Jordan show such a delighted expression as Zack did now.
Jordan thoroughly enjoyed that hour of game and competition.
So much so that after the game, when Zack was about to change and shower, Jordan kept him behind for about ten minutes, offering personal guidance, and even invited him to dinner.
At that moment, Grover even felt that Zack had somehow drugged Jordan when no one was looking.
Inside the training facility, after Zack left, Grover rushed over to Jordan, who was sitting alone under the hoop, rubbing his chest, and asked with concern, "Boss, do you need to go to the hospital?"
Hearing this, Jordan erupted, "Hospital? I played basketball for an hour and I need to go to the hospital?"
Seeing this, Grover changed the subject, "Boss, you really like this kid?"
Jordan replied without hesitation, "He's still a work in progress, but you saw his agile footwork... It's incredible. His offensive skills definitely need refinement, but I like how effortlessly he handles the ball... and his court vision... He's very smart, knowing how to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses at such a young age. And through this game, I saw a desire in his sincere eyes similar to mine back then... He doesn't completely view basketball as a means to make money; instead, he yearns to improve himself through repeated confrontations and to conquer himself. Tim, you know my eye for talent. In my opinion, this kid might just become another 'Greatest Player' after me."
Actually, Grover didn't pay much attention to Jordan's last comment. Because usually, when Jordan met a young player he liked, he would give them a similar evaluation.
Coming from Jordan, this statement was roughly equivalent to Duncan's "the future is yours."
In Grover's view, what truly surprised him was that through Jordan's evaluation, he saw that Zack had established an unshakable position in Jordan's mind.
"Boss, if he enters the NBA draft next year, would you advise the Bobcats to pick him?" Grover, always knowing how to flatter Jordan, followed up on Jordan's statement.
Jordan nodded unequivocally, "The Bobcats' first-round pick next year has only one choice, one possibility."
"But boss, you should know what I mean. What if... what if the Bobcats' first-round pick can't get him? What then?" Grover reminded him.
At this moment, Jordan was stumped.
Because according to the rules for new NBA teams joining the league, even if they tanked next season, the Bobcats had no chance of getting the 2005 NBA first overall pick.
Under the basket, looking at the silent Jordan, Grover continued, "Boss, I'm not saying Zack will definitely be next year's top pick, because his draft stock is currently around the lottery. But if you give him another year, when everyone realizes his talent..."
At this moment, Jordan's deep gaze turned to Grover, and he clearly understood that everything Grover said was highly likely to happen.
That is, as Zack develops... how can the Bobcats, who cannot get the first overall pick, ensure they can draft Zack next year?
"It looks like I'll have to go see Bernie (Bernie Bickerstaff). We'll have to prepare our chips in advance to get to the gambling table for this big gamble," Jordan said after some thought.
Seeing this, Grover nodded and said, "That's what I meant, boss. It's always best to prepare for the worst."
After glaring at Grover, Jordan said, "Next, you should know what your mission is."
Grover patted his chest and said, "When the NCAA season starts next season, all of college basketball in America will be shocked by his progress."
That day, after meeting the Basketball God Jordan, playing a game, and having dinner with him, Zack didn't know how much this would affect his future. But what had a significant impact on him at the moment was that shortly after he returned to Winston-Salem, he heard a notification from the "Peak" system in his mind...
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