Zack doesn't reject LeBron James's repeated friendly gestures. Having grown up reading Michael Jordan's biographies, and with basketball as his lifelong passion, Zack has no particular emotional attachment to NBA stars after Jordan. In fact, he's often criticized Jordan himself as a "scoundrel." Previously, Zack simply had more important things to do than engage with "The King," like solidifying his dominance in the ACC. But now, with LeBron consistently showing a desire to connect, Zack finds it impossible to refuse. After all, as the saying goes, having more friends is never a bad thing when you're out in the world.
On a banana boat, Zack tells Anthony a joke he "stole" from Tim Duncan: that LeBron's failure to make the playoffs this year only proves he has vast untapped potential. Anthony laughs, and LeBron, playing along, says, "Ah, so that's why I didn't make the playoffs! To show people I have tons of potential to unearth!"
The camaraderie between the young men develops quickly. That afternoon, during a two-on-two beach volleyball game, Zack and LeBron become instant close friends. After winning three straight matches against Paul and Anthony due to their height advantage, LeBron excitedly jumps onto Zack's back. Zack, mimicking Shaquille O'Neal, carries LeBron and points to him, telling Paul and Anthony, "See? This is my unstoppable little brother!" LeBron, who is a year younger than Zack, isn't offended by being called "little brother." After landing, he exclaims, "My King, you're incredible! You know what? Chris and Melo now owe us three things! Not one, not two, but three!"
"That's not fair, LeBron, you have Zack as a teammate, but I only have—" Anthony's complaint is cut short as Paul tackles him to the sand. Seeing this, LeBron and Zack immediately team up with Paul to "bury" Anthony in a sandy "grave." "Today marks the end of Carmelo Anthony!" they all declare, looking down at the buried Anthony.
Such was Zack's first day of vacation in the Bahamas – four young men of similar age spending the entire day doing what others might consider utterly foolish things. As Zack's autobiography, "The Summit," would later describe in its foreword for the LeBron James chapter: "Our friendship, spanning time, began with this vacation. In the years that followed, our bond deepened in ways hard to express, but we always knew how close we were, how much we supported each other, until…"
Building a Team and Navigating Fame
Pleasant times always fly by. Despite forging deep friendships with LeBron and Anthony in the Bahamas, Zack knows he must return to Wake Forest to prepare for the NBA. This means undergoing Tim Grover's rigorous training to develop the skills that will meet everyone's high expectations.
This summer, with Paul set to play for the USA Youth Team in the World Youth Championship, Zack specifically asks Ronnie Evans to fill Paul's usual role during the upcoming break—primarily, retrieving balls. Evans accepts without hesitation.
Zack's invitation to Evans isn't just about training; with his rising fame, it's time to build his own team. NBA stars typically surround themselves with trusted individuals. LeBron, for instance, established his team early on: Randy Mims for personal affairs, Maverick Carter, who learned from Nike, and Rich Paul, who was mentored by top agent Leon Rose. Their initials form "LRMR," one of the most powerful marketing firms in the NBA. Zack understands he can't do everything himself once he's in the NBA, and after careful observation, he sees Evans as exactly the talent he needs.
Evans, a journalism major at Wake Forest and Zack's senior, is set to graduate next year. He's an excellent student, articulate, and, crucially, possesses high emotional intelligence. He even helped Zack navigate an awkward situation when Gray returned from injury.
Evans understands the significance of Zack's invitation. From the moment he accepted, he knew he was no longer just Ronnie Evans, but Ronnie Evans, by Zack's side. To prove worthy of this title, Evans dedicates himself entirely to Zack. With Rachel interning at Nike headquarters this summer, Evans takes on both filming Zack's workouts and compiling a "daily record" of his life. While it might seem excessive, Evans believes it's essential for Zack's future in the NBA. "You'll definitely have your own documentary and biography someday," Evans tells Zack. "We need to prepare in advance so people can see more of your story." This is a common practice among the inner circles of many talented American athletes, aiming to share more about their stories once they become famous, and of course, to profit.
Rachel had already filmed many personal shots of Zack for the school's news department last season. She often expressed regret about not meeting him during his weight loss journey. "If we could use the old you for comparison… you know what kind of visual impact that would have if those images were put in your documentary?" Rachel lamented. However, Zack had good news: someone did film his weight loss, and after he became famous, that person voluntarily gave up the rights to the footage and gifted the tapes to him. "Who filmed them?" Rachel asks. "Chris Paul's older brother, Charles 'C.J.' Paul," Zack replies. "Last year, when Chris and I trained, C.J. would always film us and tell us that if we ever became famous, those shots would definitely come in handy." Rachel marvels, "He's such a great guy." "Coincidentally, I think so too," Zack agrees.
Olympic Snub and Scheduling Conflicts
June brings both good and bad news for Zack as his sophomore year concludes. The good news is that despite being a daily topic among basketball fans in , the Basketball Association (CBA) officially announces that Zack will not be called up for the national team's training camp for the upcoming Athens Olympics. This decision is based on the fact that Olympic qualification was secured by winning last year's Asian Championship, and Zack isn't considered an "insider" of the CBA system. Also, the team's training began earlier in the year, and Zack needs the summer to complete his studies at Wake Forest.
This announcement is a net positive for Zack. While the Olympics are a dream for many, and the early 21st-century national team was far from the "fish belly" team it would become two decades later, the CBA's decision gives Zack crucial time to focus on his personal development. He knows that national team training wouldn't allow him to improve as quickly as individual specialized training. Furthermore, given his "outsider" status, there's no guarantee he'd even make the Olympic roster. And ethically, he feels it would be wrong to displace a veteran for a spot earned by others in the Asian Championship.
Zack promptly responds to the CBA through the media, expressing gratitude to fans and acknowledging that his exclusion is both logical and in the best interest of the national team. He promises to remain committed to his goals and strive to bring honor to his country in the future. The CBA breathes a sigh of relief, having worried Zack might try to pressure them through public opinion. "Pressure them with what? The CBA's being sensible for once, of course I'll fully cooperate!" Zack thinks to himself before diving back into training.
As for the bad news in June? Zack sighs, "Don't these NBA legends have anything better to do? Why does this one want to see me, and that one wants to see me?" The "this one" and "that one" refer to Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan. Barkley, who named Zack his successor on TNT's "Christmas Special," plans to meet him after the NBA Finals. Jordan, despite having recently met Zack, feels it's his duty to oversee the training of the "successor to his eternal white moonlight."
Normally, meeting these two legends would be fantastic, but the problem is they both want to meet Zack on the same day. Zack asks Grover if either of them would be willing to reschedule. Grover sighs, "Michael was going to change the time. But someone slipped up and told Michael that Charles would also be there to meet you, and then…" "What about Charles Barkley?" Zack interjects. "Charles was also going to change the time, but after he found out Michael would be there, he immediately changed his mind," Grover says. "Do you want to hear his exact words?" Zack nods. Grover takes a deep breath and recounts, "Charles said, 'Tell that damn Michael Jordan to stay away from his successor!'"
Zack looks worried. "Based on your knowledge of them… they won't actually fight, will they?" Grover considers this seriously before shaking his head. "Hard to say."
please visitmypatreon
belamy20