The Slam Dunk Contest is over, and as expected, Zack has dominated the headlines and trending topics in the basketball world.
As the first Asian player in NBA history to win the event, The New York Times commented on Zack's current popularity, saying, "His influence in the basketball world is right up there with Michael Jordan's back in the day. We are living in his era."
The growth and advancement of the internet have drastically changed people's lifestyles and also accelerated Zack's rise in popularity.
However, as someone who's been through it, Zack knows very well that the internet can both elevate you to god-like status overnight and strip everything away in an instant.
Moreover, to maintain his current popularity and status, the effort Zack needs to put in is far greater than before.
Because historically, it's hard to conquer a kingdom, but even harder to defend it. No one can stay at the peak forever, even if you are prepared for danger and plan ahead. But when you are surrounded by ambitious, passionate, and eager young people like yourself, they will scrutinize your strengths and weaknesses under a microscope and target you. So, is it hard to defend a kingdom or not?
All-Star Game Preparations
On the 19th, the All-Star Weekend main game was held at the Thomas & Mack Center.
That afternoon, the Western Conference All-Stars held their only combined practice session of the All-Star Weekend.
Tracy McGrady, who replaced Nash as the starting guard for the Western Conference All-Stars due to Nash's injury absence, was clearly not in as good spirits as last year.
"Sleeping T-Mac" was now showing signs of becoming "Sluggish T-Mac."
McGrady's sluggishness was related to him only receiving 970,000 votes in the All-Star voting.
In fact, if Baron Davis hadn't had his good momentum interrupted by that damn injury in early January, McGrady might not have even had the chance to substitute for Nash.
Because at that time, aside from Kobe, who was far ahead at the guard position, the competition between Davis and Nash had already reached a white-hot stage.
fans and Bay Area fans, while voting for Zack, clearly didn't forget this original "Big Beard" Mr.
And as Yao Ming's teammate, Kevin Garnett was fortunate.
This year, in the Western Conference forward position, besides Zack, who monopolized the vote with 3.8 million votes, Garnett was the most popular, receiving a total of 1.9 million votes.
In the voting, Garnett's significant surge in popularity contrasted sharply with McGrady's drastic decline in popularity.
But actually, if the All-Star Weekend was truly based on skill, then McGrady, who participated in the Western Conference forward position voting last season, shouldn't have been a starter.
(Historically, in the 04/05 and 06/07 seasons, McGrady participated in the Western Conference guard position voting, and in the 05/06 season, it was forward).
Because based on McGrady's performance last season, where he spent half his time playing and half recovering from injuries, how could he possibly have squeezed out Garnett and Nowitzki for a starting spot?
On the practice court, Western Conference All-Stars head coach Mike D'Antoni was lost in thought, looking at his team's tall lineup.
Nash's injury meant that the only true point guard for the Western Conference All-Stars this year was Tony Parker from the Spurs.
Historically, the Western Conference All-Stars in this era tended to prioritize forwards when selecting reserves.
As for why?
Well, who can blame them when the Western Conference was full of monsters at the forward position during this period?
Carmelo Anthony, who had been suppressed by Stern since his rookie season due to off-court reasons, should surely have made an All-Star team by now, right?
After Nash's injury, considering the Suns' excellent regular season record, shouldn't a recovered Amar'e Stoudemire (whose strength increased rather than decreased) and his teammate Shawn Marion also be on the reserve list?
And then there's Dirk Nowitzki, who led the Mavericks to stay close behind the Suns and Warriors, even enduring a "58-point blowout," and his teammate Josh Howard.
Plus, another of Yao Ming's teammates, Ray Allen, who edged out Richardson in the voting.
Where were there any extra spots for point guards in the West?
Unlike later All-Star rosters that often drew criticism, the current Western Conference All-Star roster wasn't lacking because players weren't good enough.
It was just that there were too many excellent players.
If Zack remembered correctly, in the original 2007 All-Star Weekend, D'Antoni would have McGrady and Parker respectively be in charge of the main ball-handling in the starting and reserve stages.
And both McGrady and Parker ended up contributing double-digit assists.
But since this year's Western Conference All-Stars also had himself, an anomaly, Zack naturally wanted to personally experience what it was like to play point guard with D'Antoni's tactical support.
Zack as Point Guard
"You mean you want to play as the nominal starting power forward, but actually the point guard?" Before the game, D'Antoni suddenly fell into deep thought about Zack's suggestion.
Beside them, Kobe objected, "I don't think that's a good idea. I think we should still have 'T-Mac' or me play point guard."
If you play point guard, then I'd be running back and forth on the court the whole time, wouldn't I? And given your relationship with McGrady, would McGrady even look at me?
At that moment, turning his gaze to Kobe, Zack retorted, "I'm averaging 10.5 assists this year, second only to Steve Nash. Who between you and 'T-Mac' has more assists than me?"
Kobe: "..."
Then, Zack continued to D'Antoni, "I've played point guard in the World Championships, Mike. You don't have to worry about me not being able to handle the position."
Seeing this, D'Antoni no longer hesitated.
As an offensive mastermind, D'Antoni was also very eager to see the effect of Zack playing point guard in an NBA game.
However, after learning of D'Antoni's tactical arrangements, Duncan looked worriedly at Zack and said, "FIBA games only have fifty or sixty possessions on average.
Although the intensity of the All-Star Weekend main game is much lower than usual, its number of possessions is much higher than usual. Are you sure your stamina can handle the exertion?"
Duncan's concern at this moment was not without reason.
In fact, the reason Zack never played point guard for the Warriors was precisely for this reason.
With the Warriors' game pace of eighty or ninety possessions per game this season, even if Zack's dribbling skills were excellent, he would only personally dribble the ball from the backcourt in necessary possessions.
After all, if teammates can share the dribbling duties, why would Zack waste his precious stamina?
However, precisely because tonight's game was the All-Star Game, Zack wanted to play point guard.
"Tim, have you forgotten that since tonight is the All-Star Game, my rest time will also be more than usual?" Zack smiled at Duncan.
Upon hearing this, Duncan finally reacted.
Normally, even an All-Star starter would only play around twenty minutes.
After all, in the All-Star Weekend main game, the head coach also had to give all players a chance to show what they could do.
"But I just feel like your motive for wanting to play point guard isn't pure."
"That's your prejudice against me, Tim."
The Game Begins
That evening, when the Thomas & Mack Center introduced the East and West All-Star starters, Zack received significantly more cheers than other star players.
The fans in attendance were still immersed in yesterday's Slam Dunk Contest, and this only intensified Zack's desire to perform.
Zack always kept his professional and personal lives separate, judging by actions, not intentions.
Just like at the Staples Center, even if he had no feelings for Khloé Kardashian, and even if her purpose in cheering for him was just to get attention, Zack didn't mind taking photos and signing autographs with her before the game.
At this moment, the cheers and applause erupting for him throughout the arena already made Zack feel like the owner of the venue.
Additionally, during the pre-game jump ball ceremony, Zack noticed that the person whose bathwater Kevin Durant supposedly wanted to drink was also present.
She was wearing a modified Warriors number 30 jersey that accentuated her good figure.
Clearly, Khloé Kardashian had already taught these female celebrities who wanted attention how to make headlines.
Was Scarlett Johansson really his fan?
Zack didn't know.
But he could confirm that he, this young GOAT, was not interested in Scarlett Johansson's bathwater.
On the big screen, as the two teams' players stood ready, the starting lineups for this year's East and West All-Stars were revealed.
Eastern Conference All-Stars: Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas.
Western Conference All-Stars: Yao Ming, Kevin Garnett, Zack, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady.
In the jump ball, Yao Ming, thanks to his lineage, won the possession for the Western Conference All-Stars.
Watching Yao Ming's back, a slightly dejected McGrady passed the ball to Zack as per D'Antoni's pre-game instructions.
On the opening possession, Kobe was very active in demanding the ball.
However, Zack, who was in charge of controlling the ball, splendidly ignored Kobe's active request and, with a lob pass, delivered the ball to Yao Ming.
Howard, who couldn't stop Yao Ming even when applying pressure, could only watch as Yao Ming slammed it down with one hand.
On CCTV, seeing this scene, Zhang Weiping said with satisfaction, "In the past, Yao Ming was just an extra in the All-Star Weekend. Now with Zack, his performance in the All-Star Game is definitely something to look forward to."
If, on the opening possession, people thought Zack was just playing a playmaking role as usual, then after Wade scored two points for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, watching Zack personally bring the ball from the backcourt to the frontcourt, both the fans in attendance and those watching at home couldn't help but freeze for two seconds.
"Whoa! D'Antoni is really bold; is he going to learn from Jonas Kazlauskas and use Zack at point guard?" Zhang Weiping exclaimed on CCTV.
After figuring out D'Antoni's intentions, the big screen even made sure to give a big close-up to Magic Johnson sitting courtside with his family.
On TNT, Charles Barkley chuckled, "Now 'Magic' is no longer the tallest point guard in NBA history!"
Zack, playing as the actual point guard for the Western Conference All-Stars in the offense, delivered an incredibly stunning performance for all basketball enthusiasts in the subsequent game.
He first connected with Garnett with an elbow pass that baffled everyone, and then assisted McGrady for a three-pointer from the outside with an incredibly imaginative pistol-style pass.
Furthermore, while dribbling and advancing, Zack boldly showcased streetball moves he usually didn't have a chance to show off.
In the first 5 minutes of the game, Yao Ming, Garnett, and McGrady all opened their scoring accounts with Zack's assists.
Only Kobe.
After running back and forth for almost half a quarter, Kobe, during a timeout, complained to Zack, "You're getting back at me for something!!"
Zack looked puzzled, "How am I getting back at you? I haven't taken a single shot yet; haven't I just been passing?"
Kobe said, "I've been asking for the ball the whole time, but you haven't passed it to me even once!"
Zack shrugged, "That's because other teammates were in better positions."
Teammate Dynamics
Beside them, seeing the two main pillars of the team on the verge of escalating their argument, D'Antoni quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Kobe, you rest for a bit, I'll put you back in later."
D'Antoni knew that only by staggering Zack and Kobe's playing time could he alleviate the conflict between the two that could erupt at any moment.
As for why Kobe was subbed out first instead of Zack?
Of course, besides the fans in attendance wanting to continue watching Zack's passing exhibition, D'Antoni was also curious about what other amazing things Zack could do on the court.
After the timeout, a fuming Kobe immediately gave Zack his infamous "death stare."
It was a terrifying gaze.
However, under the gaze of those eyes, Zack, playing point guard tonight, earned the recognition of every teammate.
Carmelo Anthony, playing in his first All-Star Weekend and eager to prove himself, exclaimed after two easy scores, "If you were my teammate, how could anyone else be the scoring champion?"
At this moment, looking at Anthony, Zack actually wanted to say, is it possible that the "anyone else" Anthony mentioned also included him?
Josh Howard, also making his first All-Star appearance, also scored with Zack's assists.
Due to his distinctive looks and low popularity, historically, Howard only got 3 shot attempts in his only All-Star Weekend appearance.
But since the man controlling the ball on the court was his junior, Howard naturally didn't have to foolishly run back and forth on the court as he did in Zack's memory.
Duncan, who originally wanted to just coast through the All-Star Weekend, found his body uncontrollably accepting two easy scores from Zack after coming off the bench.
There was no way around it; as Zack's senior, Duncan couldn't possibly refuse the good intentions of his junior.
In the first quarter, Zack, who unknowingly played the entire quarter, delivered 12 assists in the completely undefended pace of the All-Star Game.
On the court, the Western Conference All-Stars had multiple scorers. After D'Antoni rotated everyone, all players except Kobe and Ray Allen had scored.
On the scoreboard, the Western Conference All-Stars led 51-39, a 12-point lead entering the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Kobe, who had been holding back for an entire quarter, finally got a chance to release his emotions.
D'Antoni was very gracious, letting Kobe perform alone on the court for 8 minutes before substituting Zack back in.
During these 8 minutes, Kobe took 13 shots and made 8 of them.
In terms of efficiency alone, Kobe had already proven with his actions that his shooting touch was excellent tonight.
But in contrast to Zack, the Western Conference All-Stars players (except McGrady) clearly preferred to be on the court with Zack. (Ray Allen: Can they both just die?)
In the last four minutes of the second quarter, Stoudemire, who came on with Zack, soared multiple times.
This was Stoudemire's second All-Star Weekend, and he also had a strong desire to perform on the court.
Therefore, whenever Zack called him for a pick-and-roll, he would immediately rush to Zack without hesitation.
It proved that players who are good at setting up scores are welcomed everywhere.
Breaking Records
Quietly, as Zack's assist numbers continued to climb, Barkley suddenly exclaimed, "He's not going to set a new All-Star Game assist record tonight, is he?"
At halftime, the score was 91-78, with Zack accumulating a total of 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 18 assists at halftime.
In that completely non-confrontational game environment, Zack was only 4 assists away from tying Magic Johnson's All-Star Game record of 22 assists.
After halftime, D'Antoni reduced the playing time of those players who preferred to coast.
With his careful pairing, the Western Conference All-Stars put out a lineup with unparalleled offensive power: Stoudemire, Marion, Howard, Anthony, Zack.
This lineup not only had amazing athleticism but also possessed outside shooting range.
On the court, during a Western Conference All-Stars offensive possession.
After setting a screen for Zack on the outside, Stoudemire immediately cut, disrupting the Eastern Conference All-Stars' defense.
At the top of the arc, Zack, controlling the ball, faked a shot, then used a pump fake to shake off the double-teaming Howard, assisting Stoudemire for a powerful dunk.
Then, on the next offensive possession, Zack found Marion with a no-look pass as he cut to the Eastern Conference All-Stars' basket.
This was Zack's 20th assist of the night.
And Anthony, in the next two offensive possessions, with two efficient catch-and-shoot jumpers, helped Zack successfully catch up to Magic Johnson's pace.
Sitting on the bench, watching the Western Conference All-Stars players laughing and chatting with Zack, for a moment, Kobe even felt isolated.
Thomas & Mack Center.
It wasn't until Zack connected with Stoudemire and officially surpassed Magic Johnson that D'Antoni put Kobe back on the court.
It was an aerial connection that shocked the entire arena.
Because Anthony's lob pass was too strong, forcing Zack to fly out of bounds to save the ball, at that moment, Zack incredibly grabbed the ball back from above and threw it towards the basket.
Immediately after, Stoudemire powerfully slammed it down, completing Zack's 23rd assist of the game!
The big screen immediately showed a close-up of Magic Johnson.
No one knew what the legendary guard Earvin Johnson was feeling at that moment watching the game.
But as a Lakers legend, Johnson's mood definitely couldn't have been "proud."
On TNT, Barkley spontaneously stood up and cheered for Zack, "I don't want to say he's the greatest passing big man in NBA history, but I think... it's already a fact!"
The 211 cm tall Zack continued to write his legend.
And Kobe?
Two minutes later, an astonishing scene unfolded at the Thomas & Mack Center.
On the court, Eastern Conference All-Stars' reserve center Shaquille O'Neal was at the free throw line.
After his first free throw bounced out, Zack quipped, "I bet 500 dollars he'll miss his second free throw too."
Suddenly, a voice beside him said, "I bet 1000 dollars he'll air-ball his second free throw."
And then...
After O'Neal actually air-balled his second free throw, Zack and the owner of that voice immediately exchanged a satisfying high-five.
Then...
Zack and Kobe awkwardly froze.
It's you!?
At that moment, Zack and Kobe, who wished they could cut off their hands, were as awkward as can be.
However, after the Eastern Conference All-Stars put O'Neal back in, Zack and Kobe surprisingly reached a consensus.
"Next, I want to go all out," Kobe looked up at Zack and said.
"Perfect, don't worry, I'll definitely get the ball to you! No matter what, I'll make sure you get a dunk over that fat pig!"
Seeing this, Kobe clenched his fists and said, "If you have a chance, I'll pass the ball to you too!"
Hearing this, Zack smiled, "Couldn't ask for more!"