A group of people decided to grab some fast food together, making the once unfamiliar relationships a bit closer.
Zhang Hao also realized that Carter wasn't as arrogant as he seemed. It was just that when it came to dunking, Carter always carried an "I'm invincible" air, treating everyone at the dunk contest as "cannon fodder." Thus, he appeared very proud. However, once he recognized Zhang Hao as a worthy opponent, at least when dealing with Zhang Hao's group, he reverted to being a regular high school student.
What Zhang Hao didn't know was that Carter's initiative to make friends was related to the words Zhang Hao said to a few people around him after the selection event ended. Carter had genuinely planned to taunt, but after hearing Zhang Hao's remarks, Carter, who had come up behind Zhang Hao's group, chuckled so hard his smile nearly reached his ears, eliminating any confrontational vibe, and he quickly retreated.
After dinner, Zhang Hao and Pierce accompanied two female classmates back to their apartment; both were staying at the Pierce family's apartment.
After escorting the two back, Zhang Hao and Pierce naturally returned to the hotel, where it was undeniably more comfortable to stay.
However, on the way back to the hotel, Pierce felt a slightly resentful gaze beside him.
"Aix, what's up? Didn't eat enough tonight?"
"What's the name of the girl who was with Aprile? I think it was Chris? She wanted to see your room, why didn't you agree?"
"Why take her to my messy room? It's better to send her back to the apartment early. I still want to play video games; I just secretly bought the latest version of MapleStory. I have to finish it while staying at the hotel, otherwise, my mom will nag if I bring it home..."
"I wish you'd stay single forever!"
"Hello?"
The two returned to the hotel and went to their respective rooms. The McDonald's All-Star was generous in that they arranged single rooms, avoiding the awkwardness of sharing with strangers. Pierce said that the Adidas Training Camp had double rooms.
Actually, Zhang Hao didn't mind, as long as the roommate wasn't too messy.
After taking a shower, Zhang Hao looked at the remaining 395 days of life... hoping to achieve a perfect dunk at the finals of the dunk contest the day after tomorrow.
But this was just Zhang Hao's minimum goal; he now wants to win the championship!
Champion!
Definitely going to compete for the championship!
The opponent is Carter! If he can beat Carter in the dunk contest once, he can brag for a lifetime!
The next two days are the preparation time for the dunk contest, and they can also prepare at the Great Western Forum. Tomorrow, the Lakers are heading to Seattle, with the first match between the two teams on the 27th.
Before sleeping, Zhang Hao reviewed the task goals. As expected, there was no previous hint of completion; passing the selection with a full vote doesn't count as a perfect dunk.
Nothing happened overnight; the next day, Zhang Hao went alone to the Great Western Forum for shooting training.
Training at an NBA team's arena feels different.
Zhang Hao had long prepared for how to dunk at the finals. Now, what's more important to him is fully developing the effect of the Mid-range Growth Card before the start of the Adidas Training Camp, striving to enter one of the two elite teams at the Adidas Training Camp!
Since he's ready to start from being a player and move towards a coaching role, he needs to excel as a player first, then stay longer in the professional or semi-professional field, develop more connections, and eventually become a coach.
NCAA, Development League, European League... he doesn't discriminate.
Previously, he only trained with his high school team, having little concept when seeing younger teammates train better under a coach's supervision.
Now, coming to the Great Western Forum to train, even though there's a game this afternoon, Zhang Hao found surprisingly few people training. The Lakers' expansive home training ground was nearly empty, with only a few practicing.
Zhang Hao deeply felt that those who enter the NBA with outstanding skills might not just be trained during college, but initially show distinct differences from other players.
Like Pierce, despite his undisciplined diet making him as hefty as an NBA-level center, nicknamed the high school version of Barkley, he's never sloppy about training. It's just that he hasn't grasped the concept of dietary control yet.
And these genius participants in the McDonald's All-Star selection, Zhang Hao felt they truly have a talent for basketball, but their attention to details separates them from truly exceptional players. Slowly, over a few years through college or reaching professional play, differences will become stark.
Players training today showed varied attitudes, regardless of arriving early or late. Some players ended their training seeming not even to have warmed up into practice mode.
From the start to the end of Zhang Hao's training, the two players who stayed the longest were Mike Bibby, always sporting a headband, known as the future "White Devil," and surprisingly, Carter!
Mike Bibby worked on mid-range shots; Zhang Hao did unrestricted location mid-range shots; Carter practiced three-pointers. Although training directions were entirely different, they began to compete with each other.
Mutually, they were amazed by each other's shooting abilities!
Mike Bibby was surprised that the two best dunkers from yesterday were also excellent shooters, initially thinking they only excelled in high school through athletic prowess, as many players do. But these two are distinctly different from average athletic players.