Life as NBA Rookie (SlamDunk System)

Zack absolutely dominated his matchup against Frazier. 

During the game, Frazier, who only dared to avoid him, managed just 4-for-11 from the field, totaling 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists with free throws and a three-pointer. As the Captains' star player, Frazier's performance clearly wasn't enough to lead his team into the next round. 

On the Demon Deacons' side, Zack put up an impressive 28 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals, shooting 11-for-15 from the field, 1-for-3 from three, and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. On the court, the 218cm tall Prabieshevsky and the 208cm Frazier were completely outmaneuvered by him. 

During March Madness, media and scouts were astonished to find that Zack's dynamic athleticism seemed to have been further unleashed. 

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith remarked on Zack's March Madness performance, "If he declares for the draft this year, I would absolutely be willing to gamble a lottery pick on his talent!" After the game, Smith's opinion garnered significant support. After all, a force like Zack, who can soar freely even in March Madness, is a rare sight, even in a land overflowing with talented players like the U.S. 

However, despite all this, Zack had no intention of changing his original plan. Not only did he need to complete the "That Unextinguished Dream" and "In the Name of Legacy" quests before the end of his college career, but he also saw no need to rush, especially since he could continue to refine his skills in college and aim for a higher entry into the NBA in the future. 

In his memories, Zack had witnessed too many talented players falter in the NBA. Take Stromile Swift, for example, whom Barkley called a fast and agile "deer" – what was his fate? Or Shaun Livingston, who, lured by fame and fortune, skipped college despite being destined for Duke – how did that turn out? 

If his current draft stock were top three, Zack would declare without hesitation. That would mean he had no more room for improvement in college. But right now, did Zack really need to gamble on being drafted by a team willing to wait for him to grow and give him enough touches to hone his skills? In Zack's eyes, that probability was simply too low. 

For him, with the "Peak" system in this life, the true path was to perfect his skills in college like his senior, Tim Duncan, completely conquer NBA scouts, and then enter the NBA as a cornerstone player. 

The Ultimate Showdown: Wake Forest vs. UConn 

The day after Zack and Paul led the Demon Deacons to a 90-71 victory over the Captains, Wake Forest's upcoming battle against UConn became the focal point of the sports world. Discussions about whether Jamal Nelson could be MVP, how far freshman Luol Deng could lead Duke as a starter, or if Georgia Tech's underdog story would continue, all faded into the background as everyone turned their attention to this impending spectacle in the Phoenix regional. 

Additionally, before the game, the media enthusiastically educated fans about the stars of this anticipated clash. 

"Emeka Okafor, one of the most complete big men in NCAA basketball in recent years. On the court, he's skilled, strong offensively, and tough defensively. Off the court, he's an excellent student, humble, and practical. If I had the first pick this year, Emeka would be the perfect choice." 

As a junior, Okafor, who would historically be selected with the second overall pick by the Bobcats this year, was undoubtedly the best positive role model for Zack right now. While Okafor's NBA career wasn't particularly flashy due to long-term back injuries, he was given ample opportunity to showcase himself in his first few years with the Bobcats, who always viewed him as their interior anchor. Perhaps in the higher tier of the NBA, Okafor's talent couldn't take him to the next level. But for Zack, who already knew the extent of his talent through the "Peak" system, talent would never be his stumbling block. 

"Ben Gordon, a genius guard you can't describe with words. His jump shot is exquisite, his release tight. As a guard with a complete offensive arsenal, his only flaw is that he's only 6'3". But even so, his height can't stop him from shining on the court." 

This season, Gordon averaged 18.5 points in the Big East, making him UConn's leading scorer. And historically, what's even more incredible is that in his first year in the NBA, Gordon successfully won the Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging 15.1 points in about 24 minutes per game for the Bulls. At this moment, being frank, in Zack's eyes, at least he and Paul were currently a tier below Okafor and Gordon. 

And besides Okafor and Gordon, how balanced was this UConn team's roster? So balanced that compared to them, Zack felt the Demon Deacons were a ragtag bunch. In March Madness, UConn head coach Jim Calhoun preferred to pair Hilton Armstrong with Okafor in the paint. The 211cm Armstrong possessed outstanding leaping ability and wingspan, making their interior defense arguably the toughest paint to penetrate in March Madness this year. 

Additionally, on the wing, Coach Calhoun boldly started freshman Charlie Villanueva, pairing him with sharpshooter Rashad Anderson. Villanueva, one of Yi Jianlian's main competitors in Zack's memories, had a bare-foot height of 208cm. He was agile and could provide some outside shooting. As for Anderson? Although he never played in the NBA, as a strong 196cm, 98kg shooter, his three-point percentage this season was as high as 40.7%, and he averaged 2.6 threes per game for UConn. 

Okafor, Armstrong, Villanueva, Anderson, Gordon… this five-man lineup that Coach Calhoun favored in March Madness not only boasted impressive average height but also combined athleticism with outside firepower. And when the team hit a snag, they could always unleash top-tier fresh talent like Josh Boone, Marcus Williams, and Tariq Brown. This was a super team rarely seen even in the long history of the NCAA: the UConn Huskies. 

Wake Forest would have to overcome them to reach the Elite Eight – they were the ultimate roadblock. 

Game Night: A Home Away From Home 

On the evening of the 24th, as Zack, who saw himself as a "Barkley successor," and his teammates stepped onto the America West Arena court, the only good news Wake Forest could gather before the game was perhaps the favor they'd receive from neutral fans tonight due to Zack's "Barkley successor" status. 

Yes, similar to the Captains they played in the previous round, UConn was also a team "exiled" by the selection committee. (Note ①) In a sense, they were even more unfortunate than the Demon Deacons and the Captains, as geographically, they were sent from the Northeast to the Southwest. Since both Wake Forest and UConn were traveling teams, the Phoenix fans, recalling Barkley tonight, naturally offered their applause and cheers to Zack and his Demon Deacons. 

Tonight, the "home" team, the Demon Deacons, had already secured the home-court advantage and the crowd's support. But on the court, as UConn opened their first possession to a chorus of boos after the jump ball, the Wake Forest players immediately felt the pressure from this UConn squad. 

On the perimeter, Gordon swiftly blew past Gray, pulling up for a three-pointer! This kind of smooth, unguardable individual offense was, even in the eyes of the well-traveled Zack, a bit unreasonable. Gray had played almost perfect defense. But... this was the mark of a star. The more crucial the game, the more you could gauge a player's level. Some players seemed born for the big stage. 

Wake Forest's turn to offense. Facing Okafor, who actively guarded him, Zack felt the pressure of posting up for the first time since March Madness began. As a player who would immediately average "15+10" in the NBA, it's worth noting that Okafor was clashing with household names during this period. 

"I remember you weren't so soft when you played Matt Frazier," Okafor suddenly said to Zack on the court. Hearing Okafor imply he was picking on weaker opponents, Zack chose not to engage in a war of words. But the next second... Zack, still feeling a surge of anger after taking a step back, instinctively drove into the low post. 

Mike Breen, who was commentating the game, chuckled, "Emeka has set a trap in the paint. How will Zack respond to the strongest college player in America?" 

At the top of the arc, seeing Zack enter the low post, Paul immediately gave a signal to Gray, who was lurking on the wing. At this moment, the competitive Paul also didn't want his interior partner to back down from Okafor in the game. In fact, if Zack had really left the low post to set a screen for him, Paul felt he might have been so disappointed that he'd utter Kobe's famous line: "Get that damn screen out of here and get back in the post and go one-on-one with Emeka Okafor!" 

On the court, after receiving the ball, Zack quickly attacked Okafor. However, no matter how hard he tried, Okafor countered with ease. Unlike the opponents Zack had faced before, Okafor's low-post defense was battle-tested. Throughout his college career, Okafor averaged over 4 blocks per season. With the reputation he built in college basketball, he was known as a low-post defensive demon, an offense-enhanced Ben Wallace. 

However, what the unmoving Okafor didn't expect was that Zack's post-ups weren't entirely about brute force. 

"Post-ups are about rhythm." 

In the low post, after a fake move with his back to the basket, Zack suddenly feigned a move to the other side. In that instant, Okafor, unable to quite read Zack, shifted his weight. Then, Zack, like an eel, re-centered himself and spun in the opposite direction of Okafor's weight shift. In this moment, Zack's talent shone through. 

But in the paint, before he could complete his turn, Armstrong and Okafor double-teamed him, one in front and one behind! Seeing this, Zack instinctively recalled his teammates' usual off-ball movements and quickly passed the ball to the opposite baseline corner. Due to Armstrong's help defense, UConn's overall defense would have to collapse. Therefore, in the opposite baseline corner, they naturally had to leave Justin Gray, who had been waiting there quietly. 

From the moment Paul lobbed the ball to Zack, Gray had been stealthily positioned there. 

Swish! 

On the court, Gray, with a quick shot, tied the score for the Demon Deacons. On the bench, Ronnie Evans, who always knew how to liven things up, frantically waved his towel and shouted at the UConn players on the court, "You think the best in America and a double-team can stop Zack? He's a 208cm Magic Johnson!" 

Actually, given the noisy atmosphere in the arena tonight, the UConn players on the court couldn't hear Evans's taunt. But Zack's assist had truly shredded UConn's entire defense! 

From the commentary booth, Mike Breen said, "UConn needs to be careful. Wake Forest's powerhouse tonight is clearly calmer than we expected." 

America West Arena, the game continued. Next, it was UConn's turn to offense. 

Note ①: Don't be surprised, the NCAA selection committee really does play dirty like this. However, historically, UConn, despite being sent to the Phoenix regional, ultimately fought their way through the entire Phoenix regional, which is a testament to their absolute strength. 

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