Three days later, Los Angeles.
Zhang Zhaohua stepped into the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo.
Courtside sat a basketball legend—the "Zen Master" Phil Jackson, calmly observing the court. Not far away, a purple and gold figure was drenched in sweat, eyes like tempered steel—Kobe Bryant, grinding through brutal individual training. There was also young Andrew Bynum, the Lakers' promising frontcourt prospect.
Zhang Zhaohua took a deep breath. Instead of intimidation, he felt excitement at sharing space with these elite figures. His eyes remained steady as he walked directly toward the Zen Master.
"Zhang, welcome to Los Angeles." Phil Jackson looked up, his gaze warm but appraising. His voice carried a hypnotic quality that demanded attention.
"Thank you, Coach." Zhang Zhaohua steadied himself, his tone respectful but composed. He knew the two men before him were among the greatest coach and player in basketball history—earning their approval would be invaluable.
"We watched your combine performance. Very impressive." The Zen Master tapped his knee lightly. "Especially your awareness and footwork in competition—exceeded expectations. Your measurements are solid, but your game performance is on another level entirely." He leaned forward: "However, NBA intensity and system complexity are completely different from college. We run the triangle offense, which demands a lot from our centers. Tell me your understanding of this system and what role you think you could play."
This wasn't simple questioning—it was testing basketball IQ, tactical comprehension, and adaptability. Zhang Zhaohua didn't hesitate. His previous life's knowledge combined with the system's basketball instincts gave him deep triangle offense understanding.
"The triangle emphasizes spacing, cutting, and player interaction," Zhang Zhaohua answered clearly. "The center serves as the pivot point. It's not just about post-ups and rebounds—it's about high-post facilitation, creating space for perimeter players through screens, and providing weak-side presence through positioning and cuts."
He glanced toward Kobe, still shooting: "Like during the Shaq-Kobe era, Shaq wasn't just an interior finisher. His high-post passing and defensive gravity were the foundation of the entire system. While I can't match Shaq's dominance, I believe I can be an efficient pivot—using passing, screening, and precise cutting to activate the offense while providing rim protection and rebounding on defense."
His response was clear and direct, hitting core concepts while referencing team history to show both understanding and commitment to the Lakers' system. The Zen Master's eyes flickered with approval as he nodded.
Kobe finished his shooting and walked over, his gaze sharp and challenging. "Sounds good in theory," Kobe said with amusement. "Anyone can talk the talk. But the triangle demands footwork, court vision, and conditioning from centers, especially under intense defensive pressure. Think you can handle that? Think you can fill even part of the void that fat bastard left?"
He cut straight to the heart of it: the gap between theory and practice, and the pressure of the Lakers' center position. Zhang Zhaohua met Kobe's piercing stare without flinching, his eyes calm as still water but carrying unshakeable resolve.
"I trust my training and my will," he said with quiet strength. "Competition is part of the game. The higher the intensity, the more it brings out my potential. I'm ready."
Kobe didn't immediately respond, just smiled with amusement while something like respect flickered in his eyes. He turned to Bynum: "Andrew, you warmed up? Come work with our new friend."
Bynum grinned, showing white teeth, his eyes bright with excitement and challenge as he looked at Zhang Zhaohua. "Ready whenever you are, Kobe!" He clearly wanted to test this combine sensation and see what he was made of.
The Zen Master stood up: "Let's see what you've got then. Andrew, you start on offense. One-on-one, low post."
The atmosphere crystallized. Bynum was a seven-foot power center whose strength was his biggest weapon. Zhang Zhaohua positioned himself across from him, feeling the system's enhanced strength and footwork flowing through his body. The confidence was there, but his expression remained composed. He controlled his breathing, focused his mind, and let his previous life's defensive experience replay in his head.
Bynum received the ball. He lowered his center of gravity, muscles bulging as he tried to bulldoze Zhang Zhaohua toward the basket. He drove backward with force!
Zhang Zhaohua's base was solid as bedrock, the Chamberlain template's strength attribute (79) allowing him to absorb the first impact. But instead of matching force with force, he used experience to anticipate Bynum's next move, applying his footwork potential to adjust positioning and deflect some of the impact while staying close enough to disrupt balance and leverage.
Bynum looked surprised and powered up again, trying to create space. Zhang Zhaohua was like an old tree rooted deep in the earth—weathering the storm, unmoved, fluidly adjusting angles so Bynum could never get comfortable leverage.
Bynum felt like he was hitting a flexible but immovable wall, his power scattering with nowhere to go, his rhythm completely disrupted. He gritted his teeth and spun around, trying to score from an awkward angle with a hook shot.
The instant he released the ball, Zhang Zhaohua used his wingspan and system-enhanced shot-blocking attribute (72), combined with his trajectory read, to explode upward and cleanly tip the ball away!
The ball clanged off the rim! Zhang Zhaohua secured the rebound.
Kobe's eyes flashed with intrigue, his smile widening. The Zen Master's expression remained calm, but the interest in his eyes burned like flame.
Over the next several possessions, both players traded baskets. Bynum showed the raw power and potential of a young center, bulldozing past Zhang Zhaohua for several scores.
But Zhang Zhaohua used basketball IQ, timing, footwork, and defensive instincts to neutralize Bynum's power plays, or exploit defensive lapses with nimble footwork to create shooting opportunities, even delivering several pinpoint passes from the high post.
He didn't dominate Bynum but showed maturity, efficiency, and versatility beyond his years—a center who could defend the paint, facilitate from the high post, move his feet, and anchor the defense was exactly what the Lakers needed. He proved his value extended far beyond measurements.
The scrimmage ended with both players breathing hard, Bynum looking at Zhang Zhaohua with newfound respect. Though Zhang Zhaohua was also winded, his endurance attribute (74) meant he hadn't hit his limit.
The Zen Master and Kobe exchanged quiet words, occasionally glancing at Zhang Zhaohua with satisfaction and anticipation. Finally, the Zen Master looked at him again, smiling.
"Zhang, your performance left an impression on us." He paused, his gaze penetrating. "Your basketball IQ and understanding of the triangle, combined with what you showed on court, fits our needs. We'll give this serious consideration. Thank you for coming today."
Though not an explicit promise, Zhang Zhaohua understood the weight of those words. This was practically a done deal! He knew he'd taken the crucial step toward changing his destiny.
June 28th, 2006. Draft night.
Zhang Zhaohua didn't go to Madison Square Garden. He chose to stay in his UCLA apartment, watching the draft coverage on his computer—this ceremony that would determine countless young players' fates.
He kept his agent Gabriel on the phone, but both remained silent, listening only to Commissioner Stern's magnetic voice and the background noise from the arena.
"With the first pick in the NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Andrea Bargnani from Italy."
"With the second pick, the Chicago Bulls select LaMarcus Aldridge from the University of Texas."
Familiar names from his previous life were called, positions shifting constantly.
"With the third pick, the Charlotte Bobcats select Adam Morrison from Gonzaga University." Morrison, once a lock for number one, had apparently slipped to third—possibly due to his poor showing against Zhang Zhaohua at the combine.
Brandon Roy, Tyrus Thomas, Rudy Gay... each given a new beginning in that moment.
Zhang Zhaohua's palms were sweating—not from nerves, but anticipation.
His previous life's 26th pick had been both a surprise and the beginning of tragedy.
This time, he needed a higher starting point, a more valued position.
The lottery zone! This was the system's mission and his heart's calling!
On screen, the camera panned to the Hornets' representative. 12th pick—Hilton Armstrong was selected.
Next up: 13th overall! The Los Angeles Lakers!
Zhang Zhaohua instinctively straightened in his chair, breathing rapidly. Gabriel seemed to hold his breath on the other end of the line.
David Stern approached the podium with his trademark smile, pausing as if to build suspense. The arena noise dimmed as everyone held their breath.
"With the thirteenth pick in the 2006 NBA Draft," Stern's voice rang clear, "the Los Angeles Lakers select..."