The sophomore team consisted of Ford, Devin Harris, Delonte West, Nocioni, Ben Gordon, Iguodala, Luol Deng, Nenad Krstic, and Howard.
Ford, from the class of ’03, got injured just before the All-Star weekend during his rookie year and couldn’t compete. His second year was written off too, still unable to play, but fans really wanted to see him at the All-Star stage. Stern allowed Ford to participate in this rookie challenge as a sophomore, and technically speaking, Ford was indeed a sophomore.
At the event, the camera was on, and everyone was polite, greeting those they knew, and getting to know those they didn’t.
But off-camera, people either grouped with those they knew or sat alone, not quite as divided as it sounds, but lacking that "hi, how are you, everyone’s good" facade from in front of the lens.
Zhang Yang, Felton, Paul, and Marvin Williams gathered together.
Paul, surrounded by three North Carolinians, felt like he was encircled by enemies. No good, he needed to find a topic, suggesting discussing how to approach tomorrow’s game.
Three North Carolinians together hardly made one brain. Representing them, Zhang Yang discussed with Paul for a few minutes and figured, whatever.
As if they stood a chance!
The class of ’04, a big draft year, had reached their sophomore year... Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, Livingston, Childress, Nelson... These guys didn’t make the sophomore team, and neither did Okafor who was mostly injured and didn’t play much.
From their own class of ’05, apart from the three guards, everyone else was practically powerless against the sophomores. How could they even play?
The next day at the rookie challenge, it turned into a dunk contest between the first and second years.
One side dunking after rushing over, then the other side doing the same.
Spectators didn’t feel anything amiss with this kind of game. Since the rookie game changed from an East-West confrontation to a first-year vs. second-year challenge, it had gradually become just that.
It was nearly impossible for the rookies to beat the sophomores, even the class of ’03 had lost to ’02. In 2004’s rookie challenge, Stoudemire and Yao Ming as the twin towers rubbed the ’03’s geniuses into the ground.
Till now, only the class of ’99 had beaten ’98, and ’01 had beaten ’00. The ’99’s victory was due to Francis, Odom, and Brand being too strong for the sophomores of ’98; ’01 won because the class of ’00 was too weak.
In the end, the sophomores won the dunk contest 106 to 96, with Iguodala scoring the most dunks at a whopping 11, and grabbed the rookie game MVP with 30 points in the game.
Felton, Paul, and Zhang Yang all scored around 10 points. Dunking wasn’t Felton’s or Zhang Yang’s forte; Paul was skilled at it but wasn’t interested in this kind of game.
Seeing his buddies looking gloomy next to him, Zhang Yang comforted, "Don’t worry, next year we can be the ones bullying the rookies."
Felton: "Yeah! Next year it won’t be us getting bullied!"
Is that why you’re upset?
The next day, Saturday, Zhang Yang and his parents went to watch the three competitions. Felton and Paul participated in the Skills Challenge, Matt Carroll was invited to the Three-Point Contest, and Gerald Wallace initially accepted the invitation to the Dunk Contest but withdrew due to injury.
Zhang Yang didn’t participate in any of the contests; the league did not invite him. A certain owner who scored 5 tried to persuade him to voluntarily sign up for the Three-Point Contest, but he outright refused.
Heartless capitalists, not only wanting to exploit him but also wanting him to make a fool of himself!
Today, 11,000 words, making up for yesterday’s missing 1,000 words, asking for monthly tickets! Seeking recommendation tickets!
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