NBA: The Dynasty Crasher

On the evening of the 14th, the Knicks faced off against the Raptors at home, with Zhao Dong continuing as a starter. The Raptors lineup included Marcus Camby, Popeye Jones, Walter Williams, Doug Christie, and Damon Stoudamire, while the Knicks had Ewing, Zhao Dong, Oakley, Alan Houston, and Charlie Ward.

CCTV only broadcasts one game per week, so there was no live broadcast of this match. However, the game was aired live across the United States by ABC Television, with former Knicks coach Hubie Brown and former NBA player Darwin Cook as commentators.

"As we all know, the big story of this game is the matchup between Marcus Camby, the No. 2 pick, and the undrafted Zhao Dong. I'm curious to see if these two rookies are on the same level," Cook said.

"I'm leaning towards Camby. The kid's talent is undeniable, like a shining gem. But Zhao Dong? He's a gamble for the Knicks. Who knows what his future holds? This might be his peak," Hubie Brown commented, shaking his head.

When the game started, the locker room fell silent. Zhao Dong sat by his locker, lost in thought, though he was actually reviewing the task displayed on his screen. The system now offered sniper missions at multiple levels: dynasty, super-giant, and champion-level sniper missions. Besides these, there were just regular competition missions.

But this game came with a sniper mission.

Star Sniper Mission:

Opponent: Marcus Camby, No. 2 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, future star.

Mission Requirements:

1. Limit Marcus Camby's scoring to fewer than 7 points while scoring 20+ points yourself.

2. Limit Marcus Camby's rebounds to fewer than 4, while your rebounds must be double his.

3. Block Marcus Camby five times, and don't let him block you more than twice.

Tip: Complete all mission requirements to earn three quality points.

"Even though Camby's future might not be great, this mission is still tough. The system really believes in me, huh?" Zhao Dong thought, acknowledging Camby's visible talent as the No. 2 pick. Beating such an opponent on both offense and defense would be challenging, but the rewards were tempting. Five quality points and his speed would definitely make him stronger.

"I'm gonna take this seriously—it's my job. But I'm not making it personal. No need to target him," Zhao Dong mused.

Meanwhile, in the visiting team's locker room, Camby was being interviewed. His words were polite, but his eyes spoke of determination.

The game began with Ewing and Camby jumping for the ball, and the Knicks started their attack. Van Gundy didn't specify who Zhao Dong and Ewing would cover, but in order to complete the mission, Zhao Dong made the decision and moved to guard Camby.

Whether it was Raheem or Iverson in front of him, Zhao Dong never considered them his true competition. This game was about him and Camby, two rookies ready to go head-to-head. Camby stood 211 cm tall with an impressive wingspan of 229 cm, and his leaping ability was remarkable. This physical advantage would make him a star one day, enabling him to block shots. But his body lacked strength—his frame was too slim, and his weight was much lighter than Zhao Dong's. He entered the league weighing just 96 kilograms, almost 20 kilograms less than Zhao Dong. Strength and physicality would always be his weaknesses.

Zhao Dong moved to the low post on the left wing. Immediately, he used his strength, charging at Camby like a wrecking ball, backing him down to the basket. Camby couldn't even budge.

"Oh shit, that strength difference is brutal!" ABC commentator Darwin Cook shouted.

At that moment, Oakley, stationed further up, passed the ball to Zhao Dong. He caught it, dribbled quickly, then bulldozed forward. With a grunt, Zhao Dong leaned into Camby, pushing him back.

"Boom!" Zhao Dong made his move, leaping into the air and dunking the ball with sheer force, slamming it through with both hands.

"That's a nasty dunk! Zhao Dong's like a wrecking ball, and Camby's just getting crushed! He's a twig next to Zhao Dong!" The live commentator's voice echoed through Madison Square Garden.

"Zhao Dong's showing pure power, just dominating the paint. Camby's got nothing for him," Darwin Cook added during the ABC broadcast.

"Marcus Camby is great at protecting the rim, but I'm curious to see if he can turn that potential into real results," Hubie Brown commented.

The Raptors were now on the attack. Camby posted up on the left wing, but Zhao Dong's relentless defense kept him far from the basket. Camby was pushed so far back that he was nearly five meters away, almost near the sideline.

"Pass it back to him," Damon Stoudemire said, passing the ball to Camby. But Camby's offensive game was weak, and his lack of skills made it hard for him to respond. Even in the future, his outside shot would be inconsistent, and he rarely attacked the basket directly. His finishing ability was subpar.

Camby awkwardly dribbled the ball and tried a forced turnaround jumper, slow and off-balance.

"Snapped!" Zhao Dong's large hand swatted the ball away, blocking the shot cleanly.

"Goddamn! What a block!" shouted the announcer.

The Knicks fans erupted into applause, acknowledging the incredible defensive play. Camby stood frozen, stunned. With his height and shooting mechanics, he never expected to be blocked like that. How the hell did Zhao Dong jump so high?

Meanwhile, at the Sherlock Gan Hotel, Bulls general manager Jerry Krause was watching the game in his room. Upon seeing Zhao Dong's block, he cursed loudly, "We fucked up big time!"

In another room, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the rest of the Bulls watched the game.

"This rookie's got hops, and his speed's on par with mine, but that's it. I'd handle him no problem," Rodman said nonchalantly.

"His inside play is good, but he won't stop Michael on a drive," Pippen added.

Tony Kukoc joined in, "Iverson might be faster, but this rookie, Zhao Dong, is tough on defense. Iverson struggled against him."

"Michael, what do you think of him?" Ron Harper asked.

Jordan, watching the game, shrugged. "He's too young. Don't compare him to me. His defense in the paint is solid, but my mid-range game? It'll shred him. If he tries to guard me, I'll eat him alive. Right now, he's flying under the radar with nice stats and no mistakes. But once teams start focusing on him, we'll see what he's really made of."

--------

Thanks for reading! Send a Power Stone to support the story!

-----

Read Chapters ahead

Påtreon.com/FanficLord03