Chapter 9: Wade Dong Enters the Game

The first half ended.

52:49!!!

The Suns led by three points going into the second half.

In his previous life, the Suns were already down by 21 points at halftime in this game.

"Is it because I've been reborn, or are the two worlds just different?"

Wade Dong pondered this question. If the score was this close, Gentry might not put Wade Dong in the game.

In the second half, the Lakers began their comeback.

They started with an 11:0 run, making the score 52:60.

Gentry immediately called a timeout to set up tactics, but he still had no intention of putting Wade Dong in the game.

After the timeout, the Suns tried to fight back, but with little effect. By the end of the third quarter, the score was 63:79.

The Suns were down by sixteen points.

The players were feeling discouraged, and Gentry was trying to encourage them.

Wade Dong knew he couldn't wait any longer. Opportunities had to be seized.

"Coach, I want to play!"

Wade Dong walked straight up to Gentry and said.

"You???"

Gentry looked at Wade Dong.

The teammates were also surprised. In the NBA, except for superstars, everyone followed the coach's arrangements. Ordinary players didn't have the right to ask to play.

Gentry hesitated. Being down by 16 points wasn't hopeless, but putting in Wade Dong, who had no big game experience, was a risky move.

Nash, however, saw an opportunity and said directly, "Let Wade Dong play. I believe in him."

"Alright!"

With Nash's endorsement, Gentry decided to put Wade Dong in the game.

Wade Dong looked at Nash gratefully.

Finally, he could play and avenge his previous life's humiliation.

Wade Dong still had 5 talent points. He immediately exchanged them for a skill package: Allen Iverson's Crossover Package!

The fourth quarter began, and seeing Wade Dong enter the court, the commentator exclaimed, "Who do I see? Number 7 from China! Gentry actually put a college player in the crucial fourth quarter!"

...

On CCTV-5, Yu Jia and Zhang were also surprised.

Yu Jia: "Wade Dong is in the game! Wade Dong is in the game!"

Yu Jia shouted twice to express her excitement.

Zhang: "Being down by 16 points isn't hopeless."

After all, it was a live broadcast, and Zhang didn't say what he really meant: that Gentry's decision to put Wade Dong in at this point was a bad move.

But the fans in China were thrilled!

They didn't care if it was a bad move. Seeing a Chinese player on the NBA court again was enough to make China proud.

The fourth quarter had just started, and both teams sent in their reserves.

Lakers: Bynum, Sessions, Barnes, Walton, Hill.

Suns: Gortat, Dudley, Frye, Wade Dong, Hill.

The Lakers' Hill was Jordan Hill, and the Suns' Hill was Grant Hill. They were not the same person.

Before the game, Nash encouraged Wade Dong, "Go for it. Show the same level you did in yesterday's scrimmage."

"Huh~~~"

Standing on the NBA court again, Wade Dong closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. Then he opened his eyes wide, "NBA, I'm back!"

Kobe saw Wade Dong enter the game and said to Gasol, "We can't underestimate any Chinese player. Gentry suddenly putting Wade Dong in shows that he has confidence in him."

"No Chinese player has surpassed Yao Ming."

Gasol smiled in response.

The Suns had the ball, and with no good point guard in this lineup, Wade Dong dribbled the ball to the frontcourt.

Sessions defended Wade Dong and taunted, "Go back to your college league. This court isn't for kids."

Trash talk was an integral part of the NBA.

Many NBA superstars were masters of trash talk, but Wade Dong wasn't one to back down.

Before Sessions could continue his taunts, Wade Dong made a quick crossover and blew past Sessions.

Pull-up jumper!

"Swish!"

The ball went straight into the basket.

Wade Dong's first step was too fast. By the time Sessions reacted, the ball was already in the hoop.

65:79!!!

"Wow!!!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

But the cheers in the Yanjing University cafeteria were even louder. A student was so excited that he started pounding the table.

Their classmate, Wade Dong, had scored a clean pull-up jumper within 10 seconds of entering the game.

"What a shot!!!"

Yu Jia shouted excitedly on the CCTV broadcast.

"Indeed, a great shot."

Zhang couldn't help but say, "That crossover was clean and had a bit of Kobe's style."

After two years, a Chinese player had finally scored in this arena, even if it was just a ten-day contract.

"So fast!"

"So fast!"

"So fast!"

The players on the court felt it even more.

Kobe narrowed his eyes. Wade Dong's first step was incredibly fast, even faster than his own.

"Nice one, Wade Dong!"

The bench players jumped up in excitement, and Lopez waved his towel enthusiastically.

"Get back on defense! Get back on defense!"

After scoring, the Suns quickly transitioned to defense. Hill didn't forget to high-five Wade Dong as they ran back.

Sessions dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, and facing Wade Dong's defense, he continued his trash talk, "Lucky shot, kid. You won't score again."

"You're too slow."

Wade Dong smiled at Sessions, "Slower than my grandma."

"What?!"

Sessions couldn't believe a rookie dared to talk trash to him.

Sessions tried to take Wade Dong one-on-one, wanting to teach this rookie a lesson.

But Sessions didn't have the skills to take on Wade Dong one-on-one. Although Wade Dong hadn't exchanged for a defensive skill package, with his maxed-out talent, defending Sessions was easy.

Sessions forced a shot, and Wade Dong swatted the ball away.

"Great block!!!"

Yu Jia shouted excitedly again.

"He jumped so high!"

"He jumped so high!"

"He jumped so high!"

The players on the court were even more impressed by Wade Dong's leap. Sessions had forced a shot, but it was still difficult to block one-on-one. Wade Dong's block looked effortless because he had jumped incredibly high.

Hill grabbed the ball and quickly pushed it to the frontcourt.

The Lakers players hadn't set up their positions yet. Seeing Wade Dong already in position, Hill passed the ball to him.

Wade Dong caught the ball and, without hesitation, shot a three-pointer using the Thompson Shooting Package.

"Swish!"

The ball went straight into the basket.

68:79!!!