Value Overall Rating of 94 and the Perpetual Motion Shooter Badge

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The 2005 NBA Finals unfolded as expected, with the San Antonio Spurs facing off against the Detroit Pistons. Much like their original matchup in history, these two defensive juggernauts delivered a series of slow-paced, defense-heavy games that left much of the United States—and even global viewers—less than excited.

Even die-hard fans who appreciated defensive battles found it hard to stay engaged. Out of the seven-game series, five of them saw the losing team score only in the 70s. Many games were blowouts, with large scoring gaps. Only Game 5 brought the thrill fans hoped for, as it was decided in the final minute of overtime, with the Spurs barely edging out the Pistons 96–95.

Due to this style of play, the Spurs-Pistons Finals earned the dubious distinction of having the lowest ratings for an NBA Finals in years.

NBA Commissioner David Stern could only shake his head in disappointment as he watched.

"If only it had been the Lakers versus the Heat this year," he thought. The potential for a Shaquille O'Neal revenge game against his former Lakers, a Wade vs. Wang Chong showdown, would have brought fans flooding in.

"It's a shame," Stern muttered to himself. "Next season, we'll need to be more strategic. Let's give the Lakers and Heat some preferential treatment with scheduling and officiating to push them toward a Finals matchup."

Stern, ever the businessman, had always prioritized the commercialization of the NBA. From shaping Michael Jordan into a global icon to promoting the next generation of stars, Stern was always pulling the strings behind the scenes.

His vision and business acumen undeniably lifted the NBA from being the least popular of the four major sports leagues in the U.S. to becoming a global powerhouse. Under his leadership, players and teams grew wealthier, and the league's influence expanded dramatically. Many even considered the NBA to be the second most popular professional league in the country, right behind the NFL.

Even the billion-dollar TV deals and contracts for players that followed after Stern's retirement had his fingerprints all over them.

Despite Stern's incredible accomplishments, some fans accused him of turning the NBA into a business machine focused only on ratings, even going as far as to suggest the league manipulated outcomes. But it's important to see both sides. Without Stern's vision, the NBA could've collapsed during several labor disputes, leaving fans without a league at all.

As for Wang Chong, he didn't concern himself with these deep issues. His reasons for playing in the NBA were simple. First, to make money. Second, to become famous. Third, and most importantly, he had a super-powered system that allowed him to travel back in time and gain a competitive edge.

It would be a waste not to take full advantage of the opportunities his system provided.

After the Lakers were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals, Wang Chong's system rewards were finalized. Since he couldn't defeat the Spurs, he settled for a second-tier reward instead of the top prize.

He received 2,000 points and a randomly selected silver badge: the Perpetual Motion Shooter badge. This badge is invaluable for a shooter, as it reduces the negative impact on shooting when a player's stamina is low—something Wang Chong desperately needed.

Durant, whose abilities Wang Chong had been emulating, also had this badge at the gold level. Wang Chong's silver-level badge wasn't quite as strong, but even at silver, it was highly useful. Any badge, even at the bronze level, could make a difference when fatigue set in.

Wang Chong wasted no time spending his 2,000 points to further enhance his abilities, although the improvements weren't as dramatic as the last time. His overall ability rating only jumped from 93 to 94, with his close-range shooting climbing from 95 to 96, his ability to draw fouls increasing from 92 to 94, and minor improvements in his defensive skills.

However, the biggest gains came in his physical attributes. All of Wang Chong's physical traits reached their peak based on Durant's template:

Speed: 80

Agility: 80

Stamina: 92

Strength: 63

Jumping: 77

Explosive Power: 83

Wang Chong realized that his physical abilities had maxed out based on Durant's template. This meant that he wouldn't be able to further improve these attributes, even through training. However, he was confident that the system would eventually allow him to surpass Durant's ceiling. After all, his goal wasn't just to match Durant; he wanted to rival the greatest of all time, like Michael Jordan.

He believed that once he fully fused with Durant's template, new paths to greatness would open up.

In the meantime, the Spurs won the championship, defeating the Pistons 4–3. This marked the Spurs' second title in three years and Duncan's third overall, as well as his third Finals MVP.

Though Shaquille O'Neal had secured his fourth championship and fourth Finals MVP with the Lakers the previous year, Duncan was starting to catch up in terms of career accolades.

While Duncan had one fewer championship and Finals MVP than Shaq, he had two regular season MVP awards, which Shaq lacked. These MVP awards carried significant weight when evaluating a player's legacy.

Shaq's historic ranking suffered because he only won one regular season MVP, which caused him to be placed lower than players who had more balanced resumes.

Wang Chong, however, was focused on his own future. Based on the system's trajectory, he believed that he would soon reach an overall ability rating of 97, Durant's peak. That would happen before the end of his rookie contract, and once he did, the system would unveil new ways for him to improve beyond Durant.

As for LeBron James, things were looking less rosy. Despite Wang Chong and James entering the league in the same year, Wang Chong had overshadowed him at almost every turn. Whether it was winning the Rookie Challenge MVP, the Athens Olympics MVP, or this season's All-Star MVP, Wang Chong had outshone James time and time again.

James had secured the Rookie of the Year award, but it was widely criticized as a league-driven decision. Even though the Lakers had been knocked out of the Western Conference Finals, Wang Chong's playoff performances continued to garner praise, with the media reminding everyone how he had bested James.

"If the Cavaliers had drafted Wang Chong, they'd probably be in the playoffs by now," some media outlets speculated.

"Even as the Lakers' second option, with fewer touches than James, Wang Chong managed to score more points."

James turned off the TV in frustration. He was tired of the comparisons to Wang Chong.

"Wang Chong is only playing well because he's on a team with Shaq and Kobe," James thought. "If he were on the Cavaliers, he wouldn't be doing any better than me."

Just as he brooded over this, his phone rang. After a brief conversation, James was shocked.

"What? The Lakers are putting Wang Chong on the trading block?"

The news was unexpected, but it also presented an opportunity. If the Cavaliers could somehow acquire Wang Chong, James thought, it could change everything. Wang Chong's shooting abilities could complement James' driving and passing style perfectly.

With this idea in mind, James immediately called the Cavaliers' general manager.

…

News of Wang Chong being available for trade spread quickly, sending shockwaves through the league. Everyone knew Wang Chong was destined for superstardom, and teams were lining up for a chance to acquire him.

Wang Chong's future in the NBA was about to take another dramatic turn.

...has started to decline. The Clippers were eager to pair Wang Chong with Elton Brand to form a new dynamic duo, but the players they offered didn't match the Lakers' expectations for a return on a player of Wang Chong's caliber.

From Wang Chong's perspective, the Clippers were not much better than the Bobcats in terms of playoff potential. While they had some solid pieces, the overall culture and management of the Clippers were known to be dysfunctional. Wang Chong didn't see the Clippers as a team capable of competing for championships any time soon.

Wang Chong's goal was clear: he wanted to go to a team where he could both be the star and have a realistic shot at winning titles. Teams like the Bobcats or Clippers, still building or mired in mediocrity, just didn't cut it for someone with his ambitions and talent.

After rejecting the Bobcats and Clippers, Wang Chong focused on evaluating other offers with stronger, more established teams. For him, the priority was not just financial gains but a legacy—winning championships and solidifying his place in basketball history.

The trade rumors swirled as several contenders made moves, hoping to bring in Wang Chong. Eventually, the Lakers realized that no matter what they offered or who they tried to bring in, they couldn't convince Wang Chong to stay. The tension in Los Angeles grew, as fans began to question if management could truly retain their stars, having already lost Shaquille O'Neal.

Despite everything, Wang Chong remained composed. His future was bright, but he knew he had to carefully choose his next step—one that would define his legacy in the NBA.

Wang Chong stood at a crossroads, but with the Lakers actively exploring trade deals, it was only a matter of time before the next chapter of his career began. Would he join a powerhouse team ready for title contention, or would he blaze his own trail and elevate another team into championship relevance? The entire NBA world was watching, waiting to see where this rising star would land next.k

End of this chapter

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