Lakers Win the Championship, Overall Ability Rating Reaches 91!

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With a 3:1 lead in the Finals, the outcome was practically decided.

The Lakers, already boasting the dominant duo of O'Neal and Kobe (the "OK combination"), had added another All-Star-level player. Their strength far surpassed other teams in the league; they were in a league of their own.

Wang Chong, whose overall ability rating had reached 89, was also a crucial part of this powerhouse. Factoring in his badges and static talents, his actual scoring ability rivaled those rated above 90. This gave Wang Chong confidence that he would secure the system's generous rewards.

Looking back, the journey to the championship had been relatively easy. The only real challenge came in the third quarter of the first Finals game when Wang Chong had to step up. For the rest of the series, O'Neal was a constant force, and Wang Chong often just positioned himself, ready to take advantage of the double-teams drawn by O'Neal or Kobe.

Wang Chong's mid-range threat complemented O'Neal's dominance in the paint, offering crucial support.

In this role, Wang Chong didn't mind the limited offensive responsibility. If the team won, he would be praised; if they lost, the blame would fall on O'Neal or Kobe. The pressure was minimal.

However, Wang Chong also understood why Kobe was unsatisfied with this arrangement and wanted to wrestle the leadership role away from O'Neal. Any ambitious professional athlete would want to be the best and strongest, not just a supporting player.

Wang Chong felt the same. Although he was happy to play a supporting role in his rookie season, he knew his level was still far from top superstars like O'Neal and Kobe, who had overall ratings of at least 97.

Still, Wang Chong had no complaints. Completing the system task was his priority, and helping the team win the Finals was the path to that. But this was only for his rookie year. With his ability rating already at 89, and soon to surpass 90 after winning the Finals, he aimed to match the "OK combination" in three seasons at most.

He knew he couldn't remain a sidekick for long. A player with real ambitions wants to be the leader, not a follower. By his third season, he planned to reach a 97 overall ability rating, a milestone achieved by stars like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Durant. Durant, who was his growth template, was already scoring 30 points with 7.6 rebounds per game in his third season, winning his first scoring title.

Given Wang Chong's "cheats" and Durant's template, there was no reason he couldn't be just as good, if not better.

Despite being optimistic, Wang Chong knew that a 3:1 lead wasn't a guarantee. There had been rare instances in NBA history where teams had come back from a 3:1 deficit. Last year, the Detroit Pistons, who faced elimination in the first round, made an incredible comeback against the Magic to win 4:3.

Although the Lakers weren't the Magic, Game 5 of the Finals was still being held in Detroit, a team with a fighting spirit no less than last year's playoff run.

In Game 5, the Pistons dug deep and eked out a 100:97 victory, extending the series. Once again, the blame for the Lakers' loss fell on Kobe. Trying too hard to secure the Finals MVP, Kobe took 21 shots, making only 7, ending with 24 points on a 33.3% shooting rate.

O'Neal also struggled, especially when Detroit employed the "Hack-a-Shaq" tactic, leaving him to make just 6 of 16 free throws. The Lakers only lost by 3 points, so a better performance from either star could have clinched the series.

After this game, tensions boiled over between O'Neal and Kobe. O'Neal, frustrated by Kobe's selfishness, confronted him in the locker room. Kobe, empowered by his rising stardom, was not about to back down, especially since O'Neal had played poorly.

The conflict nearly escalated into a physical altercation, but head coach Phil Jackson intervened, reminding the team of one simple fact: "This season, we can only win, not lose."

A loss in the Finals, given the team's star-studded roster, would make them the laughing stock of the league. O'Neal and Kobe, the core of the team, would face the brunt of the criticism.

With everything on the line, two days later, the Lakers returned to their home court and dominated. O'Neal and Kobe combined for 56 points, while Wang Chong contributed his usual 20+ points per game. Even though the Pistons fought valiantly, with all five starters scoring in double figures, it wasn't enough.

The Lakers won the series 4:2, securing the 2003-04 NBA championship.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Staples Center erupted. Confetti filled the air, and the crowd celebrated. O'Neal rushed to Wang Chong, engulfing him in a sweaty embrace, much like the moment he first hugged Kobe after their initial championship win.

"Wang! Thank you. We couldn't have done this without you!" O'Neal shouted.

While O'Neal celebrated, Wang Chong's mind was elsewhere. Winning the championship felt good, but his thoughts were focused on the system rewards.

Wang Chong knew that winning with the Lakers, given their talent, wasn't an insurmountable task. If they hadn't won with their "F4" lineup, his journey through time would have felt wasted.

Despite playing a crucial role in the Lakers' success, averaging 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in the Finals with a shooting percentage of 48%, Wang Chong wasn't satisfied with being the third option. Even with his meaningful contribution, akin to Chris Bosh with the Heat or Dennis Rodman with the Bulls, he aspired to more.

Kobe, who had shot just 38% in the series, failed to win the Finals MVP, which went unanimously to O'Neal, who averaged 26.8 points and 11 rebounds per game.

As the award ceremony dragged on, Wang Chong grew impatient. The moment the team won the championship, the system task was complete, and he couldn't wait to check his rewards. Closing his eyes on stage, he entered his consciousness space.

"Ding! Mission accomplished. Help the Lakers win the 03-04 NBA championship."

"Ding! Mission rewards have been issued, please check!"

Rushing to the badge wall interface, Wang Chong was blinded by the golden light. His Hot Zone Hunter and Pick-and-Roll Shooter badges, previously silver, had upgraded to gold. Meanwhile, his bronze Mid-Range Shooter and Death Coil badges advanced to silver.

"System, accelerate template fusion."

With his remaining points, Wang Chong boosted his overall ability rating to 91, placing him firmly among the league's elite, potentially top-15 or even top-10.

As the first rookie from the 2003 class to win a championship, Wang Chong knew his journey had just begun. He aimed to surpass every player from his draft class, and ultimately, ascend to the league's throne.

End of Chapter

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