One Year Left to Play-Chapter 166 - 53: What If I Can’t Keep a Low Profile?

This pass was something Zhang Hao learned from Garnett during the Adidas Training Camp Elite Competition. At just the right moment, the positioning on the court resembled how Garnett once passed him an alley-oop, so he tried a surprise rim-directed play, and it worked!

Although it wasn’t his own shot, the fact that the goal was related to him gave Zhang Hao a bit of a thrill.

As the play transitioned from offense to defense, after passing the ball, Zhang Hao immediately fell back on defense, leaving Gilliam, who ran out with his arms up wanting a high-five, feeling quite awkward... but quickly returning to defense.

Gilliam firmly believed that as long as he wasn’t embarrassed, it wasn’t embarrassing.

He was very excited now. Even though it was just one shot, he felt the benefit of having a teammate with mid-range control! Returning the favor, after retreating to the backcourt, Gilliam patted Zhang Hao on the back and proactively approached the incoming Larry Johnson.

Zhang Hao hesitated slightly, and at this moment Edison came running over, so he immediately went to follow Edison.

Faced with Gilliam, Larry Johnson was evidently more cautious. Gilliam was hefty enough, after all, a player capable of taking the five-position in a smaller lineup. In terms of physical play, Gilliam had far more experience than Zhang Hao did.

However, Larry Johnson still wanted to play one-on-one. He was on a roll, facing his longtime competitor, Gilliam, he once again called for the ball from Goldwail.

Receiving the ball, Larry Johnson started using his skill and strength to isolate Gilliam, patiently and with focus. Finally, he found an opportunity, executing a beautiful spin move. During the spin, using an angle the referee couldn’t visibly see, he used his arm to shield Gilliam, gaining a shooting opportunity!

Larry Johnson was so focused on achieving the perfect shot opportunity that he didn’t notice an opponent sneaking into the lane. As Larry Johnson went for a perfect floater, a tall, slender figure leapt from behind and slapped the ball off the rim! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Zhang Hao’s supplementary block!

As Larry Johnson went for the one-on-one, Zhang Hao sagged off Edison and moved in, seizing the moment to give Larry Johnson a big block!

Gilliam grabbed the rebound, and Zhang Hao dashed out after the block, sprinting for a fast break!

As Zhang Hao surpassed his four teammates, the Golden Medal "Single Rider" was triggered!

Though not at full power, Edison and Dale Curry quickly transitioned back on defense, reaching the backcourt faster than Zhang Hao. However, with the Single Rider activated, Zhang Hao’s speed boosted to 95, surprising his opponents. Gilliam passed to Chales, who precisely passed the ball into Zhang Hao’s hands as he reached the frontcourt free-throw line!

At this point, Zhang Hao could no longer control his impulse. Upon receiving the ball, he took one step and flew up towards the two defenders under the basket!

Dale Curry quickly moved aside, having already experienced Zhang Hao’s strength in a previous game, stronger than he appeared, but Edison, with similar height at 201 cm and weighing 98 kg, fearlessly jumped up to block Zhang Hao’s path.

Amidst the fans’ gasps, the two collided, and then the off-balance Edison fell to the floor as Zhang Hao forcefully smashed the ball into the basket after knocking over Edison!

After Zhang Hao smashed the ball into the basket, some of the fans couldn’t help but gasp again!

The dunk was clean, more violent than expected!

It looked as if Zhang Hao was intending to crash through for the dunk. Instead, it was Edison who collided with Zhang Hao but ended up feeling like he hit a speeding locomotive and got knocked over!

The referee’s whistle blew a bit late, Zhang Hao’s shot was valid, Edison was called for a blocking foul, and Zhang Hao earned an extra free throw!

Landing, Zhang Hao simply stared at the floor where Edison lay, looking quite arrogant.

This prompted the fans, once they realized, to begin booing Zhang Hao wildly.

As Dale Curry helped Edison up, he too felt that Zhang Hao was being too outrageous. It was fine to dunk over someone, but to act so cocky afterward, yet it was different from the Zhang Hao he knew before.

In truth, Zhang Hao really wasn’t being arrogant. He was trying to remain calm and low-key, to quell his excitement and not upset his opponents by celebrating too much.

Upon closer inspection, his gaze was empty...

A few seconds later, he calmed down and walked towards the free-throw line.

Just then, the approaching Larry Johnson came up and pushed Zhang Hao, prompting Dale Curry to quickly intervene.

Zhang Hao, nearly falling from the push, naturally got angry, feeling baffled, believing he was modest and low-key, hardly celebrating even after dunking.

Edison, helped up by Dale Curry and seemingly uninjured, left Zhang Hao wondering why the Auntie was causing trouble.

Before Zhang Hao could react, another muscular man rushed out, Jason Williams, who dashed over and shoved Larry Johnson, with Zhang Hao quickly holding Jason Williams back, while Dale Curry hurriedly held back Larry Johnson, who, after being pushed, wanted to retaliate.

The situation quickly devolved into chaos. Fortunately, apart from Larry Johnson and Jason Williams, everyone else remained relatively calm, including the dunked-on Edison and the inexplicably pushed Zhang Hao. The two strongest men on both sides managed to calm down despite sweating buckets.

Mainly because Zhang Hao’s dunk wasn’t malicious, he only seemed a bit arrogant after the dunk.