Chapter 482: Chapter 145: Have You Ever Considered Playing in the NCAA?

"Cough cough cough cough..."

Zhang Hao nearly choked to death on his juice!

He finally caught his breath and swore, if those two girls were here, he’d definitely not go shopping with them!

...

Overall, the rest time was quite pleasant. In the afternoon, they shopped until around 3 o’clock. Just as Zhang Hao returned to the hotel, a subtitle tip suddenly appeared.

"The 1996 San Antonio NBA All-Star Weekend has started. Special contracted player Zhang Hao has been selected for the All-Star Game. Since he’s a rookie, no task is triggered. Wish him a pleasant All-Star rookie season journey."

Congratulations to the host for receiving the contracted player participation reward for the All-Star Weekend: 15 days of life."

This timing should be the Celebrity Challenge before the Rookie Game.

He was initially looking forward to some tasks during All-Star Weekend, but now Zhang Hao realized that if there were indeed tasks, it might come with immense pressure. Moreover, if it’s related to striving for honors or stats, there’s a high chance of not being able to complete them.

The experience is right there; even Jordan was isolated as a rookie All-Star starter. Think about Mr. Zhang, the All-Star vote king, and Hill, who was last year’s vote king and had a not-so-good All-Star experience...

"Uh... a pleasant All-Star Weekend, huh? This, rookie participating in All-Star Weekend, seems to be just about having fun. I’ve opted out of the Rookie Challenge, I’m only interested in the dunk contest with that guy. If he doesn’t come, there’s no point for me either. As for the main game... it indeed seems like fun is the best."

Yes! Just play around! These two days have been pretty fun, let’s not end it unpleasantly."

Thinking like this, Zhang Hao actually relaxed!

Coming to this world, he puts in all his effort on the basketball court to survive, and surviving means finding ways to live happily.

Overall, the All-Star Weekend is just a stage; there’s no need to make oneself unhappy in such a place.

Just as Zhang Hao figured it out and prepared to enjoy every day of this holiday, the big brother rang...

...

There are always some people who will make Zhang Hao proactive.

Not deliberately pleasing, but rather doing things that bring joy to both body and mind.

For example, teasing a snake...

But sometimes teasing a snake, you can’t forcefully provoke; you need to adjust your strategy according to the previous situation.

Today, Zhang Hao received a call from Kobe and went to the hotel restaurant, handed Kobe the ticket package, then sat across from him with a cold face, saying nothing.

The Rookie Game starts at 8 PM, going to the arena at 7 will be fine, there’s still time.

Kobe said nothing either. The two sat in silence for a long time, the waiter came to refill their drinks several times, thinking they might be some sort of maniacs if he didn’t know who Zhang Hao was.

Finally, Kobe couldn’t resist anymore and started asking, "Aix, how does it feel playing in the NBA?"

"Not as smooth as imagined, but alright, I got the All-Star vote king."

Kobe’s impulse to punch someone +1...

Hold back!

There are more things to ask!

After a huff, Kobe continued to ask, "Do you think it’s the right decision for high school students to enter the NBA directly?"

"I don’t know about other high school students, for me, it might be similar anywhere."

Kobe’s urge to punch someone +1 again! But thinking about Kemp’s first year as a high school rookie averaging 6+5, or Garnett, someone he’s personally felt how formidable as he struggled entering the NBA... He feels like this guy in front of him is a bug!

In the past few months, he felt he’d progressed rapidly, much stronger than nine months ago, but compared to Zhang Hao’s terrifying improvement in the NBA, he felt what defeat meant.

He himself thought he should be comparing himself to Garnett, but with a former NBA player as his father, he knew Garnett’s progress in his first year in the NBA might not be as fast as it would have been in college.

Kobe gritted his teeth and continued to ask, "Have you ever thought about playing college basketball?"

"I did, but they didn’t initially want to offer me a full basketball scholarship, I got angry and didn’t go, but now I regret it a bit. I heard college basketball players have a purer love for basketball."

"Of course it’s pure, the money all goes to the NCAA..."

This time, Kobe didn’t get even more angry, instead he threw in a complaint.

He’s quite perceptive! Zhang Hao realized Kobe’s brain indeed differs from most African American teenagers.

But this isn’t a time for admiration, Zhang Hao’s thoughts whirled around, responding, "Yeah, I was just thinking, why should they earn money for free? Although entering the NBA early, my skills aren’t mature and strength isn’t strong yet, but I could earn 10 million a year, going to college is just giving it to the NCAA for free... Hey, why are you leaving? I haven’t finished talking..."

Hey, high school students are really awkward, I’m not a high school student anymore, I’m a college student! Been to a few days of college as a college student!"

Zhang Hao decisively changed his self-perception. At this moment, he’s a University of Southern California college student.

After paying, Zhang Hao returned to his room, recalling Kobe seemed to have just won the Pennsylvania high school league championship last month, so he should be preparing for the draft.

"Kobe running to ask me about these things now should mean he’s preparing to enter the NBA, wanting to ask if he should skip college for the NBA?

It seems like I answered that he should skip college, will he be selected by us next season?

If he’s not picked by us, where will he go?

But it seems like his questions don’t quite reflect wanting to solidify his intent to go to the NBA...

Fine, if he gets picked by us, which number will he wear? Should I go tell Jeanie now that I want to switch to number 24 in the future?"