In May, fueled by Nike’s promotion, Ira Berkow, a columnist for The New York Tis, conducted an exclusive interview with Zack at Wake Forest University’s basketball practice facility.
At this ti, Zack had just finished the first phase of the training program designed for him by Grover.
From his appearance, Berkow noticed that compared to March Madness, Zack now seed not only more handso and well-built, but the eight evenly symtrical abdominal muscles hidden beneath his training shirt also fully demonstrated just how hard this "Eastern raptor" had trained since March Madness ended.
Before the interview began, Berkow specifically sought out Grover to understand Zack’s training situation. As a Pulitzer Prize winner, Berkow knew that to increase the credibility of his report, he had to gather information from multiple sources and not just rely on one person’s account.
"This kid has an endless hunger for basketball. His passion for training is just like Michael Jordan’s back in the day," Grover told Berkow.
However, Berkow found Grover’s statent completely unoriginal. For years, whenever the training diligence of basketball players was discussed, almost all of their coaches and teammates would describe them as "no less than Jordan." It was as if ever since Jordan stepped away from the basketball world, everyone in the NBA was a Jordan.
Still, during their casual chat, Grover did reveal a very interesting piece of information to Berkow: "He said his talent cos from a reward given to him by God after he found his way back."
From this information, Berkow keenly identified the focus of his upcoming interview: "finding his way back" and "a reward from God."
In fact, after this year’s March Madness, it wasn’t just Berkow; many people wondered why Zack, with such outstanding dynamic and static talent, only got the chance to showcase his abilities to the world in his sophomore year.
Berkow had read interviews with Zack conducted by local Winston-Salem dia and learned what kind of person he used to be from his classmates. And now, as all this information converged, Berkow realized that a fresh and eye-catching story was right before him.
As the mastermind behind the most nationally prominent exposure given to LeBron Jas at the ti, Berkow, after watching Jas at the Adidas ABCD Camp, imdiately wrote an article in The New York Tis the very next day stating that Jas could enter the professional league imdiately after his upcoming junior year season. This report sparked a frenzy in the Arican basketball world at the ti and, in a way, made Jas a household na.
Berkow understood that most readers simply didn’t care how geniuses evolved step by step. Those interested in how geniuses evolved would often learn about them through other ans, such as future biographies or docuntaries.
Right now, people were curious about Zack’s story of finding his way back. They were interested in the reward God gave him after his self-redemption. Although Berkow himself didn’t believe in the existence of God, often, God was the best excuse in the world. Just as many Arican capitalists, after making their fortunes, would use God to conceal the truth behind their success... A gift from God not only avoids envy but also maximizes the connection between you and ordinary people.
"The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from many successful people is never to talk about your struggles and hard work when people ask how you succeeded. Because you can’t tell them what connections you used or what unsavory thods you employed during your path to success. The sa applies to basketball. Michael Jordan can share his training thods with everyone, but not everyone can beco Michael Jordan through the sa thods."
After determining his interview approach, Berkow quickly began his exclusive interview with Zack.
The interview process was nothing short of relaxed and pleasant. During the interview, Berkow found that Zack not only spoke calmly and logically, but unlike most Chinese people he had encountered, this kid would always inadvertently display his confidence.
At the end of the interview, Berkow looked at Zack with curiosity and asked, "If you had to pick one player in the NBA as your template, who would you choose?"
Although Zack had previously stated in many public settings that he was willing to be Barkley’s successor, in Berkow’s eyes, that was rely a temporary asure by Zack. After all, who wouldn’t want to be associated with an NBA legend early in their fa?
However, to Berkow’s surprise, this question actually stumped Zack.
Because if Zack had to choose a player as his template at that mont, the only one he could think of was Paolo Banchero from twenty years in the future. Before Zack’s transmigration, Banchero, the 2022 NBA overall pick, had just completed a new round of weight gain. He was 208 centiters tall and weighed 120 kilograms. Besides having a similar build to Zack at that mont, his playing style also had many similarities with Zack. (See image)
But, in this current era, who exactly was his template?
That day, considering that he still had to complete the "That Dream Yet Unextinguished" mission from the system, Zack gave Berkow two different answers.
During the interview, Zack, as expected, expressed his desire to beco Barkley’s successor to Berkow. But privately, Zack told Berkow, "I don’t think there’s a template for in the NBA of this era. I’ve chosen a path unprecedented, and I will be the most unique player in the NBA of this era."
Berkow was quite satisfied with this private answer from Zack. But as he promised Zack, this answer would not be released in the short term. "This answer will only show its value when you prove in the future that you are the most unique in the NBA," Berkow told Zack.
After the interview ended, a week later, Ira Berkow officially published the exclusive interview article in The New York Tis. In the article, Berkow ticulously presented Zack from the perspectives of his classmates, friends, and high school and college coaches.
Furthermore, with Berkow’s emphasis, Zack’s vivid image during his journey of finding his way back and self-redemption moved countless readers. Later, when highlighting Zack finally receiving that gift from God after enduring hardships, many believed that after such trials, this was a deserved reward from heaven.
He deserved his talent. He deserved all of this.
Of course, what truly made Zack a household na after that day was Berkow’s concluding remark in the report:
"He only took nine months to successfully find himself... and prove himself. Now let’s make a hypothesis: what if we give him another year? It’s no exaggeration to say that this ’Son of China’ has beco my top prospect for next year’s NBA draft!"
Back then, Berkow dared to bet on Jas after just a few hours. So now, after a comprehensive assessnt of Zack, why wouldn’t he go all-in on him? Berkow believed his judgnt was absolutely correct. Since March Madness, Zack was the most promising young player in Arican college basketball who could change the league’s landscape in the future. This sumr, with Grover’s help, his dynamic talents would continue to be activated. And after finding his way back, he possessed an unparalleled heart.
He was confident, sunny, and outgoing. In Berkow’s eyes, if he only gave such a Zack a conclusion that he might contend for a lottery or top-five pick next year, then this Pulitzer Prize winner might as well go ho and sell sweet potatoes.
In May of that year, Berkow’s exclusive interview article, just like the one he wrote for Jas back then, successfully ignited a frenzy among the public. Especially in China, this ti, even without the dostic dia’s sensationalism, this column from The New York Tis carried enough weight.
A top prospect for the 2005 draft? Could Zack really beco another NBA top pick from China after Yao Ming?
The Son of China shines in Arican college basketball. Zack becos famous across Arica.
When one captivating phrase after another, capable of igniting imnse passion among Chinese basketball enthusiasts, appeared in the sa report, Zack, as predicted by Nike executive Lynn rritt, unsurprisingly beca the focal point of the entire basketball world in May.
"He turned words into swords, and clothed them in armor to fight for us. Ira’s article is amazing, truly amazing!" rritt exclaid with joy after reading Berkow’s interview report on Zack that day.
Beside him, rritt’s assistant asked curiously, "So, should we continue to promote the ’Son of China’ image for Zack?"
Hearing this, rritt decisively shook his head, "No, the timing is just right now." As one of the masterminds behind crafting the "Chosen One" identity for Jas back then, rritt knew that packaging young players not only required careful consideration but, more importantly, patience.
At this mont, Zack had gained considerable fa. rritt only needed to let it simr. As for the next phase of packaging... that would, of course, be after the new NCAA season officially began. rritt knew that as long as Zack’s performance in the new NCAA season t people’s fantasies and expectations, then he would just need to give a gentle push...
"Help contact Sonny. I need to et with him," rritt said, turning to his assistant.
Although he had known beforehand that Berkow was a very influential journalist, Zack clearly still severely underestimated Berkow’s skill and Nike’s determination to build him into the future face of the Chinese market.
In late May, before officially beginning the next stage of his special training, many of Zack’s periter attributes saw significant increases. In the visual data provided by the "Peak" system, Zack’s dribbling ability had surged to 67, while his mid-range and three-point shooting had increased to 65 and 63 respectively.
Additionally, under Grover’s extre demands, Zack’s strength attribute also increased to its current 84, while his speed, agility, and jumping ability rose to 73, 70, and 74 respectively. Zack was absolutely confident that he could complete his transformation through this sumr’s special training before the start of next season’s NCAA regular season.
However, even though Zack was eager to continue growing through training, Grover specifically granted him several days off.
The reason was...
"Even Michael Jordan back then needed to balance work and rest. Training is ant to help you grow, not to injure you through tornt." That day, Grover said sternly to Zack, who was impatiently eager to continue being pushed to his limits.
As a legendary trainer, if a highly promising young player’s career was ruined due to overly intense training, where would Grover’s reputation stand in the future? When previously designing Zack’s training plan, Grover had broken the training content into several major phases and nurous minor phases precisely because he knew that Zack’s body needed recovery periods between each phase.
And so, during this approved vacation period, Zack, unable to resist Paul’s persuasion, had no choice but to follow his eager junior to the Bahamas.
And there, waiting for him and Paul, was the initiator of this Bahamas gathering: LeBron Jas.
And, Carlo Anthony, whom Jas had invited to relax together.
On the day they arrived in the Bahamas, after being escorted onto a banana boat by Jas and Anthony, one on each side, Zack asked curiously, "Didn’t you invite Dwyane Wade to this gathering?"
In 2004, Wade’s friendship with Jas and Anthony was no secret. So, Jas and Anthony weren’t surprised by Zack’s curiosity; instead, they both said in unison, "Because Dwyane isn’t a team player, we specifically excluded him from this gathering."
At that mont, Zack was still confused. He didn’t understand what "The Flash" Wade could have possibly done to be labeled "not a team player."
Looking at Zack, Anthony, who was eting him for the first ti today, tried a feel of his solid abs and said, "That guy actually made it all the way to the conference semifinals in this year’s playoffs... Guys like him should just stay in Miami and reflect!"
Hearing this, Jas, who didn’t even make the playoffs this year, laughed, "Exactly! He should be left alone in Miami!"
Actually, the main reason Jas didn’t invite Wade to this gathering was because "The Flash," who had just finished his playoff run with the Heat, needed so personal ti to adjust. However, because they didn’t treat Zack as an outsider, Jas and Anthony only complained about Wade making it to the second round of the playoffs while one of them was eliminated in the first round and the other didn’t even make it.
"Hey, man, I read the reports about you in the newspaper. But... honestly, your physique still exceeded my imagination," Anthony comnted, looking at Zack’s chiseled muscles.
Compared to the offensive powerhouse Anthony would beco in Zack’s mory, the Anthony who had just finished his rookie season could only be described as slender at this point. Plus, with Zack’s genuine height, Anthony now looked like a "sweet potato sapling" in front of him.
Like Anthony, Jas at this ti was also not as strong as the future version of him in Zack’s mory. However, unlike Anthony’s focus, what made Jas happier today was that Zack had finally accepted his invitation.
Previously, when he went to Wake Forest to support Paul, Jas had already intended to recruit Zack. And now, Jas’s intention to recruit Zack was even more obvious. Because after The New York Tis article ca out, Zack was no longer the sa as before. Jas knew the potential of the Chinese market behind Zack and understood the importance of befriending these contemporary talents.
"Zack, whatever you need going forward... whether you want to learn about the NBA or just need a friend to talk to when you’re bored, I’m happy to help you out."
That day, on that banana boat, Jas said to Zack with the deanor of a true older brother.
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