The Era of Wang Zelin!
25: Chapter 25: The Future is Mine!
The Era of Wang Zelin!
Toot!
As the final buzzer sounded across the arena, the defending champion Guangdong Tigers were thoroughly slaughtered by the Fujian Sturgeons in a 121:83 blowout—a crushing 38-point statement victory!
Surrounded by thunderous, stadium-wide chants of “MVP!
MVP!”, Wang Zelin walked back toward the tunnel with an expressionless face.
Winning was addictive, but beating up on underpowered opposition was not.
At this point, he couldn’t wait for the domestic season to end so he could cross the ocean to the NBA and taste the blood of the highest-level basketball players on Earth.
To outside observers, over the second half of the season, Wang Zelin seemed to undergo a terrifying evolution.
Not only did he play with dominant aggression, but his physical style of play grew even more brutal.
Numerous opposing CBA centers went on record after games stating that it took their bodies at least ten full days to recover after getting bruised up by Wang Zelin in the paint.
While there was certainly some hyperbole in those statements, it was enough to show the sheer psychological and physical dread Wang Zelin instilled in CBA frontlines.
When the final game of the 2011–2012 CBA regular season concluded, the Fujian Sturgeons wrapped up their campaign back home in Jinjiang, capping off the season with a 45-point thrashing of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
Naturally, such a wildly dominant performance brought Wang Zelin an unprecedented harvest of personal accolades!
Across the 30-game regular season, Wang Zelin posted mind-boggling averages: 35.6 points, 23.0 rebounds, 6.2 blocks, 2.5 assists, 2.8 steals, and 3.1 turnovers per game.
He even raised his turnover numbers alongside his production—a true testament to his relentless usage rate.
Without a shadow of a doubt, these figures were completely unprecedented in CBA history, outstripping even peak Yao Ming’s domestic output.
By the time the regular season awards were handed out, Wang Zelin had comfortably swept the Scoring, Rebounding, Block, and Dunk titles, while easily claiming the first—and likely last—regular season MVP trophy of his domestic career.
Once the playoffs arrived, Wang Zelin pulled the Fujian squad straight to the summit, marching through the postseason with an undefeated record to capture the 2011–2012 CBA Championship trophy!
He claimed the Finals MVP award after averaging a staggering 52 points, 28 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game during the Finals series, leading Fujian to a clean 3–0 sweep over Guangdong.
In doing so, seventeen-year-old Wang Zelin—in his very first year as a professional—achieved a full Grand Slam of every single individual and team award in the CBA, missing only the steals title.
And he had turned eighteen just as the season came to a close!
After suffering the 3–0 sweep, the Guangdong players slunk out of Zuchang Gymnasium with their heads hanging low.
No loser ever wanted to stick around to watch their conqueror ascend to the throne.
The arena staff quickly assembled the championship podium at center court while the fans waited in eager anticipation.
Everything was set for the Fujian generals, who were inside the locker room changing into their championship gear.
When the Fujian squad emerged from the tunnel wearing their official championship t-shirts, the arena fell silent for a single beat before erupting into a deafening storm of applause and cheers that shook the roof.
As the presentation ceremony began, the special guest presenter stepping onto the stage caught everyone completely by surprise.
Standing atop the podium was none other than the legendary pillar of Chinese basketball, the recently retired Yao Ming!
“Wait, why isn’t the presenter the usual league official?” “I can’t believe they brought out Yao Ming!” “How is that even possible?
If Yao Ming didn’t want to come, nobody could force him.
He definitely came on his own initiative!” As the undisputed figurehead of Chinese basketball, Yao Ming commanded the spotlight wherever he went—not just because of his 2.29-meter height, but because of his monumental contributions to the national sport.
“Hello, Da Yao!” As the principal architect of the championship run, Wang Zelin led his teammates onto the stage first.
Man, he is tall!
Wang Zelin thought to himself as he approached.
It was rare for his own imposing frame to be made to look slim by comparison.
“Hello, Zelin,” Yao Ming smiled, reaching out to shake his hand.
“I’ve watched a lot of your games this season.
You’re far better than I was at your age.
The future is yours!” Hearing the iconic NBA quote come out of Yao Ming’s mouth, Wang Zelin raised his head slightly, his aggressive eyes locking straight onto Yao’s.
“Uh…
honestly speaking, Da Yao, I prefer it to be mine right now.” Yao Ming burst into a warm chuckle.
“Heh, you’re right.
In the current CBA, you definitely have the final say.
But I hope it stays the same when you reach the NBA.
Over there, you’re going to face far tougher setbacks, and it’s going to demand everything you’ve got.” “I know,” Wang Zelin replied smoothly.
“But I believe in my ability to handle it.” “Then I’ll be watching closely.” Yao Ming smiled, pulling the ambitious young star into a firm, encouraging hug.
Raw talent, boundless ambition, and fierce competitiveness were exactly what the Chinese national team needed right now.
The championship presentation proceeded smoothly, leading up to the final hardware: the Finals MVP trophy.
Before Yao Ming could even open the envelope, the entire arena was already chanting one name in unison: “WANG ZELIN!
WANG ZELIN!” “Haha, looks like I don’t even need to announce it,” Yao Ming joked, handing the microphone over.
“So, Zelin, what do you want to say to all the fans who supported you?” Wang Zelin accepted the microphone, turned around slowly to look at the roaring crowd, and brought it to his lips.
“How should I put it?” “First, I want to thank my parents for giving me this physical body, and I’m glad I didn’t let their expectations down.” “Second, I want to thank our coaching staff and my teammates.
This championship trophy is the fruit of the battle we fought side by side.
We wouldn’t be standing here without everyone’s effort.” “Third, of course, I want to thank all the fans and friends who supported me through thick and thin.
Thank you for always standing behind us!” Pausing for a moment, Wang Zelin let the applause die down before continuing in a clear, resonant voice: “Finally, there’s one last thing I want to announce to everyone today…
the CBA no longer offers me a challenge.
I am officially declaring for the 2012 NBA Draft!” BOOM!
The arena exploded into chaos!
“Woah!” “It’s really happening!” “The rumors were true!” Ever since the playoffs began, rumors had been circulating that Wang Zelin’s rookie contract contained a specific clause: If the player helps the club win the 2011–2012 CBA Championship, the club will fully support his transition to the NBA.
Now, Wang Zelin had confirmed it himself!
After giving the crowd a couple of minutes to process the shockwave, Wang Zelin raised his hand to quiet the audience.
“I still remember when I first started making a name for myself, people told me my goal should be to become the next Yi Jianlian.” “I remember the night we locked up the regular-season title, people told me I should aim to match Yao Ming’s legacy.” “But what I want to say today is: I don’t want to be the next anyone.
I am who I am!” Wang Zelin’s eyes gleamed with absolute confidence as he pointed his right index finger directly toward the hardwood.
“If you insist on giving this era a name, then let me tell you all right now—this era of Chinese basketball belongs to me, and this era is called WANGZELIN!” Looking at the eighteen-year-old titan standing in the middle of the arena floor, holding the microphone high with confidence radiating from every fiber of his being, the entire crowd felt a surge of adrenaline.
Whose youth isn’t a little wild and audacious?
And as they looked at the trophy in his hands and his historic statline, every single person in the arena knew in their hearts…
he was absolutely right.
This era belonged to Wang Zelin!