The arena fell dead silent except for the merciless ticking of the shot clock and Zhang Zhaohua's slightly labored breathing.
Final ten seconds! Lakers down one!
At the arc, Zhang held the ball. Denver's Kenyon Martin II and another defender instantly collapsed, trapping him in a vice! Sweat rolled down their temples, eyes fierce with uncompromising intensity. Perimeter defenders lurked like vultures, ready to pounce on any potential pass.
An iron wall!
On the sideline, Lakers interim coach Phil Handy crossed his arms, brow furrowed, heart practically in his throat. The bench players all stood, nervously clenched fists.
Pressure crashed from all directions, compressing Zhang's chest. His heartbeat accelerated, blood pumping, but his mind became eerily calm in that moment—almost ice-cold. Countless clutch-time experiences from his past life merged perfectly with the system's enhanced vision and processing power.
Time flying by...eight seconds...seven seconds...
He could feel Kenyon Martin II's tensed muscles radiating power, hear the defenders' heavy breathing. He could even clearly catch some fan's sharp intake of breath from the stands.
Force a contested shot? Almost no space. Pull up over the double team? Success rate pathetically low.
His eyes rapidly swept the court. Teammate positions, defensive rotations, potential gaps...everything analyzed and calculated in his mind at millisecond speed.
Just then, right corner—teammate Devin Green used an off-ball screen to briefly shake his defender, creating a tiny sliver of space! The window was closing fast!
Five seconds...four seconds...
No hesitation! Zhang's body weight suddenly shifted left, as if preparing to spin and drive, drawing the trap's center of gravity for just an instant. In that lightning-quick moment, his right wrist flicked downward with an unnatural motion!
The ball didn't choose a high lob or try to force through the gap. Like a slippery fish, it took an impossible angle and speed, hugging the floor, sliding through Kenyon Martin II's slightly parted legs!
Nutmeg bounce pass!
The ball ricocheted precisely toward the right corner!
Devin Green caught it almost on instinct, the clock showing "2"!
No time to think—Green rose and fired!
The ball traced an imperfect but hopeful arc through the air, pulling every gaze with it.
"Swish!"
The crisp sound of net! Almost simultaneously, the backboard rim lit up red!
Game winner!
The silent arena exploded in deafening cheers! Lakers bench and coaches flooded the court, madly rushing toward the corner!
Devin Green pumped his fists wildly before being swallowed by teammates. But even more people charged toward the number 5 who'd delivered the killer assist!
Zhang was surrounded by ecstatic teammates, then lifted high into the air by several strong hands! Cheers, screams, and teammates' raw shouts merged around his ears.
On the other end, Denver players stood pale-faced, eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and indescribable defeat. Kenyon Martin II stood hands on hips, unable to accept being played by that seemingly innocent pass.
"My God! Unbelievable pass!" the announcer screamed with excitement. "In the final moment, facing a double team, Zhang Zhaohua delivered what may be the greatest clutch assist in Summer League history! Composure! Vision! Skill! He played like a ten-year veteran!"
The final buzzer had long been drowned out. Under the spotlight, that Chinese figure being tossed in the air became the sole focus.
Post-game media went absolutely wild.
"Clutch Assist! 19-Year-Old Rookie Shows Master-Level Vision!" "Chinese Magic Man? Zhang Zhaohua's Key Pass Engineers Stunning Comeback!" "Elite Basketball IQ! He Shredded Denver's Defense with Passing!" "Lakers' Future Cornerstone? This Isn't Just a Scorer!"
ESPN, TNT, and major sports networks immediately featured the game, replaying that clutch assist repeatedly. Commentators showered praise, breaking down Zhang's calm judgment and impossible passing choice under pressure.
News reached China and triggered a massive explosion. Previous doubts and criticism seemed to vanish overnight. In their place came overwhelming praise and hysteria, even more intense than before.
"Holy shit! Incredible! That pass was godlike!"
"Who's gonna say Zhang Zhaohua isn't good enough now? Step up! Does your face hurt?"
"This is our Chinese hope! Let his game do the talking! Slap all the haters!"
"Facing tough interior players and pulling off this performance, then delivering a clutch assist! National hero!"
"I told you focusing on basketball was right! The future is bright! Silencing everyone!"
Public opinion completely flipped. Zhang's name was thrust back onto the pedestal, even brighter than draft night.
In the locker room, as the chaos settled, Zhang showered and dressed, sitting alone in a corner. Teammates who came to congratulate him looked at him with respect and admiration, no trace of doubt remaining. He knew this game, this assist, had earned him real respect—not just from coaches, but from teammates and the outside world.
His consciousness sank into his mind. The familiar system panel appeared with notifications.
[Detected host making decisive choice in crucial moment, successfully assisting game-winner]
[Detected host displaying elite passing vision and technique under extreme pressure]
[Detected host leading team to victory]
[Comprehensive evaluation: Excellent performance, mission exceeded expectations]
[Chamberlain Template Compatibility significantly increased! Current compatibility: 0.25% (increased 0.15%)]
[Reward granted: Basic attribute points (Vision +5, Passing +5, Decision-making +3)]
[Unlocked passive skill: Cool Head (Basic)—In crucial moments, host's thinking becomes clearer, less affected by external pressure and emotional fluctuations]
A surge of warmth flowed through his body, stronger than any previous enhancement. The vision upgrade made the world seem clearer and more detailed, court spacing and teammate movement becoming vivid and three-dimensional.
The passing boost made his fingertip control of the basketball more refined, as if the ball had become part of his body. The decision-making enhancement crystallized that life-or-death composure from moments ago, turning it into instinct—an ability to find order within chaos.
And that "Cool Head" passive skill...
Zhang Zhaohua's lips curved slightly. Ending Summer League game two this way was perfect, far exceeding expectations.