Although mid-season, when talking about rookies, scoring is mentioned in the same breath as Zhang Hao, defense with Antonio McDyess, immediate tactical ability and organizing attacks with Damon Stoudamire, and unmatched talent with Garnett, Jerry Stackhouse is often ignored by the media, yet when a touch of flair is needed, Stackhouse, whose draft template was Jordan, is still mentioned.

Although when Stackhouse makes the news, it is often due to his high attempts and low efficiency in scoring, and despite the high attempts, he may not even achieve a high score, he has also worked hard to earn himself some fame.

Great physical qualities, diverse scoring methods... the talent is there.

But with a fiery temper and extreme arrogance... more shortcomings.

He once stated in an interview: My playing time can’t be too little, I must have guaranteed shooting rights, and they have to create shooting opportunities for me.

When asked about his college senior Jordan, he once said: I’m not afraid of Jordan, I don’t need his guidance, I will be the future representative player for North Carolina.

This kind of player who loves to shoot, with a bad temper and very arrogant, started passing to teammates after coming back in the second quarter against the Lakers!

Changed character?

No, it’s just that whenever he got the ball, that fellow rookie, who almost elbowed him to death, came charging toward him...

Even though the other party had a cold expression and seemed like they were just actively in a double-team effort, it seemed like normal infinite double-teaming on the opponent’s primary scorer... but Stackhouse was convinced the other party was looking for an opportunity to take him out!

Especially when in the second quarter he saw Zhang Hao turning in an attack and directly knocking over their 76ers substitute center LaSalle Thompson for a layup... Stackhouse felt that Zhang Hao was venting on his teammates because he couldn’t elbow him again!

At that moment, Stackhouse realized he wasn’t as fearless as he thought.

When Stackhouse was unprepared, and Zhang Hao also unconsciously charged in full force with his elbows, Stackhouse truly felt a sense of death—a human tendency to imagine something more terrifying when afraid of it.

Stackhouse chickened out!

Providing 4 assists in a single quarter was definitely an exceptional performance for Stackhouse, but with his kind of play, the 76ers’ already low morale was completely extinguished...

In the second half, 76ers coach John Lucas didn’t dare send Stackhouse back onto the court.

Stackhouse gave John Lucas the impression of someone beaten until he lost confidence.

Although John Lucas never liked Stackhouse, especially since Zhang Hao’s game was getting better and better, he disliked Stackhouse even more, but he was, after all, a third pick talent with the potential to become an All-Star player, the only player on the team worth nurturing right now, thus he had to be cared for well.

Zhang Hao played a few minutes into the third quarter before resting, with Del Harris substituting in the ’water dispenser’ lineup because by mid-third quarter, the Lakers were already leading 78 to 52 against the 76ers by 26 points.

Zhang Hao’s performance spanned three quarters, totaling 29 minutes, with 9 of 16 field goals, including 2 of 4 three-pointers, plus 6 of 6 free throws, easily securing 26 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As for Stackhouse, he earned 2 points and 4 assists in the second quarter alone...

During garbage time, Zhang Hao sat on the bench, and in this game, he realized something—"If my goal is to become a superstar, then the task of dealing with fellow rookies in my rookie season should be just this simple!"

to 91, the Lakers eased past the 76ers to achieve a six-game winning streak, with a record improving to 24 wins and 8 losses!

After the game, Stackhouse scoring only 2 points, and being beaten to the point of ’not daring to play,’ became the focus for media and fans alike.

A journalist discovered that it seems Zhang Hao has almost never lost against fellow rookies since the season began—looming like a shadow over the peers from his draft class.

Rookie topics are always of keen interest to media and fans, and no one can say what kind of achievements a rookie might have in the future.

Although currently, the drafting era focuses on ’immediate performance,’ as those talents have played several years in college and have mature skills, allowing them to act as stars right upon entering the NBA.

But occasionally, some players do not perform well when they first enter the NBA, yet after playing a few more years, they gradually become top stars, much like Rodman, Stockton, and others.

Aside from this, Zhang Hao committing 3 offensive fouls in a single game also became a topic for discussion among media despite there being no live broadcast, but Zhang Hao’s footage of roughly knocking over or colliding into opponents with his arm up during attacks appeared in news segments on select TV stations, with Malone making the news while lying down—it seems there’s a rookie learning from him!

...

After finishing the back-to-back home and away games with the Utah Jazz and the 76ers, the Lakers got a two-day rest period.

On the morning of January 3rd, Zhang Hao, as usual, woke up early.

Remaining lifespan 597 days, usable lifespan 596 days.

During yesterday’s game against the 76ers, Zhang Hao earned a total of 15 additional days of life, plus with Georgetown University winning yesterday afternoon, Zhang Hao gained a total of 19 additional days of lifespan in one day.

Playing against teams with top 8 drafted fellow players is that delightful.

Looking at his remaining lifespan, Zhang Hao thought, "If I had stayed with the Brooklyn Nets, winning six or seven games a month would be the best-case scenario... Staying with the Nets wouldn’t have this task, there might be similar tasks, but none would be as easy as this."