NBA: Rising Superstar!

Soon, the two arrived at Zeng Xingyang's villa.

The villa's private court is where Zeng Xingyang usually trains.

The walls of the indoor court are covered with giant posters filled with Nuggets elements of Zeng Xingyang.

In the posters, he's either leaping high for a shot in the air or dribbling swiftly on the court, each moment filled with passion and vitality.

Speakers are placed in the four corners of the court, currently playing songs by the girl group T-ara, with dynamic melodies echoing in the court.

"This place is so big," Park Jiyeon exclaimed in surprise as she walked into the court.

In Korea, housing prices are high, and land resources are scarce. A villa of this scale is an unattainable dream for most people.

Zeng Xingyang pointed to a fixed phone and drink cabinet by the side of the court and said, "There are many bottled drinks there, or if you want coffee or something else later, just call that number. You can order anything you want to drink, free of charge."

"Okay, got it." Park Jiyeon replied with a smile, her eyes wandering around the court as if trying to imprint everything there into her memory.

"I'll start training, will you help me pick up the balls?" Zeng Xingyang said as he started changing into his sneakers, taking off his sportswear to reveal a tight suit underneath.

"Sure!" Park Jiyeon replied excitedly, feeling very happy to be involved in Zeng Xingyang's training.

"You should change into flats first, high heels can easily cause a sprain," Zeng Xingyang reminded.

"Okay..." Park Jiyeon nodded obediently and turned aside to change her shoes.

Zeng Xingyang seems to have everything here.

.....

Zeng Xingyang stood beyond the three-point line, jumped up strongly, and tossed the basketball high into the air, the ball drawing a beautiful arc, and with a "swish!" sound, it went through the net cleanly.

"Again!" Zeng Xingyang shouted, and Park Jiyeon quickly ran to where the basketball landed, picked it up, and passed it back to him.

Zeng Xingyang repeated the previous actions. "Whoosh!" "Swish!" The basketball kept going through the net, making a crisp sound.

Initially, Park Jiyeon was full of enthusiasm helping to pick up balls. She followed Zeng Xingyang back and forth on the court, wearing a happy smile.

But Zeng Xingyang trained for a full three hours.

Park Jiyeon only managed to last half an hour before she was exhausted, out of breath, her legs feeling weak, unable to pick up anymore.

The initial novelty was gradually replaced by fatigue, and she could only sit on the sidelines helplessly, watching Zeng Xingyang continue with his training.

At this moment, Zeng Xingyang had already reached a state of self-forgetfulness.

He began using a shooting machine for set-point shooting practice.

The shooting machine quickly spat out basketballs, and Zeng Xingyang caught and shot them with swift, fluid motions, maintaining a tight rhythm.

His eyes continually locked onto the basket, and with every shot, it seemed he invested his whole energy.

Sweat dripped continuously from his forehead, soaking his clothes, but he remained unaware, fully immersed in his training.

Zeng Xingyang has always been so dedicated, persistently doing the same thing.

Even though she felt very tired, Park Jiyeon finally understood why Zeng Xingyang was so strong.

The moment he touched a basketball, it was as if he was ignited, becoming incredibly focused.

That stemmed from a deep-rooted love for basketball, a passion burning like a blazing flame, supporting him as he continued on the basketball path.

And this dedication to his career undoubtedly has a huge allure to the opposite sex.

Park Jiyeon watched Zeng Xingyang training with focus on the court, her smile growing brighter, she liked this scene before her eyes.

....

Of course, Zeng Xingyang was not an oblivious straight guy.

After training, he called the chef to start cooking.

Then, he took Park Jiyeon for a leisurely stroll in the villa's huge garden, which had many kinds of flowers.

The air was filled with floral fragrance.

The two strolled within, enjoying this moment of peace.

Unknowingly, they came to the swing, and Park Jiyeon sat down on it, gripping the swing's ropes tightly with both hands.

Zeng Xingyang stood behind her, gently pushing the swing, making it sway slowly.

"Oppa, I believe you guys will definitely win the championship this season," Park Jiyeon said from the swing.

"Mm, I'll do my best," Zeng Xingyang replied resolutely, pushing the swing.

His heart, too, was full of desire for the championship, and for this goal, he was willing to give all his effort.

"If you win the championship, can you be with me?" Park Jiyeon suddenly said from the swing, her voice carried a hint of nervousness and shyness. She turned her head, her gaze fixed on Zeng Xingyang.

"Aren't we already together?" Zeng Xingyang joked.

"I mean as boyfriend and girlfriend!" Park Jiyeon said seriously, her cheeks slightly flushed, her gaze full of anticipation.

Zeng Xingyang was not encountering such a confession for the first time. He directly said, "Okay."

"You swear," Park Jiyeon insisted relentlessly.

"I swear," Zeng Xingyang said.

Swearing is fine, posting on social media is not...

Too many debts don't overwhelm; who says you can only have one girlfriend?

When close to retirement, apply for a trade to the Jazz and tell them you believe in Mormonism.

Park Jiyeon heard Zeng Xingyang's words and smiled happily. She hoped even more than anyone that the Nuggets would win the championship.

After the date in the evening and finishing a sumptuous dinner, Zeng Xingyang opened the TV at home, ready to watch the Thunder-Spurs battle.

The result of this game is pivotal for the Nuggets, as it will directly determine their opponent in the Western Conference Finals.

On the TV screen, the Thunder-Spurs battle was fiercely underway.

Contrary to Zeng Xingyang's earlier prediction of a Thunder victory, the Spurs displayed tenacious spirit in the game.

In the fourth quarter, they were once 10 points behind the Thunder.

But the Spurs did not give up and launched a determined counter-attack.

The Thunder's explosive duo, Westbrook and Durant, clearly showed signs of insufficient stamina in the fourth quarter.

Westbrook's dribbling appeared heavy-footed, and his breakthrough speed declined. Durant's shooting seemed lacking in power, and the arc of his shots became somewhat flat.

Their efficiency sharply decreased, and the other Thunder players couldn't step up to provide support.

On the contrary, the Spurs consistently maintained a stable rhythm in both offense and defense.

Ultimately, the Spurs laughed last with a score of 102 to 99.

At the moment the game ended, Zeng Xingyang sat on the sofa in silence.

He clearly realized that history had indeed completely changed.

In the past life, the Warriors and Thunder played a soul-stirring battle in the Western Conference Finals.

But in this life, the Warriors were eliminated by the Nuggets, and the Thunder were eliminated by the Spurs.

The Spurs and Thunder, their strength was originally neck-and-neck, and their win or loss often depended on just one or two exchanges.

Zeng Xingyang couldn't help but ponder how exactly he, this "butterfly," influenced the final result of this series.

To be honest, from a rational perspective, Zeng Xingyang preferred to meet the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

In his view, although the Thunder's duo was powerful, their playing style was relatively straightforward. In comparison, the Spurs were more troublesome. The Nuggets did not gain much advantage during the regular season encounters with the Spurs.

Though the Spurs lacked the talent of the Nuggets, their tactical literacy was extremely high, and team synergy even more terrifying.

Jokic also disliked facing such teams; every match against the Spurs felt like a tough battle.

This upcoming Western Conference Finals would undoubtedly be a huge challenge for both Zeng Xingyang and Jokic.

However, Zeng Xingyang was also filled with excitement.

He inherently possessed a spirit unwilling to admit defeat, and facing a formidable opponent only ignited his inner fighting spirit.

Alongside excitement, he went to the room with Park Jiyeon to play two rounds of basketball.

........

The next day, various media outlets released NBA headlines.

"Zeng Xingyang made All-NBA First Team, creating NBA history!"

"The All-NBA First Team battle between Zeng Xingyang and Durant came to an end last night!"

"Spurs eliminate Thunder, advance to Western Conference Finals against Nuggets."

"Zeng Xingyang faces his toughest challenge yet, matched against his nemesis, the Spurs."

"Can Leonard's death grip restrict Zeng Xingyang? Can Stone Buddha Duncan teach Jokic a lesson?"

"Youth storm VS seasoned maturity!"

The atmosphere about the Western Conference Finals instantly heated up among the fan community.

In the Penguin Sports live broadcast room, the commentators were also enthusiastically discussing this upcoming pinnacle showdown.

Kovan analyzed, "Zeng Xingyang facing Leonard will likely be tougher than previous rounds. Leonard's defense is undoubtedly at the Best Defensive Player level; his famous death grip, once latched onto an opponent, greatly limits their performance. And, the Spurs have Danny Green as well; the two are sure to constantly besiege Zeng Xingyang, attempting to sever his connection with teammates and disrupt the Nuggets' offensive rhythm."

Wang Meng continued, "Jokic has it tough here too; he will directly face Duncan. Duncan has been fighting in the league for years, rich in experience, which neither Green nor Bogut can match. Present-day Duncan plays more with intelligence. His control of game pace and selection of defensive positions are textbook-worthy, certainly providing Jokic a lesson."

Before the Western Conference Finals began, Penguin Sports organized a series of promotional programs.

On fan forums, fans split into two camps, debating fervently...

This Western Conference Finals was destined to be somewhat exceptional.