CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73, ADORED BY FEMALE FANS!

The semifinals are over, and this game prompted countless fans to discuss.

The University of Kentucky was trailing by double digits in the last 10 minutes, but they made a massive comeback in the end.

A freshman, hailed as a 3-and-D player, scored 38 points in this game!

This was a signature performance in Zeng Xingyang’s career!

No matter if it was Towns, Booker, Koulistan, or Lyles, their predicted draft positions were higher than Zeng Xingyang’s, but at this moment, none could overshadow Zeng Xingyang’s brilliance.

Every fan watching the game has had a basketball dream.

Such basketball dreams usually carry a touch of extreme heroism.

When the team is in danger, you single-handedly lead the team to a comeback!

Now, all those young people with basketball dreams want to be Zeng Xingyang.

Zeng Xingyang achieved exactly what they dream of.

This is the realization of the basketball dream!

After embracing the opponent, Zeng Xingyang went to the technical table again.

He jumped onto it.

He waved and greeted the University of Kentucky fans.

"MVP!"

"MVP!"

"MVP!"

The University of Kentucky fans saw Zeng Xingyang’s gesture and joined in shouting.

The fans’ emotions were fully ignited!

Not far away, a scout was writing quickly: "Mr. Big Stage, has the potential to become an All-Star player."

This was the first time a scout gave Zeng Xingyang such a high evaluation.

Towns enviously said on the side, "Why didn’t I think of such a flamboyant way to celebrate?"

Booker replied, "That means you’re not flashy enough."

Towns shook his head, "I can’t learn it, I can’t learn it."

After stepping down from the technical table, Zeng Xingyang was stopped for an interview by a reporter.

The reporter asked, "Zeng, congratulations on advancing. What were you thinking when the team was trailing by double digits?"

Zeng Xingyang smiled and said, "I wasn’t thinking about anything. I just wanted my teammates to pass me the ball, and then I’d make the shot."

The reporter asked, "Who gave you the confidence that you just need to take the shot to score?"

Zeng Xingyang said, "Day-in and day-out training gives me this confidence. I’ve practiced this kind of three-point shot countless times."

The reporter asked, "Some prediction sites project you to be selected in the top 25 of the first round. What do you think about that?"

Zeng Xingyang said, "Haha, I think they will update soon and give me the respect I deserve."

Indeed, after the game ended, Zeng Xingyang’s predicted draft position was raised to the lottery round.

This is the progress made tonight.

Now, do you still want to pick Zeng Xingyang late in the first round?

It’s difficult.

Based on the abilities shown so far, the gap between Zeng Xingyang and Klay Thompson during college is not large.

Klay Thompson was the 11th pick in the first round back then, why can’t Zeng Xingyang?

Scoring 38 points in the Final Four and leading the team to a comeback gave him the confidence to boost his draft stock!

An NCAA game is a stage; as long as you show enough strength on this stage, the attention will increase.

Back in the locker room, everyone celebrated around Zeng Xingyang once more.

The team’s win tonight depended on Zeng Xingyang’s breakout driving the team forward.

After a full 20 minutes of intense celebration, Booker dragged Zeng Xingyang and Towns to take a shower.

....

"Can he not be so outstanding?"

In Oklahoma City, in the Thunder’s general manager’s office, after the Thunder were confirmed to finish ninth in the West and miss the playoffs this season, Presti and the executives have shifted their focus to the draft.

Presti’s expression was quite bitter.

Initially, he thought he could secure Zeng Xingyang with a second-round pick, but later Zeng Xingyang progressed to needing their first-round pick for certainty.

And after tonight, even the first-round pick isn’t secure anymore.

The Thunder’s record ranks high among the teams that didn’t make the playoffs, with their position basically set at the 15th pick.

Zeng Xingyang played too well, and his predicted draft position rose directly to the lottery, which gave Presti a headache.

Is there a chance to draft Zeng Xingyang with the 15th pick?

There is, and there’s a decent chance.

After all, a lottery prediction doesn’t necessarily mean it’s truly a lottery pick.

Even in the green room, quite a few players are selected in the second round before the draft dust settles, anything can happen.

But will he really drop out of the lottery?

"This guy is really surprising," Brooks also removed his glasses and sighed.

Many people hope Zeng Xingyang performs better and better, but not them. They really want to draft Zeng Xingyang, so they hope he won’t continue to be so high-profile.

Playing so wildly every day, his draft stock soars and simply can’t be stopped.

If he plays another game like this in the finals, their 15th pick will be completely out of the question.

"Hope this guy can play moderately in the next game," Presti said with a wry smile.

It was the first time he hoped a player he was interested in wouldn’t play so well.

Otherwise, if they still want to ensure enacting Zeng Xingyang, they’ll have to pay a price.

Presti hopes not to have so many problems by then.

......

This game further boosted Zeng Xingyang’s reputation.

The praise from the media, fans, and various NBA stars was abundant.

For an ordinary young college student, it would be tempting to get caught up in such fame and praise, feeling they are awesome, comparable to a top draft pick.

But Zeng Xingyang was very rational; he was well aware that the NBA draft is not judged on one or two games.

In most cases, NBA teams have already formed a judgment on a player, often based on talent.

Performance on the court adds value but will not be a decisive factor.

After all, most teams in the draft require more potential than immediate combat readiness.

Many players who perform well in college or other leagues do not necessarily mean they are fit for the NBA, like players who explode with 80+ points in the CBA, and the NBA doesn’t care about that.

The night after the game ended, Zeng Xingyang returned to campus with the team.

At first, he thought the night would be peaceful, but the frenzy came unexpectedly.

A throng of students gathered at the campus gate to welcome the Kentucky Wildcats players.

The screams of many stunningly built girls made the players, who hadn’t even gotten off the bus, start to feel restless.

Zeng Xingyang, Towns, Booker, and others all put on their sunglasses, walking off the bus with serious expressions.

Unknowingly, they had also developed some flair.

Zeng Xingyang kept signing autographs for classmates, and this game drove the entire University of Kentucky into a frenzy.

Many girls gathered around Zeng Xingyang.

With his tall and sturdy build, he was domineering in turning the tide on the court.

Destined to enter the NBA, start as a millionaire, and single, Zeng Xingyang was bound to be popular.

Zeng Xingyang also enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by girls.

The attention from the media, the opposite sex, and the cheers of the fans all felt very satisfying.

The charm Zeng Xingyang showed on the court, combined with his highly motivational journey, made him even more popular now than Towns and Booker.

Back in the dormitory, Zeng Xingyang found his pocket was stuffed with small paper notes with phone numbers and measurements, some with perfume scent and lipstick marks.

American girls are really enthusiastic.

If Zeng Xingyang needed a release, he could call these numbers anytime.

No wonder NBA players never lack women; resisting these constant temptations is really hard.

Kobe didn’t resist temptation and did it.

According to him, O’Neal probably did it too....

Howard did quite a bit.

It feels great while doing it, but the pressure hits after the fun is over.

These are all unsafe factors.

Thinking of this, Zeng Xingyang shook his head.

Finding women is not the time right now.

Using his right hand, he crumpled the paper into a ball, and from about six to seven meters away from the trash can, he threw it with a one-handed shooting motion.

"Swish"

The paper ball landed accurately in the bin.