NBA : Formidable Center

**

News of the three-way trade quickly spread back to domestic sports outlets.

### New Fox Sports Coverage

When the news broke, New Fox Sports heavily promoted reports on the latest free-market trades:

- *"Boston Celtics Trade Antoine Walker for Dallas Mavericks' Future Draft Picks!"*

- *"Philadelphia 76ers Trade Keith Van Horn to the Atlanta Hawks for 'Big Dog' Glenn Robinson and Two First-Round Picks!"*

- *"Breaking News! The New York Knicks Secure the Steve Nash-Wang Song Duo—A Golden Pair Ready for Action!"*

The trades sparked intense debate among basketball fans:

**—"Major shake-up! Are the Dallas Mavericks rebuilding? They dumped Steve Nash for Barbosa and Antoine Walker—bold move!"**

**—"The 76ers have lost it. Trading away Keith Van Horn? Glenn Robinson may have pedigree, but he doesn't offer a better future."**

**—"The Knicks are unrecognizable now! Nash and Wang Song together? That's a dream team."**

**—"Be bold—this duo could rival peak Shaq and Kobe!"**

**—"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. If they reach Stockton-Malone levels, make the playoffs consistently, and have some luck, they might make a Finals run."**

**—"C'mon, what's Karl Malone even done? No rings—don't compare!"**

**—"If we're being fair, Nash isn't quite Stockton-level either. Nine straight assist titles? Nash isn't touching that."**

**—"Agreed. A Stockton-Malone comparison is ambitious enough. But basketball is a team sport—it depends on the Knicks' chemistry."**

---

### Cleveland: The Preseason Opener

The Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the New Jersey Nets for the preseason opener.

As the team with the first overall pick, the Cavaliers were an obvious choice for the opening game. Their opponent, the Nets, were a top Eastern Conference team.

The highlight? A showdown between two elite small forwards: Richard Jefferson for the Nets and rookie LeBron James for the Cavaliers. This clash of wings was a gift to the fans.

Even though it was only preseason and star players had limited minutes, all eyes were on the high school phenom. Fans were eager to see how "The Chosen One" would adapt to the NBA stage.

---

### LeBron's NBA Debut

After an intense battle, the Cavaliers emerged victorious, largely thanks to LeBron James' sensational debut.

In just 18 minutes, James recorded an impressive stat line: **22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks.** His fearless performance against seasoned NBA players left no doubt about his potential.

This strong debut placed significant pressure on the draft's second and third picks.

---

### Milicic's Struggles

Darko Milicic, the second overall pick, struggled in his debut against the Miami Heat. Matched up against Van Gundy's well-coached interior lineup, Milicic appeared overwhelmed.

In 26 minutes, Milicic managed only 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block on **4-of-12 shooting.** Most of his points came against the Heat's second unit.

While these numbers might be acceptable for an average first-rounder, they were disappointing for the second overall pick, especially when compared to LeBron's dominance.

Meanwhile, Heat rookie Dwyane Wade shone in the same game, scoring 18 points with 7 assists on 7-of-14 shooting. Wade's performance validated Miami's draft choice and alleviated concerns about missing out on Wang Song.

---

### Fan Backlash

Following Milicic's lackluster debut, disgruntled Pistons fans took to social media to criticize the team's front office.

General Manager Joe Dumars defended Milicic, stating:

*"Darko has done everything we've asked of him. He is the future of the Pistons!"*

But fans weren't convinced. Some even vented their frustrations on the Knicks' social media pages, pleading for a trade:

**"This draft proves that forwards are the real gems this year, not big men!"**

**"Height isn't everything in basketball."**

**"Dear Knicks management, please give us a chance to trade for Wang Song!"**

---

### New York Knicks: A New Era

In New York, it had been two months since Wang Song and his mentor, Herb Sendek, arrived.

Sendek, now an assistant coach with the Knicks, primarily focused on training sessions and player evaluations. While appreciative of his NBA opportunity, he couldn't help but miss his days as a head coach at NC State.

To combat the monotony, Sendek often studied opposing teams' offensive and defensive strategies, hoping to transition into a tactical coaching role. He also conducted extra training sessions for Wang Song and others, sharing his extensive knowledge of complex basketball systems.

Wang Song admired Sendek's dedication and tactical expertise.

---

### Enter Steve Nash

Steve Nash, the Knicks' new point guard, had spent a month adjusting to his new environment. Though initially frustrated by the Mavericks' decision to trade him, Nash channeled his emotions into improving his game.

With Nash running the offense, the Knicks' training sessions became smoother. His court vision and leadership quickly made an impression.

---

### Knicks Preseason Begins

As the Knicks prepared for their preseason opener, fans eagerly anticipated the debut of their new-look team.

Check out my P@treon for advance chapter on [email protected]/Twilight_scribe1

(Chapter Ends)