At center court, Zhao Dong took control of the ball. Bodiroga stepped back cautiously, retreating as Zhao advanced into the frontcourt. Near the top of the arc, Zhao threw up a hand signal—a tactical gesture to space the floor.
Bodiroga didn't dare relax. After all, he was facing Zhao Dong, the most talked-about player in the World Championship, and one of the most dangerous forces in the NBA right now. Carelessness wasn't an option.
To make things worse, Zhao had publicly said he'd beat him on both ends of the floor. That fired Bodiroga up. He wanted the same thing—to dominate both offensively and defensively. Even though he hadn't joined the NBA, he wanted the world to see that he could take down one of its top dogs.
"Spread the floor? Looks like an iso drive coming," the Chinese commentator shouted as he saw Dazhi and Bart clear the paint.
Right then, Zhao Dong made his move—Grant Hill's legendary first step, the fastest in NBA history.
"Damn, that's fast!"
Bodiroga barely saw it coming. Zhao was already breezing past him on the left. Instinctively, he reached out with his left arm, trying to stop him. The whistle blew.
Foul.
"That first step was insane!" Bodiroga cursed to himself.
"Beautiful move! First touch, first foul drawn," the commentator smiled.
China inbounded from the sideline. Zhao received the ball beyond the left wing three-point line, shifted to the top of the arc, and again signaled for the floor to open.
Bodiroga locked in even tighter this time, crouching, muscles tense, ready for the blow-by.
But just as he braced, Zhao suddenly stood straight up.
Swish!
Splash. A clean three.
"Huh?!"
Bodiroga spun his head around. The ball had gone straight through the net.
This guy can shoot too? He was starting to panic. How were you supposed to guard someone who had a lightning first step and a reliable jumper?
Worse, the scouting reports said Zhao was also a brilliant passer with elite floor vision.
A guy who could shoot, pass, and create—that's every perimeter defender's nightmare. Practically unguardable.
Yugoslavia brought the ball up. In the backcourt, Bodiroga grabbed the inbound and began to push.
Zhao backed up, reading his dribble. The moment the ball left his hand for a second, Zhao triggered again.
Bang!
Another lightning-quick first step. This time, on defense.
He swiped it clean—steal!
Zhao dashed to the paint in full stride.
Bodiroga spun around and gave chase, half a step behind as they entered the lane.
Bang!
Zhao used his left arm to shield off Bodiroga, took one long stride, then launched upward.
His right hand cocked back—the tomahawk slam landed hard, rim shaking, crowd roaring.
"Zhao Dong is on fire again!" shouted the Athens National TV commentator. "He's the brightest star in world basketball right now!"
"Whooo…"
Bodiroga gasped for air and wiped sweat off his forehead. They were barely a few minutes into the game, and Zhao Dong was already overwhelming him.
After the inbound, Bodiroga got the rock again and started bringing it up.
Zhao shadowed him, backing up with small jabs to disrupt his rhythm. Bodiroga looked tense, nerves creeping in.
Once in the frontcourt, Bodiroga initiated a play, signaling with his hand. Zhao stuck with him like glue.
Bodiroga passed to a teammate on the perimeter, then cut down to the low post on the left wing, where he got the ball back.
Both Yugoslav big men spaced out to give him room.
Time to go one-on-one.
Like Magic Johnson, Bodiroga had a polished low-post game.
Bang. Bang.
Two hard dribbles as he tried to back Zhao down—nothing.
Zhao didn't budge, rooted like a steel pillar.
At 95-rated lower body strength, Zhao was a wall. Even someone as massive as Shaq would have a hard time moving him.
Bodiroga switched it up, spun baseline, trying to slip underneath.
But Zhao saw it coming, slid a half step back, then one step to the side—cutting off the escape route clean.
Still, Bodiroga wasn't rattled. He stepped back and rose for a fadeaway.
But the shot was off rhythm. That hesitation gave Zhao the opening.
Bang!
Zhao exploded forward and unleashed a vicious volleyball-style block, sending the ball flying into the stands. The crowd went wild.
"Yo, is the NBA Finals MVP really this unstoppable?"
Bodiroga looked stunned, completely shaken. In just a few possessions, he'd been shut down on both ends.
By the 7-minute mark, China was up 16–10. A 6-point cushion, led entirely by Zhao's dominance.
He had already racked up 9 points and was carrying the Chinese offense.
Yugoslavia stayed within striking distance thanks to two clutch three-pointers, preventing the lead from ballooning.
By now, Zhao had a pretty clear picture of Bodiroga's game.
Physically, Bodiroga couldn't match up—slower, less bounce, less length, and weaker.
Skill-wise, his ball-handling and shot creation were solid, but not elite. He couldn't create the same level of space or angles as Zhao.
And defensively? Zhao could get whatever he wanted.
The confidence in Zhao's eyes only grew. He felt like this final was his to win.
But he wasn't cocky—he knew Yugoslavia wasn't a one-man show.
As the quarter wore on, the European squad started showing off their greatest weapon: teamwork.
They passed with crisp precision, moving the ball like clockwork.
Their collective height gave them an edge on the perimeter, and China's guards were starting to struggle keeping up.
Bodiroga began reducing his shot attempts and shifted focus toward orchestrating the offense, helping Yugoslavia slowly close the gap.
Meanwhile, China was riding on the back of their core—Zhao Dong. Their team play wasn't quite at the same level, leaning more on a typical superstar-centric strategy. But who could blame them? Zhao Dong's dominance was undeniable, and Coach Jiang had no choice but to build the game plan around him.
With 98 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Yugoslavia drilled their 10th three-pointer of the night.
82–82. The game was tied.
Coach Jiang immediately called a timeout as China prepared for a critical possession.
Up in the commentary booth, Sun Zhenping's voice was electric with emotion.
"Zhao Dong is absolutely cooking Bodiroga tonight! He's got 32 points, 9 assists, 12 boards, 2 steals, 3 blocks—and he's forced 6 turnovers. Just putting on a clinic on both ends of the floor!"
Matt Goukas added, "Yugoslavia's no joke either. All five guys can shoot, pass, and they've got length. It makes their 2-3 position mismatches so deadly."
"Our boys hit 10 of 21 from deep tonight," Marv Albert chimed in. "That's nearly 50%! And China's playing with heart. The whole nation is watching—hoping to witness history."
Timeout over. China's inbounding from the left sideline.
Zhao Dong caught the ball just beyond the three-point arc on the left wing. Bodiroga pressed him immediately, but Zhao gave a quick pump fake, then exploded toward the wing.
A screen from the big man gave Zhao space, and he quickly dished it back to the screener. Rising over Bodiroga's outstretched hand, he knocked down the mid-range jumper.
"BOOM! That's a triple-double for Zhao Dong!" shouted Jeff Taylor. "He used that pick-and-roll perfectly to get Dazhi a mismatch. And man, Dazhi's jumper this season is way sharper than last year."
Jack Ramsey sighed, "Such a shame the Bulls snatched Wang Zhizhi (Dazhi). If he had stayed with Zhao Dong, he might've had a much smoother NBA start."
Back on offense, Yugoslavia responded. Bodiroga faked a three on the right wing, zipped a pass inside, and the small forward finished the cut with a clean layup.
"Ah, Bart's rotation was just a step slow there," said Sun Zhenping, shaking his head.
China came back up the floor, but Zhao Dong stayed patient, managing the clock.
With 18 seconds left, he brought the ball to the top of the arc and signaled the play.
As he drove toward the paint, Yugoslavia's defense collapsed in a tight double-team. That left someone open.
Zhao Dong stopped just short of the free-throw line, then—boom—fired a no-look pass behind his head.
Hu Weidong caught it at the top of the arc, wide open. He rose, fired...
Splash.
The net barely moved.
87–84. China takes the lead with just seconds remaining.
Yugoslavia rushed the inbound. Bodiroga brought it up court, but Zhao Dong read it like a book and jumped the passing lane.
"STEAL!"
Two hard steps—BANG! Zhao Dong threw down a vicious slam that sent the entire crowd into a frenzy.
89–84. China leads by 5.
Bodiroga stood stunned. He was drenched in sweat, breathing heavy. Meanwhile, Zhao Dong still looked fresh—as if it were the first quarter. It was insane.
Yugoslavia had one more possession. Zhao Dong kept applying relentless full-court pressure. His energy was on another level, especially considering this was just a 40-minute game—nothing compared to an NBA grind.
With teammates screening for him, Bodiroga managed to cross half court, but Zhao Dong didn't let up. Panicked, Bodiroga whipped a pass that sailed right out of bounds.
Turnover.
China's ball. 15 seconds left.
Zhao Dong slowly dribbled up the court.
Bodiroga tried one last full-court press. But Zhao Dong had better handles, more speed, and gas still left in the tank. He calmly brought it into the frontcourt.
Sun Jun came to set a pick.
Zhao Dong used it perfectly, slid to the wing, then cut hard toward the paint.
Tomasevic, Yugoslavia's center, rotated to help.
Too late.
BOOM! Zhao Dong took flight and threw down a monster dunk—posterizing Tomasevic and sending him to the floor.
"Let's go!!" shouted Jeff. "That's game, baby!"
91–84. China led by 7. Only 3 seconds left.
Yugoslavia took one last heave from half court.
Clank.
The buzzer sounded.
Game over. China wins its first-ever World Championship.
The bench erupted. Players, coaches, and staff stormed the court. Tears, cheers, and hugs all around.
History was made.
---
[Post-Championship – Zhao Dong Goes Global]
After the championship celebration, Zhao Dong stepped away from the team for a bit, choosing to travel the world with Lindsay.
Alongside them were twelve personal bodyguards and a few veteran boxing coaches—part of Zhao Dong's off-court training crew.
But while Zhao was enjoying his trip, storm clouds were gathering back in the U.S.
Negotiations between NBA owners and the players' union were stuck again. Talks over profit-sharing went south fast, with commissioner David Stern and several owners walking out of the meetings in frustration.
Even worse, because NBA players weren't allowed to join the World Championship, the U.S. team finished just fourth—an embarrassing result that left American fans fuming. Many started blaming the league's shutdown for damaging Team USA's chances.
Zhao Dong got word of all this through a call with Wells.
He understood the situation all too well. In his past life, this 1998 lockout—combined with Jordan's second retirement—caused a major slump in the NBA. Ratings tanked, fan interest dropped, and the league lost momentum.
Now, things were a bit different. Jordan hadn't retired, and Zhao Dong was now a rising global star. Still, the lockout was bound to have consequences.
Despite the trading freeze, Knicks GM Ernie Grunfeld worked the phones and managed to pull off a key deal. He get veteran power forward Kevin Willis—last season's frontcourt anchor—from the Rockets in exchange for Allan Houston.
Houston, a smooth-shooting two-guard, was the 11th pick from the famed Diamond Generation of 1984. He made the 1991–92 All-Star team and earned All-Defensive honors the following season.
Tough, consistent, and reliable, Kevin Willis had carved out a long NBA career and even kept playing until the age of 45—making him the second-oldest player in league history.
In the 1991–92 NBA season, Kevin Willis showcased his dominance by playing all 82 games, starting in 81, and averaging 36.6 minutes per game. He contributed significantly with 18.3 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, along with two assists.
Despite being 36 years old, Willis remained a key power forward for the Houston Rockets last season, averaging 31 minutes, 16.1 points, and 8.4 rebounds per game. His performance indicated that he still had the strength and skill to compete at a high level.
The Rockets agreed to trade Willis primarily because of his age and the higher market value of Allan Houston. Additionally, they believed that Houston's appeal would boost ticket sales, whereas Willis's presence did not have the same effect.
The New York Knicks pursued this deal because Allan Houston expressed a desire to join the Rockets. Recognizing the opportunity, the Knicks aimed to strengthen their roster by acquiring Willis, who could enhance their interior offense.
Ernie Grunfeld, the Knicks' general manager, constructed a primary lineup for the upcoming season featuring Ben Wallace and Danny Fortson in the frontcourt, Zhao Dong at forward, and a backcourt duo of Latrell Sprewell and Chauncey Billups. While the team had solid rebounding and defense, they lacked offensive firepower, which Zhao Dong was expected to provide.
Given Fortson's tendency to commit fouls, Willis's experience and ability to contribute offensively in the paint were seen as valuable assets. The bench included Charles Barkley, Kevin Willis, and Larry Johnson as frontcourt substitutes, with Hu Weidong and Cuttino Mobley providing depth in the backcourt.
However, Grunfeld faced a significant challenge with Larry Johnson's contract. Johnson had four years remaining on a $40 million deal, including $12 million for the next season. Given his current performance level, primarily serving as a substitute, the contract was considered burdensome and difficult to trade. The only viable option appeared to be a contract buyout, similar to what the Chicago Bulls did with Patrick Ewing.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers finalized a trade sending Eddie Jones to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for an unprotected first-round pick in 1999, a protected first-round pick in 2000, and two role players. The 2000 pick had protections: top five in the first year, top ten in the second, and unprotected in the third. This structure ensured the Lakers would eventually receive a valuable draft asset.
Following this, the Lakers initiated discussions with the Utah Jazz, leading to a trade that brought Karl Malone to Los Angeles. Jerry West, the Lakers' general manager, was relieved to complete the deal but wasn't finished reshaping the roster.
West aimed to trade point guard Nick Van Exel, who was known for his isolation play and reluctance to pass to Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal expressed his desire for a point guard who would facilitate the offense more effectively. West agreed and planned to promote Derek Fisher to the starting lineup, pairing him with Kobe Bryant in the backcourt. He also targeted LaPhonso Ellis from the Denver Nuggets to strengthen the small forward position.
Negotiations with the Nuggets proceeded smoothly, as they were interested in acquiring Van Exel. The resulting lineup featured O'Neal and Malone in the frontcourt, Ellis at small forward, and a backcourt of Fisher and Bryant. West believed this team had the offensive prowess to challenge the San Antonio Spurs and compete with the Knicks and Bulls for championships.
Confident in the team's potential, West envisioned the possibility of securing three consecutive championships and, as Bryant matured, even achieving a six-title dynasty. However, he kept these plans confidential.
Despite efforts to maintain secrecy, news of Malone's trade request to the Lakers leaked on September 7. At the time, Zhao Dong and Lindsay were attending a bullfight in Spain when a reporter broke the story. The revelation caused a stir throughout the league.
Charles Barkley was the first to voice his disapproval, accusing the Lakers of collusion and disrupting the league's balance. He had joined the Knicks alongside Zhao Dong in pursuit of a championship and was frustrated by the Lakers' aggressive roster moves.
O'Neal responded, asserting that the trades were team decisions and not orchestrated by the players. However, a Jazz staff member disclosed that Malone had personally requested the trade to Los Angeles, intensifying criticism.
Michael Jordan condemned Malone's actions, stating, "As a superstar still in his prime, averaging 27 points and 10 rebounds last season, this behavior is disgraceful. I agree with Zhao Dong—he doesn't deserve the title of superstar because no true superstar would do this."
Alonzo Mourning also expressed his anger, saying, "Zhao Dong predicted this would happen—forcing the league's superstars to unite. Karl Malone, your actions are shameful!"
Fans, particularly in Utah, were outraged, burning Malone's jerseys and labeling him a traitor. In an era where loyalty to a single team was highly valued, such moves were met with widespread disapproval.
Amidst the controversy, the league faced mounting pressure to address concerns about competitive balance and the integrity of team-building practices.
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