MVP rankings often also imply a player’s commercial value and status in the league.
"Fifth: Zeng Xingyang."
Zeng Xingyang was ranked eighth in the previous issue, but the latest issue has placed him fifth.
Obviously, this is due to his quarter of 37 points for the Kings and the recent good performance of the Nuggets.
A rookie able to reach such a high position is enough to demonstrate the influence Zeng Xingyang possesses now.
"The rookie Zeng Xingyang is conquering the NBA, averaging 28.5 points per game, ranked fifth in MVP rankings." — Open-Air Stand Newspaper
"A super talent comparable to Jordan, the Nuggets rookie Zeng Xingyang is seen as the new successor to Jordan, bringing an unprecedented spotlight to the Nuggets." — Miami Sentinel
"The most promising player under 25, Zeng Xingyang tops the list, constantly showcasing his talent in the NBA, which shows that his talent is not as bad as imagined." — New York Basketball Newspaper
"Comparable to Michael Jordan? This superstar guard from China has become the new favorite of the NBA this season, but he has not yet been selected for the Chinese national team roster and has not played for the national team." — Seoul Basketball Newspaper
A vast amount of media is reporting everything about Zeng Xingyang, and he is being touted by the media and fans as "Celestial Pride."
This is different from before, as media and fans previously judged rookies simply based on talent.
Now, more and more people are being won over by Zeng Xingyang’s performance, and on the internet, major forums provide detailed stats of Zeng Xingyang’s every game.
Then there are increasingly more analyses of Zeng Xingyang appearing.
There are more and more highlight videos on short video platforms, and any content about Zeng Xingyang draws significant traffic.
"The new basketball god has appeared. As long as he does not suffer injuries like Grant Hill, he can become another Michael Jordan."
"Zeng Xingyang’s fame is growing rapidly. Who could have imagined that the Nuggets could select such a player at the 7th pick? He is already ranked fifth in MVP rankings in his rookie season."
"If you watch his NBA games and performances, no one would doubt the value of this ranking. Zeng’s influence on the Nuggets is definitely at an MVP level."
"Don’t hype him too much; let’s not turn it into another Tyreke Evans situation."
"He can shoot, averaging 28.5 points. Isn’t this worthy of hype? Just compare him with other rookies, and you’ll see, except that he hasn’t won a championship yet, which leaves room for criticism."
The Nuggets went on the road against the Houston Rockets.
In this game, Zeng Xingyang didn’t perform well and appeared somewhat fatigued on the court.
Jokic was also held down by Howard.
Howard, with his traditional style as a powerful center, could withstand Jokic’s post-ups.
Jokic struggled to create good opportunities for his teammates.
Ultimately, the Nuggets lost the game with a score of 100 to 113.
After this game, Mike Malone decided to rest Zeng Xingyang in the following game against the Blazers.
Mike Malone could see that Zeng Xingyang was physically and mentally exhausted.
In the fourth quarter against the Rockets, Zeng Xingyang even twisted his ankle,
although he wasn’t injured, it was evident that he had reached his physical limit.
While other players rested during the All-Star Game, Zeng Xingyang did not rest and continued with high-intensity games and training.
Zeng Xingyang indeed needed a break, as he was enduring increasingly intense physical battles every game.
And his stamina was not yet at full capacity. If it wasn’t for his improved physical gifts entering a new phase, he might have been injured in any fiercely contested game.
Having extensive understanding of his body, Zeng Xingyang knew where his physical limits were, and pushing beyond them could easily lead to unexpected situations.
Durant’s Achilles rupture, Kobe’s Achilles rupture; these happened when their bodies faced extreme fatigue.
Based on his physical condition, Zeng Xingyang did not resist his coach’s arrangement.
Without Zeng Xingyang on the court, it would be tough for the Nuggets to defeat the Blazers.
The Blazers’ backcourt duo exploded, with Lillard scoring 39 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds, while McCollum scored 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
The Blazers defeated the Nuggets with a big score of 131 to 103.
The Nuggets faced a two-game losing streak, dropping their rank to eighth in the West.
At this time, they faced the seventh-ranked Dallas Mavericks at home.
The Mavericks are one of the Nuggets’ competitors for standings.
Zeng Xingyang stepped back onto the court and relished the feeling.
After resting for one game, he felt revitalized.
The current leader of the Mavericks is still Nowitzki.
Nowitzki is considered a leader, but his stats are average, with only an average of 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, so his leadership is more on a spiritual level.
The Mavericks’ ability to break into the top eight in the West largely relies on their solid overall depth.
Deron Williams, at the end of his peak, can average 14 points and 6 assists per game.
Chandler Parsons, pushing for a big contract, is a qualified starting player, averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
Barria, Matthews, Pachulia, and other players are tough characters.
The entire team has rich experience and knows how to play smartly at critical times.
However, against the younger and equally smart Nuggets, the Mavericks still faced challenges.
"Zeng Xingyang, oh, here he comes again. He faced Barria, a fake move, and then dashed inside, abruptly stopping and then drawing in Nowitzki for the foul."