Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Yu Fei had no idea what Jordan was planning. When he came to the frontcourt, his match-up shifted from Nesby to Ratner.

"Time to settle scores," Ratner said with a cold smile.

Yu Fei had observed Ratner's defense, especially his lateral movement. To put it bluntly, it would take just one step to get past him.

Ratner now lacked the ability to defend on the perimeter.

Thinking of settling scores?

Yu Fei motioned to Coach Lu for the ball.

Coach Lu was a "three-no" point guard on the offense, no shooting, no penetration, no playmaking. It was fine to use him as a surprise element on the weak side to support a key player, but asking him to orchestrate the whole game was too much to ask.

Although Coach Lu didn't know why Yu Fei wanted the ball, he had no reason not to pass off the hot potato when someone offered to help him in a tight spot.

Yu Fei received the ball and suddenly lowered his center of gravity, something Ratner completely did not expect.

That was entirely a guard's dribbling habit. Yu Fei was so tall... how could it be?

While he was still in shock, Yu Fei started to accelerate. Indeed, he bypassed Ratner in one step, took another step inside the free-throw line, collected the ball, and exploded upward, dunking the ball lightning-fast.

Yu Fei walked past Ratner with a mocking face, "Even when I played against middle schoolers, it wasn't this easy."

Ratner was both embarrassed and furious, but he was powerless. That play proved he couldn't defend Yu Fei on the outside at all.

This was the consequence of Collins not arranging scrimmage games for several days.

Ratner didn't even know Yu Fei's playing style.

Jordan was aware of Yu Fei's capabilities, but he also knew Ratner's strength. What surprised him was that Yu Fei's ball-handling seemed to have improved compared to half a year ago at the ABCD Camp.

As a small forward, the ball control displayed by Yu Fei was already sufficient. Your journey starts at m_v le mpyr

If he could avoid being out of position on defense, then his physique would give him a great advantage at the small forward position.

Jordan thought about a lot, but those were for later. Right now, he needed to save his own face, relying on Ratner to teach the rookie was too much to expect.

Jordan had planned to call for a pick and roll to create a one-on-one opportunity with Yu Fei, but to his surprise, Yu Fei sent Hamilton away and took it upon himself to match up with him.

Yu Fei's irreverent attitude toward divine beings finally got under the skin of the big dog.

Jordan was determined to give him a good lesson.

In fact, the big dog was overthinking it. Yu Fei did not mean any disrespect by taking the initiative in the match-up; he did it with the thought of honing his own skills.

Although Yu Fei was born in an era with "Kobe, Duncan, James, Curry..." he still acknowledged that Jordan was formidable. Even though he was making a comeback at nearly forty after three years of retirement, his awareness and feints were impeccable. Having more match-ups with him would greatly benefit Yu Fei, who was determined to make a name for himself in the NBA.

Yu Fei had good intentions, but he did not take the big dog's feelings into account.

Jordan's brown eyes were especially fierce. He handled the ball with changing directions continuously, not fast, but with an exceptional sense of rhythm; Yu Fei wasn't tricked, but he was caught by the subsequent feints.

After catching Yu Fei on his feints, Jordan created a brief moment of opportunity, took a light jump shot, and scored.

"You're not qualified to guard me yet," Jordan said commandingly.

Yeah, right. Not having sought out your dad, who's been dead for over a decade, to get a certificate of qualification to match up against Michael Jordan does indeed make me a big, red bean paste-filled mess.

Yu Fei was a bit unhappy because the big dog was not friendly.

Just because he guarded Jordan for one possession, it resulted in such a temper?

Yu Fei kept criticizing Jordan in his mind, while maintaining his composure on the outside, intending to ask Coach Lu for the ball. But the guy hurriedly tossed the ball to Kwame Brown.

Was that even a pass? Today, it was clear that Jordan was out to set Brown up in the post.

This wasn't just malicious speculation from Yu Fei but a reasonable judgement based on what was happening on the court.

Jordan wanted to destroy Brown.

Why? Because Jordan was a devout believer in the Phoenix Nirvana God Cult. He believed that a person could only grow stronger by being continuously broken down and rebuilt, so he planned to wreck Brown first, then watch him put himself back together.

Has anyone told him that Brown is still just a kid?

Although Yu Fei was also a kid, not all kids are the same. Some are strong, some are weak, and unfortunately, the Wizards' top draft pick belonged to the latter group.

Brown resorted to a brainwashing tactic, "If I can't handle Jordan or Ratner, can't I handle you?" He bore this thought in mind as he launched a fierce attack against Nesby, who was under two meters tall.

Under normal circumstances, Nesby couldn't guard Brown.

Brown could crush him simply with his talent.

But Johnny Bach, Jordan's old assistant coach from the Chicago Bulls years and, like Collins, a follower of Jordan's will, was refereeing.

So, when Nesby bluntly grabbed Brown's hand, causing him to lose control of the ball and commit yet another turnover, Bach turned into the "blind monk" of the court, acting as if he saw nothing.

This time, Fei failed to complete the block, and the Undying Team (Fei's term of endearment for them) scored on the fast break.

"Is this the number one draft pick?" Nesby, apparently oblivious to the fact that he had just stopped Brown by fouling, preened in front of everyone with self-satisfaction, "Not very impressive, huh."

Ratner too seemed to have contracted the same amnesia as Nesby, "The rookies this year are really not up to par."

I just blew past you, dumbass, and I regret not giving your ass an extra kick while I was at it.

Fei was angry, not only for Brown's plight but also at the veterans' bullying behavior.

Unable to endure the humiliation any longer, Brown finally spoke up, "That was a foul!"

Nesby was brought back to reality, yes, he knew he had stopped Brown by fouling.

After a few seconds of silence, Jordan, unable to tolerate Brown's "cowardly words," stormed forward and played the role he was destined to play, "Shut up, you damn faggot! You can't expect every little bump to be called a foul against the opponent, this is a man's game! You faggot, don't bring that sissy act here, shut your mouth and play your damn game!"

This was Jordan's kingdom, Jordan's palace, where he aimed to destroy Brown with the noble intent of remolding him. Should Brown be tearfully grateful for this?

Fei's annoyance with Jordan peaked at that moment.

"A little bump?" Fei challenged, "I didn't even touch you just now, so how did I get called for a foul? Is it only a 'man's game' when you guys are on defense?"

Jordan broke Brown, and no one could speak for him, for this was Jordan's domain.

But Fei didn't care about that; he was like a wild horse, untamed, issuing a hissing challenge to the ruler of the Wilmington College Gym.

Just as Jordan was about to explode, Hamilton appeared, the damn captain of the New Jacks finally knowing what he should do.

"Let's take a break, everyone just cool down, it was just an ordinary play, right?"

Perhaps Fei should be grateful to Hamilton; he just made Jordan lose face. If no one smoothed things over, with Jordan's character, it could have gotten out of control.

But for Fei, it might be better to settle things here.

They couldn't be the only ones put to the test, playing the goddamn "man's game" with these old bastards.

"You're letting your emotions get the better of you, rookie," Hamilton said, sweating for Fei.

If you had stepped in earlier, maybe I wouldn't have to be so impulsive.

Fei didn't want to take his anger out on Hamilton. It was a tough spot for him, and indeed, anyone on the Wizards would have struggled with how to behave around Jordan.

Jordan wasn't just a player.

He was also a coach, a general manager, and a boss.

Why did Fei dare to stand up? He couldn't exactly say why. Perhaps it was because Brown had helped him before. Anyway, this peer who joined the team at the same time had done nothing wrong, barring a bit of arrogance recently.

He was a bit lazy and cocky, sure, but these things could be corrected in other ways. Why must it come to this?

And if Jordan could treat Brown like this today, who's to say he wouldn't do the same to Fei tomorrow?

If Fei didn't resist now, endless hell awaited him.

Fei brushed off Hamilton perfunctorily and then sat down beside Brown.

Now, Brown had calmed down.

He was grateful to have Fei beside him. In that situation, who else would have stood up for him? In fact, no one else had, and Hamilton was just doing what he should have done as captain long ago.

"Thank you, Frye," Brown said gratefully.

"Thanks for covering me these past few days," Fei said. "From today on, I've got your back."

Note: The term "faggot" used here reflects Jordan's original words to Kwame Brown and embodies the derogatory and damaging language used at that time. This word is seen as deeply offensive in English-speaking contexts.