Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

The Bucks might be playing the basketball of the future.

No matter how powerful Kobe was as an individual, he was powerless in the face of Yu Fei, who could harness the strength of five players.

At the post-game press conference, Kobe seemed to have a sense of déjà vu regarding the scene unfolding before him.

"Kobe, how do you view this game, where do you think you lost?"

"Would you play an all-around game like Frye?"

"What do you think the competition with Frye has done for you?"

"Frye said his refusal to play in garbage time was a tribute to you, what do you have to say about that?"

As a person becomes more outstanding, those carrying the same traits as him will be affected.

In an ordinary household, this phenomenon manifests as "the neighbor's child."

For high school basketball players at the end of 2005, all issues relate to Frye Yu.

"No, I won't be like Frye," Kobe smiled and said, "I never will."

Kobe was no longer a young man in his twenties; he had passed that phase. The dramatic changes in the summer of 2003 made him more concerned with his image than ever.

"Even if that leads to a crushing defeat?"

"Yes, I am myself," Kobe said, deluding himself, "I have my own standards, and they will not be shaken by anyone."

But Kobe was never truly himself; he grew up in the era of number 23, dreaming of being number 23 from a young age. His perfectionistic nature drove him to constantly improve, but imitating number 23 led to a blurring of his own style, eventually being swallowed up by the shadow of number 23.
Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

You can see Kobe's frankness about this in "The Last Dance," but that's nothing to be ashamed of because number 23 is a great benchmark, all successors have fallen. Penny, Hill, and McGrady couldn't reach those heights, only Kobe remained, the one and only Kobe, the ultimate Kobe, he was the silhouette of a rapidly advancing era, the last ray of light number 23 left on the basketball court.

That night, Fei Yu asked Kobe out for a late-night snack.

Kobe agreed.

This meal was their last for the day. As athletes, eating multiple small meals is basic practice, especially on game nights, when you need to replenish yourself after playing, otherwise, you'd definitely lose weight by morning.

Fei and Kobe discussed more about post-up moves.

Unlike the jocular demeanor Kobe showed during the game when talking about Jordan, in private, he was much more serious and meticulous.

"I think only the footwork of three people is worth studying in detail," Kobe said, "MJ during his Wizards era, Kevin McHale, and Hakeem."

Fei found Kevin McHale a bit too far back in history.

Olajuwon, however, was someone he could learn from, but that would have to wait until the off-season.

Moreover, both were big men. The rhythm of a post-up move for an interior player is different from that of a perimeter player. You can only take reference, not imitate completely.

So, going round and round, Coach Dan was an inevitable name.

That night, when Fei returned home, he had Lin Kaiwen find him a game tape of Jordan with the Wizards.

It just so happened that Lin Kaiwen picked out a game from the Wizards' 2001-02 season, a game that Fei had also attended.

After watching only a brief moment, Fei ejected the tape, threw it in the trash can, and had someone clean up.

Though Fei had accomplished his revenge against Jordan, watching more of the tapes was unbearable. Memories from the Wizards era would flood his mind, increasing his aversion to Jordan. But, since the man no longer played basketball, what was the point of dwelling on an old bald donkey?

He ought to learn from Kobe, who was the coolest.

PS: I wrote this chapter in one go, originally planning to split it into two chapters, but after reviewing, I felt that it read more coherently as one chapter, so I published it together.