Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Fei encountered many old friends at the Reebok party. "Because of you, I lost 18 pounds this season," Yao Ming complained to Fei. Upon hearing this, Fei asked in surprise, "Oh, why?" Fei had never thought that he might change Yao Ming's destiny. It was clear they would hardly ever play on the same team and if Yao Ming wanted to become an unstoppable low-post beast, he needed to put on more weight. However, Fei's arrival ultimately disrupted the timeline. In a reality where even Tim Duncan wasn't the undisputed GOAT power forward, the early influx of small ball into the league brought changes that even an extreme traditional center like Yao Ming had to adapt to. Fei's arrival also set off a chain reaction; Artest didn't join the Rockets this season, and McGrady didn't overdraw his career as an elite player last season due to a closed-door injury. The Rockets' 2009 team was still a Yao-McGrady pairing, but to adapt to the changing times, Yao Ming had chosen to lose weight during the season and was developing his outside shooting. This season, Yao Ming averaged 0.9 three-point shots per game, making 0.3 per game. The output wasn't high, and the hit rate was only 33%, but for someone who had never tried playing on the perimeter before, such change was revolutionary. But Fei believed that as long as Yao Ming continued to develop his three-point shot, he would eventually become a rich man's version of Lopez (during his Bucks era). After all, Yao Ming might have been the center with the best shooting touch before Karl-Anthony Towns—could anyone doubt that a player with a career free-throw percentage as high as 88% couldn't learn to shoot threes? After listening to Yao Ming's explanation, Fei said, "That's a good thing." "Is it a good thing?" Yao Ming didn't like his increasingly perimeter-oriented play. Fei then said, "Your previous weight was an overload for your body, and you couldn't have played for many more years that way. The current change might help you to have a longer career." Yao understood that losing weight meant extending his career, just as he had known that playing at a high weight meant trading career longevity for immediate power. As a player, he wanted to be the best he could be, so even if it meant overtaxing his career, he chose to bulk up. But now, that path was no longer feasible because the game had been changed by Fei. This made him say wistfully, "If I were born about ten years later, I might've become a big deal." Fei knew who Yao Ming was referring to—the man was the first demon of his career as a big man and the only one he hadn't beaten in the CBA. Compared to Fei and Yao Ming's candid conversation, another star at the Reebok party seemed downcast. Allen Iverson had realized that he was increasingly out of sync with the times. Eight years ago, in 2001, he was the hero who dared to stand out and challenge Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe, like a Napoleon of basketball. His myth and legend reached their zenith during the 2001 Finals, and since then, no runner-up had been cloaked in the same aura. Many within Reebok believed that Iverson was a failed version of Fei. At least for a while after 2001, Iverson's influence on the brand was no less significant than Fei's was today. But even the greatest stories and the most enchanting fairytales couldn't withstand an eight-year Waterloo. After being traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Denver Nuggets, Iverson's lone-wolf days were over, and Anthony's double-star dance replaced it. Yet, two consecutive first-round exits made it clear to the Nuggets that pairing two scoring kings who didn't quite grasp "defense" just wasn't going to work. Then, Iverson was shipped off to the Detroit Pistons to replace Chauncey Billups. Iverson thought he had become a lone star again, but Joe Dumars hoped Iverson would lead by example and embody professionalism, mentoring the younger players. He was unwilling to do these things; his tactical status declined, and he was often suspended for personal issues. He had never felt so disrespected. "You know, they wanted me to be a nanny," Iverson sneered, "but I never wanted to be anyone else's nanny." Fei just listened. He suddenly understood why the Iverson of his past life left no impression on him as a player—such a person could not end well in professional basketball. When he started to decline, the teams no longer indulged him. His youthful rebelliousness and defiance seemed infantile and spoiled, like a petulant child or princess, now that he was over thirty. He would soon lose his starting role, and Iverson would never accept being a substitute—so disappearing from the NBA was the only outcome. Thus his departure would be swift, leaving without a word, leaving only the final disciples to tell the world, "I, the great AI, need not say much." But can this faith sustain your tolerance of him coming to your country to make money while sporting an indifferent face the entire time? That's a question. At least for now, Iverson's popularity still had some warmth, which was why he was selected for the All-Star game. In terms of data and ability, he was no longer an All-Star. With the Pistons, his average stats plummeted to 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists per game—all the lowest of his career. Yet even so, he still received a million votes, second only to Wade in popularity among Eastern guards. "Last time we went to Detroit, you seemed to be out," Fei casually mentioned. Iverson smiled: "I was suspended by Dumars for complaining too much." "Cool!" the vivacious female companion by Fei's side remarked, "AI, that's why everyone likes you." "Thanks," Iverson glanced over the attractive highlights of the woman, "I've never coddled those old men in the office." Even though Fei saw Iverson's end coming, thinking of the care he had received from him over the years, he couldn't help but suggest, "AI, sometimes it's important to take advice." "But Dumars' advice isn't important," Fei's companion seemed to be a Pistons fan with deep grievances against Dumars, "Since the trade of Grant Hill, he hasn't done anything good. He's just terrible." Fei said indifferently, "You talk too much, Kate." "That's nothing," Iverson said, "The complaints I had about Dumars back then weren't half as many as she said today, and I got suspended. Who do I go to for that?" Fei burst into laughter. The female companion by his side then asked, "Frye, will you suspend me from the game?" "Darling, not tonight," Yu Fei chuckled. "I'm too tired today; I need to recharge." That night, Yu Fei's female companion, Kate Upton, who was also chosen by Reebok as the ninth (next-generation) Chosen Girl, successfully plugged The Chosen One's plug into her own power source. It was a beautiful night. During the All-Star period, the rumors of trades were relentless. The Rockets might trade the increasingly lax McGrady, the Raptors are looking to trade Bosh who's set to test the free agency in the summer of 2009, and Wade has explicitly told Riley that if there are no changes to the team roster, he will test the free agency waters in summer as well. Besides, the Suns also faced the issue of trading Amar'e Stoudemire. The little overlord will also become a free agent this summer. Of course, among this summer's free agents is Kobe as well, but no one thinks he will leave the Lakers. So, the ultimate question is, will LeBron leave Cleveland? Outside of Cleveland, this was never an issue. "You know, my first and foremost goal is still to bring a championship to Cleveland," LeBron told reporters. "That's the ultimate thing, and I won't consider anything else before that." Also, on the day of the All-Star main game, the Hall of Fame announced John Stockton, David Robinson, and... Michael Jordan as inductees to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. That night's All-Star Game opening act featured the Eastern All-Star team, led by Shaquille O'Neal, with a spicy dance that set a great tone for the match, but once the game began, the Western Conference's desire to win was palpable. Mainly because Kobe was back. Last year's All-Star Game saw Kobe play only one minute due to a finger injury, without anyone setting the pace. Now, the person who loves going crazy in these inconsequential games was setting his pace again. Then Yu Fei went looking for LeBron. "LeBron, up to today without any MVP titles, don't you really want to strive for the AMVP?" Yu Fei said this and then, using his strength in posting up LeBron, left him breathless before hitting a step-back turnaround jumper. LeBron got mad and began to invest in the game like Kobe. Unfortunately, the other members of the Eastern All-Star Team were just there for fun, and LeBron's earnest participation had no significant impact on the overall situation. In the end, the Western All-Star Team triumphed over the Eastern All-Star Team with a score of 145 to 113. Post-game interview Yao Ming, last year's All-Star MVP, humorously attempted six three-pointers in this game and only made one. In such a situation, instead of blaming himself, he chose to pass the blame in a more entertaining fashion: "Obviously, it's Frye's fault. He deliberately passed me the ball uncomfortably for the sake of AMVP. It's all his fault, really." But ultimately, it was Kobe who lifted the AMVP trophy. "I give my all in any game," Kobe said to the media. "I don't care about the nature of the game." As Kobe was basking in the glory, Shaquille O'Neal was always probed. In response, Shaquille O'Neal proudly said, "I don't care about any AMVP. Since childhood, I have won honors at all levels." LeBron did not forget to save face for himself. "I got 30 points and 10 rebounds, but my teammates mocked me because I actually tried in this kind of game," LeBron said. "They're right; I'm a fool." The All-Star rookie Kevin Durant was the potential hard tryer for the Western team. Though he played only 10 minutes, he managed to score 14 points from 5 out of 8 shots. "I don't understand why some people think the All-Star Game isn't important." Nike convinced Durant that he is the only nice guy remaining in the NBA, and nice guys should say the right things on such occasions. "For the fans, they don't want to be let down, and I won't disappoint them. That's my responsibility." Roy echoed Yao Ming: "I'm a bit annoyed, Frye didn't pass the ball to me." In the end, Yu Fei, who scored 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists but missed out on the AMVP, came to the media interview room. There were hundreds of media outlets there, not just from the United States, but from all over the world. A Chinese media outlet was picked out by Yu Fei. They cautiously posed a formulaic question: "This is your eighth All-Star Game, how do you feel?" Yu Fei answered with a smile, deliberately responding in Chinese: "It's like having eaten Peking duck for eight consecutive meals, a bit greasy, but still delicious." There were more than one Chinese media outlet on site, and the other Chinese reporters, upon hearing Yu Fei's response, couldn't help but remark that there was a reason for his popularity in Asia. "Shaquille O'Neal says that he's won honors at all levels since he was a child, what do you think about that?" A media outlet from New York provocatively asked. Yu Fei laughed and said, "Before he clung to Kobe's coattails, he indeed had reason to be proud of the championship rings he won before the age of 10." After numerous questions, some tedious and some sharp, it was a journalist from Seattle who posed the ultimate question of the evening: "Michael Jordan will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year; do you have anything to say about that?" There's a view that the reason the topic of 44 vs. 23 has transcended basketball itself to become a social issue is not so much because Jordan retired not long ago, but because the feud between Jordan and Yu Fei is fascinating. Two people who couldn't wait for the other to drop dead became contenders for the throne. How long has it been since such a grudge appeared? The question from the Seattle journalist lowered the pressure in the room. Everyone was awaiting Yu Fei's response. "I had originally wanted to say this when he passed away." The room was so quiet that not even a breath could be heard, which made Yu Fei's words as clear as the sound of artillery fire, "But since you've asked, there's no harm in saying it now." "Congratulations."