Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

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"Michael, have you ever thought about trading Frye?"

When Doug Collins's voice fell, Jordan's perceptive ears twitched, as if he couldn't believe what he had heard. His eyes widened as he looked at Collins, making sure he was serious before counter asking, "Why do you have this thought?"

"I know it's too early to conclude anything now, but I understand the harm an unstable young player can bring to a team," Collins's eyes flickered with memories of the past, "Darryl Dawkins's immaturity destroyed the Philadelphia 76ers in 1977; if we can't stop Frye, I feel like sooner or later he'll ruin D.C. too."

Collins hoped to subtly convey to Jordan that Yu Fei could threaten his dominant position, something that Jordan and his team did not want to see.

But Collins insisted on using Darryl Dawkins as an example.

Indeed, Dawkins ruined the 76ers in 1977 when he got into a fight with the Trail Blazers' Maurice Lucas (C/PF) during the finals, only to find out that his teammates didn't stand up for him at all. Dawkins was emotionally broken, tore apart the 76ers' locker room during halftime, demoralized the team, and subsequently led to the Trail Blazers winning four consecutive games after the 76ers had wasted their advantageous lead with two consecutive wins to start the finals.

Jordan didn't think Yu Fei was like Dawkins, a giant baby with immature mentality, and he didn't feel he himself was like Julius Erving, who played the role of the good guy too much, to the extent of never fighting anyone but Bird in his entire career, let alone standing up for his teammates.

Jordan wasn't that kind of person.

He believed that he could eventually make Fei yield wholeheartedly; therefore, to him, Collins's suggestion was absurd.

The new season had only been three games in, but Fei had already shown a poise and maturity beyond that of the typical rookie. The hard work he put in during the summer was paying off on the court, and he was not only the best performing rookie of the new season but also one of the top three players on the Wizards.

What could they possibly get in return for trading away a winning lottery ticket that's already been scratched to reveal 50% of its value?

"He isn't Darryl Dawkins, and this isn't Philadelphia," Jordan's brown eyes were full of determination, "and I'm not the Doctor."

"He might not be Darryl, but he might cause more damage than Darryl ever did," Collins said. "It's not just that he's unteachable; he expresses his dissatisfaction openly on the bench, on the court, in the media... without regard for the occasion, which has a clearly negative impact on the reputation of the coaching staff and...others."

"Enough, Doug, you should be thankful the kid isn't a soft egg like Kwame!"

Even after many years, Collins would still remember Jordan's confidence and determination on this night, which stood in stark contrast to the series of events that followed.

"He's not a soft egg; he's willing to compete, which is a good thing! There are not many young players like him nowadays. As for the trouble he causes, all these are temporary. I'll teach him, just like I taught Scottie and Dennis in Chicago," Jordan said conclusively. "If one day we need to trade Frye to deal with the problems he's caused, then that would mean we have utterly failed. I can accept failure, but I won't give up; trading him now would be a choice of self-defeat. Do you understand?"

Collins's heart went cold when Jordan used his experience in Chicago as an example that he could accomplish the same. The conclusion was clear.

Jordan of the Bulls and Jordan of the Wizards might be two sides of the same person, but visually, physically, and in terms of personal ability, they were not the same.

Collins wasn't convinced by Jordan's argument, but he couldn't argue any further.

Jordan had staked his "personal ability," and for Collins to persist would be to question Jordan himself.

Jordan didn't appreciate being questioned.

So Collins wouldn't question him.

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Yu Fei was actively preparing for the next game.

It would be their third away game of the season—against Detroit.

Fei remembered that the Pistons had risen to prominence at the turn of the century for a time, defeating the F4 Lakers to win the championship and being regulars in the Eastern Conference finals for a while.

Had the Pistons risen by the end of 2001?

Looking at the roster, only Ben Wallace was in place for that Pistons team; the rest were relative unknowns like Jerry Stackhouse, Dana Barros, Clifford Robinson, and Michael Curry.

Especially that Curry, Fei would have had some respect for him had his name been Dale; but Michael? He was allergic to the name Michael lately.

November 4

The Wizards took a charter flight to Detroit.

Two hours before the start of the game, Fei and the veteran Chris Whitney went to The Palace of Auburn Hills for a shootaround.

Whitney was one of the few older players on the team that Fei respected and with whom he maintained a good relationship.

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As the Wizard's team's most seasoned veteran, Whitney was just an average joe in the professional basketball world, his talents and skills nothing outstanding, except for his noteworthy three-point shooting. Early in his career, he was cut by the Spurs, then spent two years in the CBA before signing a ten-day contract with the Chicago Bulls during their record 72-win season, which ultimately led to his staying in the NBA. This year marks his sixth season with the Wizards.

"Salaryman" fits Whitney to a tee; he's highly professional, always early to arrive and late to leave, never complains, and can play either as a starter or a backup.

Now, having crossed the age of 30, Whitney was considering retirement, with no desire to linger in the professional basketball world. He yearned for a place that could purify his soul—like an elementary school, casually taking a job as a basketball coach, which was exactly what he wanted.

What Fei respected most about Whitney was that he never sucked up to Jordan.

This was something even Richard Hamilton, who was always saying "our New Jacks" or "we are the future of the team," could not match.

Fei accompanied Whitney to The Palace to familiarize themselves with the court. Upon arriving, Whitney started practicing shots to find his touch, while Fei wandered around, then ran into his draft classmate—this year's number nine pick, Rodney White.

Seeing White carrying a bunch of jerseys, Yu Fei teased, "Thanks for coming to Detroit for me. Otherwise, I'd be the one doing these dirty jobs."

If there was one name White hated the most, it would definitely be Yu Fei.

After the new season started, Fei's brilliance contrasted starkly with his mediocrity, especially since all Detroit Pistons fans knew they were going to pick Fei before the draft started.

Who could have imagined that Jordan, after leaving the game for three years, would still step on the Pistons at the draft?

The Pistons had to settle for White after missing out on Fei.

As a result, Fei made 'The Shot' on his debut, while White played only five minutes in the first three games of his career, scoring a total of 2 points and 2 turnovers.

Every day, White lived in a hell where he couldn't escape comparisons to Fei.

"The one who starts running first doesn't necessarily finish the race!" White philosophically stated.

It's all well and good in theory, but do you, who didn't even have the chance to start, have any right to say that?

"Hehe, if it makes you feel better to think that way, I won't argue," Yu Fei waved goodbye to White, "Work hard, and I hope to see you demonstrate those 'late bloomer' talents on the court tonight."

Comparing ages with Jordan, current situations with downtrodden peers, and trash-talking with civilized people—this was Fei's "win, win, win" life philosophy.

Later, Fei returned to the court for shooting practice and saw Whitney hitting 30 shots in a row from beyond the three-point line.

This terrifying consistency...

Fei could only achieve such a streak when he was in excellent touch.

"Chris, don't you think you should pass on your shooting secrets to the younger generation before you retire?" Fei asked with an eager "old man, drop some gold coins" expression on his face. "You're not planning to take these secrets to elementary school, are you?"

Whitney gave Fei a withering look. "As the league's most unteachable rookie, do you have the cheek to say that?"

How did he become the "league's most unteachable rookie"? Fei found that ever since he joined the NBA, he had only acquired bad reputations.

Unstable character, hot temper, "Anti-Mike", unteachable... Is this the consequence of showing rebellion in front of Jordan?

"Chris, that's not how you say it. Whether I'm teachable or not, it's not about me but about the person who's trying to teach me," Fei argued adamantly. "If the other party isn't a human, why should I bother learning? To poison young minds like they do when they age? No, no, I won't accept toxic education."

Whitney then asked, "How do you know I'm not toxic?"

"I know," Fei said with a smile. "I also know that you're one of the few people on the team with an independent personality. That's important. I won't turn to those who put their dignity at the feet of the boss."

Whitney sighed. Had he been dragged aboard the "Anti-Mike" rebellion?

"Alright, I might offer some trivial advice," Whitney conceded. "But first, make ten shots in front of me."

Inside The Palace, as staff bustled about, Fei seeking advice from Whitney might seem like a small matter, but as long as the direction is correct, there are no absolutes in size.

Because the foundation of a grand narrative is often the accumulation of small, seemingly insignificant acts.

For Fei, it was just another day in the life.