When pride still matters

Chapter 103 Great character shines
On January 2002, 1, this was the first time the Wizards played against the Timberwolves this season.

The Timberwolves have a well-known superstar in Kevin Garnett.

In Yu Fei's eyes, there is no difference between Garnett during the Timberwolves era and Anthony Davis during the Pelicans era. They are poor on their own, the team is poor, and the market is not attractive.But Garnett is tougher than Davis, and the only thing he values ​​​​may be money. Davis completely gave up after the team recruited Cousins ​​to form the twin towers with him but was unexpectedly defeated by injuries.

Yu Fei didn't know how Garnett finally gave up on the Timberwolves. He only knew that this old man would go to the Celtics in a few years.

In the game against the Timberwolves, Collins summarized his previous experience against Jermaine O'Neal and knew that no one on the Wizards could match Garnett in talent, and Kwame Brown was the only option.

Therefore, Collins started Brown in this game.

The result was no surprise. Garnett scored 28 points and 18 rebounds to beat the Wizards again.

The scariest scene in the game was when Collins, frustrated with Brown, yelled at him: "Are you going to let this keep happening? Are you going to let him do whatever he wants over you? He's just beating you up." !What’s wrong with you? What are you doing?”

Yu Fei didn't know how much expectations Collins had for Brown, but if he had to find someone to take the blame for this game, he could only find an insider.

上一场34投11中的乔丹今晚30投14中砍下35分6篮板4助攻，而于飞同样拿到21分8篮板6助攻，但他们两人便是奇才仅有的两个得分上双的球员，森林狼那边，加内特统治内线，而昌西·比卢普斯更是打出超级高水准，全场29分11助攻。

After the game, Jordan said the team needed to be tougher, while Collins was bluntly remorseful: "I thought Kwame was like Frye, I gave him a chance too early, he wasn't ready, he just wasn't ready. , all the responsibility for this lies with me!”

Not ready?Zhou Qi called him an expert!

Is Collins defending Brown?No, he just made himself look like a misstep who mistrusted a young player. The real mistake was the unprepared young man.

Regardless of whether Brown is ready or not, as a rookie, isn't it normal for him to be beaten by a superstar like Garnett in the game?
Wouldn't Brown be blown away if he was ready?
Yu Fei didn't know what effect Collins' actions had besides further damaging Brown's self-confidence.

The next day, Wizards returned to DC.

Everything seems to be calm.

As the January schedule is about to pass halfway, the NBA All-Star roster is about to be released.

It is certain that Jordan will be selected for the All-Star Game, and Yu Fei will definitely be selected for the Rookie Challenge. Although the All-Star Weekend is still about a month away, Wizards fans have been looking forward to the All-Star Game for a long time.

Then, they welcomed the Spurs at home.

This is the second meeting between the Wizards and the Spurs this season. Unless the two teams can meet in the Finals, this will also be their last meeting this season.

Yu Fei was the most outstanding Wizards player that night, although Popovich insisted on using Bowen to counter him, using a zone defense, and letting Duncan fill in at any time inside.But Yu Fei found the three-point touch, fired continuously from the outside, and finally scored a season-high 18 points, 37 rebounds and 6 assists with a season-high 3 shots.

The Spurs have the tightest defensive system Yu Fei has ever seen.

After determining that they couldn't guard Yu Fei, they began to turn their attention to other Wizards players.

Jordan is the focus of the Spurs' pursuit.

自负的乔丹在度过对森林狼的美好夜晚之后，在马刺的防守下打出了职业生涯最糟糕的一场比赛，40分钟内14投2中，全场仅得6分4篮板4助攻。

The 6 points in a single game marked the first time in nearly 1986 games since 900 that Jordan failed to score in double figures.

Tonight, no one asked Yu Fei what he was going to do to help Jordan.

He did enough, the problem is Jordan.

"Everyone will encounter such a night, you can only hope that he will rebound as soon as possible." Yu Fei told reporters.

Then, Jordan "disappeared."

That night, Jordan did not attend the press conference. Collins gave the reason to the outside world that he was feeling unwell and went to the hospital for examination.

However, the outside world has not stopped discussing Jordan's 6 points in a single game.

The next day, Jordan missed Wizards practice.

Then, another day later, Yu Fei met Jordan on the training ground.

Not only is Jordan back, but the team's training session today is completely open to the media.

In other words, a large number of media will come here to ask questions.

A reporter from the "Philadelphia Inquirer" approached Yu Fei and asked: "Fry, your current scoring average has reached 18 points, ranking first among all rookies. If the season ended today, what would you give your rookies?" How many points will you score in the season?”

"If we make the playoffs, I'll give myself an 80. If we don't, it's only 60."

"Do you feel you did enough to help Michael?"

Here it comes again. Yu Fei rolled his eyes.

Not far away, Jordan returned to the public eye after disappearing for a day and a half. As the best person in the sports world who is good at persuading himself, he knew that the 6-point night would bring him a lot of doubts and contempt.

"I only scored 6 points, which is a new low in my career. I'm sure you are all saying that I am too old." Jordan glanced at the questioner in front of him, seemingly confirming his suspicion. The other person nodded, and there was a buzz around him. There was a meaningful laugh, but he wasn't done yet. "I know, after that game, you're going to say I lost everything I had and that coming back is not a good idea. But I'm telling you, it's the opposite."

That night, Yu Fei was informed by Collins before the game that he would start at the No. [-] position.

"Boss agreed?" Yu Fei asked.

Collins said flatly: "That's what he meant."

Then, before the game started, Jordan approached Yu Fei: "If you don't play according to my habits, this will be your last time playing point guard in DC."

The biggest difference between Yu Fei and the rest of the Wizards is that he doesn't ask for Jordan.

He won't give in to Jordan just to play point guard.

"If you are looking for an obedient dog, I may not be a good choice." Yu Fei said sarcastically.

Jordan said: "Drive the ball across the half court, pass it to me, find a way to counterattack quickly, and then shoot a damn three-pointer, that's what you have to do!"

These requirements don't sound difficult. If Jordan thinks he can serve as the main attacker, Yu Fei has no objection.

But after he made 34 of 11 shots in three games and scored 6 points in a single game, who dares to have confidence in him?

However, Yu Fei underestimated Jordan.

That night, facing the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan scored 24 points in the first quarter. He kept waving to Yu Fei: "Give it to me! Give it to me!"

Yu Fei swears that even the most dissatisfied person cannot show greater offensive desire in bed than Jordan on the court.

What impressed Yu Fei even more was that when Jordan was fouled during a layup, he was furious at the referee: "What the hell are you looking at? Didn't he commit a foul? What are you looking at? You are fucking watching. What?"

No other player can treat a referee like this and not be called for a technical foul.

This is another case of Jordan having a privileged position in the game.

But tonight did belong to Jordan. Yu Fei did as he said, dribbling through half court, passing the ball, defending well, counterattacking well, and scoring three points. Jordan became the all-time great player with 51 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. As the oldest 50-point player, Yu Fei recorded his third career triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 16 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

"This is the greatest performance I've ever seen!" Collins excitedly told NBC reporters.

Jordan was reborn, and the atmosphere was like a god appearing.

"I'm sure they'll say less now and try to understand that I can still perform at this level, even though I'm almost 40 years old."

Yu Fei is the only one who is not excited.

He did do what Jordan said, and Jordan also played his best performance of the season, but whether he scores 50 points in a single game or 100 points in a single game, this is just one game.

If you come to the point guard position but can't play according to the habits and rhythm you want, then you might as well continue to play the third position.

"you are not happy?"

Thomas Flynn saw that Yu Fei was in a bad mood.

"Should I be happy?" Yu Fei asked him.

Flynn said: "I think you have reason to be happy. You became the point guard and got the ball you wanted most. Michael's condition has improved and you are getting back on track."

"No, the boss is the only one who is on track. Everyone else has been derailed, especially me." Yu Fei said, "It is simply impossible for me to play my own game within a framework with him as the core."

Flynn looked deeply at the young man in front of him.

He had told himself many times not to treat Yu Fei with common sense.

Any rookie would be grateful if they could be put in Yu Fei's situation.

From a No. [-] pick who received far less attention than Kwame Brown, he resisted the totalitarians in a totalitarian team but still won the starting position, and quickly grew into the number one favorite for Rookie of the Year.Now, even that totalitarian has to rely on his performance at the one spot.

Flynn could see that Jordan regarded Yu Fei as the Pippen of the Wizards, even if this Pippen was full of disrespect for him.

But Yu Fei doesn’t want to be Pippen, especially not the 38-year-old Jordan Pippen.

"You've got a lot," Flynn said politely, "and you still have a lot of time."

"Does anyone think that they get too much?" Yu Fei said sincerely, "I do have a lot of time."

Having said this, his expression froze, followed by an almost cold sobriety and rationality. "But no second is wasted."

The more contact Flynn had with Yu Fei, the less he disliked the arrangement of coming to the Wizards as a team reporter.

Everyone likes to put the narrative angle on Jordan, but in his opinion, the world in Yu Fei's eyes, the Wizards and Jordan in Yu Fei's eyes, and the NBA in Yu Fei's eyes are worthy of further exploration.

This is a bold generation Y.

Flynn can capture the development process of the NBA in the next ten years in Yu Fei.

"What do you want to do?" Flynn asked.

"I know what you are thinking, Thomas, but don't worry, I won't do that." Yu Fei smiled, Jordan's tenosynovitis and his mistress far away in Indiana flashed in his mind, "I will wait for the opportunity, and I know it's very, very close to me, closer than Kara Knafer's (Jordan's mistress) reparations."

Two days later, the Wizards faced the New Jersey Nets, who have risen strongly this season.

As if to prove that the 51 points against the Hornets was not an accident, tonight, Jordan scored another 45 points and led the team to defeat the Nets 95-76 and win consecutive games.

Yu Fei once again acted as a good deputy, scoring 16 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists next to Jordan. Pippen's beauty became more and more clear.

This made Jordan feel that the time to conquer Yu Fei had come.

"Come to the press conference with me." Jordan said to Fei.

This is the first time Yu Fei has been invited by Jordan since joining the Wizards.

As a person who has never shown weakness to Jordan, Yu Fei seems to have completely gained Jordan's approval.

Yu Fei stood up, put on his clothes and walked out of the locker room with Jordan.

For the rest of the Wizards, it was an unimaginable moment.

"Dafy fell into MJ's arms?" Tyronn Lue looked at Kwame Brown, wondering what happened.

Brown said soberly: "No way, no way!"

"Then how do you explain this?" Director Lu asked.

"It's very simple." Veteran Chris Whitney said, "MJ knows who can help him win. This is an encouragement to Fulai."

"Yes! That's it!" Brown agreed with Whitney's simple and easy explanation of the phenomenon that he couldn't explain clearly. "This is the boss! You are only useful to him when you can create value! Fulai has already seen through him. Got it!"

When Yu Fei and Jordan appeared in the press interview room, the atmosphere was sensational.

The media never imagined that the two would come together for an interview.

It was like watching Dwayne Johnson and The Family sit down to eat together in the Fast and Furious finale, and then "See You Again" played at the end.

So weird!

"I would like to introduce my little brother to you," Jordan said with a gentle smile, "Fry Yu, he is my best helper in DC and one of the best young players I have met in my career. He Has great character.”

Jordan's remarks made reporters laugh.

It was hard for them to imagine that Jordan and Yu Fei had become friends.

Whether it was the "little brother" mentioned at the beginning or Jordan's own joke, saying that Yu Fei had a "great character", it made the scene very enjoyable.

"Have you resolved all your differences?"

The question was answered by Jordan: "Even with our closest family, we have our differences, and they will always be there."

"Have you become friends with Michael? How well do you know him?"

This question was of course asked to Yu Fei.

Yu Fei doesn't think that helping Jordan play two good games means the past is gone.

His disrespect for Jordan, the challenge he gave Jordan, and his cynicism about Jordan's poor night, those things were like the wind blowing in his ears, and Jordan only had to close his eyes and listen with his heart to feel it. Yu Fei's contempt and contempt.

"I'm as private as Michael. To me, work is work and life is life. Just because we work together on the court doesn't mean we have to be friends. Michael is a great teammate."

So much for the friends.

Jordan could obviously feel Yu Fei's alienation from this, and coincidentally, he had no intention of telling reporters how close their relationship was.

Because you can't pretend that you enjoy an intimate relationship that doesn't exist.

Jordan started talking about tonight's game, "I could have scored 50 points again."

So far, there are only five consecutive 5-point records in NBA history, one of which belonged to Jordan, and the other four were all created by Chamberlain.

"What made you miss it?" A sensible reporter knows how to ask.

"If you have watched the game, you will know that I missed a three-pointer before going off the court. If I had made it, my score would have been 48 points." This means that I am far away from scoring 50 points in two consecutive games. The difference was only 2 points. Even if Jordan was too tired to run, he would persist if he made the three-pointer.

"However, the matter is a foregone conclusion. I will not discuss things that have not happened." Jordan smiled, but his expression was still nostalgic.

Then, a reporter mentioned tenosynovitis.

On a night when Jordan was playing well, that wasn't an unpleasant question.

"I'm undergoing treatment." Reporters could even see Jordan's excitement. "If my body recovers, you will see me more active than tonight."

Then, Jordan left. He patted Yu Fei on the shoulder before walking out of the media interview room, like an elder brother who cares for his younger brother, "I'll leave this to you."

Yu Fei nodded with a smile and watched him leave.

Then, Yu Fei began to answer a lot of reporters’ questions.

There are all kinds of questions, and questions related to Jordan account for almost 2/3.

Yu Fei admired that they could cling to the name Jordan and ask various questions.

Then, a reporter from the Associated Press asked: "For some time, your relationship with Michael has seemed to be tested. What have you learned from it? What has Michael taught you and what has he given you? If you can , how would you evaluate your rookie season so far?"

"That's a lot of questions." Yu Fei smiled and said, "I will only answer one of them. What did Michael teach me? This is both simple and profound. The world is structural, and humans are snobbish and greedy. If If you have a higher starting point than others, you will easily get honors, but when you are caught up by others, you will lose everything; if you have made contributions and are respected by others, but when you get old and perform poorly, those people will lose everything. The people who once praised you as gods will turn into crows to eat your corpse; you can only avoid this when you perform well. No one is absolutely trustworthy, and no one is absolutely reliable. , The person who scolds you today may praise you tomorrow, and what you gain tomorrow may also be lost the day after tomorrow. From beginning to end, the only thing that matters is yourself. Everything depends on you."

"This is what Michael taught me," Yu Fei said, "and I'm very grateful for it."

When Yu Fei returned to the locker room, except for a few veterans, there were only people from Jordan and his team.

Jordan was wearing a gray suit and holding a glass of Coke in his hand. After seeing Yu Fei, he asked calmly: "You seemed a little uncomfortable in the media interview room."

"Really? Maybe." Yu Fei said, "I'm really not used to people attending press conferences with me."

Tim Grover said: "Michael rarely does this and you should be grateful, rookie."

Jordan waved his hand to signal him to stop talking.

Several veterans in the locker room chose to leave after noticing Jordan's eyes.

"I know you didn't go to Abi, and I also know you want to replace me." Jordan's brown eyes were actually seductive, "Now I'll give you a chance, I'll let you come to me, you can look at me How to do it, if you have enough strength, I can give you what you want."

Yu Fei responded: "Since you know everything, I have nothing to say."

This sense of alienation that shuts him out is the source of Jordan's confusion and dissatisfaction with Fei.

He didn't know what he had done to make Yu Fei so disgusted.

"Rookie, no matter what benefits Abi has promised you, you have to know that you are still a player, and the people playing with you are not those bastards wearing suits and reaping the profits!"

A jerk in a suit?Yes, there is one right in front of me.

"Oh, is that so?" Yu Fei didn't even want to reply.

"Damn! Are you listening to me?" Jordan asked.

Yu Fei rummaged through his cabinet and asked without looking back: "I've done as you said these past few times. What else do you want from me?"

An unknown fire surged out of Jordan's body in an instant. Others had always taken the initiative to please him, but now he had made a friendly gesture, but Yu Feiyouyan refused to enter.

"You are a promising person, but if you go the wrong way, no one can save you." Jordan said coldly.

"Oh, you make sense!" Yu Fei closed his locker, picked up his backpack and prepared to leave. "I may have been walking in the opposite direction of the path you expected. Along the way, I have averaged 18 appearances per game. An 38-minute substitute turned into a starter averaging [-] minutes per game. I went from a rookie that no one expected to be your 'little brother'. I've come too far and there's no turning back, and I don't know what's behind me. Is there anything worth turning back on? This path may be wrong for you, but it doesn’t require me to make a choice. It just requires me to do what I should do. I’m not Kwame Brown, and I’m not Abi. ·Paulin, let alone those cats and dogs around you. Everything I got today was won by my strength. If one day I don’t deserve what I got, I can accept them leaving me. This means Yes, I don’t need others to give, especially you. The last thing I want is for you to give me anything. Not everyone has to lick the soles of your shoes like a dog. I will fight for what I want. So, do you understand?"

After that, Yu Fei gave Lawson a look, and the two left the locker room together.

Only Jordan's unsightly face and the trembling cats and dogs were left.

Tonight, great character shone through like an earthquake shattering the joy and joy brought about by Jordan's back-to-back MVP performances.

(End of this chapter)