When pride still matters

Chapter 591 Top 1
A week after the Clippers' preseason training camp started, Yao Ming ended the extra vacation given to him by the team and reported for duty.

Yao Ming's appearance caused a stir in the training camp.

He is basically one of the most recognisable faces in the world and his humorous and humble personality has also won him widespread praise, so he was welcomed by his teammates as soon as he arrived.

Doc Rivers even wanted Yao Ming to rest for a few more days.

"Yao, you don't have to rush to join the training. I believe in your ability." Rivers had only communicated with Yao Ming as an opponent on the court before, but now he acted as if he was Yao Ming's distant American relative. "And to be honest, my attention is now on 'Top 1'."

Yao Ming asked curiously: "Top 1? Frye?"

"You're close. This nickname is indeed related to Frye."

Yao Ming thought, this guy is so arrogant? He is already the recognized GOAT, but he still has to give himself the nickname "Top 1"?

Just when Yao Ming was secretly complaining about the GOAT in his heart, Rivers revealed the answer: "'Top 1' refers to Nikola, you don't know yet? He is the rookie we selected this year, he is Serbian."

Yao Ming asked: "Why is he called Top 1? What does this have to do with Frye?"

Rivers explained: "No one in the team was optimistic about him at the time. It was Frye who made the decision. He told Kwame privately that the Serbian would one day become the best in the league. After that, Kwame always called Nikola 'Top 1'."

Yao Ming muttered in his heart, that guy is really willing to say anything to achieve his goal, TOP-1? Whose TOP-1 draft pick is so low?
"How did the 'Top 1' perform?" Yao Ming continued to ask.

"Honestly, he's a genius," Rivers replied. "He has the hands that every man dreams of having."

Yao Ming couldn't help but fantasize after hearing this. The hands he always dreamed of? Doesn't this sound like the hands of some unpresentable professionals?

"Since he is a genius, why should I worry about it?" Yao Ming was confused.

As soon as the topic was brought up, Rivers' complaints immediately came out: "This is not the same thing! Although the boy is gifted, if he is left alone, he will ruin his future sooner or later! His eating habits are the biggest problem that hinders his advancement!"

Now Yao Ming finally understood that the “TOP-1” was because this incident had offended Rivers.

Before Yao Ming came, Jokic had already been listed on the "Honor Roll" for drinking Coke in the training camp due to his dietary problems, and was publicly criticized by Rivers.

Unexpectedly, Jokic didn't realize the seriousness of the problem at all and continued to do his own thing.

When it comes to drinking carbonated drinks, Jokic can be said to be a "massive drinker". He drinks a liter each time, several times a day. Carbonated drinks have almost become the "water" in his life.

Rivers reminds him every day, but Jokic always refuses by saying, "Drinking carbonated drinks does not affect my performance."

After understanding the situation, Yao Ming expressed his support for Rivers on the surface, but in his heart he felt that he was making a big deal out of nothing.

This little thing is nothing for the Chinese team.

When Yao Ming thought about his teammates on the national team who smoked, drank, and practiced Muay Thai, he felt that Jokic's hobby was nothing.

The new teammates had different reactions to Yao Ming's arrival.

The one with the most enthusiastic reaction was Giannis Antetokounmpo, who actually sang the "Yao's Song" in public, the song that made Yao Ming question his life.

Although Yao Ming wanted to tear his mouth open, he had to pretend to be friendly. After all, the Greek man had no ill intentions.

Yu Fei was watching happily from the side: "How about it, do you like our welcome ceremony?"

Yao Ming joked: "I would like it even more if you hummed a few lines along."

Yu Fei certainly knew how much Yao Ming hated that song, so he wisely didn't join in the fun.

After a while, the players lined up and Rivers stood in front of everyone to begin his annual speech.

This time, Rivers tells the story of taking over as Magic coach from Chuck Daly in 1999.

He was only 37 years old at the time. Although he had not received systematic coaching training and had never served as an assistant coach, he had played as a point guard under many coaches. After retiring, he watched a large number of game videos as a TV commentator, providing the audience with many exquisite game analyses and was hailed as a "natural coach."

However, the debut show left for this natural coach was a magic team composed of a ragtag group of players.

Rivers mentioned that relying on a game philosophy called "feel your fighting spirit with your heart", that bad team achieved a 50% winning rate that season. Although it did not enter the playoffs, it won the respect of the fans, which also laid the foundation for their plan to recruit Duncan, Hill and McGrady the following summer.

Now everyone knows that the Magic got McGrady and Hill, but because Rivers insisted too much on the team's management regulations and refused to let Duncan's family take the team plane, he failed to recruit Duncan.

There was still laughter when Rivers mentioned the incident, which has become one of his many shameful incidents.

"You may not believe it, but I really don't regret my decision," Rivers said. "TD can abide by Popovich's discipline in San Antonio, so he has to abide by my rules when he comes to Orlando. The reason he chose to stay was not because I insisted on the team's management regulations that angered him, but because he never intended to leave. The recruitment process was just a prank for him."

Jokes aside, Yu Fei could feel Rivers' charm and eloquence from his words. If the coach's skills had numerical values, Rivers' "charm" and "eloquence" would undoubtedly be 99.

It’s no wonder that Popovich was so restless back then. After all, Rivers is indeed an extremely inflammatory leader.

However, Rivers specifically mentioned this matter, and Yu Fei immediately realized that he was laying the groundwork for something.

Sure enough, Rivers threw the concept of "Ubuntu" to the new players.

"A few years ago, if you were to play for the Clippers, the people around you would definitely advise you to find a way to leave, because this was once a basketball hell, a team cursed by basketball demons. But now, we have cleared away the bad luck in just one year!" Rivers said, "We have the greatest player in history, and now we have the greatest center in active service. This is the meaning of 'Ubuntu', gentlemen! We are great because of others! How many times in your life can you have the opportunity to work with great people? Cherish it and seize it! When you are old, like me, you can tell your children and grandchildren that you spent the most exciting years of your life in the right place!"

Different people reacted differently to Rivers' words.

Yu Fei has become immune to Rivers' speeches.

Yao Ming was somewhat touched. He knew Yu Fei's position in the team, and Rivers' remarks put him and Yu Fei on the same level, which would never be said without Yu Fei's permission. It really felt good to be respected like this.

Antetokounmpo was in high spirits. In the past year, he has been more obsessed with the concept of "Ubuntu" than Rivers. Whether on the court, off the court, or even when eating and taking a shower, he likes to shout "Ubuntu". He simply likes the word and what it means.

He was also the one who made Yu Fei's nickname "Other" popular.

Now hearing Rivers promote this concept again, Antetokounmpo became even more excited and kept shouting along.

Thompson, who has experienced many ups and downs, is somewhat repulsive to Rivers's sensational speech. He knows that he has not yet established a foothold in the team, and he must prove himself in the new season and make the decision makers of Golden State regret their original decision.

Jokic doesn't care about these things. He doesn't care about Rivers' history, as long as Rivers stops controlling his eating habits. Likewise, the concept of Ubuntu doesn't appeal to him. For him, basketball is work, and the NBA is the best basketball company in the world. He doesn't like to assign extra value to his work. Basketball is simple to him - anything can be done with your hands.

This is a team full of talent and ready to go, but in the eyes of most people, the representatives of talent are Yu Fei, Yao Ming and Antetokounmpo.

However, Rivers knows that the team's potential is not limited to this.

That day, he organized an intra-team competition.

Originally, Yao Ming was not going to attend the event as he was on vacation, but he insisted because he had just finished the World Championships and although he had a few days off, he had not really rested. Since he had already rested for a week, he felt that he could not stay any longer.

So, Yao Ming joined the competition and the team was quickly divided into two teams.

Rivers simply let Yu Fei and Yao Ming lead their respective teams.

Yu Fei led the white team. He glanced at Jokic and said, "Nikola, come to my side."

Antetokounmpo, who originally wanted to be on Yu Fei's team, saw Jokic go to the white team, and immediately turned around and ran towards Yao Ming singing "Yao's Song".

This detail did not escape Rivers's eyes. The seemingly carefree Greeks actually attach so much importance to the feelings of the Serbians in the GOAT, which implies a strong sense of competition.

Later, Thompson joined Yu Fei's team, while Jefferson went to Yao Ming's team, and the division of the two teams was basically reasonable. During the jump ball, Jokic's pitiful 17-inch (about 43 cm) jumping height could not compete with Yao Ming at all.

"Ubuntu!!!" Antetokounmpo rushed towards Yu Fei with the ball, "GOAT, I'm coming!"

After saying that, he tried to change direction and dribble the ball, but Yu Fei's defense was extremely tight and didn't give him any chance.

So the Greeks hoisted the ball inside.

Yao Ming got the ball, and Jokic behind him put all his strength into pressing forward.

Yao Ming had no intention of confronting Jokic head-on. He shook his shoulder, turned around, stepped back and made a fadeaway jump shot. Given his height, it was like someone shooting on the third floor for Jokic, but he was standing on the first floor.

"Shh!"

After scoring the goal, Yao Ming did not forget to encourage his juniors: "Be serious, top 1."

"If I defend him from the front, will he be angry?" Jokic was ready to step up his game.

"No problem." Yu Fei smiled, "He is famous for his good temper."

Jokic has no special feeling towards the mild-mannered GOAT (Yu Fei) in front of him, which may be related to the way he looks at basketball.

However, this GOAT, who has no relationship with him, said that he would become Top 1 one day, which did make Jokic feel a little troubled.

Then, Jokic ran to the frontcourt and stood at the top of the arc. He originally thought that he would not be able to have the ball in the NBA like he did in Serbia, but the GOAT passed the ball directly to him, followed by a beautiful reverse run.

Antetokounmpo was well prepared and double-teamed Jokic with Yao Ming. For inside players, the double-team of Yao Ming and the "Greek Freak" may be the most difficult defense in the world to crack, but Jokic just raised the ball over his head, raised the arc, and flicked it lightly.

At that moment, Rivers' face changed, and Jerry West in the distance also widened his eyes.

Yu Fei had anticipated this, so he caught the ball, rushed into the basket, and scored a dunk.

"Is this ball serious enough?" Yu Fei joked.

Yao Ming's originally serious expression suddenly relaxed, and he looked a little helpless. However, Antetokounmpo's face became even more serious.

As Jokic stays in training camp longer, everyone can feel more and more that this little fat Serbian boy is definitely the real deal.

Antetokounmpo believes that GOAT will not favor a person for no reason. Why does he like the phrase "Ubuntu"? In addition to its catchy nature, it is more because of its meaning - "We are great because of others."

Antetokounmpo knew that this sentence was referring to Yu Fei. He knew Yu Fei's strength, his position in the league, and that Yu Fei had accumulated enviable wealth with these - that was the life he dreamed of. He liked the concept of "Ubuntu" because he hoped that when "others" could no longer play this role, he could take over.

But now, in his team, the future top player recognized by GOAT himself has appeared.

What does the future top player mean? They are the same age, and this sentence means that the other party will surpass them in the future.

There's no reason Antetokounmpo shouldn't see Jokic as competition, even if their playing styles don't seem to clash.

Next, Jokic showed his tenacity. He used all his strength to stick to Yao Ming and hold on to his opponent's lower body. It seemed like a futile effort. After all, the Chinese giant has world-famous sturdy calves, as solid as tree roots.

However, the Greek's pass was somewhat ill-considered. Although Yao Ming successfully got to the position, the position was not ideal because of the defense in front, and the pass had to be more tricky.

At that moment, Jokic decisively waved his hand and slapped the ball. Yu Fei picked up the ball and quickly passed it to Thompson, who made a steady three-pointer.

Yao Ming did not continue to tangle with Jokic in the interior. In the next round, he took the initiative to come to the outside to set a screen for Antetokounmpo, tightly blocking Yu Fei.

"Isn't this a moving pick-and-roll?" Yu Fei joked.

"Don't make a fuss. My pick-and-roll has never received any negative reviews! Whoever uses it will say it's good!" Yao Ming responded proudly.

While the two were bickering, Antetokounmpo finally seized the opportunity and used a fierce step to break Jokic's defensive cognition of holding the ball. Under defense, it takes at least two or three passes for a player to get to the basket from the outside, but Antetokounmpo only used one pass, then collected the ball, stepped, and slammed the ball into the basket like a flying giant eagle.

"Ubuntu!!!" Antetokounmpo roared, "Do you know what Ubuntu is?!"

Jokic said disappointedly: "I don't quite understand."

"You didn't listen to a word Doug said just now!" Yu Fei said, "You will be on the list again tomorrow!"

Just a few minutes into the game, the visible talents of Antetokounmpo and Jokic had already shocked team insiders on the sidelines.

Considering the draft picks of these two players, these are simply two robberies of the century.

Antetokounmpo stepped back.

Jokic prepares to serve.

As he served, he asked earnestly, "Do you really think I'll be Top 1?"

While dribbling the ball, Yu Fei asked, "Have you never thought of this possibility?"

“I hope ‘Dream Catcher’ can become Top 1.”

Yu Fei didn't understand the meaning of the name Jokic mentioned, but he didn't ask any more questions and immediately delivered a beautiful lob when Jokic cut in.

However, instead of catching the ball, Jokic instantly hit it to Thompson in the corner.

Thompson's mind went blank. He jumped and shot directly after catching the ball. He had only one thought in his mind: I joined a monster team!

"Shh!"

Last season, the Clippers were plagued by spacing issues. But after Thompson hit a three-pointer, Yao Ming immediately popped up to the top of the arc after a pick-and-roll and responded with a three-pointer.

This was his main style of play when he was with the Heat.

Previously, Yao Ming always played in the low post, which made him feel like he was back in the national team. Now, he has become a beneficiary of the era of space basketball - he does not have the soul of a traditional center, but only likes to shoot three-pointers, which saves time, effort and is efficient.

Rivers smiled with satisfaction.

Not only did they discover Jokic, the original gem, but they also acquired two key people who could rescue Yu Fei from his space predicament.

Yao Ming plus Thompson, one is a space-type five-position player with a hit rate of 40%, and can also post up in the low post; the other is a deadly off-ball shooter. The containment power of these two people will double the threat of Yu Fei and Antetokounmpo to their opponents. Rivers dare not imagine how much trouble it will bring to other teams.

The competition is divided into four quarters, each lasting six minutes.

At the end of the first quarter, the two sides were evenly matched at 16-16.

Yu Fei returned to the sidelines, took a bottle of Gatorade, and asked Jokic the question that had been bothering him for several minutes: "What is 'Dream Catcher'?"

"I bought a horse in my hometown." Jokic's eyes sparkled when he mentioned this, which was the look when he talked about his beloved. "It's still small now, but one day, it will become the champion of the Sombor horse race."

“Will that day come sooner than the day you become Top 1?”

"Will do."

At this point, he seemed to no longer care about the topic of Top 1.

(End of this chapter)