Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

In Michael Jordan's career, no one had ever tried to challenge his status within the team.

Scottie Pippen had a chance, but after losing the semifinals by a hair in 1994, it became impossible for him to challenge Jordan. Although Pippen repeatedly said that before he joined the team, Jordan was just an ordinary player, he still needed Jordan.

Jordan knew how to control Pippen, but he did not know how to control Yu Fei.

As a thriving member of Generation Y, Yu Fei should have been a fan of Jordan's.

But he wasn't.

He wasn't a fan of Jordan's, nor did he watch his games. Even coming from a region near Seattle, he had a natural antipathy toward Jordan.

None of that mattered; Jordan wasn't a US dollar bill, why did everyone have to like him?

What was unsettling was the obvious lack of respect that Yu Fei showed toward Jordan.

Though supremely confident, Jordan believed he could achieve an absolute dictatorship within the team that the nation wouldn't dare to imagine, but Yu Fei stepped up and delivered a big block—both literally and symbolically—making Jordan, who thought he was invincible, wonder for the first time "whether I can tame this wild horse at this stage."

At this point, Ratner, who had claimed he would teach Yu Fei a lesson on Jordan's behalf, spoke up again, "Michael, we've got to let that ill-mannered brat know that the NBA has its rules."

Jordan habitually pouted and didn't trust Ratner one bit, "What do you want to do?"

"He's too fast. I have a hard time keeping up with him on the outside. We can use Tyronn as bait to match up with him. As soon as he gets inside, I'll let him know how brutal the competition is in professional basketball."

Jahidi White glared at Ratner, dissatisfied.

This had nothing to do with him; why was he getting dragged into it?

After considering it, Jordan felt it was feasible, so he turned to White and said, "Let's do it."

With Jordan's word, White had no choice but to follow through, yet he was still unhappy with Ratner.

Before the game resumed, Yu Fei pulled Tyronn Lue aside and asked, "Can I handle the ball for a bit?"

Coach Lu still hadn't recovered from the shock of Yu Fei directly challenging Jordan, and he had no intention of refusing his request.

"Of course, play however you want."

When Doug Collins saw Yu Fei receive a pass from the backcourt, he couldn't help but think to himself, finally, it's coming.

Ball handling was Yu Fei's biggest selling point before the draft. With his physique, to be able to dribble like a guard was rare. If he could show these skills on the NBA court, the sky would be his limit.

Yu Fei has just shown he could block and dunk explosively, but one block was against an unprepared older Jordan, and one was past an unaware Ratner. While he played well, there was nothing too surprising.

Now, Yu Fei was ready to bring the ball up court, and Collins cleared his throat loudly, signaling Chris Whitney of Jordan's team to step up to defend.

Facing Whitney, who had many years of NBA defensive experience, Yu Fei found it tough to dribble freely. However, with his size advantage, he leaned against Whitney while pushing forward, getting past half-court without an issue.

After reaching the frontcourt, Yu Fei showed no intention of passing the ball, instead, he waved for a pick and roll.

Kwame Brown quickly ran out. Yu Fei used the pick to break through the defense, threaded the needle, and lobbed the ball to Brown for a layup and score.

The two sides went on with several normal rounds of offense and defense.

Yu Fei was the point guard for three consecutive plays, first assisting Brown, then passing to Hamilton, who unfortunately missed the shot, and lastly, using his size advantage to overpower Whitney on the right side at a 45-degree angle for a bank shot.

Collins had always seen Yu Fei as a small forward, but now it seemed perhaps he could play point guard occasionally?

Then, Yu Fei returned the ball-handling duties to Coach Lu.

When Yu Fei was off the ball, Ratner's plan began to take effect.

Jahidi White, capable of playing three positions in the frontcourt, came up to match up with him.

White gave Yu Fei the impression he was just like his draft-classmate Rodney White, able to swing between positions without speciality, and thus, a jack-of-all-trades but master of none.

White's biggest advantage over Yu Fei was his extra years in the NBA, offering better physical confrontation, but in the small forward position, his overall skills were far too inferior.

Yu Fei got free from White through off-ball movement and Brown's screen, received the pass from Coach Lu from the outside, and realizing he was open, immediately attempted a three-pointer.

Since the start of training camp, Yu Fei had been practicing his shooting intensively every day. Although not yet back to his best, he had regained his shooting confidence.

This shot, had a perfect arc.

"Swish!"

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"Jahidi, what the hell are you doing?" Jordan berated angrily, "How could you let a rookie score like this?"

Ratner, who was basking in reflected glory, chimed in, "That rookie has no long-range shooting skill, and yet you let him score?"

White was even more annoyed with Ratner now. Was that even a human thing to say? Since the rookie had no long-range ability, wasn't it natural for me to let him shoot? And if he makes it, it's my fault?

Still, White knew his priority was to please Jordan right now.

Ratner was just a simpleton, a dog wagging its tail only for recognition; paying him any heed was superfluous.

The offseason hard work was paying off for Yu Fei.

Every staff member of the Wizards team could accurately point out the player in the best competitive condition.

That was Yu Fei.

Compared to the Yu Fei who had tried out at the Verizon Center, this Yu Fei was faster, stronger, and better at applying his techniques.