Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Chapter 508: Chapter 349 Big Fei Likes You_2@@novelbin@@

Lewis believed that Big Fei would not be able to find a better inside partner than him anywhere else.

The reason why Lewis wanted to team up with Yu Fei was simple, not only was Big Fei’s dominance in Milwaukee for five years with four championships trustworthy, but also how Kwame Brown, a player who everyone could step on, had become someone who now proclaimed himself the league’s number one center without any objections.

In terms of statistics, Brown’s average over the past two years was a mediocre 11+7 and 10+6, but he had won the championship, and he had single-game performances of 20+10 against top centers like Jermaine O’Neal and Duncan, giving him the capital to boast about himself. For this reason, he made the training camp roster for the Dream Team this summer.

Moreover, Brown might sneak into a Dream Team spot by leveraging Fei’s strength.

With these thoughts in mind, Lewis decided not to leave; he would honor the last two years of his contract.

Sam Presti, the General Manager of the Supersonics, had never seen anything like this.

If Lewis did not leave, they would have no cap space.

Without cap space, how could they sign Carter?

Presti immediately contacted Yu Fei to inform him of Lewis’s decision.

At that moment, Yu Fei was training with Carter.

Hearing the news, he said ironically, “Sometimes being too charming isn’t necessarily a good thing.”

“What do you mean?”

Carter was startled.

“You can’t come to Seattle now,” Yu Fei said.

For Carter, it was certainly a disappointment, but he was not the kind of player no one wanted.

The most aggressive team on the free market was the Orlando Magic.

After confirming Howard’s talent, they wanted to build a competitive team around the young Super-Man still on his rookie contract.

After snatching Bell, Rashard Lewis was their next target.

But unexpectedly, after a season’s turmoil, Lewis chose to stay in Seattle, which made them spend a lot on Vince Carter, who was no longer a demigod.

Carter accepted the invitation and left the Warriors Team, which had recently created the “We Believe” miracle.

With that, Supersonics’ offseason operations came to a close.

Those who were planned to join Yu Fei on the Supersonics, only Kwame Brown came; others failed to join for various reasons.

However, looking at the Supersonics’ roster, Yu Fei felt that there was still much potential for the new season.

In addition to himself and Brown, the Supersonics had acquired Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Channing Frye, and Josh Childress through several years of tanking, along with the staying Lewis.

On paper, the Supersonics had a great seven-man rotation.

Other matters, Yu Fei temporarily did not worry about.

This summer, Yu Fei was mentally prepared and formally accepted the call from USA Basketball, heading to Las Vegas in mid-July with Kwame Brown to join the Dream Team’s training camp.

Although there was no major international competition this year, Team USA, after only achieving third place in last year’s World Championships, had to go all out in preparation for this summer’s American Olympic qualifiers.

Compared to the 2003 generation who have been actively involved in the national team since 2004, Yu Fei was a newcomer to the team.

But he was an indispensable newcomer for Team USA.

Because Yu Fei was number one in the league, and the number one in the NBA could basically equate to the number one active player in the basketball world.

For Team USA, which had lost three consecutive world championships, if anyone could make the Dream Team great again, it had to be Yu Fei.

Therefore, the exclusion sentiment from within the team did not affect the Dream Team’s coaching staff.

On Yu Fei’s first day in Las Vegas, Coach K excitedly told the journalists, “Our strongest player is now in the ranks!”

Then, the ever eager journalists asked, “Last year, you said that if Frye joined Team USA, he would become the team captain. Is this still true today?”

In the wake of the defeat in Japan, the high-ups of USA Basketball were all in a state of dejection, but their greatest consolation was that the best player in the country was not on the team.

Coach K had not expected the notoriously national-team-shy Yu Fei to join this year.

So, ignoring the likes of LeBron and others, he directly told the media that if Yu Fei joined, he would become the captain of Team USA.

But it wasn’t that simple.

At least, it wasn’t as simple as Yu Fei just arriving and people shouting his praises, instantly cloaking him in yellow.

Things did not operate like that.

“You know,” Coach K said diplomatically, “considering his resume, Frye is the ideal captain in my mind.”

The correct translation of these words was: But he has not yet proved himself in the training team.

Aside from veterans like Duncan and Garnett, Team USA this year essentially gathered all of its elite forces.

Beyond those who had already made a name for themselves, the training camp also featured potential newcomers like Durant and Greg Oden.

Yu Fei and Brown’s first day at the camp was also their first encounter with Durant.

“Frye, nice to meet you.”

Like all highly touted rookies, Durant tried to appear more mature than his actual age.

But the problem was, that wasn’t their true nature.

Even James, in his early days, displayed a maturity and composure to the public that was largely a product of his team’s packaging.

“How should I address you?” Yu Fei joked, “Kevin? KD? Or the kid who likes foot washing water?”

Reminded of that episode, Durant was somewhat abashed: “I was a kid who didn’t know anything… You know, when I got the chance to talk to the great Frye, I decided to say something special…”

Yu Fei didn’t take it to heart and continued to ask, “I heard you’re from D.C?

“Yes, I was born there.”

“When I had a falling out with number 23, whose side were you on?”

Yu Fei grilled like he was checking his background.

“Michael, we all supported Michael then,” Durant answered smartly, curbing the conversation before raising it, “but when Michael traded you, I stopped supporting him,”

Brown, standing to the side, breathed a sigh of relief for Durant.

If he hadn’t added that last bit, Brown couldn’t imagine how the kid would have made it through his rookie season.

“You arrived in Las Vegas a week before me, tell me, how are things here?” Yu Fei started to steer the conversation towards the training camp.

Durant relaxed as well: “The people here are great, they really look after me, there’s a lot of love between us…”

“Cut the crap.” Yu Fei cursed softly, “Tell me, who’s the top dog in the camp.”

Sweat began to form on Durant’s forehead: “Uh… Frye, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I’m not sure who’s in the leading position because I generally don’t participate in their scrimmages.”

Even though USA Basketball had a tradition of having the youngsters experience the Dream Team, this summer was about Olympic qualification.

Team USA had lost face in past years, and it would be an even bigger embarrassment if they were defeated in the Olympic qualifiers and failed to secure direct entry to the Olympics.

To ensure nothing went awry, they typically wouldn’t call up young players like Durant, so their main purpose in coming was to gain experience.

“Then tell me who you hate the most here.”

“No one,” young Durant, now playing the high EQ card, “Everyone’s been really nice to me.”

Yu Fei could barely recognize him.

“Okay, what about LeBron?” Yu Fei said with a veiled chuckle, “I heard he’s not thrilled I’m here?”

“Uh… that… I think… I think LeBron should…” Durant gauged Yu Fei’s expression, “probably welcome you, but…”

Yu Fei asked with a laugh, “But what?”

“Yesterday, LeBron spoke to us publicly, saying the future of Team USA lies with us, and he hopes everyone will prioritize the glory of Team USA and not…”

While Yu Fei appeared to laugh, Durant’s trepidation grew deeper.

“Not what?”

Yu Fei asked.

“Not to be like certain individuals who only care about themselves.” Durant emphasized, “That’s what LeBron said.”

“Okay.”

Yu Fei patted Durant’s shoulder and walked toward the locker room.

Durant blinked and looked at Brown, wanting to know how he had done.

“Not bad.” Brown nodded, “I can tell Big Fei likes you.”

Durant’s heart eased, Kwame Brown was known to be a loyal follower of Big Fei, if he said so, it must be true.

However, Brown’s next words made Durant break out in a sweat: “Just like he used to like LeBron.”

PS: Just one chapter today. New map, new main questline, my head is crammed with tens of thousands of words worth of data, I really need half a day to think things over.

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