Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 439 - 294: Bloodstained Crown

Chapter 439: Chapter 294: Bloodstained Crown

After the Christmas showdown, the year 2005 also neared its end.

Yu Fei paid no attention to the outside world’s reviews and criticisms of the Christmas battle, but some media people who liked to stir up trouble sensitively seized on Yu Fei’s comments about James and claimed, “It’s like a father feeling proud of his own child.”

Especially sportswriters like Bill Simmons, who are known for their jokester style without boundaries, responded in his famous “Mailbag” column to a reader’s question about “Why does Frye look like LeBron’s dad?”

Simmons replied, “I’m glad you’re as insightful as I am, you’re a great reader, this is a perfect entry-point that explains from all angles why Frye and LeBron look so awkward as a big brother and little brother pair. As a new generation’s TOP1, Frye was supposed to be at odds with LeBron, even if they weren’t enemies, they shouldn’t be as close as brothers. But the situation is such that Frye calls himself LeBron’s big brother and then scored 49 points over his little brother in LeBron’s first professional game. Since then, every time they meet, the same story is played out. Frye would win big, and then emphasize that LeBron is his little brother, and that he is proud of LeBron. It’s not so much that the brother is superior to the other, rather, Frye is a tolerant father who effortlessly defeats LeBron and accommodates everything about him, he’s just playing the role of a father under the guise of a brother.”

As the most popular writer at ESPN, Simmons’s opinions and viewpoints, like his concocted “Ewing Theory” and “Tyson Zone,” were explosively popular.

Yu Fei was beyond commenting on this man, and besides, it’s always easier to accept someone saying you’re someone’s dad than saying someone is your dad.

The one who should be worried and agitated by this is James’s camp.

This is the trouble with fame; any little stir can become fodder for the meddlers.

The Yu Fei camp was indifferent to this, compared to last season, this season’s public opinion and environment were the best for Fei.

In the words of Yu Fei’s confidant Anthony Lawson, “It feels like we’re back in the 2002-03 season, the only difference is, now many fans can confidently say the Bucks will win back their fourth championship in June next year.”

It was evident that after the Christmas showdown, Yu Fei’s team had shifted their focus to the playoffs, and the regular season for them was just a process.

And Yu Fei’s answer in this process could also be considered perfect.

So far, the Bucks ranked first in the league standings, and Yu Fei dominated the Eastern Conference Player of the Month with an average of 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block per game, and has ranked first in every MVP ladder prediction since the start of the season.

If that wasn’t enough, Yu Fei also became the first player in history to employ a personal stylist, thus completely differentiating the hip-hop and street style that Iverson had ignited at the turn of the century, making him the first NBA player to become famous in the fashion world.

In the business realm, Yu Fei’s ever-rising performance also meant that the sales of his “Chosen One V” basketball shoes and jersey were at the top of the league.

Being ranked first in individual categories was nothing new, but being first in strength, competitive power, and commercial value across all major lists proved that he was evolving from a nominal superstar to a Michael Jordan-style pop culture icon.

At the end of December, the Bucks faced the Lakers on the road.

Lately due to injury issues, Kobe had officially started his frenzied scoring shows.

Just recently, his performance against the Mavericks, where his personal score surpassed the entire opposing team in three quarters, was a highlight of this season.

Long before Kobe’s scoring spree, the Bucks had already tested his strength, and in this rematch, they didn’t go through the motions; from the first quarter, they double-teamed Kobe as soon as he got the ball.

The Bucks’ extreme double-teaming strategy made it impossible for Kobe to find a comfortable isolation play the whole game.

But the consequence of this was forcing out a more methodical Kobe.

When Kobe began actively passing the ball to his teammates, the Bucks did not adjust their strategy in time because the whole team believed that by shutting down Kobe, they had already won the game.

The Bucks, currently on a fourteen-game winning streak, were full of pride and satisfaction.

In other words, this was when they were most vulnerable to an upset.

With half a minute left in the game, Yu Fei hit a critical three-pointer as time ran out, turning a tie game into a 3-point lead for the Bucks. Next was Kobe, who managed a forceful shot under double coverage, completing a four-point play, lastly securing the victory with free throws in the final seconds, handing the Bucks their first defeat since December.

This was their last game of 2005, and now they had no choice but to end the year with a loss.

In this battle, Yu Fei played like Kobe, racking up 44 points for the game, while Kobe played like Yu Fei, achieving a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists, helping his team break the Bucks’ winning streak.

“I really don’t want to hear people saying Kobe has no support anymore. Look at his teammates, they proved tonight that they can contribute. Don’t say they’re always holding Kobe back, they are NBA players too. Why do you always like to overlook their contributions?”

George Karl’s statement was not meant to target Kobe but rather to refute a puzzling argument that had recently emerged: Kobe, with less help, led his team to maintain a leading position in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, so Kobe is more deserving of the MVP than Yu Fei.

In Karl’s view, as long as Yu Fei maintained his current performance, he would undoubtedly win the MVP for two consecutive years.

Therefore, any such “illogical nonsense” must be rebutted.

Yu Fei wasn’t too sensitive about this matter, for he knew Kobe wouldn’t win the MVP in the end, and he also knew that Kobe had only one MVP in his career, though the Yu Fei of a previous life had never seen Kobe in his prime, but there are plenty of “diehard fans” online who have the energy to educate such youngsters about how Kobe stole the MVP from Paul.

What really got under Yu Fei’s skin was what Kobe said to him after the game ended, “I know you’re upset, see you in the Finals.”

Yu Fei snapped back, “Are you sure the Lakers can make it to the Finals?”

Kobe, who had just clinched a game-winning shot against the Bucks, tried to contain his pride but still revealed his true thoughts under Yu Fei’s questioning.

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Kobe confidently turned around and wagged his finger, as if to mock Yu Fei: “Is that even a question? Who are you underestimating?”

While losing the game was unpleasant, shedding the burden of a winning streak wasn’t necessarily bad for the Bucks.

Afterward, Yu Fei decided to stay in Los Angeles to celebrate his birthday.

On December 31st, Yu Fei’s 23rd birthday, Sports Illustrated sent their chief writer, Gary Smith, to “gather material” beside him.

Smith wouldn’t just have the opportunity to interview Yu Fei, he would also join the birthday party as a member of the team.

Sports Illustrated also held a special place in Yu Fei’s heart. Originally, as a high school basketball star from the State of Washington, his national influence was quite limited. It was the magazine’s chief writer Gary Smith who wrote a lengthy article titled “The Chosen One” specifically about him.

From that moment, the wheels of fate began to turn, and Yu Fei was bestowed with the mission of highest difficulty ever recorded in history: to become the one who can change the world, “The Chosen One,” as described in the article.

“Do you have tattoos on your back?” Smith asked with a smile.

“Of course,” Yu Fei said, “but I usually don’t show them to people.”

Smith carefully observed Yu Fei and the people around him, wanting to know how this group interacted. As the NBA’s hottest superstar, how different was this young man from the naive high school student of four years ago?

Lawson was the most distinctive member of Yu Fei’s team, the loudspeaker, generating over 70% of the topics.

Lin Kaiwen was reserved and meticulous in everything he did.

Quentin DiMio, responsible for Yu Fei’s brand promotion, image marketing, and business negotiations, could spend an entire day talking about his work achievements.

Then there was Christian Laettner, whose transformation surprised everyone. Smith could no longer associate the elite-looking Laettner of today with the NCAA’s dominating “Devil Prince” from two decades ago.

“Damn, Chris, I never thought you’d be sitting here one day, reporting to Frye just like me!” Lawson exclaimed, “I still can’t forget the day Frye beat you up…”

Smith curiously asked, “When was that?”

The one who answered the question was Yu Fei.

“Back when I was a rookie,” Yu Fei said, “At that time, I was still in D.C.”

Smith asked in surprise, “You guys really came to blows?”

“Yes, at that time Kwame and I were both rookies, and some old-timers wanted to test us. So Chris acted as the enforcer, you know, Gary,” Yu Fei said, triggering everyone’s memories of him fighting on the court, “I am not the type to take things lying down.”

Laettner said self-deprecatingly, “That was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Smith believed the clash between Yu Fei and Laettner was more intense than they had let on.

But that was no longer important, for Laettner was now a member of the “Chosen Empire,” just like Lawson.

Smith asked Yu Fei many more questions, many of which were of interest to the outside world.

For instance, Yu Fei’s rivalry with Jordan, his grudge with Shaquille O’Neal, and his relationship with LeBron James.

It was the part about LeBron James in particular that Smith thought could serve as the lead quote for his article.

“If one day, LeBron becomes the biggest obstacle on your path to the championship, do you think your relationship with him would be an obstacle to your success?”

“No, Gary,” Yu Fei said excitedly, like a hunter who had spotted his prey, “I will stain my crown with his blood.”

That evening, as the crystal ball dropped, the new year officially began.

Yu Fei called James to wish each other a Happy New Year.

Gary Smith sat on the side, wondering if the Frye who wanted to stain his crown with LeBron’s blood was real, and what about the Frye who sincerely wished LeBron a Happy New Year?

Like those keen observers, Gary Smith was curious to see how this relationship would develop, he wanted to know how Frye intended to stain his crown with LeBron’s blood, but until that day came, he had to wait.

Just like LeBron, before he had the credentials to step up to Frye and officially challenge him, he too had to wait.

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