Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

"Since the start of the season, there's been controversy about Coach Doug Collins' limitation on the playing time for you and Kwame Brown, especially you. Many people think you're Rookie of the Year material, but you don't get even 20 minutes of playing time per game. How do you see this situation?"

Dealing with smart people truly saves half the effort.

Schneider asked a perfect question, and now Yu Fei could really speak his mind about the issue.

"I get that rookies have to wait for their chances as professional basketball has its own set of unwritten rules. They ask us to be diligent, eager to learn, and not complain, and I've at least adhered to two of those. I'm more than willing to come off the bench, as long as we're winning. But if we keep losing, and I truly can make a difference for the team to win, then I feel that I need to fight for my chances," Fei's words were like a bomb detonated in the crowd, "Who's the most talented in D.C.? It's Kwame! Who's the hardest worker in D.C.? It's me! But neither of us is getting enough opportunities, and we're both playing well. If we were playing poorly, then we should continue to learn. But that's not the case. If we play well and still don't get enough minutes, even if the coaching staff has their reservations, it brings about controversy, so I'm not surprised about the debate in the public eye."

Schneider's interview was over.

He knew Fei would bring him big news, but never expected it to be this massive.

The rookie hero who saved the Wizards tonight just boldly expressed his dissatisfaction with his lack of playing time.

Would Jordan allow such an event to happen?

Would Collins, who doesn't trust rookies, send Fei into exile?

These were none of Schneider's concern; his job was just to hype this story up.

As Fei headed to the player's tunnel, Anthony Lawson threw him a clean shirt, "Did you really say that?"

Fei raised an eyebrow, "If I didn't speak out, I'd suffocate."

"Good for you, it's about time to let that asshole coach know what you're made of!" Lawson didn't realize this was a war; he just unconditionally supported Fei's stance.

"Tony, don't just focus on me all the time. If possible, try to get close to Tim Grover," Fei said, "He's a great trainer, and if you want to grow in this field, his guidance will save you from many detours."

Lawson was surprised that Fei was still thinking about Grover.

"You're too cunning, Big Fei!" Lawson couldn't imagine, "Why would that arrogant bastard help me? You know, no one is more loyal to MJ here!"

It was a simple multiple-choice question.

Jordan could play for at most two more years, but how long could Fei play?

"No worries, just show him some goodwill, we'll take it slow," Fei said as he changed into the clothes Lawson gave him and cheerfully entered the locker room, only to see that annoying Ratner boasting about how his screening attracted so much defense and how his screen was crucial for Fei's "The Shot"—without it, one couldn't be sure...

When Fei came back to the locker room, Ratner's voice got louder: "What a pity, I was so cooperative, and some people didn't even say thanks." Explore hidden tales at m,v l'-NovelBin.net

"You want me to thank you for that kind of screening? Is your mother okay? Did she die? Otherwise, how could you be so deluded?"

Everyone in the locker room knew what Ratner's screening for Fei was like. Listening to him brag was just for fun, but Fei came up with the mom comment and shattered the joking atmosphere.

"What did you say?" Ratner's face grew dark.

"You should be grateful that I don't make a fuss over that screening of yours. And yet you dare to ask for credit?" Fei sneered, "That was the worst screen. You didn't block anyone or offer any help. You put me in a double-team with Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. If Walker's defense hadn't been worse than yours, I might have made a mistake, and then I would be the one who blew the game. Isn't that what you were planning?"

"Stop slandering me!" Ratner's face turned red, "I'm not that kind of person!"

"So you admit your mom is dead, and that's why you're so mentally deranged to set that kind of screen!"

Ratner, furious, prepared to teach Fei a lesson with his fists, then Jordan and Collins walked in.

Collins, as if blind to the hostility between Fei and Ratner, smiled and said, "Great game..." Damn great, both teams shooting under 40%. "Keep it up, keep at it, and we'll definitely get back into the playoffs."

Then Collins called up Jahidi White—who grabbed the most rebounds for the team tonight at 12— to join him at the post-game press conference.

Jordan sat down in his spot as if nothing had happened.

Soon, Grover was putting ice bags on his knees and dipping his feet into an ice bucket.

"You really overdid it!" Grover said reproachfully, "Even if you're not injured, you shouldn't be playing 45 minutes in one game, you aren't young anymore!"

Jordan, with a cigar in his mouth, hummed, "That's the only way we can win."

It sounded as if Jordan believed that if he played one minute less, the Wizards would lose.

Jordan's arrogance and confidence were both impressive to Fei. Though Jordan played 45 minutes tonight, he didn't directly guard the opposing team's key player. During the fourth quarter, he could only push off with one foot, and the Celtics failing to exploit this weakness was a mistake. Even so, Jordan's presence on the floor didn't provide enough positive feedback to be as crucial as he believed—playing one minute less certainly wouldn't have caused the team to lose.