Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

At this moment, Yu Fei was meeting with Kobe Bryant, thanks to an introduction by his agent Arne Trem.

When Kobe saw Yu Fei, his first words were, "I didn't expect to see you in the NBA so soon."

"If it hadn't been for the flu, we would have met in D.C. already," Yu Fei replied.

"How's Michael doing?" Kobe asked the wrong person.

Yu Fei responded, "Don't know, he's probably about to die."

Even Kobe would think that some people need to learn more about emotional intelligence from him after hearing that response.

"Is Michael really that bad?" Kobe didn't understand why Yu Fei had such a big gripe with Jordan.

Just like Yu Fei never understood what the actual problem was between the OK duo.

"Is Shaquille that bad?" Yu Fei returned the same question to Kobe.

Kobe's eyes widened, is this still the same kid who said at the ABCD Camp that Shaquille was lazy and slow and didn't deserve to be the face of the Lakers?

Arne Trem, however, was surprised to realize that these two were already well-acquainted: "My God, when did you two meet?"

"Before I entered the NBA," Yu Fei said.

"Since you guys know each other, I can save myself some trouble," Trem looked at his second most satisfied client with self-contentment, "Put on a great game tonight!"

Then, Trem walked away, leaving the rest to his subordinate, a young man named Rob Pelinka.

Pelinka whispered a few words in Kobe's ear.

Kobe nodded, signaling him to go ahead with the tasks.

Then, Pelinka left.

From this scene, Yu Fei felt that Pelinka seemed more like Kobe's agent.

He knew Kobe's needs and had developed a friendship with Kobe that went far beyond what Trem had.

What would he do one day if Kobe felt Pelinka was more suitable to be his agent?

This proud young superstar wouldn't hesitate to completely eject his family from his life for a woman, even severing the most crucial ties with them—financial ones.

Wouldn't it be natural for him to replace an agent he wasn't close with someone who knew his needs and had a significant relationship with him?

"Whether Shaquille is that bad or not, you can judge for yourself tonight," Kobe suddenly joked, "He wants to play against you even more than I do."

If we are both dissatisfied with the current situation, why don't we just swap teams?

Yu Fei believed that any normal person would not choose to leave Los Angeles for Washington D.C. to play ball. But Kobe's words couldn't be taken for granted.

This is definitely not a normal person.

Don't be fooled by Kobe now acting like the least respectful of the younger generation towards Jordan, but Yu Fei had watched "The Last Dance," he dared to assert, of the superstars post-Jordan era, no one idolized Jordan more than Kobe did.

"Many people compare me to MJ, but every move I made was learned from him, without him there wouldn't have been me today."

Who else would make such a confession about Jordan in a documentary?

Faced with such an ardent Jordan fanboy, Yu Fei really couldn't say whether he would choose the lazy and unprofessional league's number one or an old, weak, and sick trash talker as a teammate.

After 20 minutes of pre-game warmup, the starters from both teams approached the court.

Collins completely changed the usual interior lineup tonight.

Usually, he would heed Yu Fei's advice and start Kwame Brown, but today, facing O'Neal, it would be suicide to guard the interior with only Cassidy White, who's about the same height as Yu Fei.

Consequently, the Wizards' starters were Tyronn Lue, Bobby Simmons, Yu Fei, Popeye Jones, and Jahidi White.

To counter O'Neal, directly playing the two best and most experienced interior defensive starters was a gesture of respect.

The Lakers were more casual.

Phil Jackson clearly didn't take the Wizards seriously; their starting lineup was actually Brian Shaw, Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, and Shaquille O'Neal.

In this lineup, Shaw and Horry were not regular starters for the Lakers, indicating that Jackson planned to test the on-the-spot effects of other lineup configurations in this game.

As soon as the game started, O'Neal approached Yu Fei and said in his distinctive raspy voice, "Chinese guy, do you know the big diesel never lets those who offend him get away?".

"Really, how did I offend you?" Yu Fei asked himself, "Oh, is it because I mentioned the fact that you're lazy and slow, and you found that offensive?"

O'Neal laughed angrily: "You can keep talking your nonsense, I'll make you shut up! I swear after tonight, you'll have no more hopes for the playoffs!"

An angry O'Neal is the most dangerous creature in the NBA, and for Yu Fei's teammates in the interior, it was a significant test.

O'Neal didn't take the jump ball seriously.

White, who was obviously shorter than O'Neal and not a better jumper either, managed to win the opening ball possession for the Wizards.

The ball quickly came to Yu Fei's hands.

Brian Shaw, a tall point guard reaching 198 centimeters, tried to stop Yu Fei's advance, but he severely underestimated the other's power impact.

With little effort, Yu Fei pushed Shaw aside.

Rick Fox, who should have been guarding Yu Fei, couldn't catch up due to speed issues, suddenly leaving Yu Fei and O'Neal alone in a one-on-one at the frontcourt.

Yu Fei stopped abruptly, faked, gathered the ball, and directly challenged O'Neal's help defense with a floater.

Since O'Neal had toe surgery at the start of the season, his teammates had never seen him jump so high.