Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Yao Ming quipped, “Racism is certainly wrong, but their falling out probably has little to do with that, right?”

“If Kobe were the older one in OK, this issue wouldn’t exist,” Yu Fei continued, “Don’t you think the current situation resembles these two?”

Hearing this, Yao Ming turned his head and examined Antetokounmpo and Jokić carefully. Antetokounmpo indeed had a strong sense of ownership, and from an early stage, he aspired to become a leader like Frye. Therefore, he saw Jokić as a major threat.

However, Jokić wasn’t quite as ambitious. He simply displayed his unique skills and basketball IQ unintentionally, as well as his hands that could do almost anything on the court—combined with a natural desire to win, he always managed to put pressure on Antetokounmpo on the court.

The two seemed like water and fire, but in reality, their relationship was more of a healthy competition.

“So, are you really planning to retire after this season?” Yao Ming suddenly asked.

“I never said that,” Yu Fei answered.

This was the first time someone directly asked Yu Fei if he would retire after this season since the start of training camp, and he gave an uncertain answer.

But Yao Ming wouldn’t be the last person to ask. Before a definitive answer came out, the media would keep pressing the question.

Soon after on media day, the question “Is this your last season?” was repeated no less than ten times.

When Yu Fei finally lost his patience, he coldly responded, “What, you guys want to arrange a retirement tour for me?”

No matter how much the media asked, they couldn’t get a definitive answer. Because even Yu Fei himself didn’t know the answer yet.

Rivers saw Yu Fei’s discontent and, before the journalists could further provoke him, smoothed things over in time: “Frye is no Tim Duncan,” Rivers said. “I believe, he will give us a chance to say goodbye properly.”

What Rivers didn’t know was that Duncan’s way of retiring was the ideal retirement scenario in Yu Fei’s mind.

In the last year of his career, the team was still competitive, the media speculated about your retirement but weren’t particularly interested in whether you actually would retire, only expressing their regret when you announced your decision.

This low profile had characterized Duncan’s entire career.

But for a player like Yu Fei, it was impossible to leave quietly.

The NBA has always had a tradition of honoring players who have defined an era.

1978 Havlicek, 1989 Jabbar, 2003 Jordan, it was all the same.

Soon after, the training camp ended.

The Clippers headed to Las Vegas for the preseason games.

During the preseason, Derrick Rose, once known as the son of the Windy City, finally decided to join the New York Knicks for a minimal salary after much deliberation.

It was undoubtedly a disheartening decision.

In the early 2010s, Rose was the most promising rising star in the entire league, yet now, while his contemporaries like Westbrook and Love were in their prime, Rose had withered.

Because he had suffered three ACL injuries in the past six years.

Had it not been for the advancements in modern sports medicine, his career would have ended ten years ago.

Although he could still play now, he definitely couldn’t return to his former self, only training hard to adapt as best as he could to this rapidly changing era.

Coincidentally, the Knicks were the Clippers’ first preseason opponent.

Durant might be the most dejected person this summer.

After finally leading his team to the finals, they were swept by the Clippers.

Just when he was gearing up for another year, he learned that James had landed in Miami.

Now, even making it out of the Eastern Conference became a problem.

In that night’s preseason game, Yu Fei played 24 minutes, Durant played 30 minutes.

They took it so seriously that the game didn’t seem like a preseason one.

The Knicks needed to let Durant vent his frustration and also try to integrate with Rose.

On the Clippers’ side, they also needed to integrate the new recruits.

Second-round pick Brogdon performed exceptionally as soon as he hit the court.

Siakam was still getting used to the NBA pace.

It was Seth Curry, however, who surprised everyone, working hard defensively and inheriting the family’s shooting talent.

When the game was over, Rivers, who had witnessed Rose’s peak, incredulously said, “I wouldn’t trade Seth for Derrick.”

“Did I really just say that?” Rivers said to his assistants.

The assistants replied, “It’s normal, Seth is at his best, and Derrick… he is just trying to find his former rhythm.”

“He’s never coming back,” Rivers said, “He’s gone.”

After the game, when reporters once again asked Yu Fei if this season was his last, the GOAT said, “Ask me again in January next year, by then I might have an answer.”

Aside from the preseason game against the Knicks, the other games were purely about the Clippers getting into shape.

The main players’ minutes were limited to 24, and Rivers gave plenty of opportunities to the new recruits.

Brogdon was one of the best performers.

As a rookie born in 1992, being 24 years old, if he didn’t have immediate combat readiness, he would have no chance of surviving in the NBA.

Luckily, he was very combat-ready.

On the other hand, Siakam was a bit overwhelmed by the Clippers’ luxurious frontcourt.

There were two starters ahead of him he could never compete with, and Yao Ming was on the bench.

Then there was the all-around swingman Brandon Wright.