Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

After Jordan was declared out for the season, the Wizards did not transform as Yu Fei had hoped.

This was evident in several aspects.

One was the targeting by opponents during games.

With Jordan on the court, opponents would focus on defending him, even though his shooting percentage was usually below 40%. Now, with Jordan gone, the Wizards' leaders became Yu Fei and Hamilton. To defeat the Wizards, the first thing was to contain those two.

Hamilton was a more pure scorer, skilled in off-ball movement, fond of catch-and-shoot, and occasionally able to attack with the ball. His problem was that he was too thin, something that both Jordan and Collins had pointed out more than once.

"Did Rip hit the gym today?" was Hamilton's least favorite question.

Hamilton disliked the gym; he believed he didn't need to gain weight or strengthen his body as it would affect his agility, flexibility, and coordination.

Then there was Yu Fei. After playing most of the season, he averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, arguably the most versatile rookie since Grant Hill. But his offensive capability was only good enough for a secondary attack. The main attack depended on how his shooting felt that night.

Once he lost his shooting touch, opponents would decisively use zone defense to limit his penetration.

At those times, he needed firepower support from his teammates, especially from Hamilton, who averaged 20 points per game.

And it seemed Hamilton had his own thoughts on the matter.

This was most obvious during the Wizards' road loss to the Clippers.

When they couldn't make outside shots and were completely outplayed by Elton Brand inside, Yu Fei chose to force a drive to create shooting space for Hamilton.

But after receiving the ball, Hamilton didn't use his shots to punish the Clippers' zone defense.

To some media people, that scene was sensitive.

Like Thomas Flynn, the beat reporter for The Washington Times.

What reason could there be for Hamilton to deviate from his usual style of play? Unless he wanted to make the game harder?

Flynn checked the Wizards' stats.

Yu Fei was doing alright tonight except for his three-pointers, with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. He had forced many turnovers that kept the Clippers busy. If they could break the opponent's zone, they should be able to win the game.

But what could be done if Hamilton didn't cooperate?

Why would Hamilton do this?

Flynn didn't find the answer right away.

Then, at the post-game news conference that night, when Yu Fei, as the most watched player on the team, entered the media room, Flynn in that same room found the key to the problem.

When Jordan ended his season early due to injury, a vacuum appeared in the Wizards' leadership role. But without any competition, everyone took for granted that Yu Fei would take that seat.

Whether inside the team or outside, everyone saw it that way.

For Hamilton, who had joined the League a few years before Yu Fei and was the second in command under Jordan, how could he accept this?

"Frye, what do you think was the reason for tonight's loss?"

"Looking at the score, we're 15 points short of the opponent; well, that's the reason."

"Who do you think should have made those points?"

"Next time we're in this situation, I'll make a point to get those points."

"Do you feel losing MJ had a big impact on you guys?"

"Before Michael got injured, we had a stretch of 11 losses and 2 wins. After losing Jordan, we're at 1 win and 2 losses. I think it's too early to draw conclusions."

Yu Fei ended the interview and met Hamilton in the corridor.

"Why didn't you shoot when you had an open look?"

Yu Fei asked directly.

Hamilton hadn't expected Yu Fei to confront him so bluntly.

"It wasn't a good opportunity."

"Not a good opportunity? They were barely defending our outside shots, and I had already drawn the defense in with my drives; you were open. If that wasn't a good opportunity, what is?" Yu Fei asked sarcastically,"Do you want them to let you layup without any defense?"

Hamilton had felt this kind of pressing attitude from Jordan.

He had felt it when Jordan said he was poor at defense, when Jordan suggested he should get thrown in the weight room, and when Collins, following Jordan's will, benched him on a moment's notice; the suffocating feeling had surfaced within him before.

But Jordan is Jordan; what gives Yu Fei the right? He's just a rookie!

"I got into the League before you, I know the game better, you can't tell me what's a good or bad opportunity!" Hamilton retorted indignantly.

I got into the League before you, you can't tell me... Since when had dog-years' syndrome become contagious?

"Are you unhappy with the current situation, Rip?" Yu Fei suddenly smiled, "Do you have any complaints about me?"

In Hamilton's eyes, Yu Fei was no longer his little brother.

Or rather, since Yu Fei joined the starting lineup, their relationship of mutual support had ceased to exist.

Because Yu Fei dared to do what he didn't—oppose Jordan in a Jordan-dominated team.

Hamilton didn't dare.

What was Hamilton's boldest dream? Two days ago, he told the media that in five years, when Jordan was gone and they would still be here, he would be the future of the team. That was his boldest dream.

And Yu Fei was a player who openly confronted Jordan and wasn't completely suppressed but instead used his irreplaceable ability to increasingly elevate his status.