Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Some people, as they approach the end, become increasingly unable to see themselves clearly.

After the All-Star Game, Jordan flew to his Chicago home overnight and threw a party to celebrate his upcoming 40th birthday.

At the party, a middle-aged white tycoon named Donald asked Jordan, "Michael, why insist on making a comeback? The finish in 1998 was so perfect. You already had the best possible ending."

This was Jordan's way of proving that his heart was not old, even if his body might be 40: "My body might be 40 years old, but everything else about me is still young."

Jordan forgot that when it comes to basketball, the body often dominates, especially for a superstar of the era who had used the name "His Airness" for over a decade to help the league and its corporate partners earn billions of dollars in profits.

Then, the Wizards began their self-destruction.

In the four games following the All-Star Game, all away games, the Wizards only won one. During that period, Jordan's field goal percentage was a frightening 31%.

Sam Cassell complained, "We have a lot of outstanding young players; we should run the ball."

Collins refused: "We need to find a way to play that helps Michael, and running is the worst possible plan."

The complaints from Kwame Brown, the number one pick, further fueled the team's chaos.

In a game against the Trail Blazers, Brown was benched after taking several shots that Collins deemed outside of his shooting range, and he did not return to the court that night.

An indignant Brown told reporters directly, "If it were Michael, he wouldn't be benched for taking those shots."

It seemed to enrage Collins, whose behavior confirmed that Brown had been completely corrupted by Yu Fei, becoming rebellious and unwilling to obey or accept guidance.

However, if you want to be like Yu Fei, you need the most crucial thing—talent.

"Young players must learn to obey!" Collins emphasized.

When he said this, Collins remembered the words Yu Fei had entrusted to him before leaving D.C.—to be kinder to Kwame.

Collins believed he had not let Yu Fei down, for what he was doing now was, in his view, the best thing for Brown.

Unless it's a young player like Yu Fei, who proved himself immediately and quickly gained privileges, a wishful but bankrupt newcomer like Brown needs to understand that it's not about what he wants to do, but about what the team needs him to do.

If he wanted to stay in the league long-term, this was the most suitable role for him.

Stubborn Collins, a Collins without his own will, a Collins with no control, naturally ignored Brown's laments.

Brown's grievance was about the double standards between them and the stars in the team.

More precisely, it was the standard between Jordan and others; Collins had no demands for Jordan, but was extremely strict with everyone else.

Brown's complaints opened the door to questioning Collins and Jordan; Starkhouse, disabled by a sports hernia, couldn't participate in fast breaks, and Cassell was constantly grumbling, foreshadowing the Wizards' impending collapse.

Then, Jordan scored 41 points against the Brooklyn Nets, as if he had returned to his youth.

The Wizards breathed a sigh of relief. If Jordan could keep up this performance, the playoffs were still within reach.

A reporter asked, "If the Wizards need you to score 40 points every night to win, can you do it?"

Jordan had indeed decided to take matters into his own hands; he no longer played the role of a nanny or a partner to young stars.

"I'll do my best to take the team to the playoffs."

Jordan chose to increase his playing time and shot attempts, but the situation still did not improve.

The Wizards' winning percentage usually hovered around forty percent.

Even in the Eastern Conference, they would need at least a fifty percent winning rate to possibly make it into the playoffs.

Starkhouse played inconsistently, Cassell kept complaining, then Jordan roared at the entire team like a tyrant.

By mid-March, the Wizards were five games behind the Magic.

At this time, Jordan's North Carolina mentor, Dean Smith, made an unexpected visit.

When Smith appeared in the Wizards' locker room like Santa Claus, the 40-year-old Jordan suddenly turned into the 18-year-old he once was, embarrassingly schooling his junior in front of the old coach, "Jerry, your lack of progress proves the coach was right. Entering the NBA too early did you no good!"

In Smith's presence, Starkhouse could only counter with a laugh.

"Look, Coach, I shut Jerry up!" This was how Jordan proved to Smith that he could manage the Wizards' locker room.

To everyone's surprise, Jordan's voice was very sharp, just like that of a young man.

This was a side of Jordan people had never seen before.

Smith's visit seemed to genuinely change him; he went from a grown man to an exuberant youth.

Smith smiled and strolled with Jordan to the lockers, sitting face to face on folding chairs. Discover stories with empire

Smith asked about Jordan's mother, and Jordan said she was fine. They talked for a few minutes, discussing mutual friends and family members—the casual pleasantries shared between men who loved each other, despite the generations that separated them. Aside from respect and love for each other, they had almost nothing in common. But that was enough.

For Jordan, what he needed most now were the people and things that could make him feel young. Smith could do that. Seeing this beloved coach unconsciously reminded him of his college days.