Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Media Day, for some, is an opportunity to express their ambitions to the outside world, while for others, it is an opportunity to voice complaints.

After winning the championship, Ray Allen felt approximately 95% joy and 5% dissatisfaction. His happiness stemmed from the championship itself, but the dissatisfaction was directed at Fei.

Most championship teams have a main character. If a champion team has no clear star, it only proves one thing: the team's key players have balanced abilities, without an obvious superstar, and such a team is destined not to be favored by the media.

The Bucks could not escape this fate, for they had a protagonist who fit the narrative of a traditional sports hero.

He debuted taking on the sports world's highest peak, quickly establishing dominance in the competition to the point where the peak had to end the rivalry via trade. Being traded meant being cast aside by the organization, and one had to quickly prove himself to deal the biggest blow to the decision-makers.

As a result, he won the MVP in his second season and led the team to a championship.

Such a presence was bound to be the focus of the media, even if he played in Milwaukee, where the fourth estate still monitored his every move.

Both were champions, but Fei won everything, whereas Ray Allen and his team, to the outside world, were just that—champions. But for Fei, the championship also meant the highest endorsement contracts, immeasurable commercial value, and public adulation.

Everyone knew that Yu Fei equaled the Bucks, but the problem was that he only played there for one year.

Ray Allen believed that his and the others' contributions should receive respect and attention.

Yet, things did not go as hoped.

Yu Fei's name echoed throughout the summer; he was the new superstar. Fans loved him, the media adored him, sponsors chased after him, but what about the others?

"I think Frye had a great season, and he deserves everything he has gotten, but the performances of the others should not be overlooked," Ray Allen said. "We are a collective; we can't do without anyone."

Ray Allen's various performances resolved a confusion for Fei.

Once, Fei had obsessively studied Michael Jordan, wondering if Pippen suffered so much in His Airness' shadow because he joined the Bulls later. If he had joined the Chicago Bulls earlier than Jordan, after being broken in by the team, and then witnessed the arrival of the North Star, would things have been different?

Ray Allen's reaction provided Fei with a clear example.

Understanding was nonexistent, and acceptance was impossible. Human hearts cannot stand testing nor bear disparities.

Unless you are David Robinson. Enjoy exclusive content from empire

But there was only one David Robinson, and even someone like Robinson needed a perfect partner like Duncan to end well.

Compared to Ray Allen, Fei preferred Michael Redd's statement.

Speaking to the Milwaukee Sentinel, Redd said, "We all play under Frye's wings. What I mean is, it's only beside Frye that I can be my best self. He's our generation's Magic Johnson; even a grade-schooler would improve beside him."

Redd's fan-like admiration suggested that he recognized Fei's leadership, but did he really?

Fei liked his attitude, but the truth might not be so.

What mattered was his answer to another question.

"What's your goal for the new season?"

With strong desire, Redd said, "I think I proved my value as a key player last season. I can take on more responsibility, make a greater contribution. All I need is the opportunity."

Fei found it difficult to judge Redd's thoughts based on his statement.

Was he genuinely willing to accept Fei's leadership, or was he using this as a facade to compete with Ray Allen?

Fei had no answer for now, but he was very interested in observing Redd's next move.

As the defending champions, the Bucks had already grown two conspicuous thorns in their training camp.

The jealousy Ray Allen held for Fei and the inevitable challenge posed by Redd.

The others seemed slightly more normal, but that did not mean there were no issues.

On the last day of Media Day, the entire Bucks team assembled at the center of the training camp for a group photo.

Quentin Richardson brought Fei a crown, "Frye, this should suit you!"

A crown?

Fei felt embarrassed enough having stolen James' nickname; he thought he should leave the crown for his younger brothers.

As an older brother, you must always leave something for the younger ones.

"I don't need it, you wear it," Fei declined, pushing it away.

Richardson screeched familiarly, "You must wear this crown! Only then can you prove you have the resolve to defend the title. Don't you have faith in yourself? Come on, Frye, show the same spirit you had in D.C.!"

Yu Fei didn't quite understand the logic, but he took the crown meant for the photo-op.

He was certain he had never worn this thing before.

Now, he didn't plan on wearing it at all; he just held it in his hand, twirling it around lightly as if it were a toy.

Afterward, the photographer took the Bucks' group photo for the upcoming season.

That evening, the Bucks held a barbecue party at the training campsite.

George Karl sipped beer and sought out Yu Fei for a casual chat.

At first, they talked about trivial family matters, and then suddenly, Karl said, "You know Ray has been restless lately, don't you?"

If Yu Fei hadn't heard from the media what Ray Allen had been saying, he might have thought Karl was reverting to old habits.

Now, faced with Karl's question, he feigned confusion, "What's wrong with him?"

"He didn't speak ill of you. In fact, he badmouthed the media," Karl said scornfully, "But you know these delicate guys, they not only like to be ironic, but they also enjoy double entendres. Though many don't understand, the barbs are indeed aimed at you."

Yu Fei continued to play dumb, "What do you mean?"

Karl sighed, frustrated by Yu Fei's obtuseness, "He feels that winning the championship was a team effort, yet the media narrative focuses on you. He thinks they deserve the same praise and recognition."

Such a reasonable demand, why would lard-face think Rey-ray was acting up?

Yu Fei watched Karl with a smile, saying nothing.

"Impossible—he's dreaming!" Karl was a firm supporter of Yu, and always had been, "From any perspective, your value surpasses the sum of the others'. Without you, we wouldn't just struggle to win the championship, we'd have difficulty making it past the first round of the playoffs. That's the harsh truth. From the media's standpoint, people are uninterested in stories about Ray Allen or anyone else on the team, because before you, they were all losers. You're the one who made them champions. Now he complains about the media overpraising you, which is horrifying to think about. We must take this seriously."

Karl might not believe it, but Yu Fei understood Ray Allen.

He truly did.

Yu Fei's rookie year was spent in Washington, where he was compelled to answer ten thousand "what will you do to help Michael" questions.

The issue was that in Washington, the Wizard's situation was one where Jordan was past his prime and the media ignored the young players' contribution, instead exaggerating Jordan's performance. Whereas in Milwaukee, Yu Fei shone alone, with Ray Allen being a great second-in-command but unable to match his level of performance.

In other words, Yu Fei's performance warranted the praise.

Though Karl had been coaching in the NBA for many years, this was the first time he encountered an "old number two jealous of the number one" problem.

During his time with the Supersonics, the collaboration between Payton and Kemp was close, but they never achieved complete success, so there was no issue of the second being jealous of the first. Back then, the Supersonics created an era-specific internal problem with an incomprehensible move—while Shawn Kemp was earning 7 million dollars over three years, they gave Jim McIlvaine, a white center, 30 million dollars for seven years. After signing, he averaged 2 points and 2 rebounds per game each season.

This was a hallmark "How on earth did God approve this" idiotic sign, which ruined Kemp's mentality and pushed the Supersonics out of championship contention.

It was the era-specific issue of "star players jealously resenting role players."

Karl believed that the problem faced by Yu Fei was much more complex than this.

However, Yu Fei was neither wary of Ray Allen nor did he consider the other's jealousy and complaints a problem.

If there was a problem, it lay with Yu Fei himself.

Last season, when Yu Fei arrived, in order to unify all efforts, he acknowledged Ray Allen as the leader. Even though he won MVP and FMVP, in Ray Allen's eyes, he was still "here to support me."

Since it was Yu Fei himself who created the illusion for Ray Allen of "I am still the boss," it was his duty to bring him back from the fantasy world to reality.

Moreover, he felt Ray Allen had no choice but to face the facts.

In terms of ability, Yu Fei was clearly superior, regarding internal team support, other than last season's Yu Fei, no one acknowledged Ray Allen as the boss, and in terms of competitive pressure, Red's defiant disposition was apparent. He not only needed to face reality but also needed Yu Fei's help to suppress Red.

Furthermore, given Ray Allen's tendency for mental rivalry, Yu Fei seriously doubted he would turn against him over such things; if he had that much backbone, he would have smashed Karl's skull long ago—why need him to straighten out the team?

Yu Fei reviewed his own situation, Ray Allen's condition, and the overall state of the team and realized he needed not worry about his teammates' mischief. Instead, he could sit back early in the season and see what they intended to stir up.

Nonetheless, Ray Allen's act of airing his grievances to reporters clearly breached the "speak your mind to the face" clause. Therefore, Yu Fei forcefully took over his parking spot the next day.

When Ray Allen furiously came to confront him, Yu Fei teasingly said, "If you can't keep your mouth shut, you'll lose more than just a parking spot."

Ray Allen left in a huff, having no choice but to vent his anger by shooting hoops alone, fuming on the inside.

It seemed that he was still the same young man, unchanged in the slightest.