SWNOVELXO Chapter 48: follow me!
Like many Chinese who experience face blindness when looking at foreigners, many foreigners also struggle with recognizing Chinese faces.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule.
Just like many Chinese can easily recall the heroines from chaotic Western entertainment.
Ahem, let's be serious now.
In the summer of 1995, when Maddie saw Su Feng for the first time—believe it or not—he genuinely widened her eyes and stared at him for a while.
Su Feng truly had cross-border appeal.
To McGrady, Su Feng resembled the Chinese actor Zun Long.
But Su Feng had a unique aura and charm of his own.
His eyes, like stars and moonlight, carried a sense of mystery.
He dressed neatly, was slightly thin—
Yet every inch of his frame seemed sculpted to perfection.
Was this... a celebrity?
That was McGrady's first impression of Su Feng. (Apologies for my limited writing skills!)
When McGrady arrived, the group of Black teens who had been "dominated" by Su Feng erupted with cheers.
McGrady stared at Su Feng for a moment, then said without hesitation,
"I haven't seen you before."
Su Feng smiled and replied,
"I'm from Pennsylvania."
Pennsylvania?
Looking at Su Feng, McGrady seemed to recall something.
Though visibly tired, he drifted into memory, and Kobe came to mind.
McGrady had first met Kobe at a high school basketball tournament.
In Su Feng's previous life—and later when McGrady entered the NBA—he became one of Kobe's closest friends.
During vacations, their favorite pastimes were watching soap operas and going to amusement parks together.
Interestingly, in the autobiographies and biographies of Kobe that Su Feng had read, Kobe never held back when describing Tracy McGrady.
McGrady, in turn, left his mark on the NBA—some legendary, some regretful.
In just 35 seconds, he scored 13 points, shocking Tim Duncan into a series of frozen expressions.
During Houston's 22-game win streak, he seemed like he was back in his prime—unstoppable.
But watching Yao Ming get eliminated in the first round from the sidelines, McGrady knew he'd never return to that level.
Su Feng knew of McGrady because he won the scoring title with the Magic.
He understood McGrady from his days as Yao's teammate, forming the iconic Yao-Mai duo.
But Su Feng truly resonated with McGrady because of Kobe.
"Pennsylvania? Philadelphia?" McGrady asked suddenly on the court.
Su Feng smiled, curious.
"You know me?"
McGrady shook his head slowly.
"I don't know you. But I know Kobe."
Then he added,
"So, why are you here at Auburndale?"
Su Feng shrugged and said playfully,
"Because I've already conquered Philadelphia.
Facing Kobe again became meaningless—he couldn't beat me, and I felt lonely.
But Kobe told me that in Florida, there's someone even he can't beat.
So I came looking for this person.
And after seeing you, I think I found him.
Tracy, pleasure to meet you. I'm Su Feng."
At the sound of "Tracy," McGrady's eyebrows twitched—somewhat awkwardly.
It must be said: Su Feng was indeed handsome.
But… why did he talk like that?
"Really? Funny, because Kobe said that back at Lower Merion High, he has a new teammate—
A Chinese kid named Su.
Kobe said this new teammate got crushed by him daily in one-on-one games.
And the funniest part? That kid never once admitted defeat.
Kobe joked that not even the worst con artist in the world was as stubborn as him."
By the way, Bryant also said that this guy's dream was to score in the NBA.
And to help him chase that dream, Kobe even turned down an invitation from a friend.
"So… I guess we're talking about the same person, right?"
McGrady's tone was calm and gentle, but to Su Feng, each sentence felt like a sharp blade.
What the heck!
Wasn't this supposed to be a friendly showdown?
Su Feng was genuinely frustrated.
He never imagined Kobe had mentioned him during a call with McGrady.
And worse yet—
What's with that nonsense about being the "most shameless" guy Kobe ever met?
"You came to Auburndale just to find me for a one-on-one match?" McGrady asked, locking eyes with Su Feng.
"Yes, that's right. Because you are my next... tool for practice!"
(Of course, while Su Feng thought this, he didn't say it out loud.)
He simply nodded and tossed a basketball toward McGrady.
"Wanna play?"
At that moment, the crowd of Black teenagers on the court erupted in cheers for McGrady.
As he scanned the court, Madison's half-asleep eyes suddenly sharpened with a killer gleam.
Because what Su Feng didn't know was—
During that call with McGrady, Kobe also said this:
Su Feng's defense was far superior to McGrady's.
So basically...
This was all Kobe's fault.
Now, McGrady was curious.
Who exactly was this person Kobe spoke so highly of?
…
On the court, Tracy McGrady made the first move—and one thing was clear: his talent was off the charts.
In Su Feng's past life, when McGrady first entered the NBA, his height was roughly two meters.
Some said 198 cm, others claimed 201 or even 203 cm…
But back then, NBA height listings were more like suggestions than facts.
Because McGrady wanted to play as a guard and feared being slotted into the frontcourt, he deliberately understated his height.
Later on, many believed his true height was closer to 205 cm—or possibly more.
Add to that his wingspan of 220 cm, a 40-yard dash clocked at 4.4 seconds, and a vertical leap of 44.2 inches...
In the NBA, his explosive first step—and lightning-fast second and third steps—were unmatched.
During the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, under the final HC rule system, McGrady averaged 32.1 and 28 points per game, earning back-to-back scoring titles.
Many later regarded him as the most gifted among the four elite shooting guards of his era.
Iverson was fast but lacked McGrady's height.Vince Carter, nicknamed "UFO," couldn't match his cousin's ball-handling speed or talent.Kobe Bryant—sometimes teased as the "little blacksmith"—was incredible, but often envied McGrady's large hands.
Simply put, McGrady had what the other three possessed, but they didn't all have what he did.
Unfortunately, McGrady was born with scoliosis. It didn't affect daily life much, but the grind of NBA seasons took a toll—especially back then, when there was no trendy wellness culture or wolfberry tea around.
And like the other three, McGrady's unique personality was shaped by his upbringing...
CLANG—!
Round one: Su Feng vs McGrady.
McGrady wins.
Su Feng tried to lower his center of gravity as much as possible, but McGrady's first step was just too quick.
After being baited by his crossover, Su Feng couldn't keep up with the speed.
McGrady soared and delivered a slick one-handed dunk.
On the sideline, besides the cheering Black teens, Su Feng's three hired trainers were stunned.
They say amateurs watch the spectacle—professionals watch the footwork.
Frazer gasped, "My God... are geniuses that common these days?"
Alan Stein blinked, "Is that kid even human?"
Mancias shook his head. He'd already believed Su Feng was a genius based on his physique, but now...
What even is talent?
Some say the era's top four shooting guards and power forwards were just marketing replacements for Jordan and the dominant centers.
But those folks clearly never played. You still need serious skills.
To Su Feng, McGrady's craziest asset wasn't his bounce or speed—but his bent-over dribble technique.
Future fans hyped up "Dark McGrady," but the truth?
McGrady only averaged 2.2 turnovers per game over his career.
Tall with superb control—Durant is practically his younger brother.
Honestly, futuristic players were already here in the '90s… just ahead of their time.
Talent isn't hype.
Talent is visible to the naked eye.
"You've got this kind of skill?" McGrady asked sarcastically, tossing the ball to Su Feng after his dunk.
Su Feng didn't answer.
He caught the pass, pulled up from beyond the arc, and let it fly.
McGrady: "..."
Swish—!
"I win. That's three points. Final score: 3 to 2." Su Feng flashed a victory sign, grinning.
McGrady was dumbfounded.
What are you doing?
How are you this shameless?
That was literally one possession!
If Kobe weren't off training at the Adidas ABCD camp, he'd have warned McGrady—"You think Su Feng's shameless now? Just wait."
Su Feng was already celebrating like he'd won a championship.
McGrady couldn't hold it in anymore.
"No, no way. That doesn't count. Let's set the rules and go again!"
Su Feng smirked, "I'm down to play. But I get to set the rules—and don't worry, they'll be fair."
McGrady nodded reluctantly.
"Come with me to Orlando," Su Feng said, locking eyes with him.
"We'll play every day until you beat me."
Orlando?
McGrady froze.
"I'll buy you steak every day," Su Feng added.
Steak?
McGrady's family wasn't wealthy—but no way Tracy was falling for some steak bribe.
Even if Su Feng was Kobe's friend, McGrady barely knew him.
They'd only been talking for like… 20 minutes!
Su Feng leaned in.
"Keep this between us—but if you beat me in Orlando, I'll give you $100."
McGrady squinted, "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious. Ask Kobe—I never break a promise."
Su Feng continued, "I really want to improve my game. Kobe's at training camp this summer, and when he gets back, I want to surprise him."
"Kobe's told me a bunch of times that you're on par with him.
You see these three trainers? All certified professionals.
I even rented a training hall in Orlando."
"You don't want to blow your coach's mind when the new semester starts?"
McGrady was truly stunned this time.
A training hall?
Three trainers?
Bro... do you have a gold mine at home?
Honestly, even Su Feng wasn't sure if he had one.
And even if he did—who cares?
His dream was to make the NBA, become a basketball star, and maybe marry someone rich and beautiful.
Call him ridiculous—but dreams are priceless.
And hey—he'd been reborn and given a "system."
Who's to say there's no mysterious force at play?
Basketball was his dream.
Why mess around and risk losing it?
He'd make money in the future. That part was guaranteed.
"I'll need to ask my mom and grandma," McGrady said hesitantly.
"No problem—I'll go with you." Su Feng smiled.
Know why Su Feng brought those three trainers to Auburndale?
To be ready for this exact moment.
He knew if McGrady's mother or grandmother said no, it wouldn't matter how talented Tracy was.
But with these three experts by his side…
Now things looked different.
They weren't just props—they were legit trainers.
…
On the way home with McGrady, thanks to Kobe's connection and Su Feng's understanding of Tracy, the two quickly got into a smooth conversation.
Su Feng even deliberately brought up Vince Carter in front of McGrady.
When Carter's name came up, Tracy's eyebrow twitched unnaturally.
In Su Feng's previous life, there were many versions of how McGrady and Carter discovered they were cousins—some said it only happened after they joined the Raptors.
Others claimed they had known much earlier.
But today, Su Feng—aka Detective Conan—cracked the case.
If you dig into McGrady and Carter's story, you'll notice there are inconsistencies with the "we only found out on the Raptors" version.
Yes, communications in the 1990s were limited.
But Carter and McGrady both grew up in Florida.
They even met once at a family gathering when they were four years old.
Okay, four-year-olds don't remember much.
But in 1995, Carter was already a national name. He attended North Carolina for college.
And McGrady's high school? Montessonne Christian, located in... North Carolina.
So even if they "didn't know" each other, let's ask: even Kobe Bryant from Pennsylvania had heard about Carter. You're telling me nobody around McGrady—classmates, coaches, relatives—read the news?
In 1997, when McGrady was drafted—did Carter's family not recognize him?
So here comes the real question:
If their social circles didn't know they were cousins...
How did they figure it out?
DNA testing?
Only one truth remains:
Carter knew he had a cousin named Tracy.
McGrady knew he had a cousin named Vince.
Once you understand their personalities, the picture becomes clearer.
Each of the "big four shooting guards" had a unique character arc.
Take Iverson: from a poor background, rebellious and determined.
Because of a harsh childhood, he spent freely once in the NBA.
Carter, with a stable family, was raised as a gifted golden child.
He was criticized for lacking Kobe's killer drive and some of Iverson's fire.
Often, Carter's behavior came off as low in emotional intelligence.
McGrady's upbringing was completely different.
He was raised by his mother and grandmother, who gave him all the love they could.
Whether sneaking fresh fish from the lake or taking him to amusement parks, McGrady's childhood wasn't lacking affection.
But he also saw the worst of poverty.
Escaping Auburndale became his childhood dream—he wanted wealth, freedom, and safety.
In that complex setting, he met a skeptical high school coach named Thai Willis.
Despite Tracy's visible talent, Willis never trusted him.
And sadly, in the "land of the free," that kind of neglect wasn't uncommon.
So McGrady grew up in a contradictory environment.
Meanwhile, Vince Carter was the shining figure looming overhead.
As early as the McDonald's All-American Game with Garnett, Carter was the "perfect kid" in the eyes of many.
Even though Carter's biological dad left, his stepfather was more loving and supportive.
Trained by both, Carter became a top student, saxophone player, and dunker—his first was at age 12.
In high school, coached by Brinkerhof and treated like a superstar, Carter soared.
Florida knew: a UFO had landed.
His pre-NBA life was… flawless.
And that made things worse for McGrady.
It's not that Tracy didn't want to connect with Carter—
but his mother had always taught him to be self-reliant.
No matter how poor they were, Tracy's mother and grandmother worked to create the best life they could.
So yes—McGrady knew about Vince.
And Vince was so good… it felt intimidating.
Tracy didn't want to ride his cousin's coattails. He wanted to prove his own worth.
Before his junior year, he constantly doubted himself.
Until he met Smith—his breakthrough mentor—who showed him: "Dude, you're insanely talented."
Many assumed McGrady skipped college because of poor grades.
But there was more to it:
He wanted to prove he wasn't less than his cousin.
Then came the twist: the Raptors signed Vince in Tracy's second season.
After McGrady entered the NBA in 1997, Carter had his "Aha!" moment.
"Hey! Isn't that my sweet little cousin?! He made the league?!"
If you've read Carter's autobiography, you know how "tight" he and McGrady were in Toronto.
They were so close, they even slept in the same room.
But read closely:
Carter almost always initiated the hangouts—McGrady rarely did.
That's a stark contrast with McGrady and Kobe.
Because here's the thing…
Tracy had finally proven himself.
But Carter kept returning as that other child.
And worse?
Carter's talent was almost unreal compared to Tracy's.
Especially in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest—if you watched it, you'd notice McGrady's attempts felt casual.
Later, McGrady admitted: he only joined because Carter invited him.
He didn't believe he could win.
Carter, with his classic emotional cluelessness, probably meant to help McGrady gain fame—
but accidentally outshined him.
Truth is, Tracy hadn't yet grasped his own freakish talent.
And he didn't see that the wall wasn't Carter—it was himself.
So when the Orlando Magic reached out, McGrady didn't hesitate.
Orlando already had Grant Hill, was pursuing Duncan, and McGrady knew he wouldn't be the face of the franchise just yet.
But the Magic offered more money—and a way out of Carter's shadow.
Years later, near retirement, Tracy finally made peace with himself.
Nobody's perfect.
This was the core of his complicated, jealous personality.
"Tracy, has no one ever told you how ridiculous your talent is?"
Mancias asked on the way to McGrady's house.
Tracy shook his head.
Then mumbled something about Ty Willis.
"My God, no—get out of that high school ASAP! That guy is wasting your potential!"
Mancias was fired up, outraged at Willis' blind treatment of McGrady.
At that moment, Su Feng noticed a subtle shift—Tracy's sleepy eyes now held something new:
A flicker of belief.
"Why not come to Lower Merion? We could build the strongest high school Big Three!" Su Feng joked.
Tracy shook his head. "It's too far from home."
"I'll reach out to the school. Some of my friends are there. Trust me—within two years, everyone will know your name." Mancias predicted.
And let's be honest—this royal advisor of "Emperor" knew what he was talking about.
Quality talent scouting?
Su Feng's kingdom delivers.