noveldrama
Chapter 976 976 573 We Are Great Because of Others_2
Chapter 976 976 573 We Are Great Because of Others_2
?Chapter 976: Chapter 573: We Are Great Because of Others_2 Chapter 976: Chapter 573: We Are Great Because of Others_2 In the world of basketball, many viewed Yu Fei as a point guard during his time with the Bucks, and he achieved the feat of winning four championships in five years. Even if he could not surpass Magic Johnson, he was certainly on par with him. By the time he won his fifth championship in Seattle, Magic had been left behind, and the GOAT debate followed.
Before becoming the GOAT, Yu Fei was first the GOAT of point guards.
Any athletic power forward, when paired with a top-tier point guard, would completely unleash their potential, let alone with the GOAT of point guards?
Clippers fans harbored such fantasies, and although they made up less than 10% of Los Angeles’s population, it was still a bold imagination.
These fans imagined Blake Griffin to be a selfless individual devoid of vanity, ego, and any superstar pride, someone who would cooperate willingly even after a superstar arrival had usurped his position.
However, Yu Fei knew very well that even if such saints existed in the world, they wouldn’t be found in the NBA. The foundation of competitive sports is competition, and a person without a competitive spirit cannot go far in a professional career.
He didn’t believe Griffin would willingly give up the status he had enjoyed for years.
As Yu Fei’s private car entered the Clippers’ training facility, he casually asked, “Do you guys think the Clippers are bad?”
The driving bodyguard replied, “Do you think President Obama’s healthcare policy is bad?”
“It’s not bad,” Yu Fei answered, “just impractical. He’s living in his own campaign promises.”
The bodyguard chuckled, “The Clippers are much worse than that.”
For a team that had never played in a division final in its history of over thirty years and had only twice made it to the semifinals, this assessment was not an exaggeration. From San Diego to Los Angeles, over a span of a generation and a half, under two different owners, in 33 years, they made it to the playoffs only four times.
This was the extent of the Clippers’ failure, almost warranting the title of the most unsuccessful club in sports history. It was precisely because of the Clippers’ monumental failures that Yu Fei’s joining prompted so much discussion, even leading Bill Simmons to think that his aura would shatter within the team.
From a historical perspective, there was some truth to it.
But when Yu Fei stepped out of the car, he immediately saw a lanky, slim young man with a second-hand backpack, walking cautiously.
He faintly recognized the person: “Giannis?”
The young man turned around abruptly, and no matter how inexperienced his face was, Yu Fei would never forget it.
He was the freak of nature who, during the era of modern small-ball basketball, could take off from beyond the three-point line with two steps and dunk. He was the player who in the 2022 playoffs inadvertently lifted his leg, ruining Irving’s most hopeful year for a championship since 2016.
The impact of that kick could be compared with Pachulia’s “clumsy foot” against Leonard. One buried The Big Three, the most offensively gifted in modern basketball, the other ended the Spurs’ brief and lamentable Kawhi era.
Antetokounmpo clearly recognized Yu Fei and immediately ran up to him, struggling to organize his words in poor English: “You… you’re the GOAT… it’s an honor…”
“You don’t speak English?” Yu Fei asked, somewhat surprised.
Antetokounmpo admitted with a nod, “My English is not fluent.”
“No problem,” Yu Fei said with a smile, “Basketball is the universal language.”
Then, Yu Fei asked, “Do you know the way?”
Antetokounmpo nodded; he had already played for the Clippers in the summer league and knew the way.
“Lead the way,” Yu Fei said, “I’m not familiar with this place.”
Antetokounmpo proceeded to lead the way, feeling a bit nervous inside. Although he didn’t know much about basketball, he at least knew that the man behind him was the greatest basketball player in the world today.
No… His brother Thanasis once told him, “Not the greatest in the world, but the GOAT of all time!”
What’s the difference?
Antetokounmpo didn’t understand. He wasn’t someone well-versed in basketball history; to him, being the greatest in the world was already ample proof of someone’s status. As for “the GOAT of all time,” he didn’t comprehend the significance of the title.
If given the chance, he might ask the GOAT, “Why are you the GOAT of all time?” and “What does GOAT mean?”
However, his brother Thanasis had also said, “He is the tallest tower, but even the tallest tower in the world can be toppled one day.”
At only 13 years old, Antetokounmpo did not understand what his brother meant but kept those words in his mind.
As they entered the arena, Yu Fei asked, “I heard you didn’t start playing basketball until you were 13?”
Antetokounmpo nodded, “That’s right.”
“What a shame,” Yu Fei stated, leaving the Greek puzzled.
A shame?
The Greek didn’t understand what was regrettable. Even if he had started playing basketball at the age of three, he was now in the NBA.
He knew little about basketball, but he was aware that the NBA was the top basketball league in the world. Many people never get to touch an NBA court in their lifetime.
How was it a shame then?
Antetokounmpo was perplexed, but he didn’t dare to ask further.
As Yu Fei entered the locker room, he naturally occupied the largest locker.
Sophomore Meyers Leonard reminded him, “Frye, that was Blake’s locker last season…”
“How did you perform last season?” Yu Fei asked.
Leonard had a look of regret on his face, “Very badly.”