noveldrama
Chapter 977 977 573 We Achieve Greatness Because of
Chapter 977 977 573 We Achieve Greatness Because of
?Chapter 977: Chapter 573 We Achieve Greatness Because of Others_3 Chapter 977: Chapter 573 We Achieve Greatness Because of Others_3 “`
“Are you going to stay in last season forever?”
“No…”
“Then don’t talk nonsense.” Yu Fei authoritatively closed the locker, “Starting today, this locker belongs to number 44!”
Yu Fei had his own way of doing things, and now his status and power with the Clippers were even higher than what Wizards Dan had in the past; he didn’t need to beat around the bush with Griffin.
In terms used by an American politician for international PUA tactics: he had justifiably occupied the locker symbolizing the authority in the locker room, based on his strength and position.
He didn’t like beating around the bush, and it was better for Griffin to realize the reality sooner rather than later.
Afterwards, Yu Fei went to the court to warm up.
Soon, the big shots began to arrive. First was Griffin, wearing sunglasses and trendy clothes as if he had just stepped off a fashion runway. He glanced at Yu Fei from a distance, didn’t greet him, and promptly walked into the locker room. However, upon entering, he found that his locker had been taken over by someone else.
“What’s the meaning of this?!” Griffin exclaimed.
Veteran Chauncey Billups chuckled and said, “Frye stated that starting today, this locker belongs to number 44.”
Griffin angrily said, “Didn’t anyone tell him that this is my locker?”
“Meyers told him.” Billups continued with a smile, “But Frye didn’t care.”
Griffin was extremely dissatisfied with the changes happening to him. Since the end of last season, everything with the Clippers had gone awry. Damn Donald Sterling suddenly fell from grace, then he was told the Greatest of All Time was considering joining the Clippers—the worst team in NBA history might actually be favored by the greatest player of all time? Griffin was excited for a while but quickly cooled down.
He realized the arrival of the GOAT would take away his position and the ball. He could accept that, after all, that was the GOAT. But what he couldn’t accept was that the GOAT hadn’t greeted him at all—not a text, not a call, not even a message passed on through someone else: “Blake, let’s do big things together!”
Why? Was he not worthy, or had the GOAT not considered his feelings at all? The situation in the locker room made Griffin realize that a lot of important things were happening this summer, but none of them involved him. The GOAT was establishing his own rules within the team, no need for Griffin to be informed, to cooperate, just to accept it after it had happened.
Griffin, who had never been contradicted by anyone in the Clippers, felt a humiliation he had never experienced before. He wanted to resist, but the reality of power made him hold back the rage in his heart. After all, his and the GOAT’s powers were on completely different levels.
A few minutes later, Griffin took to the practice court. He still did not take the initiative to greet Yu Fei. Although he made no statement about the occupation of his locker, his opposition was plainly evident.
“Big Fei, that guy has no respect for you,” Kwame Brown said with dissatisfaction, “He didn’t even bother to greet you, are the young ones these days all so impolite?”
“It’s alright.” Yu Fei said indifferently, “I disrespected him before he could disrespect me.”
Later, Zaza Pachulia approached Yu Fei and greeted him.
“How’s it going, Frye, lately?”
“Not bad, how about you?” Yu Fei teased, “You seem to have put on some weight…”
Pachulia laughed: “Yes, just like always, I’ll slim down during training camp.”
“Work a bit harder, Zaza.” Yu Fei said, “We don’t have a center, the team will rely heavily on your performance on the inside.”
Pachulia had previously been guarding LaMarcus Aldridge in the Bucks, he was experienced in this regard. Hearing Yu Fei say this, he knew he would have plenty of playtime in the new season and was full of anticipation.
“`
Another new addition to the Clippers, Paul Pierce, observed everything around him cautiously. When he heard he was traded to the Clippers, he wasn’t too happy about it because Yu Fei was on this team. In this era of playing basketball, as long as your team is competitive, it’s inevitable to compete with Yu Fei. Pierce had been a competitor to Yu Fei in 2008, but ultimately did not come out on top.
Fortunately, Doc Rivers had been traded along with him. Rivers was a coach he trusted, even though his motivational talks were starting to wear on Pierce.
As a newcomer, Pierce’s first task was to ensure his place. So, who could guarantee his place?
Pierce approached Yu Fei.
“How does it feel to be back home?” asked Yu Fei.
With a self-deprecating tone, Pierce replied, “Nothing to write home about, look at the team I’m on. Honestly, I’d rather play for the Lakers Team.”
Yu Fei laughed, “I can’t imagine Larry Bird playing for the Lakers.”
Pierce was surprised that Yu Fei compared him to the great Larry Bird. If he truly were Bird, Danny Ainge, who tried to trade him, would have probably been fired by the owner long ago.
“You’re right,” Pierce slowly nodded, “I can’t play for the Lakers.”
Because now, Pierce’s career was closely linked with the Celtics, and playing for the Lakers would be the worst thing he could think of.
“But you can do one last thing for the Celtics.”
Pierce looked at Yu Fei silently.
“Make this shameful Clippers as great in Los Angeles as the Lakers.”
That’s what Yu Fei said.
This was a path Pierce had never considered. As a native of Los Angeles, how could he not know how unpopular the Clippers were locally? To make the team as beloved as the Lakers, that was… simply impossible for him alone.
But what if Yu Fei was there?
Pierce still felt it was a long shot, but it was no longer impossible.
“If that’s your ambition,” Pierce said firmly, “I’m more than happy to help you out.”
The pressure of facing the Greatest of All Time that Pierce felt disappeared, replaced by an easy smile: “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
The grudges between the two players on the court seemed to have dissipated after that promise.
In less than ten minutes, the players had assembled on the court. Head coach Doc Rivers, associate head coach Alvin Gentry, and technical development coach Chad Forcier, whom they’d pricy pried from the Spurs, along with a group of coaches who had followed Rivers from Boston to Los Angeles.
Dressed in a navy-blue short-sleeve shirt and black shorts, Rivers stood in front of everyone and loudly delivered the pre-season pep talk he had prepared: “I know some of you have doubts about our upcoming season. You might think the Clippers are terrible, this team is cursed, and you’re here only because you feel it’s your only chance to stay in the NBA. If you still hold such beliefs, I want you out right now, because starting today, the history of the Clippers is going to turn a new page!”
“If you have any doubts, just look at this guy!” Rivers pointed to Yu Fei, “No matter how much you’ve failed in the past, no matter how dark the history of the Clippers has been, starting today, we will embark on a bright future under Frye’s leadership. This is what ‘Ubuntu’ means – we are great because of others!”
“Damn it…” Pierce murmured, “Since when did ‘Ubuntu’ have this meaning?”