Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Chapter 978 978 574 A Sense of Deja Vu

?Chapter 978: Chapter 574: A Sense of Deja Vu Chapter 978: Chapter 574: A Sense of Deja Vu “Is something wrong?” others asked Pierce.

“If ‘Ubuntu’ means this, then everything is wrong!” Pierce began to explain the origin of “Ubuntu” to everyone.

When the Celtics formed The Big Three, Rivers worried that the three stars might not work well together. During an overseas team-building trip, he heard the word “Ubuntu.” Rivers had an epiphany and told the players that the word meant “together” in the local language.

From that time on, it became the Celtics’ slogan. Wherever they went, you could always see Garnett standing in the middle chanting “one, two, three,” while the others shouted “Ubuntu” in unison.

As Rajon Rondo grew, his sharp personality could no longer be concealed. To tame the “stubborn mule,” Rivers reinterpreted “Ubuntu.” Another layer of meaning for “together” was “I am great because of others.”

Rivers hoped this would help Rondo understand that greatness lay not in himself but in the team he played for and the teammates around him.

Now, on the opening day of the Clippers’ training camp, Rivers not only deconstructed “Ubuntu” for the third time but also altered its meaning completely, much like postmodern abstract art.

He changed “I am great because of others” to “We are great because of others.”

Additionally, Rivers specifically pointed out that “others” referred to Yu Fei.

This had completely deviated from the original flavor.

Pierce understood that this was just Rivers’ ploy, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of nostalgia.

“I was once a firm believer in it,” said Pierce, “I am a true disciple of ‘Ubuntu’.”

After hearing Pierce’s explanation, Yu Fei couldn’t help but look at Rivers in a new light.

If this pig-headed coach could be as adaptable in coaching as he was now, wouldn’t he definitely become a coach of historic proportion?

Imagine a high EQ individual, likable, respected in the League, while also being a master tactician capable of adapting on the fly — such a combination would be invincible.

Unfortunately, though Rivers essentially possessed all the qualities of a distinguished coach, the problem was his game-time decisions might be the worst in the League.

That made Yu Fei think of a Chinese player who had been questioned with many “what ifs” — Li Muhao.

7’2” tall, Space Easy agility, yet struggling to achieve a double-double in rebounds in the CBA.

Of course, relative to Li Muhao as a player, Rivers was much better as a coach.

But the principle is the same; some have all the talents to succeed but miss out on being the best due to lacking one key element.

As for Rivers’ multiple deconstructions of “Ubuntu,” and even rebuilding it within the Clippers, it’s like the gunshot wound on Yuan Lang’s arm in “Soldier Assault.”

The origin of his gunshot wound could evolve into various versions depending on the team’s needs, and no one would know the true story.

Rivers’ “Ubuntu” was similar.

The true meaning of “Ubuntu” was not important; what mattered was its meaning in the moment.

If Rivers said “Ubuntu” meant the Clippers would be great because of the GOAT, then that was what it meant.

However, Blake Griffin was not satisfied with this outcome.

If the Clippers were to truly become great, then he should be the first to make the team great.

Why should that guy from Seattle, who hadn’t played a single game, have all this?

Griffin was unsettled.

Rivers noticed this.

Although today was only the first day of camp, his experience told him that many teams set the tone for their season on the first day of preseason training camp.

Since Griffin was about to lose his status as the privileged player, then the uprising GOAT had to put on a convincing performance.

This performance had to come from the present, not from showing eight fingers to Griffin — the record of eight championships indeed glittered, but this was Los Angeles, and this was the Clippers.

What were the Clippers?

The hell of basketball, a cursed team, the GOAT’s past glories meant nothing to them.

Only the present mattered.

Therefore, Rivers decided to organize an intrasquad scrimmage.

Yu Fei was for the White Team, Griffin for the Black Team.

When picking players, Yu Fei first chose Kwame Brown, then Giannis Antetokounmpo, followed by picking Matt Barnes and Willie Green from a bunch of unfamiliar fringe players.

Rivers was puzzled, “Frye, with these picks, who’s going to play point guard?”

Suddenly, Rivers realized something. Wasn’t Big Fei himself a point guard? Clearly, he intended to go all out to kick Griffin’s butt!

Yet, Rivers was mistaken. Indeed, Yu Fei wanted to defeat Griffin, but not as a point guard. If he couldn’t beat him face-to-face, Griffin probably wouldn’t be convinced.

Hearing Rivers’ question, Yu Fei smiled and said, “Just wait and see, Doug.”

Rivers thought to himself, was there a need to wait? He knew very well how strong the GOAT was at point guard! Although the GOAT was obviously going easy when picking players, he clearly didn’t plan to go easy in the game.

Griffin looked at his Black Team lineup — Billups, Pierce, Pachulia, and third-year guard Cory Joseph. His lineup was clearly stronger than the opposition’s. In a five-on-five match, their advantage was significant.

It was certain that the GOAT had made a prideful mistake in his selection. His attitude seemed to say that he could beat Griffin even with a random selection of players. Past achievements had blinded him.

For a prodigy trapped in the Clippers like Griffin, they often wouldn’t allow themselves to take too much responsibility for failure.