Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

(Sorry, got dizzy there, this is the missing Chapter 52)

Before the draft, Arne Trem specifically instructed Yu Fei that once selected, to walk normally like usual, go on stage, and shake hands with Stern, giving a polite half-hug.

Remember, do not go for a full-body hug, remember.

This kind of thing usually goes without saying. Before the turn of the 21st century, no player had ever attempted to give the commissioner a close full-body hug at the draft.

Until the 2000 draft, when Darius Miles, like a nephew to Stern, gave the commissioner an excessively intimate full-body hug, causing great distress in Stern's heart. Consequently, Stern communicated via text message to other players' agents that such behavior should not happen again.

Even if Trem had not reminded him, Yu Fei had no interest in a full-body hug with Stern.

When Yu Fei approached, before he could even speak, Stern was the one who started talking.

In fact, it sounded more like he was muttering to himself.

"Alright, congratulations, Frye."

"Now look to the left, yes, to the left, aim for the camera, that's the lens, smile, be good, right, don't make me angry, stand properly, you can go now."⑴

Yu Fei had thought this moment would be sacred, until Stern completely ruined it.

Stern seemed annoyed with himself, eager to get it over with.

Yu Fei could only do as he was told, looking at the camera like a puppet, then descending from the stage to accept an ABC interview.

Yu Fei was interviewed by Greg Sager.

"Frye, first off, congratulations on becoming the second Asian American in history to enter the NBA through the draft. How do you feel?"

Yu Fei wasn't interested in knowing who the first was, "I feel great, um, I'm very excited, can't wait to play for the Cavaliers. I really wish the new season starts tomorrow."

Even though there wasn't a shred of truth in his words, what of it? Would anyone be hurt by it?

"Not long ago, Sports Illustrated writer Gary Smith wrote a feature on you, and we learned that you only began serious basketball training since the beginning of last year. That's even later than when Hakeem Olajuwon started. How much effort have you put in to go from an unnoticed junior in high school to the number eight pick in the NBA draft in just one year?"

How much effort? Should he say a lot?

Yu Fei had no intention of portraying himself as a hard worker. In truth, his current success was wholly due to two benefits.

One was the benefit of his past life; he was grateful that his past skills and experience fit perfectly with his current body.

The other was Yu Fei's own body, which had to be said met the NBA standards in all aspects, it's just that the original owner had utterly wasted it.

If the original Yu Fei loved basketball like he did in his previous life and had started systematic training from a young age, he might actually be competing with Brown for the first draft pick now.

But how could one dwell on such what-ifs? There are too many people in the world who waste their talents, or even don't know where their talents lie, with doing nothing being the true reflection for most.

Thus, Yu Fei told Sager, "I've been very fortunate, my efforts have paid off. Not everyone can achieve success through hard work, I'm very well aware of that."

Then, Sager brought up the trade rumors surrounding Yu Fei, "There are rumors that Cleveland might trade your draft rights to another team, what do you think?"

"Anyway, I'm still wearing this hat (Cavaliers cap)," Yu Fei said. "I'll let the news fly for a while; time will give the answer."

Since Dogter had asked Yu Fei to keep secrets, he obviously wouldn't leak anything before the trade was announced.

He didn't want to leave a bad impression on Dogter without even having played a game.

Considering what was about to happen to Kwame Brown, would his presence change history? If he angered Dogter here, would Dogter direct the anger meant for Brown at him instead?

It's hard to say.

Although Yu Fei wasn't afraid of Dogter's tests, he also didn't want to deliberately provoke Dogter.

"Last question, does being the eighth pick meet your expectations?"

"Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Eddie Curry, Jason Richardson, Shane Battier, Eddie Griffin...," Yu Fei recited the names of all the individuals picked before himself. "I will prove that I am better than them."

Sager's interview ended quickly, and it was the simplest one Yu Fei had to face today. After that, he had to proceed to the official media interview room to accept interviews from media all over the world.

Then came the photo shoot.

Yu Fei had to dress in a suit, grab a basketball with one hand, and strike a whole host of poses for various photos.

Patience was the most important thing today.

Yu Fei heard that Eddie Griffin was so annoyed by these tedious affairs that he had an "old illness relapse" and roared on the spot.

This impotent rage was of no use; he still had to return to his job and keep working. It was something every lottery pick had to do.

"If you find these things bothersome, then you'd better pray you're mediocre," a league executive told Yu Fei.

Yu Fei blinked, not quite understanding what he meant.

"This is what Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady—and all of them—have to deal with every day."

Yu Fei asked in surprise, "Are they still sane?"

"You've met Kobe recently, you know his condition," The executive chuckled. "AI has his own ways of decompressing. T-MAC has only recently become famous, and the media pressure in Orlando isn't like that in Los Angeles and Philadelphia."

"So, you're saying, if I go to a team with less media pressure, I can avoid these troubles too?"

Yu Fei was getting into his conversation with the executive, when a staff member hurried over with a Wizards cap in hand. "Frye! Frye!"

"What's wrong, John?" Yu Fei asked.

"Afraid you'll have to put on this cap," said the staff member named John.

Yu Fei glanced at it, recognized the Wizards' logo, and had an inkling of what was happening outside.

The executive seemed surprised too. "Cleveland traded you to D.C.?"

"Looks like it." Even though the news was already public, Yu Fei still wouldn't act as if he had known in advance, unless Jordan allowed him to say so. "They actually traded me, how heartbreaking. Is this what professional basketball is all about?"

The league executive who mistakenly thought that Yu Fei was genuinely upset patted him on the shoulder, "Son, it's not too late to realize that now. It might even be a good thing for you to understand the league's survival rule ahead of most people your age—everything is just business."

Uh-huh, Yu Fei had seen many news stories about players being traded in his previous life.

Nearly every traded person would say, "I know it's business."

But just by looking at their expressions, you could feel their emotions, especially those who did not expect to be traded. Often after the words, "I know it's business," was an undertone resembling, "shit out of luck."

After the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers' trade went public, the world was shocked by Jordan's decision.

Picking Kwame Brown with the number one draft pick was understandable, but trading Courtney Alexander, who showed brilliant performance after being traded last season, and giving away two first-round draft picks, one of which was unprotected, all for the rights to sign the eighth pick. And that eighth pick was also a high school player.

This trade was seen as proof of Jordan's determination to come out of retirement.

Last season, Courtney Alexander was traded to the Wizards mid-season and his performance improved significantly, averaging 16 points per game, a player with a promising future. He was exactly what the Cavaliers were looking for—a scorer.

Coincidentally, he played the same position as Jordan.

If Jordan decisively traded him away, it could only mean one thing—his determination to return was unwavering.

Regarding the trade, this is what Jordan had to say, "Ever since Frye became famous at ABCD Camp, I've been following him. He has always been one of my favorite rookies. Apart from his strong learning ability and rapid improvement, what impressed me the most about Frye was his 'game language'. He's the type of competitor who excels at motivating his teammates and psyching out opponents. This is an old-school spirit and philosophy that I haven't seen in young players for years. I believe Kwame can at least become an All-Star in the future, but if you ask me to bet on which rookie has the potential to become a superstar, I would put all my chips on Frye. Only he has that kind of potential because he has a great character. You know, character determines destiny."

⑴This excerpt from Odom's autobiography is suspect in its authenticity, as I have read too many player autobiographies, and no one else has said anything similar. So, most likely, this is something Odom concocted while high on drugs—so why copy it here? Because it's interesting.