Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

As the radio show became a hit, Yu Fei's agent demanded that the Bucks hand over the rights to the program to Fei.

After negotiations, Fei ultimately acquired ownership of the radio station.

In name, his radio station still belonged to the Bucks, but from a contractual perspective, the program was completely his own. Although the Bucks couldn't profit from the radio station's commercial revenue, the station could boost the team's visibility and drive merchandise sales, making it, overall, a win-win collaboration.

Fei rubbed his eyes, freshened up, and then began eating breakfast.

Shortly after, Lawson and Clark (the assistant) arrived.

"Auntie Jennie says you slept in today?" Lawson teased.

Annoyed, Fei replied, "The radio fans, who've lost their senses, bombarded me with calls for three hours last night; what's wrong with sleeping a bit more?"

Clark asked in surprise, "Really? But you're so popular in Milwaukee."

"They weren't targeting me." Fei explained, "They were bombarding George Karl."

Upon hearing this, both Lawson and Clark had a look of sudden realization.

They knew Karl's character and understood why the fans wanted to "bombard" Karl.

Although they were Fei's men, and Karl had almost never publicly criticized Fei, Karl's tendency to criticize players in the media was quite explosive, no matter how you looked at it.

"So, are you planning to heed the fans' call?" Lawson asked.

Fei shook his head, "I haven't decided what to do yet."

This was indeed a tricky situation since Karl wasn't targeting him.

Karl seemed to spray everyone, but he actually had a focused target.

It was Ray Allen whom he truly blasted; others were more like a bystander in "The Pretender" who got sprayed without cause.

This was why Fei struggled to get involved.

The main point of contention wasn't him.

Ray Allen was nominally the top dog, so if Karl really drove away the former, then Fei could smoothly rise to the top.

This seemed like the best outcome.

But Fei never felt Allen was an obstacle to his ascension, because the man was too aloof, disdainful of vying for position within the team, strict with himself and others.

This personality meant Allen had no friends in the team; how could someone without support become a leader?

In Fei's view, as long as he continued developing steadily, his status would naturally be affirmed.

Not to mention, Allen's style of play was compatible with his own.

However, watching Karl and Allen's conflicts escalate, Fei sensed danger.

If things kept going this way, perhaps one day the team would suddenly trade Allen.

That afternoon

Fei arrived at the St. Francis Training Facility and saw Ray Allen practicing his shots.

On the surface, everything looked normal.

But Allen's face spelled 'no trespassing.'

I must say that in Allen's eyes, there weren't many at St. Francis who weren't 'no trespassers.'

Either they were Karl's cronies or indifferent to Karl's nonsense, not even qualifying as human beings in his book.

"Ray-rey, if you need someone to talk to…" Fei opened a channel to chat with Allen.

But Allen merely glanced at him indifferently and said, "I don't want to talk."

Yes, that was the emotionless tone, the unapproachable expression, and the indifferent gaze that might suggest your whole family suddenly passed away—this is why Allen had no friends.

He might feel that nobody here was worthy of being his friend.

"Well, I just wanted to say, I hope George's words don't affect you; I believe he means no harm."

Fei's comment hit Allen's sore spot.

"No harm?!!!" Allen said through clenched teeth, "You think he means no harm!!!?"

Fei quipped, "Don't you think so? Isn't he like this with everyone?"

What pissed Allen off the most was that Karl wasn't like this with everyone. Karl had never posed a direct criticism of Fei. No matter how well or poorly Fei played, whether he was selfish or hardworking, Karl remained indifferent.

"Of course, you who have never been openly insulted can't feel his malice!" Allen, unable to restrain the resentment that wanted to drag Fei down with him, really wanted to ask: why has Karl never criticized you?

Fei smiled indifferently. Having known Allen for some time, Fei felt Allen only seemed emotionally rich at certain times.

Ironically, those moments seemed to always involve George Karl.

"You see, we really should have a talk."

Allen was no longer as dismissive, but his tone was still firm, "What's there to talk about?"

"I don't agree with George's approach, and it seems like you two lack a channel for communication." Fei said, "I think nothing is unresolvable if we could just sit down and talk."

Then, Allen's resentment erupted.

He laid bare the array of public insults he'd suffered at the hands of George Karl over the past two years; if true, Karl was indeed acting inhuman.

Had Fei been in the same position, he probably would have fallen out with Karl long ago.

So why had Allen endured till now? And it looked like he intended to keep enduring.

Fei recalled the details of the other man's family background.

Allen was also a fortunate child with both parents, but there was one thing: his father wasn't someone who would run off like a dog but also hardly spent any time with him. As a serviceman, Allen's father would come home periodically to inspect his schoolwork, making sure everything was in order.