Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

From that moment on, Karl had been trying to transform his rage into coaching energy.

If he was dissatisfied with a player, he would generally point it out to their face and in front of the media, but dealing with someone like Ray Allen, a Carroll-type person, seemed futile no matter how he guided them; they simply wouldn't care.

The events of tonight and Karl's longstanding dissatisfaction with Ray Allen had pushed his fury beyond the threshold, and he wouldn't tolerate it any longer.

When Karl walked into the locker room, waiting for Ray Allen was the nightmare he never imagined.

"I'm glad, at least three people stood up for their teammates when Kenyon Martin got physical; that's what you're supposed to do. If you back down at moments like these, our opponents will get the psychological edge!" Karl turned to Ray Allen, "Only a weak bitch would ignore such a thing."

Ray Allen's complexion changed.

Yu Fei suddenly raised his head; he knew who hadn't taken action.

Mason and Sprewell hadn't caught the hidden message in Karl's words, but they soon realized what was happening.

Because Karl wasn't planning on beating around the bush anymore, "Ray, where were you when Frye and Sprewell stood up for Anthony?"

When Karl had given up on bad-mouthing in front of the media and gone straight to the main character, how was the main character, who pretended not to hear the slander, supposed to handle himself?

Ray Allen defensively said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't know what I'm talking about? You fucking don't know what I'm talking about?" If Allen truly didn't know what Karl was talking about, then Karl would go insane. No, he was already going insane. "You shameful coward! Why do you have to act so superior? Why the fuck can't you stand up when your teammates are in trouble? Why do I have to remind you of something so basic? What the hell do you think teamwork is? Or do you think you're the fucking Chosen One, too high and mighty for these people in the locker room to stand up for?!"

Well said, Yu Fei nodded and then shook his head—I'm the damn Chosen One.

Karl's outburst was completely unexpected; Mason and Sprewell were stunned.

In their view, was the matter really so serious as to warrant this?

Ray Allen's self-esteem teetered on the brink of shattering. From a young age, he hardly ever fought with anyone or stood up for anyone; he always behaved properly and strictly controlled himself. He didn't need others to stand up for him, nor did he want to stand up for others; it was a way of life that carried over from his life onto the basketball court.

Suddenly, this became a problem?

George Karl was actually going to fall out with him over this?

Ray Allen was in a humiliating position, unable to defend himself; grinding his teeth, he said with difficulty, "This is how I am, I won't change. If you don't like it, trade me."

Even though Yu Fei didn't agree with Ray Allen's way of handling the situation, he wouldn't blame him for it, people are different.

Just as Karl declared he wanted to trade Ray Allen, Yu Fei stood out, "George, you're overreacting a bit."

That nearly stopped Karl's thoughts in their tracks.

"What?" Karl asked in disbelief.

"Your criticism of Ray is a bit too much," said Yu Fei, "He indeed didn't stand up, and he probably won't stand up in the future, but we don't need him to."

Karl stared at Yu Fei, wondering what he meant.

Yu Fei said, "You can't expect Michael and I to make amends, nor can you expect Anthony (Mason) to never act selfish with the ball, nor can you expect Sprewell to control his urge to choke someone when a coach insults him. In my view, these things define who we are. If Ray doesn't want to fight, then he shouldn't have to; his contract doesn't say he has to fight for his teammates on the court."

"What a joke! All four of you were involved in the conflict, and only he stood back; you still think that's reasonable?"

"Why wouldn't it be reasonable?" Yu Fei looked at Ray Allen, showing his support openly, "That's just Ray, we've known this about him for a while and we're not disappointed, the only thing he needs to do for us is to make those damn three-pointers!"

"It's only when he can't do that, that we'll be disappointed in him."

Yu Fei clearly outlined everyone's feelings toward Ray Allen.

He also indirectly let Karl understand a fact that he didn't know his players as well as he thought.

"Is that what you all think?" Karl asked.

"That's right, Ray just needs to make those damn threes!" Sprewell finished and looked at Yu Fei, "And I swore I'd never choke anyone again, stop bringing that up!"

Yu Fei asked innocently, "If I keep bringing it up, will you choke me?"

Then, Mason also had a "small complaint" against Yu Fei, "I haven't acted 'selfish' like you said for a long time, why would you say that? Is that how you see my selfless sacrifice?"

"Selfless sacrifice? Old man, you've got some nerve!" retorted Yu Fei, "If you hadn't been selfless you would have been traded long ago. Without me just now, that animal Kenyon Martin could have shit on your head; it's only right that you made a sacrifice for me!"

At those words, Mason felt like there was a huge stone stuck in his chest, and after a few seconds of stifling, he blurted out, "You're a fucking nightmare!"