Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

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Unable to bear the humiliation, Shaquille O'Neal pushed Yu Fei away and roared, "I have three FMVP trophies, I'm the top dog of the Lakers Team!"

"FMVP trophies? You're bragging about that? It's only determined by the Finals, but that does fit the perception of someone from your lazy, racist, crippled race who always likes to exert effort only in the last leg of a marathon!"

Sarcasm, insults, curses, and then denying honor.

For professional athletes, there is no greater disgrace.

Shaquille O'Neal, grinding his teeth, thought about rushing up to Yu Fei to do something he probably wouldn't even dare to think about normally. Then, Anthony Mason quickly stopped him.

The referees stepped in to further pacify the situation.

O'Neal, cursing at Yu Fei continuously despite the referees' warnings, was given a technical foul.

"This is a conspiracy! This is a fucking conspiracy! You all have been fucking bought!"

Head referee Tim Donaghy said sternly, "Watch your language, Shaq."

"Fuck you! All of you pimps have lost your credibility⑵! That bastard has been insulting me all along, what have you done about it? Fuck you! Fuck all of you..."

Donaghy did not give O'Neal a second technical foul.

Yu Fei believed the only reason O'Neal could stay on the court after such abuse towards the referee was because the League needed the game as a spectacle.

Yu Fei and Shaquille O'Neal were the center of the conflict, and unless a real brawl broke out on the court, neither of them was going to be ejected.

The Lakers subbed out O'Neal, trying to cool him down, but the Bucks didn't sub Yu Fei.

Without O'Neal, Yu Fei's edge immediately dimmed quite a bit.

The Lakers were still tough to deal with, having an overly confident Kobe.

The Bucks mainly pitted Ray Allen against Kobe.

Yu Fei didn't have much interest in Kobe, because his playing style was completely different. If they were playing the Magic or The Celtics, he would have been eager to match up with McGrady or Pierce, but Kobe? No, thanks.

Even without considering that Kobe's style of play offered no reference value to him, just thinking about the fact that the opponent had averaged nearly 30 shots per game in the past month, how tiring could defending him be? Since Ray Allen wanted to compete with him, Yu Fei was content to be in charge of supplying ammunition on the side.

Most of the first quarter passed, with the Bucks leading the Lakers by 4 points, 18 to 14, Karl subbed Yu Fei out for a rest.

"Shaq's not in, and you're not at all excited?" Karl asked.

"That's not excitement, it's a personal vendetta," Yu Fei said, "I have no problems with Kobe."

Karl didn't know if Yu Fei truly didn't see Kobe as a problem or if he simply didn't consider a Kobe wildly taking individual shots worth his attention.

On the other hand, Ray Allen was fully focused on confronting Kobe, as if doing so would prove his worth and allow him to regain his status as the team leader.

Karl shook his head mockingly—it was too late.

Yu Fei had already become the team leader.

Ray Allen only had a title left.

And that title was something Yu Fei had deliberately let him hold onto for the sake of internal harmony.

Karl glanced at Yu Fei, who was chatting with Ratner on the bench. He believed he hadn't misjudged him—as soon as the Bucks no longer required a Ray Allen wearing a leader's title, Yu Fei would claim back what was his.

That would be the moment Ray Allen completely lost his status.

"Fulai, enjoying the game?"

Lawson was the only non-staff member allowed into the Bucks' bench.

One could say Lawson's status within the Bucks was like that of Tim Grover with the Wizards.

Everyone knew he wasn't one of their own, but no one dared to trouble him.

Yu Fei shook his head and said, "Not really."

"You almost stepped on that bastard's face, and you're still not happy?" Lawson was surprised by Yu Fei's "low sensitivity."

Yu Fei joked, "If he could really lie down and let me step on him, I'd be happy, but as you know, that's impossible."

Lawson continued on this informal topic, "Got any other ways to get a kick?"

"Sure," Yu Fei said, "If I could use the N-word on him."

"Oh Lord, let's not..."

"Don't worry, I know that's not an option," Yu Fei's smile gradually faded, and flames flickered in his brown eyes, "That's why I will never forgive him."

O'Neal had used a weak excuse to clear his name, although he publicly called Yao Ming a bug, he wasn't a racist. But if Yu Fei and Yao Ming were to respond with the N-word, in this League dominated by African Americans, they would have no place to stand.

Therefore, for Yu Fei, if he couldn't retaliate in the same way, then he should tightly hold onto this most important talisman of American society and attack O'Neal relentlessly from dawn till dusk.

The game progressed into the second quarter, with the Bucks still leading the Lakers by 5 points.

Four minutes later, Kobe made a pull-up three-pointer, tying the game.

The Lakers put O'Neal back in, and the Bucks brought back Yu Fei, Ratner, and Michael Redd.

"Chris," Yu Fei said, "from now on, stay out of the paint. Set screens for me every possession."

Ratner agreed, liking this plan. Why go into the paint, to be masochistic? Even the current O'Neal was more than he could handle. Explore more adventures at empire

If he kept setting screens outside for Yu Fei, it would shift the tide of the offense and defense.

Ratner playing the center position while setting screens would avoid wearing down too much against O'Neal in the paint, a tactic Yu Fei had employed last year while with the Wizards.

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