Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

"Enough, Frye!" Collins stood up, "This isn't a place for you to throw a tantrum! This is an intra-squad scrimmage, Chris is both your opponent and teammate, you have to respect him!"

"Respect him?" Yu Fei sneered back, "Who respects me?"

"During the eight-game losing streak, everyone has started but me!" Yu Fei demanded, "Why? Am I not worthy, or do you not want me to start?"

"Okay, maybe me starting won't solve the team's problems, but I'm certainly more useful than this waste! So why can't I start?"

"Is he better than me? Or is there someone here who doesn't want me to start?" Yu Fei looked at Whitney, "Chris, would you let me start?"

Whitney shrugged, "That would be more than fine with me."

"Rip, do you think I should start?" Yu Fei asked.

Hamilton didn't want to be put on the spot, but now, if he didn't support Yu Fei, he could forget about wearing the hat of a so-called young team leader.

Hamilton said resolutely, "I think you should start."

Yu Fei looked at White.

Before Yu Fei could even speak, White said, "If it weren't for the fact that you can't play center, I'd even let you start in my place."

Yu Fei smiled, looking provocatively and insolently at Jordan, "So who is it that doesn't want me to start?"

"This isn't just about you!" Collins yelled.

"Three starters are willing to let me start!" Yu Fei countered with greater volume, "I'm competing with a guy who's far worse than me, so why can't I fight for my spot? Why won't you give me a chance? Is it because I'm incapable? No, without me, you'd be 2 wins and 10 losses. I've helped you win two more games, yet you won't even give me a chance to start? If you think I don't deserve to start on this team, then trade me away—I'm fed up anyway!"

With that, Yu Fei took off his scrimmage jersey, and walked bare-chested toward the gym.

The place went quiet as a morgue.

"It seems like this is an issue that must be addressed," Pollin said, watching Yu Fei walk away.

Omari followed up on the owner's comment, "Frye is one of our best players. The outside world has always wondered why he hasn't made the starting lineup because he's obviously better than certain starters."

Pollin remained unruffled, gazing kindly at Jordan, "Michael, I believe you can handle this properly."

"We'll be fine," Jordan said.

"Of course, I trust you."

With that, Pollin walked toward the owner's office with Omari and Ansel.

Whether it's the pressure from public opinion, the owner's wishes, or Yu Fei's own demands and his agent's push, the matter has reached a point where it needs to be resolved.

Jordan was feeling annoyed and even considered the idea of trading Yu Fei.

But... trading Yu Fei would be tantamount to admitting he couldn't control this young wild horse—a concession he couldn't accept.

"Michael..." Collins thought now was a good time to trade Yu Fei.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

However, Jordan said, "Next game, let Rip come off the bench, I'll play the two, and let that kid start. Let him deal with Grant Hill. If he messes up, I'll shut him up for good!"

What if Grant Hill gets ruined by him?

Collins didn't voice that thought because Jordan had made up his mind.

He had no, and could not have, objections.

"Go get the kid back here, the scrimmage isn't over yet," Jordan pursed his lips, his habitual gesture, "Tell him our decision."

Is this really our decision?

Doug Collins thought this as he walked toward the gym.

On this not too long, not too short walk, Collins recalled the question: when had he started losing his voice in front of Jordan?

It had been too long, and he could hardly remember.

Yu Fei's words, that utter disrespect for the coaching staff, that arrogant self-importance, they unearthed memories Collins would rather have left buried.

Collins remembered it all. .net

It was also during a Chicago Bulls intra-squad scrimmage that he, wanting to get the starters accustomed to the away whistle, had intentionally let the assistant referee-turned-judge overlook fouls, which infuriated Jordan.

Jordan stormed off the court after his outburst, just like Yu Fei had done today.

As a coach, if a player does this and you lack the power—or authority—to stop him, you'll never be able to stop him again.

Collins couldn't stop Jordan from leaving, but to avoid fracturing their relationship, he had to go explain to Jordan in person and ask him to come back and finish the scrimmage.

He went, and Jordan came back. It meant from that moment on, Jordan would no longer respect him.

Just like today.

Yu Fei had made him lose face, but still, he had to go to the gym to persuade him to come back and finish the scrimmage and inform him he'd be starting the next game.

Regardless of whether Yu Fei could ruin Hill tomorrow night, Doug Collins would forever lose this player.

In just a few short minutes, the same nightmare replayed in Collins's reality once more.

He had nowhere to run.