The night was deep.
The Los Angeles branch of Quanjude.
"Mr. Yao, thank you for your hospitality." Phil Jackson said with a smile as he walked out of the restaurant’s lobby, stopping to thank Yao Ming’s father.
In halting English, Yao Ming’s father repeatedly said there was no need for thanks, and expressed his gratitude for how Jackson had taken care of Yao Ming.
On the other side, Yao Ming was bidding farewell to all his teammates, hugging each one.
"Yao, the roast duck was delicious! I finally understand why Mariah Carey said it’s the best food in the world." Fisher gave Yao Ming a thumbs-up.
Thanks to Chen Yu’s weight loss show, and especially Mariah Carey’s wholehearted endorsement and praise, roast duck had become a sensation across the United States. Many Americans were searching for roast duck restaurants all over the country, eager to taste the dish that Mariah Carey claimed was so good you could bite your own tongue off.
That was precisely why Yao Ming had chosen Quanjude as the location for tonight’s dinner to thank his teammates for their support throughout the season.
It proved to be the right choice. After about ten roast ducks were devoured, both the hosts and guests were thoroughly pleased.
"See you next week, Yao." It was finally Kobe’s turn. He stepped forward and patted Yao Ming on the back.
He must have aggravated the injury in his right shoulder, as his expression looked a bit strained.
Yao Ming asked with concern, "Is your shoulder okay?"
Next week, the two of them would be heading to Phoenix to see Chen Yu for technical skill improvement.
Kobe wasn’t just going to improve his skills; he was also seeking Chen Yu out for surgery. The first issue was a chronic muscle injury in his shoulder.
It was an old injury left over from when his shoulder was dislocated last year.
The second was his right knee.
Near the end of the season, Kobe had twisted his right knee during a layup.
An MRI later revealed a minor tear in his medial collateral ligament.
It didn’t require surgery, just rest.
Unfortunately, during the high-intensity playoffs, his healed right knee began to act up again. An examination after the series against the Phoenix Suns showed new tears and inflammation.
The team doctor’s recommendation was to find Chen Yu and have surgery for a complete repair during the offseason.
"It’s nothing." Kobe moved his shoulder a bit, smiling to show he was fine.
Everyone got into their cars and left.
Jackson, however, climbed into a van with Kupchek, Lambis, and the others.
Yao Ming’s father had brought a type of baijiu from China called Mao-something. It was quite strong. After getting in the van, Jackson immediately rolled down the window to let the night breeze in.
"By the way, Phil, what do you think about Ma Long saying he wants to join the Phoenix Suns?" Kupchek, sitting beside him, started a casual conversation, his expression gloomy.
After being eliminated, the offseason moves had, in reality, already begun.
Horry had become a free agent. He was getting older, and his hometown was Houston. Kupchek had sounded out his agent and knew he wanted to return to Texas to spend more time with his family.
Of course, those weren’t the main reasons. The primary reason was surely that he saw no hope of winning a championship with the Lakers.
With him gone, next up was Olajuwon.
Although the Lakers would exercise his contract for next year, at his age, he was really only being signed to continue training Yao Ming. They couldn’t expect him to play in actual games.
As for the remaining Medvedenko, he wasn’t very effective either.
Then there was Gugliotta, but he wasn’t tough enough.
It didn’t matter in the regular season, but how could you succeed in the playoffs without being tough?
That’s why Kupchek had actually set his sights on Ma Long long ago, hoping to attract him to join in the summer.
Who would have thought the Phoenix Suns would snatch him away?
How could he not be frustrated?
Just then, Lambis, who was sitting opposite them, added grimly, "It’s not just Ma Long. I saw some media analysis suggesting Stockton should play another year and join the Phoenix Suns with him. Plus, a newspaper in Phoenix already broke the story that Gary Payton was seen meeting with Chen Yu. He’s not injured, so he’s probably aiming to join the Phoenix Suns too."
A few years ago, just hearing those names would have been enough to make you drool.
Jackson, looking weary, took off his glasses and rubbed his temples. "Someone has to step up and say something. Otherwise, they might as well not even play the playoffs anymore and just hand the championship trophy to the Phoenix Suns."
The first year, Ewing and Olajuwon joined the Phoenix Suns because of Chen Yu. Under Chen Yu’s treatment and maintenance, they played the entire season full of life and energy, defeated the Lakers, and won the championship.
The second year was more of the same. Oakley, Sabonis, a whole bunch of former stars flocked to the Phoenix Suns for Chen Yu.
At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal, but come the playoffs, these old guys were still as spry as ever. Take Sabonis; with O’Neal out for two games, he single-handedly schooled Yao Ming.
With legs like his, it was a miracle he could even play at all.
Now the Phoenix Suns looked poised to defend their title. If this happened again, with Chen Yu’s ability to guarantee the health of veteran players attracting a horde of former stars, who could possibly stand it?
Kupchek nodded in agreement.
’Two championships in two years, and they even unexpectedly got the number one draft pick. You’ve hogged all the benefits; who wouldn’t be jealous?’
"Phil, should we find some reporters to stage a protest?"
The league had to be pressured into imposing some restrictions.
"No, no, no. We can’t be too hasty with this. We have to wait," Jackson said, shaking his head.
"Wait for what?"
Kupchek didn’t quite understand.
If they didn’t protest soon, the deals would all be finalized.
Jackson said, "Wait for the Western Conference Finals to end. If the Phoenix Suns lose, that’s the best-case scenario. They won’t have defended their title, and it will also show that the Phoenix Suns’ management has a flawed team-building strategy. We won’t have to say a thing; they’ll make adjustments themselves."
"But if they win, then I don’t think we’ll have to do anything. Popovich will be the first one to jump out and start criticizing and protesting the Phoenix Suns."
Two-time MVP, leading a team with the incredible Duncan, and they still lose? Then next year the Phoenix Suns assemble another whole team of stars? With Popovich’s personality, it would be a wonder if he didn’t raise hell.
Someone else would be the one to stick their neck out. All everyone else had to do was follow suit and attack them as a group.
Kupchek’s eyes lit up.
’That’s right!’
The Lakers’ elimination this year was actually understandable, come to think of it. After all, they’d lost O’Neal, and his replacement, Yao Ming, was still young.
But the Spurs were different.
Duncan was already so damn good, and they still lost. Add to that David Robinson’s retirement next season, this year was the Spurs’ last window to win a championship. It would be weirder if Popovich *didn’t* cause a scene.
"Phil, will Greg really do it? Don’t forget, the reason Duncan played so well this season was also because of Chen Yu," Lambis countered from across the van.
Why was Duncan so good? Wasn’t it because Chen Yu had healed his knee?
From that perspective, Popovich owed Chen Yu a favor. Would he really jump out and protest against the Phoenix Suns?
"That’s different." Jackson shook his head. "It’s like me saying in front of reporters that Chen and the Phoenix Suns are cheating and destroying the league’s balance. That doesn’t stop us from being the best of friends in private."
’Favors are favors, but business and personal matters should be kept separate.’
Lambis understood, but he couldn’t help but roast him internally. ’Since when were you two best friends? Did you just decide that yourself?’
Jackson could be patient, but someone else had already fired the first shot.
「Phoenix.」
When Brian found Chen Yu, Chen Yu had just finished surgery on Miller and returned to his office to handle some medical records.
He casually found a place to sit, as if he owned the place.
"What are you doing here?" Chen Yu asked, glancing up at him.
Brian smiled. "I heard Miller was having surgery today, so I came to check on it. Was it successful?"
’This guy definitely has a mole in my clinic.’
"What do you think? When have I ever failed?" Chen Yu said flatly.
"That’s true."
Brian chuckled and added, "Have you seen the papers? I’m talking about Sloan’s interview."
Chen Yu sighed.
’How could I not have seen it?’
After Ma Long announced in an interview that he wanted to join the Phoenix Suns, Sloan immediately gave an interview to reporters, angrily denouncing Ma Long. His words were harsh, calling him a "pathetic coward."
A coward!
That adjective, applied to Postman Ma Long—a man known for his toughness, iron-clad defense, and fighter mentality—was tantamount to the ultimate repudiation.
Of course, Sloan didn’t hold back from attacking the Phoenix Suns either, calling their team-building strategy "shameless," saying they were exploiting old veterans and didn’t deserve a championship.
Chen Yu didn’t know if the media had sensationalized it, but he could read between the lines and see just how furious Sloan was.
’The old man must be livid.’
"They’re just jealous," Brian snorted smugly, his expression practically begging for a punch.
As his friend, Chen Yu felt obligated to throw some cold water on him.
"Brian, don’t you think you’ve been a little too smug lately? It’s not a good look. It’s bound to make people jealous."
’He’s obsessed with defending the title, even commissioning a championship ring design in advance.’
’Most importantly, the flock of former All-Star veterans coming to him has made him completely lose his head.’
Look at what he was scheming.
He was saying that Ma Long and Stockton were so close they could be godfathers to each other’s children. Since Ma Long was coming to the Phoenix Suns, he could totally have Ma Long act as a persuader to get Stockton to play one more year, bringing this Utah duo into the fold.
He also had his eyes on Pippen, analyzing for Chen Yu how Pippen still had some fight left in him. Even though he had injuries, with Chen Yu around, those injuries were no problem at all. He could totally come to the Phoenix Suns and fill a spot on the frontline.
He was even considering taking Jordan up on his offer, clamoring to have Jordan come to Phoenix to help sell tickets.
"Also, are you sure you want to sign Ma Long? I’m not one to talk behind people’s backs, and a player’s on-court and off-court life should be judged separately, but I still don’t think he’s a good choice. How should I put this... he’s just a scumbag."
In private, Chen Yu didn’t have to hold back. After a moment’s hesitation, he directly used the word "scumbag."
Chen Yu and Ma Long were certainly not strangers; they were quite familiar with each other, but they were never friends.
The guy’s character was really questionable.
You could say Jordan was an old rascal—gambling, cheating, all kinds of trash talk. His character wasn’t great, but at least he had some bottom line. Unlike Ma Long, who was truly scummy to a whole other degree.
Just a few years ago, the media broke a story, providing solid proof that Ma Long had gotten a girl pregnant when he was only 20.
At the tender age of twenty.
The crucial part was, he refused to pay child support.
Having been in the sports world for a few years and met many people, Chen Yu knew very well that you couldn’t simply equate a player’s on-court performance with their off-court character.
Chen Yu wasn’t one to point fingers or demand that everyone be a perfect saint.
Jordan had a ton of flaws.
And back when Redondo and Batty were at the clinic, they would often gossip with Chen Yu about how Maradona, the king of world football, was such an asshole in private, and how debauched his personal life was.
But there were some things Chen Yu just couldn’t stomach.

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