Su Jun pushed his way to the front of the reporters. He strained to raise his arm, holding his voice recorder in front of O’Neal’s face, and loudly asked for O’Neal’s thoughts on Yao Ming’s performance in the first half of the season.
This was clearly the question the reporters from China cared about most.
After all, Yao Ming had just edged out O’Neal for the starting center spot for the first time.
O’Neal nodded repeatedly as he listened. "That’s right," he said. "He’s an incredible guy. Good heavens, for someone so tall to be that agile... Oh, right. I should probably start by congratulating him on making the All-Star starting lineup. So, without a doubt, he’s a star. He’s a player who elevates the quality of the game."
"Most importantly, he also improves the NBA’s international image. And you know, when it comes to judging these things, I’m an expert."
Su Jun nodded silently.
However, the reporters around him clearly showed a hint of disappointment.
This answer wasn’t quite what they’d expected.
A few steps away, Chen Yu, who was also surrounded by reporters, heard O’Neal’s answer and chuckled to himself.
’This guy was shouting on the plane that Yao Ming didn’t deserve to be an All-Star starter, that he’d only gotten in by a fluke,’ Chen Yu thought. ’But in front of the reporters, his words are sweeter than anyone’s.’
’He’s a sly one.’
"What was your question?" Chen Yu snapped back to reality and looked at the reporter who had just spoken.
It looked like a reporter from the Washington Post.
"Michael’s knee?" Chen Yu considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Of course. His knee has recovered. I don’t think you need to ask any more about it. Any player I treat who is cleared to return will be perfectly healthy."
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced over at Jordan, who was surrounded by an even larger crowd of reporters.
He didn’t hear any gasps from the reporters, so Jordan probably hadn’t started trash-talking yet.
At yesterday’s press conference, Jordan hadn’t said much either. When reporters asked about his successors, he just chuckled and praised all five of them.
He made no mention of the fact he’d been sidelined for nearly a month just to be ready for this game, fully intending to school those five.
’He’s holding it all in, getting ready to unleash it on the court.’
The man loved to talk trash, but sometimes, he preferred to let his actions do the talking.
The interview session ended, and the team practice officially began.
Popovich and Chen Yu stood on the sidelines. He smiled at Chen Yu. "Chen, we’re on the same team now."
His tone, expression, and the look in his eyes made it seem as if the two of them shared some clandestine secret.
Chen Yu nodded awkwardly. ’What’s this about? Is he trying to poach me again?’
Popovich pointed to Duncan on the court. "Chen, I really have to thank you for what you did for Tim. Without you, he wouldn’t be this healthy this season."
Duncan, who had won the regular season MVP last season, had arguably reached the peak of his career.
But his knee injuries were slowly starting to affect him.
Popovich felt that if it weren’t for Chen Yu’s treatment, Duncan’s peak would have been significantly shortened.
But now, he didn’t have to worry.
This season, Duncan looked as if he had returned to his athletic state from before his major injury. He could run, he could jump, and his skills had just reached their zenith. So far this season, he was averaging 26.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, and an incredible 2.9 blocks per game. He was playing so well it was almost frightening.
Duncan was a massive reason why the Spurs were able to overtake the Phoenix Suns and claim the top spot in the West before the All-Star break.
Chen Yu smiled and offered a polite reply. "Indeed. He’s unbelievably healthy now, which proves the surgery was a success. I think he could even win back-to-back regular season MVP awards."
’Given how Duncan’s playing, if he helps the Spurs hold on to first place in the West, he can definitely win another regular season MVP.’
But as he said it, Chen Yu couldn’t help but recall something from the middle of last month. When the Spurs had overtaken them for first in the West, Skiles had grumbled to him. The gist of it was a complaint that Chen Yu had healed too many players, creating a host of powerful rivals for the Phoenix Suns.
Popovich, not being modest in the slightest, nodded. "I think he can, too."
Although it was called a formal team practice, it was really just an opportunity for these stars to get together and chat.
Chen Yu noticed that O’Neal and Kobe still weren’t speaking to each other at all.
O’Neal, however, did take the initiative to go over and cozy up to Yao Ming, even insisting on a friendly free-throw competition.
Thanks to Chen Yu’s adjustments to his shooting form, his free-throw percentage had reached 70%.
But that was still a far cry from Yao Ming’s.
So far this season, Yao Ming’s free-throw percentage was over 80%, which was incredible.
As he was watching, someone next to him suddenly said hello.
He turned his head and saw it was Gary Payton.
He seemed a bit reserved as he greeted Chen Yu, looking like he wanted to talk.
Chen Yu nodded in response, subconsciously scanning Payton’s body with the Eye of All-Seeing.
’People who seek me out are almost always injured.’
’But Payton is known as one of the league’s iron men. He’s maintained an incredibly high attendance rate for years and has never had a major injury.’
He stood next to Chen Yu and asked about the practice of rolling iron balls in one’s hand.
This season, the pair of iron balls in J Kidd’s hands had become a common and striking sight.
And Payton and J Kidd were very good friends.
’The thing is, Payton doesn’t need to work on his shot, does he?’ Chen Yu mused. ’His best offensive move is his post-up game, and his mid-range jumper is already very accurate.’
"It should be effective," Chen Yu said, making a gesture. "See, by using your fingers to rotate the iron balls, you can improve their dexterity and strength."
But as they continued talking, Chen Yu realized Payton hadn’t come over to talk about iron balls at all.
Eventually, he even brought up Ewing.
His words were full of envy. He even brought up the moment when Ewing, after winning the championship, took the trophy and danced in front of Jordan.
If Ewing’s entire career had been overshadowed by Jordan, preventing him from winning a championship, wasn’t Payton’s story much the same?
In ’96, the Supersonics had fought their way into the Finals, only to run into Jordan and his 72-win Bulls, just one year after his return.
In that Finals series, Payton’s defense earned him the nickname of the only man who could guard Jordan, but they still lost the championship.
And that was the closest he ever got to a title.
"Chen," Payton said, his spiel finally reaching its destination, "Jason told me that sports lab you opened is incredible and that it’s helped him a ton. This Summer, I’d like to go to Phoenix and work on improving myself." He finished with a smile.
But there was a hint of apprehension in his eyes.
"Of course," Chen Yu replied casually, though his mind was already turning.
’This guy comes up to me out of the blue, starts talking about Ewing... he couldn’t be hinting at *that*, could he?’
Chen Yu’s sources within the league were much better than any reporter’s.
He had heard some rumors that the Supersonics were planning to rebuild.
With the trade deadline only ten days away, there were already some media reports that the Supersonics were looking to trade Payton.
Most importantly, Payton’s contract was up at the end of the Summer.
He was 35 years old now. And while he’d still managed to average 22 points and 9 assists last season, his decline was noticeable.
At that age, the Supersonics were clearly not going to re-sign him to another big contract.
Chen Yu understood NBA front offices. He knew how general managers like Brian thought. So, he could say with certainty that the Supersonics would trade Payton before the deadline.
So, for Payton—someone he’d barely ever spoken to—to suddenly approach him at this critical juncture... first using J Kidd to break the ice, then bringing up Ewing, and finally mentioning a visit to his lab in the Summer... it was all very telling.
This was a massive, high-profile commercial league, not unlike the professional world of a major corporation. And in that world, one could generally live by the rule that nobody does anything for nothing.
In other words, when a colleague suddenly starts a conversation and tries to get on your good side, it’s a hundred-percent certainty that they want something.
The answer was obvious: Payton wanted to come to the Phoenix Suns.
His goal, of course, was to chase a championship.
It couldn’t happen now. With the trade deadline looming, Chen Yu knew that Brian had no intention of making a trade. The Phoenix Suns’ roster was solid, and their chemistry was excellent.
The only thing he was interested in was draft picks.
Payton was still an All-Star caliber player. The Phoenix Suns didn’t have the assets to trade for him, nor would they want to.
The only other possibility was for him to come to the Phoenix Suns in the Summer, after becoming a free agent, on a reduced salary.
The Phoenix Suns couldn’t offer him a big contract either.
But for a championship, even Ewing had been willing to accept two million a year. Why wouldn’t Payton?
He had been in the league for twelve years; money was definitely not his top priority anymore.
As his gaze followed Payton, Chen Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’Because of me, the Phoenix Suns are turning into a retirement home for ring-chasing veterans!’
’The season’s only halfway over, and he’s already scheming to join the Phoenix Suns and cozying up to me?’
But after calming down, Chen Yu felt more wistful than anything.
Competitive sports—fighting for first place, for a championship—was like panning for gold. Many people only saw the glitter of the final prize but failed to notice the countless others who struggled and strived, only to be ruthlessly washed away.
The Hawks’ market was poor; they had the lowest attendance in the league.
But the nightlife here was legendary, drawing countless people in.
After all, the notorious Golden Club was located here.
Even though it had closed down, the city’s ubiquitous nightclubs and topless bars still held a powerful allure.
So, the next day, on the way from the hotel to Philips Arena, Chen Yu saw a rather lethargic-looking O’Neal and couldn’t help but ask, "How late were you guys out last night?"
He didn’t know who had organized it, but O’Neal and Hardaway had gone out together last night.
They had even tried to invite him.
But Chen Yu wasn’t particularly interested in that sort of thing, so he had declined.
Even though Lexi hadn’t come along this time, giving him a perfect opportunity to get into trouble.
O’Neal blinked. "We came back really early."
’Like hell you did,’ Chen Yu thought, then said aloud as a reminder, "You should take it easy. You’ve got a game tonight."
’Most importantly, how long have you been married? You can’t be acting like a bachelor like Hardaway.’
"Chen, don’t get the wrong idea," O’Neal said, seemingly realizing something, and defended himself righteously. "I didn’t do anything."
Then, with a look of indifference, he added in a sour tone, "Besides, I’m not the main character today, so who cares."
Today’s main attractions were, without a doubt, Jordan and Yao Ming.
It went without saying for Jordan; it was his last All-Star Game, so of course he’d be in the spotlight.
And Yao Ming, to everyone’s surprise, was also receiving an astonishing amount of attention.
For the past two days, the media had been swarming him.
Hearing the resentment in O’Neal’s voice, Chen Yu secretly shook his head.
’These guys. They’re cursing him out in their heads, but the stream of compliments never stops.’
For instance, at the player meet-and-greet the day before yesterday, Yao Ming’s parents were in attendance, and O’Neal had made a special point of going over to greet them.
Duncan even told reporters he had become a fan of Yao Ming, saying he was deeply impressed by his agility and size.
Even the old master of trash talk had plenty of praise for Yao Ming, chuckling and saying he regretted not drafting him two years ago.
But Chen Yu knew very well this was all just empty praise.
These players, who had learned how to handle the media from the moment they entered the league, could spew out an endless stream of compliments.
You’d have to be a real fool to actually believe any of it.
It got to the point where Chen Yu couldn’t help but worry that Yao Ming might grow arrogant from all this attention.
Chen Yu hoped he wouldn’t.
To make it in the NBA, you could be arrogant, even conceited, but only if you had the skill to back it up. Talent was the foundation for everything.
Only those who understood that could have a long career in the NBA.

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