Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Kwame Brown had his second surge in performance, marking the first time he showed a good game in front of Jordan, with a total of 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks, effectively neutralizing the adverse impact of Jordan's shooting inefficiency on the defense.

Yu Fei was most noticeably affected by Jordan's comeback.

When Jordan was absent, he was the big brother; with Jordan around, he even ranked below Hamilton. As a versatile small forward who did all the menial work on the court but hardly had any possession of the ball, he relied solely on his own enthusiasm and Chris Whitney's tendency for high passes to score 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

103 to 94

The Wizards beat the Mavericks, achieving a two-game winning streak and climbing to the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference.

"Their defensive focus was all on me, which brought good opportunities to my teammates..." Jordan hinted that his low shooting percentage had its reasons, indirectly linking Brown's outbreak to himself, "It's pleasant to see Kwame seizing the moment and performing well."

"What about Frye?"

"He has been outstanding."

"Michael, would you like to talk about your foot?"

"No, I don't want to," Jordan's tone cooled quickly, "I know whether I can play or not, as long as I'm standing here, it's not an issue."

Subsequently, the Wizards headed to the last stop on their road trip—Memphis.

The Memphis Grizzlies were one of Jordan's psychological hurdles.

Since the start of the season, many had said that if the Wizards had used the first draft pick on Pau Gasol, then Jordan's drafting skills would match his basketball skills.

Jordan didn't want to hear it; he never felt he made the wrong choice.

Most in management, if in his position, would have chosen Kwame Brown.

But in this world, everyone loves a correct outcome; no matter how right the process is, if the result is wrong, it's a zero score, and there's no room for debate.

Additionally, with Kwame Brown scoring double-doubles in two consecutive games, Jordan felt that Brown had matured, was capable of significant responsibility, and it was time to let him prove his eye for talent in a not so high-profile focus game.

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And so, without any preparation, Kwame Brown was put on the starting lineup by Collins.

Moreover, Collins placed him in the center position to face off directly against Pau Gasol.

"Kwame, you know how much effort Frye has put into getting a starting spot, and you are far from his equal," Jordan, before the game, pressurized with his voice, "Don't let us down!"

Please change "We" to "I," thank you.

Yu Fei didn't have high hopes for Brown, who had only had two solid meals, to perform well.

Jordan was, in fact, imposing tremendous pressure and problems on Brown out of sheer self-interest.

After the game started, Brown, confused, bewildered, and lacking confidence, unsurprisingly fell apart.

Sloppy hands, failing to secure position, being dominated by Pau Gasol one-on-one...

Five minutes into the game, Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies to a 14-94 lead over the Wizards, prompting Collins to call for a timeout.

Disappointed with Brown, Jordan glared at him fiercely and couldn't help roaring, "Why are you so bad? Why can't you stay focused? Why are you timid like a scared egg? That's why you're bloody worse than Frye! Damn it, how could I have had expectations for you! If you don't want to play, then don't, get out!"

You have been bullying your first draft pick since training camp, crushing his body, devastating his will, making him feel like the worst player in the NBA. Now that he has finally played two good games and built a little confidence, you hurry to push him forward to prove you didn't choose wrong. And now when he's performing poorly, you forgot his performance in the previous two games and belittle him again as the worst player?

Great leader! Great leader!

Having only been back for a few days, Jordan's dissatisfaction with Yu Fei had already accumulated to a certain extent, and at this moment, his humiliation of Brown was like setting a blaze to dry kindling.

"Paul is 21 this year, while Kwame isn't even 19," Yu Fei asked, "What do you expect him to do?"

Indeed, Yu Fei's defiance and his public disagreement had already shaken Jordan's dominion; this was why they simply couldn't get along no matter what.

You want to meddle in the coaching staff's arrangements, in how I reprimand a rookie, and someday you'll climb over my head too?

"I want him, and other pansies who use age as an excuse, to know it's not an issue!"

Jordan's brown eyes were bloodshot with suppressed rage, and he was beyond furious.

Collins was horrified and wanted to intervene, but he no longer had the chance to speak.

"Age isn't an issue?" Yu Fei sneered, "So when you were swept in the playoffs by Larry Bird, it wasn't due to age but because you played terribly? Not focused enough? Cowardly like a scared egg? So when you got repeatedly beaten by the Pistons in the playoffs, it's still because you played terribly, lacked focus, and were a pansy? And..."

"Shut your mouth, you bastard!" At that moment, Jordan lost his temper, "You want to teach me how to do things? You want to replace me? You think it's your team! I can trade you tonight! Get the hell out of here tonight!"

"You don't really think I like being teammates with you, do you?!" Yu Fei burst into laughter, "If I'm still a Wizard tomorrow, that means you're the bastard! You're the old dog who should have been gone but still came back with his tail high, no one wants to be your teammate, don't think you're anything special, in my eyes you're worse than that bastard Christian Laettner!"