Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

The Bucks' first encounter with the Cavaliers this season was on November 10.

As visitors, the Bucks headed to Cleveland.

In terms of records, the Bucks had achieved a two-game winning streak since Yu Fei's return and were currently at 5 wins and 2 losses, while the Cavaliers, after suffering a five-game losing streak at the start of the season, had narrowly defeated Yu Fei's former team, the Washington Wizards, in their last game to clinch their first victory of the season.

By record, the Bucks were currently third in the Eastern Conference, and the Cavaliers were at the bottom of the Eastern.

The game itself wasn't the focal point.

But "The Chosen One's first showdown against the King" was a massive hook.

With Kobe's reputation tarnished, the NBA urgently needed to redeem its image. Therefore, Yu Fei and McGrady, both incredibly promising superstars, received even more hype and greater exposure.

And James, the star of tomorrow, was also a focus of the league's attention.

Professional basketball needs stars, and everyone was certain that James was that destined star of the future.

Thus, this game was hyped up days before the tip-off.

When Yu Fei arrived in Cleveland with his team, a large group of reporters was waiting outside the airport.

They kept asking questions about James.

As James's elder brother, Yu Fei exhibited rare patience, answering almost every question without hesitation.

The most interesting question on-site was, "How did you and LeBron develop such a close friendship?"

Yu Fei laughed because he didn't know the answer either.

"It's indescribable," Yu Fei said, "You know, friendship, like love, is the simplest yet most profound thing in the world."

In the evening, while dining at the hotel, Yu Fei received a text message from James.

"Frye, reporters asked me a hundred questions about you today; they're insane!"

Yu Fei replied, "You know, LeBron, even if you say good things about me to the reporters, I won't go easy on you."

James almost instantly replied, "I'm going to show you the power of King James!"

Gund Arena

At seven o'clock in the evening, Yu Fei arrived at the arena to warm up. There was still half an hour until game time, and the major TV networks had already set up.

After about ten minutes, a large number of spectators entered the arena.

Approximately one-fifth of them were wearing James's jersey.

Calling Cleveland "James's City" wasn't an exaggeration at all.

He not only packed the home stadium but also boosted the Cavaliers' game viewership by nearly 500%, especially the opening game against the Kings Team, which had the second-highest viewership following last season's game between the Bucks and the Wizards.

Then, the arena's large screens started playing a Nike commercial.

Of course, it was related to James.

Nike titled the advertisement "Pressure."

Next, the commercial began: James's first ball-handling during his NBA debut. Under the defense of the Kings Team's Mike Bibby, James comes to a halt and surveys the court.

"Can he handle it?" one commentator asks another, as James freezes and the camera focuses on his face. For the next 52 seconds—James stands there, motionless, and the whole arena falls silent.

"You say you can't handle pressure," a commentator whispers.

"You're a joke!" a fan yells from the stands.

"Come on, kid," Hall of Famer "Iceman" George Gervin tells himself, sitting courtside.

Finally, James smiles. The screen gradually fades to black, and Nike's swoosh logo appears.

After watching, even Yu Fei shook his head, thinking only Nike could create such superior advertisements to other shoe companies.

But upon reflection, this was not just an advertisement; it was Nike posing a question to James on behalf of the masses.

Could he handle this pressure? Despite Moses Malone, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and Yu Fei setting the precedents, the NBA's expectations for James were still more than for any other rookie in the league's history.

Over the summer, James's jersey had become the top-selling NBA merchandise. In NBA stores, only the Los Angeles Lakers' merchandise sold better than the Cavaliers'. In terms of television broadcasts, the previously ignored Cavaliers, who were almost certainly out of playoff contention this season, had been given exposure through 13 national live broadcasts.

Charles Barkley publicly opposed the league's hype of James on TNT's show: "I think it's a disservice to him that the NBA is promoting him so early and constantly putting him on TV. I think he could very well be a superstar in three or four years. But right now, he has a long way to go."

After learning of the hype, expectations, and pressure faced by James, Yu Fei gave a "that's it?" verdict to all future players proclaimed as "hyped as James."

In terms of public opinion, media attention, fan expectations, and the league's promotion efforts, James was historically unmatched.

So, when Yu Fei met James in midfield, he was ready to give his little brother a real lesson.

As an older brother, it was his duty to push his younger sibling to become better.

Otherwise, what right did he have to call himself James's elder brother?

"Frye, I promise my first shot tonight will be a dunk," James said seemingly as a challenge but also revealing the weakness of the Bucks' inside game.

"Then go for it."

Yu Fei snorted lightly and volunteered to guard James.

The game hadn't started yet, but this scene was already pumping up the audience.

James's mother, Gloria, couldn't help but call out to Yu Fei.

Yu Fei looked over, wondering what his aunt wanted to tell him.

"Frye, be nice to my son." Gloria's smile was extremely radiant, and her eyes even seemed a bit seductive.

Yu Fei felt a chill in his heart, could it be that rumor about Delonte West...

He shook his head vigorously, refusing to think about those things unrelated to the game.

The Cavaliers won the jump ball, and LeBron James looked very excited. After failing to break through Yu Fei, he naively jumped up and made a poor pass to Ricky Davis.

If Yu Fei were Davis, he would definitely criticize LeBron. How could he pass the ball like that?

But for Davis, the most important thing was to ensure that he was still the boss of the Cavaliers.

LeBron's pass represented submission; if the opening play didn't go inside, it went to the boss, a silent rule for most teams.

Davis scored a three-pointer from the forty-five-degree angle on the right, scoring the first points for the Cavaliers.

"Come on, Frye, hurry up!"

LeBron clapped his hands, looking forward to Yu Fei's offense.

Yu Fei didn't hold back either; after sizing LeBron up, he lowered his center of gravity, crossed the ball between his legs, and took the left route before making a quick stop and step-back jump shot.

3 to 2.

"LeBron, you wouldn't be letting me score on purpose, would you?" Yu Fei teased. "Don't do that, it's a bad habit to get into."

LeBron was somewhat embarrassed. He had been defending very seriously but was no match for Yu Fei, and even appeared to be letting him score.

Frye was just being Frye...

LeBron adjusted his headband and then approached the frontcourt with a more serious demeanor.

Yet, LeBron was too green in every aspect. Yu Fei didn't have to think to defend against him.

Reach up, watch his center of gravity, then guess right every time.

LeBron gradually forgot his boast about getting his first points through a dunk, as he couldn't muster the ability to tear apart Yu Fei's defense on his own. He dribbled around the outside for ages, waiting for his teammates to come up and set a screen.

With no other options, LeBron passed the ball.

Darius Miles' mid-range jumper missed.

Paul Silas, the coach of the Cavaliers, scowled.

Before the season started, he thought Miles could play as the point guard, with Davis at the shooting guard position, and LeBron as the small forward.

But the five consecutive losses at the beginning of the season shattered his illusion, and he had to put LeBron at point guard, like most people wanted.

Miles looked like a bust waiting to happen, and the chemistry between Davis and LeBron was non-existent.

Despite his reluctance to admit it, the hopes of the Cavaliers lay on LeBron.

For a young man not yet 19, it was a burden too great to bear.

But when you consider that Yu Fei led a crippled Wizards team to the playoffs a year and a half ago, the expectations placed on LeBron seemed reasonable.

As the most hyped rookie in history, he ought to perform as well as Yu Fei.

Since the start of the game, LeBron had been suppressed by Yu Fei.

He wanted to change this situation, therefore, he showed a side unfamiliar to his teammates.

The LeBron of before seemed mature and steady; he wasn't in a rush to show off his skills to the world like a typical rookie.

He would always dribble to the high post then dish out to Miles, set up Davis, or lob the ball inside.

Usually, he would only reveal his burning desire to attack during a rotation offense.

Doing so covered up the instability of his rough techniques and ensured a degree of efficiency.

But now, LeBron was getting irrational, even trying to use his 245-pound (111KG) body to force his way past Yu Fei.

To be fair, LeBron even weighed more than Yu Fei, who had played two seasons.

For a player his age to have such a robust physique was indeed a sign of extraordinary talent.

However, LeBron had not yet refined his skills, while Yu Fei had two years of professional experience and the hard work he put in at the gym gave him core strength that was among the elite in the NBA. LeBron's attempt to force his way through stopped at the free-throw line.

With no other choice, LeBron resorted to a pull-up jump shot.

Yu Fei, who was not even slightly out of position, reacted instantly, and sent the shot right back in his face.

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Yu Fei chased down the ball.

LeBron followed closely behind, attempting a block – his specialty – but Yu Fei suddenly slowed down in the frontcourt, leaned back to create space, and then used the momentum to leap for a dunk.

Four minutes in, 5 to 11, the Bucks had a clear advantage.

Most importantly, Yu Fei dominated LeBron head-to-head, which was evident from their last offensive and defensive exchange.

A few days ago, after scoring 36 points over Anthony, Yu Fei gave him a harsh review: "You're terrible. Don't you practice?"

As LeBron's big brother, Yu Fei naturally wouldn't be harsh; he said with a hint of kindness, "Your skills are too rough, you need more practice."

For LeBron, there was good news and bad news.

The good news was that his big brother was friendly towards him, although he talked some trash, it wasn't unacceptable.

The bad news was that he was lagging quite a bit. While not incomprehensible, the expectations from the outside world were high – albeit not to the unrealistic point of equating him with Brother Yu right from the start – but if he were to be completely outclassed, it would be quite an embarrassment for King LeBron.

LeBron wanted to try again.

Afterward, Ricky Davis, the official big brother within the team, came over in displeasure. "Bron, what are you doing? You need to pass the ball! We agreed to assist each other and reverse Cleveland's misfortune. What were you attempting just now?"