Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 1032 - 592 He Doesnt Need a Statue

Chapter 1032: Chapter 592 He Doesn’t Need a Statue Chapter 1032: Chapter 592 He Doesn’t Need a Statue As the scrimmage progressed, the talented monsters began to shine, but due to their youth, they were not yet at their best.

Antetokounmpo had already begun to expose some issues that would trouble him for life—his lack of fundamentals made it difficult for him to move once he lost open space, but luckily, he still retained his shooting touch from his rookie season.

If he could maintain his current shooting touch while steadily gaining weight, that would be key to breaking his shackles.

And then there was Jokić, a point of great concern for the Clippers coaching staff.

Fei willingly stepped aside, allowing Jokić to perform as much as possible, making his various displays truly memorable.

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Rivers pondered how they should define Jokić?

In traditional thought, basketball roles are divided: the tallest players vie for control near the basket, waiting to receive passes for close-range scoring; guards and small forwards run the perimeter, tasked with ball handling, passing, and long-range shooting.

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But Jokić could do it all.

He could receive the ball outside the three-point line, swiftly drive to the basket, and use his eyes to deceive defenders, accurately passing the ball to teammates lurking in the corner. He could even snag a defensive rebound with one hand and, in the same motion, swiftly pass the ball to a teammate rushing towards the basket. He always anticipated where his teammates would be, passing the ball where they ought to be.

Over the past two decades, the NBA implemented rules to limit defensive tactics; meanwhile, coaches have become more astute, understanding how to create efficient scoring opportunities. The pace of the game quickened, player spread widened, and “pace” and “space” became popular terms in the basketball lexicon.

Basketball commentators often talk about “reading the floor,” a skill that describes the ability of players to make the right decisions quickly in a constantly changing situation. In such a game model, Jokić was a genius.

“He can foresee everything that happens on the court.”

A moment later, River’s assistants gave such an evaluation. Typically, this kind of description is reserved for guards like Kidd, Nash, and even Magic Johnson, who are adept at controlling the game. But to describe a stout center in this way, what did it mean?

In the fourth quarter, visions of Jokić in his prime finally emerged.

Jokić was seen carrying the ball past half-court, leaving Antetokounmpo completely baffled. He suspected the Serb was showing off his versatility on purpose. Was he planning to play point guard?

If that were the case, the competition between the two would no longer be just a clash of egos, but a total head-to-head confrontation.

However, just as Jokić dribbled to the frontcourt, he glanced at Fei, but passed the ball to Thompson, who was cutting to the basket.

Seeing this, everyone was simultaneously reminded of Sabonis during his prime, but crossing half-court with the ball was not a part of Sabonis’s repertoire.

So who did Jokić resemble?

Rivers gave a surprising answer, “When he orchestrates the offense, he is like Magic Johnson.”

Was this Jokić’s role on the court? Rivers wasn’t sure. Yet, he understood that figuring out how to assign Jokić’s role on the team was the coaching staff’s biggest challenge.

From that day on, no one within the Clippers doubted whether drafting Jokić was wise. Anyone who saw him play knew they had found a gem.

In the following days, the Clippers continued to combine different lineups in scrimmages, with the coaching staff hoping to find the most cohesive five-man unit.

But the problem could be summarized in one sentence, “Where has our power forward gone?”

Last season, when Griffin was still with the team, the Clippers had him play nearly every game, with the power forward position being filled by Pachulia and Hoyes. After trading Griffin and selecting Jokić, signing Yao Ming, and keeping Pachulia, suddenly, their center reserves became exaggeratedly robust, but they could not find a suitable power forward.

One day, Rivers had a sudden inspiration to try a starting lineup of Antetokounmpo, Thompson, Fei, Jokić, and Yao Ming.

The shortest player in that lineup was the 201-cm-tall Thompson, followed by the 206-cm-tall Fei… This could be the tallest starting lineup in basketball history. But the problem was evident, both Yao Ming and Jokić were pure centers with weaknesses in defending pick-and-rolls, and the ideal player for the four spot should be someone who could move around defensively.

But Fei and Antetokounmpo, two wing players with great height and reach, gave Rivers the confidence to experiment.

Soon after, Media Day arrived.

The Clippers had become a focal point for the media. Thanks to the presence of Yao, in addition to the major United States outlets, Chinese media also swarmed in, creating a bustling atmosphere in the training camp. Even when Fei was just catching his breath on the sideline, several reporters surrounded him for interviews.

Seasoned reporters familiar with Fei also took the opportunity to vie for a chance to interview the Greatest of All Time.

ESPN’s reporter David Aldridge asked, “Your team was stopped in the Western finals last season, do you think you are closer to the championship after the summer’s adjustments?”

Fei was indifferent towards Aldridge. When he was traded by Jordan, Aldridge was one of the many reporters who defended Jordan. A few years ago, in the debate over the Greatest of All Time, Aldridge also sided with Jordan.

However, although he was a steadfast supporter of Jordan, he was not as objectionable as those reporters whom Fei had blacklisted. Fundamentally, Aldridge was still reasonable. After Fei won his seventh championship, he also acknowledged that the debate for the Greatest of All Time was settled.