Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters-Chapter 1090 - 611 Not My Era Anymore_3

Chapter 1090: Chapter 611: Not My Era Anymore_3 Chapter 1090: Chapter 611: Not My Era Anymore_3 It was a Nowitzki-style golden rooster stance, but with a step-back move. Unlike other players whose step-back aligns with their dominant hand, Jokić’s step-back used his right foot to step back and left foot to jump. The whole movement was full of disharmony, yet the ball went in.

This moment greatly annoyed Antetokounmpo.

He simply couldn’t understand how someone could score in such a way.

Seeing this, Yu Fei said with a smile, “I think Nikola is ready.”

These words puzzled Rivers. Wasn’t he asking about the Greek? Why did he bring up the Serbian now?

Yu Fei didn’t explain.

In the following days, the situation at the training camp remained the same.

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Antetokounmpo was eager to prove that he was the strongest player next to Yu Fei, whereas Jokić had no such ambition; he just didn’t want to lose.

The two were evenly matched on the court.

However, off the court, Antetokounmpo was more attuned to Los Angeles’s pace than Jokić.

Jokić disliked being under the constant scrutiny of the media and didn’t know how to ingratiate himself with them. For him, dealing with the media was just part of the job.

Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, not only embraced the media but even enjoyed interacting with them.

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During his rookie season, a journalist once asked him, “Do you know what Magic Johnson’s greatest quality was?”

Of course, Antetokounmpo had no idea.

The reporter said with a smile, “Not his dribbling, not his passing, not even his championships, but his smile. Giannis, you have that sunny smile. Keep smiling.”

Thus, wherever he went, Antetokounmpo always wore a smile, which really benefited him.

The media began to consistently follow Antetokounmpo, giving him ample exposure, and he was very friendly to them.

As Antetokounmpo continued to improve in his second season, the media began to see him as a future star.

From then on, Antetokounmpo’s stardom began to rise.

“Stardom” is a term often used in Hollywood, and it is frequently attributed to Hollywood stars, encompassing a star’s fame, appeal, and influence (including salary if they are an actor).

The “stardom” of NBA players is fairly similar.

Typically, the term “stardom” is only used for star players.

However, in his sophomore year, Antetokounmpo had already made it to the all-star ranks and, with Los Angeles’s unique geographical advantages, quickly became the media’s new darling.

The day before media day, Yao Ming officially rejoined the team.

This summer, Yao Ming led the China Men’s Basketball Team to win the Asian Championship again, successfully securing a spot in the Rio Olympics.

For Yao Ming, this might be the last significant event before 2019.

Yao Ming had a very clear career plan—The Rio Olympics would be his last Olympic journey, and he planned to retire officially after the World Cup held in his homeland.

Considering the pressure and expectations of competing on home ground, the results of the World Cup could be more critical than the Olympics. To achieve this goal, Yao Ming first had to ensure he remained healthy.

Therefore, as soon as he rejoined the team, Yao Ming immediately went to Yu Fei to ask about the method he mentioned before that could let him play until 2019.

“What’s the rush, when you just got back?” Yu Fei said with a laugh, “Let’s take some photos first, there’s a lot to do today.”

Yu Fei’s advice to Yao Ming was simple—accept a bench role.

But rather than a bench player, a sixth man would be more accurate.

This was the most suitable role for Yao Ming at present: to exert his full strength within limited playtime, avoid exhausting his energy, and importantly, his staggered playing time would avoid the opponent’s strongest lineup, thus allowing him to easily put up good stats.

But this meant Yao Ming had to let go of his former star status.

For a veteran about to end his career, this decision wasn’t too hard to make.

That day, Yu Fei was still the focus of everyone. However, he noticed that some media people who had followed him in the past were beginning to shift their attention to younger players.

Antetokounmpo also had journalists around him, and Jokić attracted quite a few eyes as well.

However, like Yao Ming, the media surrounding Jokić mainly came from his homeland.

That afternoon, Yu Fei heard a question from a New York reporter, “Frye, under ideal conditions, what type of players do you think Giannis and Nikola could evolve into?”

Yu Fei responded with a smile, “This is not a hypothetical, I can tell you a fact that is bound to happen—someday, you will be debating whether Giannis or Nikola is the best player in the league.”

This statement immediately ignited the media’s interest in these two young players.

Jokić was somewhat uncomfortable with this, giving Yu Fei a sideways glance during the photo session.

As for Antetokounmpo, he created a “joke”.

When journalists were taking his pictures, he led them into the gym and lay on the bench press bench saying, “Do you like this? I suggest you practice more like I do, then you’ll have perfect biceps, and the ladies love that!”

Then, he started doing bench presses publicly while shouting, “Bench pressing for the ladies! Bench pressing for the ladies!”

This was just one of his many antics that exploded on social media.

On media day, ESPN commented on Antetokounmpo: “Giannis’s innocence and honesty make him a miracle in the sports world.”

Seeing how popular young players were, Yao Ming couldn’t help but recall the huge sensation his entry as the “foreign giant” into the NBA had caused back in the days.

Yu Fei also clearly remembered that time.

Honestly, it was like the warm-up before Victor Wembanyama entered the NBA.

“What a pity,” Yao Ming sighed, “it’s not my era anymore.”

Yu Fei said with a laugh, “Now is not the time to talk about that.”

Days later, in an intramural scrimmage, Jokić faced Yao Ming and hit several exaggerated golden rooster independent step-back threes and also grabbed 8 rebounds and delivered 5 assists, shocking everyone.

After the game, Yu Fei said to Yao Ming, “It really isn’t your era anymore.”

The game performance of Yao Ming wasn’t bad, but he knew that what Yu Fei said was right—his era had passed.

He was a veteran from the last era, yet to embark on a new journey.

He had persevered, but this, indeed, was no longer his era.