Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

The Bucks' joy of winning their season opener didn't last long.

Entering November, the Bucks faced their first home game, with the menacing Orlando Magic as their opponents.

Yu Fei had special feelings for the Magic, as they were the very team he had battled for a starting position with while at the Wizards.

He still remembered how Grant Hill, the Magic's second in command, got injured in that game, sidelining him for the rest of the season, forcing McGrady to shoulder the team alone. Consequently, the Magic, who were considered the Eastern Conference's most talented team the previous year, ended up just like the Wizards, making only a brief appearance in the first round.

Now, Fei was no longer playing in D.C., and the Magic had gone from the peak of their prestige to a rapid decline.

The irreversible injuries caused by Hill's chronic back issues had begun to affect McGrady.

However, the Magic's demise was not tonight.

Tonight, McGrady was still the undisputed best player in the Eastern Conference, single-handedly breaking through the defense of Fei, (Ray) Allen, and Sprewell. Shooting 16 out of 29 from the field, he racked up 47 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, leading his team to victory.

Fei, who managed just 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, wasn't on the same level as McGrady.

But Fei didn't believe the gap was entirely down to skill.

McGrady was the Magic's primary offensive weapon. Aside from him, only two other Magic players scored in double digits, and neither scored more than 15 points, effectively making McGrady the lone force winning the game for the Magic.

Fei craved team support. The point-calling tactics that worked so well for him at the Wizards lacked corresponding strategic support from the Bucks, despite them having more lethal shooters.

During the game, Fei had suggested to Karl that Laettner be put on the floor, but Karl showed contempt for Laettner, "Unless he's willing to put in the effort on defense, I'm not going to let him play!"

Then, the game was lost.

Karl began criticizing the team's defense to the media, "We let T-MAC get 47 points. When we show that kind of performance on defense, isn't losing the game a given? I want to see them put in the effort on defense, but I didn't see it. None of our starters fouled out, what does that tell you? Nobody wants to take responsibility!"

Ray Allen was the one who openly showed resentment towards Karl's comments.

"George can say whatever he wants, that's his freedom," said Ray Allen, "but I don't think the fact that no starter fouled out proves that we're not willing to take responsibility."

Sprewell continued to complain that he couldn't find his groove in George Karl's system.

Anthony Mason complained about too few ball-handling opportunities.

Christian Laettner complained about his lack of playing time.

Michael Redd complained about his status within the team.

Suddenly, the Bucks didn't seem to live up to their name; they should change it to "The Grumblers."

Everyone was complaining, and even Fei was dissatisfied with the status quo.

But unlike the others, Fei didn't go public with his grievances.

This actually highlighted that his style of handling things was "out of sync" with the team.

The George Karl era Bucks had always been the League's representatives for being "outspoken."

What does "outspoken" mean? It means they never keep problems to themselves, whether with teammates, the media, or dissatisfaction with the contents of the game, they would speak out.

The trend was started by none other than head coach Karl.

In Karl's view, he felt it was necessary to use the power of the fourth estate to push his players to be better, so if he was unsatisfied with a player, the media would find out before the player himself.

Therefore, those who came to play here would complain to the media just like Karl.

Fei didn't do this because he was very clear that the so-called fourth estate could not solve any problem other than striking a pose with fancy words and setting the rhythm.

When he was with the Wizards, if any issue actually reached the media, it often meant it was beyond repair.

And this "last resort" was merely an opening move for the Bucks...

Is that normal? Obviously, it's not.

And the root of this problem lies with George Karl himself.

He's the architect of this team culture, so if Fei wanted to oppose this culture, he had to start with Karl.

The night they lost to the Magic, Fei began his own radio show as arranged by the team.

Fei's radio program was called "Conversations with The Chosen One."

That night, Fei's radio was flooded with calls. Lacking experience with live radio, Fei found himself flustered at times, and the callers' questions were wildly varied, from social issues to pop culture, to NBA insider stories.

The only question that perked up Fei came from a caller named "Matthew" from St. Francis City, who asked, "Frye, can you shut that bastard George Karl up? He should stop talking rubbish! The Bucks will be better when he stops spewing that nonsense!"

After listening, Fei smiled, "I have no opinion about what you said, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Thank you for calling."

Clearly, Fei wasn't the only one realizing that Karl's public shaming was problematic.

The next day, Fei called Lawson early in the morning to go train at the St. Francis Training Center.

"Big Fei, did you see the news yesterday?" Lawson said in frustration, "That fat pig actually said you guys lacked responsibility. Ridiculous, why doesn't he get on the court and guard T-MAC for 10 minutes?"

Fei hummed noncommittally, not denying it.