Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Tony Parker's mind was blank, and the instruction he received was to pass the ball to Duncan.

Then, he saw Duncan posting up on the right waist position.

Pass, Bucks double-teaming.

Duncan passed the ball out, the double-team dispersed, teammates passed the ball again, unlike before, Duncan's position was deeper.

When the Bucks' double-team came again, Duncan passed the ball out a second time.

In an instant, Duncan had moved to an even deeper position.

The ball was sent in for the third time, and now Duncan was standing within the paint area, he launched an attack the moment he caught the ball.

Ratner on the left, Fei in the right corner, they simultaneously abandoned their defenders and dashed towards the basket.

Duncan shot amidst the terrifying double-team, missed.

Rebound?

Duncan, being closest to the basket, grabbed his 24th rebound, and just as he was preparing for a second-chance attack, he found Fei solidly sealing off his right-hand space; it was impossible for him to attack with his right hand.

In that instant, a myriad of thoughts flashed through Duncan's mind; his left hand was still an option to attack, but that was certainly not the safest choice at the moment. What was the safest choice? He followed his instincts, passing the ball to Bruce Bowen in the corner.

"No, that's Sprewell!"

Sprewell seemed to have anticipated Duncan's choice, already sprinting to the corner before Duncan's pass.

The ball, carrying the Spurs' hopes, could not reach Bowen.

Sprewell disrupted the pass, and then, like a dog leaping for a fish, he batted the ball toward Fei.

Fei caught the ball, Bradley Center erupted with a terrifying howl, less than 24 seconds remained, Bucks lead by one point and had the ball.

"Foul! Foul!"

Popovich wished he could control his players with his voice, but, Fei used a crossover to shake off Bowen, who wanted to foul him, then exerted all his strength to rush forward.

"Run! Just run!" Mason screamed hysterically, "Now's the time to walk the talk, Frye!!!!!"

Fei had already fought for the entire 47 minutes and 40 seconds, he was exhausted, and the weariness tempting his soul to retreat into a comfortable and decadent place.

But how could he retreat?

Listen to the roar of the audience! Look how desperately that shameless bastard Mason wanted the championship. Hold on for 20 more seconds! Let weariness and exhaustion go to hell!

He had only one thought!

Charge forward, slam the ball into that damn basket! To hell with it! Make all those dogs who looked down on him repent in front of the championship trophy!

Come on!

Come on!!

Fei crossed midcourt!

Approached the three-point line!

Entered the paint!

He soared like a pterosaur spreading its wings; he wanted to show all the doubters how the Spurs would fall! Let them despair at this moment! Let time stand still at this moment! Let all the haters' fantasies become laughable soap bubbles!

This is it!

"BOOM!!!!!!!!!

"The Bucks believe Frye will take care of everything! His dunk extends the Bucks' lead to three points!"

"Do the Spurs have a chance?"

Popovich desperately called the last timeout, opting for a three-pointer to gamble on their fate.

But the Bucks did not let the ball reach Stephen Jackson or Bruce Bowen.

The one responsible for the three-pointer was Tony Parker.

In the final five seconds, Parker took a shot from beyond the arc.

"Bang!!!!!"

Fei leaped up to grab the long rebound, and denying the Spurs any chance at a tactical foul, with only two seconds left, he threw the ball with all his might into the air.

1.8 seconds,

1.4 seconds,

1.1 seconds,

0.8 seconds,

0.5 seconds...the basketball came down, but...

The buzzer's piercing sound rang out, 82-79, the Bucks win game six of the Finals against the Spurs, taking the championship 4-2 in the series.

Is it over?

Fei had lost the ability to think, he gasped for breath, continuously looking around.

Until...his teammates rushed onto the court, tackling him to the ground.

"You damn little bastard!" Tyrone Hill shouted, "I love you to death!"

Those who "love Fei to death" weren't limited to Hill alone; his teammates around him, the coaching staff off the court, and countless people inside and outside Bradley Center who cared about this game, would fall in love with Frye because of this game.

Fei, surrounded by love, finally woke up from his groggy state, a joy indescribable with words overwhelming his emotions.

He roared loudly. Explore more adventures at empire

I am the world champion!!!!!