Champion Creed
Chapter 42 - 42 029 Why is my ending different from Michael's

42: 029: Why is my ending different from Michael’s?

42: 029: Why is my ending different from Michael’s?

This year, the Chicago Bulls introduced several new players, such as Steve Kerr, who once boldly claimed, “If I were to defend Jordan, I guarantee he wouldn’t score 65 points,” and the Canadian giant Bill Wennington, as well as Pete Myers, a shooting guard who had just returned from Lega Basket Serie A.

And there was A.

C.

Green, an iron virgin who had never been a Bull but now appeared in the locker room.

Considering that the Bulls had traded Grant because of Roger, it was normal for Krause to sign A.

C.

Green from the free-agent market.

Although there were many new players this year, only Roger and Kukoc were truly new to the scene.

Even Myers, who had just returned from Lega Basket Serie A, had played in the NBA for five years prior.

Therefore, in the locker room at the Berto Center, Toni Kukoc was the most enthusiastic towards Roger.

New players sticking together, this is the most common thing anywhere.

Kukoc was nervous because he had known early on that Pippen and Jordan didn’t like him, and he was well aware of how brutal the so-called locker room culture in the NBA could be.

The Euro-Magic, sweating profusely, asked, “Rog, they won’t actually make me wash the socks, will they?”

In the locker room, everyone burst out laughing, Bill Cartwright, an old center who had been assisting Jordan since ’88, patted Kukoc on the shoulder, “You should be glad Michael isn’t here, otherwise, it’d indeed be likely that you’d be washing socks.”

Will Perdue, a white center once publicly slapped by Jordan, shrugged, “It might be worse.”

At that moment, Pippen, who had failed to assert his dominance in the parking lot, walked in with a sullen face.

Cartwright joked familiarly with his old friend Pippen, “Hey Scott, what’s up?

I know, the media says we’re nothing without Jordan, but you don’t have to look so down now, do you?

If this is how it’s now, what expression will you wear after we lose 50 games?”

Cartwright had once had a conflict with Jordan but had always been very close to Pippen, so he was accustomed to joking around.

But this time, Pippen was unusually angry, his brows furrowed as he stared at Cartwright, “Bill, what do you mean?

What do you mean we’re nothing?

What do you mean by losing 50 games?”

Cartwright, realizing that Pippen’s expression was off, also stopped joking, “Lighten up, Scott, I was just joking.”

“It’s not funny, Bill!

I’ve said it, with or without Michael, our goal this season is to continue winning the championship!

Yes, even if that stupid crumb traded two of our main players for a high schooler, our goal won’t change!”

Pippen directed his anger towards Roger.

But Roger didn’t respond, leaving Pippen’s anger nowhere to go.

The entire locker room atmosphere became somewhat somber; no one joked anymore.

Soon, Phil Jackson, the Zen Master, also walked into the locker room.

This small mustached man, wearing glasses and blue jeans, glanced at Roger and Kukoc, then looked at Pippen.

So, this is the new trio Krause has prepared for me?

The Zen Master walked to the center of the locker room, clapped his hands, “In the past three or four years, every member of the Bulls, including myself and Krause, has been linked with Michael.”

“Now, for our team and everyone here, this is a great opportunity to break such perceptions.

Hey, Scott.”

Pippen stood up, and the Zen Master walked over, patting him forcefully on the back, “This is where the saddle is going to be set; next season, I trust you can carry the team forward.”

Pippen was delighted, perhaps for the first time feeling pleased today.

Because the Zen Master had just basically told everyone on the first day of the new season’s training camp, “Hey guys, the season without Michael is going to be very tough.

So from now on, let’s rally around Scottie and give it our all.”

After a brief talk, the players headed to the training court.

This was Roger’s first time at the Berto Center’s training court, but he felt very familiar with it.

It was because in his past life, he had seen those videos online about Jordan teaching his teammates, which were almost all filmed here.

The floor, similar in color to that of the United Center, two basketball hoops bearing the Bulls logo, and the championship banners hanging on the wall.

Seeing these banners, Roger couldn’t help but remember that iconic scene— the fierce Jordan staring at a life-questioning rookie from the ’99 class, Corey Benjamin, “Look around, see what surrounds you?

These are all the championships I’ve won!

You’d understand if you ever won one!”

Indeed, Roger was quite glad that Jordan wasn’t in this Bulls team now.

Since it was the first day of the training camp, the focus was on recovery exercises to let the players’ bodies adjust.

Immediately exerting full force without prior adjustment could easily lead to injuries.

Before starting the training, the team measured everyone’s weight, height, and wingspan to update their data.

After receiving the team’s measurements, the Zen Master immediately looked for Roger’s name.

He had noticed when he walked into the locker room today that Roger had changed a lot.

Previously as thin as the Iceman, he wasn’t exactly robust now, but at least he didn’t look frail anymore.

That kid had definitely not only looked sturdier but had clearly been working hard to change his body!

90 kilograms might not be enough to make Roger seamlessly handle NBA confrontations, but at least he wouldn’t be at too much of a disadvantage.

The Zen Master had heard rumors that the young man had been training all holiday.

In the 90s, not many were masochists like this—not many loved the exertion like Jordan or Karl Malone did.

So, at first, the Zen Master hadn’t believed it, because he didn’t think a high school kid could have the resolve of Jordan and Malone.

But seeing Roger’s firm muscles and solid 90 kilograms, he believed.

Such a body transformation couldn’t be achieved overnight.

Michael Jordan himself had endured many days and nights of torment and hardship to finally succeed in gaining weight and eventually bringing down the assassin.

It seemed that this young guy not only had talent but was also very willing to sweat it out.

Perhaps this time, Krause had really picked the right person.

In the subsequent training, Roger mainly practiced shooting mid-range jumpers despite interference.

The Zen Master kept his eyes on Roger because it was his first time seeing him play basketball in person.

It turned out, Roger’s shooting was indeed miraculous.

The trainer’s minor interferences seemed almost non-existent to him, as he kept making basket after basket.

Soon, the first group exercise of the morning ended.

Roger walked to the sideline, took a sip of water, and felt someone pat his shoulder.

Thinking it was Kukoc who wanted to chat, Roger turned around only to see Pippen.

“Scottie?”

“Rookie, I heard you scored 58 points in the state finals?” Pippen’s smile was harder to suppress than an AK, he wanted to remain stern, but couldn’t help but laugh.

Because soon, it was his turn to show off.

Roger nodded, “It’s nothing; I actually wanted to score 60 in that game.”

Pippen burst into laughter, “60 points?

Hahaha.

Come on, kid, let me see if you have what it takes to score 2 points here.

Come on, to the court, bring your basketball.”

Pippen issued a challenge to Roger, and Roger knew Pippen was aiming to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.

When Pippen joined the team in 1987, during the first practice right here, he took it upon himself to challenge Jordan because previously, Jordan had been complaining, “We wasted a number five pick on a nobody.”

Unable to tolerate it, Pippen decided to confront the beast himself to prove he was worthy of the number five pick.

Then, he mellowed out.

From then on, Pippen shelved his damn pride, no matter what Jordan said about him.

Because in sports, being unskilled is the original sin.

If you can’t beat them, you must shut up.

Later, Pippen learned that Jordan would randomly pick a lucky rookie on this court every year to establish his authority.

And right now, Pippen wanted to subdue Roger just as Jordan had subdued him.

He wanted to tell the whole team on the first day, “Forget about Michael, your new leader is Scottie Pippen.”

Roger stepped onto the court, unafraid.

Ever since Roger had been selected by the Bulls, Pippen had been picking on him.

Roger saw this as an opportunity to tell Pippen: stop bothering me.

Okay, Roger was actually a bit nervous too.

After all, Pippen was one of the toughest forwards in the entire league.

But whether he could beat him or not, Roger couldn’t show any timidity.

Otherwise, he would be branded a “coward.” From that point on, everyone, human or ghost, would dare to bully him.

Seeing Roger approach Pippen, his teammates immediately began heckling:

“Hey, let’s see what you’ve got, Mr.

Basketball of Louisiana.”

“Does the truth still hold in Chicago?”

“Be careful, Scottie, this kid was drafted even higher than you, haha!”

The Zen Master also looked toward the court, although an official game wasn’t like a street fight, and such a test was meaningless.

But…

He was still very excited.

Pippen threw the ball to Roger, his eyes bloodshot, “Rookie, I’ve told you, I won’t coexist peacefully with you.

If you can’t handle that, you better go back to school.

Because this is professional basketball.

And also, I didn’t like your attitude in the parking lot this morning.”

Roger dribbled the ball a couple of times, then threw it back to Pippen, “Scottie, stop trying to be like Michael.

Admit it, you’re nothing like him.”

Pippen was exposed, he indeed was trying to emulate Jordan’s way of becoming a leader.

Roger’s hurtful statement, “You’re nothing like him,” enraged Pippen.

“You don’t have the right to judge me yet, rookie, let’s start!”

Pippen passed the ball to Roger, lowered his stance, and looked as serious as if he was still playing in the finals against the Suns.

Roger was very relaxed, not tense from facing Scottie Pippen.

He took a few probing steps, then dribbled to the left.

Pippen timed his move to steal, thinking, ‘This rookie can’t dribble past me.’

But Roger caught Pippen off balance as he reached in to steal the ball and suddenly spun in the opposite direction, instantly gaining some separation!

Pippen, panicked, shifted sideways to block, but Roger didn’t push forward; he instead went for a jump shot right after a waltz-like spin!

The turnaround jump shot was the very move Roger had been diligently practicing recently.

Since Pippen so wanted to be the guinea pig, he would fulfill his wish.

Pippen’s misjudgment was too late to effectively disrupt the shot.

Although he still managed to interfere with Roger’s view, the rhythmically perfect and elegantly poised turnaround jump shot still swished through the net!

From the probing steps to the start, and then to the turnaround jump shot.

Roger elegantly completed the assassination!

Pippen wanted to use Roger to establish his authority, but right off the bat, he was knocked down by a high school kid!

The basketball rolled across the wooden floor, creating an awfully awkward silence.

The folks wanted to laugh at Pippen, but it didn’t feel right.

The folks wanted to praise Roger, but that seemed even worse!

Pippen also scratched his head; he had done everything just as Jordan would have.

But…

Dammit, why didn’t it end the same way it did for Michael?

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