The Way of Basketball: Never Talk Shit to Him!
Chapter 51 - 50 Keep a Complete Poster for Yourself

Chapter 51: Chapter 50 Keep a Complete Poster for Yourself

"Hey, uncle, finally got to see you! You probably don’t know just how much we’ve been looking forward to meeting you!"

Su Wan followed Reggie Miller from the Pacers’ underground garage into the arena, meeting Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird at the doorstep of the locker room.

Walsh gave Su Wan a big hug as soon as he came up.

The enthusiastic gesture made Su Wan look at Reggie Miller slightly out of his element. Are you sure it was Larry Bird who wanted to draft me, and not the president of the Pacers?

Larry Bird shook his head speechlessly. When it was his turn to greet Su Wan, he simply said "Welcome."

Su Wan felt a different kind of pressure coming from him, the kind you find in:

A true powerhouse!

Unlike Michael Jordan, who only knew how to play basketball on the court.

Larry Bird was practically "all-rounded" in the basketball domain—during his playing career, he made it into President Mountain; as a coach, he led the fading Pacers to the Finals, and had it not been for Shaquille O’Neal’s peak period, it might still be unclear who the victor would be; now as the team’s general manager, he had also made major accomplishments.

He is the only person in NBA history to have won the regular season MVP, Finals MVP, "Best Coach," and "Executive of the Year" awards!

Accompanied by the captain and management of the Pacers, Su Wan toured the arena.

When the time was right, he attended the press conference with Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird.

Larry Bird said, "The Pacers are going through a tough time. Uncle’s arrival will bring about a change, and I have great confidence in that!"

Donnie Walsh remarked, "We all know the kid’s talent; getting him was an incredible thing!"

After their brief speeches, the stage and time were handed over entirely to Su Wan.

Su Wan saw a familiar face in the audience:

Erin Andrews.

She was supposed to be a reporter for the Cavaliers, so what was she doing here?

Had she been assigned to Indiana along with me?

For Erin, a media person who stood firmly by his side, Su Wan naturally let her ask the first question.

"Uncle, we all know this was a sudden trade. What would you like to say about leaving Cleveland? And about LeBron? What do you have to say?"

That was another reason Su Wan had let her ask first.

Erin knew exactly which questions he wanted to answer most.

Su Wan adjusted the microphone in front of him, bringing it closer to his mouth: "I am very grateful to Cleveland for choosing me, but that’s all. As for LeBron, he will soon realize that without me there to guide him, with his current abilities, he simply can’t keep the Cavaliers winning. He might put up good stats, but that’s it. He doesn’t know what it means to win the right way!"

"In our Huaxia, there’s an old saying, ’If you don’t listen to the experienced, you’ll suffer losses right before your eyes.’ He has no experience winning a professional championship; he’s only got high school tricks, and I’m clear that he has a long way to grow!"

"It’s a pity he missed out on a good teacher!"

Without waiting for other reporters to react, Su Wan signaled for Erin to ask the next question.

"What do you think about being traded to the Pacers? Indiana is going through a tough time; do you think you can change Indy’s current situation?"

Su Wan said, "In fact, just now at the fan plaza, I met a lot of Pacers fans. I told them right there and then that I would bring an NBA Championship Trophy to this city, so they wouldn’t have to reminisce about the team’s ABA glory. Now, in front of all the reporters, I can reiterate my determination..."

"Since joining the NBA in 1976, 28 years have passed. It’s time for the Indiana Pacers to have the first Championship Trophy in team history!"

"This is the mission I’ve taken on for two first-round picks and one second-round pick!"

Donnie Walsh was sitting beside him, the smile on his face growing more genuine by the moment.

At this moment, he felt clearly the "energy" that Larry Bird had talked about!

Indy needed this "energy" now more than ever!

The press conference concluded successfully, and Su Wan headed to the locker room with Reggie Miller.

By that time, most of the Pacers players had arrived. When they saw Su Wan walking towards the initially vacant locker opposite Reggie Miller’s and pulling out his Pacers’ number 99 jersey, many changed their expressions.

Stephen Jackson and the younger O’Neal exchanged glances.

Tinsley’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

But none of them said anything.

This was a "special time" for the Pacers. Even if they were unhappy about Su Wan immediately taking up such a well-located locker, they could only hold it in for now.

Especially Stephen Jackson—he was in a contract year, hoping to perform well on the court to secure a big contract next off-season.

The Auburn Palace incident had severely affected him. He couldn’t afford to stir up any more trouble!

But there were those who were fearless, like the next one to walk through the door:

Ron Artest!

As soon as he entered, the locker room quieted down considerably.

On his way over, Su Wan had heard from Reggie Miller that Artest had been emotionally unstable since being suspended. Already prone to outbursts, his temper had become even more volatile; he would show up for team practice whenever he felt like it and wouldn’t bother calling in sick if he didn’t.

Looking at his "keep out" demeanor, Su Wan understood that what Reggie Miller had said was no exaggeration.

Artest looked even more "Brother Pingtou" than "Brother Pingtou" himself.

He walked straight up to Su Wan, "I heard about what you did at the fan square. Don’t think I’ll be grateful to you for it. Listen up, it’s not your place to call the shots in Indiana. You’re just a rookie. Don’t think you can throw your weight around in Indiana like you did in Cleveland with LeBron. Know your place!"

His tone was cold, and there was a pungent smell of alcohol.

The guy had obviously just crawled out of a booze barrel.

Reggie Miller stepped forward, trying to pull Artest away.

But Artest, having said his piece, turned to leave. It seemed he was only there to talk tough.

"Softie!"

Just when everyone thought Artest would leave it at that, Su Wan spoke up. The word he uttered changed everyone’s expression.

Including Reggie Miller’s.

"What did you say?" Artest had thought he misheard and turned back, surprised. His eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched as he demanded Su Wan to repeat himself, "Say that again."

"Softie!" Su Wan, as if worried Artest didn’t hear him clearly the first time, repeated himself, "Ron, I said you’re a softie!"

"You motherf**ker!"

When Su Wan had the audacity to repeat himself, Artest charged at Su Wan like an enraged bull.

Reggie Miller hurried to intercept, signaling others to help as well, turning the locker room into a scene of chaos.

But Su Wan didn’t panic at all and continued, "If you’re not a softie, what are you, Ron? You broke Michael Jordan’s rib once, then hid at home for a week, too scared to step outside. It wasn’t until Michael called you to say it was an accident and not to take it to heart that you dared to open your door!"

"Now, it’s the same thing. In a moment of impulse, you hit a Pistons fan, and the whole team had to suffer the consequences with you at Auburn Palace. Then you ran away again. You’re numbing yourself with alcohol; yes, your season is over, but have you thought about the others on the Pacers who still have to fight?"

"You think I was stopping Pacers fans from cutting your jersey? Don’t make me laugh. I was stopping them from cutting the Pacers jersey!"

"What right do you have to let the fans be disappointed with the entire Pacers team?"

"You softie, always waiting for someone else to wipe your ass!"

"Fxxk!"

Artest completely lost his mind. Several people couldn’t hold him back. He broke free from everyone’s grasp and charged at Su Wan.

But he had been soaking in bars lately, and just like today, he had come straight from a nightclub; he was groggy, aggressive but slow. Su Wan was fully alert and before Artest’s fist could even hit him, Su Wan delivered a fierce kick right into his chest.

Artest staggered backward to the floor, ungracefully hitting a chair with a "boom." Then, like a wild dog that had been kicked in the vitals, he curled up, panicking, his eyes suddenly more lucid.

Su Wan’s violent outburst changed the faces of the other Pacers as well.

"Listen, if you still consider yourself part of the Pacers, you better find your professional integrity fast. Stop behaving like a damn lost dog that everyone looks down on!"

Su Wan didn’t pay any more attention to Artest but turned to the rest of the Pacers players.

Now that things had come to this point, he felt it was better to be direct. He tapped on his locker door:

"I know many of you are unhappy that I’m using this locker!"

"You really should listen to what I said at the press conference and to the fans!"

"I said I wanted to bring a Championship to Indiana, but that’s not something I just said to them— it’s something you all should be saying! You’ve crushed the hopes of Pacers fans, and instead of trying to make amends, you’re upset that I’m using this locker?"

"Ron, don’t forget, you were nothing in the Bulls; it was Indiana that made you the Defensive Player of the Season!"

"The same goes for you, Jermaine. You couldn’t even get playing time with the Blazers, spending three years on the bench. It was the Pacers who trusted you enough to make you an All-Star forward!"

"And you, Stephen. You ruined your reputation off the court, and even though you had decent stats with the Hawks, few teams were interested in you. It was the Pacers who gave you a contract and a chance to prove yourself."

"All of you who fancy yourselves as the future head of the Pacers, listen. Even if you’ve forgotten how desperate your pasts were, you should still have the awareness of a professional player. Winning the title is what you should be focusing on now, save yourselves a full-sized poster!"

Towards the end, he glanced at Reggie Miller and added:

"And give Reggie Miller’s 17 years a perfect ending, will you?"

Su Wan didn’t say any more, locked his locker, and headed for the practice court, leaving behind a deafening silence in the locker room.

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