Basketball Terminal

Chapter 51 No Regrets
After being sent off, Li Wei returned to the locker room alone, caught his breath, took off his jersey, and went into the shower to wash up. Things had taken a bit beyond his expectations, and he calmed himself down to analyze the situation.

From the very beginning of his online no-score challenge, to meeting Luo Ping, contacting McCallian, and finally stepping onto the NBA court, everything went smoothly for Li Wei. In just one month, he went from being an unknown to becoming one of the members of the world's best professional basketball league, a truly astonishing leap.

This was due both to Livy's acquired extraordinary abilities and to his steady, methodical approach to every step. As the saying goes, "one step at a time," and as long as you find the right direction, progress will be faster than you imagine. Most people get stuck because they are confused about their direction; the difficulty of choosing a direction often outweighs the effort, but Livy was free from this problem.

In this game, Li Wei's goal was simple: to come off the bench and match up against James, do his best to make a few good defensive plays, make his first appearance in his NBA career, gain the trust of the coaching staff, and lay the foundation for more playing time in the next game.

He wasn't planning on any earth-shattering performance, like scoring a huge number of points to make a name for himself—that was unrealistic. Everything was indeed going according to plan, until he stepped onto the court and saw the giant crab while on defense.

Li Wei believes that seeing the big black crab was the beginning of the collapse. Something was wrong from the moment they gazed at each other deeply, and then Li Wei accidentally hit James on the head with a ball, which was something Li Wei did not expect.

What was even more unexpected was that Nash publicly suggested he apologize in the locker room. If Durant had asked him to reconcile after the game, or if Li Wei had simply gone to James and said "Sorry," followed by a fist bump, it would have been perfectly fine. But the game wasn't over, and Nash was asking him to apologize in front of everyone, which Li Wei refused to accept because there was a subtle difference in the nature of the two situations.

If Li Wei were truly 20 years old, he would definitely have listened to the coach and apologized. The apology wouldn't have caused any serious consequences; it would have just made him seem like a lowly, obedient rookie to his teammates. Nash's authority in the locker room would have been further diminished. In a game, why be so polite? It's like a player trying to help a fallen opponent up—they might be friends off the court—but a teammate might push him away, telling him the game is on and he doesn't need to be helped.

In this respect, Nash was inferior to Brett. Brett, during games with the Long Island Nets, would never say a kind word about his opponents, even resorting to trash talk, because the team needed an atmosphere where opponents were seen as enemies. After the game, work was done, they'd go to a restaurant together, and the on-court issues were forgotten. Therefore, Brett, who lacked authority during training camp, quickly earned the players' respect after playing a few games at Disney World.

Having spent over a decade in professional team locker rooms, Li Wei understood that in this all-male world, all your dignity must be earned through your words and actions. He was unwilling to be a subservient rookie anymore, unwilling to carry bags and buy water, and unwilling to be met with cold stares or ridicule, so he was willing to offend Nash.

Nash is actually a good person, and he didn't DNP Li Wei in the second half, but he didn't shift his mindset from player to coach. A good coach shouldn't be a peacemaker, but a dictator, with only one goal: to unite the team and achieve victory. Of course, there are many eunuch-like coaches in the NBA now, serving superstars, but Nash doesn't seem to want to be that kind of coach.

As for that final elbow strike, Li Wei lost control a bit. Anyway, it gave Nash an explanation; I apologized. It also gave myself a way out, letting everyone know that my apology required an iron elbow in return—take it or leave it.

After showering and changing his clothes, as he came out of the shower room, the team's security guard came in and asked Levi, "Victor, there's a reporter outside who says he's your friend, Mitchell, and he wants to meet you."

Li Wei shook his head and said, "Tell him that I will not see anyone or give any interviews until the game is over and without the coaching staff's permission. Thank you."

The security personnel nodded. Li Wei sat alone in the locker room, waiting for the game to end. The locker room was a closed little world with its own rules. Li Wei wouldn't give interviews while the game was still going strong, not even to friends.

He couldn't reveal what was happening within the team to Mitchell, even though someone else would eventually, but he couldn't let everyone think it was him. Now he was alone in the locker room, maintaining a state of isolation from the outside world, not even touching his phone. He knew many people were messaging him, but he didn't want to read or reply.

A little while later, the team's equipment manager, Joseph Como, returned to the locker room and saw Levi sitting alone on a bench. He asked curiously, "Hey, Victor, what are you doing sitting here daydreaming?" Levi replied, "My teammates are playing, there's nothing I can do but sit here and wait for them to come back." Como's face showed approval.

How's the situation on the field?

"We maintained our lead throughout; our firepower was too strong, and we maintained an advantage of around 15 points."

"We have a top scorer sitting on the bench."

"There's a LeBron James terminator in the locker room."

"Don't joke around, it's very difficult to defend against him, I can't hold on much longer."

"But everyone loves your performance, you're definitely going to be a star, kid. Give me your old clothes, we're already applying for a new jersey with your name on it, do you want to change to number 0?"

"If I could, I would like number 0; it inspires me."

Como nodded and took Levi's jersey. Compared to when he collected the jersey this morning, Como's attitude had completely changed, no longer so indifferent. Levi's performance on the field was one reason, but another was his toughness and uncompromising nature, which made people hesitant to treat him as a rookie. Of course, the uncertainty surrounding his background was also very important.

When you're out in the world, your identity is something you earn and give yourself.

On the other side of the court, Levi's departure had some impact on the Nets. Jeff Green had to return to the court, and James found it much easier to attack against the veteran Green. James and Kuzma scored consecutive baskets, narrowing the gap to 9 points at one point.

But the Nets' offense is truly formidable. Without Anthony Davis, the Lakers' defensive system collapsed, completely dismantled by the Nets' three-pointers and drives. Moreover, Irving and Harden were in excellent form tonight; whenever the offense faltered, they could create space for isolation plays, consistently scoring with remarkable efficiency.

Midway through the third quarter, Irving hit a jump shot, and Harden followed up with a fast break, driving past Kuzma and Caruso for a layup. He then made four consecutive passes on the perimeter, finding Shamet in the corner for a three-pointer. The Nets' offense flowed like water, making defense seem less important.

The point difference has widened to 20 points, and judging from the Lakers' performance tonight, the outcome is no longer in doubt.

After being elbowed by Levi, James went to the bench late in the third quarter. He sat there, his chest aching slightly; that elbow had really hurt. Watching the Nets break through their defense with three-pointers, James and Anthony Davis, sitting beside him, remained expressionless. Last season's formidable defense was now being put to the test.

At the start of the season, they held opponents to under 100 points in several games, and their defensive efficiency was second only to the Utah Jazz in the league, a very good performance. However, their defensive performance began to decline in February; in the game where Davis was injured, the Nuggets scored 122 points. Just 10 days earlier, they had held the Nuggets to 93 points in a single game. Given the current trend of improved offense and the prevalence of three-pointers, their defensive performance is already quite good.

The defending champions are very strong, but it all depends on whether Davis is healthy.

Seeing James rubbing his chest, Davis asked, "Does it really hurt?"

James said, "Of course I'm telling the truth, you think I'm faking it?"

Davis glanced at James but didn't reply.

"Today is your Good Friday."

"I don't know, maybe it's my karma."

The two laughed, James still unaware of the seriousness of the situation. He even told Davis, "If we could get him to the Lakers, I think it would be great, as your backup. His defense is really... how should I put it, you know, a big problem."

"Really that powerful?"

"Very intelligent, very intelligent."

"I'm probably not as smart as you."

"That's another matter. You should come back sooner so you can experience it next time you play against the Nets."

"You mean you want me to go and match up against him?"

"We miss you, brother."

The two players chatted as the game gradually slipped into garbage time. James returned to the court at the start of the fourth quarter, but the game was already in disarray. The Lakers hadn't been able to contain the Nets' offense in the first three quarters, and they couldn't in the fourth. The point difference remained around 20 points, with no hope of catching up.

James hit a three-pointer and made a 2+1 play, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. The point difference was too large, and the Nets always managed to respond and maintain their lead. It wasn't until Vogel, seeing no hope of victory, substituted his starters, and the game entered garbage time, that the Lakers finally closed the gap. The Nets' bench players went on a rampage, allowing the Lakers to cut the deficit to just 10 points, but time was running out.

The Nets won 111-98, securing their fourth consecutive road victory. Harden recorded a double-double with 23 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds. Double-digit assists are as easy for him as eating and drinking. LeBron James led all scorers with 29 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds. Besides James, only Kuzma scored in double figures, highlighting his inability to carry the team alone, ultimately succumbing to the Nets' relentless offense. After the game, James didn't greet Nash, removed his mask, and went straight to the locker room, clearly unhappy. This game wasn't just a loss; it was a humiliating performance. Being defended, tackled, and elbowed by an unknown player – was he being used as a punching bag?

The Nets players briefly celebrated their victory before returning to the locker room. Since the pandemic, the arena was empty, lacking the usual excitement, and the players' enthusiasm was generally low. The fervent cheers of home wins and the deafening silence after away wins had all turned into a quiet, practice-like atmosphere.

The only thing that might still motivate the players is the online comments after the game. Now, the first thing players do when they get back to the locker room is to check their phones for post-game comments on relevant websites and search for topics related to themselves on social media. If they played well, they're happy to see the praise; if they played poorly, they turn off their phones and go take a shower.

Everyone greeted Li Wei upon returning to the locker room; it was something he had fought for. Li Wei also stood up and high-fived everyone, congratulating the team on their victory. On his way back to the locker room, Durant pulled out his phone and started checking online comments. Although he hadn't played tonight, he was still concerned about what people were saying online, checking to see if anyone accused him of "winning by doing nothing."

"Victor, you're the talk of the town now. Everyone's asking who the player with the number 29 who doesn't have a name is."

"They'll know my name after a few more games."

"Watch out for LeBron's fans, you've really messed him up."

"It's okay, someone will speak up for me. I haven't even turned on my phone yet, I don't want the comments to interfere with my performance."

"You must have kicked your drug habit, bro. Hey LeBron! Someone said your acting has declined, and you're shooting so few free throws?"

Durant was talking to Harden when Harden rolled his eyes at Durant and said, "How many times have I told you? That's called making good use of the rules. No guys want to go clubbing tonight? We're still in Los Angeles for two more days, it'd be a shame not to go clubbing! We're leaving in a bit! Come sign up here!"

Kyrie Irving took a sage from his locker and circled around Levi several times, muttering something. Levi asked him what he was doing; the game was over, and they had already won. Irving, with his eyes closed, chanted, "I sense an evil spirit on you. Begone, begone~ Bless you, and bless our team~"

To be honest, Levi's mother was a little guilty. After letting Owen complete the ritual, she asked, "Did he disperse?" Owen shook his head and said, "No, I feel he's very stubborn. However, you might be able to get along with him peacefully, which might be a good thing." "I think you're right."

The locker room was in an uproar for a while. After everyone showered, reporters were finally allowed in for interviews. Harden and Irving went with Nash to the post-game press conference. Scott Mitchell finally squeezed in; by then, several reporters were already surrounding Levi.

“Keep your distance, please keep your distance! You’re too close, it’s against the rules, step back, step back. I’m Victor’s friend!” Mitchell told others to step back while he squeezed in to get closer to Levi.

Li Wei saw Mitchell wearing a mask and pulled him to a corner of the locker room. Mitchell breathed a sigh of relief and said, "There are too many people. Why didn't you come out earlier?"

"Are you stupid? The match is still going on, I can't talk to you privately. How did things go after the match?"

"You're not on Twitter? You didn't read the comments?"

“I won’t look at them; they’ll distract me.”

"Shit, it's already half-explosive."

"Half-popular?"

"It was exciting, but not that exciting, it was already pretty good. To be truly exciting, you need a game like Jamie Lin's game-winning shot against the Raptors. But your smash against LeBron was pretty explosive too."

"It was unintentional. You can publish the first part of the story on your website, and then..."

"Wait a minute, Viktor, I..."

"What's wrong? Wasn't the story exciting enough?"

"No, it's just... well, I don't think this story will generate any revenue if I post it on NetsDaily. Our editor-in-chief said it's all the same no matter who posts it. He wouldn't even reimburse my airfare."

"Then quit your job and find a real major media outlet. ESPN, Turner, CBS, anything is fine. Become a real frontline reporter, instead of following behind the team and reporting some irrelevant news."

"But... but what right do I have? I think he's right. In this day and age, there's no such thing as a true exclusive."

"Bullshit, you are my true exclusive. I will not tell my story to anyone else, or do any in-depth interviews, only you can, you are my exclusive interviewer."

"Why?" Mitchell's eyes showed both confusion and excitement.

"Since we've already formed an alliance, of course I have to be loyal to our partnership. Besides, you've helped me a lot, haven't you? You didn't send the relevant information to your editor-in-chief, did you?"

"not yet."

"Then you should think it over carefully; it's time to find a new employer."

"how about you?"

"Me? Would I trade? Right now, the Nets seem like a good fit for me, and they need me. Of course, I'll consider it if a better opportunity comes along. This is the era of freedom, after all."

Scott Mitchell laughed, and they both laughed. Mitchell made up his mind to leave NetsDaily. He had long been fed up with the life of a low-level writer; he wanted to become a true frontline reporter, getting deep inside NBA players and digging up firsthand information for fans. Li Wei would be his pledge of allegiance and his most steadfast ally.

In the early hours of the morning, Li Wei joined Harden and others heading to a Los Angeles nightclub. Los Angeles is Harden's hometown, and he knows all too well what kind of entertainment there is. Li Wei isn't particularly interested in nightclubs; mainly, the figures and makeup of the women in Western nightclubs aren't his type. But Harden's enthusiastic invitation got him, and he decided to relax a bit. Harden had given Li Wei plenty of support during the games.

Arriving at a famous nightclub in Los Angeles, the energetic music and dazzling, sci-fi-like lighting quickly excite you, squeezing out all the excess energy in your body.

NBA players are truly inhuman in terms of physical fitness. They start training in the morning, warm up in the afternoon, and play high-intensity games in the evening, yet they still don't use up all their energy. They need to go to a nightclub to release it, and they might even need to find a woman to finish off the last bit of "oil" before going back to rest. The next day, they continue to dedicate themselves to training and the following games. Their recovery ability is astonishing.

Levi was also full of energy, but he didn't want to waste too much time here. Deng's aesthetic tastes were too extreme; most of the women he called were Black or Latina, and their butts were bigger than Levi's head. Anyone shorter would have to linger outside the door before they could even touch it.

Seeing Harden getting carried away and throwing money around, Li Wei found a relatively quiet place to rest for a while and took out his phone to check his messages. It was flooded with 99+ red dots – social media, text messages, and missed calls. Many were from former classmates; it seemed the news of him representing the Nets had already spread.

After graduating from college, Li Wei lost contact with his former classmates. Later, he started challenging others to scoring points, and some even came to mock him, hoping to see him fail. Little did they know that a golden carp is destined for greatness; once it encounters favorable winds and clouds, it transforms into a dragon. Li Wei was already on his path to becoming a dragon. Just the fact that he had become an NBA player was already a rare feat in Flushing Meadows.

Countless NBA stars hail from New York, many of whom are legendary figures like Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, most are from predominantly Black neighborhoods like Brooklyn and Manhattan. NBA players from Flushing Meadows are few and far between; if we were to add one of Chinese descent, Levi would be the first ever.

However, Li Wei was too lazy to look at any of these messages. He only checked and replied to messages from a few close friends, including Li Yue, Jin Meiyuan, Tiandi Zhenli, and Luo Ping. Li Wei told Li Yue that after the game against the Clippers, he would return to New York in the early morning and would pick him up at the airport in his Chevrolet. Li Yue had gotten his driver's license earlier than Li Wei.

Harden partied until almost morning before finally feeling tired and leaving the nightclub with his teammates, friends, and childhood buddies. Li Wei had already taken a nap, waking up at an unknown time, and then followed him out. Seeing the sky already beginning to lighten, he checked the time: 4:15 AM, and a thought struck him.

"I've finally seen Los Angeles at four in the morning," Li Wei thought to himself, suddenly feeling no regrets.

(End of this chapter)