NBA, Yao Ming is back!

The final game of the CBA regular season has finally arrived.

The Shanghai Sharks' bus rolled along the stone-paved road outside Jiangsu's home stadium. Outside the window, a large crowd was surging, with waves of shouts for Hu Weidong's name rising and falling.

Even the wind was filled with the smell of gunpowder from this match.

Everyone knows that this game is not just a simple conclusion, but the final battle for the Shanghai Sharks to achieve a perfect record.

This was also the first direct confrontation between Yao Ming and Hu Weidong.

It's the ultimate MVP showdown that the entire league has been eagerly anticipating.

Before this, the Shanghai Sharks had been on a winning streak, going from being underestimated at the beginning of the season to becoming unstoppable, overcoming all the strong teams to get to where they are now, and remaining undefeated in the regular season.

Such a record is unprecedented in CBA history, though it can't really be called inspiring now, considering it only lasted two seasons. It can be said to have replicated the crazy performance of the Bayi team last season.

If we win this game, we'll have a perfect record and advance to the playoffs.

It's estimated that such a scene will be difficult to replicate in future seasons.

It is only possible under specific conditions and with very few rounds.

Yao Ming's name has changed from "rising star" to "Eastern Shark".

He dominated the league in various statistics, holding the top spot in rebounds, blocks, assists, and points.

Their field goal percentage and free throw percentage are ridiculously high, even by league standards.

There's no other inside player who can go toe-to-toe with him.

From Batel to Wang Zhizhi.

There wasn't a single one who hadn't been disciplined by him.

They were completely defeated and convinced of their superiority.

Battier always avoids the topic of Yao Ming.

Wang Zhizhi admitted this directly to the media after the last game—

I'm just not as good as Yao Ming.

I am not a genius of his caliber.

I will never again find myself in the foolish situation of fighting him alone.

These two response patterns are also in line with the personal styles of Battier and Wang Zhizhi.

Yao Ming is very familiar with both of them, so this is not surprising at all.

Even so, the question of who will win the MVP remains unresolved.

The external opinion remains one-sided.

In that era, the CBA was far less commercialized than it would become later. While the competition on the court was about skill, the selection of honors was always influenced by personal relationships and seniority.

Who is Hu Weidong?

He is the man known as "China's Jordan," a veteran superstar in the league, with an accurate three-pointer and a sharp breakthrough. He has dominated the basketball world for many years, has a large fan base, and his seniority speaks for itself. Even coaches and commentators from various teams think of him first when they mention MVP.

Moreover, he's been in really good form this year.

He averaged 31 points per game.

Second only to Yao Ming.

He was also the all-time leading scorer.

27 years old this year.

Having experienced the baptism of the Atlanta Olympics.

At its peak.

In contrast, Yao Ming is only sixteen years old and has only played one season in the league. No matter how explosive his stats are or how well he leads his team, in many people's eyes, he is still a "junior".

They don't deserve this highest honor in the league.

Just like in later games, even if Yao Ming won the championship, the Finals MVP would still be given to Liu Yudong.

This is the rule of this era: strength is one thing, "seniority" is another.

There is no basketball league in China that is fully adapted to marketization.

We're still moving forward.

Of course, everything goes through this process at the beginning, so there's no need to be overly critical.

Moreover, there is no FMVP in this era.

This award.

It will take several more years before it can be established.

Therefore, at this time, the regular season MVP is the most important individual award.

Moreover, the selection system at the time was very chaotic.

The only real hurdle might be that the player must be a local player.

Hu Weidong was the MVP last season, and now countless players hope he will win it again.

After all, he's called the Chinese Jordan, isn't he?

His playing style is indeed entertaining to watch.

They are also highly capable.

However, since it's a small-scale vote, the evaluation methods are quite limited.

Many media outlets even prepared their articles and headlines in advance, which were nothing more than "Well-deserved, China's Jordan wins the MVP".

The words imply that Yao Ming is still young and will have plenty of opportunities in the future, and that he should give way to the senior player this time.

Some fans, who were just watching the spectacle, shouted "Respect the elderly and care for the young" outside the stadium, saying that since the Big Sharks had won every game, it would be better to let the Jiangsu team win this game, as a way to give Hu Weidong some face.

But these voices are ultimately just the imaginations of outsiders; they don't understand Hu Weidong, nor do they understand real competitive sports.

At the pre-match press conference, Hu Weidong, wearing the Jiangsu team's jersey, still exuded the composure of a veteran player. When asked by reporters about the MVP, he answered without hesitation, and his words immediately silenced the entire audience.

"I know what people are saying, and I know that everyone thinks I'm senior and deserve this award."

He raised his hand to wipe his forehead, his voice low but clear: "But in basketball, winning is the only thing that matters."

"If I can't lead the Jiangsu team to a perfect victory against the Shanghai Sharks and beat Yao Ming in this game, then I don't deserve to win the MVP award at all."

"A player who can lead a team to an undefeated record throughout the entire regular season, even if he is only ten years old and a primary school student, should have this MVP award. No one is entitled to give it to him, and I don't need anyone else to give it to me."

His words were frank and firm, without a trace of affectation or condescension.

This is Hu Weidong, this is China's Jordan.

What he wants is never others' concessions or charity, but a fair and square duel, where strength speaks for itself, and if he wins, he can rightfully claim the MVP award.

If we lose, we accept it without complaint.

This is currently the best outside shot in the country.

It is also the pride of Asia's top outside shooter.

His magnanimity and pride instantly drew praise from countless people. Even the foreign players of the Shanghai Sharks couldn't help but nod secretly when they heard these words, admiring the spirit of this "Chinese Jordan".

That's manly enough.

Li Qiuping laughed and said, "As expected of Hu Weidong, he's got guts. Well then, let's use this match to decide who gets the MVP."

Li Qiuping's intervention at this time was very appropriate, both protecting Yao Ming from direct confrontation and preventing him from facing the issue directly.

It also directly points out that the MVP award will be decided by the winner of the match.

Whoever wins, takes it.

This is perfectly suited for the field of competitive sports.

Extremely upright and honorable.

When Yao Ming heard these words, he was warming up on the bus before the game, moving his fingers and wrists.

He knew in his heart that Hu Weidong had always been this kind of person.

The fighters on the court possess a pure and reverent love for basketball in their bones; such opponents are worth facing with respect.

And it's very likely that I'll be out of the game after this season.

There would be no chance to be his opponent again.

So he is the current top scorer.

It's said that China's Jordan will have a showdown.

It was also a perfect ending to his regular season.

The last time the two teams met, Hu Weidong was absent due to injury, and the game was a foregone conclusion, with the Sharks winning easily.

But Yao Ming always felt that something was missing. He missed an opportunity to face off against a top player and a thrilling duel.

And this time, it's finally coming.

The bus slowly drove into the players' tunnel, with lights shining down from above, illuminating the posters on the walls on both sides.

Hu Weidong's shooting posture was printed in the most conspicuous position, elegant and sharp.

He's truly the only one in China with such a cool playing style right now.

The league needs to create stars right now, and players like this are naturally the first choice.

Compared to Hu Weidong, Liu Yudong was much more low-key, and before Wang Zhizhi went out, he couldn't possibly go all out and monopolize the right to shoot.

This has led to him being the current star player in the league.

That's him, Hu Weidong, the Chinese Jordan.

Last year's league MVP.

Entering the away team's locker room, the teammates found their places to change their jerseys and put away their protective gear. They were noisy and chatty, but the atmosphere was relaxed. After all, they had won all the way and everyone was confident.

And losing isn't a big deal.

Li Qiuping even laughed and said that losing actually made her feel more relaxed.

Without the pressure of achieving results, everyone is in a relaxed state.

In particular, even though Hu Weidong is a contender for MVP, this team is different from the Bayi team and is not that strong.

Even if they finished fifth in this year's league.

That's all there is to it.

After all, they're number one in the league right now.

Except for the Bayi team.

They even believe that the rest of the CBA teams are no match for their own.

Yao Ming walked to his locker, about to reach out and open the door to get his jersey, but it was inside the locker...

A white envelope was found.

It was thin, without a stamp or signature.

It lay there quietly, as if it had been placed there specifically to wait for him.

He paused for a moment, then reached out and picked up the envelope.

The noise in the locker room seemed to fade away instantly. Yao Ming held the envelope, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Who would leave a letter for themselves?

Coach Li? Or a teammate's prank? Or...?

He reached out and tore open the envelope. Inside, there was no thick letter paper, only a simple sheet of white paper with no extra words, just a line of handwriting—

The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, carrying the crisp and decisive style of a veteran player.

You can tell a person's personality at a glance:

If you respect me, then go all out against me.

There was no signature, no greeting, not even a single extra word of pleasantries, just these twelve words.

But Yao Ming burst out laughing the moment he saw it.

I understand.

Who else could it be but Hu Weidong?

Only he would issue a challenge in this way.

No need for polite greetings or insincere blessings. Respect on the field is never about backing down or holding back.

Instead, they gave it their all and delivered top-notch performances.

Respond to the opponent's strength.

This reminded Yao Ming of an interview with the real Jordan during his last All-Star Game, in which he said he wanted to give it his all against his opponents.

Perhaps such a person.

They all have this kind of personality, right?

Yao Ming held the paper, his fingertips gently tracing the words on it, and the fighting spirit in his heart was ignited.

It was burning hot.

He folded the paper and put it in his jersey pocket, as if treasuring a piece of his opponent's respect.

It's also like carrying a determination that belongs to them.

As expected of Hu Weidong, as expected of Brother Dong whom I have always admired.

Before the match, some people advised him to hold back, and some suggested letting the veteran win, but he never thought about those things. Now, Hu Weidong's letter has touched his heart.

In basketball, victory is never won through personal relationships or favoritism.

It relies on every dribble.

Every shot.

Every confrontation.

It relies on all-out fighting.

It relies on defeating the opponent.

Hu Weidong's message to him was exactly what he wanted.

and.

My own game in the CBA.

I haven't given it my all yet.

In this case.

Dong Ge.

tonight.

I just...

Let's give it our all this time.

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