Chapter 1040 The Most Important Year in Chinese Basketball History

It is said that just as the Raptors successfully advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, "Red Auerbach" was still pondering how to quickly eliminate his "traitor" Bird...

In the West, as Su Feng had predicted, the Lakers were indeed dragged into a grueling series by the Mavericks, much to the anguish of Lakers fans.

Although Shaquille O'Neal's dominance remained unmatched, Phil Jackson was clearly caught off guard by Don Nelson's frantic run-and-gun tactics.

After taking a 2-0 lead against the Mavericks, the Lakers, lacking vigilance, lost the third and fourth games in almost identical fashion.

It must be said that the situation suddenly became bright again for the Raptors.

After returning to Toronto with the team, Su Feng couldn't have been happier watching the "good news" coming from all over.

Facts proved that the hell difficulty was never aimed at him alone.

Because in this era that had already begun to run wild, no one could stay out of it.

It is worth mentioning that just as Su Feng and his teammates were patiently waiting for their Eastern Conference Finals opponents while eating melons (watching the drama), on May 15th, the results of the NBA's 2000 draft lottery were officially released.

In Su Feng's previous life, the 2000 draft was a year with a generally low quality of rookies, a fact well-known in NBA history.

However, in this life, with Yao Ming deciding to enter the draft two years early...

As Yao Ming's older brother, even though the attention on this year's draft lottery was relatively low, Su Feng was still concerned about which teams aspiring for the championship would get which picks.

However...

After watching this year's draft lottery with Yao Ming in Toronto, Su Feng felt the world was full of malice towards him...

Philadelphia.

If Raptors fans had been the happiest group of people in the world for the past two years...

Then in the eyes of Philadelphians, they were probably the unluckiest group of people in the world.

The "King" who was supposed to lead them to revival was now wearing the Raptors' No. 23 jersey, building an empire for Toronto...

Plus, this season, the Philadelphia fans' only hope, "The Answer" Allen Iverson, was sidelined for almost the entire season due to injury...

For a time, the entire city of Philadelphia was shrouded in gloom.

Those who loved the Philadelphia 76ers no longer had smiles on their faces.

But on May 15th, when Pat Croce once again struck gold in New York, for the Philadelphians who were in despair, they seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

Look, the NBA is so "fair, open, and just."

Since getting the No. 1 overall pick in 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers were "lucky" enough to draw the No. 1 pick again this year.

Perhaps, "God" didn't want to see the 76ers, who had created the black eight miracle four years ago, sink into oblivion.

Perhaps, "God" felt that the situation in the East was not tragic enough.

Perhaps, "God" thought that Allen Iverson, as a popular star, didn't have enough help around him.

In short, whether you believe it or not, the Philadelphia 76ers got the No. 1 overall pick in 2000.

"We won't have a second choice in the draft.

Four years ago, we used a first-round 13th overall pick to select Su from China.

And four years later, we will use this No. 1 overall pick to select Yao from China."

On the evening of the 15th, Pat Croce, who was interviewed on the plane back to Philadelphia, couldn't wait to announce to the entire North America their draft plan in a month.

And if his interview wasn't just a bluff, then, in the words of the excited rabbits (Chinese citizens)...

The history of Chinese basketball was about to turn a new page in a month.

Because China would have its first No. 1 overall pick in the NBA!

And although there were still many experts and reporters who believed that the 76ers, who were trying to get rid of Su Feng's shadow, might not dare to bet on the 19-year-old Yao Ming...

But for Su Feng, who had an indissoluble bond with Pat Croce, he knew very well that Croce was good at everything...

Except for lying.

"Get ready, Ming, starting next season, we'll be opponents." That day, patting the young Yao Ming on the shoulder, Su Feng said earnestly.

At this moment, Yao Ming, feeling like he was still living in a dream, touched his head and said, "Brother Feng, this shouldn't be true, right?"

Looking at the naive Yao Ming, Su Feng sighed and said, "I worked with Pat Croce for two years, I know his character very well."

"But the No. 1 pick... Brother Feng, this is too..."

Too unbelievable?

Obviously, for the current Yao Ming, he couldn't accept the reality that he was about to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA.

Because in Yao Ming's view, a dazzling figure like Brother Feng was only the 13th overall pick in the first round of the NBA draft.

As for Su Feng, he wasn't surprised at all that Yao Ming could become the No. 1 pick even if he entered the draft two years early.

Because in this life, after he took the lead in opening the door to the NBA, the league's view of Asian players, especially Chinese players, had changed a lot.

In addition, this year was a famous draft bust year, so in Su Feng's view, as long as those NBA scouts weren't blind, the chances of Yao Ming becoming the No. 1 pick were still very high.

Just...

The Philadelphia 76ers' No. 1 pick.

Yao Ming of the Philadelphia 76ers...

Hiss——!

"I wonder how Allen is recovering. It seems I have to ask him to train together this summer."

As the saying goes, only children eat only from their own bowls.

As a mature adult, the steady Su Feng was very clear about the importance of eating from the bowl while also looking at the pot.

Therefore, while opening champagne for Yao Ming in advance, Su Feng, who had always had a long-term vision, had already set his sights on the more distant future.

There was no doubt that if Iverson could recover to his full strength next year, coupled with Yao Ming...

Then the 76ers...

It was more than just taking off?

To put it bluntly...

If Yao Ming's growth rate could be faster, then perhaps the Raptors might not even be able to wait for the Celtics to meet them in the Eastern Conference Finals in the future.

"Then Brother Feng, do I still need to work out for other teams?" Looking at Su Feng, who was solemn, Yao Ming asked, not knowing whether to be happy or worried.

Hearing this, Su Feng thought for a while and said, "Go, why not?"

As a senior who had been beaten by society, Su Feng knew that even the words of the kindest capitalists couldn't be fully believed, so in his view, Yao Ming's next workout plan still had to be carried out according to Duffy's arrangement.

And in this way, Yao Ming would be able to control his own destiny, instead of entrusting it entirely to the Philadelphia 76ers.

"Then Brother Feng, in terms of sneaker endorsements..."

Looking at the omniscient and omnipotent Su Feng, who had become a textbook for novice guidance in his mind, Yao Ming continued to ask.

Listening to Yao Ming's sincere question, Su Feng smiled mischievously and patted him on the shoulder and said, "Ming, have you heard of the 'Phenomenon' series?"

…

Many years later, if you were to ask when the golden age of Chinese basketball in the hearts of Chinese fans began...

Then in Su Feng's view, it was probably now.

2000 was destined to be the most important year in the history of Chinese basketball.

Because in this year, Chinese player Su Feng unprecedentedly became the NBA's consecutive regular season MVP.

So, was there a better script than sending Yao Ming to Philadelphia?

Pat Croce had already spoiled their draft results to the entire United States, now the entire rabbit (Chinese) nation was completely immersed in joy.

You kicked out a king from China two years ago, but now, you were about to welcome a giant from China. If you didn't cherish it, who could you blame?

Tsk——!

Perfect.

Of course, compared to this almost perfect script, Stern was more concerned about the fiercely contested Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals.

In the East, the "traitor" ultimately failed to defeat his "mentor."

Relying on Duncan's steady performance in the last two games, the Celtics finally won two consecutive games, eliminating the Pacers with a score of 4-2, and meeting the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals for two consecutive years.

In the West, the young Mavericks still needed time to settle.

O'Neal, who was extremely eager for a championship, and Kobe, who was also extremely eager for a championship, played an OK connection that Lakers fans would never forget in the fifth and sixth games, and the Lakers eliminated the Mavericks with a score of 4-2, and met the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals.

At this point, only the last three best-of-seven series remained in the playoffs that would determine the champion.

The Raptors, who were invincible and trying to defend their title?

Or the Lakers, who intended to avenge their shame and regain their strength this year?

Or the Celtics, who had learned from the past and tried to break the champion's monopoly?

And the Trail Blazers, led by former league's top small forward Pippen, who were determined to go the distance despite their age?

Toronto, after a week-long rest, would usher in the first test in two days, on May 21st.

According to the rules, the Eastern Conference Finals was still a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the Raptors having home court advantage first.

Before the game, after leading his team to Toronto, Red Auerbach, the actual head coach behind the Celtics, expressed his confidence in defeating the Raptors in an interview.

Because this year was not only a year for Su Feng and O'Neal to leap over the dragon gate, but also the year that Duncan grew the fastest.

In addition, the growth of Ray Allen and Marbury, as well as the addition of Artest, also gave Auerbach hope of defeating the Raptors.

Of course, in his words, Auerbach also expressed his dissatisfaction that people were paying too much attention to Su Feng and O'Neal.

Because in the eyes of this old coach, when people were discussing the best players in the league today, they should also include Duncan in the discussion.

And it seemed to make Red Auerbach even more sour...

On the 21st, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the Raptors' management once again held a coronation ceremony for Su Feng.

Unlike the coronation ceremony held in Detroit before...

This time, Su Feng not only received the Podoloff Trophy again in the worship of 20,000 fans at the scene, but also the introduction by the on-site DJ Martin exceeded 10 minutes for the first time.

Now, standing in front of you is... (omitting 10,000 words here)

Su Feng, the future No. 1 player in NBA history!

In short, after this grand coronation ceremony, the morale of the entire Raptors team was raised to the extreme.

And at the same time, the Celtics players' anger value...

Also rose to the extreme.

"Maybe one day, the fans in Boston will lose confidence in the Celtics and the NBA, because to this day, we have not been able to fulfill our promise to the fans to return to the top.

But I think that's not today.

Maybe one day, we will find that we are still mediocre after giving everything we have.

But that's definitely not today either.

Today, the Boston Celtics will fight to the death against the Toronto Raptors!

Let's step onto the court and tell the people in Toronto with our actions, our anger!"

On the Celtics' bench, before the game, Celtics head coach Miller Karl looked at his disciples and said.

As a researcher in this league who had studied John Davis for a whole year, after setting aside all kinds of prejudices against Davis, it had to be said that Karl had indeed grown.

Just as Karl ignited the Celtics players' fighting spirit with his speech, the Raptors' bench was also staging almost the same scene...

"I have a dream..."

Looking at his group of lovely disciples, legendary coach Davis secretly took out the manuscript he had been carrying on his back all night before the players were about to play.

And then, there was no then.

Because tonight, the Raptors will fight for honor!

…

ps: Huff, it's been a long time since I've had such a second-grade (cringey) and embarrassing experience! But this chapter is indeed in line with reality and the times!

ps2: I'm plugging a book for everyone, "I Just Want to Rely on Myself" written by Mid-Autumn Bright Moon, um... I have to say, the starting point of the book title is really amazingly similar.

ps3: Thank you to all the bosses for various rewards, tomorrow I will count the reward list and thank you one by one!