Nobody Likes McHaney
Li Zhen didn't want to discuss the issue of their competitor, Mario Chalmers, with Jamie Lin for the time being.
However, when it came to the treatment issue, Jamie Lin displayed astonishing equanimity, showing the kind of 'harmony is precious' philosophy ingrained in his blood.
"I will take my current job seriously. After the season ends, I'll look for new opportunities with other teams. I've already had good communication with several teams, so I don't want to have a falling out with my old team. You know, the American basketball circle is actually quite closed, and we are outsiders."
There was a touch of helplessness and a hint of 'accepting what comes' in Jamie Lin's smile.
This suddenly reminded Li Zhen of the people from the homeland across the ocean. Most of those raised in that land were so kind, they valued harmony so much, to the point of enduring perpetually.
Li Zhen thought about it. When he was interviewed earlier, he had largely upheld the Chinese way of handling things. He gave Coach McHaney face everywhere, not willing to poke at his weaknesses.
He did this in the hopes that everyone could get along harmoniously.
However, when he returned, he immediately plucked the peaches. And there was absolutely no intention of getting along peacefully. Envious and explosive with jealousy, he threw Coach Jamie Lin, who had worked so hard, directly into the editing room, doing the lowest-level work for the team.
If it wasn't for his miraculous performance on the court, he would probably have tossed himself onto the bench, without any talk of being a dual-core player.
This was the American way of doing things. If they can suppress you and you don't resist, they will continue to oppress, pushing boundaries, constantly crossing your bottom line.
"Are you really willing to hand over the hard-earned fruits of your labor so easily? How much sweat, wisdom, and effort did we expend just to reach this nationally acclaimed stage today? Why should we let someone else take center stage and perform a shoddy dance?" Li Zhen stared earnestly at Jamie Lin.
"Brother, this is America. It's true that we're outsiders, but if we want to stand firm here, the only thing we can do is unleash our aggression, follow their rules, and even surpass their rules, to resist, to seize, to fight!! Blind compromise, blind tolerance will only make them think we're incapable, lacking confidence."
"I'll take care of everything."
Li Zhen patted Jamie Lin's shoulder, took the laptop from him, and walked out.
Bruce had changed.
Watching Li Zhen's retreating figure, Jamie Lin suddenly realized that the former restrained, friendly, diligent yet non-competitive Bruce Li had disappeared. In his place was a new Bruce Li, eager to advance, tenacious and determined. Unexplainably, waves surged in Jamie Lin's heart. He took strides and followed, with a feeling of longing in his heart.
He's right.
Jamie Lin clenched his teeth, tightened his fist, and moved forward.
From this moment on, his perspective had finally changed.
Just as Li Zhen said, in American basketball, people with yellow skin were indeed outsiders, especially in the NCAA league without commercial involvement, they were even more disadvantaged. If they continued to compromise, to play the good guy, the inevitable result would be to be pushed out.
Now, the two of them had worked hard together to create an NCAA miracle. If they just handed it over like this, when they went to other teams in the future, they might not be able to perform as brilliantly. Moreover, the most important thing was... who knew if other teams had a Coach McHaney as well.
When the path is cleared, clarity follows. And with it comes an indomitable spirit.
Chinese people, after all, were not lacking in the courage to compete, and even more so, in the courage to face death. They simply believed that 'harmony is precious' was the best way to handle things. But when this approach was destroyed by those self-righteous individuals, then, when the end is near, who is an ordinary bystander? In the vast land of China, there are plenty of generous and sorrowful figures!
...
McHaney ran off to talk to Kupchak for nearly twenty minutes, almost as soon as he returned to the team, he coincidentally ran into Li Zhen. "Hey, Bruce, I heard you were looking for me just now?"
Despite receiving some less-than-favorable comments about Li Zhen from Kupchak, he still held a keen interest in Li Zhen. After all... this guy had created miracles in four consecutive games. If he could lead them to the Sweet Sixteen, it would undoubtedly be a career highlight worth boasting about. Returning to the NBA after that would be much easier.
However, Li Zhen didn't continue the conversation with him, simply saying, "It's all settled now."
He then returned to the hotel next to the arena.
At the hotel, he ran into Spurs scout Kevin George and the basketball journalist Richmond.
As the three of them chatted, Kevin George informed him, "Our general manager, RC Buford, is coming tomorrow specifically to evaluate you, along with our chief scout, Sam Presti."
When Kevin George mentioned these two names, Richmond instantly exclaimed, "Oh my God, RC Buford!"
It was a name that rang through the basketball world.
Li Zhen didn't know much about Buford's achievements, so Richmond, as a dedicated journalist, told him about RC Buford's career.
He was known as the "Spurs' Dog," meaning he had a keen sense and genius-level trading skills. The two late-round stars who had now grown to become the cornerstones of the Spurs, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, were both hand-picked by him. In fact, even Popovich initially thought Tony Parker was just a slightly faster short guard.
Buford didn't have any outstanding records as a player. But ever since he joined Larry Brown's coaching staff at the University of Kansas as an assistant coach in 1983, he began his basketball journey. He helped Brown lead the Jayhawks to the Final Four in 1986 and win the NCAA championship in 1988. Then, in 1988, he followed Brown to San Antonio.
He worked as an assistant coach for Larry Brown for 11 years, and then worked for Popovich. Then, when Popovich was appointed general manager, he was quickly promoted to assistant general manager and chief scout of the Spurs, and now he is the vice president and general manager of the Spurs.
Buford rarely made public appearances. But just a week ago, during an interview, he said, "What we're playing now isn't exactly basic basketball. What we're doing is almost like basketball philosophy."
His words were taken as a proud boast, but Popovich was very sure of his comrade, "Many people can't judge what constitutes competitiveness, but Buford can. He knows who can take a fatal blow and stand firm, who can withstand criticism and who can't, and who can continue to fight in adversity."
So, when Richmond learned that RC Buford and chief scout Sam Presti were going to be in the audience for this game, he was extremely shocked. He realized... the small guard he had collided with head-on at the University of Southern California basketball arena was truly becoming a widely acclaimed basketball star.
Later in the conversation, Li Zhen told Richmond about Coach McHaney's return to the team and the changes in the tactical system.
This left both Kevin George and Richmond very angry. They bluntly stated that McHaney was a complete opportunist, a selfish and envious individual.
No one would like such a person.
That afternoon, Richmond wrote a detailed critical article and posted it online, expressing his extreme dissatisfaction with McHaney's actions. He vividly described how Stanford, isolated and helpless since the battle against USC, broke through the encirclement and created miracles. He emphasized the roles of Coach Jamie Lin and Li Zhen, and how McHaney and TJ Walton, the two deserters, were now trying to grab the fruits of victory and even banishing Coach Jamie Lin to the editing room.
Enough was enough!
He poured all his anger and indignation into the words, instantly igniting a strong resonance.
What he didn't expect was... Charles Barkley shared the article online and talked about it on the nationwide live show that evening.
Clearly, no one liked a head coach deserter returning to a successful team, taking charge and reaping all the honors.