Chapter 52: The Suicide Squad?

“The next Cole?” In the home team locker room of the Orlando Amway Center, hearing the rookie on his own team speak like this, Biyombo was utterly stunned. “Michael, are you kidding me?”

“My God, that’s Rudy Gobert we’re talking about, not Cole Aldrich!”

Wu Rui’s words made Biyombo think this rookie must be crazy. True, Wu Rui had snatched an offensive rebound and soared up for a thunderous dunk over Cole Aldrich. It was spectacular, even chosen by the official NBA as the top play of the day.

But the man he faced was just a bench player for the Timberwolves, barely seeing any playing time, while Rudy Gobert and Cole Aldrich were worlds apart.

Never mind Gobert’s natural physical gifts; his shot-blocking statistics alone showed just how impregnable the Jazz’s paint was with him patrolling it!

“Of course, that’s Rudy Gobert—a 7’1” long-armed monster.” Wu Rui understood Biyombo’s concern as well. Smiling at his veteran teammate, his gaze was resolute. “But, Bismack, there are some things you just have to try.”

“This team needs someone to step up, don’t you think?” Wu Rui sighed softly. “My contributions so far have been negligible. Do you know how I felt, sitting on the bench, watching you guys get stifled by their defense again and again?”

“Bismack, my brother, I feel ashamed and guilty at my own helplessness!” As he spoke, Wu Rui pounded his chest. “But now, the chance to help is finally here, and I want to give it a shot—to do the one thing I can for the team right now!”

“Michael...”

“Trust me, man. Before yesterday, did anyone believe an Asian player could pull off a two-handed dunk from just inside the free-throw line?” Wu Rui, growing more animated, pressed on. “Before we faced Minnesota, did anyone think an Asian rookie could posterize a seven-foot center?”

“Likewise, until today, not a single soul believed a second-round pick from China could challenge Rudy Gobert’s fortress under the rim.”

“So, Coach Frank, please let me play!” Wu Rui’s voice rang with unprecedented resolve. “Please, let me get on the court!”

His words were firm and powerful, resonating through the room.

The head coach of the Orlando Magic had never seen this side of Wu Rui. The team was struggling badly on both ends of the floor, and he hadn’t even considered putting Wu Rui in the game. But now, the burning determination in the young man’s eyes changed his mind. That look of defiance made Vogel take the biggest gamble of the night!

“Ladies and gentlemen, halftime is nearly over, and we’re about to witness the second half of this contest!” As time ticked down, the live broadcast cameras returned to the arena. The two commentators exchanged glances and nodded knowingly before the one on the left began, “We all know the locker rooms must be fascinating at halftime.”

“Whether it’s the Utah Jazz, who’ve built their lead on defense, or the home-standing Orlando Magic, who’ve found no answers so far, both teams are strategizing and will reveal all in the second half.”

“Indeed, but what I’m most looking forward to is the home team’s response after the break,” the other commentator added. “Remember, last game, when they faced the Timberwolves, they trailed by twenty at the end of the first quarter!”

“The starters were so ineffective that Frank Vogel benched them for the third unit,” he went on, suddenly breaking into a laugh. “And then, as we all know, Michael Wu took over for two electrifying minutes, and Orlando’s third unit sparked a scoring frenzy!”

“Hey, are you suggesting Coach Frank is going to turn to Michael Wu and the third string again this half?” his partner said, incredulous. “Come on, this is the third quarter—the Jazz are going with their full starting lineup, not the second-quarter reserves!”

“There’s no way the Magic will send out Michael Wu. The kid’s talented, but putting him in now would only make things worse!”

“Tweet!” As the commentators debated, the referee’s whistle sounded on the court. The second half between the Magic and the Jazz officially began as both teams took the floor.

“Whoa!” As soon as the Magic’s lineup was announced, the previously subdued Amway Center erupted in a deafening roar.

“Oh my God, am I seeing this right?” one commentator cried out. “Coach Frank Vogel has actually put Michael Wu in the game?”

“Heavens, what on earth are the people in Orlando thinking?” Just as the commentator said, not even Vogel himself was sure what he was thinking. Coming out of the locker room, he’d still been pondering how to split minutes between Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green. Yet, as he handed in the lineup card, it was Michael Wu’s name that appeared at small forward.

“Michael, are you really up for this?” On the court, Nikola Vučević couldn’t help but feel nervous. “Rudy Gobert isn’t someone to be taken lightly!”

“Don’t worry, Nikola. Think of me as the suicide squad.” Walking through the tunnel, Wu Rui’s hands had still been trembling, but now, standing on the home court, the moment his feet touched the hardwood, his mind cleared. “Just treat me as the sacrificial third small forward, giving Aaron and Jeff some rest.”

“Whap!” No sooner had Wu Rui finished speaking than little Payton, who’d somehow crept up behind him, leapt and smacked him on the head. “Michael, you know we don’t think of you that way.”

“Don’t forget what you said back in the locker room,” Payton said, rolling his shoulders and showing off his powerful arms. “I don’t believe someone who spoke like that could ever be a mere scapegoat.”

“Haha! I agree!” Fournier came over, giving Wu Rui’s chest a hearty slap. “Come on, young man, let me see you take down ‘Cole Gobert’ tonight!”

“Oh, when did you all get so chatty?” Wu Rui was caught off guard as teammate after teammate came over to speak to him. He’d thought he was the most talkative one on the team.

“Well, since you’re all so eager, I can’t possibly let everyone down!”