Chapter Seventy-Five: A Gift for You

"Do you know who our next opponent is?"
Bismack leaned in close to Michael Wu, speaking in a hushed tone.
Seeing his teammate acting so mysteriously, Michael grew curious about their upcoming adversary. "Bismarck, honestly, you should star in 'Game of Thrones.' You're perfect for it."
"Hey, really?" Bismack was amused by Michael's joke. "Which character do you think I'd play? I've always felt Alan Taylor missed out by not casting me—his greatest loss!"
"Of course, you’d absolutely be a natural as one of the dragons," Michael replied with mock seriousness, and couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
"Oh! Shit! Michael, you should play a dragon yourself!" Bismack dropped his playful grin and gestured toward Michael. "Clearly, you don’t know who we’re facing next, so let me tell you."
Clearing his throat, Bismack continued, "Tomorrow we’re heading to Indianapolis!"
"The Indiana Pacers?" The answer hit Michael like a jolt. "Paul George?"
Truth be told, Michael Wu was a die-hard Kobe fan. After spending so much time bedridden, he’d watched more Lakers games than he could count and was naturally drawn in by Kobe Bryant’s graceful style.
But he wasn’t the only Kobe devotee in the league. The Pacers’ star, Paul George, was not only a Lakers fan but also a true Kobe disciple.
There was even a saying among fans: "Who else carries the Mamba spirit? General George of Indy!"
It perfectly captured the connection between Paul George and Michael’s idol, Kobe.
"Looks like tomorrow’s game will be a battle of Kobe’s followers..." Michael mused aloud, unable to keep the thought to himself.
"What do you mean, a battle of Kobe fans? The Pacers are also the team Coach Frank was leading last season!"
Michael muttered to himself, but Bismack was in no mood for idle chatter. "Michael, Coach Frank is a great coach. Those folks in Indiana are a bunch of fools!"

"Are you saying Coach Frank was fired by the Indiana Pacers?" Michael snapped back to reality, his expression changing. "Why? He’s the best coach I’ve ever met!"
"The Pacers’ management must’ve been kicked in the head by a donkey!"
"Don’t insult the donkey, Michael!" Bismack was getting worked up. "Coach Frank has prepared thoroughly for tomorrow’s game. He’ll make those fools in Indianapolis regret their decision!"
"Absolutely, Bismarck!"
So far in his career, Michael had only worked under one NBA head coach—Frank Vogel. Yet from Vogel, he felt something he’d never experienced before; Vogel was like a mentor to him.
And now, that mentor had been discarded, almost insultingly, by another team?
Michael couldn’t tolerate it.
That evening, after team practice, he volunteered for extra shooting drills. One day wouldn’t make him leap ahead, but a little more practice was never a bad thing.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and when Orlando’s plane finally landed in Indianapolis, the Bankers Life Fieldhouse was already packed to capacity. The home crowd of the Indiana Pacers waited eagerly for tip-off.
"Today’s game is going to be fascinating, packed with storylines!"
At courtside, before the game began, two ESPN commentators were getting warmed up. "The visiting team tonight, Orlando, is coached by Frank Vogel, who once led the young men on the other side to greatness right here on this floor."
"That’s right. Coach Frank spent six years with the Pacers, taking them to the Eastern Conference Finals twice in a row, trying to challenge LeBron James—though ultimately falling short." The other commentator chimed in, "Just last season, Coach Frank led his current opponents to the playoffs."
"Now, the man who knows this roster best is their opponent’s coach. This matchup promises to be a thriller!"
Just as the commentators said, Frank Vogel had coached the Pacers for six years, five of which saw postseason appearances. The only year they missed the playoffs was when Paul George was sidelined for the season with an injury.
Such an outstanding coach, who led his team through seven fierce playoff games just this April, had been dismissed. Many American sports media outlets were left baffled by the decision.

"Of course, after talking about coaches, we can’t ignore the hottest player right now." The commentator shifted topics, continuing the pregame buildup. "Orlando’s new darling, a second-round pick from this year’s draft—Michael Wu—has quickly become the most talked-about rookie of the season!"
Indeed, with Ben Simmons out for the season and both the top and third draft picks underperforming, Michael Wu’s constant headlines had made him the most well-known rookie of his class.
On top of that, just before today, Michael had disrupted MVP favorite Russell Westbrook’s near-perfect 40-point triple-double, elevating his popularity even further.
And after the TNT broadcast of the Thunder vs. Magic game, none other than NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal had conducted the postgame interview, signaling TNT’s high regard for this Chinese-American newcomer—a fact ESPN couldn’t ignore.
So, before the game, ESPN sought Michael out for a pregame interview.
It was his second time being interviewed before a game, but unlike before, he was no longer at a loss for words.
"Michael, thank you for taking the time to speak with us after training," the ESPN sideline reporter began with the usual pleasantries. "Tonight you’ll be facing a playoff-caliber Eastern Conference team on the road. Perhaps you’ll be rivals again next April. Do you have any special preparations for tonight?"
"Special preparations? Certainly," Michael replied calmly to the camera. "Just watch—Pacers fans, tonight’s victory will be my gift to you!"
"Uh..." The reporter was obviously puzzled by Michael’s words. "Michael, what do you mean by victory?"
Was he suggesting he’d throw the game?
"Maybe my meaning wasn’t clear." Michael saw the journalist’s confusion and explained, "I mean, we’ll take the win on the road tonight—and that win, that’s my gift to the home crowd."
"Because this victory belongs to Coach Frank Vogel, and the name of this gift is—regret!"