Chapter 338: Chapter 96: I’ll Teach You How to Win an Olympic Gold Medal
During practice, everyone kept their mouths shut, practicing in silence.
Seeing this, Isaiah Thomas grew a little worried. He couldn’t help but ask Su Xi, "Jack, why are your teammates suddenly so quiet? So unenthusiastic? This isn’t a good sign. You need to tell them not to be spooked by the loss in the group stage. Argentina isn’t invincible. We have what it takes to beat them."
Su Xi smiled.
He thought that Isaiah Thomas didn’t really understand Chinese culture.
He said, "Chinese people aren’t naturally expressive; most of us are quite reserved. If you knew what they were thinking behind that silence, you’d know just how excited they are."
"For us, this is a moment to bring honor to our ancestors. Do you know what that means, to bring honor to your ancestors? Do you know how appealing it is to have an entire page dedicated to you in the family genealogy? Do you know how tempting the thought is of hanging an Olympic gold medal plaque in the ancestral hall? The pressure for this game is immense, but the motivation is even greater. If we win, every one of us becomes a national hero!"
Su Xi said to Isaiah Thomas.
Isaiah Thomas’s jaw dropped, utterly dumbfounded.
’It can work like that?’
Of course it can.
Yonas was also a foreigner. On the bus to the arena, he tried to rally the team with some words of encouragement.
But the players’ reactions were rather lukewarm.
Just then, Su Xi stood up. He clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention.
"I’m sure you’ve all heard about the situation back home. The entire country is waiting for us to return triumphant. Basketball is getting more attention than ever before, and we have to cherish this opportunity."
He said, "Brothers, the time to make our mark has come. I know everyone’s excited, but don’t get *too* excited. Let’s stay composed. I’ll feed you the ball, and if we play at our normal level, we can lift that gold medal."
"Brothers, let’s win this, and we’ll return home in glory, bringing honor to our ancestors!"
Su Xi’s voice was powerful, and his teammates’ faces flushed red with excitement.
Everyone knew this was the most glorious moment of their lives. Just as Su Xi had said, winning would make them national heroes, allow them to bring honor to their ancestors and return home in glory.
Losing... would still be a monumental victory.
But it would inevitably be a splash of cold water on the enthusiasm of the fans back home.
It would fall far short of bringing honor to their ancestors.
Besides, what basketball player doesn’t want a gold medal?
If you can take first, why settle for second?
...
By the time the Chinese Team arrived at the arena, the Dream Six Team had won the bronze medal. They had defeated Italy, avenging their loss from the exhibition games and securing themselves a spot on the podium tonight.
But for them, this medal was the ultimate failure, a shameful honor.
Moreover, they would have to stand by and watch as Su Xi and his Chinese Team took a higher spot on the podium—either as the runners-up or the champions.
If they became champions, Su Xi would be the first player since Jordan to win a Finals MVP and an Olympic gold medal in the same summer.
And the prestige of Su Xi’s gold medal would far exceed Jordan’s.
After all, even someone as great as Jordan had only won by teaming up with other superstars.
Su Xi, on the other hand, was leading an Asian team that had never even reached the semifinals to a potential championship.
You could say Yao Ming was his capable assistant, but you could never say he and Yao were a dual-core... Anyone who watched the games would see that Su Xi was the absolute core.
Su Xi ran into the members of Team USA in the players’ tunnel.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmeron Anthony, along with Allen Iverson and Lamar Odom.
Wade, Antonio, and Iverson all greeted Su Xi, high-fiving and embracing him.
Su Xi congratulated them on their medals. Even though it wasn’t the honor they wanted, the courteous gesture was necessary.
Iverson said, "Go get ’em, Jack. Don’t underestimate Argentina. They play with incredible resilience as a team, like a nimble, venomous snake. The moment you relax, they’ll bite you and deliver a fatal blow. You have to maintain your highest level of defensive awareness."
"Ginobili’s stamina isn’t great. Wear him down," Iverson reminded him in a whisper.
They were on good terms, and Iverson wanted Su Xi to win.
Wade and Antonio felt the same way.
Even though it stung that Su Xi, a fellow 2003 draftee, had left them so far in the dust, they’d much rather see him win gold than watch Argentina, the team that beat them, stand on top of the podium.
The 2003 draft class—the three of them plus James—had originally been the "Four Musketeers," the closest of friends. Now, James and Su Xi were no longer on speaking terms, but the other two remained close with Su Xi.
Su Xi thanked them.
Just then, an abrupt voice cut in. It was Lamar Odom.
The man was always off in his own world, completely out of touch. He actually said to Su Xi, "Su, you should be glad you didn’t run into us in the group stage. Otherwise, you never would have made it this far."
Huh?
Su Xi’s eyebrows shot up.
’What kind of nonsense are you spouting?’
’This year’s Dream Six Team is like a pile of loose sand. You don’t even have to scatter it; it falls apart on its own after a few steps.’
’A team that couldn’t even beat Italy or Puerto Rico thinks they could have stopped the Chinese Team?’
But Su Xi didn’t get into a war of words with Lamar Odom.
Although Odom was an elite player in his own right, he was not in the same league as the Su Xi of today.
Arguing with him was pointless.
Su Xi said goodbye to Iverson, Wade, and Antonio and headed toward the court to warm up.
The bronze medal game had just finished in the arena. Staff were still cleaning the court, and some media members were setting up their broadcast equipment.
Su Xi found an empty spot on the court and started practicing his pull-up jumper.
They had lost to Argentina in the group stage because his teammates had been locked down at the crucial moment, forcing him to take tough shots. Although those two forced shots had allowed him to fuse and upgrade his super offensive talent by 2 points of Kobe’s.
But right now, winning was the only thing that mattered.
"Hey, Jack, isn’t it a little late to be practicing now?"
Suddenly, Su Xi heard a familiar voice.
He turned his head and saw a familiar figure. It was Kobe Bryant, standing on the sideline in a sweatsuit, his famously short arms on his hips as he smiled at Su Xi.
"What are you doing here?"
Su Xi was very surprised.
Kobe raised his eyebrows. "I came to watch the Dream Six Team. And to check on you, while I was at it."
"Then you came at the perfect time." Su Xi crooked a finger at him. "Come on. Help me practice a few moves."
Kobe’s brow furrowed. ’What the hell is that supposed to mean? I came all the way from the United States just to be your practice partner?’
"Come on. I’ll teach you how to win an Olympic gold medal."
...
