Sports Medicine Master System-Chapter 52: Roof of the World, Sabonis

"Did you guys get into a fight?"

Chen Yu glanced at Amichie, then reached out and pressed on his ninth rib on the left side.

"Hiss..." Amichie sucked in a sharp breath, whining pitifully, "That hurts."

’Of course it hurts,’ Chen Yu thought. ’You’ve got a hairline fracture. How could it not hurt?’

"Did you get elbowed?"

An injury in this spot most likely came from getting elbowed while fighting for position under the basket.

Amichie nodded glumly. "Don’t even get me started. It happened in the game against the Pioneers. I took an elbow from Arvydas. That old guy’s elbows are almost as sharp as the Mailman’s."

"Who?"

Chen Yu paused for a moment before realizing who Amichie was talking about.

"Arvydas Sabonis?"

’Was he talking about the guy who kept the United States Team out of the ’88 Olympic finals, indirectly leading to the creation of the Dream Team? The one they called the "Roof of the World"?’

Chen Yu remembered him. When he first joined the NBA in ’95, his arrival triggered a massive media frenzy in the United States.

After all, the man was hailed as the "Jordan of FIBA."

Back then, Chen Yu had just started his medical residency, and he clearly remembered the media mocking the man, saying he had the knees of a hundred-year-old.

"He’s still playing?" Chen Yu asked.

The media had reported on his injuries. Both of his knees were a mess, and torn ligaments were the least of his worries. His right Achilles tendon had completely ruptured at one point.

In Chen Yu’s eyes, it was a miracle that a man in his condition could even walk normally, let alone still be playing basketball.

’It’s been five years already.’

Amichie pursed his lips. "That’s right, he’s still playing. He even dropped 18 points on Dorik. The poor guy went 2-for-11 and only scored 4 points. The old man’s still got it."

Chen Yu did a quick mental calculation. Sabonis had to be 37 years old.

’That’s insane!’

But now, Chen Yu was genuinely interested in him.

A case like his was beyond any conventional treatment, short of a full leg transplant.

’But I have the System.’

’If I could actually treat Sabonis, wouldn’t that be a hell of a case study?’

But the Pioneers had their own team doctors, so Chen Yu couldn’t just intervene.

’Then again, if I were to become the head of the Players’ Union’s health and wellness department, I would have an opening.’

’And Ewing... his efficiency is just too slow.’

"Lie down." Chen Yu patted Amichie, motioning for him to lie down.

After this four-game road trip, the team had a three-day break. Amichie’s bone wasn’t fractured, just severely bruised. It shouldn’t be a major issue.

Outside the treatment room, Monty and the others sat comfortably chatting.

Hardaway’s bodyguard went out to guard the main door. A VIP client had arrived, so no one else was being let in.

However, the people outside didn’t complain. When Tracy McGrady and the others came in, they had already signed a bunch of autographs. They were now all discussing whether Chen Yu’s small clinic had already become the Magic’s official medical partner.

Hardaway was also enjoying a moment of peace, but when he looked up, he couldn’t help but shudder.

Tracy McGrady was sitting on the other side of the front desk, his left hand propping up his chin, looking at him with an incredibly strange gaze.

The stare made Hardaway’s skin crawl.

’Didn’t this guy say he had a girlfriend at the last get-together?’

Hardaway decided to break the silence. "How have the games been?"

Tracy McGrady’s eyes lit up. ’Is my idol asking about me?’

"Not good. We only won one of the four away games." Tracy McGrady was in low spirits; he hadn’t come to the Magic to lose.

Hardaway thought for a moment and said, "Hill is out, and Darrell has a limited ceiling."

Armstrong, who was talking with Outlaw, snapped his head up. ’Who’s talking about me?’

’Limited ceiling? I went from being undrafted to winning Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player. I’ve surpassed plenty of people, thank you very much.’

But when he looked up and saw it was Hardaway speaking, his indignation instantly vanished.

’Oh, it’s the old team leader.’

’In that case, he’s got a point.’

He had to admit, Hardaway had looked out for him quite a bit during his years with the Magic.

Hardaway continued, "So you’re the core of the team. You need to take control of the ball and think of yourself as the team’s leader."

After saying this, Hardaway felt a pang of doubt.

’Will Hill have a problem with me saying that?’

"I’ve watched your games," Hardaway said.

Tracy McGrady, who was still daydreaming about becoming the Magic’s leader, froze. ’Hardaway watches my games?’

Seeing Tracy McGrady about to get excited, Hardaway quickly clarified, "Well, Chen was watching, and I just caught a few glimpses. You have great physical gifts. You’ve got height, which creates mismatches at the shooting guard position. You’re also very explosive, able to change direction and drive to the basket quickly."

As Hardaway spoke, he suddenly realized... ’A tall guard?’ ’How is this kid so much like me?’

’My own calling card has always been being a tall point guard.’

’And explosiveness, speed... aren’t those my trademarks too?’

Looking at Tracy McGrady again, Hardaway was surprised to realize that the kid was practically a mirror image of his younger self.

’And Hill, too.’

’With McGrady’s height, he could easily play small forward. He can run, he can jump, he has a quick first step... Hill probably looks at McGrady and sees his own younger self, too.’

"With the Raptors, you were a wing scorer, a perimeter defensive specialist."

Though he hadn’t meant to, Hardaway had actually taken an interest in his young admirer and had read some media coverage about McGrady.

His explosive athleticism and ability to attack the rim went without saying. What impressed Hardaway the most was that last season, McGrady had averaged 1.9 blocks per game—the most of any perimeter player in the league.

He was utilizing the mismatch advantage of his height and wingspan.

Combined with the fact that the Raptors were putting all their effort into developing Carter, McGrady’s role there was as a secondary slasher and a perimeter defensive stopper.

"But things are different now. With Hill out, you’re the team’s offensive core. And even when Hill returns, your offensive role won’t change that much."

Hill is known as a point forward; he consistently averages six or seven assists a game. He’s more willing to distribute the ball, so his scoring has never been that explosive.

"But you, McGrady, you’re a shooting guard. You’re supposed to score."

Hardaway said, "You need to change your mentality. Understand that the team is counting on you, and focus on scoring. If you can add defense and playmaking on top of that, it’s just icing on the cake."

"But your offensive arsenal is too limited. You can’t just rely on your athleticism all the time. Your body will eventually get older and slower, but your skills are forever. You should set aside some time to practice your jumper, adjust your shooting form, and develop some post moves. You can’t just charge to the rim every time."

’This kid has a bad back, too.’

Hardaway hadn’t seen McGrady’s shot chart, but from what he remembered, at least half the kid’s points came from near the rim.

’I used to be like that, too. Obsessed with my athleticism, thinking I was invincible. I thought I could blow by any defender with one step, pulling off all sorts of stylish reverse and double-clutch layups.’

But after suffering one injury after another, Hardaway finally understood that you can never have too many skills.

Tracy McGrady nodded emphatically. This was guidance from the very man who had inspired him to play basketball.

After hesitating for a moment, Tracy McGrady tentatively asked, "Penny, can you teach me then?"

Hardaway’s passing was magical, but his back-to-the-basket game was also second to none in the league.

Huh?

Hardaway blinked.

’Wait, no. I was just trying to kill the awkward silence by making small talk. How did I end up getting roped into this?’

’I came to Orlando to rehab, for crying out loud!’

But faced with McGrady’s utterly sincere, worshipful gaze, Hardaway felt that if he said "no" right now, he’d lose his biggest fan in a heartbeat.