Chapter 253: Chapter 55: Jordan, Why Don’t You Teach Jack?

At first, no one paid much attention to what the two rulers of the ’80s had to say, figuring it was just a new game for the old rivals.

Not until the Miami Heat took the court in Indiana.

The Heat’s roster was very young overall; aside from the two veterans, Brian Grant and Eddie Jones, the rest were all players born in the 1980s.

Their starting lineup: Wade, Caron Butler, Eddie Jones, Lamar Odom, and Brian Grant.

The Pacers’ starting lineup was: Su Xi, Artest, Reggie Miller, Little O’Neal, and Foster.

Before the game, ESPN interviewed Wade. They posed some heavily leading questions, asking for his thoughts on Little Sheep Su Xi winning Rookie of the Year and how his performance in the previous round was a noticeable step down from the regular season.

However, Wade’s response was interesting. He said, "Hey, man, we were friends before we even turned pro. I’m happy for him; he deserves the Rookie of the Year trophy. Did Jack really play poorly last round? The Pacers swept their series 4-0."

Wade clearly didn’t want to get dragged into these debates. The incessant "Su Xi vs. James" talk was already wearing on him; he just wanted to keep his head down and play.

The game soon got underway.

Larry Bird had settled in front of a TV early—specifically, the TV at Michael Jordan’s house.

Bird was, in a way, Jordan’s idol, and Jordan had always respected him. He had also publicly acknowledged that Bird and Magic were the rulers of the previous era, seeing it as a kind of passing of the torch. In contrast, the Smiling Assassin, who was sandwiched between Big Bird, Magic, and the Flying Man, was almost universally loathed.

Bird had come over to ask Jordan for advice on how to improve a player’s shooting consistency with large hands. With Bird visiting in person, Jordan had to show him some respect.

Even after retirement, Jordan hadn’t stopped paying attention to the NBA’s development. For the past two years, he had been pushing for an league expansion, lending his famous name to the effort to establish a new team in Charlotte.

The league had already granted its approval, and the other teams had agreed to welcome a new member.

The reason Jordan was so hospitable to Bird, and was willing to sit and watch this playoff game with him, was that he hoped to secure Bird’s strong support.

According to NBA rules, newly formed teams have a special privilege: an expansion draft. They get to select players from other teams, though, of course... those teams typically only make players available that they don’t have much use for.

Jordan was hoping Bird would give him a couple of decent players, since the Pacers had a deep roster anyway.

"Michael, what do you think of Little Sheep Su Xi?" Bird asked Jordan after the game began.

Jordan frowned and asked in confusion, "You’d be willing to put him on the expansion list?"

"No, I mean what do you think of his skill level?" Bird asked.

"I don’t know. I don’t really like him," Jordan said bluntly. "The first time I saw him, I just didn’t get a good feeling. Don’t know why. It’s just an intuitive dislike."

It was the kind of feeling a protective mother gets when she can instantly pick her son’s crush out of a crowd of girls: an immediate, instinctive dislike.

"You should really watch him play. This kid has limitless creativity and an ability to learn, just like you. Magic and I coached him for a few days, and he improved by leaps and bounds. You must be eager to find a true successor, right? Maybe he’s a better fit for you than LeBron."

Bird kept trying to tempt Jordan.

"Honestly, I don’t want another so-called ’heir to Jordan’ to appear. In reality, it’s impossible for anyone to replicate my success and become the next me." Jordan shrugged, brimming with immense self-confidence.

His two three-peat dynasties were the foundation of his confidence.

His legend was already etched into the annals of history.

Just then, on the court, Su Xi brought the ball to the top of the arc with Wade’s eyes locked on him.

Wade’s defense was considered top-tier among the rookies, a result of his superb athleticism.

He put pressure on Su Xi.

Su Xi drove hard, trying to power his way inside. But Wade used his incredible explosiveness and speed to stay right with him, getting into a better position to cut off his path and force Su Xi to stop his drive.

The Flash certainly lived up to his name.

Watching on TV, a dismissive smile crept onto Jordan’s lips. ’He should have just stopped and pulled up for a jumper,’ he thought.

’He got stopped by that?’

’And they say this kid has a chance to be my successor?’

’Larry, your eyes must be going bad in your old age.’

’My successors... Hardaway, Hill, Carter, Kobe, Tracy McGrady, and now James and Wade... every single one of them possessed otherworldly offensive and athletic gifts.’

Jordan had watched Little Sheep Su Xi’s games intermittently, and his opinion didn’t differ from that of other basketball experts: although Su Xi’s athleticism had improved rapidly, he was convinced that Su Xi was not a superstar in the truest sense—someone who could take over and control everything. At best, he was a Scottie Pippen: capable of doing a little bit of everything, and even seeming quite masterful at many things, but ultimately lacking that ability to deliver the decisive blow and break down a defense.

Just as these thoughts raced through Jordan’s mind, Su Xi executed a pass that made the TV commentators shriek.

Having been cut off by Wade, Su Xi came to a sudden stop, spun, and in the same motion, whipped a behind-the-back bounce pass that shot past Wade and into the lane.

Little O’Neal caught the ball, exploded upward... BOOM!

A two-handed slam.

Lamar Odom was completely unable to stop Little O’Neal.

This was despite Odom having been called the "next Magic Johnson" when he first debuted, and he had even genuinely played Point Guard for the Clippers.