Chapter 102: Swallowing the Bitter Fruit

“Mr. Frank, I really don’t have any issues,” Michael Wu said helplessly in the Orlando Magic's training facility, continually insisting his head was fine. Yet Coach Frank Vogel stubbornly refused to let him participate in today’s team practice.

“I’m sorry, Michael. A concussion isn’t something you get to decide is healed on your own,” Vogel replied, continuing to instruct his players. “I’ll make a decision about your next game only after the medical report comes out.”

Truth be told, since leaving Indianapolis, the Magic had already won three consecutive home games—something that had far exceeded Vogel’s expectations.

Beating the Pelicans was largely due to Anthony Davis’s absence. The victory over the Mavericks came because Dirk Nowitzki was missing, coupled with Michael’s sudden explosion of form. But the win against the Milwaukee Bucks had been unimaginable before the game. Milwaukee’s roster was frighteningly talented; except at point guard, their players surpassed the Magic at every position.

Especially with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker on the court, this was a team brimming with terrifying potential. Yet the Magic managed to bite down and seize victory at home, with Michael Wu again delivering a stellar performance.

In the last two games, Michael had scored in double digits with impressive efficiency, which satisfied Vogel immensely. For a rookie who once could only dunk, such progress was more than enough.

This season, the Magic’s ambitions were modest: keep the starting lineup healthy, build chemistry, let the young players develop further. Next season would be their true push. Under these circumstances, Michael’s sudden injury meant Vogel could not risk worsening his condition by letting him play.

Even team practice was out of the question for Michael!

“All right, Michael, the coach is just worried your condition might worsen,” Bismack Biyombo noticed Michael’s frustration and sat beside him during a break, comforting him. “Kid, your professional career is just beginning. There’s no need to go all out for a single game.”

“It’s only a regular season matchup. If it were the final game of the championship, Coach Frank would definitely let you play.” Biyombo patted Michael’s shoulder, speaking with heartfelt sincerity.

“But this is a game. I am a professional player; playing is what I’m supposed to do, isn’t it?” Michael’s determination was visibly stronger than others’. “I love the moments of struggle on the court. That feeling makes me truly aware of my existence.”

The moment he was reborn, Michael had appeared beside the basketball court. That instant of emotional impact convinced him that only playing confirmed he had really been given a second chance.

“There are many things you should be doing,” Vogel looked at Michael and spoke every word firmly. “Staying healthy is your top priority right now.”

Soon, the medical report came in: Michael’s head showed no serious problems. Still, out of caution, Vogel placed him on the inactive list for the next game.

Michael considered protesting, but ultimately chose to accept it.

On November 23rd, at Orlando’s Amway Center, the Magic played the fourth consecutive home game—the last in this streak. As soon as it ended, they would fly to Washington to challenge one of the Eastern Conference’s powerhouses.

Yet all Magic fans hoped their team could claim the first four-game winning streak of the season at home and head to the capital riding the momentum!

“Hey, look! Michael Wu is resting on the sidelines. He doesn’t seem seriously hurt!”

“Thank God! Giannis’s black elbow didn’t damage the future of our team!”

Home fans breathed huge sighs of relief as they saw Michael Wu on the bench—finally putting their worries to rest.

Tonight, their opponent was the Phoenix Suns from the distant West.

So far this season, Phoenix had played fifteen games, winning only four—ranking at the bottom in the West. Their star, young shooting guard Devin Booker, occasionally shone, but clearly the team lacked a winning aura.

Before coming to Orlando, they had even lost to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Magic’s next opponent, the Washington Wizards!

Still, even a weak adversary like this posed a moderate challenge for the Magic.

The first quarter was fiercely contested; Suns center Alex Len treated the Magic’s paint as his own backyard, grabbing five rebounds and scoring six points in just a few minutes, greatly energizing his whole team.

At the end of the first quarter, the trailing Suns surprisingly led by two points on the road!

In the second quarter, both teams sent out their second units. Without Michael Wu, Magic’s bench, led by Aaron Gordon, found the going tough.

During the second period, the Suns completely took control of the game.

“Beep!” Out of options, Vogel had to call a timeout after the Suns scored again and pushed the lead into double digits.

“Are you guys sleepwalking out there?” Vogel tossed the tactical board aside. “Look at how ugly you’ve played in this half!”

“Michael…” Vogel paused mid-scolding, noticing the young man sitting at the end of the bench, resting today, who was also watching him.

“Coach, if Michael were here, we’d definitely be leading!” Aaron Gordon mustered his courage. “We need his mid-range shot. Without him, our tactics fall apart!”

Gordon was right; the Magic’s second unit didn’t rely solely on isolation plays. They had strict movement and organization based on the playbook, but the final execution—the last shot—was originally Michael Wu’s responsibility.

Now, Mario Hezonja was filling that role. This sophomore clearly wasn’t ready; despite the hype surrounding him, once on the court he realized Michael had truly outperformed him in the previous two games.

Hezonja said nothing aloud when he heard his teammates’ remarks, but inside he felt bitter.

Returning to the game, his aggression soared. Even with defenders in front, he took shots without hesitation. Sadly, more attempts didn’t mean more makes; on the contrary, he disrupted the Magic’s offensive system.

As a result, the Magic lost the second quarter by a whopping thirteen points!

Though the starters worked hard to catch up after halftime, it was too late. In the end, the Magic’s home winning streak was halted at three.

“Without Michael Wu, Orlando finally had to swallow a bitter defeat!”