Chapter 103: Indispensable

"92:87. The two teams are actually very evenly matched—each had one good quarter."

As the game ended, the sideline commentator sounded resigned: "Orlando's second unit ran into trouble in the second quarter, and the Phoenix team capitalized on it."

"If Michael Wu had been able to play, the outcome would have been very different." Another commentator sighed as well. "But a single victory can't compare with the health of a promising young player."

"I fully support Coach Frank Vogel's decision!"

Just as the commentators said, the fans in the arena felt a bit of disappointment over the loss, but they hadn't forgotten—this was without Wu Rui on the floor.

"If Michael had come out in the second quarter, he would have killed the game with his mid-range jumpers!"

"Come on, man, you've ever seen someone kill a game in the second quarter? If you ask me, Michael would've dunked on their rim and put the fear of God in them!"

"Hey, brother, the truth is we already won this one. Don't forget—Michael still has 18 points he could add to his average!"

The fans chatted among themselves, hardly treating the loss like a disaster.

Over in the Magic's camp, the team's atmosphere wasn't especially heavy either.

As the players walked off the court, Wu Rui was the first to greet them with hugs.

"Serge, I'm really sorry I couldn't contribute anything in this game."

"It's nothing, Michael. This game had nothing to do with you." Ibaka felt a little embarrassed by the young man's self-reproach. "You know what, buddy? You just need to rest up, and when you come back, show everyone how tough you are!"

"Win the game then, and take me out to a club—that's all I need!"

With that, Ibaka gave Wu Rui a knowing look, his mood clearly unaffected by the loss.

"No problem, Serge. I should have invited you last game, but I had to go to the hospital..." Wu Rui scratched his head. "Once I'm back and we win, I'll definitely treat you!"

As he finished chatting with Ibaka, a player from the Suns walked over to the Magic's bench—the man most responsible for their victory today: Devin Booker!

Booker had put up 19 points and 9 assists on the night, a solid performance.

"Hey, Michael Wu!" Booker greeted him and extended his hand. "I'm really disappointed I didn't get to face you."

"Me too." Wu Rui paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his hand. "If I were out there, you'd be walking over to the Magic's bench right now, and I'd be the one shaking your hand."

"Whoa—so you're saying that if you'd played, we would've lost this one?" Booker withdrew his hand and laughed. "I'd heard you were a rookie with a sharp tongue. Guess the rumors were right."

"I'm looking forward to our next game. I hope you'll be on the floor then."

Booker had limited time as well. He exchanged a few more casual words with Wu Rui, then turned and headed down the visitor's tunnel.

"Alright, Michael, let's go. That kid's nothing good."

Behind Wu Rui, Bismack Biyombo nudged him along.

"I know, Bismack. That's why I'm sorry I didn't get to send a few blocks his way." Wu Rui shook his head, then hopped in place a couple of times. "Hopefully this layoff won't last long. Watching from the bench doesn't feel good!"

Wu Rui was a bench player. He'd always sat courtside watching games before, but at least there was the anticipation of getting in—even when he was frozen out after the Pacers game, he was always ready to go. But today felt completely different. He knew that no matter how he prepared, no matter how he warmed up, he wouldn't get even a minute of playing time!

"Coach Frank, I'm really fine. I want to play in the next game!"

Early the next morning, Wu Rui finished his morning workout before Coach Vogel pushed open the door, and got straight to the point.

Vogel, holding a stack of documents, looked startled by Wu Rui's eagerness. He paused for a few seconds, then smiled slightly. "Alright. If I don't let you play, you're about to lose it."

"Really, Coach? I'll play next game?"

"Of course, Michael. Actually, I considered putting you in during the final moments of the last game." Vogel confessed. "But your health comes first."

He opened one of the documents and showed it to Wu Rui. "This is a more detailed examination of your head injury. There's no sign of damage whatsoever."

"It's unbelievable—your head slammed hard into the floor!" Vogel was still amazed. "I've heard that in China there's a traditional martial art called the Iron Head Technique. Maybe you've trained in it, Michael?"

"Iron Head Technique?" Wu Rui was caught off guard. Thinking of his nearly perfect body since being reborn, he let out a goofy laugh. "That's right, Coach. I'm the twenty-fifth generation heir of the Iron Head Technique. A fall like that is nothing to me—like a mosquito bite."

Vogel laughed. Truth be told, even without the most authoritative medical clearance, he might have let Wu Rui play anyway. In the last game against Phoenix, the void left in bench scoring without Wu Rui had been far too obvious. The next opponent wasn't an easy out either—if Wu Rui sat again, it could easily be another loss.

After all, if they lost to the Washington Wizards, the Magic would then travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks, who still had Giannis and Parker. If that happened, it would be entirely possible to lose again on their home court!

And after that, with a three-game losing streak, San Antonio awaited them—one of the league's elite teams.

If it came to that, by the time the four-game road trip ended and they returned to Orlando, the Magic would be carrying a four-game losing streak. That was something Vogel didn't want to see.

Watching Wu Rui, brimming with energy, throw himself back into warm-ups on the other end of the court, Vogel found himself at a loss for words for a moment.

This kid he'd never thought much of had become an indispensable pillar of the team!

George Washington—one of the greatest presidents in American history. Perhaps even the greatest, "one of" aside.

And the city of Washington itself was America's political capital!

The Verizon Center in Washington was already packed with fans, chanting the Wizards' name, hoping to see their team claim a victory at home.

"John, that young man you've always rated highly—maybe he won't play?"