Chapter Sixteen: Go, Michael

“Michael, go warm up!”
On the sidelines, seeing Jeff Green’s poor performance on defense, Frank Vogel was visibly dissatisfied. Not only was his team trailing, but not a single on-court player could secure a defensive rebound. For Vogel, this was intolerable. As he watched, he couldn’t help but think of the eager young man on his bench.
This young man must not allow the backcourt rebounds to slip away!

“Yes, Coach!”
Hearing Coach Vogel’s words, Michael Wu was momentarily stunned on the bench, then sprang up, face aglow with excitement. “Am I going to play now?”
“Go warm up on the side first.”
Noticing Wu’s energetic demeanor, Vogel smiled faintly before shifting his gaze back to the court, where Jeff Green’s lackluster effort made the contrast with Wu’s enthusiasm all the more pronounced. With every passing moment, Vogel grew more willing to entrust Wu with responsibility.

As the game continued, Jeff Green’s play only worsened. The once formidable small forward, who had even delivered a game-winner over LeBron James, kept missing shots on offense and, on defense, committed a foul against Rudy Gay, handing the Kings two free throws.

Swish!

Seizing the opportunity for easy points, Rudy Gay sank the first free throw calmly, giving the Kings a 35-25 lead with a minute and a half left in the first quarter.

Beep!

At that moment, Coach Vogel finally made his move, calling over Michael Wu, who was still high-kneeing by the sideline. After a few instructions and a pat on the back, Vogel said, “Go on, Michael.”

“Let’s see—Orlando Magic is making a substitution with just over a minute left in the first quarter!”
On the sideline, the ESPN broadcaster sounded puzzled. Normally, after a team uses its first timeout and rotates players, the lineup is kept stable until the end of the quarter. Yet here was the Magic, making an early adjustment.

What surprised the commentator even more was Vogel’s choice: sending in this year’s second-round pick.

“Michael Wu, number 0 for the Magic, replaces Jeff Green. Clearly, Coach Frank is unhappy with Green’s performance,” the commentator noted, shaking his head. “But subbing in a rookie at this point—what difference could it make?”

“We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Hey, Michael, stand over here.”
On the court, Biyombo, waiting by the free-throw line for the rebound, saw Wu standing awkwardly and called out, pointing to the spot across from him. “Don’t just stand there—this is where you should be.”

“Huh?”
Prompted by his teammate, Wu snapped out of his daze. It was just his second time on an NBA court, and despite all the mental preparation, the moment his feet touched the hardwood, nerves flooded through him.
He tried to step forward, but for a split second forgot how, stumbling awkwardly and nearly falling.

Clumsily regaining his balance, Wu scratched his head in embarrassment and, jogging quickly, positioned himself opposite Biyombo.

“Hey, man, who is that guy? I’ve never seen him before.”
In the Amway Center, fans couldn’t help but chuckle at Wu’s awkward entrance. “He looks like a clown. Can a player like that really make it in the NBA?”

“Come on, don’t judge him so quickly. Did you see his skin color?” another fan replied, nudging his friend and nodding toward Wu. “He’s Asian. Any rookie from Asia who makes it this far must be something special.”

Of course, Wu couldn’t hear the fans’ banter. Surrounded by a lineup of muscular giants, his mind felt empty, his thoughts drifting a thousand miles away.

“Hey, rookie, are you sure you’re up for this?”
Across from him, Willie Cauley-Stein braced himself against two Magic players as Rudy Gay prepared to shoot. He leaned in and whispered to Wu, “Don’t wet your pants with what’s about to happen.”

Duang!

The words had barely left Cauley-Stein’s mouth when Rudy Gay’s second free throw clanged off the front rim. Seizing the moment, Cauley-Stein boxed out both Magic defenders and leapt for the ball.

Clearly, he was set to grab the offensive rebound.

“Michael!”
Seeing this, Frank Vogel couldn’t sit still—he shouted at Wu from the bench.

He hadn’t expected that Wu, the player he’d placed so much hope in, would make the same mistake as before—spacing out at the crucial moment.

Just then, as Vogel called out, Biyombo and Ibaka double-teamed Cauley-Stein, barely tipping the ball upward. The rebound was still up for grabs.

Bang!

Without pause, the young Kings center landed and instantly sprang up again, eyes locked on the ball. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced toward Wu, determined to show the rookie what the NBA was all about.

But before he could find Wu, Wu found him.

Soaring above the fray in a number 0 Magic jersey, the yellow-skinned rookie rose up, arms outstretched, and snatched the ball cleanly out of Cauley-Stein’s reach.

Without hesitation, number 0 handed the ball to Payton nearby, who immediately launched a fast break.

Most of the Kings, expecting another offensive opportunity, had lingered in the frontcourt. Caught off guard, they failed to get back, and the Magic capitalized with a swift counterattack, scoring two points in mere seconds.

“Whoa! The Magic have finally executed a beautiful defensive fast break, catching Sacramento’s defense completely off guard!”
“They thought they’d get a second-chance opportunity, but the rebound was secured by the Magic!” the ESPN commentator exclaimed, his voice rising. “Michael Wu took off like a rocket, snatching the ball right from over Willie Cauley-Stein’s head!”

Whew!

On the court, after seeing his team secure two points, Wu looked down at his hands, then at his legs, drew a deep breath, and slapped his cheeks sharply.

The game had only just begun.