Chapter Fifty-Five: The Four Different Fouls

“Oh! If I’m not mistaken, the head referee has called Rudy Gobert for another defensive foul, which means Michael gets two more free throws!”
“Not only that, Rudy Gobert has committed his fourth foul less than five minutes into the third quarter!”
“At this point in the game, four fouls is a critical threshold. The Utah Jazz certainly didn’t expect this, especially since their pillar in the paint only had two fouls at halftime!”
The sideline commentator looked serious. When Gobert was first fouled by Wu Rui, he was only carrying three fouls. Beginning the third quarter with just three fouls was still within Coach Quin Snyder’s tolerance.
But now, the fourth personal foul has a very different significance—it means this outstanding defender is just one step away from the brink!
This made Rudy Gobert deeply dissatisfied with the call. He jumped up from the floor, clutching his head as he faced the referee, mumbling incessantly. If Hood hadn’t stopped him in time, Gobert might have received his first technical foul of the season!
“Calm down, Rudy. It’s just a foul. Don’t lose your cool!” Hood urged as he pulled Gobert back. “We’re still ahead. Don’t let rashness ruin our advantage!”
Hood’s composure forced Gobert to restrain himself and take his proper position as Wu Rui lined up for his free throws.
On the other side, Wu Rui, helped up again by his teammates, stepped to the free-throw line to take his two shots earned from the foul.
Drawing a deep breath, Wu Rui assumed his shooting stance and released the free throw steadily.
To be honest, he felt that free throws were the easiest thing in the NBA. Compared to mid- or long-range shots, free throws—with no interference and plenty of time to prepare—were paradise.
“I really can’t understand how Howard and the others can be so bad at this.”
He muttered to himself as his first free throw circled the rim and finally dropped through the net.
“Frankly, Michael’s free throws are far more reliable than his jump shots. It’s hard to believe,” the commentator remarked, finding a discussion topic in Wu Rui’s first made free throw. After all, Wu Rui was a true anomaly—his entire career so far, he had made only one mid-range shot.
Normally, a player who’s a disaster from the field shouldn’t perform well at the line. Yet, Wu Rui’s other career points came either from dunks or free throws, and his free-throw percentage was more than twice his non-dunk field goal percentage.
The commentator hadn’t finished marveling when Wu Rui launched his second free throw. The arc was perfect, and as expected, it swished through the net. Wu Rui made both, providing his team with an effective answer to the opponent’s previous offensive possession!
It was now the Jazz’s turn on offense. This time, Hood’s long two-pointer was a bit short and bounced off the rim, with the rebound falling to the Magic.
Young Payton pushed the ball up the court, but didn’t rush the play. He waited for the players to settle into their positions, then searched for weaknesses in the defense.
Gordon Hayward was now fully alert. In the previous two possessions, this young forward had allowed the even younger Wu Rui to toy with his emotions. He was determined not to let it happen a third time.
Even as Wu Rui started talking again, Hayward ignored him, focusing only on defense and refusing to respond.
With Hayward’s concentration, Wu Rui’s real ability was exposed, and he was ineffective on offense.
However, Hayward shutting down Wu Rui didn’t mean the rest of the Magic would sit idly by.
Fournier, long known as a shooter, used his teammate’s screen to cut off the ball straight into the paint. Ibaka, acting as the pivot, quickly passed the ball over.
He’d seen this play countless times in Oklahoma—the only difference was that the Magic’s cutter was Fournier, while the Thunder’s was Russell Westbrook!
Thinking of Westbrook, Ibaka’s glance slid toward another teammate. In that player, Ibaka vaguely saw the shadow of his former partner—not in their skills, but in their fearless spirit when facing formidable opponents in the paint.
On the court, Ibaka reminisced as Fournier caught his pass and took three big strides for the layup. Rudy Gobert stepped up, but only raised his hand symbolically.
The ball sailed past Gobert without resistance. Fournier’s layup was effortless, adding two more points for Orlando!
“Incredible! Rudy Gobert is just watching his opponent score an easy layup right in front of him!” The commentator was stunned by Fournier’s easy basket. “That’s not the Rudy we know. What’s happened to him?”
“Perhaps it’s the foul trouble,” another commentator observed. “Michael drew two fouls in quick succession from Rudy, pushing his total up. It’s only five minutes into the third quarter. He can’t risk another foul on defense!”
On the sideline, Magic coach Frank Vogel was well aware of the situation, and his gaze toward Wu Rui grew increasingly complex.
What kind of player is Wu Rui, really?
Unstable shooting, unreliable ball-handling—in other words, a player with very shaky fundamentals. But his astonishing athleticism, superhuman physical gifts, and talkative yet relentless nature made this rookie truly unique!
“Beep!”
The more Vogel learned about Wu Rui, the more intrigued he became. Meanwhile, Jazz coach Snyder was far less pleased. Seeing Gobert hesitant on defense, he decisively substituted his defensive anchor, sending Trey Lyles onto the court.
With Gobert out, Vogel didn’t sit idle either. At the next dead ball, the Magic made a substitution—Aaron Gordon replaced Wu Rui!
“Oh, Michael!”
Wu Rui walked slowly back to the bench as applause echoed through Amway Arena. The crowd paid tribute to the rookie’s courage in challenging Gobert’s wingspan.
Frank Vogel gave Wu Rui a pat on the back.