Chapter Ninety-One: Michael Jordan Is Back? (Third Update Complete)

Twelve-for-nine. That shooting percentage was terrifying.

After closing the stats sheet, Barkley looked utterly stunned, shaking his head again and again. "If I hadn't watched the tape of this game, I would have mocked the Dallas Mavericks' defense without hesitation!"

"They actually let a rookie dunk on them nine times!" Barkley said, and even he laughed. "What a shame... whoever invented replay, that thing is way too advanced!"

"Until today, in my mind, Michael could only dunk and crash the boards. If he scored eighteen by dunking, I'd be shocked too, I'd be puzzled too." Barkley reined in his joking and said calmly, "But he only dunked once. He shot eleven times and made eight."

"Is this still the Michael Wu we knew before?" Barkley scanned the people in the studio. "Who put on his jersey and went out there to play?"

"Reggie, was that you?" Barkley turned his gaze to Reggie Miller, seated across from him.

Reggie Miller burst out laughing. "Of course not, Charles. I can't even make a layup these days!"

Seeing Miller shake his head, Barkley shifted his eyes to another man. "Then Kenny, it must be you. Your damn midrange game has always been pretty elite."

"Come on, man. At this point I only live in 2K."

Kenny Smith was laughing too. He understood that Barkley was praising Wu Rui in his own way. One had to admit, the fat man had quite a knack for this.

"Not you, and not Reggie?" Barkley frowned, then glanced at Shaquille O'Neal beside him. "Obviously not this fat guy either. He can't even make free throws."

"Get lost, Charles!" Barkley's sudden jab made O'Neal's smiling face darken. If the cameras weren't rolling, the Big Diesel might already have kicked Barkley clean off his chair.

"Fine, if it's not you and not me, then could it be another Michael?" Barkley said, laughing at himself now. "Guys, that's what I'm saying: Michael Wu is unbelievable. If he can keep this touch, I could even say Michael Jordan is back!"

Barkley's words were indeed a bit exaggerated, but tonight, quite a few fans really did compare the basketball god Jordan with Wu Rui. If Wu Rui could keep his midrange shot at this level, they would believe he was the next Jordan too.

"He's not even close to the Black Mamba, and he wants to compare himself to Michael Jordan?"

"Hey, buddy, wake up. Michael Wu isn't even as good as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope!"

The chatter comparing Wu Rui to Jordan was quickly drowned out and buried by other fans. After all, that was no ordinary man, but the god of basketball.

The next morning, Wu Rui had already arrived at the Orlando Magic's practice facility. Just as he was about to greet the staff, one of them hurried up to him, his face lit with excitement.

"Michael, can you give me an autograph? My son is your fan!"

"My fan? But I'm only a rookie, aren't I?" Wu Rui looked at the excited staffer in front of him, a little embarrassed. But since the man had asked, he couldn't exactly refuse. In the end, he signed his name across the autograph book.

"Oh wow, this is... a Chinese autograph?" The staffer stared at it after receiving Wu Rui's signature, so excited he could barely speak. "Oh wow, that's so cool!"

Watching the man work even more enthusiastically than before, Wu Rui sighed helplessly. "Since when did my autograph become so hot?"

"Michael, why haven't you started training yet?"

As Wu Rui sighed, Magic head coach Frank Vogel had already arrived at the facility. Seeing Wu Rui still wearing his jacket, Vogel's expression soured. "By now you'd normally have dunked a few already, wouldn't you?"

Seeing the coach's face, Wu Rui's scalp tingled. While taking off his jacket and stretching, he explained what had happened to Vogel.

"Huh? A Chinese autograph for Michael Wu?" Hearing his player's account of the little episode, Vogel laughed too. "Maybe I should start collecting some too. After all, you're going to be the basketball star of Orlando someday."

"Coach Frank, please don't tease me." Wu Rui could only smile wryly, swallowing. "The demands Mr. Rich laid out... I want to meet them, but that's basically impossible. Please, just get me training as soon as possible."

Wu Rui knew he was still very far from his target. Fortunately, he still had plenty of time. As long as he spent the time other people used chasing girls on training instead, he could surely reach that final goal!

Vogel was also very optimistic about this energetic rookie. Who could have imagined that the guy now shooting nearly seventy percent in practice had, just half a month ago, been at the level of barely grazing the rim?

Perhaps one day in the future, this kid would really accomplish what those former lights of Orlando had failed to do.

"Michael, since you've said that much, then I won't hold back."

Thinking of this, Vogel also felt his own energy rise. He had come so early precisely to improve Wu Rui's training regimen, increasing both intensity and practicality so his training would be far more efficient.

The day's training ended quickly. After his morning one-on-one instruction, Wu Rui spent the afternoon in team drills. When Coach Vogel called for a stop and suggested another scrimmage, everyone except Wu Rui shouted at once, "We want Michael Wu!"

"Then same as always: Michael plays the first half with the starters and the second half with the bench."

Coach Vogel announced the usual arrangement, only to be opposed by everyone except Wu Rui.

Bismack Biyombo was the first to speak up. "Coach Frank, you saw what happened the last time Michael was with them. There wasn't even a chance to score!"

"He only shines when he's with us!"

"Rubbish, Bismack. You just want to let Michael crush us, don't you?" On the starters' side, Serge Ibaka was the first to jump in and fire back at Biyombo. "As long as Michael comes over here, possession won't be an issue. He's our offensive core!"

"Serge, you still don't get it. Bismack's afraid he'll get torn apart by Michael, just like the Dallas Mavericks!"

Nikola Vucevic also sided with Ibaka. "Coach Frank, Michael is going to be a starter sooner or later. I think he should scrimmage with us. It saves time on building chemistry."

"No chance. Michael has been with us this long. We're the best fit for him!"

In an instant, the players on both sides were arguing fiercely over Wu Rui. Wu Rui could only scratch his head and watch the show. Last time there had been a scrimmage, he had already been in high demand; this time, he was even more sought after than before.