Pope of Basketball.

Summary

Yang Rui invites Yao Ming to a Western restaurant for a private discussion about basketball. He expresses concern over Yao's recent playstyle, noting that he has been passing more to teammate Ke Bi instead of competing for the MVP himself. Yang Rui argues that winning the MVP is crucial for Yao's legacy in the NBA and encourages him to assert his role as the tactical core of the Lakers. Yao initially hesitates, fearing conflict with Ke Bi, but Yang Rui reassures him that competition is natural in basketball. They discuss strategies for Yao to increase his stats without clashing with Ke Bi's scoring, emphasizing the importance of rebounds, blocks, and assists. Yang Rui is determined to help Yao achieve MVP status, believing it will elevate his standing among fans and in NBA history. The chapter highlights the competitive dynamics within the team and Yang Rui's confidence in his influence as a coach.

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