Chapter 93

Chen Mu arrived early at the stadium and warmed up with a group of fringe players, preparing for the upcoming match.

With each successful jump shot, Chen Mu continuously sought his rhythm and feel, but his mind was preoccupied with something else.

After the game against Washington, the 76ers returned to their home court with their last glimmer of hope. Despite the team's all-out effort, especially from Allen Iverson and Chen Mu, who seemed to have a mysterious chemistry, they put in 120% effort, fighting until the last moment of every game.

Unfortunately, due to the disparity in strength, the 76ers lost two games. Even if they could defeat the visiting Bucks in today's game, the team would not advance to the playoffs. The Wachovia Center would soon face a long period of emptiness after this match.

However, losing did not dampen the fighting spirit of Chen Mu and Allen Iverson. The other players, to varying degrees, began to relax after losing the first game, no longer giving their all.

But Chen Mu and Allen Iverson gritted their teeth and fought in every game, as if it were their last, leaving some teammates puzzled.

"What's wrong with Allen and Chen? It's clear we won't make the playoffs. Losing a few games and dropping in the standings is no big deal. It could even help us get a better draft pick!"

A fringe player whispered this during training, which Allen Iverson overheard. Without a word, he went up to the much taller rookie and started a fight.

Chen Mu, hearing the commotion, joined in without trying to stop it. It was only with the intervention of Iguodala and Hunter that the fight was finally broken up.

"Am I wrong?! Besides you two win-crazy guys, who else in the team is fighting so hard? It's clear we won't make the playoffs. Relax a bit and prepare better for next season. I really don't get it. What's the point of winning one more game or losing one more game?"

After being separated, the rookie, named Deng Ge, was furious and began to curse at Chen Mu and Allen Iverson, almost provoking them to fight again.

"You're all a bunch of lunatics! How can such a guy be the core? How can such a guy be the future pillar? It's ridiculous! Do you really think you're the king of Philadelphia?"

Deng Ge, a rookie signed from the free market at the beginning of the season, is an undersized center with a three-point range. However, after the season started, he was sent down to the NBA D-League and only recalled at the end of the season, making it onto the roster.

Before returning to the NBA, Deng Ge was excited, thinking that with no hope of making the playoffs, the team wouldn't let the starters play for long, giving him a chance to shine. But when he joined the team, he found that while most players were somewhat lax, the team's core, Allen Iverson, and the super sixth man, Chen Mu, were full of fighting spirit.

With the team's leader and the rookie not giving up, the other players also felt they couldn't show their true colors and played their best.

However, this meant that the playing time Deng Ge had been waiting for was gone. In the last ten days of the season, with four games in total, he only played in two, for less than five minutes in total.

"If I can't get more playing time to showcase my abilities, I might not have a team next year..."

This unease gradually turned into dissatisfaction, which Deng Ge vented on two people.

"It's all Allen Iverson and the Chinese kid's fault! If they didn't fight so hard, the coach would definitely let me play more, without considering their feelings and keeping them on the court!"

His dissatisfaction with Allen Iverson and Chen Mu gradually turned into resentment, especially towards Chen Mu, his direct competitor. This resentment boiled over during the training session, leading to an attack on the entire team, especially Allen Iverson and Chen Mu.

"If my career ends here, my basketball dream will be shattered. And all of this... is the Chinese kid's fault!"

Deng Ge's mindset became twisted, blaming everything on Chen Mu. Before the last regular-season game, he went to Billy King to explain the situation and then left the team.

"Next year, you'll still be a bad team. With such a core and future pillar, the 76ers will always be a bad team. Remember, I will return to the NBA, become a star player, and then stomp on the 76ers, who will still be a bad team, making sure you never recover!"

After packing his belongings, Deng Ge returned to the training ground and made a grand speech to the players. He specifically came to Chen Mu, who was being consoled by Iguodala, and pointed at him, saying, "Especially you, Chinese kid, don't regret what you did today..."

With these words, Deng Ge turned and left the training ground, and the Philadelphia 76ers, his destination unknown.

Fortunately, with Iguodala's intervention, Chen Mu did not cause further trouble.

This small incident did not cause any substantial damage to the team. Even if Deng Ge went to the media to expose that he was beaten by Chen Mu and Allen Iverson, the team would likely support the registered players and manage the crisis.

Without video evidence or other witnesses, such incidents would become legends, like when Garnett hit a rookie, with little impact.

However, the team's morale was somewhat shaken.

"Why should I fight as hard as they do?"

Many fringe players began to question this.

Now, rumors were spreading that Allen Iverson, the son of Philadelphia, might be traded during the upcoming off-season.

Salmons, an important bench player and a local from Philadelphia, whose contract was expiring, had already shown his desire to leave the team. After the off-season, he would likely join another team.

This meant that next year's 76ers would be even weaker, with the only hope resting on the inside-outside duo of Chen Mu and Iguodala, and the growth of players like Korver and Louis Williams.

In the following seasons, whether the team made big trades or not, the core would definitely be Iguodala and Chen Mu, making it difficult for other players to get significant playing time.

In such a situation, was it really necessary to give their all in every game?

Before the last regular-season game, the 76ers seemed calm, but in reality, they were in turmoil, with the team's morale unstable.

"Chen, you're here early~"

Iguodala's shout pulled Chen Mu out of his troubled thoughts. Looking back, he saw that Iguodala and a few other players had arrived and were starting their warm-up exercises.

"Still thinking about Deng Ge?"

Noticing Chen Mu's troubled expression, Iguodala said, "That small fry is on a completely different level from you. There's no need to dwell on his words."

"I know, I'm not worried about him."

Chen Mu looked up and sighed, gazing at the empty stands. "I'm just a bit lost, unsure if I should continue staying here."

Hearing Chen Mu's words, Iguodala was taken aback, his face falling. He opened his mouth but said nothing, patted Chen Mu's shoulder, and then went to train on his own.

Soon, both teams arrived and started their warm-ups. The arena filled with more and more fans, and the last game of the season for Philadelphia was about to begin.

In the stands, fans occasionally pointed at Chen Mu and Allen Iverson. Chen Mu knew that many media outlets were speculating about Allen Iverson's future, and the fans had definitely seen it.

Some even argued that because both Allen Iverson's and Chen Mu's playing styles required ball control and both had defensive issues, they could not coexist well. Extreme commentators even suggested that Allen Iverson was hindering the Chinese kid's growth, and the 76ers should trade him to make room for Chen Mu and Iguodala.

"How many players have truly excelled under Allen? Not many. Allen is not a true creator or a traditional team player. It's too hard for new players to grow under him. Look at Salmons, who has not averaged double digits in scoring for four consecutive seasons. Why? Because he's playing with Allen!"

These inflammatory comments from experts influenced many Philadelphia fans.

On the internet, some Philadelphia fans began to discuss whether to keep Chen Mu or Allen Iverson, as if they were an irreconcilable contradiction.

"The fans in the stands are probably discussing who should stay and who should go."

Looking at the fans pointing and whispering, Chen Mu sighed to himself, "To them, Allen is a symbol and a totem. They probably want me to leave..."

As he lost himself in thought, the arena gradually filled up. The usual pre-game ceremony began, and when the DJ introduced Allen Iverson, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

"AI! Stay!!!"

Many fans shouted, the sound quickly forming a wave that drowned out the DJ's voice, spreading throughout the arena.

"AI! Stay!!!"

The pre-game ceremony ended, the lights came on, and Chen Mu, sitting on the bench, looked up to see that the fans had pulled out countless banners and signs, all bearing one word:

Stay!

"Sure enough, they still want Allen to stay."

Chen Mu smiled bitterly, looking at the center of the court, where Allen Iverson was moved by the scene. He rarely ran around the court, waving to the fans. The big screen showed a close-up of Allen Iverson, whose eyes seemed to glisten with tears, and he kept saying "thank you."

Should I stay?

If Billy King's intention was to match any offer, then Chen Mu would definitely stay.

But in this situation, would the fans accept and recognize me?

After all, the 76ers are still Allen Iverson's team, and I am just a rookie with fluctuating performance and promising potential.

As Chen Mu's thoughts were in turmoil, the game began.

What Chen Mu did not expect was that about fifteen minutes later, he would witness a scene that would stay with him for life.

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