บท 66: Legends and Legacies: Iverson's Farewell and Lian Dao's Rise
The next day, all USC team members arrived in Detroit, Michigan by non-stop plane.
Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, USA, sits in the northeastern part of the country, north of Windsor, Canada. It's renowned as an important port city along the Detroit River, historically known as the world's traditional automobile center and music capital.
Present-day Detroit, although not yet bankrupt like in later years, shows significant signs of decline from its once glorious status as the Motor City. Factory closures and layoffs are commonplace.
Influenced by the Great Lakes, Detroit features a typical temperate climate of the Midwest United States, characterized by cold winters. However, the current season in Detroit is quite pleasant with average temperatures around 18-20 degrees Celsius, perfect for travel and leisure.
With five days remaining before the semifinals, Lian Dao and DeMar decided to attend a Pistons game—it's a must-do in Detroit.
Since Allen Iverson, who recently recovered from his back injury, returned to play, it was anticipated he would participate in the upcoming game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31. These games would likely mark Iverson's last appearances for the Pistons, with an announcement expected on April 3 that he would not continue with the team.
Although Pistons' basketball operations president, Dumars, attributed Iverson's retirement to his back injury, it was widely understood that Iverson's unwillingness to accept a bench role played a significant part. Iverson, shaped by his upbringing and immersed in black culture, was resolute in his stance—he'd retire rather than accept a bench position, a move enforced by Pistons head coach Michael Curry.
For Iverson, transitioning from an All-Star starting guard to a bench role seemed inconceivable. Despite missing the All-Star Game due to physical reasons, he remained the fans' starting point guard in spirit, voted by fan support. Accepting a bench role would feel like a betrayal to his loyal fanbase.
Ultimately, Iverson returned to his former team, the 76ers, where he resumed his role as the starting point guard, staying true to his principles and legacy.
It was a special moment for Lian Dao to watch Iverson play live. In his youth, unlike many others, his heroes were not the stars of the Chicago Bulls dynasty but the iconic figures of the 1996 golden generation: Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Allen Iverson—especially Iverson, who was his middle school idol.
Iverson's influence on street basketball culture was huge. Despite being just 1.83 meters tall, he fearlessly attacked the basket in an era dominated by bigger players, showing off his signature crossovers and unstoppable drives. Many young players, seeing themselves in Iverson's stature, found hope that they too could succeed in professional basketball.
In middle school, Lian Dao admired Iverson's charisma and skill. Watching Iverson's games fueled his passion for basketball, even though he knew his own physical attributes wouldn't allow him to replicate Iverson's feats on the court.
In this life, Lian Dao finally had the chance to see his childhood idol up close. Unfortunately, Iverson was not in the starting lineup and came off the bench later in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. His first few plays included a turnover and a couple of fouls, but despite not being as fast as in his prime, Iverson's trademark moves and flashes of brilliance still captivated Lian Dao and the crowd.
Witnessing Iverson live reaffirmed to Lian Dao that basketball, at its core, is an art of offense—an obsession with perfecting every move and deception. Even DeMar, a devoted Kobe fan, was amazed watching Iverson's performance.
As they watched the game unfold, Lian Dao couldn't help but marvel at LeBron James, another basketball prodigy from Akron. James's combination of strength and agility left a lasting impression on Lian Dao, reminding him of the sheer physical prowess and relentless drive that define top-tier NBA players.
Reflecting on James's career and his ongoing impact on the league, Lian Dao pondered the unique circumstances that produced two basketball superstars like James and Stephen Curry from the same hospital in Akron. It made him wonder if there was something special about that place that fostered such exceptional talent.
Despite James's occasional struggles with shooting consistency, his athleticism and ability to dominate the court continued to inspire admiration and frustration among defenders—a testament to his enduring influence in basketball.
In the second quarter, with 4 minutes remaining, Hamilton replaced Iverson. Lian Dao couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy as he watched the 34-year-old Iverson, visibly affected by injuries and wearing a look of loneliness.
Unbeknownst to Lian Dao, the camera had already focused on him and DeMar. Their images suddenly appeared on the large screen, prompting excited screams from fans in the arena.
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, Lian Dao and DeMar waved somewhat awkwardly at the camera. Nearby fans quickly pulled out notebooks and pens, eagerly asking for autographs from the unexpected celebrities.
Lian Dao was taken aback by the unexpected popularity. It wasn't until the game concluded that he managed to slip away towards the player tunnel.
Spotting Iverson heading in the same direction, Lian Dao called out to him. "I'm your fan! Could you sign something for me?" Despite his rebirth and the excitement of meeting his middle school idol, Lian Dao was still a bit starstruck.
"Great to hear! I didn't expect you to be a fan of mine!" Iverson replied warmly, shaking Lian Dao's hand and playfully bumping shoulders with him.
As Lian Dao gazed at Iverson up close, he couldn't help but be moved. He marveled at how someone as small as 1.83 meters could dominate the basketball world with such intensity.
"Where should I sign?" Iverson asked, noticing Lian Dao's admiration.
Lian Dao quickly regained his composure and pulled out an old Iverson jersey from his backpack—a No. 3 jersey from Iverson's Philadelphia 76ers days.
Iverson looked genuinely surprised to see a jersey from his rookie days. He glanced down at his current No. 1 jersey and chuckled ironically at the journey his number had taken.
After signing the No. 3 jersey, Iverson and Lian Dao posed for a photo together, snapped by DeMar.
"Good luck. I hope you go all the way this year!" Iverson encouraged as he walked towards the player tunnel with determined strides.
True to his words, Iverson announced the next day that he would not play in the Pistons' upcoming game, a decision that came two days earlier than expected based on historical records.
Lian Dao was astonished by the news, wondering if it was an April Fool's prank. But reality set in—it was indeed true. Iverson's absence from the next game against the Nets confirmed the unexpected turn of events.
Once again, Lian Dao found himself inadvertently influencing the course of history.
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