Philadelphia 76ers?
Strangely enough, after hearing the "truth" from Bill Duffy, Su Feng calmed down rather quickly.
Although he still didn't know what assets the 76ers used to trade with the Hornets, if they really ended up with the 76ers...
In 1996, the 13th pick in the first round—the Philadelphia hero—was "abducted" by the 76ers...
Hiss!
So basically, Kobe ends up on the path he wanted most, and now his "plug-in" is jealous?
In Su Feng's previous life, Kobe—Philadelphia's native son—was seen by many as the biggest "what if" of the OK era. In 1996, he passed on the 76ers.
But Su Feng knows that no matter how many times history repeats itself, Philadelphia's best answer in 1996 was Iverson. Kobe was always destined to be "abducted" by the LOGO man...
See? Even in this altered timeline, Kobe's presence caused a ripple effect, yet he still got tricked by the LOGO man and ended up in Los Angeles.
Fate really is fascinating.
Still, in Su Feng's speculation about "Which team did NBA 29 select as the best player to upgrade in 1996," the 76ers ranked near the top.
First off, if the 76ers were bold enough to bet on themselves with the 13th pick in 1996, then according to Su Feng's "Humanoid Encyclopedia"...
The 76ers' front office must have consulted head coach Johnny Davis.
Because in 1996, the 76ers' management couldn't be described as cautious—they were practically operating from the heart.
Maybe due to painful lessons in the past, even though Pat Claus had already locked in Iverson, he still deferred to the coaching staff for the final decision.
So, in short, Su Feng wouldn't have to worry about playing time in his rookie season.
Why?
Because Johnny Davis was a godsend for rookies who loved to shoot.
In Su Feng's previous life, Stackhouse and Iverson were launching over 10 three-pointers per game.
Sure, that had something to do with the NBA shortening the three-point line at the time—but come on, this was the '90s!
Without Davis's "silent approval," would AI and Stackhouse have dared to shoot like that?
Davis was a coach who knew his role and was willing to give young players a chance.
Even though Larry Brown would take over the 76ers in the 1997–98 season, at least Su Feng's rookie year would be smooth sailing.
And does Su Feng need to worry about Larry Brown?
Keep in mind, first-round picks at the time had three-year contracts. Even if things didn't work out, Su Feng would still get his minutes.
Let's be honest—this might sting for some fans—but while many dream of "one man, one city," in the NBA, whether that works...
Depends entirely on which city you're in.
The NBA is a business league. Do you really expect every owner to be like Mark Cuban?
And every executive to be from the Buss family?
Look at Michael Jordan—not just "Bull Jordan," but also "Wizard Jordan."
Or the heartbroken New Yorker who climbed the Empire State Building to catch a plane out of frustration?
Or the shark tossed into the Pacific by Orlando's front office, left to swim freely to Los Angeles?
Su Feng isn't sentimental. He understands the NBA well. If you don't meet the right people, even success just makes you a "commodity" in their eyes.
And really, what is an American urban hero? Just a bunny florist with a bit of flair?
Holding the system, scoring his way into the NBA, becoming a basketball star, marrying a Bai Fumei—Su Feng's dream and motivation were always simple.
In the future, many will say that "one man, one city" defines historical legacy. But here's the real question: was the legacy of legends like the old rogue (Jordan), O'Neal, Olajuwon, or Chamberlain ever diminished by that?
As long as your stats are strong enough, even if your personality is like Jordan's, you're still a basketball god.
Devoting your entire career to these "ruthless" NBA capitalists?
Not a chance.
Su Feng had already mapped out his plan.
The school districts in Los Angeles were worth considering. Once you build a reputation, you can leverage one-year contracts to control the front office...
But in this era, where employer-employee relations are still tense, even if you cry like a tough guy, the best you'll get is Ewing's fate.
Why should it be "one man, one city" instead of "one city supporting me"? Su Feng wasn't about to sacrifice himself just to earn applause or praise others. He had no intention of being the good guy.
Because in this era, being a good guy gets you nowhere.
Su Feng's strategy for the start of his career was simple: quickly accumulate power and be ready to seize control at any moment.
Besides, Su Feng already had a solid fan base in Philadelphia.
In the 1990s, the Chinese market hadn't fully opened yet. Su Feng couldn't rely on the red flag on his chest to make him invincible.
At least not yet.
So with his growing popularity in Philadelphia, Su Feng didn't need to worry about being excluded or mocked by fans.
In fact, if Su Feng performed well and the 76ers didn't let him play, the fans would probably be the first to turn on management.
In his previous life, even if some people didn't care about the Chinese market, would they dare ignore the local market?
Wake up—Su Feng knew that even if he was just a mascot to boost ticket sales, he'd still get more opportunities than he would on other teams.
And although he didn't know why AI passed him the ball during tryouts...
Su Feng figured that if Iverson genuinely liked him, then maybe—just maybe—he could turn Iverson into his number-three "plug-in." The odds were at least 90%.
Well...
From the way AI's friends acted, Su Feng believed Iverson was genuinely approachable.
Sure, Iverson might not be as reliable as Kobe, his long-term plug-in, but that didn't matter. Don't forget—Su Feng had another "toolman" he could develop on the 76ers:
Jerry Stackhouse.
If nothing else, Stackhouse's hatred for Su Feng could be useful. As long as Su Feng shouted his name, wouldn't he respond?
With these two "tools," plus consistent playing time and shooting opportunities, Su Feng felt his rookie training environment couldn't be better.
All in all: a team with no pressure to win, a head coach who believed in him, Iverson who inexplicably liked him, and strong local fan support...
Don't ask—Su Feng just wanted to shoot bricks.
But honestly, after just two years of experience, Su Feng felt he could write a novel.
介...
Can you believe it? Kobe and Iverson were actually going to be his teammates!
"You think, in the future, there'll be a chance to team up with Tracy and Vince too? Maybe form a four-point-guard BUFF or something?" Su Feng wondered aloud.
…
Just as Su Feng was contemplating his future, in the 76ers' front office, Pat Claus finally felt relieved after selecting him.
The day before the draft, Claus had approached Coach Davis.
The reason? Claus had noticed that in Philadelphia, the hype surrounding the "Gemini duo"—Su Feng and Kobe Bryant—was off the charts.
In Su Feng's previous life, just Kobe alone had sent Philadelphia fans into a frenzy.
Now, in this life, Su Feng and Kobe had won two state championships together in high school. How could Su Feng not have the confidence to aim high?
So Claus wanted Davis's opinion before the draft began—to see if there was a way to bring Su Feng and Kobe together.
"To be honest, it'll be tough for us to get Kobe," Davis replied, sounding pessimistic. "Based on current projections, he'll likely be picked in the top eight."
"What about Su?" Claus asked, shifting to his second option.
"If we can get Su, I think it's worth a shot," Davis said.
"Why?" Claus asked, curious.
"When it comes to Kobe and Su—their styles, traits, and personalities—no one knows them better than me and Elvin," Davis explained.
"Compared to Kobe, I think Su fits our current needs better.
Allen needs the ball, and if we want to develop Kobe, he'll need the ball too.
You know Kobe's nickname is the 'Lower Merion Magician.'
We can't train him to be the 'Pippen of Pennsylvania,' right? That would waste his playmaking talent.
But Su plays more off the ball. You saw it in the tryouts—he and Allen were perfectly in sync, like they had a natural chemistry.
Su's defense is excellent. If we want to build something long-term, I think a player like him is more valuable than Jerry," Davis analyzed.
"You mean Jerry Stackhouse?"
As the saying goes, new emperors dislike the ministers of the old regime. Claus wasn't fond of players chosen by the previous GM.
"Yes. After the tryouts, I even asked Allen to watch Su's NCAA games.
But I'll be honest—I haven't seen anyone replicate the feeling Allen gave me during training.
That sudden burst of scoring, the instinctive drives, the intuitive passing—it's rare," Davis added.
"So what do we need to do to get Su?" Claus asked, now determined.
If Su Feng could truly replace Stackhouse, Claus wouldn't hesitate to trade away anyone with the "old label."
"I think we need to aim for the 13th pick in the first round," Davis said.
"That high?" Claus had assumed Su Feng wouldn't be that expensive, and felt a bit embarrassed by Davis's valuation.
"A friend of mine with the Kings told me they're planning to use their 14th pick to select Su.
So we need to find a way to move up," Davis explained.
What Davis didn't tell Claus was... what if Kobe fell to 13?
As much as Su Feng was promising, if Kobe slipped to that spot, Davis wouldn't hesitate to recommend drafting him.
Well...
Turns out the "inside man" was in Sacramento.
So Claus began working his contacts.
After surveying the league, he finally found a willing partner: the Charlotte Hornets.
The 76ers offered their trade package—former All-Star big man Derek Coleman and this year's second-round pick.
As the top pick in the 1990 draft, Coleman wasn't exactly a throwaway.
But after suffering an injury last season, the 76ers had to sweeten the deal with a second-rounder.
Interestingly, Coleman was also affected by the "Su Feng–Kobe–Wen–Shaq butterfly effect."
In Su Feng's previous life, Coleman had recurring injuries in the 1995–96 season. But in this timeline, after getting hurt, he didn't rush back...
Watching Stackhouse go wild, Coleman returned in March after fully recovering and averaged over 15 points per game.
The Hornets had just lost Alonzo Mourning and couldn't resist the 76ers' offer.
In 1996, quality big men were scarce, and the Hornets—already stacked with perimeter players—were struggling to decide whom to draft.
Now that a team was willing to "PY" with them, the Hornets gladly accepted.
As for Claus, Coleman was just another leftover from the previous regime, so trading him didn't bother him at all.
The only twist?
In the original timeline... Coleman also ended up with the Hornets.
Some things, it seems, are just fate.
…
At the 1996 NBA Draft, after Su Feng was selected as the No. 13 pick in the first round, the draft continued...
When Su Feng returned to his family, Kobe was even happier than he was.
In this life, Kobe truly saw Su Feng as a lifelong brother.
Although Su Weiguo and Wang Yuanyuan didn't understand basketball, seeing their son successfully drafted made them proud of Su Feng.
"Ah, the only pity is that Charlotte's a bit small.
Looks like you'll have to come to Los Angeles and train with me in the offseason," Kobe said, eyeing Su Feng's Hornets cap.
Su Feng remembered how Kobe had once thrown him under the bus during an interview with Datianchao TV...
Classic Kobe—he deserved it!
"Kobe, I've got two pieces of good news for you. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Su Feng wasn't fazed by Kobe's antics. He knew that once Kobe heard the truth, he'd be dying of envy.
"If they're both good news, can't you just tell me?" Kobe asked, suspicious.
"First, I can help you house-hunt in Los Angeles," Su Feng said.
"Why?" Kobe asked, puzzled.
"Because I don't need to move. So I've got time," Su Feng teased.
Kobe: "....."
Kobe might be simple-minded, but he wasn't dumb.
"Wait... are you going?" Kobe suddenly felt a chill in his chest, like drinking ice water in winter.
"Yep. The 76ers initiated a trade.
So don't worry—every spot you had in Philly now belongs to me," Su Feng said with a grin, patting Kobe's shoulder.
Strangely, even though joining the Lakers should've been a joyful moment, Kobe didn't feel happy at all.
"Aw, don't be sad. Actually, Coach Johnny Davis told me earlier that, in his eyes, I'm still way better than you," Su Feng said, gesturing with his thumb and index finger to show a tiny gap.
Kobe: "....."
Get lost, you jerk! I'm done being friends with you!
Kobe was furious.
At that moment, he regretted everything.
Why did he have to be so cocky?
Why didn't he go to that interview?
Being surrounded by media, basking in the spotlight—wasn't that the dream? Didn't it smell like success?
"If things don't work out with the Lakers, come find me.
We can play 'hometown basketball' and 'brother basketball' together," Su Feng joked.
"Oh, you're something else!
Su, when I become the leader Lakers, if you're struggling, you're always welcome in Los Angeles," Kobe laughed.
Cough...
Classic Kobe!
So you're already planning your takeover?
Su Feng couldn't help but notice how his and Kobe's thoughts always seemed to align.
Alright then—three seconds of love for this guy.
Just one thing...
When young people get excited and start standing around randomly, is that really okay?
…
After Su Feng was selected, the rest of the 1996 NBA Draft unfolded almost exactly as he remembered.
The Kings picked Peja Stojaković with the 14th overall pick.
The Suns, unable to select Su Feng, decisively chose his "sock buddy" Steve Nash.
Shaquille O'Neal Jr.—who had played alongside Su Feng and Kobe in the McDonald's All-American Game—was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 17th pick.
With the 24th pick in the first round, the Lakers selected Derek Fisher.
It's worth noting that Fisher's reaction to being drafted was more intense than someone winning the No. 1 pick.
For some reason, Fisher had been feeling lately like someone was out to get him.
The Cavaliers selected Zydrunas Ilgauskas with the 20th pick. The Knicks took John Wallace and East Tower Jones—the same Jones Kobe had humiliated during tryouts.
The only one who truly suffered was Samaki Walker, who was originally projected to be picked by the Mavericks at No. 9.
Due to a change in Dallas's draft order, Walker—nicknamed "the volute"—slipped all the way to the 23rd pick, where he was finally taken by the Nuggets.
And with that, the 1996 NBA Draft officially came to a close.
The golden generation returned home... and found their moms.
In the 1996 draft, Kobe Bryant was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 8th pick in the first round, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Su Feng was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the first round and was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
…
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the [Talent Road] mission!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving a Golden Legend Gift Pack [click to view package details]."
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring lifelong injury immunity!"
"Ding! System version 7.0 detected. Current iron points: 47 million."
"Ding! System upgrade initiated automatically!
Estimated upgrade time: 2 hours.
Please check the update details in [Sky Wizard] after 2 hours."
According to Bill Duffy's arrangements, once the trade was finalized, Su Feng would officially sign with the 76ers upon returning to Philadelphia.
On the flight back to Philly with his parents, Su Feng—usually calm—opened the system interface...
And at that moment, all he wanted to do was shout:
"Oh, this freaking harvest—it's thunderous!"