On the 12th, according to the team schedule, there was rest in the morning and training in the afternoon.
Su Feng, who had been slamming Kobe in his dream, was woken up early by his mobile phone.
Still half-asleep, Su Feng's first thought was: did Kobe install a surveillance camera in his house, knowing he hadn't gotten up early today out of laziness?
However, when he heard Iverson's voice on the phone, Su Feng immediately sat upright.
This is… the end of the world? Or did Iverson throw an all-night party?
"Su, I'm taking a makeup photo tomorrow. Do you want us to make a cooler combination?" Iverson asked over the phone.
"Allen, what do you mean?" Su Feng replied.
"What if we both go with the 'freedom' hairstyle?" Iverson suggested.
"…"
Su Feng suddenly had a bad feeling.
That feeling became reality when Iverson drove over with Big Ben.
After the holiday, Iverson's hair had grown a lot.
As it turned out, Su Feng was no Duncan—no matter what he chose, it was impossible for him to go completely bare.
The reason Iverson changed his hairstyle was because Big Ben showed off his explosive afro every day, claiming it added four centimeters to his height.
Well… after a summer of growth, Big Ben's afro was now nearly ten centimeters tall.
As someone who carried "freedom" to the extreme, Iverson always felt his small flat top looked too plain compared to Big Ben's.
After being told by his agent last night that he had to take core makeup photos, Iverson tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
"When it comes to hairstyles, I'm good at this," he said. As a child, he had even worked as a barber, so he loved talking about hairstyles. Even after hearing Big Ben's explanation, Su Feng regretted bringing him to the 76ers…
Because clearly, Wallace was a teacher delayed by basketball and football!
"It seems the cornrows are coming early…"
With Big Ben's suggestion, Iverson's face and head shape were perfect for cornrows.
In Su Feng's previous life, Iverson with "cornrows + headband" was considered the complete version by many fans.
At the time, Iverson drew huge attention with this rebellious look.
Many criticized it, but during the 2000/01 season, his hairstyle alone probably earned him a tenth of the MVP votes.
If Kobe had been there today, Su Feng would surely have kept his afro ahead of Kobe's.
"Oh, Ben, what kind of hairstyle would suit Su Nong?" Iverson asked.
After hearing Big Ben's introduction, Iverson clearly treated him as his personal hairstyle consultant.
"Well…" Big Ben touched his chin and studied Su Feng seriously.
Su Feng: "…"
Seriously, can't you just let me go?
Su Feng didn't want to leave behind a "black history" for himself.
He knew that when Kobe appeared on TV shows in the future, he would laugh at Su Feng's explosive hairstyle from his youth.
Su Feng had no interest in fancy hair.
In his view, smart and clean short hair was king.
But caught between Iverson and Big Ben, Su Feng couldn't escape the fate of getting styled with his brothers…
And seeing Su Feng's reluctance, Iverson gave an impeccable reason:
"Su, it'll be easier to find you during games and pass to you!"
At first, Su Feng thought Iverson's explanation made sense.
But once he arrived at the barbershop and Big Ben pressed him into the chair, Su Feng felt uneasy.
Nonsense!
What about me? I'm the only Asian player in the NBA right now—do you really need my hairstyle to recognize me?
And so, a few hours later, the Philadelphia Iron Triangle became the Philadelphia Wash-and-Blow.
Fortunately, Big Ben had some sense of aesthetics.
Under his guidance, the stylist didn't go overboard, but instead gave Su Feng a look similar to Beckham's spiky rooster cut.
With his good looks, as long as it wasn't too exaggerated, Su Feng could never look bad.
Of course, if Big Ben ever dared to have the stylist give him Jeremy Lin's hairstyle in the future…
Su Feng swore that even if he couldn't beat Big Ben, he would fight him.
"Cool!"
Admiring his new look, Iverson walked out of the barbershop in high spirits.
It's worth mentioning that when Su Feng subconsciously reached out to touch Iverson's head…
Iverson quickly dodged, jumped back, and glared at him.
"From now on, no one touches my head!" Iverson said bitterly.
Hairstyle is identity!
From that moment on, Philadelphia's "183" had the same head as the future "183"—and it became a restricted zone!
Sure enough, the 183 who "passes" the pass is the cannon…
…
In the afternoon, when Philadelphia's wash-and-blow crew arrived at the training hall, Iverson and Su Feng's new looks left their teammates dumbfounded.
For young players who like to show their personality, most teams don't really care.
Colorful Rodman is the perfect example: as long as you play well, who cares what hairstyle you keep?
However, when the new "Iron Triangle" stood together, the vibe was more like a bad-boy group.
Give Big Ben a machete, and you'd think he came to claim territory.
The recently exhausted Stackhouse had completely abandoned the idea of killing Su Feng.
Even when he saw Su Feng walking toward him with a smile, Stackhouse just wanted to shout:
"Don't come near me!"
"Jerry, come on. Even though I changed my hairstyle today, I lost 1–2 yesterday. Let's get another win!"
Ding! Your sworn enemy Su Feng has sent you another bullfighting challenge.
"…"
Brother, I'm fighting you—what does your hairstyle have to do with it?
But just as Stackhouse wanted to retreat, the crowd of onlookers blocked him.
No joke—yesterday many players lost money betting on Su Feng.
Everyone was hoping to turn the tables today. If you say no, they won't accept it.
Several sly veterans on the 76ers muttered: "Sure, some players rank high, but they're not brave!"
"Let it go, let it go. Hey, North Carolina—he's not all Michael Jordan."
"I used to think Jerry challenged his seniors out of pure courage, but now it seems…"
Damn it!
Every day I have to face this guy, and you all—if you're so tough, why don't you fight Su Feng yourselves?
Of course, that's what Stackhouse thought, but he wasn't stupid enough to start trouble with his teammates.
"Is it only one game today?" Stackhouse asked weakly.
"A single win? That's college stuff. We high school guys don't like that—two out of three!" Su Feng replied.
Stackhouse cursed under his breath…
He thought: I never even played in a high school league—I went straight to the state championship. Isn't that the same single-elimination format?
And so, Stackhouse's "happy" day began.
…
On the 13th, during media open day, when the players arrived at the arena in the morning, the 76ers' executives were stunned…
God, are these really the two cute rookies I drafted?
But… don't deny it—the media loved Su Feng and Iverson's new look.
Because for journalists, hairstyles are also a headline!
What's the biggest fear when writing news?
The fear of having no breaking point.
Think about how Maxson, the reporter for the Philadelphia Evening News, became editor-in-chief.
It was because he dared to write about Su Feng and dared to hype Su Feng.
And in the end, he was right—earning the title of "industry prophet."
When the Bulls swept the league last year, guess who was the most reported player in the major newspapers?
The answer wasn't Jordan—it was Rodman.
Because the Bulls were so dominant, fans grew tired of reading daily articles about their strength.
So in the second half of the season, Rodman became the reporters' favorite subject.
Pat Claus was a businessman—he immediately saw the new business opportunity in Su Feng and Iverson's image.
In the future, Iverson's fame would be inseparable from the 76ers.
Because although Claus didn't understand basketball, he knew how to operate the market.
In Su Feng's previous life, Iverson's questionable shot selection was repackaged by Claus as personal heroism.
Even some of his rebellious behavior was promoted as a symbol of freedom.
This image of a "civilian hero" crafted by Claus also pleased Stern.
Therefore, even when "incidents" occurred off the court, Stern was willing to support Iverson.
Unfortunately, after 2001, when Pat failed to secure more shares from the 76ers, Iverson's career began to decline…
"You mentioned the core makeup photos earlier. How about we let Allen and Su take them?" Claus suggested to Berlin Berg.
Berlin Berg's eyelids twitched. "They're just rookies."
"But they're not ordinary rookies!" Claus insisted.
"What about players like Clarence and Jerry?" Berg asked.
"To be honest, I don't like Clarence or Jerry. And what have the 76ers been in recent years? Rotten. What we need now isn't just a record—it's hope!" Claus said.
"Hope?" Berg pondered.
"To hell with tradition! Look how strong our package is thanks to Allen's words. Why not take this chance to build a team of 'rebels'? Led by Allen and Su, they fear no opponent. And you know how eager these two kids are to win. So even if we don't achieve great results immediately, their fighting spirit will earn praise!"
For Claus, who loved extreme sports, this sense of difference was exactly what he wanted.
Su Feng and Iverson, in his eyes, were the embodiment of that unique feel.
"Alright, I agree. But you'll have to let John handle calming the players," Berg said.
Claus smiled, as if to say: "Leave it to me."
A few minutes later…
John Davis was dumbfounded.
So this is what you dragged me into?
As a coach used as a tool, Davis knew that taking core makeup photos wasn't really a big deal…
But if the veterans got angry, could he still command the 76ers afterward?
Yet seeing Claus's firm expression, Davis realized that offending the boss was worse than offending the players.
"Relax. If they dare confront you, I'll find a way to trade for the player you want," Claus reassured him.
"Alright." With that promise, Davis stopped worrying.
In fact, Davis had long felt the 76ers lacked height.
So he seized the chance to propose to Claus: "I think we need a center who can protect the paint."
Claus, who didn't understand basketball, nodded. "I'll go back and discuss it with Berg."
Davis sighed in relief, then turned back to his great career of enduring misfortune.
…
"What?"
When Weatherspoon and Stackhouse heard they had been excluded from the core makeup photos, both of them suddenly lost their composure…
"Is this management's decision?" Stackhouse asked, dissatisfied.
Davis shook his head. "It's my decision."
Witherspoon, standing nearby, caught the hint. As a veteran with four years in the league, he wasn't about to ask the head coach something as naïve as Stackhouse did.
Wait—if the team doesn't need me anymore, then don't blame me for not giving my best effort moving forward.
"Coach, may I ask—do I not have much value in your future tactics?"
Stackhouse, who had recently suffered repeated humiliations in one-on-one battles, was no longer defiant.
Davis patted Stackhouse's shoulder. "Come on, you're still our second scoring option."
Second option?
Stackhouse smiled bitterly.
The first option is that kid?
Correct…
Yes, in Stackhouse's view, only that kid deserved to be the 76ers' primary offensive weapon.
Well… Su Feng himself probably didn't realize he had already conquered a lost lamb.
…
"Yes, yes, you two—put one hand on the ball together. Perfect, that's it. Now smile!"
That morning, after finishing the interviews, Su Feng felt embarrassed while posing for the core photos.
What's going on here?
The 76ers are really stirring things up!
Only letting two rookies take the core makeup photos—reasonably speaking, this operation could only be described as outrageous.
However, as a "walking Iverson encyclopedia," Su Feng knew that Pat Claus was indeed the type to pull such stunts.
Because the less someone understands basketball, the more likely they are to make flashy moves.
Of course, if it works, it's genius. If it fails, it's the fault of not understanding basketball.
"Xiao Su, you're amazing!" After the photo shoot, Su Junyang, who came to interview that day, gave Su Feng a thumbs-up.
"Old Su, don't mock me. Right now, I have no idea about my future with the team," Su Feng said, spreading his hands.
"Why? Didn't Iverson say he's willing to help you? And your new nickname is already hot in China. By the way, your nickname is 'Little Emperor.' You don't mind that it's the same as the Kings' (team) nickname, do you?" Su Junyang asked, looking up at Su Feng.
Su Feng: "…"
Mind!
I mind very much!
Why do you people always have to pick someone to start with?
Su Feng decided he had to get rid of this nickname quickly, otherwise he'd never be able to go to Akron in the future and crown a kid as the Grand Duke of Cleveland.
"Old Su, I don't care how the American media hypes me, but you must report objectively and fairly," Su Feng said firmly.
At this time, the concept of the NBA was still vague for Chinese fans.
In the future, when Yao averaged more than 20 points per game, many would treat it as "normal."
But how is that normal?
Yao's stats were those of a true super center!
Sometimes, people only learn to cherish after they've lost.
Su Feng still remembered that in his past life, Xiaoding scored a 10+ in the summer league and was as happy as a monkey who had just found a peach.
"You can rest assured, Xiao Su. My report will be absolutely objective and fair," Su Junyang smiled.
Hearing his promise, Su Feng felt relieved.
But…
Just after Su Feng turned away, Su Junyang looked at his back and sighed: "What a good kid. Even in a high position, he's not arrogant!"
Su Junyang resolved to record this passionate youth with the most vivid writing.
Although Su Feng hadn't yet played an NBA game, he was already Su Junyang's number one figure in Chinese basketball.
…
After the noon break, in the afternoon of media open day, Davis also arranged a five-on-five exhibition game for the fans.
There wasn't much to say about the game itself. The only notable detail was that the fans were captivated by Su Feng and Iverson's hairstyles.
In the stands, Maxson—now promoted to editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia Evening News—laughed:
"Following the Philadelphia Gemini of Sue and Kobe, I think we should now call Allen and Su the 'Golden Double Guns'!"
Because 1996 was the golden generation, and since Su Feng and Iverson both played perimeter positions, Maxson believed "Golden Double Guns" was the perfect nickname for them.
Unfortunately, Su Feng, who was playing alongside Iverson at that moment, had no idea about the name Maxson had just coined…
Otherwise, Su Feng would have been distressed about the future 2003 golden generation.
I mean, do you really want to block the path of the kids from the 2003 class?
…
Chicago—Michael Jordan's mood was usually good on the Bulls' media day.
Because he had just glanced at the schedule.
Huh?
The second game of the regular season was against the 76ers?
In Jordan's view, it was the perfect time to adjust his form and teach the young players how to behave.
…
Los Angeles—the Lakers' media open day. In the team's five-on-five exhibition game, Kobe was still a little shy at this stage.
Following Jerry West's instructions, Silver Fox Harris didn't instill too much tactical philosophy in Bryant.
Because the Logo Man didn't want to change Kobe's style.
West knew better than anyone: tactics are something you understand once you reach a certain level of strength.
But style is precious—it can't be taught by others.
In Su Feng's previous life, both Kobe and Curry were lucky, because the Logo Man never restrained their talents.
Let tactics serve your talent and style!
On the court, because West praised his passing, Kobe looked for teammates after receiving the ball…
He wanted to prove his organizational ability by finding the right play.
Unfortunately, his pass was anticipated by Eddie Jones on the other side.
And when Bryant retreated with some frustration, suddenly, his teammate O'Neal patted him on the back: "Hey, Kobe, you're a shooting guard. Be bold—you should shoot when you have the shot!"
Kobe looked at O'Neal, surprised at first, then moved.
Because he suddenly remembered the moment O'Neal signed him.
"I will," Bryant said, looking up at O'Neal.
O'Neal smiled. "Come on, you're our future."
Our future?
On the court, Kobe relaxed completely, and in the next defensive play he even blocked Eddie Jones with a hot rejection.
On the sidelines, Harris nodded in satisfaction.
"They'll definitely be a great pair."
At that moment, Harris made this assessment as he watched Kobe, overflowing with talent, and O'Neal, who could effortlessly dominate the paint…