The pre-game atmosphere was a bit warm, but the game process was extremely bloody.
Reggie Miller might have been moved or not, Su Wan didn’t know, but during the game, the New York Knicks’ defender facing him was caught in a dilemma, not daring to move.
In the end, Su Wan continued the good form from the last game, scoring 28 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists, helping his team to a big 109 to 92, a 17-point victory over the New York Knicks.
Of those 28 points, 5 came from free throws. As Su Wan approached the free throw line for the last time in the game, the stands erupted with a unified chant:
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
This scene made Barkley amused, "As far as I know, Conseco Arena has never echoed with a unified MVP cheer for Su Wan."
Unexpectedly, New York fans stole Su Wan’s "first time."
And that’s just the self-amusing "New Yorkers."
When the team fails to provide emotional value for them, they always find "emotional value" for themselves, like cheering unanimously for the best-performing player on the opposing team.
After the game, Reggie Miller and Su Wan attended the press conference together.
A reporter asked Reggie Miller, "Did you imagine receiving a cheer from the whole arena when you came out today? How do you feel, Reggie?"
Miller shook his head, he had not expected that his last game against the New York Knicks in his career would receive such treatment from New York fans, given that these New Yorkers should hate him.
If it weren’t for him, the New York Knicks’ 90s could have been even more glorious.
"That reminded me of some things that happened here before!"
Saying that, a semblance of reminiscence showed in Miller’s eyes.
Su Wan noticed all this, and on the way to the bus after the interview ended, he couldn’t help but ask, "Do you miss the times when you felt invincible, Reggie?"
He wanted to know the real thoughts of these veterans who were nearing retirement and feeling powerless on the court,
Because his time to age would come too.
Reggie Miller considered Su Wan’s question seriously, not expecting Su Wan to mutter, "Forget it, it’s pointless to ask you, after all, you weren’t invincible during your youth..."
"Go to hell!" Miller reacted at once, realizing Su Wan had set a trap and he had just seriously contemplated Su’s question.
"Actually, my career wasn’t too bad... was it?" Stepping out of the arena, Reggie Miller twisted to glance back at the ancient arena and turned back to Su Wan.
Hmm...
Not bad at all!
Not only wasn’t it bad, but it was also quite good.
Multiple entries into the All-Star, also made into the "All-NBA Team," leaving memorable scenes in both regular season and playoffs, and even making it onto the NBA’s record books with the name "Reggie Miller."
Accomplishing this much put Reggie Miller ahead of at least 98% of NBA players.
Such a career, you cannot call it bad.
Otherwise, those 98% of NBA players’ careers would be rendered meaningless.
There’s only one Jordan, but everyone can be the "Michael Jordan" in their basketball story.
Su Wan, as an observer, could give a clear conclusion to this question.
But he could also curiously understand the hesitation and anxiety in Reggie Miller’s retort at that moment.
It all came down to him not having a championship.
Since being drafted by the Pacers in 1987, spanning a 17-year career all with the Pacers is an incredible achievement...
But without a championship, his perseverance carries imperfection and regret!
That’s the harshness of competitive sports.
Everything is judged by results.
Others can say even without a championship, your career is still meaningful, but Reggie Miller cannot say that about himself.
If not for this realization, he would have retired long ago.
He was on the field still trying to make up for that regret.
Reggie Miller now really wanted to tell Su Wan:
Let’s work hard together, Su, to win this year’s championship.
But his veteran awareness reminded him not to add more pressure to Su Wan.
So far, Su Wan had done well enough!
He had brought the Pacers back on track and revitalized Indiana.
A week after the eruption of the "Auburn Hills incident," who would have believed they would end the season third in the Eastern Conference.
All these changes were brought about by Su Wan’s arrival.
He could not disrupt Su Wan’s rhythm.
The championship wasn’t necessary for Su Wan at this stage.
Su Wan saw his hesitation and asked, "Reggie, what do you think is the luckiest thing in your career?"
"Hmm?" Reggie Miller didn’t understand why Su Wan asked this question, he thought hard and finally answered, "Being chosen by the Pacers; I don’t think I could have achieved more success with any other team!"
Su Wan nodded in profound agreement, admiring Reggie Miller’s sense of identity with the team, "Soon, you won’t think that way!"
"What?"
"After this June, Reggie, when a reporter asks you the same question, I believe, you will change your answer."
Su Wan felt a bit of gratitude towards Reggie Miller, not just because on his first day in Indiana, Reggie Miller had taken him around Bolis.
But because he knew the Pacers’ current stable atmosphere owed much to Reggie Miller’s overt and covert efforts.
He witnessed how a true "team soul" in his twilight years helped a team weather a tumultuous transition of power. This wasn’t something those fake "team souls" hiding under "retirement" flag after getting swept 0-4 in the Western Conference Finals could compare with.