Sports Medicine Master System

Chen Yu didn't answer Nash's question directly.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Yu sighed. "You know, you could opt for surgery."

'Or rather,' he thought, 'you should have done it a long time ago.'

Chen Yu was well aware of Nash's problem: a congenital spinal abnormality. The connection between his lumbar vertebrae and sacrum was unstable, causing a degree of spondylolisthesis.

This abnormal spinal structure meant that with every run and jump, the pressure on his spine was greater than that of an ordinary person.

Over time, it was inevitable that his back would give out.

And it was a chain reaction. It wasn't just the bones; the tendons and ligaments connecting bone and muscle would also start having issues.

Then there were the nerves. As the spondylolisthesis worsened, it would compress the nerves, inevitably leading to neurological pain.

This was no small matter. So many players had been tormented by back pain, their athletic ability declined, and then they were forced out of the league.

Nash was already 31. These problems were bound to become more prominent.

That's why Chen Yu had advised Nash to have surgery a long time ago.

But Nash was worried about the long recovery period and the potential impact on his athletic ability. He had too many concerns and had put it off until now.

When surgery was mentioned, Nash shook his head again. "Chen, surgery is something to consider in the future. I feel like I have it under good control. I can wait a bit longer. The most important thing for me right now is to get back on the court as soon as possible. The team needs me."

Nash felt that his back was fine for the time being.

He had chosen conservative treatment and had already put in a great deal of effort to maintain his condition.

In the league, Nash was famous for being a monster of self-discipline.

For a decade, he had consistently stuck to his basic training regimen, strengthening his back muscles to improve support.

And his diet—he ate six meals a day and never touched anything sugary, fried, or heavily processed. Despite earning over ten million US dollars, he lived like an ascetic monk.

Therefore, he believed that he could control the risk of back injury through self-discipline alone, without any need for surgery.

Chen Yu secretly shook his head but didn't press the issue further.

A long time ago, Chen Yu wouldn't have understood such behavior. He would have tried hard to persuade him. But now that he'd seen more of it, he gradually came to understand and was willing to respect their personal choices.

Time was short, so Chen Yu immediately began Nash's treatment.

Meanwhile, for the Pioneer, the game had to go on.

Game 4 of the first round.

In the car on the way to the Rose Garden Arena, Bill Duffy couldn't help but ask again, "Chen, are you sure Steve will be okay?"

He turned his head to look at Nash on the other side.

He'd only been in a hospital bed for a day, and he was already insisting on going to the arena to watch the game, saying he wanted to support the team and cheer for his teammates.

Bill Duffy really didn't think it was necessary.

'You're injured—it's even a work-related injury. You should just be resting obediently. Rushing to come back and taking risks is one thing, but running to the sidelines to watch a game while you're supposed to be recovering...' Bill Duffy truly felt Nash was sacrificing too much for the team. He didn't think it was worth it.

Chen Yu was looking at his phone. He glanced up at Bill Duffy and said, "Bill, I'm the doctor."

This was Nash's own idea, and Chen Yu saw no problem with it, so he had agreed.

'Since a professional doctor says it's fine, there's no need for a layman like you to keep asking, is there?'

Rebuked, Bill Duffy just nodded awkwardly, not daring to say another word.

The car quickly arrived at the arena.

In the underground parking garage, John Nash and D'Antoni were waiting.

Rivers must have gone to the pre-game press conference.

Nash, sitting in a wheelchair, greeted them with a smile, saying he was already much better.

He glanced at Chen Yu.

'After just one day of treatment, I really do feel a lot better.'

The group headed to the locker room.

The atmosphere in the locker room was far more somber than Chen Yu had imagined.

No one was talking; everyone was just quietly going about their own business.

Seeing this, Chen Yu frowned.

'Their morale is worryingly low!'

'It's a good thing Nash suggested coming himself. His presence should be able to boost the team's morale.'

Chen Yu then imagined that if the Pioneer really pulled off an upset, it would be a great outcome for him as well.

'What a great business case it would be!'

Everyone knew that Chen Yu's team had led everything for the Pioneer, from dismantling the old roster to the rebuild, and even the coaching staff.

And they couldn't have managed the subsequent tactical planning and training without the help of Chen Yu's team.

The Pioneer's success was Chen Yu's team's success!

To complete a rebuild in one season, return to the playoffs in the same season, and then to pull off an upset against the championship-caliber Spurs—that would be nothing short of a miracle!

"Fellas!"

Nash had already called out a greeting.

His arrival startled the players in the locker room. They quickly gathered around him, asking how he was doing.

Nash was a diligent player with a grounded personality. As the team's leader, he often mentored the rookies, leading by example and training hard with them. The locker room atmosphere had always been great.

Nelson had said that Nash even imitated Jordan's "Breakfast Club," leading a group of rookies in healthy eating habits.

Milicic was one of them.

After Milicic finished his greeting, Chen Yu waved him over to the side.

"Dako, long time no see."

After the greeting, Chen Yu asked Milicic how he was feeling.

The Pioneer's leader was obviously Nash, but the core player they were developing was Milicic.

Nash knew this, and all the other players knew it too.

Now that Nash was down, Milicic needed to step up.

On a team, everything comes down to skill. If you want to be the leader, you have to have what it takes, to be able to do what others can't.

Milicic seemed to understand why Chen Yu was asking. He glanced at Nash, who was surrounded by his teammates, before saying, "Sir, I'll do my best."

Chen Yu smiled and patted his arm.

'This kid isn't dumb,' Chen Yu thought. 'He might be a bit introverted, but he's a responsible person.'

Born in a country like his and having lived through war, he had no choice but to be responsible.

"I heard you and Alex are getting along well. Living together now?" Chen Yu asked, gossiping a little.

As the second overall pick in the draft, Milicic's income wasn't low.

Last season he had rented an apartment, but this summer he bought a house in Portland and moved in with Alex.

Moving in together is a big step in a relationship. The two of them were clearly serious.

Milicic nodded, smiling shyly and happily.

Chen Yu smiled too, then his expression turned serious. "Dako, you've been living in Portland for over a year now. When you first came to Portland, I told you I hoped you would grow to love this city, love its fans, and find a sense of belonging."

"After all this time, I think you've found it."

Milicic nodded, his gaze a little distant.

'I bought a house. It's not luxurious, but the neighborhood is nice. The neighbors all know my name. When I run into them, they always stop to chat for a bit, congratulate me, and wish me luck.'

'And the kids... they like me too.'

With a wonderful woman by his side, Milicic had truly found the sense of belonging Chen Yu had spoken of in Portland, especially the feeling of home.

Having traveled across the ocean all alone, the feeling of home was what he had been missing the most.

"So, when the team needs you, when the fans need you, when they need a hero to step up, you should be that hero!"

Chen Yu reached out and poked Milicic's chest.

'Once you fall in love with a city and its fans, when they need you, if you don't step up, who will?'

'That is true awareness.'

Milicic stared blankly at Chen Yu for a long moment before nodding with a determined look in his eyes.

"Go on."

Chen Yu smiled with satisfaction and gestured for Milicic to go get ready.

"Chen."

A few steps away, Derek Anderson must have overheard the conversation between Chen Yu and Milicic. He couldn't help but give Chen Yu a thumbs-up and say, "When it comes to encouraging people, you're way better than Doug."

Rivers was good at inspiring people and coaxing players, but he preferred to use all sorts of flashy, empty platitudes.

Chen Yu, on the other hand, could get straight to the heart of the matter with just a few words in a casual chat. Even he, as a bystander, felt a surge of passion, an impulse to fight to the death for the Pioneer fans.

'He's so much more effective than Rivers.'