When taking off, the later you could push back the moment you started dribbling, the faster your launch would be.
But if the ball hadn't left your hand by the time your pivot foot came back down after lifting off, it was a traveling violation.
So even NBA stars could easily travel when taking off, because they were trying to do it as quickly as possible.
But just before Jordan's pivot foot landed, the ball had already left his hand and was on its way out.
It looked like a simple, ordinary move, but in reality, it was a fundamental skill honed through countless hours of practice.
That was how he reached the point where the ball and player moved as one.
After Jordan put the ball down on that step, he pulled it with his right hand and spun to the right.
Then he turned and shot.
Wang Yi reacted and rushed over to block him, but this wasn't an ordinary jump shot. It was Jordan's signature fadeaway jumper.
He was a little heavier now, but the fadeaway was still a thing of beauty.
He wasn't as fast as before and couldn't jump as high, but his midrange shot was still deadly accurate.
It swished through with ease.
The basket sent the fans in the arena into a frenzy.
Maybe plenty of young players from other countries had never seen Jordan play and knew him only by name. But to American fans, Jordan was a superhero.
To see the superhero they idolized playing right there in front of them—and making shots—was an incredible stroke of luck.
After Jordan made the shot, Wang Yi went on offense.
This time, he dribbled forward once, then turned halfway around before spinning to the left.
He faked a jump shot and got Jordan