In the 2001-2002 season, the Washington Wizards clinched a playoff berth in the last week of the regular season with three wins and one loss, ultimately placing eighth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 43 wins and 39 losses.
Their journey to the playoffs was perilous. When Jordan was sidelined for the season due to a torn meniscus, they had fallen from fourth in the East to ninth. Not long after, Richard Hamilton was also out indefinitely with a groin injury.
Yu Fei became the lone star for the Wizards.
He did not disappoint, leading the team to a win rate of 55% during the final stretch and posting averages of 19.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. His shooting percentages were 47%, 83%, and 35% for three key categories.
This performance enveloped Grant Hill's 1994-95 season and chased Magic Johnson's 1979-80 season, making it the most comprehensive rookie performance in nearly 22 years.
How would Yu Fei rate his rookie season?
