The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 895 Irke

Don Nelson has always been an unconventional and unorthodox coach, a trait that has become especially evident since he came to Dallas.

In the 1998 NBA draft, Nelson finally got the big man he had always dreamed of, a young man whose offensive prowess rivaled that of Forrest Gump.

From the Bucks to the Lakers, to the Warriors, to the Knicks, and finally to the Mavericks, Nelson has always been searching for a giant who is well-rounded on offense and has no weaknesses.

In Nelson's view, such players are the rarest and hardest to find. Players in other positions can be replaced, but such big men are rare gems that only appear once every few decades.

Like Pat Riley, Don Nelson is also a big fan of Forrest Gump and has always hoped to have the opportunity to coach him.

However, Riley valued Gan Guoyang's defense, near-limitless stamina, and steel-like physique even more.

In Riley's mind, he would build a steel defensive force around Forrest Gump, holding opponents to under 80 points.

Nelson admired Gan Guoyang's amazing talent on the offensive end, his genius creativity, and his rich imagination.

In Nelson's mind, he would build a super offensive team around Forrest Gump that was even more insane than the 1998 Trail Blazers, scoring over 120 points in every game.

Clearly, whether in defense or offense, Gan Guoyang is the best core player in the minds of these two top coaches.

In fact, the two coaches had opposite coaching philosophies in the 80s. Riley favored a fast-break style, while Nelson was known for his cunning defense.

However, time, environment, opportunities, and the emergence of one's true nature as one grows older have all had a fundamental impact on his coaching path.

Generally speaking, coaches with a control freak personality tend to lean towards defense as they get older, with higher demands on defense and a stronger desire for control.

Coaches with a free-spirited and unconventional personality tend to develop a greater preference for offense as they gain more experience, and they enjoy seeing their players showcase their talents on the field.

Nelson is undoubtedly free-spirited and unconventional. In his coaching style, he increasingly emphasizes the importance of offense, even at the cost of sacrificing defensive intensity to some extent.

In terms of daily talent development, Nelson attaches great importance to discovering the individual characteristics of players. He is good at discovering the characteristics of young players and then developing training plans around them, and even developing playing styles and tactics for them.

This is different from many defensive control coaches. For many defensive control coaches, the word "development" doesn't exist. The development and growth of young players is something that needs to be done in college. You come to my team to work, and to work, you have to meet my work requirements and arrangements and meet my selection criteria.

Doesn't meet my selection criteria? Either you change it, or you leave, or I leave. There's no option for me to change it.

This is the characteristic of defensive control coaches. They have their own system, and players are pieces in the system. I don't care how you develop and grow in the best interest of me. If you play for me, you have to meet the requirements of a piece.

Nelson is clearly different. He also has a system, but he places more emphasis on the individual characteristics of young, talented players and tailors development plans for them.

The Dallas Mavericks currently have three talented young players: Mike Finley, acquired from the Trail Blazers; Eddie Jones, drafted; and the giant they've always dreamed of – Dirk Nowitzki.

The youngest, Nowitzki, is undoubtedly the one Nelson values ​​most, and also the one most difficult to cultivate.

As a foreign player, and a white one at that, Nowitzki faces far greater challenges than domestic players in surviving and achieving success in the NBA.

In his rookie season of 1998-1999, Nowitzki's performance was only so-so, averaging 8 points and 3 rebounds per game. His poor defense and weak physical strength made people question whether Nelson's choice was correct.

At the time, some harsh Dallas fans gave Nowitzki a nickname, "Irk Nowitzki," which was derived from the "D" in his name "Dirk," leaving only "Irk," implying that Nowitzki had no defense.

Unable to find his rhythm on offense and with a natural weakness on defense, Nowitzki was quite confused and began to doubt his own abilities.

He once considered quitting, ending his contract with the Dallas Mavericks, and returning to Germany to play. He felt he couldn't adapt to NBA basketball, let alone follow in Forrest Gump's footsteps.

When he first joined the Mavericks, Don Nelson told Nowitzki, "Your future goal is to follow in Forrest Gump's footsteps."

Nowitzki certainly knew what level Forrest Gump was at and how great his achievements were in the NBA; he couldn't imagine that his goal would be Forrest Gump.

Although Gan Guoyang is also a foreign national, from the perspective of player development, he is an American player, and he does not have any difficulties or pressure in integrating into the NBA.

Nowitzki is different. He grew up in Germany, had hardly played any American-style games before coming to the NBA, and his life in the United States is very different from that in Germany.

The pressure and challenges from all sides, as well as various disappointments, inevitably made him consider giving up.

Fortunately, Don Nelson not only promised Nowitzki great things, but also helped him solve various problems both on and off the court, which allowed Nowitzki to persevere.

Nowitzki's performance has improved significantly this season, averaging 17 points per game, but his defense remains as poor as ever, and he always lacks a bit of energy in physical confrontations—both physically and mentally.

Just a few days earlier, on January 14, 2000, the Dallas Mavericks changed hands. The famous internet entrepreneur Mark Cuban acquired the Dallas Mavericks for $1 million, becoming the team's new owner.

This was a new trend in NBA capital in the late 90s—new money from internet companies was gradually replacing old money from traditional industries and joining the sports money game.

Moreover, Cuban is different from many past NBA owners who stayed behind the scenes; as a new capitalist, he loves to be in the public eye.

He had no interest in the stereotypical image of a well-dressed, old-money man. Instead, like many IT tycoons, he preferred to wear simple jeans, T-shirts, and shirts, and to sit on the sidelines like an ordinary fan, rather than hiding in a high-rise VIP box smoking cigars and drinking red wine.

Tonight, during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Cuban came to the sidelines and sat behind the Dallas Mavericks' bench to watch the game.

He looked very excited before the game started. This was only the third game he had attended since buying the Mavericks, and the novelty hadn't worn off yet.

This game was against the Portland Trail Blazers, currently the most legendary team in the league. During the warm-up, Cuban was jumping around and running around everywhere.

He wanted to get Gan Guoyang's autograph, but as the owner of the opposing team, he felt a little embarrassed, so he asked Don Nelson for help.

With no other option, Nelson had to ask Gan Guoyang for an autograph while there was still some time before the game started.

Gan Guoyang smiled, quickly signed his name on the T-shirt, and asked, "Nellie, was what you said on the phone yesterday true?"

Don Nelson said, "Of course it's true! Do you think I'm kidding you? Dirk's a good kid, he needs some pressure."

"He must have been under a lot of pressure last season. It's not easy for foreign players to survive in the NBA. Aren't you afraid he'll develop psychological trauma?"

In basketball, there are indeed players who, after being thoroughly defeated in a game, develop psychological trauma, become despondent, and eventually leave the court.

“If he gives up so easily, then he’s not the player I want. Don’t play too hard on him, don’t torture him, just… give him some inspiration, let him understand how a real game should be played.”

Nelson knew that Gan Guoyang could be extremely ruthless when he was in a ferocious state. This was a potent drug, so it was best to take precautions to prevent Novitzky from actually dying from it.

During this season's games, Nelson clearly felt that Nowitzki had made great progress in technique and physique, but his mental strength was slightly lacking. Simply put, he lacked fighting spirit on the court and leadership qualities in the team.

Mike Finley is the undisputed leader of the Mavericks, both on and off the court. He is the locker room leader and core figure established by the coaching staff and the new owner. But Nelson knows in his heart that in terms of ability and potential, Mike Finley cannot develop into an MVP-caliber core player, and the true leader in the future will definitely be Nowitzki.

Nowitzki is too young now, he has a childlike mentality, avoids confrontation in matches, has a weak competitive spirit, and tends to back down when facing tough opponents, always needing Finley to step in.

Off the court, he was a lackey, carrying bags for veteran players, handing them water, and buying them food. He was often ridiculed by his teammates, who gave him a pseudonym, "Dick Teagle," a fictional porn star name.

His lifestyle is also very un-American. First of all, he doesn't have a cell phone, and still doesn't, so it's very difficult to contact him once he leaves the team.

Secondly, he doesn't like going to bars or nightclubs with his teammates; he prefers listening to symphonies and visiting museums—all German hobbies.

He lacked good friends with the Mavericks, often felt lonely, and had to call his parents in Germany every day. He missed home but had to stay in the United States to play basketball.

These are problems that Nelson cannot solve for him, but he thinks that Forrest Gump as a role model might give Nowitzki some spiritual guidance and motivation.

But Nelson couldn't ask Forrest Gump to mentor Nowitzki, that wouldn't be the rule. He could only let Gan Guoyang beat him up, so that Forrest Gump might give Dirk some pointers.

Of course, Nelson was secretly praying that maybe Nowitzki could go toe-to-toe with Forrest Gump tonight? Or even beat Forrest Gump? Like Allen Iverson scoring over Jordan, creating a classic moment.

Nowitzki has made great progress this year. He has caught up with the pace of the NBA. He has excellent shooting skills, and at 7 feet tall, he is quite agile with outstanding footwork.

In the game against the SuperSonics and Ewing, Nowitzki delivered a brilliant performance, making Ewing look like an old gorilla.

Before Cuban bought the Mavericks, the team had a poor record of only 9 wins and 21 losses. After Cuban bought the Mavericks, many people thought he would fire Nelson.

But Cuban didn't do that. He really liked Nowitzki, and he knew that only Nelson knew how to develop Nowitzki.

With Nowitzki around and performing exceptionally well, Nelson won't lose her job anytime soon. In fact, Nowitzki saved Nelson's job.

Therefore, Nelson needs to put more effort into developing Nowitzki; an All-Star caliber player is definitely not the ultimate goal.

Before the game started, Nowitzki wasn't nervous at all; tonight wasn't his first time facing Forrest Gump.

The two teams played each other during their rookie seasons. Nowitzki came off the bench then, and the two were not matched up on the court.

Nowitzki has always been known for his poor defense, and the task of guarding Gan Guoyang has always been left to Bradley.

However, during the pre-game tactical setup, Nelson suddenly said to Nowitzki, "Dirk, you're guarding Forrest tonight, take care of him."

Nowitzki paused, looked at Nelson with disbelief, and asked, "Coach, what are you talking about?"

Nelson repeated, "I'll let you handle Forrest Gump!"

Finley, standing to the side, was dumbfounded. He said, "Coach, are you kidding me? Let Dirk handle Forrest Gump? He... he's still so young."

Nelson, however, seemed determined, refusing to let Finley interrupt, and insisted to Nowitzki, "Your job tonight is to guard Forrest Gump on both ends of the court. I said, take him down, that's what you do. No excuses."

Nowitzki knew the coach wasn't joking; his real task tonight was to take down Forrest Gump—a task that no one had been able to accomplish since 1984.

Novitzki, who had been quite relaxed, suddenly became tense.

At 7:30 p.m., after the opening ceremony, the players from both sides officially took to the field.

For the Trail Blazers, Jermaine O'Neal replaced Domantas Sabonis as the team's starting center.

Gan Guoyang and Alan Henderson played as forwards, and the two often switched positions as small forward and power forward, with no fixed role on the field.

Kobe will naturally be a regular starter after his return, while Blake will be sidelined tonight due to knee soreness, with Terry Porter taking his place in the starting lineup.

For the Mavericks, their center is the towering 7-foot-7 (2.29 meters) Shawn Bradley, the tallest player in the league.

Nowitzki secured his starting power forward position on the team thanks to his performance.

The Mavericks' small forward is Eddie Jones, shooting guard is Mike Finley, and point guard is Strickland.

The Mavericks' lineup is quite traditional, with each position being solid and conventional, after all, Don Nelson hasn't completely lost his mind yet.

However, the Mavericks are clearly not traditional in their playing style, because they have Nowitzki, and the Mavericks have a very high percentage of outside shooting, even higher than the Trail Blazers who were once known for their three-point shooting.

This resulted in an inconsistent Mavericks offense. They prioritized speed and accuracy, and Bradley was essentially a figurehead starter. The real key player in crucial moments was Cedric Ceballos, who sat on the bench. Ceballos left the Rockets in the summer of 98 and signed with the Mavericks. (There's an error regarding the Ceballos trade. I previously wrote that he was traded to the Suns for Steve Smith, and later I wrote that he was traded from the Lakers to the Rockets for Horry. This is contradictory. I forgot while writing. The first trade was incorrect; Steve Smith remained with the Suns. Ceballos was traded for Horry, and then left the Rockets as a free agent to sign with the Mavericks.)
The Mavericks will field a lineup of five outside shooters, stretching the opponent's defense and making it difficult to find a defensive focal point.

Of course, the problem with this style of play is that, firstly, the defense is too poor. When Nowitzki is playing center, the interior rim protection is completely ruined.

Secondly, Nowitzki's offensive firepower was insufficient; his average of 18 points per game was far from enough to compensate for the defensive lapses, which is why the Mavericks had a very poor start to the season.

Therefore, although Mike Finley is the leader of the Mavericks, the key to the ceiling of the Mavericks' system lies with Nowitzki.

The key lies in whether the Mavericks can cover up Nowitzki's defensive problems and whether Nowitzki can maximize his offensive firepower.

Before the jump ball, Norvis Base stepped onto the court, and Gan Guoyang stood to the side, trying to hide his nervousness by looking around to avoid eye contact.

Gan Guoyang, however, took the initiative to approach and asked, "How many points are you planning to take from me tonight?"

Nowitzki looked around again and found no one else; the person must have been talking to him.

Speaking in heavily accented English, Nowitzki stammered, "Um... I'll do my best."

What Nowitzki really wanted to say was, "Try to score on me."

After all, if Gan Guoyang is determined to stick to him, he might not get a single point—like Tim Duncan.

But at one point, Nowitzki did not back down or give in; he still said he would do his best.

Gan Guoyang didn't say much. He chewed his gum and blew a bubble.

This often indicates that he is excited about the game and will have a lot of fun.

(End of this chapter)