NBA: Goat is actually me

Chapter 52: The essence of human violence and human pettiness
On the flight back to Chicago, Jordan was reading the latest sports newspaper.

Jordan was hungry for information.

Of course, the main reason is that gambling is not allowed on the plane. There are too many idle people here, and Jordan does not want his image to be damaged.

Meng Jin was in the row in front of Jordan, chatting with veteran Gilmore.

Gilmore is an old fossil in the NBA. It is not difficult to tell from his hairstyle and beard, afro + goatee, a strong retro style.

Meng Jin talked about Gilmore's past.

Grant, who was standing next to them, shook his head when he saw the two of them. “Aren’t you tired after working back to back all night?”
Grant said there was no comparison, absolutely no comparison, and he fell asleep immediately.

Before this, Meng Jin only knew that this uncle was a Bulls legend and had played professional basketball for many years, and he knew nothing else.

Gilmore told Meng Jin that he had started playing in the professional league in 1972, when he was still in the ABA league.

After the ABA merged into the NBA, Gilmore joined the Chicago Bulls and played until 82, when he moved to the Spurs. After spending five seasons in San Antonio, Gilmore returned to the Bulls.

Gilmore was invincible in the ABA, winning the ABA regular season MVP and Rookie of the Year in his rookie season, and then won the ABA championship and playoff MVP in 1975.

Meng Jin was shocked when he heard this. How could this uncle, who couldn't run, couldn't jump high and often missed shots in this game, be so powerful?

"Have you ever played against Chamberlain?" Meng Jin asked.

"Wilt Chamberlain? He had retired when I entered the NBA," Gilmore replied.

"Where is Bill Russell?" Meng Jin continued to ask.

Gilmore: "No, he and Chamberlain were from the same era, but I played against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his prime."

Meng Jin: "Did you beat him up?"

Gilmore: "Of course I beat the shit out of him."

Meng Jin patted Gilmore's thigh and said, "Altis, there is no outsider here, tell me the truth."

Gilmore reframed his words: "OK, I didn't beat him, but he didn't get any advantage on me either. I was the best in the league at guarding that kid Kareem."

Meng Jin: "Did he say this himself or did you make it up?"

Gilmore's temper flared up: "Boy, do you know my nickname?"

Meng Jin shook his head: "I don't know."

Gilmore slapped his forehead and said, "GOD, as a Bulls player, you don't know the nickname of a Bulls legend?

Meng Jin: "Is it a compulsory course?"

Gilmore shook his head. “I don’t understand you young guys. Maybe I should show you the video of me blocking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s hook shot.”

"Can you block Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's hook shot?"

Meng Jin suddenly became interested. You know, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's nickname is Skyhook, and his hook shot is one of the most difficult skills to defend in the NBA, and it is said to be impossible to block.

"And more than once." Gilmore held up a finger pretentiously.

"How did you do that?" Meng Jin asked.

Gilmore adjusted his collar: "Jump, challenge, and block the shot."

Meng Jin: ???
Do you need to tell me that?

Gilmore winked at Meng Jin and said, "Of course, there are some tricks. If you are interested, I can teach you during training tomorrow."

"It's a word."

Meng Jin is very greedy and will not miss any opportunity to improve his skills.

Gilmore was also very interested in Meng Jin: "Are all Chinese people so physically fit?"

After these three games, Gilmore was deeply shocked by Meng Jin. In the past, big men would fight in the interior and completely dunk.

Meng Jin often runs across the court and takes off to blast the rim. Although he is reluctant to admit it, Gilmore does think that Meng Jin's athletic ability is stronger than the inside players of his era, and he is also more entertaining to watch.

"Yes, everyone in our country can fly." Meng Jin said and smiled at Gilmore: "Do you believe this?"

Gilmore spread his hands and said: "I know nothing about China. It is too mysterious to me. I have heard that there are zombies, Taoist priests, monks, and magic."

Meng Jin: “These disappeared after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.”

Gilmore: "So what is China like now?"

Meng Jin: "If you are so interested, I will take you there during the off-season."

Gilmore: "No, I'm staying in the United States and not going anywhere."

Meng Jin: "An antique."

Gilmore read the message without replying, and went to sleep with his face covered with his clothes.

Just as Meng Jin was about to go to sleep, Jordan behind him threw a newspaper at him: "Did you know that Wilkins praised you?"

Meng Jin took the newspaper and read it, only to find out that Wilkins had given himself a nickname during the interview - the essence of human violence.

In the last game, Meng Jin and Wilkins' playing time was almost staggered, and the two had few opportunities for head-on confrontation. However, Wilkins saw several of his brutal dunk performances on the bench and was deeply impressed.

When the reporter interviewed Wilkins, he blurted out this nickname for Meng Jinqi.

To be honest, it feels great to be praised by your opponent.

Meng Jin read the newspaper over and over again and felt great.

Jordan said quietly from behind: "Dominic rarely praises people."

Jordan was a little jealous, or rather envious, because Wilkins never praised himself.

In all the encounters between the two in their careers so far, Wilkins has not lost in terms of scoring alone.

The two have similar builds, similar playing styles, and even the same draft picks.

In Wilkins' eyes, Jordan was nothing special. At most, he was just a Wilkins who knew how to defend.

But in terms of pure offense, Wilkins never felt that he lost to Jordan. Last season, he even scored 57 points against Jordan.

Even Jordan's best flying dunk, Wilkins thinks it's just so-so, because he is also a flying man.

But when watching Meng Jin play, Wilkins always had the illusion that he was watching another species.

Meng Jin's speed, strength, impact and height shocked Wilkins.

This is also the most intuitive feeling of most spectators who watch Meng Jin play for the first time.

"Snapped!"

Jordan suddenly threw another newspaper to the ground, cursing "shit".

Jordan usually brings several newspapers to pass the time during flights.

Meng Jin picked up the newspaper and saw that it was the New Jersey Daily Mail, which contained a post-game interview with Nets player Buck Williams.

Buck Williams said: "The way the Bulls' rookie wearing the No. 1 jersey played subverted my perception. I didn't even know if he was the No. 4, No. 3 or No. 2. Just from the dunks, I think he was even more beautiful and impactful than Jordan."

After reading this passage, Meng Jin had only one thought in his mind.

Very objective evaluation.

He turned around and glanced at the angry boiled egg.

No, you are so grown up and you can’t even listen to the truth?
It's simply the essence of human pettiness.

(End of this chapter)