NBA's Monster Rookie

Chapter Ten All-Star Weekend

February 7, 1997, Gonde Stadium, Cleveland.

All-Star Weekend has arrived as scheduled.

Arthur Thorne was selected as the center for the Western Conference All-Star team in the All-Star Game. He was also selected for the Rising Stars Challenge, although it was somewhat absurd: an All-Star starter-caliber player playing against a bunch of rookies.

Before the game, when the rosters for the Rising Stars Challenge were announced, Allen Iverson of the Eastern Conference Rising Stars team said, "I don't care who comes. I'm out there to win."

The reporter relayed this to Arthur. Arthur was changing his shoes in the locker room and didn't even look up.

"Let him win first."

On the night of the Rising Stars Challenge, Gund Arena was packed. Everyone wanted to see what the so-called "Golden Generation" of rookies would look like competing against each other.

After the game started, Iverson took the initiative. He dribbled past two players on a fast break and scored a layup. On the next possession, he drained a three-pointer.

The Eastern Conference rookies started with a 12-4 lead.

Arthur called a timeout, not the coach, but he walked over to his teammates himself.

"Give me the ball," he said.

For the next six minutes, Arthur dismantled the Eastern Conference rookie team's defense with his unstoppable individual skills. He posted up in the low post, pulled up for three-pointers, slammed home dunks on fast breaks, and delivered a thunderous block on the defensive end.

At halftime, the Western Conference Rookies led 68-49. Arthur had scored 31 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, dished out 6 assists, and blocked 5 shots.

Iverson sat on the bench during halftime, panting heavily. His stats were impressive too—18 points and 7 assists—but compared to Arthur, he seemed like a player from a completely different world.

"That monster," Iverson said to Ray Allen next to him, "he shouldn't be playing in the Rising Stars Challenge."

Ray Allen gave a wry smile. "He shouldn't have played in the first place. He should have been playing in the main draw."

In the second half, Arthur was substituted after only eight minutes, not because he was too tired to play, but because the coach felt there was no need for him to continue.

Final score: 131 to 97. Arthur's stats: 42 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 blocks.

Rookie Challenge MVP, no doubt.

During the award ceremony, Arthur accepted the trophy, held it up briefly, and then handed it to his teammate next to him. He didn't give any remarks; he simply walked back to the locker room.

A reporter caught up with him and asked, "Aren't you happy to have won the Rising Stars Challenge MVP?"

Arthur stopped and turned around.

"This isn't the trophy I want," he said. "The one I want is on Sunday night."

Sunday night – the All-Star Game.

February 9th, All-Star Game.

The starting lineup for the Western Conference All-Stars: Gary Payton, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Arthur Thorne.

The starting lineup for the Eastern Conference All-Stars: Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Grant Hill, Scottie Pippen, and Shaquille O'Neal.

When Arthur walked onto the court, the entire arena erupted in cheers. Cleveland fans knew they were witnessing a historic talent, a 19-year-old rookie, selected for the All-Star Game as the leading vote-getter.

No, Arthur wasn't the top vote-getter. Jordan was. Arthur came in second in votes, only behind Jordan. But at the Western Conference center position, he was indeed number one.

During the jump ball, Arthur stood opposite O'Neal. The two looked at each other, and O'Neal smiled.

"We meet again, Rookie. This time, no referees are biased towards you."

Arthur didn't laugh. "And you don't have any teammates to help you double-team me."

The referee tosses the ball. Arthur's long arms once again tip the ball to the Western All-Stars.

Once the game started, the atmosphere of the All-Star Game was relaxed, entertaining, and theatrical. But Arthur didn't seem to have received this notification.

On his first offensive possession, he dunked over O'Neal. On the way back on defense, Jordan walked over and patted him on the back.

"Relax, kid. The All-Star Game is for fun."

Arthur looked at Jordan. "Have you ever played this?"

Jordan paused for a moment, then laughed. He never "played" in the All-Star Game; he was there to win.

"Okay," Jordan said, "Let's do it for real then."

From that moment on, the All-Star Game became a true duel. Jordan and Arthur began to battle it out on both ends of the court. Jordan hit a fadeaway jumper over Arthur, and Arthur pulled up for a three-pointer over Jordan. Jordan drove to the basket for a dunk, and Arthur helped block the shot.

The other players slowly stepped aside to watch the two go toe-to-toe. This was a scene never before seen in All-Star Game history: a 34-year-old basketball legend and a 19-year-old rookie monster playing with playoff intensity in an exhibition game.

In the third quarter, Arthur received a pass from Payton on a fast break and jumped to dunk. Jordan flew in from the side to try to block, but Arthur jumped too high, and Jordan's hand only reached his arm.

Arthur slammed the ball into the basket, the referee blew the whistle, and Jordan was fouled.

After Arthur landed, Jordan patted his butt.

"You jump really high," Jordan said.

"You're not short either," Arthur said.

Jordan smiled. This was the first time Arthur had seen Jordan smile at him—not a condescending smile, but a smile of equality and recognition.

With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Western Conference All-Stars led 131-128 by three points. Arthur called for the ball in the low post, guarded by O'Neal. Arthur backed down, turned, and made a fadeaway jumper.

During an Eastern Conference All-Star offensive possession, Jordan received the ball beyond the three-point line. Facing Arthur's help defense, he faked out Arthur, then jumped forward, drawing a foul from Arthur.

Jordan made all three free throws. 133 to 131.

In the final possession, the Western Conference All-Stars had possession. Payton passed the ball to Arthur, and the court was spread out. Arthur dribbled at the top of the key, guarded by Jordan.

Eight seconds remain. Arthur dribbles to the right, but Jordan moves to block. Arthur then performs a behind-the-back crossover to the left, but Jordan keeps up. Arthur then performs another crossover dribble to the right, but Jordan again keeps up.

But Arthur doesn't need to shake off Jordan; he just needs a little space.

He suddenly pulled up for a jump shot from two steps beyond the three-point line. Jordan reacted incredibly quickly, jumping almost simultaneously to block the shot. But Arthur's release point was too high; his wrist flicked the ball away about 30 centimeters above Jordan's fingertips.

The ball traced a high arc in the air.

The entire room fell silent.

Swish.

Hollow-core netting.

Arthur hit the game-winning three-pointer over Jordan.

The Western All-Stars won 136-131.

The entire venue erupted in cheers.

Arthur stood at the top of the key, his right hand still in a shooting stance. Jordan stood in front of him, hands on his hips, watching the ball go through the net.

Then Jordan walked up to Arthur and extended his hand.

"Well played," Jordan said.

Arthur grasped Jordan's hand. "You too."

Jordan's hand looked tiny in Arthur's palm. But their handshake lasted a full three seconds, two seconds longer than a normal post-game handshake.

That was the completion of some kind of ritual.

The All-Star MVP award was unsurprisingly given to Arthur Thorne, who scored 38 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks.

During the awards ceremony, Arthur accepted the trophy and held it above his head. A flurry of camera flashes went off.

Then he put down the trophy and said something to the camera.

"This trophy is nice. But that's not what I want."

The reporter pressed further, "So what do you want?"

Arthur looked at the camera, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"The one in June."

The entire room fell silent once again.

The Larry O'Brien Trophy in June.

That evening, Arthur sat in his hotel room with the All-Star MVP trophy on the table.

He wasn't looking at the trophy. He was looking out the window at the Cleveland night view.

The phone rang. It was Jerry.

"Congratulations, kid. All-Star MVP. Nineteen years old. The youngest in history."

"Um."

"You look unhappy?"

"I'm happy," Arthur said, "but I'd rather get back to Los Angeles as soon as possible. There are still thirty games left in the regular season. Then comes the playoffs."

Jerry was silent for a few seconds. "Do you really think we can win the championship this year?"

"I don't think so," Arthur said. "I know."

He hung up the phone.

Outside the window, snow began to fall in the Cleveland night sky. Snowflakes danced quietly and slowly in the glow of the streetlights.

Arthur looked at the snowflakes and thought of the audition night.

The 32nd pick in the second round. Everyone thought he was a statistical monster, but he couldn't win games. Three months later, he was an All-Star MVP. Three months later, his team went from 25 wins to second in the Western Conference.

Three months.

He has three months to win that final trophy.

He stood up, put the All-Star MVP trophy in his suitcase, turned off the light, and lay down.

In the darkness, he whispered a sentence.

"Just one more to go."