NBA's Monster Rookie

Chapter Fifteen: The Finals

United Center, Chicago, May 1, 1997.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

This is the first time in Clippers history that they've stepped onto this stage. Facing them is Michael Jordan and his Bulls dynasty, boasting four championships in the past six years and a 69-win regular season this year; everyone expects them to defend their title.

Before the game, the media discussed the same topic extensively: Could a 19-year-old rookie continue his legend on the stage of the finals?

As Arthur ran out of the player tunnel, a deafening chorus of boos erupted from the United Center. Chicago fans feared no opponent; they had witnessed Jordan's dominance in the Finals far too many times.

Arthur didn't look at the stands. He walked to the basket and began warming up. Three-pointers, dunks, free throws—every movement was as precise as a machine.

Jordan shot from the other side. He didn't look at Arthur, but every move he made carried a silent declaration: This is my territory.

Game start.

During the jump ball, Arthur easily passed the ball to Barry, facing Bulls center Luke Longley. On the first possession, Arthur called for the ball in the low post, with Longley guarding him and Rodman looking to help on the weak side.

After receiving the ball, Arthur turned to face the basket. Longley took a half step back, and Arthur pulled up for a jump shot, which went in.

The Bulls are on offense. Jordan receives the ball at the right 45-degree angle, facing Healy's defense. With a jab step, Healy retreats, and Jordan jumps and leans back, the ball arcing perfectly through the net.

In the first quarter, both players were testing each other. Arthur scored twelve points, and Jordan scored ten. The Clippers led 28-26 by two points.

In the second quarter, the Bulls began to show why they were the defending champions. Rodman clung to Arthur like glue on the defensive end; he was dirtier, crazier, and more reckless than Malone. He used his elbows, his hands, and his knees—all the dirty tricks the referees couldn't see.

This was the first time Arthur had encountered an opponent like this. Rodman didn't care about scoring, he didn't care about stats; the only thing he cared about was making you uncomfortable.

Arthur's shot attempts decreased significantly in the second quarter, scoring only six points. However, he delivered three blocks on the defensive end: two to Jordan and one to Pippen.

At halftime, the Clippers led 52-50 by two points.

In the second half, Jordan unleashed his "killer mode." He scored nineteen points in the third quarter alone, including three consecutive possessions where he hit difficult fadeaway jumpers while Arthur was helping on defense.

Arthur's hand was already on Jordan's face, but Jordan's hang time was too long, so he always waited until Arthur started to fall before making his move.

At the end of the third quarter, the Bulls led 81-75 by six points.

In the fourth quarter, Arthur took over the game. He scored eleven points in three minutes, including two three-pointers, a three-point play, and a dunk, to put the team ahead.

The Joint Center fell silent.

With two minutes remaining, the score was tied at 103. Jordan had the ball at the top of the key, and Arthur was personally guarding him. Jordan drove to the right, stopped abruptly, and faded back. This time, Arthur didn't jump, but simply stretched out his arm to contest the shot.

The ball bounced off the rim. Arthur grabbed the rebound.

The Clippers were on offense. Arthur called for the ball in the low post, and was double-teamed by Longley and Rodman. Instead of forcing a shot, Arthur passed the ball to Rogers in the corner. Rogers took a three-pointer and made it.

106 to 103. Forty seconds remain.

The Bulls called a timeout. After the timeout, Jordan received the ball beyond the three-point line, facing Arthur's defense. He dribbled to the left, stepped back, and released a three-pointer, which went in.

106 square meters. 22 seconds remaining.

On the Clippers' final possession, Arthur had the ball at the top of the key, with Jordan personally guarding him. The entire crowd rose to their feet.

Time's counting down. Arthur dribbles to the right, Jordan moves sideways. Arthur switches hands behind his back to the left, Jordan follows. Arthur then performs another crossover dribble, takes a step back to two steps beyond the three-point line, and jumps.

Jordan lunged at him, but Arthur's release point was too high. The ball flew just above Jordan's fingertips.

Swish.

Hollow through the net. 109 to 106. Three seconds left.

On the Bulls' final possession, Jordan received the ball at midcourt and hastily released a shot that missed.

The game is over. The Clippers have won Game 1 of the Finals.

Arthur's stats: 43 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks. Jordan's stats: 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists.

After the game, Jordan and Arthur embraced at halftime.

"This game is yours," Jordan said.

Arthur nodded. "Three more games."

Jordan laughed. "You don't think every game will be that easy, do you?"

Arthur looked Jordan into his eyes. "It won't be easy. But I will win."

June 4, 1997, the second game of the finals.

Joint Center.

The Bulls made adjustments at home. They deployed Rodman to guard Arthur from the start of the game, not in the paint, but before Arthur received the ball. Rodman was like a shadow, sticking to Arthur and preventing him from receiving the ball comfortably.

The strategy worked. Arthur only received the ball four times in the first quarter, taking three shots and scoring six points. The Clippers' offense stalled, and the Bulls led 31-23.

In the second quarter, Arthur started receiving the ball beyond the three-point line. Rodman followed him to the three-point line, where Arthur pulled up for a three-pointer, which Rodman couldn't reach. Arthur then hit two consecutive three-pointers, narrowing the gap to four points.

But the Bulls' overall strength was too great. Pippen shut down the Clippers' perimeter defense, and Kukoc and Kerr stepped up from the bench to contribute 20 points each.

At halftime, the Bulls led 58-48 by ten points.

In the second half, Arthur attempted to lead a comeback. He scored 16 points in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to five points. But Jordan took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points, including eight in the final three minutes.

Final score: 115-106, the Bulls pulled one back.

Arthur's stats: 41 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 blocks. Jordan's stats: 39 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists.

The score is tied 1-1.

June 7, 1997, the third game of the finals.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Finals returned to Los Angeles. Twenty thousand fans gathered outside the arena, holding signs that read "Thorne MVP" and "Clippers Champions." This arena had never witnessed a Finals game like this before, in Los Angeles, at the Clippers' home court.

After the game started, Arthur delivered a dominant performance fueled by the cheers of the home crowd. He scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the first quarter, giving the Clippers a 36-24 lead.

The Bulls attempted a comeback in the second quarter, but Arthur's defensive performance was even more terrifying. He blocked shots from Jordan, Pippen, and Longley in two minutes—three blocks in two minutes.

At halftime, the Clippers led by 14 points, 68-54.

In the second half, Jordan once again unleashed his killer instinct. He scored 18 points in the third quarter alone, narrowing the gap to four points. But Arthur extinguished the Bulls' comeback attempt in the fourth quarter with three-pointers, hitting four in five minutes, all over Jordan.

Final score: 121 to 110, Clippers lead 2-1.

Arthur's stats: 48 points, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 blocks.

June 9, 1997, Game 6 of the finals.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Bulls are fighting for their lives. If they lose this game, they will be down 1-3, and their chances of a comeback will be slim.

Jordan delivered one of the greatest Finals performances of his career in this game. He scored 49 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists, including the game-winning mid-range jumper over Arthur in the final moments of the fourth quarter.

Arthur scored 44 points, 19 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 blocks, but his game-winning three-pointer at the last moment bounced off the rim.

Final score: 110-108, the Bulls tied the game.

The score is tied at 2-2.

June 11, 1997, Game 6 of the finals.

United Center, Chicago.

Battle of Tianwang Mountain.

This game became one of the most classic matchups in NBA history. Jordan and Arthur started trading baskets from the very first second; Jordan hit mid-range shots, Arthur hit three-pointers; Jordan drove to the basket, Arthur dunked; Jordan faded off, Arthur pulled up for a jumper.

In the first quarter, both players scored fourteen points. In the second quarter, Jordan scored twelve points and Arthur scored eleven. In the third quarter, Jordan scored fifteen points and Arthur scored sixteen.

Before the start of the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 88.

In the final quarter, both players were at their physical limits. Jordan's breathing became rapid, and Arthur's jersey was soaked with sweat. But neither of them was willing to stop.

With 30 seconds left, the score was tied at 115. The Bulls had possession. Jordan held the ball at the top of the key, guarded by Arthur. With the clock ticking down, Jordan drove to the right, stopped abruptly, and faded to the floor. Arthur jumped to block, but his fingertips touched the ball.

The ball changed direction, bounced on the rim, bounced twice, and rolled in.

The Bulls are leading by two points. There are eight seconds left.

The Clippers called a timeout. After the timeout, Arthur received the ball at midcourt, with Jordan closely marking him. Arthur dribbled forward and, two steps beyond the three-point line, forcefully jumped, with Jordan lunging at him. The two collided in mid-air.

The referee blew the whistle. Shooting foul. Arthur gets three free throws.

The boos from the crowd were deafening. Arthur stood at the free-throw line and took a deep breath.

The first free throw went in. The second free throw went in. Arthur intentionally missed the third free throw, trying to grab the rebound. The ball bounced to the right, Rodman grabbed the rebound, and caught the ball in his arms.

Time has passed.

The Bulls narrowly won 116-115.

With the score at 3-2, the Bulls have a match point.

Arthur's stats: 51 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks. Jordan's stats: 46 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists.

After the game, Arthur sat in the locker room with the stat sheet on his lap. Fifty-one points, twenty rebounds. They lost.

He didn't cry, he wasn't angry, he just sat quietly.

Fitch walked over. "There's one more game. We're still alive."

Arthur looked up. "There won't be a seventh game."

Fitch paused, taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"We'll win Game 6. Then we'll win Game 7 in Los Angeles."

Arthur spoke as calmly as if he were recounting something that had already happened.

June 13, 1997, Game 6 of the finals.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Clippers are fighting for their lives. Win, Game 7; lose, go home.

Before the game, Arthur stood in the locker room, looking at his teammates.

"We won't lose today," he said. "Not because I'm good, but because we're good. Give me the ball and I'll take you home, back to Chicago? No, I'll take you back here, Game 7."

His teammates looked into his eyes. No one spoke. They just nodded.

After the game started, Arthur delivered the most complete performance of his career. He was no longer just scoring; he contributed to the team in every way possible: rebounding, assists, blocks, steals, playmaking, and defense.

In the first quarter, he scored 10 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists. In the second quarter, he scored 8 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, and blocked 3 shots. He nearly recorded a triple-double by halftime.

The Clippers led by 12 points, 66-54.

In the second half, the Bulls launched a furious comeback. Jordan and Pippen combined for a 15-4 run, narrowing the gap to one point. Arthur delivered two crucial blocks, one to Jordan and one to Pippen, before scoring on a fast break dunk.

With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Clippers led by eight points. Jordan tried to take over the game again, but Arthur's defense made it difficult for him to move. With thirty seconds remaining, Arthur grabbed a defensive rebound and tossed the ball into the air.

Time has passed.

The Clippers defeated the Bulls 119-111, forcing a Game 7 in the series.

Arthur's stats: 40 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists, 8 blocks, and a triple-double in the Finals.

October 15, 1997, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Game 7 of the finals.

Win or go home.