NBA's Monster Rookie

Chapter Eighteen: Defending the Title

February 12, 1998, the first game after the All-Star Weekend.

Arthur Thorne sat in the locker room, his All-Star MVP trophy casually placed in a corner of his locker, next to a pair of unlaced sneakers. His agent, Jerry, sent him a text message: "An ESPN reporter asked you if you're the best player in the league right now, what do you think?"

Arthur glanced at it, put his phone face down on the chair, and started tying his shoelaces.

The best player currently active? He never answers that question. Not out of modesty, but because it's meaningless. Jordan is still playing, still on a max contract, and still able to score forty points against anyone. As long as Jordan hasn't retired, he will remain the best player in the league.

But Arthur knew that this "still" was becoming "was".

Tonight's opponent is the Indiana Pacers. Reggie Miller's Pacers are a strong team in the East; their defense is tough, their tactics are executed precisely, and they are playoff-caliber opponents. But the Clippers gave their opponents no chance at home.

Arthur racked up 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the first quarter, including a one-handed dunk over three defenders from beyond the three-point line. After that play, Reggie Miller shook his head and said to his teammates, "We can't stop him. Nobody can."

Final score: 125-98, Clippers win decisively. Arthur's stats: 39 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists, 5 blocks.

After the game, Miller was asked about his thoughts on Arthur Thorne at the press conference. He remained silent for a long time before saying, "I thought Jordan was insurmountable. I was wrong. Jordan is the past, Thorne is the present and the future."

This statement caused a huge uproar across the United States. Jordan did not respond publicly, but everyone knew that his subsequent three consecutive games scoring over forty points were a response to Miller and Arthur.

In March 1998, the Clippers secured a playoff spot ahead of schedule.

Arthur's season averages have remained stable at 38.5 points, 15.7 rebounds, 10.3 assists, and 6.1 blocks per game. His three-point shooting percentage has dipped slightly, from 52% to 49%, for a simple reason: he's started attempting shots from further away. He can consistently make shots from the center circle in practice, but in games, he prefers to shoot near the logo, where the defense is most relaxed.

In the March 14th game against the Warriors, Arthur hit a three-pointer from near the center circle in the third quarter. During a timeout, the Warriors' head coach told his players, "You don't need to guard that spot. That spot isn't part of the basketball game."

On March 22nd, in a game against the Spurs, second-year Tim Duncan faced off against Arthur for the first time. Duncan, the number one overall pick in 1997, was considered the next great power forward. Before the game, he said, "Thorne is someone I'm learning from." After the game, Duncan had a respectable 18 points and 11 rebounds, but Arthur had 41 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists, and 8 blocks.

After the game, Duncan approached Arthur. "How did you practice your turnaround jump shot?"

Arthur glanced at him. "He cast a thousand every day. He's been doing it for three years straight."

Duncan nodded. "I'll start tomorrow."

Arthur's lips curled into a slight smile. "Then you'll need to invest for ten years."

Duncan paused for a moment, then smiled. That was the beginning of their friendship—two big, quiet guys who understood each other in a strange way.

The regular season ended on April 19, 1998.

The Clippers finished first in the league with a 67-15 record, breaking their franchise record from the previous season. The Chicago Bulls finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 62-20 record. Jordan averaged 32.4 points per game, remaining the league's scoring champion, but everyone knew that this title was given to him by Arthur. Arthur averaged 38.5 points per game, but he only played 73 games, resting for the last nine.

MVP voting results: Arthur Thorne won his second consecutive regular season MVP award with a 91% first-choice percentage. He beat Jordan, Duncan, O'Neal, and Karl Malone.

The awards ceremony took place the day before the playoffs began. Arthur received the trophy from David Stern, raised it above his head, and then put it down.

"Thank you," he said. "But as I said last season, this isn't the trophy I want. The one I want is in June."

The audience erupted in applause. Stern smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

April 23, 1998, first round of the playoffs.

The Clippers faced the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were an aging team; their Big Three of Olajuwon, Barkley, and Drexler had only won 41 games in the regular season. The series was a foregone conclusion, with the Clippers sweeping to 3-0.

Arthur averaged 42 three-pointers, 16.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 6.0 blocks in those three games. Hakeem Olajuwon announced his retirement after the third game. He walked up to Arthur and said, "I'm leaving my Dream Shake to you. Use it well."

Arthur grasped Olajuwon's hand. "I'll make it better."

In May 1998, the Clippers faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

This was the first playoff meeting between the Los Angeles derby teams. The twin towers duo of O'Neal and Rodman caused trouble for many teams in the regular season, but they were helpless against Arthur.

In Game 1, Arthur scored 43 points and grabbed 22 rebounds despite being double-teamed by O'Neal and Rodman. Rodman committed a flagrant foul on Arthur in the third quarter and was ejected from the game. After the game, Rodman said on social media, "He's not human. I'm not guarding him anymore."

In Game 2, Arthur dunked five times over Rodman. Rodman fouled out in the fourth quarter, and as he walked off the court, he said to Arthur, "You're not a rookie, you're a closer."

In Game 3, O'Neal finally exploded, scoring 38 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. But Arthur finished with 46 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, and 6 blocks. The Clippers won 119-110, taking a 3-1 series lead.

In Game 4, the Lakers faced a do-or-die situation at home. Kobe Bryant stepped up from the bench and scored 33 points, but Arthur scored 10 crucial points in the final moments to secure the victory.

The Clippers swept the Lakers 4-0 to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

After the game, Kobe cried in the locker room. Shaquille O'Neal came over and put his arm around his shoulder.

"Don't cry, kid," O'Neal said. "That monster won't be around forever. He'll get old too."

Kobe looked up. "He won't grow old. He's not human."

O'Neal didn't say anything. Because he knew Kobe was right.

In May 1998, the Clippers faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference Finals.

This marks the second consecutive year that the two teams have met in the playoffs. The SuperSonics have retained their core roster—Payton, Kemp, and Schrempf—but their chemistry doesn't seem as strong as last season. Kemp clashed with management over contract issues in the summer and has been out of form all season.

In Game 1, the Clippers won by a whopping 21 points at home. Arthur recorded 37 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 blocks.

In Game 2, Payton exploded, scoring 31 points and dishing out 11 assists. But Arthur scored 16 consecutive points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. 2-0.

In Game 3 in Seattle, the SuperSonics, facing elimination, delivered their best performance of the season. Payton and Kemp combined for 60 points, leading the SuperSonics to a 110-105 victory over the Clippers, bringing the series to 1-2.

Arthur didn't blame anyone after the game. He simply walked up to Barry, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Next game, we'll win."

In Game 4, Arthur dominated from the first quarter. He scored 19 points in the quarter, 32 points in the first half, and 43 points in three quarters. The Clippers defeated the SuperSonics 128-99, taking a 3-1 series lead.

In Game 5 in Los Angeles, the Clippers gave the SuperSonics no chance. Arthur scored 41 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, and blocked 6 shots, leading the Clippers to a 121-105 victory.

With a score of 4-1, the Clippers advanced to the finals for the second consecutive year.

After the game, Payton stopped Arthur in the players' tunnel.

"You're really going to get a second ring," Payton said.

Arthur nodded. "I'll take many."

Payton shook his head and gave a wry smile. "The league is over."

The finals were held in June 1998.

The Clippers' opponent is the Chicago Bulls.

This was a rematch of last year's Finals. But this year's Bulls were different. Pippen refused to play, Rodman went to the Lakers, and Longley and Kerr were in decline. Jordan carried the team to the Finals alone, defeating the Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, scoring 47 points in Game 7.

But everyone knows that this Bulls team is no match for the Clippers.

Game 1 of the Finals, Los Angeles. Arthur tallied 43 points, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 blocks against Jordan. Jordan scored 35 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. The Clippers won 119-110.

In Game 2, Jordan exploded, scoring 49 points to tie the series 1-1. Arthur also contributed 44 points, 19 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 blocks. After the game, Jordan made a poignant statement at the press conference: "I can't beat them alone. But I won't give up."

In Game 3 in Chicago, Arthur recorded a Finals triple-double with 48 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 7 blocks at the United Center. Jordan scored 41 points, but no other Bulls player reached double figures. The Clippers won decisively, 124-107.

Game 4, the Bulls' final struggle. Jordan scored another 45 points, and Pippen suddenly appeared on the court, deciding to return for one last game. Pippen's return gave the Bulls a brief morale boost, and they led by eight points at halftime.

But in the second half, Arthur took over the game. He scored 18 points in the third quarter and 16 points in the fourth, including eight points in the final two minutes. Pippen fouled Arthur six times on defense and eventually fouled out of the game.

Jordan hit a three-pointer with ten seconds left, narrowing the gap to two points. But after the Clippers inbounded the ball, Arthur received it in the backcourt, was fouled, and made both free throws.

Final score: 119-115, Clippers win the championship 4-1.

Arthur knelt on the floor of the United Center, hands on his hips. His teammates rushed over and pinned him down. Jordan stood beyond the three-point line, hands on his hips, watching it all. This time, he didn't approach Arthur. He simply turned and walked into the player tunnel, disappearing into the darkness.

After the game, Arthur received the Finals MVP trophy from Bill Russell. He won the regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and championship for the second consecutive year.

During the awards ceremony, Arthur held up the trophy and said something to the camera.

"They say I'm a monster. Yes, I'm a monster. I'm the champion monster."

The crowd cheered.

That night, Arthur sat in the empty visiting team's locker room at the United Center. The championship trophy sat on the chair next to him, and the Finals MVP trophy sat on the other side. He was wearing a soaked jersey and looked down at his hands.

Those hands, 28 centimeters long and 30 centimeters wide. A year and a half ago, those hands were rejected by 31 teams on draft night. A year and a half later, those hands have lifted two NBA championship trophies, two Finals MVP trophies, and two regular season MVP trophies.

He remembered what Jordan had told him after the draft: "You're going to be a great player." No, Jordan didn't say "You're going to be," he said "You have the potential."

Arthur looked up at the light fixture on the locker room ceiling. He whispered something, something only he could hear.

"Potential? I've exceeded my potential. I've set a new standard."

He stood up, a trophy in one hand, and walked out of the locker room. The corridor of the United Center was long and dimly lit. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, thump, thump, thump.

The security guard at the end of the corridor looked at him and gave him a thumbs up.

Arthur nodded and walked into the Chicago night.

Behind them, the lights in the Joint Center went out one by one.

But Arthur Thorne's era has only just begun.