NBA's Monster Rookie

Chapter Nineteen: The Shortened Season

In July 1998, the NBA went into lockout.

Labor negotiations have reached a stalemate, with players and owners neither willing to back down. Arthur Thorne hasn't participated in either side's arguments; he stays at the Los Angeles training facility, arriving at 4 a.m. and leaving at 8 p.m. every day. Security guard Kurt has gotten used to it and has even given Arthur a key to the facility.

"Aren't you concerned about the shutdown?" Kurt asked him one day.

"I'm concerned," Arthur said, while shooting a three-pointer, "but the lockout will eventually end. My training can't stop."

The lockout lasted for nearly seven months. In January 1999, the labor and management finally reached an agreement, shortening the season to fifty games. All teams had to complete the regular season within two months, with a suffocatingly dense schedule of back-to-back games and four games in five days becoming commonplace.

Arthur only met his teammates a week before the season started. Barry had gained weight, Rogers' beard had grown to his chest, and Williams had a new hairstyle. Only Arthur looked exactly the same as last season—no, even better.

"You've been training all summer?" Barry asked.

"The whole summer," Arthur said, "completely shut down. Every single day."

The shortened season began on February 5, 1999.

The Clippers hosted the Denver Nuggets. Arthur scored 38 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 blocks in 28 minutes, leading the Clippers to a decisive 30-point victory. After the game, the Nuggets' head coach said, "That monster looks like he traveled back from the future. He doesn't belong to this era."

A packed schedule is a nightmare for most teams, but for Arthur, it's a stage to shine. Back-to-back games are no different for him than three consecutive days of shooting practice.

The Clippers played three consecutive games on February 8th, 9th, and 10th. Arthur averaged 42 three-pointers, 17.7 rebounds, 11.3 assists, and 6.3 blocks in these three games. The Clippers won all three games.

On Valentine's Day, February 14th, the Clippers played the Utah Jazz on the road. Before the game, Karl Malone told Arthur, "The shortened season championship doesn't count. You have to play all 82 games for it to count." Arthur didn't respond, then went on to score 45 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 7 blocks against Malone. After the game, Malone changed his tune: "Okay, his shortened season championship still counts. Because no matter how many games he plays, he's the best."

In March 1999, the Clippers had a record of 25 wins and 3 losses, ranking first in the league. Arthur's average stats were 39.2 points, 16.5 rebounds, 10.8 assists, and 6.3 blocks, almost the same as the previous season.

But a new challenger is emerging.

The San Antonio Spurs, with their twin towers of second-year players Tim Duncan and David Robinson, achieved a 23-7 record in the shortened season, ranking second in the Western Conference. Duncan averaged 21.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, already showing signs of becoming a future superstar.

On March 14th, the Clippers played the Spurs on the road. This was the third matchup between Arthur and Duncan. The Clippers had won the previous two games, but Duncan's performance improved with each game.

After the game started, Duncan posted up Arthur in the low post. He used a turnaround layup and made the shot. Arthur responded with the same move on the other end. Both players scored ten points in the first quarter.

But the difference is that Arthur can do other things too. He dished out five assists, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked two of Robinson's shots in the second quarter. At halftime, the Clippers led by twelve points.

In the second half, Duncan attempted a Spurs comeback. He scored 14 points in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to four points. However, Arthur scored 15 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, including three three-pointers, to seal the victory.

Final score: 114-101. Arthur's stats: 43 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 6 blocks. Duncan's stats: 32 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks.

After the game, Duncan sat in the locker room for a long time. Robinson walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"He's better than you. Right now," Robinson said, "but you're only twenty-two. You still have time."

Duncan looked up. "He's a year older than me."

Robinson paused for a moment, then laughed. "Then there's no time. Accept your fate."

Duncan didn't laugh. He looked at the ceiling and said softly, "I refuse to accept my fate."

In April 1999, the regular season was coming to an end.

The Clippers finished the shortened season with a 44-6 record, ranking first in the league. Arthur Thorne, averaging 38.7 points, 16.3 rebounds, 10.5 assists, and 6.1 blocks per game, was unsurprisingly named the regular season MVP for the third consecutive year.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Clippers faced the Sacramento Kings. The Clippers swept the Kings in three games, with Arthur averaging 40 points, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 blocks per game.

In the Western Conference semifinals, the Clippers faced the Phoenix Suns. The Clippers swept the Suns in three games, with Arthur averaging 41 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists, and 7 blocks per game.

The Western Conference Finals pit the Clippers against the San Antonio Spurs. This is the series everyone's been waiting for: the league's strongest individual player versus the league's strongest twin towers.

In the first game in Los Angeles, Duncan and Robinson combined to limit Arthur, holding him to "only" 35 points and 15 rebounds. But the Clippers' shooters erupted, with Barry and Rogers combining for nine three-pointers. The Clippers took a 1-0 lead.

In Game 2, Arthur adjusted his playing style. He stopped forcing his way into the low post and instead moved out to the three-point line, punishing Robinson's slow footwork with shots. He made 7 of 11 three-pointers, scoring 47 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out 8 assists. The Clippers led 2-0.

In Game 3 in San Antonio, the Spurs faced a must-win situation. Duncan delivered a career-best performance with 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocks. But Arthur responded with 44 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists, and 7 blocks. With 30 seconds left in the game and the score tied, Arthur hit a fadeaway jumper over Duncan for the game-winning shot.

Three to zero. The Spurs are on the verge of elimination.

In Game 4, Duncan once again scored 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, but Arthur contributed 41 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, and 5 blocks. The Clippers won 115-108, sweeping the Spurs and advancing to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year.

After the game, Duncan called out to Arthur in the player tunnel.

"I hate you," Duncan said.

Arthur looked at him. "What do you hate me for?"

"Hating you makes me feel like I'm not good enough."

Arthur was silent for two seconds. "You're not not good enough. You're very good. But I'm better."

Duncan stared at Arthur for a long time, then nodded. "See you next year."

See you next year.

The finals were held in June 1999.

The Clippers' opponent is the New York Knicks. The Knicks, the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, have upset the Heat, Hawks, and Pacers to become the first eighth seed in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals. Their core players are Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and Latrell Sprewell.

However, Ewing was injured in the Eastern Conference Finals and is likely to miss the Finals. The Knicks will face the Clippers with a depleted roster.

Game 1, Los Angeles. Arthur scored 42 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 blocks against the Knicks. The Clippers won by a whopping 25 points.

In Game 2, the Knicks attempted to limit Arthur by double-teaming him. Arthur dished out 14 assists, and seven Clippers players scored in double figures, resulting in another big win.

Game 3 was in New York, at Madison Square Garden. Knicks fans were cheering wildly for their team, but Arthur delivered his most brutal performance on the road: 49 points, 21 rebounds, 9 assists, and 7 blocks. Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy made a blunt observation after the game: "We tried everything. We fouled, double-teamed, fronted, and tried 'Hack-a-Shaq'—but that's not Shaq. It didn't work; he's not Shaq. He's shooting 90% from the free-throw line. We even tried talking to him, trying to distract him. Nothing worked."

In Game 4, the Knicks had lost their fighting spirit. Arthur finished his get off work in three quarters, scoring 35 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, dishing out 8 assists, and blocking 5 shots. The Clippers won decisively, 119-98, sweeping the series 4-0 to claim the championship.

Arthur Thorne won the championship, regular season MVP, and Finals MVP for the third consecutive year.

During the awards ceremony, Arthur accepted the Finals MVP trophy from Bill Russell. He didn't say anything, just held the trophy and looked at the entire audience.

Then he put the trophy on the ground, picked up the championship trophy, and raised it above his head.

The crowd cheered.

That night, Arthur sat in the visiting team's locker room at Madison Square Garden. The championship trophy sat beside him, and the Finals MVP trophy on the other side. His jersey was soaked, the sweat mingling with the smell of champagne.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Jerry: "Michael Jordan officially retired today. He said you're the only one worthy to carry on his torch."

Arthur stared at the message and remained silent for a long time.

He picked up his phone and replied: "I won't take the torch. I'll burn my own."

Then he stood up, a trophy in one hand, and walked out of the locker room. The corridors of Madison Square Garden were long and dimly lit. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridors, thump, thump, thump.

The security guard at the end of the corridor looked at him and bowed.

Arthur nodded and walked into the New York night.

Behind me, the lights in Madison Square Garden went out one by one.

But Arthur Thorne's era continues.

He was twenty-two years old. Three NBA championships. Three regular season MVPs. Three Finals MVPs.

But his story is far from over.