NBA's Monster Rookie

Chapter Twenty-One: The Fourth Crown

In February 2000, All-Star Weekend was held in Oakland.

Arthur Thorne once again topped the All-Star voting list with a record 3.5 million votes. This marks his fourth consecutive year as an All-Star starter and his fourth consecutive All-Star MVP award; as long as he's on the court, the award is guaranteed.

But a small incident occurred before the main competition began.

On the sidelines of the Rising Stars Challenge, Arthur was stopped by a reporter who asked him what he thought of this year's rookies. He glanced at the reporter, then at the young men warming up on the court.

"They're very talented," Arthur said, "but they don't yet know how brutal this league is."

The reporter pressed further, "Do you think anyone can take over your position?"

Arthur shook his head. "I don't need a successor. Because I have no intention of stepping down."

This statement was played repeatedly that night. Some thought he was arrogant, some thought he was confident, but no one thought he was lying. Because he was telling the truth. At twenty-three, a three-time champion, averaging 38 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists per game, he had no reason to step down.

In the All-Star Game, Arthur played only 25 minutes, scoring 28 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists. He didn't exert himself, because the rest of the Western Conference All-Stars—O'Neal, Duncan, Garnett, and Kobe—were enough to defeat the Eastern Conference All-Stars. After the game, Arthur handed the MVP trophy to O'Neal. "You keep it," Arthur said.

O'Neal paused for a moment. "You don't want it?"

"I already have four. They take up space at home."

O'Neal took it, held it up briefly, and then handed it to Arthur. "I don't want it either. You can keep it and take up space."

Arthur smiled. It was a rare sight of him smiling in public. O'Neal smiled too. The two giants stood on the podium, like two mountains.

In March 2000, the Clippers secured a playoff spot ahead of schedule.

In the final month of the regular season, Coach Fitch began resting the key players. But Arthur refused to rest; he wanted to play all eighty-two games. Fitch tried to persuade him three times, but he refused each time.

"Don't you need to rest?" Fitch asked.

"I need to play," Arthur said. "Rest is a waste of time."

At the end of the regular season, the Clippers finished first in the league with a record of 68 wins and 14 losses. Arthur averaged 38 three-pointers, 16 rebounds, 10.4 assists, and 6.2 blocks per game, winning his fourth consecutive regular season MVP award. He received 98% of the vote, with one first-place vote going to O'Neal.

"Who voted?" Arthur asked Jerry.

Lakers on offense, Kobe goes one-on-one, fadeaway jumper—Arthur flies in from the side, swatting the ball away with his massive hand. Clippers fast break, Arthur dribbles up the court himself, stops abruptly two steps beyond the three-point line, jumps and scores. 104-98.

Two minutes remained. The Lakers called a timeout. After the timeout, O'Neal attacked in the low post, drawing a foul on Arthur. O'Neal made one of two free throws. 104-99. The Clippers attacked, and Arthur again had the ball at the top of the key. This time, the Lakers double-teamed him, and Arthur passed the ball to Williams, who cut to the basket and dunked. 106-99.

One minute remained. The Lakers made a final push, but Kobe's three-pointer missed. Arthur grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and made both free throws. 108-99.

The game is over. The Clippers lead 1-0.

Arthur's stats: 45 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 blocks. O'Neal's stats: 31 points, 14 rebounds. Kobe's stats: 28 points, 6 rebounds.

Game 2, the same script. Arthur scored 43 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, dished out 10 assists, and blocked 7 shots. The Clippers led 2-0.

The third game was in Los Angeles. The Lakers' home court wasn't the same; the Clippers and Lakers share the Staples Center, so the only difference between home and away games was who wore the home jersey. The third game was at the Lakers' home court, and their fans filled the arena.

The Lakers delivered their best home performance of the season. Shaquille O'Neal scored 38 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Kobe Bryant added 33 points and 7 assists. However, Arthur tallied 47 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists, and 5 blocks. With ten seconds remaining and the score tied, Arthur received the ball beyond the three-point line, faced O'Neal's defense, and drained a step-back three-pointer. The Clippers took a 3-0 lead.

In Game 4, the Lakers 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 6 shots. The Clippers won decisively, 119-99.

The Clippers swept the Lakers 4-0, advancing to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive year.

After the game, O'Neal sat in the locker room, holding a bottle of water and staring at the floor. Kobe sat next to him, and neither of them spoke.

Phil Jackson walked in and looked at his two core players.

"We did our best," Jackson said, "but he was just too strong."

O'Neal looked up. "Coach, what if we can't beat him again next year?"

Jackson was silent for a few seconds. "Then the year after next. He'll get old someday."

O'Neal gave a wry smile. "He's only twenty-three. We won't live to see him get old."

The finals were held in June 2000.

The Clippers' opponent was the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers eliminated the Knicks in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Reggie Miller finally reached the NBA Finals in the twilight of his career.

This is Miller's first, and likely last, Finals appearance. The 34-year-old said at the press conference, "I know the Clippers are strong, I know Thorn is a monster. But I'm not afraid. I've spent my whole life battling Jordan, so it doesn't matter who's playing now."

Game 1, Los Angeles. Miller was on fire from beyond the arc, hitting six three-pointers and scoring 29 points. But Arthur finished with 42 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists, and 6 blocks. The Clippers won decisively.

In Game 2, Miller was shut down by the Clippers' perimeter defense and only scored 14 points. Arthur had 38 points, 16 rebounds, 9 assists, and 7 blocks. The Clippers led 2-0.

Game 3 was in Indiana, the Pacers' home court. Miller exploded for the home crowd, scoring 35 points, including eight in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. But Arthur hit a mid-range jumper with ten seconds left, forcing overtime. In overtime, Arthur scored seven straight points to seal the victory.

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

In Game 4, the Pacers had their backs against the wall. Miller scored another 30 points, but Arthur recorded a Finals triple-double with 41 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 blocks. The Clippers won 117-109.

The Clippers swept the Pacers 4-0 to win their fourth consecutive championship.

Arthur accepted the Finals MVP trophy from Bill Russell, winning the honor for the fourth consecutive year.

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

"They say a three-peat is a dynasty. What do you call a four-peat?"

The crowd erupted in cheers. No one could answer that question, because no one in NBA history had ever done it before.

Bill Russell stood to the side, smiling as he watched Arthur. He had won eleven championships, but he had never won four consecutive championships.

“Young man,” Russell said, “you remind me of myself.”

Arthur looked at Russell. "I will surpass you."

Russell smiled. "Come on then. I'm waiting."

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

Coach Fitch walked in and sat down next to him.

"Four now," Fitch said.

"That's not enough," Arthur said.

"How many do you need?"

Arthur thought for a moment. "Ten. Or eleven. One more than Russell."

Fitch shook his head. "Do you know that no one in NBA history has ever won ten championships? Russell is the only exception, because there were fewer teams and fewer playoff rounds in his era."

"I don't care about the times," Arthur said. "I only care about the numbers."

Fitch stared at Arthur's profile in silence for a long time. This young man had already won four championships, four MVPs, and four Finals MVPs, but he seemed no different from his rookie season—the same desire, the same dissatisfaction, the same hunger.

"You'll burn out," Fitch said.

"I don't know how." Arthur stood up, put the trophy in his bag, "I don't even know what burn out is."

He walked out of the locker room and into the Indiana night.

Behind me, the lights in the stadium went out one by one.

But the era of Arthur Thorne continues to burn.