NBA's Monster Rookie

Chapter Twenty-Two: New Challenges

Summer 2000, Los Angeles.

The banner announcing their four-peat hung from the dome, the fourth red flag gleaming like a burning cloud under the lights. Arthur Thorne sat on the floor of the training facility, leaning against the basketball hoop, a half-open book in his hand—not a novel, but *The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire*. He was reading the sixth volume, Gibbon's discourse on the empire's overexpansion leading to its collapse.

"What are you looking at?" Coach Fitch walked in, holding a cup of coffee.

"History," Arthur said, closing the book. "Look at how those dynasties collapsed."

Fitch sat down next to him. "So what did you learn?"

"Too proud," Arthur said. "Too complacent. He thought his rule would last forever. And then he was overthrown by the barbarians."

Fitch took a sip of his coffee. "Who are the barbarians?"

Arthur thought for a moment. "This year it was Shaq and Kobe. Next year it might be Duncan. The year after that it might be some rookie who hasn't even entered the league yet. I don't know. But they'll come sooner or later."

Are you scared?

"I'm not afraid," Arthur stood up. "Because I am not the Roman Empire. I last longer than they did."

Fitch shook his head and laughed. "Every time you speak, it sounds like you're writing an epitaph."

"It's not an epitaph," Arthur said, walking toward the free-throw line. "It's a declaration."

In September 2000, before training camp began, a major event occurred in the NBA: the Clippers' owner decided to sell the team. It wasn't because he needed money, but because he felt "this team had reached its peak and would only decline from here on out." He wanted to cash out and leave at the highest point.

After the news broke, the atmosphere in the locker room became tense. The players began to worry about their future: would their new owner change coaches? Would they trade players? Would the budget be cut?

Arthur stood up at the team meeting. "Who the boss is doesn't matter. As long as I'm here, this team will win. Anyone who wants to leave can leave now. Anyone who wants to stay will come with me to get our fifth ring."

No one left.

On October 31, 2000, the Clippers hosted the Portland Trail Blazers in the season opener. The Blazers had undergone a major overhaul in the summer, acquiring Shawn Kemp and Scottie Pippen, forming what was touted as "the most luxurious frontcourt in history." Their goal was clear: to stop the Clippers from winning their fifth consecutive championship.

After the game started, the Trail Blazers used a rotation defense against Arthur. Pippen, Kemp, Rasheed Wallace, and Dale Davis took turns on the court, each responsible for a few minutes of high-intensity defense. Pippen used his experience, Kemp used his strength, Wallace used his height, and Davis used dirty tricks.

Arthur scored only eight points in the first quarter, one of the lowest first-quarter scores of his career. But he adjusted his approach in the second quarter, no longer forcing his way into the low post, but instead stretching out to the three-point line and punishing the Trail Blazers' big men with his shots. He hit three three-pointers in the quarter, scoring fourteen points.

At halftime, the Clippers led 54-51.

In the second half, the Trail Blazers' offense began to pick up momentum. Pippen and Kemp's pick-and-roll plays created numerous gaps in the Clippers' defense. At the end of the third quarter, the Trail Blazers had taken a three-point lead.

In the fourth quarter, Arthur took over the game. He scored 16 points in the final six minutes, including two three-pointers, two dunks, and four free throws. With ten seconds left and the score tied, Arthur had the ball at the top of the key, facing Pippen's defense. He dribbled to the right, stopped abruptly, and Pippen rushed in with a step back, but Arthur's release point was too high. The ball went in. A buzzer-beating game-winner.

The crowd erupted. Arthur stood at the top of the key, his right hand still in a shooting stance. Pippen stood in front of him, hands on his hips, shaking his head.

"You remind me of Jordan," Pippen said.

"No," Arthur said, "I reminded Jordan of me."

The Clippers secured a winning start. Arthur's stats: 41 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks.

In November 2000, the Clippers started the season with a 14-1 record. Arthur's average stats were 38.5 points, 16.3 rebounds, 10.6 assists, and 6.1 blocks, unchanged from the previous four years. His consistency had become a natural law, as unquestionable as the daily sunrise.

On November 15th, Arthur and Duncan faced off again against the Spurs. Duncan had been practicing his three-point shot extensively over the summer, and in this game, he made three of four three-point attempts, scoring 31 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. However, Arthur tallied 44 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 blocks. After the game, Duncan called out to Arthur in the player tunnel.

"I've practiced my three-pointers," Duncan said, "but I still can't beat you."

"You've been practicing in the wrong direction," Arthur said.

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

"You should practice your defense," Arthur said, "because you'll never beat me at scoring. But you can try to prevent me from scoring."

Duncan remained silent for a long time. "You're right. I'll practice defense next year."

Arthur nodded. "Then I'll practice scoring over you next year."

Duncan gave a wry smile, turned around, and walked into the locker room.

In December 2000, the Clippers faced their biggest crisis of the season: Williams suffered a severe knee injury, ending his season. With the Clippers' starting power forward out, the burden of interior defense and rebounding fell entirely on Arthur's shoulders.

Coach Fitch said in a team meeting, "We need someone to step up and fill Williams's void." A long silence followed in the locker room. No one felt they could fill the void left by a starting power forward averaging fourteen points and eight rebounds.

Arthur stood up. "I'll fill the gaps. I'll cover his points, I'll grab his rebounds, I'll do his defense."

Fitch looked at him. "You're already averaging forty points and fifteen rebounds per game. Can you add more?"

Arthur didn't answer. He answered the question with the game that followed.

12月5日对阵掘金，亚瑟拿下五十一分、二十二篮板、九助攻、七盖帽。12月8日对阵勇士，四十七分、二十四篮板、十助攻、六盖帽。12月10日对阵火箭，五十三分、二十篮板、八助攻、七盖帽。

In three games, he averaged 50 points in three minutes, 22 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6.7 blocks. After the third game, Fitch walked up to Arthur and said only one sentence: "That's enough. You don't need to prove anything anymore."

Arthur wiped the sweat from his face. "I'm not proving anything. I'm winning."

In January 2001, the All-Star voting results were announced. Arthur once again became the top vote-getter with 4.2 million votes, breaking his own record set the previous year. In the All-Star Game, he scored 32 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 blocks, winning the All-Star MVP award for the fifth consecutive year.

But the real story unfolded outside of All-Star Weekend. On January 19th, the Clippers visited the Philadelphia 76ers. This was Arthur's first time playing in his hometown of Philadelphia—no, he grew up there, but had never played in the NBA playoffs in Philadelphia. The 76ers were the top seed in the Eastern Conference this year, with Allen Iverson having an MVP-caliber season.

Before the game, Iverson told reporters in the locker room, "Thorne is my brother. But tonight, I'm going to beat him."

After the game started, Iverson showed why he was the MVP. He used a series of crossovers, pull-ups, and jump shots against the Clippers' defenders, scoring sixteen points in the first quarter. Arthur responded on the other end, scoring fourteen points in the quarter.

The two players traded baskets throughout the game. Iverson finished with 44 points and 7 assists, while Arthur tallied 48 points, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 blocks. With 20 seconds remaining, the score was tied, and the 76ers had possession. Iverson had the ball, and Arthur switched to defend him. Iverson drove to the right, stopped abruptly, and leaned back. Arthur's long arm reached out, his fingertips touching the ball. The ball changed direction, bounced off the rim, and was caught by Arthur.

With eight seconds remaining, the Clippers called a timeout. After the timeout, Arthur received the ball in the backcourt and dribbled up the court. Iverson attempted a steal at midcourt, but Arthur dribbled past him behind his back. With three seconds left, Arthur jumped and released a shot from two steps beyond the three-point line.

The ball arced through the air. The whistle blew. Goal!

A last-minute winner.

Arthur stood beyond the three-point line, his right hand raised in the air. Iverson stood in front of him, hands on his hips, shook his head, and then smiled.

"You're fucking unreasonable," Iverson said.

"You're unreasonable too," Arthur said, "but I'm even more unreasonable."

The two hugged and exchanged jerseys. Iverson draped Arthur's #32 jersey over his shoulders and walked towards the player tunnel. Arthur draped Iverson's #3 jersey over his arm and walked to the other side.

After the game, Iverson said something that moved everyone at the press conference: "Thorne is the greatest player I've ever seen. Jordan was great, but Jordan got tired. Thorne didn't. Jordan got old, Thorne didn't. I don't know what he was. But I know I lived in his era."

In February 2001, just before the trade deadline, the Clippers made a small trade to acquire 34-year-old veteran point guard John Stockton. Stockton had played for the Jazz for 17 years without winning a championship. He requested a trade mid-season, wanting to go to a championship-contending team. The Jazz granted his request and sent him to Los Angeles.

When Stockton first walked into the Clippers' locker room, Arthur was tying his shoelaces.

"Hello, Rookie," Stockton said, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

Arthur looked up. "I'm not the rookie. You're the rookie. This is your first chance to get a ring."

Stockton laughed. "You're right. I'm Rookie. Teach me how to win a championship."

Arthur stood up and held out his hand. "Come with me."

In March 2001, the Clippers finished the regular season with a record of 65 wins and 17 losses, ranking first in the league. Arthur averaged 37.9 points, 16.2 rebounds, 10.5 assists, and 6.1 blocks per game, winning the regular season MVP award for the fifth consecutive year. He received 99% of the vote, with one first-place vote going to Iverson.

"Who is it this time?" Arthur asked Jerry.

"I don't know," Jerry said. "Maybe it's Iverson's mother."

Arthur smiled. "Tell her I'll take care of her son during the playoffs."