The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 773 You've Got Guts
For any young center in the league, facing Forrest Gump for the first time is an incredibly nerve-wracking experience.

Kevin Garnett is no exception. This 19-year-old from South Carolina has fewer and fewer fantasies about the NBA after a year of playing in the league.

In 1995, as a highly anticipated high school player, Kevin Garnett was selected fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, beginning his professional career.

Before that, his fantasies about professional basketball shone brightly like the stars in the night sky, but his first training session in the summer of 1995 left him exhausted.

The intensity of NBA training made him suffer terribly. After training, he sat on a chair with ice packs strapped to his back and groaned in pain, "The NBA is no joke, it's really not easy."

What made it even more difficult for him was that the head coach told him that he either had to run on the treadmill for another hour or walk back to the hotel by himself.

Garnett could hardly believe his ears. He thought training was over, but it wasn't. To survive well in the NBA, training is never-ending.

Back then, he weighed only 215 pounds and was as skinny as a stick. In high school, he could use his height and jumping ability to beat his opponents to a pulp.

But there are people stronger than him everywhere in the NBA. Even though the Timberwolves are a bottom-feeder team that can't even make the playoffs, their players are all high school and college prodigies.

Soon after, during practice, he was slammed to the ground by a huge block from Sam Mitchell, a 6-foot-6 small forward.

That night, he sadly called his agent, tears streaming down his face, saying that the NBA was not what he had imagined.

Almost every young person who has been in the NBA for a short time says this, because there is always a gap between fantasy and reality, and this gap is particularly large in the NBA.

Too many people are eliminated by this gap, but Kevin Garnett persevered and did a great job.

In one year, he gained 25 pounds and gradually adapted to the tough training and endless games in the NBA.

He lived in a large villa with his friends and took good care of himself. The Timberwolves had originally planned to place him in a homestay, like a college student.

He successfully navigated his rookie season of 1995-1996, transforming from a rookie into a second-year veteran. He was now qualified to address rookies like Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal as "little brother."

He could mentor Stephon Marbury, a rookie born in 96, teaching him how to survive in the NBA, how to cope with tough training, and how to balance basketball and life in the freezing cold of Minnesota.

But one cannot erase all fantasies, because a part of a fantasy is a dream, a player, and an inner driving force for achieving greater success.

For Kevin Garnett, his biggest dream in 1996 wasn't to make the playoffs, to be an All-Star, or to score 30 points in a nationally televised game.

His fantasy was to put on a great game against Forrest Gump and receive a word of encouragement from his idol, saying, "You played well, kid."

Just imagining such a scene is enough to make Garnett tremble with excitement—he was the same way when he first played in an NBA game, shaking so much that he couldn't even hold a water glass.

He was nervous and scared, but not in a way that meant he wanted to back down. Instead, his adrenaline was surging, and he was eager to perform and prove himself on the field.

That game was played at Arco Arena against the Kings. He scored 8 points but only grabbed 1 rebound. He was too skinny and couldn't compete with those strong NBA big men.

Now, on December 1st, 1996, in the locker room of Target Center, with more than an hour to go before the game starts, Kevin Garnett is once again trembling with nervous excitement.

He paced back and forth in the locker room, clenching his fists and shaking them as he muttered incantations as if he were possessed.

His teammates, however, were used to it. Kevin was just that kind of weirdo; whenever there was a big game or he got excited, he would go crazy like he was on drugs.

He either kept pounding his chest or spewing vulgarities and trash talk at himself; in short, he had a hard time calming down.

And every time this happens, he puts on a very good performance. That's just how he is; he needs stimulation and excitement.

Mitchell, who was changing clothes, leaned over to listen and heard Garnett seemingly muttering "tomato, tomato" repeatedly.

"What the hell are you talking about? Tomatoes? You want to eat tomatoes?"

"No, no, I was talking about potatoes... no, get lost, black man, or I'll punch you."

Mitchell smiled; he knew Garnett wouldn't hit anyone, he just liked to make a scene.

"If you could punch Forrest Gump, you'd definitely be on America Today."

"You think I wouldn't dare? I'm going to punch Forrest Gump today!"

As he spoke, Garnett raised his fist, assumed a fighting stance, and began to jump around and throw punches.

The locker room erupted in laughter. Garnett shrugged and said, "What's so funny? I've studied boxing!"

Mitchell shook his head and said, "Kevin, have you never seen Forrest Gump play? If you punched Forrest Gump, I'd have to book your funeral home right now."

Everyone laughed again. Mitchell is a veteran in the league. He entered the draft in 1985 and was selected by the Rockets in the third round, but was eliminated in training camp.

He later made a name for himself in overseas leagues and was spotted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were in dire need of talent after joining the league, and thus began to establish himself in the NBA.

He entered the league in the 1989-1990 season, just as the Trail Blazers' second dynasty was beginning, and the Timberwolves were frequently beaten by the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference.

Garnett suddenly calmed down, sat down to change his clothes, and said, "What I said about throwing a punch was just a metaphor, I didn't really mean to punch him!"

At that moment, Kevin McHale walked into the locker room, limping slightly, and leaned against a locker, saying, "Who said they wanted to box?"

He overheard the conversation outside the locker room; McHale's feelings about this game against the Trail Blazers were equally complicated.

Not only because the Trail Blazers were old rivals during their playing days, but also because the Trail Blazers' coach is Larry Bird.

Before the game, he hesitated, wondering whether he should call Bird or greet him on the sidelines before the game.

The off-court relationship between this white duo, who achieved great success with the Boston Celtics, was notoriously cold.

They have too many incompatibilities; they can't play together, they can't talk to each other. The only thing they can do together is play ball; nothing else.

However, when they retired and left their beloved basketball courts, everything in the past became a memory, and they started new lives in their own cities, and the old times became warm again.

Especially when they start new basketball careers with different teams and recall their time with the Celtics, they feel all the more how precious those days were.

Kevin McHale knew exactly how great and excellent Bird was.

Bird inwardly admired Kevin, recognizing him as an exceptional and tenacious player.

After they parted ways, they silently admired each other, but neither of them ever picked up the phone to say hello or anything.

Before entering the Timberwolves' locker room, McHale lingered outside the away locker room for a while before finally leaving.

Stephon Marbury answered McHale's question: "Kevin Garnett said he was going to punch Forrest Gump."

Everyone started laughing again. McHale walked up to Garnett and said seriously, "Don't mess with Kevin, we have a long life ahead of us."

Everyone laughed even harder. Garnett jumped up from his chair and said, "What are you laughing at? Why are you afraid of Forrest Gump? What does he have? Tonight we're going to win, we're going to make the playoffs!"

Kevin McHale patted an excited Garnett on the shoulder and said, "Winning is one thing, but that's another. Calm down and don't let your emotions control you or cloud your judgment."

McHale knew Garnett; he knew he was a passionate young man with incredible potential.

Moreover, his defense reminded people of Forrest Gump, and McHale still feels fortunate to have been selected fifth overall.

However, high school players do need more experience and growth to make up for the lack of college education. College basketball and professional basketball are really different.

Later, USA Today interviewed Kevin Garnett, who bluntly stated: "I've heard some high schoolers want to go straight to the NBA like me. Well, they're crazy. I would tell them to put money, fame, and women aside for now. Nothing in the NBA is easy. If I could do it all over again, I would go to college, without hesitation."

Garnett realized the importance of college, but there was no turning back now. The Timberwolves were his college, and McHale was the dean of students.

McHale knew exactly what kind of player Forrest Gump was; he was very good at destroying a young man's confidence.

McHale pulled Garnett aside and said, "Forrest Gump was an amazing player, an idol for many. But let me tell you the truth, he was actually a very vicious devil. He took pleasure in destroying his opponents on the court. It's hard for young players not to be traumatized. To be honest, I still have nightmares about playing against Forrest Gump sometimes. So you need to be careful, don't make a fuss, just play seriously, do your job, and don't have any extra thoughts or actions, OK?"

Garnett nodded, but he was still very excited, saying, "When he retired, I thought I would never have the chance to play against him in the NBA again, but I didn't expect... it's really great."

McHale shook his head and said, "I'd rather he retired forever. What the hell is that guy doing back here?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I... I have some secret methods. Don't think I don't know anything. I'll make the preparations."

Garnett spoke in a mysterious way, and McHale had no idea what he was talking about. This kid just thought differently from most people.

Garnett usually lives with his friends in a big villa. Besides playing basketball, he likes to listen to music, dabble in rap, and collect all sorts of random fashion items.

McHale couldn't understand these things, just as players from the 60s couldn't understand the afros and stockings of players from the 70s, and players from the 70s couldn't understand the new shoes and chewing gum of players from the 80s.

Before the players went on the field, McHale approached coach Sanders again, and the two had a brief exchange.

“Going up against Forrest Gump is a great opportunity for growth,” Sanders tried to think positively.

"It would be a good opportunity to get through this, but... shit, this guy is a devil. You don't know unless you've played against him or faced him in a match."

"It's just the regular season, no need to be too nervous. We have to face it eventually, right? It's not a big deal."

"I hope so, I'm just worried that Kevin is too childish."

“He is indeed a child, but children always have to grow up and experience setbacks.”

For Garnett, it was fortunate to have coaches like Kevin McHale and Flip Saunders early in his career.

They cared about Garnett's growth and made up for what he missed out on because he didn't go to college.

Around 7 p.m., after the entrance ceremony, the competition was about to begin.

The Target Center in Minnesota was packed to capacity for tonight's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, and no one would want to miss watching Forrest Gump play.

Especially since Gan Guoyang just scored 50 points, and against the defensively strong New York Knicks, his popularity is soaring.

The Minneapolis residents' love for basketball didn't begin after the Timberwolves were founded; the Lakers were born here and established their first dynasty.

Due to climate reasons, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles. Many years later, during an expansion period, the Land of a Thousand Lakes welcomed a new basketball team, the Timberwolves, which became the city's symbol.

After years of struggling and underperforming, the Timberwolves acquired Kevin Garnett in 1995 and Stephon Marbury in 1996, and the team began to improve this season.

In the November games, they achieved a record of 7 wins and 8 losses. Although it was still less than 50%, it was a significant improvement compared to the previous season.

Garnett secured his starting position on the team, and he and Stephon Marbury formed a young inside-outside duo, giving Minnesota fans hope.

Hope is the most beautiful thing in the world, just as a bright future is always more fascinating and desirable than reality.

The Trail Blazers' hopes still rest on the bench, but Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal seemed to be in good spirits, chatting and laughing before the game started.

Seeing how happy the two were, Bird said, "What are you so happy about? Did you even get a starting position and you're already laughing like this? How can you even laugh?"

The two men suppressed their smiles, but couldn't help themselves. Bird glared at them and said to Kobe, "You'll be on the court early today, replacing Ridley. Do your best."

Kobe nodded; he was ready.

Yesterday, Bird warned everyone not to be late in the morning, but Riddell was still late and missed the team bus for practice.

Riddell spent the last few years in Minnesota and was just traded to the Trail Blazers this year. Now that he's back in his old village, he's naturally going to hang out with his former teammates and old friends.

They went too far with the fun and didn't get back to the hotel until the next morning. They slept until noon and missed the morning training.

Bird was furious, and the consequences were severe. He suspended Riddell for tonight and fined him a sum of money.

This was Riddell's first time being late this season, which was already a miracle for him.

He resented Bird's punishment, but seeing Forrest Gump's eyes, he could only endure it.

This kind of thing was bound to happen sooner or later. The NBA is not a tournament. A tournament can bring everyone together in one place and finish the game in a month.

Everyone, just grit your teeth and bear with it for a month.

The NBA is a job, but more importantly, it's a way of life.

Life here can be tough, especially for young people.

Finally, Gan Guoyang pleaded for leniency, saying that it would be enough to simply not let Riedle start; there was no need for a suspension.

It was agreed that a suspension would only be imposed after three late arrivals. Although Riddell was absent, it still counts as being late, so he should be suspended again after three late arrivals.

Bird eventually compromised, stripping Riddell of his starting position but still including him in the rotation.

He understands that sometimes it's necessary to give players some leeway to make mistakes.

After Riddell was stripped of his starting position, Aaron McGee moved up to the starting shooting guard position.

AC Green still occupies a pseudo-starting position at small forward.

For Kobe, he had more opportunities to perform tonight.

Of course, he's more concerned about Garnett's performance now, and it's unknown whether he's kept the "poison" in mind.

Besides basketball, Kobe also had a great talent for languages.

He grew up in Italy and speaks fluent Italian.

In addition, he can speak some English, German, French, and Chinese.

He would occasionally speak Chinese with Gan Guoyang within the team, which Gan Guoyang greatly appreciated.

Sometimes Gan Guoyang would use Chinese to swear, and Kobe would ask him what he meant.

Swear words are the fastest thing to learn, no matter what language it is. Swear words have a kind of magic; they may be the most impactful part of a language.

What impressed Kobe the most was that Gan Guoyang would often say "tomato," and he was very curious about what that meant.

Gan Guoyang told Kobe that it wasn't "tomato," but "fucking shit," a classic Chinese swear word.

Kevin Garnett was completely unaware of this, his mind entirely focused on the game.

Before the fight started, he tried to make eye contact with Forrest Gump, wanting to see if he could overpower Forrest Gump in terms of presence.

But Gan Guoyang completely ignored Garnett. His eyes were indifferent as he stood in the center circle and started another jump ball with his opponent.

The Timberwolves are still relatively weak, so Gan Guoyang doesn't take them too seriously.

Moreover, he had just scored 50 points in a game, and defeating the Knicks was a way of venting his anger.

Therefore, Gan Guoyang is in a period of reflection and his excitement level during the game is average. Tonight, he should pass the ball more, provide assists, and give the younger players more opportunities to perform.

As for Garnett? He's not qualified to be a player Gan Guoyang can seriously match up against yet.

This guy is so skinny. Although he gained weight to 240 pounds after one season, his height means that this weight is still considered too thin.

Garnett is one of the few players who downgraded his height during the draft, as you can see by comparing him to Jermaine O'Neal.

Regardless of the occasion, the photo, or the angle, Garnett, who is always claimed to be 6 feet 11 inches tall, always looks much taller than O'Neal.

Gan Guoyang glanced at him and knew that this guy was definitely 7 feet tall, and he looked about the same size as Shaquille O'Neal.

However, because they are too thin, they appear to be a size smaller, and the two did not match up at the start of the show tonight.

The player guarding Gan Guoyang was Timberwolves' starting center, Dean Garrett, another player the Timberwolves had acquired from overseas leagues.

Many times, the Timberwolves simply have no other choice; any player with even a bit of a reputation in the free agent market is unwilling to come and play here.

They can only rely on the draft and overseas search to find players who are not popular and put together a roster.

Talents like Garnett and Marbury are extremely rare for the Timberwolves.

Garrett has broad shoulders, a good wingspan, and good physical attributes; he looks a lot like Kevin McHale.

His most glorious moment in his basketball career was during his college years, when he won the NCAA national championship representing Indiana University in 1987.

These championship-winning players, however, had no place in the NBA and spent eight years wandering in Europe before being signed by the Timberwolves.

It can be said that the expansion of the NBA has given many players the opportunity to play and work, but it also means that the overall level of NBA players is declining.

Garrett had no answer for Gan Guoyang on defense. At the start of the game, Gan Guoyang scored three consecutive points against Garrett in the low post, forcing the Timberwolves to start double-teaming him.

Once double-teamed, Gan Guoyang starts passing the ball, guiding the team's offense and creating more and better opportunities for his teammates.

Halfway through the quarter, the Trail Blazers led the Timberwolves 18-10 by 8 points, prompting Flip Saunders to call a timeout to make defensive adjustments.

Garrett sat on the bench, panting and drinking water constantly.

Although he is a veteran of the 1987 draft, this year is actually his first year playing in the NBA.

So, like Kevin Garnett, Garrett was also facing Forrest Gump for the first time in a game.

Gan Guoyang is a typical American center, with a style mixed with that of European centers.

Garrett played in Europe for eight years and never encountered such a strong and tough inside player.

He prided himself on having some defensive ability in the low post, but after five minutes, Garrett told himself, "No, I can't defend him at all."

The disparity in strength is often the most disheartening, especially when you're easily pushed into the low post, unable to even jump, and then watch the ball go in.

This is even more painful than having someone dump a basket on you or pull you out and throw you in, and you know you won't be able to do anything about it later.

“Coach, I can’t handle Forrest Gump by myself.” Garrett was direct; he wasn’t going to play the hero.

Seeing this, Sanders glanced at Garnett, but before he could ask anything, Garnett shouted, "I'll handle him!"

It's been a long time since anyone in the NBA has been this brave.

But Sanders remained calm and said, "You can't handle it, but you can help defend. Be careful to double-team Forrest Gump and prevent him from going one-on-one or passing the ball easily."

Garnett nodded, his hand holding the water bottle beginning to tremble.

After the timeout ended and the game resumed, Kobe was substituted by Bird, replacing AC Green.

Garnett greeted Kobe, and Kobe said, "So, confident you can guard Forrest Gump?"

Garnett said, "I'll handle it."

"If you can't figure it out, remember to use the code."

"No need! I have absolutely no need for that kind of thing!"

Gan Guoyang had no idea what the two little ones were talking about.

Although he didn't take the match too seriously, he remained focused and gave it his all once it started.

This is a good habit, just like someone with OCD who cannot tolerate uncleanliness.

The Trail Blazers were in the lead, so Bird didn't make any adjustments.

Bird firmly believed that if a method could remain effective, it should be used until it became ineffective.

For example, if Forrest Gump is very effective in the low post at the start, then let him continue to attack from the low post until the opponent adjusts.

Even if my opponent makes adjustments, I'll still play the same way. If you can affect me and make me play poorly, I'll adjust too.

But if your adjustments don't work, my strategy will still be effective, and I'll just keep playing like this.

So the ball was passed to Gan Guoyang, at which point Kevin Garnett came over to help defend.

He is a tall, long-armed, and quick-handed inside player who often plays the small forward position on the team.

Gan Guoyang is very experienced in dealing with double teams, so he immediately dribbled outwards to create distance and space.

PJ Brown had an opportunity under the basket, and Gan Guoyang immediately passed the ball to him. PJ Brown received the ball and drove to the basket for a layup!
As a result, Garnett actually came back to help defend, interfering with Brown's layup under the basket and stopping the shot.

"Great defense!" Sanders shouted from the sidelines.

Garnett led the Timberwolves' counterattack.

Stephon Marbury launched a fast break and delivered a beautiful bounce pass to Kevin Garnett.

Garnett attempted a dunk, but Kobe, who was on timely defense, knocked the ball out of bounds, giving the Timberwolves possession.

Kobe's hands were also very fast; speed is one of the most important things in this league, just like strength.

Garnett yelled at Kobe a few times, clearly excited, but Kobe shook his head, pretending not to hear.

The game started to get interesting, with the two young players, Garnett and Kobe, competing on both ends of the court.

Of course, there's also Stephon Marbury, the streetball legend from New York, who possesses an exceptional physique rarely seen among point guards.

He's incredibly flexible and has a strong street style of play that makes him look very attractive and stylish.

However, in the NBA, being pretty and entertaining is not enough; the experienced and seasoned Gan Guoyang quickly took control of the game.

By the second quarter, he had already dished out 8 assists, constantly using his defensive presence to break through the Timberwolves' inexperienced defense with his passes.

Compared to the Knicks, the Timberwolves' defense lacks cohesion and intensity, despite having a highly talented interior defender like Garnett.

However, Garnett is not yet adept at using his talent to build a defensive system. He is too easily led by the ball and his anticipation is far from sufficient.

Not to mention taking proactive defense to curb the opponent's offensive plans.

The Trail Blazers took an 11-point lead at halftime, 57-46.

During halftime, Kevin Garnett volunteered, saying, "I'm going to guard Forrest Gump. We can't keep watching him pass the ball like that. I'll mark him closely and shut him down!"

Having experienced the competition in the first half, Garnett felt that Forrest was great, but not that scary. He should just play normally.

He decided to take the initiative to contain Forrest Gump, and Sanders agreed. It was indeed possible to let Garnett give it a try; it might actually work wonders.

Sanders ultimately suffered because he didn't play in the NBA. If his classmate Mitchell Thompson or Kevin McHale had been the coach, they wouldn't have had Garnett guarding Forrest so early on.

So, at the start of the third quarter, Gan Guoyang found himself matched up against Garnett.

This young man, who always seemed overly excited, had eyes that looked like they were burning with fire.

"Sanders sent you to guard me one-on-one? Did he buy you insurance?" Gan Guoyang said his first words to Garnett that night.

Garnett replied, "I've already taken out a $100 million life insurance policy. If you kill me, I'll donate it all to the starving children in Africa!"

Gan Guoyang shook his head slightly. What was this guy thinking? It seemed he needed to calm him down.

He gestured to Van Exel, who understood and began passing the ball to Gan Guoyang for a one-on-one play.

Helping out is different from a real confrontation; this was Garnett's first reaction when backing down Gan Guoyang.

Immediately following was a tremendous force that sent Garnett staggering backward until he reached the basket, where he fell backward.

It crashed heavily to the floor. Looking up, I saw a huge shadow looming overhead. The ball fell and slammed to the ground with a thud.

Gan Guoyang dunked on Garnett, knocking him to the ground. The referee also called a blocking foul on Garnett, requiring him to take a penalty.

Garnett felt he experienced a brief period of hearing loss, lasting about a second, with only a buzzing sound in his ears.

After a while, the cheers of the fans and the referee's whistle could be heard, along with all sorts of other noises.

Forrest Gump told him, "Go back and call now, add another hundred million. There are many people in Africa who don't have enough to eat."

Garnett swallowed hard, but he still tried to shout it out, making himself look excited and thrilled.

But then he found himself unable to respond at all, not even a little bit.

He had a tough shot against Forrest Gump, but it was blocked right in front of him, and the ball didn't even leave his hand.

He and the ball were pinned to the ground, and the referee blew the whistle for a contest, but he still couldn't win the contest.

Instead of retaliating, the Trail Blazers slowed down and played a half-court game, with Forrest once again making strong attacks in the low post.

In the 1987 season, Gan Guoyang won the scoring title by relying on his low-post one-on-one skills throughout the season.

It's the 1997 season now, 10 years later, and Gan Guoyang has more offensive options.

But he never lost his specialty in cooking; on the contrary, he improved it even more.

Moreover, he was at the peak of his career, when he was at his strongest.

Garnett simply couldn't hold on, and even with Garrett added, it still wasn't enough.

Garnett was fouled again and fell to the ground, but the referee still called a foul on him.

He couldn't hold it in any longer; he couldn't shout anymore, and he felt like crying.

He was still just a kid, 19 years old, an age when he shouldn't even be allowed to go to nightclubs.

Many of my peers are in college, supported by their parents, and dating without a care in the world.

He now carries the hopes of a city's basketball team and has to battle these monsters in the paint.

Tonight we're facing the biggest one yet, the one even more terrifying than Chicago's number 23.

When Gan Guoyang used the Sigma step to turn his back to the basket and face the basket again, relying on his powerful strength to break through and dunk over Garnett in the paint, the entire Target Center fell silent.

Garnett was knocked around and staggered. He tried to fight back but gained nothing except a foul.

The referee didn't call a foul this time because he felt a little reluctant to do so, even though Garnett had actually committed a foul.

Gan Guoyang glanced at Garnett, who looked bewildered, and asked, "Do you want more money, Mr. Da'ai?"

Garnett pursed his lips, trying to suppress the urge to cry, and said to Gan Guoyang, "Damn it."

Gan Guoyang was stunned, hardly believing his ears. He thought, "What are you saying? You're actually cursing me in Chinese?"

You've got guts, kid. You've really got guts. I haven't met such a courageous young man in a long time.

Very well, then let's keep adding money, for the sake of those hungry children in Africa.

(End of this chapter)