This Year, a Promising Youngster Has Arrived

Since he lived nearby, Goodwin was the first to arrive. Once there, he didn't waste any time and immediately began his usual training.

As long as life went on, so would training.

Time passed slowly. Before long, half an hour had gone by, and just then, footsteps sounded.

Goodwin heard them too and guessed that one of his teammates had arrived. But he didn't stop what he was doing; he continued until he finished that round of training.

Soon, two figures appeared at the entrance to the training facility. They peered inside curiously, wondering who had arrived so early.

"Who's that?" Vin Baker asked Paul Pierce beside him.

Paul Pierce didn't answer right away. Instead, he watched the figure in the training facility.

He leaped, hung in the air, and released the ball!

The shot dropped cleanly through the hoop.

"Beautiful shot," Paul Pierce couldn't help saying.

Vin Baker: ??

I asked who he was, and you answered that it was a beautiful shot.

Just then, Goodwin finished his round and stopped, turning toward the entrance to the training facility. "Hello, I'm Goodwin, this year's rookie. I look forward to learning from you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Paul Pierce strode toward Goodwin. Vin Baker looked a little puzzled, but followed close behind.

A moment later, the two of them stood in front of Goodwin.

Fuck, is this guy really a basketball player? Are you sure he isn't a Hollywood actor? He's just as handsome as I am.

Vin Baker gave Goodwin a once-over and thought to himself.

"Haha, so it's you! I was wondering who it was." Paul Pierce reached out and patted Goodwin on the shoulder.

Goodwin looked confused.

?

Goodwin figured that Paul Pierce probably didn't know who he was.

As for Paul Pierce, all he could say was that he admired him—a real man!

Three years ago today, on September 26, 2000, Paul Pierce had been stabbed eleven times at a Boston nightclub. He had been stabbed in the face, neck, back, and head. One wound went eight centimeters deep into his lung, missing his heart by just 0.25 centimeters.

His teammate Battier had rushed him to the nearest hospital for surgery. Miraculously, Paul Pierce was discharged just three days later and returned to training eighteen days after that. When the 2000–01 season began a month later, he played all 82 games, averaging 25.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

Before Goodwin could reply, Paul Pierce added, "I haven't had the chance to thank you yet—for winning the NCAA championship for the University of Kansas!"

Only then did Goodwin catch on. Paul Pierce had also attended the University of Kansas, which meant he was Goodwin's upperclassman.

Goodwin caught on quickly and hurriedly said, "It's nice to meet you, senior. I hear about you from the coach all the time."

"Really? I'm not sure I believe you. And your reaction just now didn't exactly make it seem like you knew me," Paul Pierce immediately called him out.

Goodwin didn't even blush. "You caught me. Sorry about that, senior."

Paul Pierce looked utterly speechless. He was a star who had come out of the University of Kansas, after all. Back in his day, he had been a big deal.

In 1995, Paul Pierce entered the University of Kansas and played college basketball for the school. As a freshman, he averaged 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds, and was named Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year alongside Chauncey Billups.

Over his three years in college, Paul Pierce's scoring average increased every season. He played in 108 games in total, averaging 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 28.1 minutes per game.

In 1997 and 1998, Paul Pierce was named Big 12 Conference Tournament MVP two years in a row. In 1998, he was named to the All-NBA Team's first team, the United States Basketball Writers Association's All-American first team, the National Association of Basketball Coaches' All-American first team, the Associated Press All-American first team, The Sporting News All-American first team, and the Big 12 Conference first team.

But he had never managed to lead the University of Kansas to an NCAA championship. That had been a great regret for Paul Pierce. He never expected that five years later, his underclassmen would help their alma mater win the third NCAA championship in its history.

Even more unexpectedly, his underclassman Goodwin had ended up with the Boston Celtics.

The day after the draft, Paul Pierce recalled, he'd received a call from head coach Roy Williams, who had asked him to take good care of Goodwin.

"Paul, help Goodwin develop. If he reaches his potential, he'll help you win that highest honor!"

Paul Pierce hadn't taken head coach Roy Williams's words seriously. How could that happen? The highest honor?

Fuck, he was in his sixth year in the NBA, and he still hadn't made it out of the Eastern Conference, let alone won that highest honor!

"Don't worry, Coach. I'll take good care of him and make sure nobody gives him a hard time." Paul Pierce could at least promise that Goodwin wouldn't be bullied on the Boston Celtics.

After all, he was the Boston Celtics' leader.

"Never mind. I promised head coach Roy Williams I'd take good care of you." Paul Pierce didn't press the matter any further. Then he introduced the teammate beside him—Vin Baker—to Goodwin.

Vin Baker was a veteran of the league. Hearing Paul Pierce's words, he immediately adjusted his attitude and greeted rookie Goodwin with great warmth.

The two shook hands cordially.

After they finished exchanging pleasantries, Goodwin said, "Sorry, Senior Paul, Senior Baker, but I have to get back to training."

As soon as he finished speaking, Goodwin turned and threw himself back into his training.

Watching Goodwin's retreating figure, Paul Pierce's lips curled slightly. It seemed head coach Roy Williams had been right: this younger player worked incredibly hard.

In Paul Pierce's view, no matter how much talent a player had, if he didn't work hard in the NBA, he would eventually get cut. That was the cruelty of the NBA.

Vin Baker couldn't help asking, "He's your underclassman? He came out of the University of Kansas too?"

Paul Pierce asked in return, "Baker, didn't you watch this year's NCAA final?"

"No!" Vin Baker answered honestly.

So Paul Pierce told Vin Baker all about this year's NCAA final. The more he talked, the more excited he became, and his voice carried all the way to Goodwin, who was training nearby.

Hearing someone praise him made Goodwin a little embarrassed. Am I really that good?

After hearing the story, Vin Baker had a whole new impression of the rookie. His mouth fell slightly open. "This year, a promising young guy has arrived."