Boston Celtics General Manager's Office:
"What's wrong, Paul?" Danny Ainge asked, looking at Paul Pierce's troubled expression.
Normally, Paul Pierce wouldn't come to him unless something was wrong. Had something happened? Danny Ainge wondered.
"Danny, I'll get straight to the point. I don't understand why Coach John won't let Goodwin play!"
"I brought this up with Coach John before, but he told me Goodwin's body still couldn't handle the intensity of the NBA."
"But Goodwin's been perfectly fine in the team's scrimmages. Besides, he hasn't played a single minute. How does Coach John know he can't handle it? I think he's deliberately targeting Goodwin!"
Paul Pierce rattled off his complaints, sticking up for his junior from the University of Kansas!
If Goodwin simply wasn't good enough, he'd have nothing to say. But he couldn't stand this kind of underhanded treatment!
FUCK, nobody messes with people from the University of Kansas!
So that was it. Danny Ainge had thought something serious had happened, but he quickly tried to calm Paul Pierce down. "Paul, don't get worked up. We'll sort this out. Sit down first."
Paul Pierce obediently sat down, his eyes fixed on Danny Ainge as if to say, You'd better give me an explanation. I'm not letting this go.
Danny Ainge remained calm. "Paul, do you think John Carroll is the best head coach to lead the Boston Celtics back to the top?"
Hearing Danny Ainge's question, Paul Pierce didn't know how to answer.
After all, John Carroll had only coached him for two preseason games, and they'd won both. He couldn't say yet whether Carroll was a good fit, but he couldn't say he wasn't, either.
Watching Paul Pierce's expression, Danny Ainge's lips curved into a faint smile. "I don't think he's the best choice. He's only temporarily filling in as head coach."
As soon as he heard that, Paul Pierce's expression brightened. So that was what was going on.
Danny Ainge continued, "Paul, how much potential do you think Goodwin has?"
Paul Pierce thought for a moment. "Goodwin's ceiling is an All-Star. His floor is an ordinary shooter."
Danny Ainge smiled and shook his head. "Would you like to hear what Red Auerbach thinks of Goodwin?"
Paul Pierce's expression changed dramatically. Everyone knew who Red Auerbach was, especially a member of the Boston Celtics.
"What did he say?" Paul Pierce asked urgently.
"He's got a bit of Larry Bird in him."
Just who was Larry Bird!
Larry Bird was selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth pick in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft. He stayed in college for another year before officially joining the NBA in 1979. He spent his entire 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. In his rookie season, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year. He won three NBA championships, was named NBA regular-season MVP three times and NBA Finals MVP twice, made the NBA All-Star team 12 times, and was named NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1982. He made the All-NBA First Team nine times, the All-NBA Second Team in 1990, and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times. In 1986, he was named Athlete of the Year, and from 1986 to 1988, he won the NBA Three-Point Contest three years in a row!
He swept "the God of Basketball," Jordan, twice! Those were the only times Jordan had ever been swept, and both came at the hands of the same man!
If Larry Bird hadn't retired, perhaps...
How could Paul Pierce possibly connect such a legendary player with Goodwin?
Red Auerbach had really given Goodwin such high praise?
Seeing Paul Pierce's shocked expression, Danny Ainge smiled even more broadly. When he'd first heard Red Auerbach's assessment of Goodwin, he'd been even more astonished than Paul Pierce.
"Paul, I don't know if you've noticed, but even after going two straight preseason games without any playing time, Goodwin hasn't slacked off in practice at all. He's always the first to arrive at the gym and the last to leave."
Seeing Goodwin work so hard reminded Danny Ainge of the kid next door!
When the general manager of the Boston Celtics said "the kid next door," there could be no doubt he meant the Boston Celtics' bitter rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.
And the kid was none other than Kobe Bryant, the best shooting guard in the league!
In the 1996 season, Kobe was selected thirteenth overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Jerry West had a good eye for talent. Kobe had only just joined the Lakers, and he was still very young. At the time, the Lakers' star shooting guard, Eddie Jones, was still on the team, and Kobe was only 18.
So Kobe spent two whole years on the bench. But diamonds always shine eventually, releasing their dazzling brilliance.
In his third year, Kobe finally exploded onto the scene. During the lockout-shortened season, he played 50 regular-season games for the Lakers, averaging 37.9 minutes, 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He played eight playoff games, averaging 39.4 minutes, 19.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team that season.
After that, there was no stopping him. In the 1999–00, 2000–01, and 2001–02 seasons, he won three consecutive championships, becoming the first player since Jordan to three-peat.
"All right, Paul. That's enough about this. Go back and focus on practice." Danny Ainge finished what he had to say and began ushering him out.
As he left the general manager's office, Danny Ainge's words kept going through Paul Pierce's mind.
So during practice, Paul Pierce kept getting distracted. He kept watching Goodwin, determined to find out exactly what about him reminded people of Larry Bird.
But after watching him for ages, Paul Pierce still couldn't see any resemblance to Larry Bird. Was Red Auerbach getting senile?
NO! Take that back! What am I saying, calling Red Auerbach senile? I'm the one who's senile—I don't get to call Red Auerbach senile!
After a full day of practice, Goodwin couldn't help asking, "Senior Paul, what's with you today? You keep staring at me. Is it because I'm so handsome?"
Paul Pierce: "..."
Goodwin continued, "Senior Paul, I know I'm handsome, but sorry, I'm not into men. If you want to hook up with a guy, find someone else."
When one man kept staring at another, what could it be if not love? Goodwin honestly couldn't think of another explanation.
Paul Pierce's anger hit 100%. He lunged at Goodwin and beat him up.
"Ahhh..." Goodwin's screams rang throughout the entire gym.
"Hahahaha!" "Hahahaha!" "Hahahaha!"... The rest of the team stopped in their tracks, turning into a crowd of spectators as they watched and laughed.
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