[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-golden-age-of-basketball":3,"chapter-the-golden-age-of-basketball-the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1135":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Golden Age of Basketball",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1444552,1896,"Chapter 1135 - 15: The Strongest Challenger","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1135",1135,"\u003Cp>[1992-1993 season, I arrived in Miami.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was very difficult for me, as I had been in Houston for 12 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like my second hometown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My college and my basketball career both started there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving was not an easy decision, but it wasn’t entirely my choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Houston Rockets, after evaluation, felt that I could no longer lead the team to a breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lost faith in me and in winning a championship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially not believing that I could defeat the Trail Blazers and Ah Gan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed a team that was willing to trust me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suffered too much unjust treatment and criticism in Houston.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ball hog,\" \"team wrecker,\" these were all biased remarks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the circumstances, a mutual parting was the best option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was shocked when the trade happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fans in Houston hated me, thinking I betrayed the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I received some threatening calls, but there were also those who supported and encouraged me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coach Lewis said he believed it was a player’s freedom to choose where to play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I did not betray Houston.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Heat warmly welcomed my arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything in Miami was great—the sea, the palm trees, the wonderful weather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the best part was that here was a group truly striving for a championship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I joined them, quickly becoming one of their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enthusiasm of Miami fans was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like their team name, extremely fiery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most exciting aspect for me was teaming up with Drexler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like we were back in college, fighting together as Cougars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He already had three rings, but he still needed to prove himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prove that he could win a championship after leaving Portland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat Riley is a strict and charismatic coach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also has multiple championship rings and desperately needs to prove himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had glorious years with the Lakers, but since 1985 he hadn’t won a championship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He built everything here in Miami.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During training camp, Riley told me, \"You’re the last seaman, Hakeem, the most important one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, we were setting sail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riley clearly told me that I would be the team’s first core, the absolute core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All our tactics would start with getting the ball to the big guy inside, getting it to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything right starts here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any big guy that needs double or triple-teaming should be the first choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We also have other tactics and collaborations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when these tactics fail, the ball will return to the big guy’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew my responsibility was significant, but I liked this arrangement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could take on such a task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This summer, I made unprecedented improvements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t participate in the Olympics; I underwent very systematic training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I improved my muscle mass, increased strength and explosiveness, and healed injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt great, extremely great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Miami Heat roster was also exceptionally excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every position had outstanding players and matched very well with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the power forward, we had Anthony Mason, who was as wide as a door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During training, he often confronted me in the low post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could cause me trouble; his defense was excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At small forward, we had Cliff Robinson, who was as tall as me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was very versatile, could shoot threes, and penetrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At shooting guard, we had Clyde, the best shooting guard in the Eastern Conference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, in my view, he was better than Jordan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clyde had surgery over the summer and missed some games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But we still had Steve Smith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His post-up game was as good as mine, a skilled isolation player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At point guard, John Starks, who was like a bulldog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very aggressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the first day of training camp, he tried to dunk over me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I used continuous blocks to show him who the boss of this team was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly established my core position with the Heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not relying on threats, toughness, or bossing around behind the coach’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key is to become the second-in-command of the public, earning everyone’s respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Train hard, be self-disciplined, and take on the most responsibility in games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take care of your teammates, respect every staff member around you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this season on, I stopped fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my younger days, I got into many fights, nearly every game I’d clash with someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faith changed me; I viewed games with a brand-new mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The TV often airs the NBA-Fantastic program.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The show includes some detail-focused shots, giving viewers more insight into the NBA.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the footage, you see some players grabbing rebounds or dunking powerfully over opponents, then yelling trash talk at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or stepping over opponents who have fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I think this is a low-grade mentality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players doing these actions entered the League feeling insecure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I experienced that mentality, seeing everyone as a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not playing for victory and enjoyment, but for showing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, I don’t do that; I let the game speak for itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not with what you say or the blows you deliver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the strongest boxer in the League never throws a punch proactively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should truly intimidate opponents is your technique, your style of play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, if you excel at blocking, you’ll make everyone entering the three-second zone suffer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, when opponents try to shoot over you, they’ll think, \"This guy blocks every time, I have to be careful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’ll adjust their shooting arc higher, which will lower their accuracy.\u003C\u002Fp>",897,"2026-06-06T01:41:50.199Z",1,"novelbin.me","aac66f393c2ff736af3f69e10bd0b00a87e7405b8bf396c9af37864f76b0c37c","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1136","the-golden-age-of-basketball-chapter-1134",2033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-golden-age-of-basketball-cover.jpg"]