Chapter 40

"Jack, welcome for accepting our invitation today. Now, does it feel very different to be back here again?"

"Hahaha, don't make it sound like I left basketball after retiring. Although my main business now is running my golf equipment store, I have never forgotten this place. I come back often."

"Since that's the case, are you interested in returning to the NBA, perhaps as the coach of the Seattle SuperSonics? I think with your abilities, you could help many rookies. And I heard that your golf store is losing a lot of money."

"Hey, don't jinx me. It's already losing money, and now it's going to go bankrupt. Hahaha."

On November 8, 1993, at 8 PM, at the Seattle Center Arena, the Western Conference's current first-place Utah Jazz, who had won two consecutive games, would be playing an away game against the SuperSonics. At this moment, in the media commentary booth, Jack Sikma, the legendary center of the former Seattle SuperSonics, invited by ABC, was laughing heartily.

The SuperSonics fans in the stands also looked relaxed. Although the Utah Jazz were currently the top team in the West, the SuperSonics fans didn't think it was because of the Jazz's strength, but rather their favorable schedule. If a team played the Mavericks in their first game and the Timberwolves in their second, it would be strange if they didn't take the top spot.

Therefore, the SuperSonics fans were very open-minded about this revenge and counter-revenge game, or they simply didn't believe that the SuperSonics, who had significantly improved this year and were aiming for the championship, would lose to the Jazz.

"Jack, since you have been following the NBA closely after retiring, I'm sure you've heard of Lin Han. Do you think he will continue his crazy performance from the first two games? You know, no one in NBA history has scored 103 points in their first two games."

"Of course, I know very well. He's a crazy genius. The whole world is shouting 'Linsanity,' and I can't possibly be unaware. In fact, I'm here for this game because of him. Don't think you can get me here just because you're ABC. Hahaha."

"But as a former SuperSonics player, I don't think 'Linsanity' will continue. I have more faith in Kendall and Gary. I heard Gary is planning to take him on himself. I think that will be very interesting."

Looking at the two teams still warming up on the court, Jack Sikma continued to smile. Lin Han? Of course, he knew about him and had watched his first two games. If Lin Han's stats were crazy, then his skills were lacking. Almost all his points came from fadeaway jump shots, and he had no other offensive highlights. A player like this could only be crazy for two games. Against Payton and Kendall Gill, he might not even get a chance to shoot.

"Okay, Jack, Tom is back in this game. Will you be envious or jealous? You know, ten years ago, you were both heroes of this city, but now you are a businessman, while he continues his career."

"No, I won't be jealous. On the contrary, I'm glad because this guy is atoning for his past sins. His current career is a penance."

After saying this, Jack Sikma deliberately made a pious praying gesture, which made the audience across America laugh. They knew exactly what Sikma meant.

Tom Chambers, the new player for the Jazz this year, was a star who had risen with the SuperSonics. Ten years ago, he made his All-Star debut with the SuperSonics. Back then, the SuperSonics were talent-rich, and under the legendary coach Bill Russell, they won the championship in 1979. Although their performance declined somewhat, the team's two All-Star white big men, Tom Chambers and Jack Sikma, were still formidable.

Especially Tom Chambers. Despite being criticized last year in the Suns and considered one of the reasons for their Finals loss, he was now a role player who could only take a few mid-range shots. His defensive and offensive skills had diminished, making him a purely shooting player. However, at his peak, Chambers was one of the most explosive players in the NBA. As a white player, he could dunk over the rim and through defenders, and he was one of the most athletic players in the league, embodying the phrase "white men can jump" and doing it very well.

So, when comparing the current style of this veteran Jazz player to his peak, almost everyone who knew his past would laugh. Back then, he was dunking on everyone, but now he is waiting for others to dunk on him. This is indeed a form of atonement, as the saying goes, "What goes around comes around."

Because of Chambers' current attributes, he couldn't start in this game against the SuperSonics, who had two weak teams in the previous games. Without defense and being too slow, he would be overwhelmed by the SuperSonics' frontcourt trio.

The SuperSonics' strength was not just talk. Their starting center today was Sam Perkins, who developed a three-point shooting ability in the playoffs last season, making him perhaps the strongest three-point shooting center in the league. He averaged nearly 15 points per game in the playoffs last season. Power forward Shawn Kemp, the team's star, was an NBA All-Star and had a significant impact in the playoffs against the Jazz last season. Small forward Detlef Schrempf, a versatile player who could play inside and out, was an all-around player who could shoot, drive, and play the post, making him a threat on offense. His weakness, like most white players, was his soft defense, but he was still an All-Star.

As for the team's two guards, there was Gary Payton, who earned the nickname "The Glove" in the playoffs last season and is now considered the best defensive point guard in the league. The other guard, Kendall Gill, was a well-known defensive player at the shooting guard position, known for his unpredictable steals. If Lin Han dared to pass the ball, Gill would be very happy to see it. Gill was not only a great defender but also an excellent scorer, averaging over 20 points per game in his second season. However, due to a lack of a clear role within the team, he didn't get many offensive opportunities, but with his talent, he still averaged over 15 points per game.

For many NBA teams, having five starters who can average over 15 points per game is a luxury. If these players are also well-rounded in both offense and defense, it's an even greater luxury. The SuperSonics were such an enviable team.

Moreover, the SuperSonics' bench was also strong. Two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Ricky Pierce, an All-Star in his prime, averaged over 18 points per game last season. Point guard Gary McMillan, who was dominated by Van Exel in the last game, was the SuperSonics' starting point guard before Payton. If given the chance, he could start for half the teams in the NBA. Additionally, players like Michael Cage were also strong contributors.

The SuperSonics were almost a team without weaknesses. Facing such a team, Jerry Sloan couldn't afford to be as relaxed as he was against the Timberwolves and the Mavericks.

For this game, the Jazz made two changes to their starting lineup.

The starting point guard and power forward remained Stockton and Malone, but the starting shooting guard became Lin Han, and the starting center became Felton Spencer. Although the 1990 6th overall pick wasn't a great scorer, he was tall and strong, making him a formidable presence in the paint, more suitable for starting against strong teams compared to Chambers.

Of course, the biggest change was at the small forward position. Lin Han had been the starter there, but in this game, he moved to the shooting guard position, replacing Jeff Malone. However, Jeff Malone did not get the starting small forward position; instead, Sloan put him on the bench. The player who replaced Jeff Malone was not the team's former starting small forward Benoit, but another rookie, Brian Russell, who was Lin Han's teammate.

When the starting lineup was announced, Sloan's intentions were clear. In this game, the starting center Spencer was there to support Malone, and Russell was there to support Lin Han. In the entire Jazz team, only Russell was willing to support Lin Han, while the others were not.

Sloan had actually benched the team's third-best player for Lin Han, so the bench was not in a good mood. At the very least, the team's former starting shooting guard Malone and small forward Benoit were unhappy.

Being favored by the head coach was a good thing, but the pressure was also significant. Lin Han could already imagine that if he didn't perform well in this game against the SuperSonics, he would not only face pressure from the mid-career players but also from the veteran Jeff Malone.

What a tricky head coach.

Thinking about this, Lin Han looked at Stockton and Karl Malone, who were practicing beside him but no longer smiling at him, and felt a bit cheated.