The Golden Age of Basketball Chapter 818 - 29 Gloves3

Payton felt at ease.

But peace was not to be found within the SuperSonics, as scandals arose during training camp involving fistfights between McDaniel and Ellis, shaking the team atmosphere to its core.

The previously successful coach Bickerstaff was fired because he couldn’t make further progress, and the managent brought in KC-Jones, the championship coach from the Boston Celtics, hoping to turn things around.

However, coaches nurtured by the Celtics have often struggled to adapt to other teams, and KC-Jones was no exception, like Bill Russell before him.

KC-Jones still played basketball with a traditional system from the 70s and 80s, where a major responsibility for point guards, in his opinion, was to hit periter shots.

And this was exactly Payton’s greatest weakness, as he was not a good shooter despite being a point guard.

Moreover, his myriad skills, such as ball-handling, one-on-one defense, driving to the basket, and steals and blocks, were not seen by KC-Jones as primary duties of a point guard.

Jones also disliked Payton’s style of play, which was heavily influenced by street basketball - strange dribbling rhythms, fancy moves, and constant chirping at opponents in one-on-one duels on court.

KC-Jones thought all these were superfluous redundancies, just like the earrings in Payton’s ears, thinking, what good do they do for basketball besides looking cool?

Blind the opponents?

Thus, Payton didn’t get much playti in his rookie season, and the SuperSonics’ performance was also inconsistent.

Early in the season, they traded McDaniel to acquire Glen Rice from the Miami Heat.

Then, before the All-Star ga, they traded Dale Ellis for Richie Pierce from the Bucks—a significant trade.

However, this was not good news for Payton, as Pierce was a guard, undoubtedly relegating Payton to a backup role.

Subsequently, the SuperSonics acquired big man Ben Aoyite Benjamin from the Clippers using their draft rights, completing another seemingly competitive team setup.

It must be said that the SuperSonics’ managent had a strong ability to rebuild, though each rebuild seed sowhat rushed, rising rapidly then collapsing just as quickly.

In the restaurant, Payton complained to Gan Guoyang about KC-Jones: "I tell you, if I’m playing badly, it’s the coach’s fault, not mine! I can’t adapt to his antiquated coaching style. He wants to play like those old guards, dribbling around all bent over like an old granny who can’t lift her boobs up, and like an old fart too embarrassed to show their ass to defenders... Damn, and he wants to be a spot shooter, did I co to Seattle to be a spot shooter? I was the second draft pick!"

In front of Ah Gan, Payton didn’t hold back, eating while continually firing off, without considering that Ah Gan was tonight’s opponent.

Gan Guoyang knew that was just Payton’s personality - carefree, fearing neither heaven nor earth and daring to challenge Michael Jordan during preseason.

He could only advise Payton: "One day you’ll et a coach who suits you. Until then, you really do need to work on your shooting, push harder, there’s still ti."

Payton shook his head, munching away, and said, "You’ve already got four championships... I swear, if next season I’m still a substitute, I’m requesting a trade!"

"A trade? Where to? Co to Portland? We don’t need a guard who can’t shoot threes."

"Is shooting that important?"

"Important. Shooting is everything, keep practicing, Gary. I think KC won’t last long in Seattle, I’ll give you a hand tonight."

Gan Guoyang was always willing to help, especially his friends.

That night, Gan Guoyang went hard against Seattle SuperSonics and scored a brutal 48 points on Benjamin’s head.

Just 2 points shy of 50, he held back after turning the ga into a rout, foregoing the 50-point mark.

It was the first ti this season he hadn’t scored 50 points in his professional career.

Similarly, Michael Jordan also hadn’t scored 50 points this season, both toning down their scoring.

After the ga, Payton and Gan Guoyang fist-bumped, with Payton saying, "You were too fierce, a bit heavy-handed, don’t you think? KC’s face looked like he’d been thrice violated."

"Gary, you’ll face such situations too, don’t be too pleased yet, keep working on your shooting."

Payton’s expression darkened, he nodded, knowing Ah Gan wasn’t joking.